Sunflower Doula Services

Maternity boutique 20% sale!

2012-01-30T19:32:00.000-07:00

On the first day of each month, Becoming Mothers, Boulder’s novel maternity and mama boutique, offers a 20% store-wide (in stock items only) to our community of mothers who participate in any type of mama-group. The shopping spree is not advertised to the public… only those who show us their membership card to a “mama`s club*” (or mention the deal if no membership card exists) receive the discount. Please share the inside info with your other mama friends. Those who join the Becoming Mothers Email List are also eligible for the discount. Simply mention “Becoming Mothers VIP” at time of purchase, we’ll verify your “membership”, and you’ll get 20% off the first day of the month.

So, ladies make sure you mention Sunflower Doula Services when you make your way over!

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

2012-01-05T14:46:00.001-07:00

Massage therapy aims to relax muscle tension and improve blood circulation in the body. During pregnancy you receive many more benefits than these. Beyond the relaxing enjoyment of massage you also receive these benefits:

Reduced back pain
Reduced joint pain
Improved circulation
Reduced edema
Reduced muscle tension and headaches
Reduced stress and anxiety
Improved oxygenation of soft tissues and muscles
Better sleep

Join us on Janaury 14th from 2-4pm for a complimentary massage and other health and wellness information. To RSVP visit our website at www.sunflowerdoula.com or click here.

DONA International 2011 Conference

2011-07-21T09:24:00.000-06:00

What do doulas do when they go to conferences with each other?

1. There is a lot of discussion about uterus'

2. We talk about babies and feeding them in various ways

3. This year we get to hear wonderful speakers, Penny Simkin will start the conference off

I am very excited about getting more education about how to help families and get refreshed by being around others in my profession.

Yeah Doulas! Watch out Boston, MA here we come!

Top 4 Mother's Day gifts for moms-to-be

2011-05-05T21:07:00.000-06:00

Mother's Day is this Sunday and there are lot's of great gifts out there for Moms-to-be. The question to celebrate or not celebrate is always on the table. If you are like me I like to have a party anytime I can and who doesn't love to get a token of affection from those that we love. Here are Sunflower Doula's Top 4 Gifts for Moms-to-be.

Preggatinis: Mixology for Mom-to-Be (Natalie Bovis Nelsen $11.53 amazon.com)

What else needs to be said. No more eyeing your non-pregnant friend with jealousy any more you can mix yourself a wonderful libation that you can drink all night long. Toast to this great tome and don’t feel left out at Girls’ Night Out/In.

Pregnancy Belly Cast Kit from Proudbody ($19.99)

Why not immortalize your bump? You can point to it every mother’s day and remind your little one where they stayed before they were born. My kids love seeing the cast from when they were, “in mommy’s tummy”. They are amazed that they could be so small. I love looking at my casts and remembering that sweet time of pregnancy.

Unbuttoned (edited by Dana Sullivan and Maureen Connolly; $10.08, amazon.com)

Tales about breastfeeding from authors who have breastfeed. This is not about the how to breastfeed but about the feeding itself from mothers. What more is there to say.

Contigo 3 Pack BPA Free Hydration Bottles ($27.95)

One piece of advice—drink more water!

Why Choose a Doula? Women Tell Their Birth Strories

2011-05-02T22:55:00.001-06:00

Today Varunner7 shares her experience about doula and her experience about giving birth to twins. You can read more about her on her blog, Two Bears Farm which she describes as "Adventurous Appalachian rural living, parenting, and blogging. And oh yeah, a little running too!"

Questions:

Sunflower Doula: Why did you have a doula at your birth?

varunner7: When I had my oldest son, I had a lot of interventions during his birth that left me unsatisfied with the process (pitocin and 2 epidurals that didn't take). I knew that when I got pregnant again I wanted to attempt to birth completely naturally. Then when I got pregnant with twins, it became even more important. It seemed like everyone I met who had had twins ended up with a c-section. I felt like having a doula present was one of the best things I could do to help fight the high c-section rate with twins. I knew that a doula could help do things to help me stay healthy during what would be a high risk pregnancy, and to help labor progress safely.

SD: What did you know about doulas before you hired one?

varunner7: Not a whole lot. I had seen The Business of Being Born and that was the extent of my knowledge.

SD: How was the doula helpful at your birth?

varunner7: She was helpful during the pregnancy too! I had some blood pressure issues, and she gave me advice about that. She also was very helpful in educating me to know what to expect. I remember when I felt the ring of fire before I delivered Reid, I knew exactly what the sensation was, and that knowledge was power to me. My birth was whirlwind fast (3 hours from start to finish) but my doula did wonderful things during the hour I was at the hospital. She put my husband to work helping to ease my back labor, and she advocated for me to the hospital staff. She knew I was progressing wickedly fast, and she kept pushing staff to check my progress. She got me ice chips and fanned me when I got overheated, and she coached me along in a very gentle manner.

SD: How did your doula interact with your midwife/doctor?

varunner7: The doctor barely had time to get there because things happened so fast, but my doula did tell him not to use stirrups (instead, my legs were supported by nurses) and she also coached the doctor to provide support during pushing in an effort to prevent tearing. When I had some hemorrhaging post-birth (very common with twins), she reassured me with the interventions that occured that they were necessary at the time.

SD: For what type of person would you recommend a doula?

varunner7: For anyone who wants support through pregnancy and the birthing process beyond the sterile support of doctors or nurses. A doula will be a warm, caring advocate for you regardless of the direction your birth takes.

SD: Is there anything else you would like to add about experience with a doula?

varunner7: When I think back on my birth experience with the twins, I have all warm feelings. I wouldn't change any of it. I think a lot of that is directly related to all of the affirmations my doula gave me, and the support she provided. She taught me to embrace the process of birthing and as a result I am able to look back on the birth with no regrets.

Why Choose a Doula? Women Tell Their Birth Strories

2011-04-27T22:53:00.000-06:00

I had a lovely time chatting with Quirky Momma about doulas and midwives and her experience with both. Rachel Miller is the momma behind the fantastic site Quirky Momma: Activities for Kids, Tips for Moms. She has crafts, activities and more to help you stay sane while raising your little ones and as former public school teacher she includes educational and developmentally appropriate ideas for the kiddos.

Sunflower Doula: Why did you have a midwife/doula at your birth?

Quirky Momma: Honestly, I got a doula because we didn’t have the insurance to spend on the hospital charges. I thought about labor and decided that two-three hours of real labor would help our family save $3000. At the local hospital I would have gone to had a 98% epidural rate and the C-section rate was 33-35%. Looking around I almost all of my friends have had a c-section. I found Certified Midwives that practiced at a birth center and for one of my births and then had two other children at home with a lay midwife. For one of my births the baby was breech but the midwife waited to see if he would drop in labor and he did.

SD: What did you know about midwives before you hired one?

QM: I don’t remember how I found about midwives

SD: How was the midwife/doula helpful at your birth?

QM: At different times and in different ways. The first time the midwife was barely there and just caught her. I went from 1-10cms in 45 minutes. The second time (breech) my doula was very much on top of labor. It took 8-9 for hours for the baby to drop. We were almost about to transport, but the doula asked, “Can we give her one more hour?”, and then he dropped immediately. I have a history of fast births. The fourth was three hours and that is it. The last time my doula was phenomenal, at the end of labor I lost it and she focused me back again. She got her bossy mommy voice on and helped me snap me out of it. She even did my dishes before she left.

SD: For what type of person would you recommend a doula?

QM: Probably first time moms who are not sure what they feeling. It would have been the most helpful knowing that having that feeling of having to go to the bathroom is normal. The first time I didn’t know I was having a baby so quickly.

SD: Is there anything else you would like to add about experience with a doula?

QM: My midwife shared with me a tip for after birth; take cayenne pepper in a pill form. It helps increase clotting. Post-bleeding was extremely short. I still needed to take care of my other children and I could move around a lot sooner. No side effects.

Link between Postpartum Depression and C-Sections?

2011-04-19T22:21:00.000-06:00

The rates of women having C-sections has risen along with the rates of women having Postpartum Mood Disorders. Is there a connection? This article explains more: Is there a link between C-Sections and Postpartum Mood Disorders?

One risk that may increase the risk of Postpartum Mood Disorders:

1. Limited bonding opportunities after birth: Unlike a vaginal birth where baby is placed on mom’s chest immediately after birth, most Cesareans do not provide access/bonding between mother and child during the “Golden Hour” (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/710137) which interferes with bonding and initial breastfeeding.

One way to decrease your risk of C-section:

Educate yourself about the risks of a surgical birth. Cesareans, bottom line, are surgical births. While they are absolutely necessary in a small percentage of cases, they are used more and more with no justifiable root cause. Advocate for a vaginal birth if at all possible. A good place to start educating yourself is at Childbirth.org (http://www.childbirth.org) While you may not be planning on a Cesarean, you may find yourself facing one during labor. A knowledgeable, educated woman will know her rights, know the risks, and be prepared to discuss them intelligently with her doctor. Involve your partner is this education as well so he/she is ready and able to go to bat for your rights as well.

Another way to advocate for yourself is to hire a doula. She can help you and your partner be as educated as possible about surgical birth and the if medically necessary she can help you make sure that you can bond with baby immediately and as much as possible afterwards.

Wow! Is all I can say: "Pregnant In Heels"

2011-04-18T22:21:00.000-06:00

Um okay? What do you think about this show? This episode was disturbing to me: In labor but still stylish. At least she knows that the recovery time for a C-section is longer.

Why Choose a Doula? Women Tell Their Birth Strories

2011-04-18T21:16:00.002-06:00

Many women chose doulas for various reasons. This interview is with S.R. Gruber (@srgruber) she is a self professed: writer, gardener, knitter, reading geek mama.

Sunflower Doula: Why did you have a doula at your birth?

S.R.:We didn’t have a doula at my first birth, and I very much wished we had. For my second, I found wonderful midwives, and we had friends and family who would have happily stayed with us, but it was important to us that our four year old daughter be supported by someone who knew and trusted the birth process. I knew a doula would provide that.

SD: What did you know about doulas before you hired one?

S.R.: I had read a number of books about birthing and talked to many people about their experiences. I knew that a doula’s responsibility is support for the mother, in whatever form that may take, and that while she may not give medical advice, she may answer (and ask) questions and help the mother decide for herself.

SD: How was the doula helpful at your birth?

S.R.: She was so quiet and unobtrusive—I remember her arriving quietly and helping start the water for the birthing tub, and helped the midwives set up when they arrived. My daughter- now 6- remembers doing puzzles and playing baseball in the backyard at dawn. (Doulas are saints.) I remember her mostly as a calm presence off to the side of the room. My attention was elsewhere, and thanks to her I could focus on delivering and not worry about my daughter, or the midwives, or my husband.

SD: How did your doula interact with your midwife/doctor?

S.R.: Both of my midwives told me later that she had been a wonderful source of support for them, as well, by finding supplies and making coffee and just being generally helpful with whatever they needed. They really looked forward to working with her in the future. I had experienced doctors and nurses not working well together during my first birth, and that had been incredibly stressful and upsetting, so I was especially grateful to find caregivers who were compatible. I was completely focused on laboring and was only peripherally aware of the people around me. It was a blessing to be able to do that and trust that my doula and my midwives were taking care of everything else.

SD: For what type of person would you recommend a doula?

S.R.: Everyone should have a doula—it may be a question of finding the right doula for the right person, but absolutely everyone should have access to a doula if they wish for one. There’s so much less anxiety and fear when you have that kind of support.

SD: Is there anything else you would like to add about experience with a doula?

S.R.: I had labors which were very similar in patterns and timing, but completely different in terms of emotional response and recovery times, and I think that was very much due to being surrounded by people who trusted the birth process and were able to let me do what I needed to do. I had a wonderful and speedy delivery with an equally speedy recovery time, and I’m very grateful to her for her presence and support.

Why buy kids clothes new, When you can get them used?

2011-04-07T00:05:00.001-06:00

I am a huge fan of buying my kids clothes, toys, and bikes used. (Please don't tell them, they think Santa brought them) They grow out their clothes so quickly that it makes more sense to buy from the consignment store or thrift shop. This weekend Shop Kids is having their Mega Sale at the Twin Peaks Mall in Longmont. (Yes, it is worth the drive!)

They are not joking with the title it is Mega!!! Moms and the like stand outside of the doors mentally elbowing each other for the coveted space to be first in line. If you are one of the lucky ones, you will have a pre-sale pass and can enter before everyone else. Sunflower Doula has some pre-sale passes that I am happy to share. Email me and I can will pass them along to you. We will also be there at the sale talking babies and birth. Stop by our table to enter in our raffle for:

Binsi

a wonderful birth goddess necklace designed by River of Life Bead Works
a gift certificate to Binsi
a scrap booking kit to save those birth and after memories
yummy snacks and so much more!

We also have special coupons for birth and postpartum packages in the sponsor bags. Other sponsors include:

Laila Ali Gives Birth to Daughter - Moms & Babies - UsMagazine.com

2011-04-05T15:47:00.000-06:00

Congrats to Laila Ali and Curtis Conway

Laila Ali Gives Birth to Daughter - Moms & Babies - UsMagazine.com

#3 of Basic Things You Won't Believe You're All Doing Wrong

2011-04-05T14:26:00.002-06:00

I wanna make some of these!

My husband has a geeky way of looking at these types of websites after he is done work before watching TV. He loves to show me all of the silly things that he finds on the internet like the Star Wars crocheted amigurumi and the like. I give the, "Yes dear, that's cute!", and go back to doing whatever I was doing before. Yesterday, I stopped in my tracks because he found this list and #3 hit home.

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I was so excited to see birth make the cut in a positive way!!! The article goes on to say that the lithotomy position(flat on your back, using the stir-ups) is not the way to have a baby and that you are pushing against gravity to get the baby out. They even go further to explain the position and where it came from(yep, it was the for the doctor's convenience and a really strange king, look it up if you don't believe me)! Now my husband had my full attention. It was great. Check out the website here to read more. The number one take away is that you can have a baby in many different ways but lying on your back is not one.

The Great Cloth Diaper Change!

2011-04-02T12:02:00.001-06:00

Come to Childish Things Consignment at 3183 Walnut St., Boulder, CO on April 23, 2011 to participate in a simultaneous change of your infant into a cloth diaper. Anyone with an infant or toddler can participate. No previous experience cloth diapering is necessary. You need to pre-register here to get a spot in this Guinness Book of Records event. There will be raffles and Goodie bags. Baby Legs, The WOW Museum, and Suthe are just some of the wonderful sponsors. The event begins at 10:30am sharp but you can begin to arrive at the store at 9:45am.

Ultimate Blog Party 2011!

2011-04-01T22:39:00.000-06:00

It is April and time for the annual Ultimate Blog Party! Help! I'm Expecting! is joining in t the blog hopping fun and welcome all of my friends are are blogging along with me. This blog is about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and all things related to having a baby. I try to post about healthy alternatives and what is "in" and "hot"with moms to be and beyond.

I am a birth and postpartum doula and the owner of Sunflower Doula Services if you are in the Colorado area drop me a line and we can talk babies, bellies and birth!!!!

What is the difference between a midwife and a doula?

2011-03-30T21:04:00.002-06:00

I get asked this question quite often. Frankly, I get asked the differences between a midwife and doula at least once a week. I think the this comes up a lot is the fact that both are lesser understood professions in the birth world and are now coming back into focus in mainstream society.

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Here are the differences:

A doula is not a medical care provider, a midwife is. A midwife is responsible for you and your baby's health (clinical).
A midwife can give you prenatal care, deliver you baby and take care of you postpartum. Some midwives also do well-woman checkups. A birth doula usually comes into the picture around your second or third trimester. A postpartum doula is there for your family after the baby is born.
A doula is with you during your entire labor and delivery. A midwife (CNM, CPM, CM or Lay midwife) will normally come to your labor when things are getting closer to delivery.
A postpartum doula will come to your home and provide breastfeeding support, take care of your during your recovery and give you information about you and your newborn. A midwife will do a 6 week check up.
A doula's main purpose is to provide you with emotional, physical and informational support. She does not make decisions for you. She is there to give you the information and time you need to make the decisions necessary for a healthy birth.

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You can have a doula and a midwife(any type) at your birth and during your postpartum period. They are there to compliment each other as members of your birth team. They are there to assist you to have the healthiest and most empowered birth experience you have.

"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it." John H. Kennell, MD

"Women's strongest feelings [in terms of their birthings], positive and negative, focus on the way they were treated by their caregivers." Annie Kennedy & Penny Simkin

Breastfeeding Class in Boulder, Colorado

2011-03-29T13:53:00.009-06:00

Becoming Mothers Maternity Care Blog: Breastfeeding & Newborn 101: A Note From Stephanie

Becoming Mothers is a wonderful maternity and breastfeeding support store located in Boulder, CO. The beauty of this store is that they have the essentials for maternity and postpartum care. On top of that they also have a great IBCLC that owns adn teaches at the store. Her next "Just the Essentials Breastfeeding Class" is May 2nd at 6:30pm. Mention this blog post you get $5 off of the class.

Stop on over to the store and check out the class and you can also get a hospital grade pump there, since they are now tax deductible!

Expecting Dolls!

2011-03-29T13:27:00.000-06:00

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When teaching about the process of birth to children it can be really difficult to explain let alone show. Just the other day I had to explain that, "No, your little brother did not come out of my belly button." I have explained this to my son a few times, but it is difficult to talk about in the abstract.

The Mamamour dolls actually give birth and are anatomically correct. They have a range of dolls, some show breastfeeding, birth and baby wearing. They are adorable and I love their hair. As a mom, I think is cool, but as a doula, I think this is super cool.
Read more about the dolls at Reality Dolls

The Numerous Benefits of Kangaroo Care

2011-03-28T12:11:00.001-06:00

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Many hospitals now offer Kangaroo Care as routine process for each and every baby. Skin to skin care offers babies and mothers the opportunity to bond and get to know each other but there are also numerous medical benefits:

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The benefits of kangaroo care to the baby include:

Stabilization of the baby's heart rate
Improved (more regular) breathing pattern
Improved oxygen saturation levels (an indicator of how well oxygen is being delivered to all the infants organs and tissues)
Gain in sleep time
More rapid weight gain
Decreased crying
More successful breastfeeding episodes
Earlier hospital discharge

The benefits of kangaroo care to the parents include:

Improved bonding, feelings of closeness with their babies
Increased breast milk supply
Increased confidence in ability to care for their babies
Increased confidence that their babies are well cared for
Increased sense of control 1

The other wonderful about Kangaroo care is that it allows mom and baby time to gaze into each other's eyes and begin the journey of loving and caring for each other. It is one of the most precious moments in the time of a mother and baby's life. A time when no words are needed and communication is transported through the skin. Read more at: 'Kangaroo Care' has multiple benefits for mother and baby'

Article on Dr. Niles Bergman and Kangaroo Care

Spectacular Water Birth | Deseret News

2011-03-25T14:33:00.000-06:00

This was a touching story about a grandmother witnessing her daughter's water birth. I was especially excited that she had a certified doula there to assist in her birth. Yeah!!! for everyone involved and welcome to the new life entering this world!

Spectacular Water Birth | Deseret News: "http://bit.ly/gxXRTl"

Top 3 ways to have a blissful postpartum period

2011-03-24T15:49:00.006-06:00

Part III: Take care of yourself first!

I will admit that I am the worst at this. I take care of my children, husband, friends, pets, extended family, and the passerby before I take care of myself. The one thing that I think I learned the most from my second child is that I must take care of myself before everyone else in order to take care of everyone else better. This concept goes beyond everything that women are socialized to think. It’s like scraping your fingernails against a chalkboard. Why is it so hard to take care of yourself before your newborn? It is usually guilt that paralyzes new mother’s from taking the time to do self care. Let go off the guilt and know that you are doing the best thing by taking care of yourself for your newborn.

Why is self care so important? New mothers must allow their bodies to recover from pregnancy. There is so much happening internally and mentally that we need some down time to tackle the smallest feat like drinking enough water. That is number one for everyone but it falls to the backseat when diapering, feeding and loving on the new little arrival. Drinking water will help give you energy, keep your skin glowing, and allow you to keep passing out of your body any unnecessary toxins you may be storing.

Rest is the next elusive self care piece to the puzzle. I know that it sounds impossible to sleep when the baby is sleeping, but you have to. The other thing that you can do is ask for help to take a nap when it is possible. Ask your postpartum doula to stay long enough for you to take an hour nap so that you can feel refreshed and ready to tackle those night time feedings.

Monitor your exercise. When your lochia starts to look red again it may mean that you are doing too much and need to go put your feet up. You can take baby with you and cuddle. Lochia is a great decoder for what is going on inside of your uterus. If the lochia is not changing color as the days and weeks go by it means that your body is working so hard doing other things it can’t also heal the space in your uterus where the placenta detached from.

Tucks pads or cosmetic pads with witch hazel are your friend. They will ease your hemorrhoids (that’s right I said it aloud hemorrhoids) they can appear before or after birth and it is difficult to take care of them if you are running around being “Super Mom”. The witch hazel is a wonderful astringent and if you are feeling really poopy, sticks them in the fridge.

Eating well and eating lots of restorative foods like “fresh fruit, raw vegetables, melted cheese on toast, cottage cheese, and yogurt with raisins, sunflower seeds, nugget-type cereal, or low-fat granola.” Will help with constipation, and build back up your iron. Sunflower Doulas will do grocery pick-up and prepare meals for you and your family, which takes one more step of eating right and getting rest out of the equation.

Taking care of your self doesn't just include these physical suggestions but also includes emotional and mental health care. Baby blues are normal but monitor how you feel and if things are out of sorts, phone your care provider and a friend. Having friends around who can relate to what you are going through are a life saver. See if there are any local moms groups in the area and meet up with ladies who are figuring out if it is day or night also.

Mel B - Pregnant Melanie Brown Wants Pain-Free Birth

2011-03-22T09:59:00.000-06:00

Mel B from the Spice Girls is expecting her third child and is worried about having it be a pain free experience and is hoping for a smaller baby. Interesting! I know these are normal concerns and many women have them when looking forwards to the impending day of labor. I have two concerns with this announcement by Ms. Brown:

1. The media already does a great job at putting fear into women's heads about the pain of labor and how an epidural will "save" them from these experience.

2. 9 pounds is not an extremely large baby and having five pound babies early would drop the jaws of the hard workers at the March of Dimes. They advocate heavily for babies to be born on their own schedule (not pre-term for non-medical reasons).

Mel B - Pregnant Melanie Brown Wants Pain-Free Birth

I hope that women are not reading about Mel B and worrying that having a baby is too painful, because the truth of the matter is that pain is relative and there are many coping and comfort measures that can be made to ease the discomfort of the cervix opening and your body helping your baby be born.

1. Take a childbirth education class that focuses on comfort techniques and how to have a natural childbirth. Some hospital classes do not discuss natural birth in detail and you should ask about that specifically to all educators before signing up. If you are interested in hypnosis, there are many classes out there that specialize.

2. Hire a doula, she will be there to comfort you the entire labor and studies have shown that women are 34% more satisfied with their birth experience and 25% less likely to use pain medication. ("Continuous support for women during childbirth(Review)", Hodnett, Gates, Hofmeyr, Sakala, and Weston (2011))

biggest baby girl ever!

2011-03-21T15:32:00.000-06:00

I thought my boy was a pretty big guy at birth but this "little" girl has him beat! She weighed in at 12lbs. 8oz in the U.K. Congrats to the family and a big congrats to mom for a healthy and happy natural birth!

To read more go to Mail Online.

Chinese Pregnancy Calendar

2011-03-17T23:36:00.000-06:00

Based on this chart I should have had a son and daughter, but I have two boys. I think they turned out to be pretty adorable.

Top 3 ways to have a blissful postpartum period

2011-03-15T10:13:00.000-06:00

Part II: Hire a postpartum doula

It can be daunting to decide whether or not you will want postpartum support before your baby is born. I usually recommend to my childbirth education students to look into postpartum support earlier than later. You will be able to think about the options clearly and interview doulas while not sleep deprived.

How do I know I need help?

If you answer Yes to any of these questions than it might be helpful to have professional postpartum care and support.

Is this your first baby?

Are you planning on not having family help after the baby is born?

Are you planning on having family help after the baby is born?

Are you having multiples?

Are you anxious about breastfeeding?

Do you have another older child?

Do you have a history of depression?

As you can see from the questions above there are multiple situations where having an extra set of eyes and ears can be extremely helpful after the baby is born. Family is wonderful especially the first few days after birth. A postpartum doula can be a great addition to your family but differs greatly from family members because she is there just for mom, baby, and other household members. She is capable of helping with household functions like preparing a meal, helping with mom’s recovery after birth and giving dad/partner a break from taking care of the family. She brings with her professional training and reflective listening skills to allow for processing the birth and keeping the family calm and loved. I equate a postpartum doula to a warm batch of chocolate cookies baking in the oven.

You will need to interview a postpartum doula just like anyone else on your birth team. I usually suggest when looking for a postpartum doula to ask your birth doula if she does postpartum work also. If not, then ask her who she has worked with in the past. If you do not have a birth doula, than you will need to search the internet or go to a local Meet the Doula night.

When looking for a postpartum doula ask yourself what are the top three things I need my doula to have? Is it experience, a great personality, or she can cook nourishing meals. Make a list and then ask these questions at the interview. DONA International also has list of questions to ask postpartum doulas at interviews. The other option is to call a local doula agency and hire a trusted doula from their staff. A doula agency works the same as nanny agency in which you get a person who has been background checked and is an employee/contractor of the agency, and she has the backing of a third party. Some agencies offer packages that will give you a discounted price on services. (Don’t forget to ask for postpartum doula services on your gift registry!)

I have a postpartum doula, now what?

Once you find a postpartum doula, meet with her before your birth to go over your needs and wants and create a plan for after you have the baby. Most doulas schedule in increments of hours and may have a minimum of time they spend with a family. All of this will be worked out before baby arrives and you will only need to call and say that you are ready for her to come over. She is like your babymoon concierge and is there to help you pull together all of necessary items you will need to settle in and bond with you baby and new family.

Part III of this series is how to take care of you first. It sounds contradictory to how to take care of a newborn, but it is essential to your physical, mental and emotional well being to take care of yourself and then your baby. I’ll talk more about it soon!

Top 3 ways to have a blissful postpartum period

2011-03-09T23:39:00.000-07:00

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Prepare before the baby is born

My advice for all women who are planning on having a baby in the near future is to plan and prepare for the baby's arrival before the baby is born. Our society has us spend a large amount of time preparing for the labor and delivery either by attending childbirth education classes, reading books, or watching videos. A small amount of the time in classes and books is spent on the days to six weeks following the birth.

It is really critical for all mothers-to-be to figure out what they may need beyond the physical items that they may add to a gift registry. Think about the essentials. How will you sleep? Eat? Have clean clothing? How will you feed this new little baby?

Most importantly how will you take care of you mental and emotional health? By looking at how you handled previous majoy life transitions you can look back and devise the tools and skills that you will employ during this next life transition of birth. Knowing that you are the type of person who may need to get out for a walk to clear your head is important because then you can plan and prepare ahead of time for ways to get out either alone or with the baby for a quick walk in the day.

For me I needed lots of rest to allow my body to restore itself and I could feel rejuvenated. That meant sleep for me. The old adage "sleep when the baby sleeps", was useful, but I planned for times when I could get more sleep in the evening and take a nap in the day. It made a huge difference in my day when I felt rested.

Asking for the help ahead of time is tricky, especially if this is your first baby. Which leads me to my next suggestion and blog post. Find a postpartum doula who can help you plan for the next couple of months now.

Go check out this site!

2011-03-05T20:56:00.000-07:00

Organic Baby University has a ton of great information about organic products and tutorials. Here is a blog post that I wrote for them on postpartum doulas.

http://organicbabyuniversity.com/blog/2011/03/what-do-i-do-after-i-have-the-baby-a-doula-can-help/

Ask A Doula!: HeatherGail Lovejoy PCD(DONA)

2011-03-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

Sunflower Doula: What type of doula are you?

HeatherGail Lovejoy: I am a DONA Certified Postpartum Doula.

SD: When and why did you become a doula?

HGL: I started my studies to become a postpartum doula in the fall of 2003. I have always been drawn to the postpartum period and was thrilled to find out there was an education and certification offered to support families during their first few weeks home with their little ones. I would see families have their babies; well meaning friends and family would come over to “see the baby,” but no one was really asking the mama what they could do for her or how she was and expecting an honest answer. I also noticed that Dad was sometimes lost in it all.

SD: Do you have a particularly memorable experience that would highlight the work you do?

HGL: There are many! My memories are made up of watching new parents go from the craziness that bringing a newborn home can bring to finding their comfortable rhythm as a new family. I love observing and being a part of the whole transition. I know that all will be all be ok, but the sleep-deprived, up to their knees in diaper changes and feedings, parents are not so sure. Sometimes the small things really make a difference. For example, providing a kind word or offering a quiet moment to let her just be with her thoughts while she tries to verbalize them.

A high point came when I was caring for a family with twins. We were working on the parents learning how to comfort the babies. In the back room, Dad had Baby A, who was starting to cry so I immediately went to offer assistance. What I found was Dad with his shirt off holding baby in only a diaper (skin to skin care) and Dad says, “We’re fine, I am just practicing some kangaroo care, can you please close the door?” Of course! I just had to giggle because it was so awesome to see Dad take the skin to skin suggestion all new parents receive and implement it in his own time and his own way.

SD: What’s it like being a doula in California?

HGL: That is an interesting question! Birth doula support has been around for many years in both Northern and Southern California, mostly in the metropolitan areas. I think overall we are quite fortunate that the term “doula” is becoming more of a respected household/medical community word. I remember in 2005 I was the very first PCD(DONA) in Northern California! It has been an incredible experience to not only share what I have to offer as a PCD(DONA) but talking about the need for postpartum doula support in general. I have only experienced positive support and interest from Californian families.

SD: You’re currently the Western Pacific U.S. Regional Director for DONA International. Can you tell us a little about what that entails?

HGL: As the Western Pacific U.S. Regional Director, I am available to all the DONA Int’l members of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington. In each state we try to have a SPAR (State/Provincial Area Representative). I work with the SPAR’s to support the membership in whatever way we can. Sometimes we may be planning a community membership meeting or advanced doula workshop that offers CEU opportunities. We work hard on putting together our quarterly contributions to the Regional editions of our online newsletter The eDoula. I really enjoy being able to connect with many amazing doulas every day. It is such a privilege to be a part of an organization with amazing, smart and very capable doulas and business owners who are changing the world for the better for our birthing families! Another aspect I really enjoy is coming alongside new doulas and helping them learn about DONA and doula support. I really enjoy the mentoring that takes place. I am always learning from them how to be a better doula for our families.

SD: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your work as a doula?

HGL: I think I would like to share that it truly is an honor to be invited into a family’s home during such a precious, vulnerable life-changing time. What a privilege to tend to and witness new parents finding the confidence and understanding for their new little one(s). If I had to pick a favorite thing about offering postpartum doula support (and there are many!) I would say it is that moment when the realization comes to parents that they know and understand their baby(ies) and that they really can parent them. This is bittersweet though because that is about the time I will gracefully exit knowing that this family will be just fine; they really do not need my postpartum doula care anymore.

Birth by the numbers

2011-02-25T16:40:00.000-07:00

This video has been written about before, but I wanted to show this video along with some of the media that has been surrounding infant mortality rates. After watching the video, I hope that the conclusion that the increased rates of infant mortality are not by coincidence but there is overt institutional racism impacting the numbers. Like most institutional racism, the problem has been rewritten to make those that are victim to be their own culprits. The video also talks about the increased rate of cesarean sections in the U.S. and the myth that mothers are asking for them. It is all very interesting and makes me think about why people perceive that their maternity care is the best in the world when the numbers are clear that the U.S. has a lot of work to do.

Disclose.tv - B1RTH BY THE NUMBERS Video

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/07/18/message-on-a-mattress-how-many-babies-would-still-be-alive/

http://www.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/healthAuthors/MCH/Images/infantmortality/Safe_Sleep_ad.jpg

BABIES’ TASTES SWAYED EVEN BEFORE BIRTH

2011-02-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

The Denver Post had an interesting article about Sweet and Sour in the paper today and this little piece was attached to the rest of that article. I just want to say that I am not advocating for the formula that they are talking about in the piece but wanted to share about how flavor can transmit through amniotic fluid.

BABIES’ TASTES SWAYED EVEN BEFORE BIRTH on Page 2A of Sunday, February 20, 2011 issue of The Denver Post The Associated Press
Our earliest exposures to different foods helps determine the flavors we like and dislike, said Gary Beauchamp of the nonprofit Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia.

Components of flavor can transmit in amniotic fluid, Beauchamp said, citing a study that gave carrot juice to women in the last trimester of pregnancy. At age 6 months, babies drank carrot juice for the first time, and those who had been exposed in the womb liked it more than babies who hadn’t been exposed.

Another study examined how babies react to a special hydrolized-protein formula that might help them digest but that Beauchamp said tastes “just awful.” Babies given it before they’re 3 months old don’t mind; they suck down bottles with gusto.

But if they don’t taste it until they’re older? A video showed a tot’s whole face screw up in a grimace as he pushed the bottle away.

Infants similarly develop a preference for saltier foods the earlier they taste them, he said, and that’s important because Americans eat more than double the amount of salt necessary for good health.

Once again people are being ridiculous!

2011-02-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

I am not sure what is worse, the fact that she was asked to leave for feeding her child, or the comments below the article. One person actually wrote that she should have gone in the bathroom, and another wrote:

Why aren't breastfeeding mom's using a pump to store their milk for later consumption?
Why do mom's feel the need to not schedule their outside activities around the child's feeding schedule
Why do mom's feel the need to do this in the most public of places
While I understand not feeding in a bathroom, couldn't they go back to their car or ask a manager for a more private space.
And shouldn't the law be amended to say public spaces must provide a way to limit exposure, like using Japanese shoji screens.
Pulling the full breast out is just a power game. The child is using a few centimeters of the breast.

There are more there and a small video clip from the local news station.

Woman Says Mall Made Her Leave For Breastfeeding In Public

By MB Quirk on February 16, 2011 12:15 PM

Rhonda B. is none too pleased with her local mall for giving her the boot because she was breastfeeding. She says security workers at Fairfield Commons Mall in Beavercreek, OH, told her other shoppers had complained that she was feeding her two-month-old daughter and she'd have to leave.

Rhonda related her store to the local news, saying she was told, "ma'am you are not allowed to breastfeed in public inside the mall." When Rhonda retorted that she's allowed to breastfeed anywhere, the officer called for back up and she was again, told to leave, as it was a private facility.

Read the rest of the article and see the news clip here.

Breast Pump deductible debate!

2011-02-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

Now there is a debate about the IRS deducting breast pumps. Congresswoman Bachman from Minnesota has gone on the radio to denounce Michelle Obama for supporting the decision to have breast pumps as deductions. Ladies, this should not have become political. Babies need to eat and mothers should not have to chose between giving their children food or going to work. It is that simple!

Michele Bachmann: Michelle Obama Trying To Implement A 'Nanny State' With Health Initiative

The Huffington Post Nick Wing
First Posted: 02/16/11 07:01 AM Updated: 02/16/11 07:01 AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) took aim at a First Lady Michelle Obama and her trademark health initiative Tuesday, claiming that her recent efforts to encourage mothers to breastfeed their children were really part of a plan to implement a new "nanny state," perhaps because she was priming for a future Senate run.

"This is very consistent with where the hard left is coming from," Bachmann said on "The Laura Ingraham Show" of Obama's effort, which urges childhood nursing as a way to reduce obesity. "For them, government is the answer to every problem."

Bachmann then explained that she had breastfed all five of her children, but argued that the concept of creating a federal program that would reward such a practice was outrageous.

"To think that government has to go out and buy my breast pump for my babies? You wanna talk about the nanny state, I think you just got a new definition," Bachmann said.

Ingraham then asked Bachmann if she saw the first lady's leadership on these health issues as evidence that she was posturing for a political career of her own.

"She might," Bachmann said, according to Politico. "Can you imagine if Laura Bush was doing that, out trying to pass her legislation? I think the media would have been after her."

"Continuous Labor Support Reduces Risk of Cesarean Section and Other Adverse Outcomes in Women and Newborns"

2011-02-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

The Cochrane Library just published a new review stating that doulas are a beneficial support person during labor. The review tracked the statistics for three different types of support, hospital staff, a person in the woman's support network, and person solely providing one-to-one support such as a doula. Well the numbers came out as doula support with the highest effective rate:

28% less likely to have a cesarean section
31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to speed labor
9% less likely to use any pain medication
34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively.

Here is an article about the review:

Continuous Labor Support Reduces Risk of Cesarean Section and Other Adverse Outcomes in Women and Newborns

Type of Caregiver Can Make a Big Difference in Labor Experience
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - February 16, 2011) - Women who labor with a dedicated support companion are less likely than women without such support to experience a series of risky birth procedures, according to a review published in the current issue of The Cochrane Library. The comprehensive study of experiences of 15,061 women who participated in 21 randomized controlled trials confirms previously known benefits for maternal health, identifies an additional benefit for newborns, and finds no downsides. The study was carried out through the prestigious Cochrane Collaboration, an independent international organization that prepares and keeps up to date rigorous systematic reviews of evidence from the best available studies.
Overall, women who received supportive care from a companion throughout labor were less likely than women without such support to have a cesarean section, to use narcotics or any other pain medication, to use regional pain medication such as epidural analgesia, to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps, and to rate their childbirth experience poorly. Having continuous support shortened labor and increased the likelihood of having a "spontaneous" birth with neither cesarean nor vacuum extraction nor forceps. These results confirm previous research. With the inclusion of six new randomized controlled trials, the present systematic review, identified another benefit of continuous labor support: reduced likelihood of a baby with a poor "Apgar score" rating of well being five minutes after birth. The authors conclude that all women should have continuous support while giving birth.
Ellen D. Hodnett, RN, PhD, Professor and Heather M. Reisman Chair of Perinatal Nursing Research, University of Toronto, and co-authors of "Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth" limited the study to randomized controlled trials. This type of research helps ensure that study groups are similar and that results are a true reflection of the effects of the care being studied -- here, continuous labor support.
"Cesarean section, vacuum extraction and forceps, and pain medications are interventions that increase the likelihood of adverse short- and longer-term effects in women and babies. Continuous labor support is an important way for women to avoid overuse and harms of these practices, and to have a positive experience at this special time," said Carol Sakala, PhD, MSPH, Director of Programs at Childbirth Connection. Dr. Sakala is a co-author of the report.
Supportive care during labor and birth does not involve clinical care, and may include:
helping women with physical comfort
providing emotional support
offering information
helping women communicate their wishes to caregivers
engaging women's husbands or partners, as desired by the couple.
Impact Depends on Type of CaregiverThe study provides new knowledge about effects of continuous labor support under different conditions. A major finding is that the impact of this care appears to differ, according to the type of person providing the care. Effects were strongest when the caregiver was neither a member of the hospital staff nor a person in the woman's social network, and was present solely to provide one-to-one supportive care, such as a doula. Compared with women who had no continuous support, women with companions who were neither on the hospital staff nor in the woman's social network were:
28% less likely to have a cesarean section
31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to speed labor
9% less likely to use any pain medication
34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively.
When compared with no continuous support, continuous support by members of the hospital staff did not appear to reduce the likelihood of having a cesarean section or improve ratings of the childbirth experience and may have increased the likelihood of using synthetic oxytocin. These results may reflect the fact that hospital staff can experience divided loyalties, additional duties, and constraints of institutional policies when providing continuous support. Continuous support from a person in the mother's social network (for example, her partner, husband, other relative, or friend) appeared to increase the mother's satisfaction with her childbirth experience, but did not seem to impact her likelihood of undergoing a series of labor and birth interventions.
BackgroundHistorically, laboring women routinely received support from female companions. However, more recently in hospitals worldwide, continuous labor support has become the exception rather than the norm. "There is concern about widespread dehumanization of women's birth experiences," said Dr. Hodnett. "Concern about institutional routines, high rates of intervention in healthy women and newborns, limits on women's autonomy and control, unfamiliar personnel, and lack of privacy is leading to calls for making continuous labor support widely available to childbearing women."
Leading options for continuous labor support in the United States include trained labor support companions known as doulas and -- for satisfaction with the childbirth experience -- the help of a friend or family member who is invited to be present when a woman gives birth. Childbirth Connection's second national Listening to Mothers survey found that just 3% of women who gave birth in U.S. hospitals in 2005 experienced the most beneficial type of labor support, in the form of doula care. Although insurance coverage of doula services is limited, trained doulas are available in many communities throughout the United States. Typically, a woman (and her partner, if she has one) selects a doula during pregnancy, and they discuss the woman's goals, preferences, and concerns. Some hospitals sponsor doula programs to increase access to continuous labor support. In addition to continuous presence during labor, birth doulas may provide some support in the days after birth.
"Hiring a doula was one of the best decisions my husband and I made during pregnancy," said new mom Jenny McElroy. "Though we prepared by reading books, taking childbirth classes, and practicing comfort techniques, we were inexperienced with childbirth. Our doula knew exactly how to help my husband support me, help me cope with the pain, and help us stay calm and have the birth experience we wanted."
Effective Strategy for Improving Maternity Care Quality and ValueMedicaid programs and taxpayers cover about 42% of the nation's births, and private insurers and employers cover about half. The review authors encourage policy makers to provide coverage and hospitals to provide programs for continuous labor support. "The benefits of continuous labor support for mothers and babies are numerous, well established, and compelling, and warrant economic analyses of the relative costs and benefits," said Maureen Corry, MPH, Executive Director of Childbirth Connection. "Medicaid programs and others seeking ways to improve maternity care quality and value and women's experiences of care should consider continuous labor support as a key component of a high-quality, high-value maternity care system."
Resources for Childbearing Women, Health Professionals and Policy MakersChildbirth Connection's website includes an in-depth evidence-based section to help childbearing women understand the benefits of continuous labor support, decide whether to have a continuous labor support companion, and arrange for such care (see http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ClickedLink=257&ck=10178&area=27). The professional area of the website includes a summary of results of the updated review and provides access to the full review, at www.childbirthconnection.org/laborsupportreview/.

What does a private nutrition and herbal consultation look like?

2011-02-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

An INSIDE Look into a PRIVATE Nutritional and Herbal Consultation

It's been a month since you've made your various New Year's Resolutions to change your diet, boost your immune system and get yourself fit. How are they going thus far? Need a private consultation?

Sometimes we need support when it comes to reaching our optimal health. A private nutritional/herbal consultation is like having a cheerleader on the sidelines while we're trying to score a goal or a coach drawing the play diagrams and offering words of wisdom. Bottom line, a private consultation provides space for you to ask questions, learn, set goals and discover your own route to health.

What should I bring to the Initial Consultation?

HONESTY:

The first concept to consider is what a private consultation looks like. Most practitioners offer a private, comfortable space where their clients can feel safe. They will do their best to meet your needs, so being direct and honest is worthwhile. Confidentiality is crucial in a client-practitioner relationship and it's in your best interest to sign a Confidentiality Form before starting your consultation.

COMMITMENT:

Before your initial consultation, it's important to think about the changes you may want to make and how you want to go about making them. When meeting with a practitioner, you may have a main complaint such as chronic fatigue or losing those 5 extra pounds. In order to remedy the complaint and reach the goals you set with your practitioner, being committed to the plan you create is crucial because you will have to do the work to reach the goals you desire. The practitioner will listen, educate, offer suggestions, and support you throughout this process. Commitment is no easy task and at times your level of commitment may waver, but this is YOUR health and these are YOUR goals, so remember YOU make change happen.

What happens during the Initial Consultation?

QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS:

When shopping for a practitioner, know that professional practices differ. Everyone has their own tools and levels of educational background and clinical experience. Being a Certified Clinical Herbalist and a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, I ask questions about the person's health history, diet, and lifestyle.

In my practice, I offer an initial consultation during which I ask questions about all the various body systems to try to look at all the pieces to the puzzle. If the client is ever uncomfortable with the topics, he/she has permission to ask me for any embarrassing tidbits I may have to share about my body systems. We are all human, right? Next, we delve into personal history and I inquire about specific moments in history that may help to give more insight. It's a lengthy process but once the bases are covered, then the deeper discovery can happen. After a thorough intake, I provide handouts on specific health conditions and suggest nutritional supplements, lifestyle and dietary considerations and herbal remedies. The client then chooses their route for optimal health.

NEXT STEPS:

This part is a work in progress. The practitioner will offer insight and suggestions, and share information about your personal condition. You may set goals to achieve or a design a list of daily practices to add to your routine. Every move from here is YOUR decision. This is YOUR game plan and your coach and cheerleader are right there supporting YOU as YOU make the goal.

For more information call:

Marisa Buchsbaum, CCH, CCN, Doula

917.667.6907

Tree of Life Doula

Nurturing the Fruits of Your Labor

Breast Pumps are now deductible!!!!!!!

2011-02-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

This is great news for all mothers. Many times breast pumps are that medical device that helps moms get over a barrier or obstacle to establish their breast milk. This is major for mothers who also work outside of the home and need to provide baby with milk. Yeah!

From Yahoo News

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, The Associated Press – Thu Feb 10, 1:45 pm ET

WASHINGTON – The cost of breast pumps will now be considered tax-deductible medical expenses under a ruling issued by the Internal Revenue Service Thursday.

The ruling, long sought by advocates, means that women will be able to use money set aside in pretax spending accounts to buy the pumps and related equipment, which can cost several hundred dollars. For women without flexible spending accounts, the cost of pumps will be tax deductible if their total medical costs exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income.

Previously, the IRS considered breast pumps to be feeding equipment, not medical devices. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics argued that breastfeeding has many medical benefits for both mother and baby. Advocates hope that making breast pumps more affordable will enable more women to breastfeed longer.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that women breastfeed their babies for at least a year.

"Unfortunately, due to financial restraints and work demands, not all women are afforded the opportunity to nurse their children, despite the proven health benefits," the academy said in a 2009 letter to IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman that was also signed by nine other medical groups. "In order to continue to breastfeed successfully, millions of mothers working outside the house require a breast pump."

Last year, 45 members of Congress wrote the IRS to protest its classification of breast pumps. On Thursday, several issued a statement praising the new ruling. They were Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.

"Today's decision is a huge victory for nursing mothers everywhere. Modern medicine has documented numerous health benefits linked to breastfeeding, including a reduced risk of illness in infants and a reduced risk of cancer in mothers," the lawmakers said in a statement. "And because breastfeeding is so effective in preventing disease, it also happens to save billions in health care costs."

Solids and childhood obesity

2011-02-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

There is more information about solids debate: So it seems that giving solid foods before 4 months may increase the rate of childhood obesity. The study can be found in the journal Pediatrics and it states that there was a "six-fold" increase to the rate of obesity for bottle-fed infants who received solid foods as early as 4 months.

Here is the rest of the article:

Solid foods should not be given to infants before 4 months of age, according to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. A new study lends support to that advice, especially for bottle-fed infants. Those who were introduced to solid foods before 4 months of age had a six-fold increase in the odds of being obese at age 3.Child obesity is an alarming problem in the United States. Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General issued recommendations to encourage breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Numerous studies show that breastfeeding confers many health and cognitive advantages on babies and even improves the mother's health.The new study, by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard, examined 847 children. In the first four months of life, 568 of the babies were breastfed and 279 were formula-fed. By age 3, 9% of the children in the study were obese. The researchers found, however, that bottle-fed babies who received solid foods before age 4 months were at much higher risk for obesity. Among babies who were breastfed for at least four months, the timing of solid food was not linked to obesity at age 3. Bottle-fed babies who did not receive solid foods until at least 6 months also did not have an increased risk of obesity.Other studies have also shown that starting solid food too early in life raises the risk of obesity. And, the authors of the study noted, solid foods are often introduced too early because the parents believe the baby is hungry or because the infant is already large.Meanwhile, they wrote: "Breastfeeding may promote self-regulation of an infant's energy intake, and the mother may learn to recognize her infant's hunger and satiety cues."

The study was published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

If you want to read it over on the LA Times Blog go here: Solid food for infants should be carefully timed to lower obesity risk

Even Rhinos have breech births!!!!

2011-02-03T21:40:00.000-07:00

I must be on an zoological kick this week! I had to share this story though, it shows that vaginal breech births can and do happen with a little assistance and that colostrum is essential. The only part of the story that I wondered about is why the rhino mama's colostrum wasn't used. That maybe asking the zookeepers too much to have to milk a rhino!

Trunks up when I call your name: Elephants make sure they are counted in zoo stocktake

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
12th January 2011

Putting a hand up is how schoolchildren respond to their name during roll call.

And it seems things aren’t so different at Whipsnade Zoo. When Asian elephant Karishma, 12, and her eight-month-old calf George needed to be counted during stocktaking they obliged by raising their trunks.

Hands up: Keeper Elizabeth Becker counts 12-year-old Asian elephant Karishma and her calf, eight-month-old George in the stocktake at Whipsnade Zoo. With typical youthful enthusiasm, George also appeared to make a grab for elephant keeper Elizabeth Becker’s clipboard.

The elephants are among 200 species of animal being checked in the annual stocktake which began this week at the zoo in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. Other newcomers this year include two baby rhinos, five cheetahs, and 41 penguins.

You're keen: Elizabeth Becker gives George a loving hand-off as he makes a grab for her clipboard

Also on the clipboard will be two animals zoo staff are delighted to see. Beluki the Asian Rhino will be ticked off alongside her baby Miracle after keepers at Whipsnade hand-reared the calf to save her life. Miracle was a breech birth, emerging bottom first, leaving her traumatised and unable to suckle properly. Zoo staff, fearing for her life, camped out in sleeping bags in the next door hay barn and took the rare step of intervening to bottle fed the calf with the vital colostrum she needed, sourced from local cows. Keepers and vets worked round the clock for three days to monitor the calf's condition as she battled to survive, and their efforts were rewarded when Miracle started feeding by herself from her mother.

Asian Rhino Beluki admires her newly born baby Miracle after keepers at Whipsnade Zoo battled for three days to save the calf's life

Here's a tip: Watched pots never boil...

2011-02-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

I feel for poor Mei Xiang, the giant panda. She is being watched like a hawk while scientist are trying to figure out if she is pregnant from a recent artificial insemination procedure. She must be on pins and needles with all of this observation. It probably would best to give her some space and wait until spring, guys. Or you could try acupuncture!

Posted at 1:30 PM ET, 02/ 1/2011

Panda pregnancy watch begins at the Zoo

By Michael E. Ruane

The National Zoo announced Tuesday that its annual giant panda pregnancy watch has begun, with the artificial insemination of its female giant panda, Mei Xiang, on Saturday and Sunday.

The zoo, assisted by Chinese veterinarian Tang Chunxiang, of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, attempted to have Mei Xiang and the zoo’s male giant panda, Tian Tian, mate naturally on Saturday.

When that failed, the scientists inseminated Mei Xiang with frozen sperm taken from Tian Tian in 2005 -- the same year that artificial insemination produced the pregnancy that resulted in the pair’s lone cub, Tai Shan.

The zoo is focusing intense effort this year and next year on trying to achieve a pregnancy with its giant pandas, and may be able to request new pandas from the China, if the effort fails.

The zoo’s current giant pandas have been at the facility for over a decade and, to the zoo’s dismay, Tai Shan has been their only cub. China recently signed a new agreement allowing the zoo to have giant pandas for five more years.

Panda gestation usually runs 90 to 185 days. In the coming weeks, experts will closely monitor Mei Xiang and perform ultrasounds to try to determine if she is pregnant. But because of the mysteries of panda reproduction, they may not be able to tell for sure unless a cub does or does not materialize by spring.

Artificial Pancreas Could Help Pregnant Diabetic Women

2011-01-31T20:04:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of information out in the Internet world about gestational diabetes but this article focuses on a new study about helping women with Type 1 Diabetes and the use of an artificial pancreas. If you have Type 1 Diabetes what struggles have you dealt with during pregnancy?

Study: Artificial Pancreas Makes Pregnancy Safer for Women With Type 1 Diabetes

By Nicky Broyd
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Rob Hicks, MD

Jan. 31, 2011 -- For the first time, research has successfully demonstrated the potential benefits of an artificial pancreas inpregnant women with type 1 diabetes. It’s hoped the development, funded by Diabetes UK, could drastically reduce cases of stillbirth and mortality rates among pregnant women with the condition.

Pregnancy and Diabetes

Pregnancy poses additional risks for women with diabetes as hormonal changes make it very difficult to keep blood glucose levels within a safe range, especially at night. As a result of high blood glucose levels, babies of women with diabetes are five times as likely to be stillborn, three times as likely to die in their first months of life, and twice as likely to have a major deformity.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in pregnancy is a major cause of maternal mortality.

Strict glycemic control is more readily achievable by pregnant women with type 2 diabetes. However, researchers say there has been a disappointing lack of progress in managing type 1 diabetes in pregnancy.

Around 18.8 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with diabetes. The CDC says type 1 diabetes accounts for about 5% of adult cases of diabetes.

Artificial Pancreas

The pancreas produces insulin, the hormone that helps to control blood sugar levels. For this latest study, led by Helen Murphy, MD, of Cambridge University, the performance of an artificial pancreas or "closed-loop insulin delivery system" was evaluated in 10 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. The researchers found the device was able to automatically provide the right amount of insulin at the right time, maintain near-normal blood glucose levels, and, in turn, prevent nocturnal hypoglycemia in both early and late pregnancy.

The artificial pancreas was created by combining a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with an insulin pump, both of which are already used separately by many people with type 1 diabetes.

An insulin pump removes the need for a series of daily insulin injections. However, people with diabetes still have to test their blood glucose levels frequently and calculate the amount of insulin to take. In comparison, the "artificial pancreas" takes minute-by-minute glucose readings from interstitial fluid using a continuous glucose monitor. The signal will then be transmitted wirelessly to a handheld computer, which calculates the amount of insulin needed. That information is then sent to an insulin pump, which delivers the insulin.

Previous studies have shown improved blood glucose control and reduced hypoglycemia with overnight use of an artificial pancreas in children with type 1 diabetes, but this is the first time it has been successfully used in pregnant women with the condition.

“For women with type 1 diabetes, self-management is particularly challenging during pregnancy due to physiological and hormonal changes. Previous studies indicate that pregnant women with the condition spend an average of ten hours a day with glucose levels outside the recommended target,” Murphy says in a statement.

“These high blood glucose levels increase the risk of congenital malformation, stillbirth, neonatal death, preterm delivery, macrosomia [oversized babies], and neonatal admission. So to discover an artificial pancreas can help maintain near-normal glucose levels in these women is very promising,” she says.

On Jezebel.com:Want To Work In Antarctica? Take The Mandatory Pregnancy Test First

2011-01-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

The headline of this blog post on Jezebel.com caught me by surprise when I first saw it. I thought oh my that is gender discrimination at the highest level. I read the article which can be read here, and was bewildered that this actually happens. I am curious to find out what others think about this situation. Is it fair that women have to take a pregnancy test in order to do research and work in Antarctica?

Revealing the Mystery of Red Raspberry

2011-01-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

I am excited to present my first guest blogger, and a fellow Sunflower Doula Services doula. Marisa is a certified clinical nutritionist and herbalist. She is accepting clients as a birth doula and does private consultations. If you are interested in contacting her please visit www.sunflowerdoula.com for more information or call 720-204-8397.

Revealing the Mystery of Red Raspberry

Congratulations! You are embarking on the magical journey of pregnancy. There are so many paths to take, decisions to make, and questions to investigate. One of these questions that many mommies-to-be ask is, “What is the story about Red Raspberry leaf?” As your trusty certified clinical herbalist and certified clinical nutritionist, I can unlock the mystery to this conundrum.

First of all, Red Raspberry leaf, Rubus idaeus, is an herbal ally used for centuries by the Greeks, Chinese, and Native Indians for many health conditions and nourishment. Nutritionally speaking, it is high in calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and other essential minerals like phosphorus and potassium. Since it is a food source, the vitamins and nutrients are readily absorbed by the body. The leaves contain an alkaloid called fragrine which helps to tone the smooth muscles of the reproductive system including the uterus. It is an excellent herb for increasing fertility, assisting with hormonal changes, toning the digestive tract, enriching and increasing milk production, and helping to restore the system following childbirth.

Pregnant women should always consult their healthcare practitioners before taking herbal supplements. When to start drinking Red Raspberry is a personal choice one has to make for herself. From a Vitalist perspective, during the first trimester, the body's higher intelligence will create a safe and nurturing place for the growing baby. With the help of pre-natal multivitamins to add supplemental nutrition and nourishment, the body will support this incredible change. Many famous herbalists state that Rubus idaeus is safe to take throughout pregnancy, especially when combined with other nutritive herbs like alfalfa, nettles, and oat straw. Make sure to hydrate with lots of water throughout the day in between cups of tea because they tend to be drying. Drink and enjoy!

To prepare a Red Raspberry tea:

Add 1-2 tablespoons of the dried leaf per cup of boiling water and let steep 10-20 minutes.

Yummy Pregnancy Tea

2 parts red raspberry leaf

1 part nettle

pinch of cinnamon

pinch of citrus peel

Place herbs in quart jar. Pour boiling water over herbs. Cover with lid and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain and drink throughout the day.

Resources:

Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar

Woman's Book of Herbs by Deb Soule

Marisa Buchsbaum is a certified clinical herbalist and certified clinical nutritionist with a focus on family education. Her practice, Tree of Life Doula, offers families professional labor support as well as nutritional and herbal private consultations. She can be reached at treeoflifedoula@gmail.com and loves to dialogue about health and healing.

Portman's Pregnancy Splash

2011-01-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

Bear with me on this one:

Black Swan star Natalie Portman has revealed that she swims every day as part of her pregnancy fitness regime.

The 29-year-old actress, who is expecting her first child with fiancé Benjamin Millepied, said that she likes to hit the pool daily to keep herself in shape during her pregnancy.

'I have been swimming every day,' she told US Weekly. 'When I am in my womb-like environment, I am hoping the baby is feeling peaceful.'

I don't usually follow what celebrities are doing with their pregnancies, but I thought this was interesting. Natalie Portman is embracing a wonderful fitness regime for pregnancy! Swimming is ideal for pregnancy because it causes no extra stress or strain to your joints. There are so many benefits which include:

A low-impact cardiovascular workout
Your body becomes better at processing oxygen
Improved circulation
Increased muscle tone (if you do the breast stroke it increases the muscle tone in your back and chest)
Feeling of weightlessness
Better sleep
Less fatigue
Lower stress

As with all exercise, you should consult a physician before beginning any exercise routine.

Starting Solids - The Facts Behind Today's Media Hype

2011-01-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

The Analytical Armadillo has written a very detailed and wonderful article about the latest study that I wrote about a few days ago called: Six months of exclusive breast feeding: how good is the evidence? This very thoughtful Armadillo goes on to discuss section by section of the study and media coverage and cites other papers and the study itself to show that there is more to be read and that as parents it is always good to dig deeper.

Read the article here: http://www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2011/01/starting-solids-facts-behind-todays.html

Breastfeeding study raises doubts over guidelines

2011-01-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

This new study makes me worry in so many ways. Not because I think introducing solid foods are bad if your child is ready for them, but there maybe some other scientific failings going on with these studies. I would like to know what causes the iron deficiencies in this one population over the other populations. Are there nutritional gaps that may exist in the UK by the mothers that were studied. I know that maternal nutrition does not get enough concern and is often overlooked. (If you are looking for more information on nutrition before, during and after pregnancy please go to HapiMoms.com for classes in the area.)

Also, you can give solid foods and breastfeed at the same they can go hand in hand they don't have to be exclusive, one or the other.

The other idea that is floating in my head is who sponsored the study. I know that the University College London completed the study but who funded this study? Well here is the article:

– Fri Jan 14, 7:42 am ET

LONDON (AFP) – Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months is not necessarily best for a baby's health, British researchers said Friday, calling into question advice given to new mothers.

The team led by a paediatrician from University College London said babies fed only breast milk could suffer iron deficiency and may be more prone to allergies.

The study says babies could start to be weaned on to solids as early as four months, although other experts advised sticking to the existing guidelines.

Ten years ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that infants should be exclusively breastfed for six months.

"Many Western countries, including 65 percent of European member states and the United States, elected not to follow this recommendation fully, or at all," the authors said, although Britain did.

The WHO recommendation "rested largely" on a review of 16 studies, including seven from developing countries.

It concluded that babies given only breast milk for six months had fewer infections and experienced no growth problems.

But another review of 33 studies found "no compelling evidence" not to introduce solids at four to six months, the experts said.

Some studies have also shown that breastfeeding for six months fails to give babies all the nutrition they need.

One US study from 2007 found that babies exclusively breastfed for six months were more likely to develop anaemia than those introduced to solids at four to six months.

On the issue of allergies, the British study said researchers in Sweden found that the incidence of early onset coeliac disease increased after a recommendation to delay introduction of gluten until age six months, "and it fell to previous levels after the recommendation reverted to four months".

AFP/File – A mother breastfeeding her newborn baby. Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months is not necessarily …

The authors said however that exclusively breastfeeding for six months remains the best recommendation for developing countries, which have higher death rates from infection.

But in developed countries, it could lead to adverse health outcomes and may "reduce the window for introducing new tastes".

"Bitter tastes, in particular, may be important in the later acceptance of green leafy vegetables, which may potentially affect later food preferences with influence on health outcomes such as obesity."

The researchers said the European Food Safety Authority's panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies has concluded that for infants across the EU, complementary foods may be introduced safely between four to six months.

Experts in Britain challenged the findings of the new study.

Janet Fyle, professional policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, said: "I really must challenge the suggestion from the review that the UK should reconsider its current advice on exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

"I believe that this is a retrograde step and plays into the hands of the baby food industry which has failed to support the six-month exclusive breastfeeding policy in the UK."

Post-Partum Pooch Class this Saturday at the Longmont Recreational Center

2011-01-14T16:59:00.000-07:00

Baby pooch is something that many women do not like to talk about, but it is a reality for many moms. The muscles that have done such a wonderful job holding in your beautiful baby and protecting your back from strain need to receive a little love and kindness post pregnancy also. Lynn's class is amazing and theraputic. You will learn exactly what diastasis recti is and if you have it. You will also learn simple ways to fix the separation.

LOSE YOUR POST-PARTUM POOCH

SATURDAY, JAN 15, 2011 2 - 3:30 PM $20

How to strengthen your abs after having a baby?

Longmont Recreational Center, 310 Quail Road, Longmont CO

by Lynn Leech, PT Intuitive Hands Physical Therapy

Whether you had a baby 4 weeks or 4 years ago, you’re likely still struggling with getting rid of your post-partum pooch. That belly just doesn’t want to go away. You might have tried crunches, sit-ups, exercise classes but those didn’t work. Come and learn from an expert how to properly rebuild your abdominal strength after having a baby! Learn how to re-build your core from the inside-out, the progression of exercises from simple to advanced., and learn which exercises you shouldn’t be doing.

The class will also discuss and tell you how to heal diastasis recti - separation of your stomach muscles - a common condition after pregnancy. No matter how old your baby is, you will benefit from the techniques presented in the class to keep your core strong.

More information can be found at HapiMoms.com

Food Cravings: Decoded

2011-01-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

photo credit

I have always wondered why we crave certain types of food and I am especially curious about food cravings during pregnancy. I "Stumbled" upon this website today and thought it was interesting how this chart tells you what you crave, what your body really needs, and the healthy food alternative for the craving. I can't even count the number of times that I have craved chocolate and really should be eating raw nuts instead. Like everything in life, if you are allergic to it you should not eat it and if you are concerned about a certain type of food during pregnancy, ask your medical care provider about if it is safe to eat.
Thanks Dr. Colleen Huber, ND at Naturopathy Works!

Food Cravings:

If you crave this...

What you really need is...

And here are healthy

foods that have it:

Chocolate	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Sweets	Chromium	Broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, calves liver, chicken
	Carbon	Fresh fruits
	Phosphorus	Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes, grains
	Sulfur	Cranberries, horseradish, cruciferous vegetables, kale, cabbage
	Tryptophan	Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
Bread, toast	Nitrogen	High protein foods: fish, meat, nuts, beans
Oily snacks, fatty foods	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Coffee or tea	Phosphorous	Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes
	Sulfur	Egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables
	NaCl (salt)	Sea salt, apple cider vinegar (on salad)
	Iron	Meat, fish and poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Alcohol, recreational drugs	Protein	Meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, nuts
	Avenin	Granola, oatmeal
	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
	Glutamine	Supplement glutamine powder for withdrawal, raw cabbage juice
	Potassium	Sun-dried black olives, potato peel broth, seaweed, bitter greens
Chewing ice	Iron	Meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Burned food	Carbon	Fresh fruits
Soda and other carbonated drinks	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Salty foods	Chloride	Raw goat milk, fish, unrefined sea salt
Acid foods	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Preference for liquids rather than solids	Water	Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Preference for solids rather than liquids	Water	You have been so dehydrated for so long that you have lost your thirst. Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Cool drinks	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
Pre-menstrual cravings	Zinc	Red meats (especially organ meats), seafood, leafy vegetables, root vegetables
General overeating	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tryptophan	Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green, red fruits and vegetables
Lack of appetite	Vitamin B1	Nuts, seeds, beans, liver and other organ meats
	Vitamin B3	Tuna, halibut, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seeds and legumes
	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
	Chloride	Raw goat milk, unrefined sea salt
Tobacco	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green and red fruits and vegetables

Debates rage about home birth

2011-01-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

So it seems that there is a very large debate about home birth happening on a blog called Babble.com and this article discusses what the two sides have said and what the heavy weights (Ina May Gaskin and Dr. Amy Tuteur ) are bringing to the debate. I think that no matter what side you fall on, you should always do your research into alternatives and procedures. Find out what is important to you and ask questions. Having a baby is important! Having a satisfying experience is important and feeling safe and cared for is also important! Remember that every birth is different and to not let your voice get lost in the shuffle of care management systems no matter what direction you go. If you feel like you need more support get a doula, she is an advocate for you and will be there to support you regardless of where you decide to have your baby.
~Sunflower Doula

January 4, 2011, 11:31 AM

Debating Home Birth

By LISA BELKIN

And you thought conversations on Motherlode became heated? Click on over to Babble.com, where flames have been thrown for two weeks and counting.

A post there on Dec. 21 cited statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that showed that pregnancy related death rose in the United States from 1998 to 2005. (According to Babble.com, the rate was 14.5 per 100,000 live births in 2005; it had been 7.6 per 100,000 at its all time low in 1986.)

Exploring the possible reasons for this increase, the writer dismissed the effect of an increase in home births during the same period (“Home Birth? No way,” she wrote. “Less than 2.5 percent of births are taking place at home, most with healthy and successful outcomes.”) More likely causes, she concluded, were the increase in the percentage of older mothers, obese mothers, diabetic mothers and those with hypertension. “We should not only work on the access to good prenatal care for all women in our country,” she concludes, “but we should also be working on our own health before having children.”

A few hours after the post went up Dr. Amy Tuteur left a comment. Tuteur, a obstetrician and gynecologist, runs the Web site The Skeptical OB where she often writes about what she sees as the dangers of home births and the inadequate training of midwives. She corrected what she saw as errors in the Babble post, writing: “No, maternal mortality is NOT rising. It has fallen in 2006 and fallen again in 2007 to 12.7/100,000, facts that this piece completely ignores. Moreover, it is far from clear that maternal mortality was ever rising. A careful review of the data suggests that changes in the way that maternal mortality is assessed may be leading to a spurious ‘increase’ in maternal mortality.”

All was quiet for a week. Then, on Dec. 29, Ina May Gaskin weighed in. Gaskin, who runs the Farm Midwifery Center in Summertown, Tenn., and who blogs at inamay.com, is as vocal an advocate for home birth as Tuteur is a critic. She responded to Tuteur’s post saying: “Dr. Amy Tuteur seems to think that she can explain away high U.S. maternal death rates by stating her suppositions as if they were facts. If we want maternal death rates to be lower, we should approach the difficult subject of maternal mortality with the greatest honesty we can muster.”

She went on to cite a series of reports. Tutuer came back to question the authority and interpretation of those studies. Gaskin repeated that maternal mortality is on the rise, and that hospitals, ob/gyns and technology are the reason. Tuteur repeated that the only growing danger to women is when they give birth without proper medical oversight.

Babble went to Twitter to fan the flames, saying: “Are you team Ina May Gaskin or Dr. Amy? See what they have to say about pregnancy related deaths in the U.S.”

Readers began weighing in, with increasing vitriol, alternately accusing obstetricians and nurse midwives of turning a blind eye to patients’ health. The debate was still raging in the early hours this morning.

If you care to join in, you can find it here. And if you have insights into the why of it — the reasons arguments over childbirth so often devolve into demonization — use the comments below to clue me in. Do midwives truly believe that doctors who spend nearly a decade training in obstetrics are out to hurt women and children? Do doctors really see home-birth advocates as the moral equivalent of snake-oil salesmen?

Isn’t the obvious answer somewhere in the middle — a recognition that birth should be treated as a natural event, until it isn’t. And that it should happen in a homelike environment within a hospital, because when things go wrong they go wrong quickly?

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that the rate for pregnancy related deaths was 14.5 percent per 100,000 live births in 2005 and 7.6 percent per 100,000 in 1986. It was 14.5 per 100,000 live births in 2005 and 7.6 per 100,000 in 1986.

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/debating-home-birth/

Breech deliveries needing to be relearned by medical care providers

2011-01-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

It has now for a few decades been an unfortunate truth that if you have a breech baby. Baby that is not facing head down. There are a limited number of obstetricians who will be able to successfully delver the baby as a breech presentation. A myth that has come because of this is that breech deliveries are impossible and the only way to deliver a breech baby is by cesarean delivery. This article from Science Daily is informative because it talks about the fact that a breech presentation delivery is possible with a properly trained person and that the skills are now having to be taught to an entirely new generation from those who are retiring. I hope that this skill does not become lost and that the current and new birth care providers are willing and ready to learn.

Breaching the Breech Protocol: Researcher Advocates Returning to Old-School Methods for Delivering Breech Babies

ScienceDaily (Dec. 7, 2010) — Most babies are

delivered head-first, but in about 4% of all deliveries babies are "born breech" -- with their buttocks or feet first. Doctors usually exercise caution and use caesarean sections (C-sections) as the delivery method of choice for such births, believing it safer for the baby. After a large-scale international study in 2000, C-sections became the near-universal choice for such births. But now researchers at Tel Aviv University are saying that, under certain circumstances, traditional vaginal delivery for breech babies is not only safe for baby, but even safer for mommy. To read the rest of the article click here at Science Daily.

Mom defies doctor, has baby her way

2010-12-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

By Elizabeth Cohen, Senior Medical Correspondent

December 16, 2010 1:28 p.m. EST

(CNN) -- On Thursday, December 2, as Aneka sat at home nine months pregnant, the phone rang.

It was her obstetrician wanting to know where the heck she was. Did Aneka forget that today was the day for her cesarean section? How could she have forgotten?

No, Aneka hadn't forgotten. She hadn't shown up intentionally.

"She told me, 'You're being irresponsible. Your baby could die. You could die,'" Aneka recalls. Then the doctor hung up.

Aneka (she doesn't want her last name used) had already resolved to not have a C-section, even though the doctor told her it was absolutely necessary. She wasn't going to be opened up surgically, no matter what her doctor said, no matter what any doctor said.

In some online communities, Aneka is a hero who defied the obstetrical establishment and gave birth her way. To many doctors, however, she's a risk-taker who put her and her baby in peril by giving birth at home.

'No, no, no, you can't do this'

Aneka's story begins nine years ago with the birth of her first daughter, Nya. After 10 hours of labor, her doctor told her she wasn't progressing quickly enough, and she needed a C-section.

"I didn't know any better, so I said OK," Aneka says.

In a postpartum visit six weeks later, the doctor told her she'd needed the surgery because her hips were too small to pass the baby.

"I thought to myself, what's she talking about, I don't have small hips," Aneka remembers.

Four years later, doctors told Aneka she couldn't deliver her second child vaginally, since Nya had been delivered by C-section. Studies show when a woman gives birth vaginally after having had a previous C-section, there's a higher chance her uterus will rupture since she's pushing against scar tissue.

Then again, when Aneka was pregnant with her third child, son Adasjan, she had a C-section for the same reason.

When she became pregnant with her fourth child, a boy named Annan Ni'em, she expected to have a fourth C-section. But about seven months into her pregnancy, Aneka started to read more about childbirth online, and noticed a documentary by actress Ricki Lake called "The Business of Being Born," a film released in 2008 that questions the way American women have babies.

"I was a little bit angry after watching documentary," she said. "It made me realize I'd been robbed of the birthing experience. If possible, all women should be allowed to birth naturally.""I asked my doctor if I could try delivering vaginally, and she said no," Aneka says. "I called the hospital and they said they wouldn't allow it, and I called three other hospitals and they wouldn't let me deliver vaginally, either."

The closest hospital that would let her try to deliver vaginally was in Manassas, Virginia, about 90 minutes from her Maryland home. She and her husband, Al, decided that was too far.

So just seven weeks away from her December 1 due date, Aneka contacted the International Cesarean Awareness Network, an advocacy group that promotes vaginal births after cesareans, or VBACs.

"She asked me if I could find someone who would deliver her vaginally," remembers Bobbie Humphrey, who works with ICAN. "She started to cry because she'd heard 'no, no, no you can't do this' so many times."

But Humphrey told her yes, that she knew of a midwife who would be willing to deliver her baby at home.

An article in Midwifery Today, written by Barbara Stratton, the National VBAC ban chair for ICAN, lists several approaches women have used to protest a VBAC denial.

On December 5, three days after the C-section that never took place, Annan Ni'em was born at home. He weighed 9 pounds, 6 ounces and was delivered after 20 hours of labor, and, she says, just four minutes of pushing. He was completely healthy.

"We were all crying at the delivery," says Humphrey, a doula who assisted the midwife at the birth. "It was very emotional. I was just so proud of Aneka."

Soon, word spread on e-mail lists and chat rooms about the healthy delivery.

"People were e-mailing Aneka saying 'congratulations, you're a role model," Humphrey says.
Read the rest of the article at CNN.com

Adult Ovarian Function Can Be Affected by High Levels of Soy1,2

2010-12-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

The nutrition talk that I attended yesterday made me start to wonder how soy products affect the female reproductive system and I was off to research the most common product in many pre-made convenience foods, soy. It seems that jury is still out to what specifically happens to the ovaries but based on the abstract from the Journal of Nutrition it seems that the estrogen found in soy may cause over-stimulation of the hormonal balance that women's bodies already have.

Wendy N. Jefferson^*

Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jeffers1@niehs.nih.gov.

Abstract

Ovarian function in adults is controlled by hormones circulating in the body. The primary hormone responsible for cyclicity in animals and humans is estrogen. Estrogen is mostly produced in the ovary and enters the circulation where it then signals the brain for a response. The parts of the brain that controls reproductive hormones are the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary. Estrogen stimulates the hypothalamus to produce gonadotropin releasing hormone, which in turn signals the anterior pituitary to produce follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. These hormones enter the circulation and signal the ovary to ovulate. Substances with estrogenic activity can potentially interfere with this signaling if levels of activity are sufficient to cause a response. Soy foods contain estrogenic substances called phytoestrogens. The predominant phytoestrogens found in soy are genistein and daidzein. The female reproductive system is dependent on hormones for proper function and phytoestrogens at very high levels can interfere with this process. This paper summarizes the literature on adult soy consumption and its effect on ovarian function.

The Importance of Vitamin D from mercola.com

2010-12-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

A new study finds that women who develop a severe form of pregnancy-related high blood pressure tend to have lower blood levels of vitamin D. The condition is known as early-onset severe preeclampsia, and it contributes to about 15 percent of preterm births in the U.S. each year.

Researchers found that vitamin D levels were generally low among 50 women with early severe preeclampsia. Their average vitamin D level in the former group was a very low 18 nanograms per milliliter.

Reuters reports:

“If vitamin D is involved in preeclampsia risk ... then it might help explain why African American women are at greater risk of the complication than other racial groups ... Vitamin D is naturally synthesized in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. This process is less efficient in people with darker skin.”

Sources:
Reuters August 18, 2010
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology August 6, 2010

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

If you or anyone you know is pregnant, PLEASE make sure that you get your vitamin D levels (25 hydroxy D) regularly checked during your pregnancy.

We know today that your levels need to be above 50 ng/ml to protect you and your baby from some of the most serious complications of pregnancy such as premature delivery and preeclampsia -- but most obstetricians will NOT automatically check your levels for you.

Please do not assume that your levels have been tested in with the routine pregnancy blood work you receive. You will need to specifically ask to have your vitamin D tested. It is very likely that it will be considered malpractice to not check pregnant women’s vitamin D levels in the near future, but for now it is not standard practice.

Unfortunately, by the time health policy catches up with the research, many pregnant women today will have missed out on the chance to provide their unborn babies with sufficient vitamin D during pregnancy -- but this needn’t happen to you or your loved ones.

Vitamin D is Crucial for Preventing Many Serious Pregnancy Complications

Preeclampsia is a potentially deadly increase in blood pressure and fluid accompanied during pregnancy. Early-onset severe preelcampsia is especially dangerous as it occurs before the 34th week of pregnancy. Because the only “cure” for preeclampsia is to deliver the baby, it is responsible for 15 percent of preterm births in the United States.

Preeclampsia and related disorders are thought to cause 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths every year -- deaths that could potentially be prevented by simply optimizing vitamin D.

According to the latest research, women with early severe preeclampsia were more likely to have low vitamin D levels than women with healthy pregnancies. In fact, the women with preeclampsia had vitamin D levels that averaged just 18 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) -- a serious deficiency state.

You see, vitamin D is far more than “just a vitamin.” Rather it’s the only known substrate for a potent, pleiotropic (meaning it produces multiple effects), repair and maintenance seco-steroid hormone that serves multiple gene-regulatory functions in your body, including during pregnancy.

The researchers speculated that vitamin D may affect the regulation and function of proteins in the placenta, which are believed to be involved in preeclampsia. Even a 10-ng/mL increase in vitamin D was found to lower the women’s risks of preeclampsia by 63 percent!

Research Shows Vitamin D Benefits for Preeclampsia, Premature Birth and More

U.S. researchers Drs. Hollis and Wagner also found that the "core morbidities of pregnancy" -- diabetes, high blood pressure, and preeclampsia -- were reduced by 30 percent in the women who took high-dose vitamin D, amounting to 4,000 IUs of vitamin D a day (ten times the RDA of 400 IU).

Their findings were discussed at an international vitamin D research conference in Brugge, Belgium, and also included other promising benefits including:

Mothers who took 4,000 IUs of vitamin D during pregnancy had their risk of premature birth reduced by half
Premature babies born to women taking high doses of vitamin D were reduced by half at both 32 and 37 weeks
There were also fewer babies who were born "small for dates"
Women taking high doses of vitamin D had a 25 percent reduction in infections, particularly respiratory infections such as colds and flu, as well as fewer infections of the vagina and the gums
Babies getting the highest amounts of vitamin D after birth had fewer colds and less eczema
Most Pregnant Women are Vitamin D Deficient

Unfortunately, the study by Drs. Hollis and Wagner found that over 87 percent of all newborns and over 67 percent of all mothers had vitamin D levels lower than 20 ng/ml, which is a severe deficiency state. As a result, the researchers recommended that all mothers optimize their vitamin D levels during pregnancy, especially in the winter months, to safeguard their babies' health.

This finding could also help to explain the disproportionately high numbers of poor outcomes among African American births along with the increased risk of preeclampsia among African American women, as deficiency is extremely common among people with darker skin colors.

African Americans and other dark-skinned people and those living in northern latitudes make significantly less vitamin D than other groups; the darker your skin is, the less likely it is that you will produce adequate vitamin D levels from sun exposure alone.

Again, this is why it is just so important that you get your levels tested.

Government Vitamin D Recommendations -- and Reference Ranges -- are Far Too Low

Current guidelines recommend pregnant women consume from 200 IU to 400 IU of vitamin D a day, an amount that is far too low; most adults will need from 5,000 to 10,000 units every day to reach therapeutic levels unless they are spending one or more hours a day in the sun with most of their skin uncovered.

Based on the latest research, many experts now agree you need about 35 IU's of vitamin D per pound of body weight. This recommendation is the same for adults, children, the elderly and pregnant women.

But, remember that vitamin D requirements are highly individual.

Your vitamin D status is dependent on several factors, such as the color of your skin, your location, and how much sunshine you're exposed to on a regular basis. So, although these recommendations may put you closer to the level of what most people likely need, it is virtually impossible to make a blanket recommendation that will cover everyone.

The only accurate way to determine your optimal dose is to get your blood tested, and then be aware that the reference ranges from the lab may say your levels are normal when in fact they are still too low.

Ideally, you'll want to maintain a vitamin D level of at least 50 ng/ml and perhaps as high as 80-90 ng/ml year-round.

For in-depth information about safe sun exposure, dosing and other recommendations to safely and effectively optimize your vitamin D levels, please watch my free one-hour lecture on vitamin D.

The Essential Ingredient: Doula

2010-12-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

Get a doula, you deserve one! DONA International trains birth and postpartum doulas daily to help assist mothers and families to achieve healthy, empowering births and thrive during the postpartum period. I am proud to be a DONA International birth and postpartum doula!

Breathing techniques for labour and birth

2010-11-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

Great video on You Tube. There are several others that explain the breathing techniques used during labor and pushing. Your doula will help guide you through these exercises and support you during labor to stay comfortable and in control of the process.

Sunflower Doula Services

Maternity boutique 20% sale!

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

DONA International 2011 Conference

Top 4 Mother's Day gifts for moms-to-be

Contigo 3 Pack BPA Free Hydration Bottles ($27.95)

One piece of advice—drink more water!

Why Choose a Doula? Women Tell Their Birth Strories

Why Choose a Doula? Women Tell Their Birth Strories

Link between Postpartum Depression and C-Sections?

Wow! Is all I can say: "Pregnant In Heels"

Why Choose a Doula? Women Tell Their Birth Strories

Why buy kids clothes new, When you can get them used?

Laila Ali Gives Birth to Daughter - Moms & Babies - UsMagazine.com

#3 of Basic Things You Won't Believe You're All Doing Wrong

The Great Cloth Diaper Change!

Ultimate Blog Party 2011!

What is the difference between a midwife and a doula?

Breastfeeding Class in Boulder, Colorado

Expecting Dolls!

The Numerous Benefits of Kangaroo Care

Spectacular Water Birth | Deseret News

Top 3 ways to have a blissful postpartum period

Mel B - Pregnant Melanie Brown Wants Pain-Free Birth

biggest baby girl ever!

Chinese Pregnancy Calendar

Top 3 ways to have a blissful postpartum period

Top 3 ways to have a blissful postpartum period

Go check out this site!

Ask A Doula!: HeatherGail Lovejoy PCD(DONA)

Birth by the numbers

BABIES’ TASTES SWAYED EVEN BEFORE BIRTH

Once again people are being ridiculous!

I am not sure what is worse, the fact that she was asked to leave for feeding her child, or the comments below the article. One person actually wrote that she should have gone in the bathroom, and another wrote:

Breast Pump deductible debate!

Michele Bachmann: Michelle Obama Trying To Implement A 'Nanny State' With Health Initiative

"Continuous Labor Support Reduces Risk of Cesarean Section and Other Adverse Outcomes in Women and Newborns"

Type of Caregiver Can Make a Big Difference in Labor Experience

What does a private nutrition and herbal consultation look like?

Breast Pumps are now deductible!!!!!!!

Solids and childhood obesity

Even Rhinos have breech births!!!!

Trunks up when I call your name: Elephants make sure they are counted in zoo stocktake

Here's a tip: Watched pots never boil...

Panda pregnancy watch begins at the Zoo

Artificial Pancreas Could Help Pregnant Diabetic Women

There is a lot of information out in the Internet world about gestational diabetes but this article focuses on a new study about helping women with Type 1 Diabetes and the use of an artificial pancreas. If you have Type 1 Diabetes what struggles have you dealt with during pregnancy?

Study: Artificial Pancreas Makes Pregnancy Safer for Women With Type 1 Diabetes

Pregnancy and Diabetes

Artificial Pancreas

On Jezebel.com:Want To Work In Antarctica? Take The Mandatory Pregnancy Test First

Revealing the Mystery of Red Raspberry

Portman's Pregnancy Splash

Starting Solids - The Facts Behind Today's Media Hype

Breastfeeding study raises doubts over guidelines

Post-Partum Pooch Class this Saturday at the Longmont Recreational Center

Food Cravings: Decoded

Debates rage about home birth

Debating Home Birth

Breech deliveries needing to be relearned by medical care providers

Breaching the Breech Protocol: Researcher Advocates Returning to Old-School Methods for Delivering Breech Babies

Mom defies doctor, has baby her way

Adult Ovarian Function Can Be Affected by High Levels of Soy1,2

Wendy N. Jefferson*

Abstract

The Importance of Vitamin D from mercola.com

The Essential Ingredient: Doula

Breathing techniques for labour and birth

Wendy N. Jefferson^*