I have my first Mumma! Yippee
She is due to give birth around the 13th October to her first child, a baby boy.
I will be assisting with her labor at home, then at hospital.
She is aiming for a drug free natural birth.
She wanted a Student Doula; I offered my services; She accepted! Whoo! ;)
Wish us both luck!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Here are some important questions to ask the doulas you speak to:
What are the best parts of the job?
What is the worst part of the job?
How do you keep a balance between your work and your home life?
How to you get support from other doulas?
How do you find your clients?
What did you wish you had known before you went to your first birth?
Can you actually support yourself financially doing this work?
Ask her the tough questions. Doulas are supposed to be honest, but sometimes they are too kind. Don't let her paint too rosy a picture of the work, but get her to tell you about the wonderful excitement of it too!
What is the worst part of the job?
How do you keep a balance between your work and your home life?
How to you get support from other doulas?
How do you find your clients?
What did you wish you had known before you went to your first birth?
Can you actually support yourself financially doing this work?
Ask her the tough questions. Doulas are supposed to be honest, but sometimes they are too kind. Don't let her paint too rosy a picture of the work, but get her to tell you about the wonderful excitement of it too!
a hymn
"Make me a servant, humble and meek. Lord let me lift up those who are weak. And let the prayer of my heart always be, make me a servant today."
Asynclitic
An asynclitic birth or asynclitism refers to the position of a baby in the uterus such that the head is tilted to the side, causing the fetal head to no longer be in line with the birth canal. Most asynclitism corrects spontaneously in the progress of normal labor. Persistence of asynclitism is usually a signal of other problems with dystocia.
Other abnormal birth positions include breech birth, posterior presentation, anterior presentation, and transverse presentation.
Kielland forceps are preferable obstetric forceps used in asynclitic births, for example by their sliding mechanism, availing for more appropriate adjustment of the blades.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynclitic_birth
Other abnormal birth positions include breech birth, posterior presentation, anterior presentation, and transverse presentation.
Kielland forceps are preferable obstetric forceps used in asynclitic births, for example by their sliding mechanism, availing for more appropriate adjustment of the blades.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynclitic_birth
Doula Bag of Goodies
Books to loan
DVD's to loan
CD's to loan
Birth Ball & Pump
Massager (Tennis Balls?)
Arnica Massage Oil
Rebozo
Heat Pack
Backup Camera
Example Cloth Nappy/ies
Lipbalm?
breathmints
bathing suit
hairtie
gloves
panadol
bendable straws
scissors for emergency cord cutting
written visualisations
hand sanitiser
Aroma Therapy Scents
* Lavender – soothing, calming for tension/stress
* Jasmine – Uplifting, Balancing
* Orange – soothes, restores and uplifts the spirit
* Ylang-ylang – soothing, relaxing
* Rosemary – energizing, stimulating (should not be used in pregnancy or high B/P
* Bergamot – Calming, Balancing, tension/stress
DVD's to loan
CD's to loan
Birth Ball & Pump
Massager (Tennis Balls?)
Arnica Massage Oil
Rebozo
Heat Pack
Backup Camera
Example Cloth Nappy/ies
Lipbalm?
breathmints
bathing suit
hairtie
gloves
panadol
bendable straws
scissors for emergency cord cutting
written visualisations
hand sanitiser
Aroma Therapy Scents
* Lavender – soothing, calming for tension/stress
* Jasmine – Uplifting, Balancing
* Orange – soothes, restores and uplifts the spirit
* Ylang-ylang – soothing, relaxing
* Rosemary – energizing, stimulating (should not be used in pregnancy or high B/P
* Bergamot – Calming, Balancing, tension/stress
What is a Doula?
A doula is an assistant who provides non-medical and non-midwifery support (physical and emotional) in childbirth. Depending on training and experience they may offer prenatal support, childbirth (birth doula) and/or postpartum. A labor doula may attend a home birth or during labor at home and in transport to a hospital or a birth center. A postpartum doula provides home care for the first six weeks (or longer in cases of postpartum depression) including cooking, breastfeeding support, newborn care assistance, errands and light housekeeping.
Doula comes from Ancient Greek δούλη (doulē) meaning "female slave." Because of the negative connotations, Greek labor supporters call themselves labor companions or birthworkers.
Doulas are not certified although preparation courses are available.
In Australia, the doula industry is not regulated and certification is not compulsory, thus, anyone can be a doula. Course requirements are not regulated, so courses range from weekend, online courses to year-long courses. Registration is not available. It is illegal for doulas to practise midwifery as this is considered practising midwifery without a licence. Doulas may not provide clinical care such as listening to the baby's heart rate or checking the blood pressure. They may not give clinical advice nor provide opinion on the advice of professional care providers.
Birth companions (doulas are one type) may help with shorter labor, less medication, induction and augmentation of labor and fewer Caesarian deliveries. Newborns in supported births have lower rates of fetal distress or admission to neonatal intensive care units. More doula-supported women breastfed. Women reported greater self-esteem, less depression, higher regard for their babies and their ability to care for them and higher satisfaction with their partner. These results are similar to findings that support from a female relative during childbirth has similar effects.
One study found doula support without childbirth classes to be more helpful than childbirth classes alone, as measured by emotional distress and self-esteem four months after birth. Women in the doula-supported group reported their infants as less fussy than those without support.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doula
it is more than a work of touch, it is a touching work.
Source: FB comment.
Physical and Emotional Support
Labor doulas are trained to offer comfort measures such as massage, acupressure, hot and cold cloths, or other non-medical techniques requested by the mother. We provide emotional support when the mother may feel overwhelmed or exhausted, giving encouragement to go on with the pre-arranged birth plan, or to be flexible if an unplanned intervention becomes necessary. We support the birth partner as well, reminding them that childbirth is a normal physiological process, offering tips on what to expect and how to support their partners, and even letting them take a rest if needed.
Holding the Memories
At the core of labor doula work is the notion of holding a protective space around the mother, satisfying her physical and emotional needs, empowering her to continue through the challenging periods during labor, and preserving the memories of her experience so she can completely surrender to the experience of the birth. Some doulas are asked to photograph the labor and delivery, and afterwards, they help the mother process her experience and integrate it into her new identity as a mother.
Continuous support during labor and birth through 1-2 hours postpartum
Your doula and/or your backup doula will stay with you from the time you call us to come to your home or the hospital until the first hour or so after birth to make sure you and your partner are settled in, have had a shower, and attempted breastfeeding if that is in your birth plan. If there are medical complications, we can stay longer to ensure that you and your partner have the full support you need.
1 postpartum visit
About a week after your birth, your doula will come to your home with a homemade meal and a special gift bag of goodies to help you to take good and gentle care of yourself in these early weeks with your newborn. We will check in, make sure breastfeeding is going well, answer any infant care questions you may have, and listen to you and your partner’s birth story.
If at this time you would like to consider continued postpartum doula services, we can discuss those options as well.
Source: http://cascadiabirth.com/services/labor-doulas/
Doula comes from Ancient Greek δούλη (doulē) meaning "female slave." Because of the negative connotations, Greek labor supporters call themselves labor companions or birthworkers.
Doulas are not certified although preparation courses are available.
In Australia, the doula industry is not regulated and certification is not compulsory, thus, anyone can be a doula. Course requirements are not regulated, so courses range from weekend, online courses to year-long courses. Registration is not available. It is illegal for doulas to practise midwifery as this is considered practising midwifery without a licence. Doulas may not provide clinical care such as listening to the baby's heart rate or checking the blood pressure. They may not give clinical advice nor provide opinion on the advice of professional care providers.
Birth companions (doulas are one type) may help with shorter labor, less medication, induction and augmentation of labor and fewer Caesarian deliveries. Newborns in supported births have lower rates of fetal distress or admission to neonatal intensive care units. More doula-supported women breastfed. Women reported greater self-esteem, less depression, higher regard for their babies and their ability to care for them and higher satisfaction with their partner. These results are similar to findings that support from a female relative during childbirth has similar effects.
One study found doula support without childbirth classes to be more helpful than childbirth classes alone, as measured by emotional distress and self-esteem four months after birth. Women in the doula-supported group reported their infants as less fussy than those without support.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doula
it is more than a work of touch, it is a touching work.
Source: FB comment.
Physical and Emotional Support
Labor doulas are trained to offer comfort measures such as massage, acupressure, hot and cold cloths, or other non-medical techniques requested by the mother. We provide emotional support when the mother may feel overwhelmed or exhausted, giving encouragement to go on with the pre-arranged birth plan, or to be flexible if an unplanned intervention becomes necessary. We support the birth partner as well, reminding them that childbirth is a normal physiological process, offering tips on what to expect and how to support their partners, and even letting them take a rest if needed.
Holding the Memories
At the core of labor doula work is the notion of holding a protective space around the mother, satisfying her physical and emotional needs, empowering her to continue through the challenging periods during labor, and preserving the memories of her experience so she can completely surrender to the experience of the birth. Some doulas are asked to photograph the labor and delivery, and afterwards, they help the mother process her experience and integrate it into her new identity as a mother.
Continuous support during labor and birth through 1-2 hours postpartum
Your doula and/or your backup doula will stay with you from the time you call us to come to your home or the hospital until the first hour or so after birth to make sure you and your partner are settled in, have had a shower, and attempted breastfeeding if that is in your birth plan. If there are medical complications, we can stay longer to ensure that you and your partner have the full support you need.
1 postpartum visit
About a week after your birth, your doula will come to your home with a homemade meal and a special gift bag of goodies to help you to take good and gentle care of yourself in these early weeks with your newborn. We will check in, make sure breastfeeding is going well, answer any infant care questions you may have, and listen to you and your partner’s birth story.
If at this time you would like to consider continued postpartum doula services, we can discuss those options as well.
Source: http://cascadiabirth.com/services/labor-doulas/
Monday, August 16, 2010
a link about cervical scar tissue - stalling labor
http://beautifulbirths.blogspot.com/2010/02/cervical-scar-tissue.html
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Practical steps to avoid posterior positions
The baby's back is the heaviest side of its body. This means that the back will naturally gravitate towards the lowest side of the mother's abdomen. So if your tummy is lower than your back, eg you are sitting on a chair leaning forward, then the baby's back will tend to swing towards your tummy. If your back is lower than your tummy, eg you are lying on your back or leaning back in an armchair, then the baby's back may swing towards your back.
Avoid positions which encourage your baby to face your tummy. The main culprits are said to be lolling back in armchairs, sitting in car seats where you are leaning back, or anything where your knees are higher than your pelvis.
The best way to do this is to spend lots of time kneeling upright, or sitting upright, or on hands and knees. When you sit on a chair, make sure your knees are lower than your pelvis, and your trunk should be tilted slightly forwards.
Watch TV while kneeling on the floor, over a beanbag or cushions, or sit on a dining chair. Try sitting on a dining chair facing (leaning on) the back as well.
Use yoga positions while resting, reading or watching TV - for example, tailor pose (sitting with your back upright and soles of the feet together, knees out to the sides)
Sit on a wedge cushion in the car, so that your pelvis is tilted forwards. Keep the seat back upright.
Don't cross your legs! This reduces the space at the front of the pelvis, and opens it up at the back. For good positioning, the baby needs to have lots of space at the front
Don't put your feet up! Lying back with your feet up encourages posterior presentation.
Sleep on your side, not on your back.
Avoid deep squatting, which opens up the pelvis and encourages the baby to move down, until you know he/she is the right way round. Jean Sutton recommends squatting on a low stool instead, and keeping your spine upright, not leaning forwards.
Swimming with your belly downwards is said to be very good for positioning babies - not backstroke, but lots of breaststroke and front crawl. Breaststroke in particular is thought to help with good positioning, because all those leg movements help open your pelvis and settle the baby downwards.
(Nothing to do with baby positioning, but... if you're swimming, make sure you have goggles so you can swim in a good position, with your face partially or wholly in the water as you dip down. Doing breaststroke with your neck craned, holding your face out of the water, is bad for your neck and back at any time, let alone in pregnancy when ligaments are loose.)
A Birth Ball can encourage good positioning, both before and during labour. See Birth Balls article on the MomCare website for more details.
Various exercises done on all fours can help, eg wiggling your hips from side to side, or arching your back like a cat, followed by dropping the spine down. This is described in more detail in an article on www.wellmother.org - 'Exercise for relieving backache' by Suzanne Yates.
If your baby is already posterior...
First of all, don't panic! Most posterior babies will turn in labour, but read on to find ways of helping him or her turn before.
When your baby is in a posterior position, you can try to stop him/her from descending lower. You want to avoid the baby engaging in the pelvis in this position, while you work on encouraging him to turn around. Jean Sutton says that most babies take a couple of days to turn around when the mother is working hard on positioning.
Avoid deep squatting
Use the 'knee to chest' position. When on hands and knees, stick your bottom (butt) in the air, to tip the baby back up out of your pelvis so that there is more room for him to turn around.
Sway your hips while on hands and knees
Crawl around on hands and knees. A token 5 minutes on hands and knees is unlikely to do the trick - you need to keep working at this until your baby turns. Try crawling around the carpet for half an hour - while watching TV or listening to music. It is good exercise as well as good for the baby's position!
Don't put your feet up! Lying back with your feet up encourages posterior presentation.
Swim belly-down, but avoid kicking with breaststroke legs as this movement is said to encourage the baby to descend in the pelvis. You can still swim breaststroke, but simply kick with straight legs instead of "frogs' legs".
Try sleeping on your tummy, using lots of pillows and cushions for support.
If your baby is posterior when you are in labour:
Remember, most posterior babies will turn during labour (87% according to Gardberg study - see refs), but even if yours doesn't, a baby can still be born vaginally in the posterior position - "face to pubes" - and this can happen at a homebirth. Sometimes a posterior labour can make things just too tough, but it can work out.
You may try your hardest to get your baby into a good position, but he may be determined to stay the way he is - if so, there are things you can do in labour to help a posterior baby to be born.
The majority of babies who experience a posterior labour, actually start labour in an ideal position, and then turn posterior while you are in labour. Gardberg et al found that 68% of posterior babies took this route. This seems very unfair - but if it happens, these tips should still help.
These movements can help the baby wriggle through your pelvis, past the ischial spines inside it, by altering the level of your hips. They are also helpful if the baby is anterior but has a presentation problem, eg his head is tipped to one side (asynclitic).
In early labour, walk up stairs - sideways if you need to.
Rock from side to side
March or 'tread' on the spot
Step on and off a small stool
Climb in and out of a birth pool
The positions listed below may also help.
For the second stage:
Use kneeling or all-fours positions. Kneeling on one knee can help.
Supported squatting in second stage, but the mother must be lifted quite high up; her bottom should be at least 45cm (18 inches) off the floor.
Birth stool seats should be at least 45cm (18 inches) from the floor.
Avoid lying on your back, semi-reclining, sitting or semi-sitting. These positions all reduce the available space for the baby to turn. Lying on the side is OK.
My first baby, Lee, kept trying to settle in a posterior position because his placenta was attached to the front wall of the uterus (anterior placenta). Babies generally tend to face the placenta, and most placentae implant on the back wall of the uterus (posterior placenta). So if your baby's placenta is on the front wall then you will need to be extra-careful about positioning as the baby's natural tendency may be to settle in a posterior position. This has long been noted amongst midwives, and has now been confirmed by research
Source =
http://www.homebirth.org.uk/ofp.htm
Avoid positions which encourage your baby to face your tummy. The main culprits are said to be lolling back in armchairs, sitting in car seats where you are leaning back, or anything where your knees are higher than your pelvis.
The best way to do this is to spend lots of time kneeling upright, or sitting upright, or on hands and knees. When you sit on a chair, make sure your knees are lower than your pelvis, and your trunk should be tilted slightly forwards.
Watch TV while kneeling on the floor, over a beanbag or cushions, or sit on a dining chair. Try sitting on a dining chair facing (leaning on) the back as well.
Use yoga positions while resting, reading or watching TV - for example, tailor pose (sitting with your back upright and soles of the feet together, knees out to the sides)
Sit on a wedge cushion in the car, so that your pelvis is tilted forwards. Keep the seat back upright.
Don't cross your legs! This reduces the space at the front of the pelvis, and opens it up at the back. For good positioning, the baby needs to have lots of space at the front
Don't put your feet up! Lying back with your feet up encourages posterior presentation.
Sleep on your side, not on your back.
Avoid deep squatting, which opens up the pelvis and encourages the baby to move down, until you know he/she is the right way round. Jean Sutton recommends squatting on a low stool instead, and keeping your spine upright, not leaning forwards.
Swimming with your belly downwards is said to be very good for positioning babies - not backstroke, but lots of breaststroke and front crawl. Breaststroke in particular is thought to help with good positioning, because all those leg movements help open your pelvis and settle the baby downwards.
(Nothing to do with baby positioning, but... if you're swimming, make sure you have goggles so you can swim in a good position, with your face partially or wholly in the water as you dip down. Doing breaststroke with your neck craned, holding your face out of the water, is bad for your neck and back at any time, let alone in pregnancy when ligaments are loose.)
A Birth Ball can encourage good positioning, both before and during labour. See Birth Balls article on the MomCare website for more details.
Various exercises done on all fours can help, eg wiggling your hips from side to side, or arching your back like a cat, followed by dropping the spine down. This is described in more detail in an article on www.wellmother.org - 'Exercise for relieving backache' by Suzanne Yates.
If your baby is already posterior...
First of all, don't panic! Most posterior babies will turn in labour, but read on to find ways of helping him or her turn before.
When your baby is in a posterior position, you can try to stop him/her from descending lower. You want to avoid the baby engaging in the pelvis in this position, while you work on encouraging him to turn around. Jean Sutton says that most babies take a couple of days to turn around when the mother is working hard on positioning.
Avoid deep squatting
Use the 'knee to chest' position. When on hands and knees, stick your bottom (butt) in the air, to tip the baby back up out of your pelvis so that there is more room for him to turn around.
Sway your hips while on hands and knees
Crawl around on hands and knees. A token 5 minutes on hands and knees is unlikely to do the trick - you need to keep working at this until your baby turns. Try crawling around the carpet for half an hour - while watching TV or listening to music. It is good exercise as well as good for the baby's position!
Don't put your feet up! Lying back with your feet up encourages posterior presentation.
Swim belly-down, but avoid kicking with breaststroke legs as this movement is said to encourage the baby to descend in the pelvis. You can still swim breaststroke, but simply kick with straight legs instead of "frogs' legs".
Try sleeping on your tummy, using lots of pillows and cushions for support.
If your baby is posterior when you are in labour:
Remember, most posterior babies will turn during labour (87% according to Gardberg study - see refs), but even if yours doesn't, a baby can still be born vaginally in the posterior position - "face to pubes" - and this can happen at a homebirth. Sometimes a posterior labour can make things just too tough, but it can work out.
You may try your hardest to get your baby into a good position, but he may be determined to stay the way he is - if so, there are things you can do in labour to help a posterior baby to be born.
The majority of babies who experience a posterior labour, actually start labour in an ideal position, and then turn posterior while you are in labour. Gardberg et al found that 68% of posterior babies took this route. This seems very unfair - but if it happens, these tips should still help.
These movements can help the baby wriggle through your pelvis, past the ischial spines inside it, by altering the level of your hips. They are also helpful if the baby is anterior but has a presentation problem, eg his head is tipped to one side (asynclitic).
In early labour, walk up stairs - sideways if you need to.
Rock from side to side
March or 'tread' on the spot
Step on and off a small stool
Climb in and out of a birth pool
The positions listed below may also help.
For the second stage:
Use kneeling or all-fours positions. Kneeling on one knee can help.
Supported squatting in second stage, but the mother must be lifted quite high up; her bottom should be at least 45cm (18 inches) off the floor.
Birth stool seats should be at least 45cm (18 inches) from the floor.
Avoid lying on your back, semi-reclining, sitting or semi-sitting. These positions all reduce the available space for the baby to turn. Lying on the side is OK.
My first baby, Lee, kept trying to settle in a posterior position because his placenta was attached to the front wall of the uterus (anterior placenta). Babies generally tend to face the placenta, and most placentae implant on the back wall of the uterus (posterior placenta). So if your baby's placenta is on the front wall then you will need to be extra-careful about positioning as the baby's natural tendency may be to settle in a posterior position. This has long been noted amongst midwives, and has now been confirmed by research
Source =
http://www.homebirth.org.uk/ofp.htm
Optimum Foetal Positioning
The 'occiput anterior' position is ideal for birth - it means that the baby is lined up so as to fit through your pelvis as easily as possible. The baby is head down, facing your back, with his back on one side of the front of your tummy. In this position, the baby's head is easily 'flexed', ie his chin tucked onto his chest, so that the smallest part of his head will be applied to the cervix first. The diameter of his head which has to fit through the pelvis is approximately 9.5 cm, and the circumference approximately 27.5cm. The position is usually 'Left Occiput Anterior' or LOA - occasionally the baby may be Right Occiput Anterior or ROA.
The 'occiput posterior' (OP) position is not so good. This means the baby is still head down, but facing your tummy. Mothers of babies in the 'posterior' position are more likely to have long and painful labours as the baby usually has to turn all the way round to facing the back in order to be born. He cannot fully flex his head in this position, and diameter of his head which has to enter the pelvis is approximately 11.5cm, circumference 35.5cm.
If your baby is in the occiput posterior position in late pregnancy, he may not engage (descend into the pelvis) before labour starts. The fact that he doesn't engage means that it's harder for labour to start naturally, so your baby are more likely to be 'late'. Braxton-Hicks contractions before labour starts may be especially painful, with lots of pressure on the bladder, as the baby tries to rotate while it is entering the pelvis. Be aware that if you accept induction on the basis of being postdates, and your baby is in a suboptimal position, you may have a tough haul ahead of you.
The 'occiput posterior' (OP) position is not so good. This means the baby is still head down, but facing your tummy. Mothers of babies in the 'posterior' position are more likely to have long and painful labours as the baby usually has to turn all the way round to facing the back in order to be born. He cannot fully flex his head in this position, and diameter of his head which has to enter the pelvis is approximately 11.5cm, circumference 35.5cm.
If your baby is in the occiput posterior position in late pregnancy, he may not engage (descend into the pelvis) before labour starts. The fact that he doesn't engage means that it's harder for labour to start naturally, so your baby are more likely to be 'late'. Braxton-Hicks contractions before labour starts may be especially painful, with lots of pressure on the bladder, as the baby tries to rotate while it is entering the pelvis. Be aware that if you accept induction on the basis of being postdates, and your baby is in a suboptimal position, you may have a tough haul ahead of you.
Apgar Score
The Apgar score was devised in 1952 by Dr. Virginia Apgar as a simple and repeatable method to quickly and summarily assess the health of newborn children immediately after birth.[1][2] Apgar was an anesthesiologist who developed the score in order to ascertain the effects of obstetric anesthesia on babies.
The Apgar score is determined by evaluating the newborn baby on five simple criteria on a scale from zero to two, then summing up the five values thus obtained. The resulting Apgar score ranges from zero to 10. The five criteria (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration)
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apgar_score
The Apgar score is determined by evaluating the newborn baby on five simple criteria on a scale from zero to two, then summing up the five values thus obtained. The resulting Apgar score ranges from zero to 10. The five criteria (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration)
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apgar_score
Hydrocephalus = Water on the brain.
The diagnostic signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus depend upon the age of the person:
•In infants the most obvious sign of hydrocephalus is usually an abnormally large head. (That is one reason a baby's head should be measured at every well-baby visit). Symptoms of hydrocephalus in an infant may include vomiting, sleepiness, irritability, an inability to look upwards, and seizures.
•In older children and adults there is no head enlargement from hydrocephalus, but symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting and, sometimes, blurred vision. There may be problems with balance, delayed development in walking or talking, and poor coordination.
Irritability, fatigue, seizures, and personality changes such as an inability to concentrate or remember things may also develop. Drowsiness and double vision are common symptoms as hydrocephalus progresses.
Treatment of hydrocephalus involves the insertion of a shunt to let the excess fluid exit and relieve the pressure on the brain. The shunt is a flexible, plastic tube with a oneway valve. The shunt is inserted into the ventricular system of the brain to divert the flow of CSF into another area of the body, where the CSF can drain and be absorbed into the bloodstream.
The prognosis (outlook) with hydrocephalus depends the cause and the timing of the diagnosis and treatment. Many children treated for hydrocephalus are able to lead normal lives with few, if any, limitations. In some cases, cognitive impairments in language and non-language functions may occur. Problems with shunts such as infection or malfunction require revision of the shunt.
Hydrocephalus is sometimes called "water on the brain." The word "hydrocephalus" in Greek literally means "watery head."
•In infants the most obvious sign of hydrocephalus is usually an abnormally large head. (That is one reason a baby's head should be measured at every well-baby visit). Symptoms of hydrocephalus in an infant may include vomiting, sleepiness, irritability, an inability to look upwards, and seizures.
•In older children and adults there is no head enlargement from hydrocephalus, but symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting and, sometimes, blurred vision. There may be problems with balance, delayed development in walking or talking, and poor coordination.
Irritability, fatigue, seizures, and personality changes such as an inability to concentrate or remember things may also develop. Drowsiness and double vision are common symptoms as hydrocephalus progresses.
Treatment of hydrocephalus involves the insertion of a shunt to let the excess fluid exit and relieve the pressure on the brain. The shunt is a flexible, plastic tube with a oneway valve. The shunt is inserted into the ventricular system of the brain to divert the flow of CSF into another area of the body, where the CSF can drain and be absorbed into the bloodstream.
The prognosis (outlook) with hydrocephalus depends the cause and the timing of the diagnosis and treatment. Many children treated for hydrocephalus are able to lead normal lives with few, if any, limitations. In some cases, cognitive impairments in language and non-language functions may occur. Problems with shunts such as infection or malfunction require revision of the shunt.
Hydrocephalus is sometimes called "water on the brain." The word "hydrocephalus" in Greek literally means "watery head."
Friday, July 2, 2010
Books to Read
Natural Birth The Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon Rosegg
Husband Coached Childbirth by Dr Robert Bradley
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
The Birth Book by Dr Sears
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Birthing From Within by Pam England
The Baby Book by Dr Sears
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
Husband Coached Childbirth by Dr Robert Bradley
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
The Birth Book by Dr Sears
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Birthing From Within by Pam England
The Baby Book by Dr Sears
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Exercise During Pregnancy
Women who continue exercising regularly through the end of their pregnancies (three times a week for at least 20 minutes at a moderately hard to hard level of exertion) demonstrated the following reduced risks during the birth process...
* 35% decrease in the need for pain relief
* 75% decrease in the incidence of maternal exhaustion
* 50% decrease in the need to artificially rupture membranes
* 50% decrease in the need to induce or augment labor with pitocin
* 50% decrease in the need to intervene because of abnormalities in the fetal heart rate
* 55% decrease in the need for episiotomy
* 75% decrease in the need for operative intervention (forceps or cesarean section)
In addition, check these out...
* More than 65% of the exercising women delivered in less than four hours.
* 72% delivered before their due date (but fewer of them delivered before 37 weeks--preterm--than the control group). The exercising women delivered, on average, 5-7 days earlier than active women who did not exercise regularly.
* Significant reduction in the incidence of umbilical cord entanglement.
* Much lower incidence of fetus passing meconium from distress.
* Umbilical cord blood samples indicated that babies of exercising moms remained relatively stress-free with plenty of oxygen. They seemed to tolerate the stresses of labor and delivery better than the control group.
* The exercising mothers' infants were, on average, 14 oz lighter but overall growth was not compromised.
* Placentas of exercising mothers are larger, more efficient, and healthier-looking.
* Infants born to exercising mothers were more alert postpartum and needed less consolation from others.
LINK:
http://birthfaith.blogspot.com/2010/06/positive-impact-of-prenatal-exercise.html
* 35% decrease in the need for pain relief
* 75% decrease in the incidence of maternal exhaustion
* 50% decrease in the need to artificially rupture membranes
* 50% decrease in the need to induce or augment labor with pitocin
* 50% decrease in the need to intervene because of abnormalities in the fetal heart rate
* 55% decrease in the need for episiotomy
* 75% decrease in the need for operative intervention (forceps or cesarean section)
In addition, check these out...
* More than 65% of the exercising women delivered in less than four hours.
* 72% delivered before their due date (but fewer of them delivered before 37 weeks--preterm--than the control group). The exercising women delivered, on average, 5-7 days earlier than active women who did not exercise regularly.
* Significant reduction in the incidence of umbilical cord entanglement.
* Much lower incidence of fetus passing meconium from distress.
* Umbilical cord blood samples indicated that babies of exercising moms remained relatively stress-free with plenty of oxygen. They seemed to tolerate the stresses of labor and delivery better than the control group.
* The exercising mothers' infants were, on average, 14 oz lighter but overall growth was not compromised.
* Placentas of exercising mothers are larger, more efficient, and healthier-looking.
* Infants born to exercising mothers were more alert postpartum and needed less consolation from others.
LINK:
http://birthfaith.blogspot.com/2010/06/positive-impact-of-prenatal-exercise.html
Induction - Fake & Natural
In regard to sleep... can you perhaps have a hot bath before bed and take some panadol to ease your back pain? Maybe schedule a massage to see if some of the tension can be released?
Syntocin generally makes labour more difficult so you may be getting baby out a few days earlier but it may mean you have a much more difficult labour. You've probably heard of the Cascade of Intervention... if you can avoid stepping on this slippery slope then this is the way to go.
I would try some less invasive induction methods first. Contact the hospital and explain how you are feeling and ask if you can come in for a stretch and sweep. The midwife will do a vaginal exam and try to stretch your cervix apart a little, while also pushing your membranes off the cervix. This is often enough to get things going.
You could also try a few acupuncture sessions... if your body is ready then this may kick start your labour.
Sex is another thing that can encourage labour. Semen contains prostiglandins which ripen your cervix, sometimes this is all that's needed to start the chain reaction of hormones which happens in labour.
Syntocin generally makes labour more difficult so you may be getting baby out a few days earlier but it may mean you have a much more difficult labour. You've probably heard of the Cascade of Intervention... if you can avoid stepping on this slippery slope then this is the way to go.
I would try some less invasive induction methods first. Contact the hospital and explain how you are feeling and ask if you can come in for a stretch and sweep. The midwife will do a vaginal exam and try to stretch your cervix apart a little, while also pushing your membranes off the cervix. This is often enough to get things going.
You could also try a few acupuncture sessions... if your body is ready then this may kick start your labour.
Sex is another thing that can encourage labour. Semen contains prostiglandins which ripen your cervix, sometimes this is all that's needed to start the chain reaction of hormones which happens in labour.
Hospital Bag
Essentials:
Nighties
Clothes to leave hospital
Socks
Slippers or Bed Socks
PJ's
Dressing Gown
Granny Undies 1 size bigger
Maternity Bras
Maternity pads
Breast Pads
Toiletries
Deodorant, Hair Ties, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Shampoo, Conditioner
Camera
Memory Card
Mobile Phone
Mobile Phone Charger
Thongs for Shower.
Babies First Clothes
Baby Blanket
Baby Beanie
Baby Mittens
Extras:
Snack Food
Magazines
Books
Journal
Video Camera
Toiletries
Lip Gloss, Body Wash,
Thank You Notes
Pens
Writing paper
Envelopes
Stamps
Chosen Baby Dummy
Hair Dryer
Cloth Nappies
Soft toilet paper
Own Pillow
Gifts for older siblings
Toys for older sibling to keep them occupied while visiting.
Money for snacks & pay TV
Banana pillow for BF
Nighties
Clothes to leave hospital
Socks
Slippers or Bed Socks
PJ's
Dressing Gown
Granny Undies 1 size bigger
Maternity Bras
Maternity pads
Breast Pads
Toiletries
Deodorant, Hair Ties, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Shampoo, Conditioner
Camera
Memory Card
Mobile Phone
Mobile Phone Charger
Thongs for Shower.
Babies First Clothes
Baby Blanket
Baby Beanie
Baby Mittens
Extras:
Snack Food
Magazines
Books
Journal
Video Camera
Toiletries
Lip Gloss, Body Wash,
Thank You Notes
Pens
Writing paper
Envelopes
Stamps
Chosen Baby Dummy
Hair Dryer
Cloth Nappies
Soft toilet paper
Own Pillow
Gifts for older siblings
Toys for older sibling to keep them occupied while visiting.
Money for snacks & pay TV
Banana pillow for BF
Oedema - lymphatic drainage massage
use sorbolene or similar inexpensive moisturiser and massage upwards from the feet to the upper thighs at least once a day
Peppermint
take some peppermint tea with me. I would make one up everytime the tea lady came and it helped SO much with the wind pain.
Monday, June 28, 2010
C Section
In theatre, before they hook you up to the machines, take your arms out of the gown, much easier for skin to skin contact when you meet your little one.
YOU CAN STILL BREASTFEED EVEN IF YOU HAVE A C-SECT
A pad stuck inside the front of your undies against the scar is soothing
it really hurts to cough, sneeze and laugh just after - brace your incision before doing these
You may have bad wind pain for the first little while after the op
Pear juice is brilliant for softening up and bringing on the first Bowel Movement
Ask for Lactulose for the constipation, most hospitals will carry it. Forget Metamucil, or Fibrogel, you need the hard stuff (esp, with the Endone). Otherwise just send hubby down to the pharmacy to get some. Let the midwives know that you are planning on taking it.
Suppositories for pain and constipation relief
If you are having problems with your bowels, definitely ask for something
You should get up and walk around as soon as you can, though you may feel like you're going to rip in half the first few minutes or meters. The more mobile you can comfortably be, the better you will feel.
Increased blood flow helps move the anaesthetic and speeds healing. Also go to physio classes if offered to get some tips on movement and safe exercising in the first few weeks, yes you are allowed to exercise but carefully so that your wound is not in any danger.
Laying on your side to begin with can pull on the scar and feel horrible
Arnica is good for promoting healing - particularly if you bruise
It's easier to manage the pain if you stay on top of it with the pain meds. Don't be a 'hero', it's harder to "catch up" on pain relief.
Endone.
Tramadol
Fentanyl
Morphine
Panadeine Forte
Nurofen
Panadol
Expect to be pretty out of it for at least half a day, if not 24 hours due to the drugs.
This is the main pain relief post caesar after they withdraw the morphine. Along with Voltaren, Tramadol and Panadeine Forte. They may try to pull you off the Endone after a couple of days. If you find the pain too much, demand the Endone. I guarantee your OB has it written up and will back you up on taking it. The midwives are getting you ready to go home without it. Some OB's will script it to you for going home, some only Panadeine Forte. Either way, insist on whatever it takes to be pain free while you are in hospital, even if they try and talk you out of it, or look down on you. You will have plenty of time to feel the pain at home.
keep track of your medication timings if they are busy so you should always know when something is due and take it as soon as you can
'birth stripe'
Mum had to go to recovery and because baby was early he had to go to SCN so mum only saw him for a few minutes for the first 24hrs which mum wasn't aware was going to happen.
they have to PUSH that baby out if you're not going to
you feel tugging, pulling and pressure on your belly and chest area as they are getting that baby out. Be prepared for it. It's the weirdest feeling. Doesn't hurt but just feels odd
A flat, firm bed is better than a squishy soft one and if you can raise it a little it will be easier to get in and out of bed and minimise your scar stretching.
Even if you want to transfer after a day or two to the nice double bed, resist. You need the poles, bars etc attached to the single to help you get in and out of bed.
Rest as much as you can. Even with elective which is heaps easier than emergency you have a lot to recover from, and deal with when you get home, so don't waste your rest time in hospital. Move around, absolutely, keep active, but also gets heaps of rest.
They take you into recovery straight after the operation - so you will be separated from baby for an hour or so.
Not necessarily. I held my DD2 during my short time in recovery and she had her first breastfeed at that time
You won't be able to sit up to feed (your legs won't work for a little while) and you may need help to swap baby from one side to the other
Note that they won't take out your IV line till you pass urine at least once after they take out the catheter. So be prepared to be asked a lot about that. Wind and bowel movements may hurt at first, right inside like period pain. The first Bowel Movement may be like diarrhoea, that is probably a side effect of the anaesthetic. You might need a mild laxative to get things really moving, like Nulax or Metamucil, nothing serious though.
they clean/shave you down there while you don't have movement in your legs.
not allowed to drive for 6 weeks
Also most people don't realise how low the scar is- most of it can be covered by hair
The scar can be numb
Swollen Feet - short walks with the baby and lots of water to drink.
The Fixomull also helped "protect" my scar
suggest having a back up person in case your DP falls through
recommend keeping the original "sticky" paper tape on the scar until it fell off, then to re-apply a paper tape over the length of the scar until 6 weeks
knee high compression stockings
If you hold a pillow to you wound when you have to laugh/cough/move, it will hurt less.
Don't pack anything to wear that is going to be tight across the scar line.
Bio oil can help after the inital healing to make the surrounding skin feel more soothed.
have lots of pillows to help you feed as it's not good to hold the weight of the baby while sitting / slouching in the hospital bed!
if you're a side/tummy sleeper, you may have a lot of trouble sleeping
i wasn't prepared for the fact that i couldn't reach him for the first day when he cried and couldn't change nappy.
bike shorts great to wear - kept me feeling "in place".
have some degas tablets packed as your bowels will slow down and trapped wind is PAINFUL
extremely itchy face with a c-sect poss due to morphine or Epi? Tablet to help?
fluid retention
that the epidural and painkillers (ie. tremadol) DOES cross over through breastmilk
the fine print on the disclaimer about risks to next pregnancies.
Drink, drink and drink some more, drink for Australia while they have the catheter in and you don't need to get up to the toilet
the hospital staff don't know the way you want it done if you don't tell them.
You need to have a catheter
after catheter came out - it took nearly two weeks to get back the sensation back properly when urinating, I still had control, but it just felt like a waterfall and i could not tell when I was empty
request a wheelchair to see bubs if needed
intense shivers
sensitivity to Adrenalin
tell the Anethetist this and they give me a lower does adrenalin injection - apparently they put it in to help the anesthetic spread around the body quicker???
shoulder tip pain - referred pain from gas under the diaphragm obtained during surgery plus the position I was in.
a drain put into my scar and the next morning after the catheter came out they pulled that out and I can tell you I almost hit the roof. So if you have that make sure you tell them to take it nice and slow like I did second time around and it was much better.
ask for stitches and NOT Staples
you may not feel comfortable using the 'cradle hold' for breastfeeding in the first week or so due to pain & swelling. Instead you have to use the 'football hold'
Yoga pants are the most comfortable thing to wear
abdominal binder for afterwards, I felt I could do more 'everyday things' without worrying about injury.
Buy Emla patches to put on your hands where the canula will go in, pain relief.
Do ask them to wait the first bath until you are there though, if it's something important to you. You might not be able to do it, but nice to see it happening.
anti clotting injections, if lager or prone.
take maternity pads
take some peppermint tea with me. I would make one up everytime the tea lady came and it helped SO much with the wind pain.
ask for a tubigrip - a big wide elastic band to wear around your abdomen. After carrying twins I had an abdominal separation and that plus the c/s scar made it feel like I would split in half when I moved. I lived in the tubigrip for several weeks and it really helped my core strength.
Ask for help to start expressing. Nobody mentioned it to me for the first 24hrs so my girls in NICU had formula. I was so angry they hadn't helped me when I obviously couldn't get up to the expressing room myself.
If you get horrendous oedema, one option is lymphatic drainage massage
I lost what looked like my lungs - huge huge big (i'm talking the size of your hand) chunks of clotted blood. I was scared and called the nurses - I though I was going to die! - the nurse then explained that it was totally normal due to the fact that I had been laying on my back since the day before and all of the excess blood had clotted inside - also happens in vaginal birth.
Ensure its not really hurting when they remove the staples as may be sign of bruising and therefore not ready to be removed!
I wish I was told that having a c-section after c-section can limit how many children you can have
Your milk can take an extra day to come in after a c/s
it doesn't matter how the babies get into the world just as long as you and they are safe
(http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=756988&hl=gown)
"What don't they tell you about caesars? "
YOU CAN STILL BREASTFEED EVEN IF YOU HAVE A C-SECT
A pad stuck inside the front of your undies against the scar is soothing
it really hurts to cough, sneeze and laugh just after - brace your incision before doing these
You may have bad wind pain for the first little while after the op
Pear juice is brilliant for softening up and bringing on the first Bowel Movement
Ask for Lactulose for the constipation, most hospitals will carry it. Forget Metamucil, or Fibrogel, you need the hard stuff (esp, with the Endone). Otherwise just send hubby down to the pharmacy to get some. Let the midwives know that you are planning on taking it.
Suppositories for pain and constipation relief
If you are having problems with your bowels, definitely ask for something
You should get up and walk around as soon as you can, though you may feel like you're going to rip in half the first few minutes or meters. The more mobile you can comfortably be, the better you will feel.
Increased blood flow helps move the anaesthetic and speeds healing. Also go to physio classes if offered to get some tips on movement and safe exercising in the first few weeks, yes you are allowed to exercise but carefully so that your wound is not in any danger.
Laying on your side to begin with can pull on the scar and feel horrible
Arnica is good for promoting healing - particularly if you bruise
It's easier to manage the pain if you stay on top of it with the pain meds. Don't be a 'hero', it's harder to "catch up" on pain relief.
Endone.
Tramadol
Fentanyl
Morphine
Panadeine Forte
Nurofen
Panadol
Expect to be pretty out of it for at least half a day, if not 24 hours due to the drugs.
This is the main pain relief post caesar after they withdraw the morphine. Along with Voltaren, Tramadol and Panadeine Forte. They may try to pull you off the Endone after a couple of days. If you find the pain too much, demand the Endone. I guarantee your OB has it written up and will back you up on taking it. The midwives are getting you ready to go home without it. Some OB's will script it to you for going home, some only Panadeine Forte. Either way, insist on whatever it takes to be pain free while you are in hospital, even if they try and talk you out of it, or look down on you. You will have plenty of time to feel the pain at home.
keep track of your medication timings if they are busy so you should always know when something is due and take it as soon as you can
'birth stripe'
Mum had to go to recovery and because baby was early he had to go to SCN so mum only saw him for a few minutes for the first 24hrs which mum wasn't aware was going to happen.
they have to PUSH that baby out if you're not going to
you feel tugging, pulling and pressure on your belly and chest area as they are getting that baby out. Be prepared for it. It's the weirdest feeling. Doesn't hurt but just feels odd
A flat, firm bed is better than a squishy soft one and if you can raise it a little it will be easier to get in and out of bed and minimise your scar stretching.
Even if you want to transfer after a day or two to the nice double bed, resist. You need the poles, bars etc attached to the single to help you get in and out of bed.
Rest as much as you can. Even with elective which is heaps easier than emergency you have a lot to recover from, and deal with when you get home, so don't waste your rest time in hospital. Move around, absolutely, keep active, but also gets heaps of rest.
They take you into recovery straight after the operation - so you will be separated from baby for an hour or so.
Not necessarily. I held my DD2 during my short time in recovery and she had her first breastfeed at that time
You won't be able to sit up to feed (your legs won't work for a little while) and you may need help to swap baby from one side to the other
Note that they won't take out your IV line till you pass urine at least once after they take out the catheter. So be prepared to be asked a lot about that. Wind and bowel movements may hurt at first, right inside like period pain. The first Bowel Movement may be like diarrhoea, that is probably a side effect of the anaesthetic. You might need a mild laxative to get things really moving, like Nulax or Metamucil, nothing serious though.
they clean/shave you down there while you don't have movement in your legs.
not allowed to drive for 6 weeks
Also most people don't realise how low the scar is- most of it can be covered by hair
The scar can be numb
Swollen Feet - short walks with the baby and lots of water to drink.
The Fixomull also helped "protect" my scar
suggest having a back up person in case your DP falls through
recommend keeping the original "sticky" paper tape on the scar until it fell off, then to re-apply a paper tape over the length of the scar until 6 weeks
knee high compression stockings
If you hold a pillow to you wound when you have to laugh/cough/move, it will hurt less.
Don't pack anything to wear that is going to be tight across the scar line.
Bio oil can help after the inital healing to make the surrounding skin feel more soothed.
have lots of pillows to help you feed as it's not good to hold the weight of the baby while sitting / slouching in the hospital bed!
if you're a side/tummy sleeper, you may have a lot of trouble sleeping
i wasn't prepared for the fact that i couldn't reach him for the first day when he cried and couldn't change nappy.
bike shorts great to wear - kept me feeling "in place".
have some degas tablets packed as your bowels will slow down and trapped wind is PAINFUL
extremely itchy face with a c-sect poss due to morphine or Epi? Tablet to help?
fluid retention
that the epidural and painkillers (ie. tremadol) DOES cross over through breastmilk
the fine print on the disclaimer about risks to next pregnancies.
Drink, drink and drink some more, drink for Australia while they have the catheter in and you don't need to get up to the toilet
the hospital staff don't know the way you want it done if you don't tell them.
You need to have a catheter
after catheter came out - it took nearly two weeks to get back the sensation back properly when urinating, I still had control, but it just felt like a waterfall and i could not tell when I was empty
request a wheelchair to see bubs if needed
intense shivers
sensitivity to Adrenalin
tell the Anethetist this and they give me a lower does adrenalin injection - apparently they put it in to help the anesthetic spread around the body quicker???
shoulder tip pain - referred pain from gas under the diaphragm obtained during surgery plus the position I was in.
a drain put into my scar and the next morning after the catheter came out they pulled that out and I can tell you I almost hit the roof. So if you have that make sure you tell them to take it nice and slow like I did second time around and it was much better.
ask for stitches and NOT Staples
you may not feel comfortable using the 'cradle hold' for breastfeeding in the first week or so due to pain & swelling. Instead you have to use the 'football hold'
Yoga pants are the most comfortable thing to wear
abdominal binder for afterwards, I felt I could do more 'everyday things' without worrying about injury.
Buy Emla patches to put on your hands where the canula will go in, pain relief.
Do ask them to wait the first bath until you are there though, if it's something important to you. You might not be able to do it, but nice to see it happening.
anti clotting injections, if lager or prone.
take maternity pads
take some peppermint tea with me. I would make one up everytime the tea lady came and it helped SO much with the wind pain.
ask for a tubigrip - a big wide elastic band to wear around your abdomen. After carrying twins I had an abdominal separation and that plus the c/s scar made it feel like I would split in half when I moved. I lived in the tubigrip for several weeks and it really helped my core strength.
Ask for help to start expressing. Nobody mentioned it to me for the first 24hrs so my girls in NICU had formula. I was so angry they hadn't helped me when I obviously couldn't get up to the expressing room myself.
If you get horrendous oedema, one option is lymphatic drainage massage
I lost what looked like my lungs - huge huge big (i'm talking the size of your hand) chunks of clotted blood. I was scared and called the nurses - I though I was going to die! - the nurse then explained that it was totally normal due to the fact that I had been laying on my back since the day before and all of the excess blood had clotted inside - also happens in vaginal birth.
Ensure its not really hurting when they remove the staples as may be sign of bruising and therefore not ready to be removed!
I wish I was told that having a c-section after c-section can limit how many children you can have
Your milk can take an extra day to come in after a c/s
it doesn't matter how the babies get into the world just as long as you and they are safe
(http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=756988&hl=gown)
"What don't they tell you about caesars? "
Low Blood Sugar in Newborns
Blood Sugars in Newborns are only tested for in Hospitals.
Homebirth newborns are not tested.
To raise Blood Sugar, the baby needs food. Foremost Breastmilk, failing that, Formula. But always try every option to give breastmilk.
Babies who are supplemented - even a single bottle - in the early days tend to have shorter durations of both exclusive and any breastfeeding.
After all, we say to mom "You need to supplement with formula because your baby's blood sugar is low", what is the message we are sending? "Your milk has not been feeding your baby adequately, and it will not feed your baby adequately; we cannot trust that it is there in sufficient amounts and/or that your baby can get enough of it." Any wonder that these moms go on to mistrust their ability to nurse their babies? Additionally, even just a little formula affects baby's gut flora for weeks, changing the balance of beneficial flora that exclusive breastfeeding establishes (for more information on all of this, see this article by Marsha Walker, particularly the section "Some Cautionary Words About Supplementing with Formula").
(http://phdoula.blogspot.com/)
Babies get those bottles of formula not necessarily through malice, but because of staffing issues, longstanding habit, and lack of education and lack of trust in breastfeeding. They get formula without the understanding of the risks of "just a little bit".
What can you do to avoid unnecessary supplementation in the hospital? A few things:
1) Prepare yourself for breastfeeding - read, take a class, attend La Leche League meetings - boost both your knowledge and your confidence.
2) Choose a certified baby-friendly birthplace - this won't eliminate the possibility of unnecessary supplements, but it will greatly decrease them!
3) Make sure breastfeeding is going well - let the staff know you are committed to breastfeeding, ask for a lactation consult, and solicit outside help from La Leche League or a lactation professional if you need to. Yes, those people can come visit you in the hospital!
4) Surround yourself with family and friend support. Maybe the sister-in-law who keeps asking whether the baby is "too hungry" is not the person to spend the night with you!
5) Be ready to advocate for yourself if needed, and have all that knowledge, preparation, and support ready. Self-advocacy is not always easy (and unfortunately not always successful), but it is very important!
I did not know any of this when my son was admitted to the special care unit for LBS. (hypoglycemia) He ended up being suplemented with a tube up his nose, as the nurses told me I did not have enough Breastmilk.
IF ONLY someone had told me about 'Fenugreek' or 'Blessed Thistle', or that I didn't have to feed every 3 - 4 hours, I could have kept him on the breast for as long as I or he wanted, and this also would have helped to increase my supply.
Homebirth newborns are not tested.
To raise Blood Sugar, the baby needs food. Foremost Breastmilk, failing that, Formula. But always try every option to give breastmilk.
Babies who are supplemented - even a single bottle - in the early days tend to have shorter durations of both exclusive and any breastfeeding.
After all, we say to mom "You need to supplement with formula because your baby's blood sugar is low", what is the message we are sending? "Your milk has not been feeding your baby adequately, and it will not feed your baby adequately; we cannot trust that it is there in sufficient amounts and/or that your baby can get enough of it." Any wonder that these moms go on to mistrust their ability to nurse their babies? Additionally, even just a little formula affects baby's gut flora for weeks, changing the balance of beneficial flora that exclusive breastfeeding establishes (for more information on all of this, see this article by Marsha Walker, particularly the section "Some Cautionary Words About Supplementing with Formula").
(http://phdoula.blogspot.com/)
Babies get those bottles of formula not necessarily through malice, but because of staffing issues, longstanding habit, and lack of education and lack of trust in breastfeeding. They get formula without the understanding of the risks of "just a little bit".
What can you do to avoid unnecessary supplementation in the hospital? A few things:
1) Prepare yourself for breastfeeding - read, take a class, attend La Leche League meetings - boost both your knowledge and your confidence.
2) Choose a certified baby-friendly birthplace - this won't eliminate the possibility of unnecessary supplements, but it will greatly decrease them!
3) Make sure breastfeeding is going well - let the staff know you are committed to breastfeeding, ask for a lactation consult, and solicit outside help from La Leche League or a lactation professional if you need to. Yes, those people can come visit you in the hospital!
4) Surround yourself with family and friend support. Maybe the sister-in-law who keeps asking whether the baby is "too hungry" is not the person to spend the night with you!
5) Be ready to advocate for yourself if needed, and have all that knowledge, preparation, and support ready. Self-advocacy is not always easy (and unfortunately not always successful), but it is very important!
I did not know any of this when my son was admitted to the special care unit for LBS. (hypoglycemia) He ended up being suplemented with a tube up his nose, as the nurses told me I did not have enough Breastmilk.
IF ONLY someone had told me about 'Fenugreek' or 'Blessed Thistle', or that I didn't have to feed every 3 - 4 hours, I could have kept him on the breast for as long as I or he wanted, and this also would have helped to increase my supply.
Labour Options
Where:
Hospital?
Home?
Rental near Hospital?
Pain Relief:
None?
Gas?
Water Injections?
Pethideine?
Epidural?
Who:
Alone?
With Partner?
With Midwife?
Other family?
With Children?
Hospital?
Home?
Rental near Hospital?
Pain Relief:
None?
Gas?
Water Injections?
Pethideine?
Epidural?
Who:
Alone?
With Partner?
With Midwife?
Other family?
With Children?
Writing a Birth Plan
How to?
What to include?
What are you options?
Why?
Who to give to?
A Birth Plan should be about what you can control, not what you can't.
If you're concerned that you'll be too intensely in labor to think of things independently, then make sure your support people are ready to be proactive! And if you're not sure if they will be, hire a doula! ;-)
It doesn't hurt to put "no students" on there too if that's very important to you. You can decline this!
What to include?
What are you options?
Why?
Who to give to?
A Birth Plan should be about what you can control, not what you can't.
If you're concerned that you'll be too intensely in labor to think of things independently, then make sure your support people are ready to be proactive! And if you're not sure if they will be, hire a doula! ;-)
It doesn't hurt to put "no students" on there too if that's very important to you. You can decline this!
General Parenting Resources - Info Pack
I need to compile a list of general parenting resources for an Info Pack for future clients.
This could include:
Organised Playgroups
Low Cost Services
Low Cost Baby Needs
Centrelink Information
Networking Resourses ie websites &/or local groups
This could include:
Organised Playgroups
Low Cost Services
Low Cost Baby Needs
Centrelink Information
Networking Resourses ie websites &/or local groups
Local Breastfeeding Resources - Info Pack
I need to compile a list of local breastfeeding resources for future clients. Depending on location.
Correspondence Courses
Childbirth International
Optimum Birth
These are two I have found via coresspondence that are within a price range I may be able to afford and seem to be well known and suggested on many baby forum sites.
Optimum Birth
These are two I have found via coresspondence that are within a price range I may be able to afford and seem to be well known and suggested on many baby forum sites.
FIRST POST
I'm considering my calling as a Doula.
I have ALWAYS loved babies.
I have always thought pregnancy and birth to be a MIRACLE.
So why not immerse myself in what I love and help others to have the most perfect pregnancy and birth experience they could ever wish for?!
My only issue now is: You don't need to be "Qualiflied" to be a Doula, but you do need experience. For the moment I can not afford to join a 'course' to get my papers, so until I can I am going to tech myself all I can think of to help in a birthing experience and postpartum.
Everything I would expect MY Doula to know and hopefully more.
Where do I start?
I'm currently googling and searching all I can find and I'm going to use this site to join together all the info I can find to help myself learn and so I have somehere to reflect without having a useless pile of paper that I'll never look at....
I have ALWAYS loved babies.
I have always thought pregnancy and birth to be a MIRACLE.
So why not immerse myself in what I love and help others to have the most perfect pregnancy and birth experience they could ever wish for?!
My only issue now is: You don't need to be "Qualiflied" to be a Doula, but you do need experience. For the moment I can not afford to join a 'course' to get my papers, so until I can I am going to tech myself all I can think of to help in a birthing experience and postpartum.
Everything I would expect MY Doula to know and hopefully more.
Where do I start?
I'm currently googling and searching all I can find and I'm going to use this site to join together all the info I can find to help myself learn and so I have somehere to reflect without having a useless pile of paper that I'll never look at....
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