The Vaccine Book

This is the book on vaccinations I recommended. You can read the introduction online here!

6 Steps to a Safer Birth

This website, Mother's Advocate, has links to some great videos and print information that describe the Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices. These six recommendations are grounded in research and supported by the World Health Organization:

1. Let labor begin on its own
2. Walk, move around, and change positions throughout labor
3. Bring a loved one, friend, or doula for continuous support
4. Avoid interventions that are not medically necessary
5. Avoid giving birth on your back, and follow your body's urges to push
6. Keep your baby with you -- it's best for you, your baby, and breastfeeding

Check it out!

Another great swaddling technique

Online contraction timer

Check out this online tool for timing contractions! It's also available as an iPhone app. Nifty!

Postpartum and Infant Care Resources

Breastfeeding
La Leche League of Iowa City
(Mother-to-mother breastfeeding support with trained leaders)

Breastfeeding and More
(Breastfeeding support groups at Mercy Hospital)

Online resources:
Breastfeeding Answers from La Leche League
breastfeeding.com

Parenting Classes and Groups
Iowa City Babywearers
Meets the first Saturday of the month from 1:00-3:00 at Fair Grounds Coffeehouse

Holistic Moms Network
Coralville Chapter, meets 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Coralville Public Library

Birth Baby and Beyond
Classes and retail (including breast pumps) in Cedar Rapids

Advocacy/Support
Friends of Iowa Midwives
Working to promote access to midwifery and out-of-hospital birth in Iowa

International Cesarean Awareness Network of Iowa
Iowa Chapter meets in Des Moines and includes Cesarean support group

Grief Support for Stillbirth and Infant Loss:
Iowa City Hospice
Compassionate Friends

Websites
mothering.com
clothbabies.com
diaperswappers.com
hipmama.com

Birth Plan Resources

There are a lot of online birth plan generators, but many of them don't give you the information you need to research your options. This birth plan guide has a lot of good information and sample birth plans, and this one is a checkbox birth plan generator that also provides links to further information.

Here are some other resources that may be helpful to you in researching your birth options:
Childbirth Connection
Pushed Birth
Mothers Naturally
Henci Goer's articles
Consumer Reports on Maternity Care

Also:
Iowa City Doulas
May 16 Birth Plan Workshop

Some great books to use when creating a birth plan:
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Creating Your Birth Plan by Marsden Wagner and Stephanie Gunning
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin

Mother Friendly Childbirth

In Sheri Menelli's book JOURNEY INTO MOTHERHOOD she addresses the CIMS initiative of questions you should ask your care provider and expounds a bit about them:

There are many different ways of caring for a mother and
her baby during labor and birth. Birthing care that is better and healthier for mothers and
babies is called “mother-friendly.” Some birth places or settings are more mother-friendly than others. A group of experts in birthing care came up with this list of 10 things to look for and ask about. Medical research supports all of these things. These are also the best ways to be mother-friendly. When you are deciding where to have your baby, you’ll probably be choosing from different places such as:
• birth center,
• hospital, or
• home birth service.

Find out how the people you talk with handle these ten issues about caring for you and your baby. You may want to ask the questions below to help you learn more.

1. “Who can be with me during labor and birth?”
Mother-friendly birth centers, hospitals and home birth services will let a birthing mother decide whom she wants to have with her during the birth. This includes fathers, partners, children, other family members or friends. They will also let a birthing mother have with her a person who has special training in helping women cope with labor and birth. This person is called a doula or labor support person. She never leaves the birthing mother alone. She encourages her, comforts her and helps her understand what’s happening to her.
They will have midwives as part of their staff so that a birthing mother can have a midwife with her if she wants to.

2. “What happens during a normal labor and birth in your setting?”
If they give mother-friendly care, they will tell you how they handle every part of the birthing process. For example, how often do they give the mother a drug to speed up the birth? Or
do they let labor and birth usually happen on its own timing? They will also tell you how often they do certain procedures. For example, they will have a record of the percentage of
C-sections (Cesarean births) they do every year. If the number is too high, you’ll want to consider having your baby in another place or with another doctor or midwife.
Here are some numbers we recommend you ask about.
• They should not use oxytocin (a drug) to start labor for
more than 1 in 10 women (10%).
• They should not do an episiotomy (ee-pee-zee-AH-tummy)
on more than 1 in 5 women (20%). They should be trying
to bring that number down. (An episiotomy is a cut in the
opening to the vagina to make it larger for birth. It is not
necessary most of the time.)
• They should not do C-sections on more than 1 in 10 women
(10%) if it’s a community hospital. The rate should be 15%
or less in hospitals which care for many high-risk mothers
and babies.
A C-section is a major operation in which a doctor cuts through the mother’s stomach into her womb and removes the baby through the opening. Mothers who have had a C-section can often have future babies vaginally. Look for a birth place in which 6 out of 10 women (60%) or more of the mothers who have had C-sections go on to have their other babies through the birth canal.

3. “How do you allow for differences in culture and beliefs?”
Mother-friendly birth centers, hospitals and home birth services are sensitive to the mother’s culture. They know that mothers and families have differing beliefs, values
and customs. For example, you may have a custom that only women may be with you during labor and birth. Or perhaps your beliefs include a religious ritual to be done after birth. There are many other examples that may be very important to you. If the place and the people are mother-friendly, they will support you in doing what you want to do. Before labor starts
tell your doctor or midwife special things you want.

4. “Can I walk and move around during labor? What position do you
suggest for birth?”
In mother-friendly settings, you can walk around and move about as you choose during labor. You can choose the positions that are most comfortable and work best for you
during labor and birth. (There may be a medical reason for you to be in a certain position.) Mother-friendly settings almost never put a woman flat on her back with her legs
up in stirrups for the birth.

5. “How do you make sure everything goes smoothly when my nurse,
doctor, midwife, or agency need to work with each other?”
Ask, “Can my doctor or midwife come with me if I have to be moved to another place during labor? Can you help me find people or agencies in my community who can help me before
and after the baby is born?” Mother-friendly places and people will have a specific plan
for keeping in touch with the other people who are caring for you. They will talk to others who give you birth care. They will help you find people or agencies in your community to help you. For example, they may put you in touch with someone who can help you with breastfeeding.

6. “What things do you normally do to a woman in labor?”
Experts say some methods of care during labor and birth are better and healthier for mothers and babies. Medical research shows us which methods of care are better and healthier.
Mother-friendly settings only use methods that have been proven to be best by scientific evidence. Sometimes birth centers, hospitals and home birth services use methods that are not proven to be best for the mother or the baby. For example, research has shown it’s usually not
helpful to break the bag of waters. Here is a list of things we recommend you ask about. They
do not help and may hurt healthy mothers and babies. They are not proven to be best for the mother or baby and are not mother-friendly.
• They should not keep track of the baby’s heart rate all the time with a machine (called an electronic fetal monitor). Instead it is best to have your nurse or midwife listen to
the baby’s heart from time to time.
• They should not break your bag of waters early in labor.
• They should not use an IV (a needle put into your vein to
give you fluids).
• They should not tell you that you can’t eat or drink
during labor.
• They should not shave you.
• They should not give you an enema.
A birth center, hospital or home birth service that does these things for most of the mothers is not mother-friendly. Remember, these should not be used without a special
medical reason.

7. ”How do you help mothers stay as comfortable as they can be?
Besides drugs, how do you help mothers relieve the pain of labor?” The people who care for you should know how to help you cope with labor. They should know about ways of dealing
with your pain that don’t use drugs. They should suggest such things as changing your position, relaxing in a warm bath, having a massage and using music. These are called
comfort measures. Comfort measures help you handle your labor more easily
and help you feel more in control. The people who care for you will not try to persuade you to use a drug for pain unless you need it to take care of a special medical problem.
All drugs affect the baby.

8. “What if my baby is born early or has special problems?”
Mother-friendly places and people will encourage mothers and families to touch, hold, breastfeed and care for their babies as much as they can. They will encourage this even
if your baby is born early or has a medical problem at birth. (However, there may be a special medical reason you shouldn’t hold and care for your baby.)

9. ”Do you circumcise baby boys?”
Medical research does not show a need to circumcise baby boys. It is painful and risky. Mother-friendly birth places discourage circumcision unless it is for religious reasons.

10. “How do you help mothers who want to breastfeed?”
The World Health Organization made this list of ways birth services support breastfeeding.
• They tell all pregnant mothers why and how to breastfeed.
• They help you start breastfeeding within 1 hour after your
baby is born.
• They show you how to breastfeed. And they show you how
to keep your milk coming in even if you have to be away
from your baby for work or other reasons.
• Newborns should have only breast milk. (However, there
may be a medical reason they cannot have it right away.)
• They encourage you and the baby to stay together all day
and all night. This is called “rooming-in.”
• They encourage you to feed your baby whenever he or she
wants to nurse, rather than at certain times.
• They should not give pacifiers (“dummies” or “soothers”)
to breastfed babies.
• They encourage you to join a group of mothers who
breastfeed. They tell you how to contact a group near you.
• They have a written policy on breastfeeding. All the
employees know about and use the ideas in the policy.
• They teach employees the skills they need to carry out
these steps.

Would you like to give this information (and more) to your
doctor, midwife or nurse?
This information was taken from The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative written for health care providers. You can get a copy of the Initiative for your doctor, midwife, or nurse by mail, e-mail, or on the World Wide Web at www.motherfriendly.org. ©2000 by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services

Class Three March 28th

Great class on Saturday. It was wonderful to experience everyone's willingness in sharing their knowledge, questions, thoughts and experiences (of all shades and colors). Pregnancy and birthing are transformative processes and there are so many narratives for each person throughout them, it's important to honor each one.

This week we talked about birthing in the squatting position and second and third stages of labor. To recap a little, the labor postures common to traditional women's cultures all over the world include sitting, kneeling, standing, squatting, or the hands-and-knees position. These postures might require various kinds of supports for mother to pull on, like chairs, bars, the embrace of a birthing partner, a wall, and even a tree (if you happen to be outdoors). Birthing in these upright positions have a list of benefits including:

• better use of gravity
• maximum circulation between mother and baby (no compression caused by the baby's weight on the mother's major blood vessels)
• better alignment of the baby to pass through the pelvis
• stronger rushes
• increased pelvic diameters when squatting or kneeling

Another interesting tid-bit is that the first recorded instance of a woman lying on her back during labor was of Louis de la Valliere, a mistress of King Louis XIV of France in 1663 and the position was requested due to Louis' desire to see the baby being born from his position (sitting behind a curtain). (Gaskin, 2003)

Ina May Gaskin, in her book, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth writes about trusting you "inner primate" and "letting your monkey do it". She says, "don't let your over-busy mind interfere with the ancient wisdom of your body". The following list is an excerpt from the book about things that women might tend to do in labor that can get in the way of the body accessing its more primitive nature:

• thinking about technology as necessary to birth-giving
• obsesing about their bodies being inadequate
• blaming their condition on others
• doing math about dialation to speculate the length of labor
• getting into a labor position that one is told to rather than what feels right
• being self-conscious about making noise, farting, pooping in labor

She continues by saying that learning to love your inner primate or horse, lion, dog etc. is a great way to get in touch with the animal instinct that is alive during birthing. Emulating an animal can allow you to access a power that you might rely on during the birth process.

So...you might think about your relationship to your primitive self and dig around a bit to see if anything there might be preventing you from imagining your ideal birth and if there is anything that you can use to guide you in having the birth experience that you truly want.

See you next Saturday!

Pregnancy Herbal Tea Recipe:

To make this tea, add about 1 teaspoon of each herb, except the yellow dock, to a glass quart jar. Use just a pinch of yellow dock, as it has a strong flavor and should be used in moderation. Add boiling water to the herbs, and let the tea steep for at least four hours for maximum absorption of vitamins and minerals. This tea tastes good at any temperature, and a quart should be drunk every day by pregnant women and nursing mothers.

• Raspberry leaf: This herb has been called “The pregnant woman’s best herbal friend” by Jeannine Parvati, author of Hygieia: A Woman’s Herbal. The foliage has long been used by native people and midwives, as it relieves morning sickness and eases birth.
  
• Yellow Dock: This herb is a mild tonic and laxative. Some sources say this herb should not be used in pregnancy, as it could cause mild diarrhea if taken in excess. Yellow dock is included in pregnancy tea, because it is an assimilated source of iron that is more effective than supplements. This plant is weed common to most of the United States.

• Alfalfa: Alfalfa is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Especially important for pregnancy is chlorophyll, as it aids in relieving morning sickness and helps prevent anemia and hemmorhaging. It is often recommended by midwives instead of an iron supplement, as it helps people build red blood cells.

• Oat Straw: Oat straw is high in mineral content, such as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. It is useful for bone building and is a nerve tonic. It is also great for menstrual cramps.
• Red Clover: This is another herb that you may encounter as not recommended for pregnancy, as in rare instances, it causes spotting. My midwives suggested using it sparingly at first. Red clover, like alfalfa, contains chlorophyll and has been called by herbalists a “God given remedy”. Its alkaline qualities purify the blood. This herb is also useful for infertility.
• Nettles: This herb also contains a lot of iron, which helps prevent anemia that is common in pregnancy.
• Lemon Balm: This plant is also beneficial for relieving the symptoms of morning sickness, and it adds a wonderful flavor to the tea. It is also beneficial for eliminating melancholy moods and may help treat mild postpartum depression.
• Peppermint: This herb is very useful for alleviating the symptoms of heartburn common in pregnancy, and it gives the tea a soothing flavor. It is very useful for calming a queasy stomach and eliminating the nausea of morning sickness.

As always, consult your midwife or doctor about any changes you make to your diet while pregnant. Herbs can cause interactions with pharmaceutical drugs, and just because they are natural, does not mean they are safe for everyone. That being said, the use of herbs in pregnancy has a long, safe record in human history.

Class One

Hello and welcome to the Mindful Birthing Blog for the session beginning on March 14th. We are delighted that you all have joined the class and look forward to spending the next two months with you during this precious time before your child's birth.

We hope this blog can be a forum to ask questions (that aren't answered in class) to get to know one another better, to exchange more information and also a way to stay connected once the class has ended.

We will be posting things that seem applicable for the class and for parenting, babying and child-rearing in general. If there are topics that you'd like to see that aren't here, just let us know.

Warmly,
Janelle, Betsy and Monica