Best Perinatal Articles

I’m consistently referencing a list full of articles that I find to be the most fascinating and helpful during the perinatal stages (on top of my blog, of course, lol).  I wanted to start a list for myself, rather than just bookmarking, and decided a blog would be the best way to share this with others – and for future reference.  I haven’t added all that I love, but have added some that are fresh on my mind for now.  I will continuously update this as I find new, impressive, articles – and if there are any that you love, please message those to me and I will review and add as I see fit!  Enjoy and happy learning!

Pregnancy

• Estimated Due Date Inaccuracies – http://www.drmomma.org/2009/09/why-pregnancy-due-dates-are-inaccurate.html
• Ultrasound Scans: A Cause for Concern – http://www.sarahbuckley.com/ultrasound-scans-cause-for-concern/
• Myth of the Placental Barrier – http://www.fitpregnancy.com/pregnancy/health/myth-placental-barrier
• Kegels are NOT Necessary - http://greenbaywi.holisticmoms.org/

Labor & Birth (And Immediate Postpartum)

• History of Birth – http://naturalchildbirth.org/natural/resources/history/history01.htm
• Childbirth Myths vs. Facts – http://www.natural-pregnancy-mentor.com/Childbirth-facts.html
• Ecstatic Birth – Hormonal Blueprint of Labor – http://www.mothering.com/pregnancy-birth/ecstatic-birth-the-hormonal-blueprint-of-labor
• Normal Birth – Do We Believe? – http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/normalbirth.asp
• Don’t Push the River – http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/inspired/river.html
• You Don’t *have* to Push – http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/pushnot.html 
• Undisturbed Birth – http://chriskresser.com/why-undisturbed-birth
• The First Hour Following Birth – http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/firsthour.asp
• Delayed Cord Clamping Video by Penny Simkin – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3RywNup2CM&feature=share
• How the Cord Clamp Injures Your Baby’s Brain – http://www.whale.to/a/morley1.html
• Physiological Cord Clamping Detailed Article – http://www.beyondconformity.co.nz/BlogRetrieve.aspx?PostID=62695&A=SearchResult&SearchID=2657800&ObjectID=62695&ObjectType=55
• How the FDA Approves Obstetric Medications – http://www.aimsusa.org/obstetricdrugs.htm

Breastfeeding

• CranioSacral Therapy & Breastfeeding Difficulties – http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/craniosacral.htm
• Watch Your Language – http://www.bobrow.net/kimberly/birth/BFLanguage.html
• A Natural Age of Weaning – http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html
• Comparison of Formulas & Breastmilk – http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-infants-toddlers/bottle-feeding/comparision-formulas-and-breastmilk
• When it Has to be Formula – http://thebabybond.com/FormulaFeedingNecessary.html

Postpartum & Parenting

• Death by Circumcision – http://www.drmomma.org/2010/05/death-from-circumcision.html
• Kangaroo Care – http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/kangaroocare.asp
• 12 Features of a High Needs Baby – http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/fussy-baby/high-need-baby/12-features-high-need-baby

Christianity as it Relates to Perinatal Events

• “Eve’s Curse” & Pain in Childbirth - http://www.christadelphianbooks.org/agora/art_less/p-q02.html
• More “Eve’s Curse” & Pain in Childbirth -  http://www.unhinderedliving.com/birthbasis.html
• Circumcision – http://www.udonet.com/circumcision/christian.html
• Circumcision Straight from the New Testament - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5&version=NIV

Websites that I Love & Have Too Many Great Articles To List Separately

• Natural Pregnancy Mentor – http://www.natural-pregnancy-mentor.com
• Midwifery Today – http://www.midiwferytoday.com
• Midwife Thinking Blog – http://www.midwifethinking.com/
• Kelly Mom – Breastfeeding & Parenting – http://www.kellymom.com/
• Best for Babes – Breastfeeding - http://www.bestforbabes.org/ 
• Peaceful Parenting – http://www.drmomma.org/
• Ask Dr. Sears – http://www.askdrsears.com/

A Doula’s Role in Birth

A doula is a “woman who serves” and a popular role in the birth industry these days.  What does a doula do?  This topic is covered in a variety of ways all over the web, but I want to cover a very important topic that seems to get lost in the mix of attended births, especially hospital births.   Although there are a few male doulas here and there, a doula typically is a woman and “serves” other women during the perinatal stages, commonly, birth. 

There are a variety of areas a doula can specialize in including antenatal doulas (who serve during pregnancy), labor doulas (rather self-explanatory), and postpartum doulas (who support during postpartum and many also provide placenta encapsulation services).  Their role, first and foremost, is SUPPORT for the mother.  We’re going to discuss that specifically in this post.

Because a mother may often require emotional and physical encouragement and/or assistance, the labor doula’s top priority is providing this type of support. 

Doulas (as adapted from DONA.org):

• Reduce fear and anxiety
• Reduce requests for pain relief
• Increase chance of spontaneous vaginal delivery
• Shorten labors
• Reduce complications
• Reduce pitocin usage
• Reduce need for interventions and cesarean delivery
• Increase use of a birth plan
• Increase positive feelings about childbirth experience
• Enable couples to feel more secure & cared for
• Increase success in adapting to new family dynamics
• Increase breastfeeding success
• Decrease risk of postpartum depression
• Increase bonding and sensitivity
• Create more self-confidence in parenting

Contrary to what many believe, advocacy is not her primary role.  And, although she may provide this type of support in some sense, she cannot change policy.  This is why parents need to understand why hiring a doula for the right reasons is so essential to a positive experience.  Let’s get a few things straight, first:

1. Get Educated
2. Make choices that SUPPORT YOUR birth philosophy and understand how those choices affect your ability to birth biologically.
3. AFTER you’ve made those choices THEN hire a doula for support and maybe advocacy if you don’t have the option of a birth philosophy-supported experience.

You really should not make birth choices that require you to use a birth guide or doula to have your wishes met.  In most locations, finding a provider to support your birth philosophy is very possible.  In many cases, yes, you likely need to be open to a home birth, but, I haven’t quite understood how parents feel safe fighting for a birth guide in a hospital rather than being thoroughly supported by a home birth anyway.  In a hospital, chances are, your L&D nurse is the one caring for you and conveying details to your provider.  A home birth midwife is typically far more experienced than an L&D nurse (especially in regards to natural birth).  Not to mention, they are right there with you and can do things to help you or transfer if needed, whereas most births in the hospital require waiting for the care provider to show up to determine risks and emergencies….hmm… something to think about.

The birth team works best when everyone supports each other and negativity is thrown out of the mix.  Negativity increases stress, which increases pain, which decreases oxygen, which triggers maternal and/or fetal distress…  See where I’m going here?  You should not choose a birth environment or care provider believing you (or dad, or your doula) can change the way they practice.  Do you have rights?  Of course.  But, so do they (and you also have to consider all those consent forms you may have signed).  And, they also have a bit more power than you might like to believe.  Better to reduce the tension and just have a great birth, don’t ya think?

Along those same lines, don’t hire your doula and forego the perinatal education because you believe your doula can educate you along the way.  Many doulas do offer childbirth education, often even private classes, BUT this is PRIOR to the birth.  A doula can absolutely provide you with on the spot pros/cons/education…etc., when necessary (which shouldn’t be needed in the average birth situation that was created through choices supporting your birth philosophy) but this should NOT be relied upon!  When you’re in the moment of birth, you don’t want to switch on that logical part of your brain to get some last-minute education.  You need to stay in that primal-brain birth mode to work with your contractions, listen to your instincts, and progress your labor.  Additionally, if you haven’t been educated, you have likely not developed a birth philosophy and therefore don’t really know what all your options are or what you want (and may not be selecting choices catering to what you would have wanted had you been educated…etc…etc.)  All of this tends to end up in a “had I known…” scenario or “wish I would have…” situation.  Doesn’t cater to the positive birth experience that could occur.

A doula is best used when physically and emotionally supporting the mother.  This can come in the form of physical touch, pressure, supporting positions, suggesting bathroom breaks, creating privacy, calming breathing, making noises, and what have you.  Telling mom “you’re doing great,” “one contraction at a time,” and remembering specifics like relaxation triggers, positive words (wave, sensation…etc. vs. contraction, pain…etc.).  She is with the woman throughout her labor rather than doing paperwork and tending to another birth.  She is also suggesting supportive techniques to the birth partner, giving the birth partner breaks, and allowing the birth partner to participate as much as they can (and prefer) to be involved.  If she has to spend her time fighting over policies and routines, telling someone she doesn’t want to labor on her back, and preventing a provider from doing things like episiotomy and early cord clamping, then her skills are not being efficiently utilized, and the mother is not being fully supported…nor using her instincts.

This is no different in a home birth.  You should not select a provider in any location where a doula needs to be your advocate.  And, because this perspective of a doula is so prominent, many midwives get offened that doulas are hired for home births.  Likewise, many mothers are not hiring doulas because they really don’t “get” how valuable they can be at home.  For the most part, a midwife offers continuous support.  However, they are often doing more clinical things that a doula doesn’t provide…. and if they’re doing clinical things, then the mother may be lacking some support that she needs.  If the mother feels like she doesn’t want to birth alone (i.e. unassisted) then she needs to select the team that best supports her.  If the midwife needs to document part of the birth, check heart tones, check blood pressure (or one of those crazy vaginal exams)…etc., the mother may want that doula-support that she isn’t getting during those times.  Not to mention the births that may require a little more clinical care than others, difficult labors, or births that need transferred.  If there is an emergency, the midwife will be focusing on health of the mother and baby.  Even when there isn’t an emergency, the midwife is watching over the mother and focusing on the health – a perspective that isn’t the same as just supporting.

Bottom line, select a birth environment that SUPPORTS you.

Birth is…

Beautiful
Instinctual
Rhythmic
Trusting
Healing

Biological
Intrinsic
Respectful
Touching
Historic

Blissful
Intimate
Raw
Tantalizing
Heavenly

Basic
Influential
Remarkable
Testing
Hopeful

Breathtaking
Incredible
Riveting
Thrilling
High

Blossoming
Individual
Remembering
Therapeutic
Heroic

Bilingual
Intertwined
Rudimentary
Telling
Home

 

Birth is… what you make it.

Acknowledging Fears

When I first found out I was pregnant this 2nd time, I briefly considered an unassisted birth – and then some fears surfaced – many from my husband, but some from myself as well.   

Going into my first birth experience, my biggest fear was the risks from an epidural and the temptation and pressure of getting one anyway – so I chose a home birth.  It had nothing to do with an empowering spiritual event – it was a choice to avoid the unecessaries and have the best chance at a natural birth.  Aside from that, I was scared of the pain, but the fear of unecessary interventions far exceeded the short amount of pain I would experience.  When I hit transition (not knowing I was there at the time – just thinking it was active labor), I got a little worried thinking “Oh my gosh – this is just going to keep getting worse” and it never did.  I had a beautiful birth – the one I planned for – but for this birth, I am looking for even more… for a biological birth experience.

Going into this birth, my biggest fear is unecessary intervention – once again.  Only this time, it isn’t the typical “intervention” you think about.  Not the heplock, the EFM, the vaginal exams, or the time limits… no, not that.  But the watching, the kind suggestions for positions, and the attendant’s need to “do something” when there is nothing to be done but labor and birth a baby.  These fears have mostly been taken care of… I’ve selected a birth team who fits with my birth philosophy.  A team I’ve communicated with so that they know my wishes – and they also understand my wishes (not simply just complying – but believing in them).  A birth team who is perfectly capable of sitting in a corner watching me moan, move, sweat, and biologically birth.  And a birth team who is also perfectly capable of telling my husband ways he can help, letting him take care of Bell, reminding  me to stay hydrated, reminding me to urinate, putting cold wash cloths on my head, and providing emotional and physical support whenever I need it should this birth doesn’t go as perfectly planned.

• Best Choice for Birth Environment – Check
• Best Choice for Birth Team – Check

So, it would seem as if all my fears are taken care of, right?  Wrong.  I still have fears that simply require positive thinking and faith.  It is very important to acknowledge all of your fears so that you may deal with them, get help for them, move past them, or accept them. 

My biggest fear is something going wrong and having a birth experience completely opposite of what I’m planning.  I expect changes, bumps, and turns.  I know things happen – I know nothing is perfect – I know birth is safe, but that doesn’t mean nothing ever goes wrong.  I respect birth for the normal bodily event that it is and do not feal I need medical attention to get through the normal process.  Just like with any normal bodily process, rare things sometimes occur that require assistance – and I respect that as well.  But, because I have so little fear of pain and birth – so little fear of the actual process - and because I talk about all the normal biological processes that occur… I fear some crazy rendition of kharma.  I fear a lesson from God, essentially…  I’ve had a lot of those over the years and have learned much from them.  Nonesense?  A little bit – but a fear nonetheless.  But it is this reason that I chose the birth team that I have in line.  I want a birth team who loves to support biological birth experiences, and who is also more than capable of watching over me – who knows when transport is necessary, and who can still continue that high quality of support should an emergency happen. 

Some fears, for many women, will just not disappear.  There is no trickery, no education, no mantra, no book, no method that can take all the fears away for some women – and that is OK.  It is OK to have fear.  Fear is a normal process in life, and has a very valid purpose.  Sometimes we make better choices because of fear.  Sometimes we are more cautious and preserve our bodies better because of fear.  As non-fearing humans, we would make many decisions that would otherwise harm ourselves or others.  Fear is in the background of morals, values, beliefs, and everyday choices.  What you choose to do with those fears is the real issue.

You can choose to only dwell on those fears – increasing the feeling to an unecessary state.  You can choose to avoid or hide those fears, causing them to resurface at inopportune moments (like during birth).  Or, you can choose to acknowledge those fears and work through them as much as possible and make choices that best accommodate those fears.

If you fear interventions, what would cause those interventions to go away?  If you fear pain, what techniques can you use to minimize and/or eliminate your pain?  If you fear a cesarean, who can help you avoid that situation?  If you fear a posterior baby, what positions can you utilize that will help with moving your baby to a more LOA position?  If you fear negative environments, how can you create a positive situation?  Only you can answer this for yourself, because every woman and birth is different.