August, 2009

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Epidural does NOT = no pain

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

Did you know the rate of drugged babies at birth in the U.S. is about 98%?  So that leaves 2% to natural births.  Definitely the minority.

A lot of pro epidural people think natural childbirth participants are crazy.  They think and feel that childbirth was painful enough with the medication, why would anyone want to do it without?

Well, maybe we should ask these questions first of the medicated delivery:

  • When were the drugs administered (after you’ve labored almost to 10cm)?
  • Was the administration of the medication painful (after all, it is injected with a very long needle into a very sensitive area)?
  • Did you feel the drugs decreased your ability to function (feel the urge for pushing, urination, no sensation in your legs, etc.)?
  • Did you feel out of it (the medication causes sleepiness)?
  • Were you conscious enough after delivery to breastfeed and bond with your baby (emotional disconnect causes pain as well)?
  • Did you take any classes or receive training for birth, whether it be natural or not (preparation reduces fear which reduces pain)?

So pain is really a subjective thing and perhaps in labor, more of the “pain” that epidural users report is due to some of the items mentioned above and not just to the act of childbirth.

I am not saying natural childbirth is for everyone as we all have our own pain tolerance but let’s at least investigate our options, explore why it is better for us and our babies and perhaps at least try to labor before signing up for the epidural at our first office visit.

Posted in Labor & Delivery, Medical Consumerism, Medical Procedures, Natural Childbirth, Pain Management | 2 Responses »
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EFM: hinderance or help?

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Fetal monitoring comes in all shapes and sizes these days.  From a simple stethoscope and kick counts to the ultrasound, doptone and electronic fetal monitoring; each has it’s own pros and cons in checking in on your little one’s vitals.

Throughout your pregnancy, your medical professional probably uses a stethoscope or doptone to listen for your baby’s heartbeat.  You will also keep track of how active your baby is by noticing the kicks and movements inside your belly.  During labor, however, the trend has been towards a more technical method of monitoring.

If you have a hospital birth, odds are they will use an external fetal monitor (EFM) to track the baby.  The EFM is composed of an electronic transducer that is strapped to your belly by means of an elastic belt that send an electronic reading of the fetal heart rate (FHR) and mother’s contractions to a base station in your birthing room.  Anytime there are any dips or raises outside of the normal range (120-160 bpm), indicating stress, an alarm beep sounds.  This also goes off if the disks slide around while you are busy laboring or if it gets wet from your water breaking, etc. which usually causes nurses to rush in to see what is happening.

An obvious benefit to fetal monitoring is in diagnosing early fetal distress and being able to closely assess a high risk mother/pregnancy.

But the risk of the rate of high false-positives are an important one to weigh when allowing EFM.  Of course, no one has good data to back this up but it is noted that out of 1000 births, an extra 30 cesarean sections and an extra 38 forceps extractions occur in continuous EFM versus intermittent auscultation.  If a alarm situation does arise, changing positions, relaxing and giving mother oxygen can all help to relieve any stressors to baby.

There is no recommendation of EFM in low-risk mothers and it does not show an improvement in maternal or fetal outcomes.  So why is it such a common occurance (about 75% of births)?  It then becomes an issue of staffing as it is recommended that it be a 1:1 ratio of nurse to patient when using intermittent monitoring but obviously if a machine is doing the work for the nurse, then they can divide their time between more patients.

Besides the risk of unnecessary medical interventions, including cesarean section, continuous EFM can be cumbersome and an annoyance, especially if you wish to labor or deliver in a tub.  It can be discussed previous to birth to perhaps have intermittent monitoring.  I do however feel that if the labor is induced, it can be a great benefit to use continuous EFM as intermittent monitoring may not pick up on all the ups and downs that baby is experiencing due to the manufactured, chemical contractions from the pitocin.

As with any medical procedure, just be informed and aware of all the benefits and risks.  Ask why do I need this?  What can happen if I don’t have it done?  Are there any other alternatives?

Posted in Complications, Labor & Delivery, Medical Consumerism, Medical Procedures | No Responses »
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I’m not a redneck but I might be a junkie…

Friday, August 14th, 2009

I came across this post the other day and I thought it was hilarious so I have listed the items that I can say “yes” to.

You might be a Birth Junkie…

  • if you blog about birth (more than just your own birth for historical purposes) or if your birth story is at least two pages long  YES!
  • if you failed math, but can quickly convert grams to pounds and ounces (approximately) YES, I CAN CONVERT BUT DID NOT FAIL MATH (I’M A RETIRED ENGINEER)
  • if you can say “vagina” in a sentence without blushing OF COURSE!  VAGINA, VAGINA, VAGINA!
  • if you can’t remember who won any gold medals for the US in the last Olympics, but you know US statistics for maternal and infant mortality, and the national C-section rate (bonus points if you know your local hospital(s) epidural, induction, and C-section rates) — if you’re not from the US, insert your own country YES!
  • if when you’re discussing something related to birth, you receive those polite but puzzled looks… right before your conversation partner moves away YES!
  • if you see a circle about 4″ big, and you think “that’s fully dilated” YES!
  • if you have a model of a pelvis, uterus, or some other female organ YES!
  • if other women get tired of telling you their birth stories before you get tired of hearing them YES!
  • if you have a library (or would love to acquire one) of birth-related books and videos YES!
  • if at least half of the blogs you regularly read are birth-related YES!
  • if someone tells you she “had to have” a particular intervention and you can come up with several alternatives that were never mentioned to her (bonus points if she doesn’t get mad or defensive) YES!
  • if you refuse to play the “my birth was worse than your birth” game YES!
  • if you know what counterpressure is and how to apply it (bonus points if you’ve done it) YES!
  • if you know what a rebozo is (bonus points if you’ve used one) YES!

I’d say based on the total list, I am not quite “addicted” but I certainly need my fix…

Posted in Natural Childbirth | No Responses »
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Perception of the perfect birth

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

The Bradley Method® of Natural Childbirth does not have a slogan per se, but if it did, perhaps it would be “healthly mother, healthy baby” as that is always the goal for any birth, unmedicated or medicated.

When planning for our births, we tend to fantasize and maybe even glamorize on how it will go.  We will be glowing, beautifully made up with no sweat and when baby appears, he will be clean and cooing and daddy will be right next to us kissing our foreheads.  That is a wonderful image and there is nothing wrong with striving for something similar if that is what you desire for your birth.  However, we do need to come back to reality and at least prepare for alterations in that dreamed, perfected birth in order to be prepared for what God and your baby may actually have in store for your birth.

Women who put the time into preparing and educating themselves on why to and how to have a natural unmedicated birth sometimes get so focused on that as the goal, that if anything does go astray from that plan, there can be great disappointment and maybe even remorse for decisions made or steps taken.  This also applies to any mother’s or father’s birth ideal.  Even mother’s who elect for epidurals may be disappointed in their pain free birth if it didn’t take effect fast enough or it wore off too soon.  Father’s who envisioned announcing the gender but a nurse quickly said it instead may also experience disappointment.

These are all normal feelings but let’s keep in mind that priority (did you know by definition you can’t have “priorities” or nothing is then the priority?) of healthy mother, healthy baby and even if a birth that was desired to be natural and unmedicated resulted in a necessary cesarean section, we need to rejoice in the miracle of life and be thankful to God.

Posted in Complications, Labor & Delivery, Natural Childbirth | No Responses »

Homemade baby cereal recipes

Monday, August 10th, 2009

As requested, here is some information and recipes on homemade baby cereals.  Also, check out this previous post on making your own baby foods.

A few things to note about making your own baby cereal:

  • You will not be able to “fortify” homemade cereals like the commercial brands.  However, you can add things to give homemade cereal a boost such as: iron from breastmilk, wheat germ or brewer’s yeast; Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables (if already introduced).
  • The easiest way to make cereals are to grind up the whole grains on your own into a powder, cooking it with water until it is a thin, soupy consistency.
  • Homemade baby cereal must be cooked.
  • Cinnamon or other mild spices may be added.
  • Quick cook grains are processed with enzymes that give them the ability to be quick cooked.  You do not want to use this variety when first introducing cereals to baby.
  • You can store the uncooked, ground grains in an air tight container in a cool, dry place (or refrigerator is your home is warm) and use as you go.
  • Homemade baby cereal may be frozen (ice cube tray method works great) but when thawing, it sometimes becomes rubbery and reconstituting might work better with adding breastmilk.  I always found mixing the cereal cubes with mashed banana made a great consistency and texture.
  • Short-grain brown rice is the ideal type of rice to use when making rice cereal.  Short-grain rice cooks up softer than medium-grain rice but also sometimes becomes sticky or pasty when pureed (if cooking rice whole and not using ground grains).
  • Also try brown jasmine , plain brown and basmati (or combinations) for different varieties of rice cereal.
  • If cereal is cooking up too sticky or too thick, add water while cooking.
  • You can also puree the cooked ground grain cereals for a smoother consistency.

Barley Cereal

1/4 cup ground barley

1 cup water

Bring liquid to a boil.  Add the barley powder and simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly.  Mix in breastmilk or juice and add fruits if desired.  Serve warm.

Rice Cereal

1/4 cup rice powder

1 cup water

Bring liquid to a boil.  Add the rice powder while stirring constantly.  Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly.  Mix in breastmilk or juice and add fruits if desired.  Serve warm.

Oat Cereal

1/4 cup ground oats (do NOT use instant or quick cooking)

3/4 cup water

Bring liquid to a boil.  Add the oat powder while stirring constantly.  Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly.  Mix in breastmilk or juice and add fruits if desired.  Serve warm.

Posted in Newborn Care | 4 Responses »
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Mom I Am (Seussian breastfeeding)

Friday, August 7th, 2009

…Last post of the series regarding World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7).  I hope you’ve been enlightened or inspired.  Here is a poem summing it all up…

Mom I Am

Written by the posters on the Mom’s Online Breastfeeding Board

Little ones can squirm and pout, 
make a fuss and scream and shout. 
When hunger hits without a doubt, 
Sit right down and whip it out. 

I would nurse her if she cried, 
I could nurse her far and wide, 
Here and there or anywhere, 
Up or down or on a chair. 
I could nurse a teddy bear, 
For this fine milk is very rare!!! 

Would you nurse him on a train? 
Would you nurse him on a plane? 
Would you nurse him in a car? 
Would you nurse him in a bar? 

Yes, on a train, yes on a plane. 
Yes, in a car, yes in a bar. 
I would nurse him here or there. 
I would nurse him anywhere! 

I would nurse him in a booth, 
On the stairs or near the roof. 
Anywhere my boy cries out, 
I pop the nummies in his mouth. 

I can serve it by the ounce, 
I can serve it while I bounce. 
In a bottle or in a jar, 
I can serve from near or far. 

Would you, could you nurse in church? 
Would you on a shaky perch? 
Would you, could you, in the stands? 
Could you nurse him with no hands? 

I would, I could nurse in church, 
Even on a shaky perch. 
In the stands, with no hands, 
I’ll nurse my baby on demand. 

Would you nurse him at the store? 
Would you nurse him on the floor? 
Would you nurse him on a ship? 
Careful not to show your nip! 
Would you nurse him while on skis? 
Would you nurse her on your knees? 
Would you nurse him in a tree? 
Mommy milk is SO GOOD, you see. 

Would you nurse him by the stream? 
You could nurse him while you dream. 
Can you nurse and clean the house? 
Can you nurse and chase a mouse? 
Can you nurse and cook a meal? 
Mommy’s milk is the real deal! 

Would you nurse him while you sleep? 
How about while you sweep? 
Could you nurse him in a sling? 
Would you, could you, while you sing? 
How about upon a swing? 
Mother’s milk is just the thing! 

Would you nurse her at the park? 
Would you nurse him in the dark? 
Would you nurse him with a Boppy? 
And when your boobs are feeling floppy? 

I would nurse him in the park, 
I would nurse her in the dark. 
I’d nurse with or without a Boppy. 
Floppy boobs will never stop me. 

Can you nurse with your seat belt on? 
Can you nurse from dusk till dawn? 
Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull, 
I will nurse her ’till she’s full! 

Can you nurse and make some soup? 
Can you nurse and feed the group? 
It makes her healthy strong and smart, 
Mommy’s milk is the best start!

Would you nurse him at the game? 
Would you nurse her in the rain? 
In front of those who dare complain? 

I would nurse him at the game. 
I would nurse her in the rain. 
As for those who protest lactation, 
I have a perfect explanation. 
Mommy milk is tailor made 
It’s perfect food, you need no aid.. 

Some may scoff and some may wriggle, 
Avert their eyes or even giggle. 
To those who can be cruel and rude, 
Remind them breast’s the perfect food! 

I would never scoff or giggle, 
Roll my eyes or even wiggle! 
I would not be so crass or crude, 
I KNOW that milk’s the perfect food! 

We make the right amount we need, 
The perfect temp for every feed. 
There’s no compare to milk from breast— 
The perfect food, above the rest. 

Those nursing smiles are oh so sweet, 
Mommy milk is such a treat. 
Human milk just can’t be beat. 

I will nurse, in any case, 
On the street or in your face. 
I will not let my baby cry,
I’ll meet her needs, I’ll always try. 
It’s not about what’s good for you, 
It’s best for babies, through and through. 

I will nurse her in my home, 
I will nurse her when I roam. 
Leave me be lads, leave me be ma’am. 
I will nurse her, mom I am. 

 Breastfeeding is best feeding.

Posted in Breastfeeding | 4 Responses »
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Lesser known breastfeeding benefits

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

…Post 6 of 7 in support of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7)…

In this post, I went over the numerous benefits to mom and baby from breastfeeding.  We are constantly finding more and more.  Here are some of the lesser known benefits to breastfeeding (per bestforbabes.org):

  • Breastfeeding your baby girl lowers her risk of breast cancer by 25% – we already know it reduces mom’s risk as well
  • Whenever you are exposed to a virus, your body will make antibodies and pass them onto your baby through your breastmilk
  • Breastmilk makes the lining of the stomach 15x stronger than formula and this maturing process is being linked to less risk of digestive diseases
  • Breastfeeding helps babies regulate their breathing – their respiratory systems are immature and being near your heart beat and hearing your lungs inflate and deflate reduces their erratic breathing
  • Breastfed babies make better eaters as toddlers – babies are exposed to different flavors and taste through your breastmilk based on what you eat
  • Human milk is like tryptophan and induces sleep and calmness
  • Breastfeeding mothers experience less postpartum depression – you produce oxytocin, the “love hormone” as your nurse
  • Breastfeeding relieves pain and discomfort – your milk contains endorphins which soothe baby during times of stress
  • Breasts act as heaters as warm baby up instead of him burning calories to do so
  • Breastfed children as less likely to be bed-wetters
  • Breastmilk can clear up eye infections

Breastfeeding is best feeding.

Posted in Breastfeeding | No Responses »
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Be a bra – support the breast

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

…Today is post 5 out of 7 for World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7)

If you’ve been blessed by the breast, whether it be you were breastfed, you breastfed or your wife breastfed, take time to appreciate this special dedication and commitment of love.  Show some support to those who do it (including yourself), those who promote it and those who support it:

  • sit down and nurse your baby
  • write a thank you to your mom, your wife, your La Leche League or your lactation consultant
  • don’t accept freebie from formula companies (including those diaper bags from the hospital)
  • treat yourself to a new bra (a sexy, lacy push-up one if you are not currently breastfeeding or invest in a truly supportive garment if you are)
  • nurse proudly in public
  • pass on a breastfeeding book to a friend or relative
  • get involved with activism and awareness of breastfeeding (ProMom.org)
  • declare it: I Make Milk, What’s your Super Power?
  • talk openly to your children about breastfeeding
  • get yourself a new nursing cover (for free here using promo code: “onefree”) or make a fancy one yourself
  • support new legislation
  • join the Global Breastfeeding Challenge - they need groups in more areas
  • be a mentor to a new mom

Breastfeeding is best feeding.

Posted in Breastfeeding, Gratitudes | No Responses »
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Breasts stimulate the economy

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

…In support of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), here is post 4 of 7…

bfb_final_economic1

 

You gotta love this idea for a new breastfeeding campaign.  It’s from the minds who also gave us “Babies Were Born to Breastfeed”.  Unfortunately, that awareness campaign was put aside in 2004 due to some industry lobbyists, probably not seeing the profit to gain.  The above advertisement was in Fit Pregnancy magazine’s June/July 2009 issues and it hits you in the pocketbook and goes hand in hand with our current president’s “stimulus” package.  Here’s another ad from the Best for Babes campaign, which goes great with this year’s theme for World Breastfeeding Week of A Vital Emergency Response.

 ZWIN-PUB-08-06953-Mom-and-Baby-BfB_Life-Saving-776x1024

Hopefully, we will be seeing these ads in some mainstream magazines.

Breastfeeding is best feeding.

Posted in Breastfeeding, In the News | No Responses »
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Michigan hospitals (and ABC’s) are NOT baby friendly

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

…Again, in support of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) here is my third post for the week on breastfeeding:

The harsh headline may be a bit of a stretch but it’s important to spread the understanding of the need for good community and professional support for breastfeeding.

The BFHI USA (Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative) organization works to implement the standards set by UNICEF/WHO (United Nations Children’s Fund/World Health Organization). 

Per their website, the reason for such an initiative is:

“More than one million infants worldwide die every year because they are not breastfed or are given other foods too early. Millions more live in poor health, contract preventable diseases, and battle malnutrition. Although
the magnitude of this death and disease is far greater in the developing world, thousands of infants in the United States suffer the ill effects of an infant formula-feeding culture. A decreased risk of diarrhea, respiratory and ear infections, and allergic skin disorders are among the many benefits of breastfeeding to infants in the industrialized world.
In the United States, these benefits could translate into millions of dollars of savings to our health care system through decreased hospitalizations and pediatric clinic visits. For diarrhea alone, approximately 200,000 US children, most of whom are young infants, are hospitalized each year at a cost of more than half a billion dollars. Many of these cases of diarrhea could have been prevented with breastfeeding. In a study of the morbidity in an affluent US population, Dewey and colleagues found that the reduction in morbidity in breastfed babies was of sufficient magnitude to be of public significance. For example, the incidence of prolonged episodes of otitis media (ear infections) was 80% lower in breastfed as compared to non-breastfed infants. The cost savings to the health care system could be enormous if breastfeeding duration increased, given that ear infections alone cost billions of dollars a year.
It is a rare exception when a woman cannot breastfeed her baby for physical or medical reasons. Yet, a woman’s ability to feel self confident and secure with her decision to breastfeed is challenged by her family and friends, the media, and health care providers. Much has been done in the past few years to strengthen the sources of support for women to breastfeed. However, no comprehensive national program has existed that focused on the efforts of hospitals and birthing centers. Although the hospital is not and should not be the only place a mother receives support for breastfeeding, hospitals provide a unique and critical link between the breastfeeding support provided prior to and after delivery.
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for lactation. The BFHI assists hospitals in giving breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies and gives special recognition to hospitals that have done so.”

In order for a hospital or birthing center in the United States to make their list, they must adhere to the following: The Ten Steps To Successful Breastfeeding

1 – Maintain a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2 – Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3 – Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4 – Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
5 – Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants.
6 – Give infants no food or drink other than breastmilk, unless medically indicated.
7 – Practice “rooming in”– allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8 – Encourage unrestricted breastfeeding.
9 – Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.
10 – Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic

This does not seem a hard task to take on or to comply to.  I think many people assume this is the care that they would or should receive at a hospital or alternative birth center.  But did you know, there are only 83 hospitals in the United States that have achieved this certification?  And there are none in Michigan?  There are three in Ohio, with the closest being Dayton.  Even with all our great medical minds in the Ann Arbor area and the great medical complexes in Detroit, no one has put forth an effort to be an effective proponent of breastfeeding.  Well, that could be attributed to the $550-900 annual fee or $3000 assessment cost a hospital would have to invest.  But that has got to be a small chunk of change in the big picture because if I knew of a hospital that had such a certification, that would lead me to choose them for my birthing place and we all know how much they stand to make off one birth (on average, $4000 minimum to upwards of $20,000 – and that’s for a natural, vaginal delivery).

Another kick in the pants is that there are over 19,000 supportive maternity facilities internationally.  Why are we always behind in the acceptance and support of breastfeeding? Again, it could be because there are no pharmaceutical backers to a natural process so there’s no money in spreading the news about breastfeeding.  Sort of off topic, but it also bothers me when formula companies state ’breastfeeding is the best food for your baby, but if you choose formula, choose ours’.

Everyone knows this is what we should be doing for our babies, so let’s get that word out.

Breastfeeding is best feeding.

Posted in Breastfeeding, In the News | No Responses »
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