I have finally got around to doing it. Energy has been drained but now I am back at it. Ready to roar.
As pregnant ladies do, I made a birth plan. I wanted no drugs, the least intervention as I could get and I was going to birth my baby the way my body wanted to. As we all know, things don’t always work out the way you plan them.
I know what went wrong. For sake of hurting feelings I won’t point it out…just tell you my story.
My mother came down to AZ from AK to see the birth of her grandchild and for some reason I had a feeling we were going to be early, (due on June 2nd) so Mom came down on May 30th. A week passed by and nothing yet. I had all the common questions, “When is the baby coming?” “How long are the going to let you go?” “Hurry up and have that baby already.”
I know most first time moms go over, but all these repetitive questions made me feel anxious and kind of angry people were expecting me to know when the baby was coming. Like I was in charge of when I birthed.
As the time started getting closer to Mom leaving we started looking at natural ways to trigger labor. We walked and walked and walked.
On June 10th, Thursday, we went to Metro Center Mall and walked around for a couple of hours. I walked stairs, sat in the vibrating chairs, got a foot massage and contractions started. They were getting closer and closer together so we decided, being five minutes away from the hospital, we were going to go. When we got there and I got hooked up to the monitors, the contractions started spacing themselves further apart. Six minutes, seven minutes, so they sent me home. I really at this point just wanted to have the baby. When the nurse in triage called Tiffany, (the midwife on call) I told her I wanted to get my water broken to get things started. They told me to come back in the morning and we would be scheduled for an induction. So we went home still pregnant.
That night, I thought about it. This whole pregnancy I didn’t want any intervention. I hadn’t even taken Tylenol for headaches. Why now at the very end had I chosen to have an induction? Why have the baby come when everyone else wanted the baby, not when the baby wanted to come? I told my mom who was supposed to be leaving that Sunday, “I want to have the baby before you leave, I don’t want your trip to be for nothing!” She said, “Well don’t get induced on account of me leaving, the baby will come when she comes.” (We didn’t know what the sex of the baby was, but she wanted a girl, to have three girl tiger Gemini’s in a row. Her, me, and baby.) So when she said that, I thought ‘you know she is right! Baby will come, forget everyone else.
The next day we decided to go to Arizona Mills, another mall and walk some more. We met up with my cousins there and walked around the mall for four hours. We heard pineapple helped induce labor so I was eating that all day while we walked. We walked and walked, but I didn’t feel any contractions. When we went home our feet were so tired. Husband got home from school and we went about our night.
At 12:35 I felt my first contraction. Out of nowhere they came on and so I decided to time them. Five minutes, seven minutes, six minutes, but they were getting regular. I waited for a little while to make sure it was for real this time, and at 2:30am I decided to wake my mom. It was time, guess baby was waiting for daddy to be able to be there. It was the weekend.
So I called my cousins and told them it was time and we went to the hospital. I got checked in triage and I was at 4 cm almost 5, so they decided to keep me. I went walking. We walked around labor and delivery and contractions got to the point where we had to stop now and again to work through them.
My room was finally ready and I was hooked up to the monitors again for five minutes to check and make sure the baby was doing okay still. When we were done, I got up and walked around the room for a while, was able to get into the tub and labor in there for a while, then I went back into the bed to rest. This went on for like 8 hours. Lisa, the midwife decided to come in and talk options. At this point my water hadn’t broken. I was dilated to 5. We decided to break my water. There was a little meconium in my water, which is normal for overdue mothers. Lisa wasn’t concerned so we continued to labor.
Then my mother in law showed up.
Her, Husband’s sister and Aunty wanted to come into the room and watch. Something I didn’t think was a great idea. I felt it was a private moment, and for those who know our history, it wasn’t something that felt “right.” Husband was torn. He wanted to share this moment with his Mother, at the time I didn’t realize that but he was ready to leave me if I didn’t let her in the room. She made it about her. I was getting at a point where contractions were unbearable, 12 hours of pain without meds, and now I wasn’t progressing. I was stuck at 5 cm. I went to the toilet, and when I came back to sit on the bed more water came out. This time it gushed and was dark with meconium. Lisa came in to talk to me about what we were going to do. It was about the baby now and at this point I was barely able to get through anything. Baby was moving away from the external monitor, so they put an internal monitor in me.
We decided it was time for pitocin to get contractions rolling and cervix dilating. I know from all the birth stories that pitocin makes contractions very painful, so I opted for the epidural. With the epi came the catheter, and oxygen mask. After I got it, I was in heaven compared to the last 12 hours. I told Husband his mom could come in now. I felt no pain, and wasn’t embarrassed anymore. Husband and I were able to get some sleep and even though I couldn’t feel the contractions, I felt some pressure in my anal region. They told me that was the baby’s head and contractions. So I could still feel them, just not as strong. By 6pm I felt urges to push. I asked to be checked and I was fully dilated! I was ecstatic. They told me we would start to push about 6:30pm because we had to wait for a doctor for the baby because of the meconium. Time finally came around and we started to push with the contractions. I couldn’t even feel the baby moving down. People were all around me telling me I was doing great and things were going well, but I couldn’t tell!
7:30 rolls around and they finally could see the head emerging. Seven minutes later I hear, “It’s a boy!” It was such a fantastic feeling getting him out. The pressure was released and I was so happy to hear I had a boy! Half the family was hoping for a boy, and the other half a girl. Guess you can’t go wrong with 50/50 chances! I was just hoping for a healthy baby.
Julian James Cleveland was born on June 12, 2010, weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz, 20 1/2 inches long. He is a lovely addition to our new family and we love him dearly.
Showing posts with label bethany womens healthcare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bethany womens healthcare. Show all posts
Monday, June 21, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
A's VBAC story
I had been having surges for the past week off and on. By Saturday night I had called my doula to let her know that we were getting close. On Sunday, I had bloody show so I was wearing a cloth pad and we went to trader joes and while there I felt my legs sorta wet and so we headed home. I definitely had lost some fluid.
I called my doula and so Sunday night she slept the night since I was having contractions every 7 or so minutes and was 80 percent. We tried moving my placenta since it was a bit anterior, but it didn't do a lot of help. I wasn't dilating. Monday I did a lot of walking and the contractions were staying at around 6-7 minutes apart. I again called my doula, she came up around midnight or so from another birth. SHe told me she'd have to head to the other for around 6 am. At around 4:30 I was still having contractions and went to the bathroom and I had a very thick discharge and saw some meconium. We decided that I should probably head into the hospital. She had another doula accompany me. This new doula was very awesome! She was very calming and in spite of not knowing her she was super supportive and helpful. At the hospital they checked me and I had a leak in my fluid so they kept me rather than turning me home. I was 100 percent.
I was having surges every 5-6 minutes at this point. With some walking and rest I wasn't progressing. I was around 2.5 cm around 10 am. I was doing some laps and using the birth ball to get through surges. I swear I was the only one walkin, so I had no idea where all the other birthing moms were. Shortly after that the nurse came in and said that I had to stay on the bed now since she had read the policy and VBAC patients had to be under constant monitoring. At this point, I started crying. I asked to see my midwife. While we waited, the new doula let me know that each thing was my choice and with policies there are ways around it. In my mind I kept thinking that there was just no way I could progress from less than 3 cm to 10 without any movement. The midwife came in and let me know what my options were - stay there and listen or request an AMA form (against medical advice) to allow me to walk. Apparently this policy isn't always enforced, and it is up for review in May. Anyway, while waiting and talking (and plenty of tears) my progression definitely changed. I had been having contractions/surges every 5-6 minutes and after the situation, I had barely 2 contractions over a 45 minute period) and definitely affected how I was feeling about the whole situation. After I signed the form I laid in bed for quite a while and did some thinking. I had received some beads from a birth circle meeting and another set from my friends at a blessingway. I asked for those and thought about all the well wishers I had through this birth. I got up and we tried to do some nipple stimulation and a shower to try to get things going, and I just didn't feel it happening so we requested a breast pump, which I also didn't feel helped the contractions get closer. By this time my doula had come back but was exhausted so shortly after she went home. It was around 6 pm and I spoke with the midwife and we decided that we'd try a small amount of pitocin to try to get my body moving again. I knew that once this happened I'd have to stay on my back so we did some walking again. Ravi and I had a few disagreements - I posted via my blackberry that I needed some "eggplant parmesan" (there's a recipe on the web that "guarantees" labor), and Ravi wanted me to remained focused, I was beginning to waver in my belief that I could get through this. I tried some stadol to get some rest because I had been up for basically 3 days and hopefully it would allow me to relax some. While I was able to get some rest, I wasn’t sure if I had progressed. I asked to be checked (we were minimizing this due to the water being broke) and I was at 4.5. My "agreement" to myself was to do the pit if I wasn't at a 5.
We started the pit and the contractions were within 2 minutes of each other within a few hours but I was in horrible pain. They had been slowly upping the pit and I didn’t feel I was able to handle the pain since I had barely any down time between contractions. I had asked that no order be put for an epidural because I wanted to be sure that I spoke with my midwife again before asking for it. The hospital staff had been mostly awesome to this point because I know they wanted to ask me for an epidural for quite a while but in my birth plan I had asked to not be asked. I called for the nurse and let her know that I wanted the pit turned down. This helped the contractions subside but I knew that wasn’t going to get me closer to having the baby! I was without a doula at this point and was confused and definitely losing focus again. I asked for the midwife, and I swore she was just never coming because every contractions felt like an eternity! While waiting for her to come back, I requested the pit be turned off. The nurse basically told me that if I asked for it, she could, but she couldn’t keep changing it. She turned it off, and I let her know I’d like an epidural. She had to call the midwife who was on her way to get the order. I felt so sad and deserted at this point. No doula, midwife was taking forever, I wasn’t progressing!
Finally just as nurse came in and turned off the pit, the midwife came in and we had a short talk and we agreed that the best bet would be to do the epidural. The anesthesiologist came in and explained the procedure to me. I still think it is a bit funny that they didn’t tell me the side effects of this, but I got the whole “fetal death” talk when I asked for intermittent monitoring. Anyway, we started the pit again along with some antibiotics (this may have happened earlier?) since I had been ruptured for a while and was having cervical checks. The epidural didn’t fully take effect but I was able to get a few hours of sleep. I woke and was feeling the contractions and was able to use breathing to hopefully make them more positive. I had feeling on my left side and most of my vaginal area. Around an hour later I was still awakeand felt the rest of my water break. I asked for the nurse and she came and said I was a 9. I never felt so good in my life! I was getting the urge to “bear down” and she said that it wasn’t time yet. I didn’t really stop myself , but she told me it’d be at least 90 minutes before I’d probably be complete. I looked at the clock- it was 6 am and he was almost all the way in position. Shift change was in an hour. Couldn’t help but think of this! Anyway, the new midwife came in around 6:40 and checked me and said I was definitely at a 10 at this point and baby was fully ready! I could feel that she was trying to help me stretch. She had me do a few test pushes so I’d know what to do. I swear I thought I was pooping (earlier on I had called the nurse to change the bed pad because I swore I pooped, apparently I had farted and there was some show). We worked on where I should be pushing and adjusted the bed (I had wanted to birth squatting but only had use of half a leg so without an additional support person this wasn’t possible. I began pushing with the surges and could feel him progressing again and again. At one point he was crowning and she asked me to feel his head and I said I can’t. Apparently both she and Ravi thought that meant I was giving up, but when I showed them, my arm was too short! Anyway, around 7 am, more people began coming in and I kept saying WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE! It definitely was distracting. A midwife from the UK was in to catch the baby, and I was fine with this, the previous midwife had asked if I was okay with this, which I was. We continued pushing and I felt him begin to come through and was getting tired but knew I had more in me. I was being cheered on by the nurse and two midwives and Ravi. Finally at 7:17, less than 30 minutes of pushing, Rohan Jakob entered the world. I am glad the epidural didn’t fully take effect, without it, I’m sure pushing would have been more difficult. I also am thankful for the entire process of getting this baby here. I now have confidence in my body that I didn’t know I had. I had wavered many times but we made it through.
In the end, he was a vbac and I'm so happy that we were home within 12 hours of his birth. He never left our side :) Official stats (after nursing and pooping and all that jazz)
Born 4/28/10 at 7:17 am19.5 inches long7 lbs, 4 oz13.5'' head
Tons of thanks to my friends who’ve helped me get to this point and especially to Sarah for coming to our house before 5 am to pick up Viveka. I’m so thankful that I knew Viveka was in good hands while we were in the hospital!
I called my doula and so Sunday night she slept the night since I was having contractions every 7 or so minutes and was 80 percent. We tried moving my placenta since it was a bit anterior, but it didn't do a lot of help. I wasn't dilating. Monday I did a lot of walking and the contractions were staying at around 6-7 minutes apart. I again called my doula, she came up around midnight or so from another birth. SHe told me she'd have to head to the other for around 6 am. At around 4:30 I was still having contractions and went to the bathroom and I had a very thick discharge and saw some meconium. We decided that I should probably head into the hospital. She had another doula accompany me. This new doula was very awesome! She was very calming and in spite of not knowing her she was super supportive and helpful. At the hospital they checked me and I had a leak in my fluid so they kept me rather than turning me home. I was 100 percent.
I was having surges every 5-6 minutes at this point. With some walking and rest I wasn't progressing. I was around 2.5 cm around 10 am. I was doing some laps and using the birth ball to get through surges. I swear I was the only one walkin, so I had no idea where all the other birthing moms were. Shortly after that the nurse came in and said that I had to stay on the bed now since she had read the policy and VBAC patients had to be under constant monitoring. At this point, I started crying. I asked to see my midwife. While we waited, the new doula let me know that each thing was my choice and with policies there are ways around it. In my mind I kept thinking that there was just no way I could progress from less than 3 cm to 10 without any movement. The midwife came in and let me know what my options were - stay there and listen or request an AMA form (against medical advice) to allow me to walk. Apparently this policy isn't always enforced, and it is up for review in May. Anyway, while waiting and talking (and plenty of tears) my progression definitely changed. I had been having contractions/surges every 5-6 minutes and after the situation, I had barely 2 contractions over a 45 minute period) and definitely affected how I was feeling about the whole situation. After I signed the form I laid in bed for quite a while and did some thinking. I had received some beads from a birth circle meeting and another set from my friends at a blessingway. I asked for those and thought about all the well wishers I had through this birth. I got up and we tried to do some nipple stimulation and a shower to try to get things going, and I just didn't feel it happening so we requested a breast pump, which I also didn't feel helped the contractions get closer. By this time my doula had come back but was exhausted so shortly after she went home. It was around 6 pm and I spoke with the midwife and we decided that we'd try a small amount of pitocin to try to get my body moving again. I knew that once this happened I'd have to stay on my back so we did some walking again. Ravi and I had a few disagreements - I posted via my blackberry that I needed some "eggplant parmesan" (there's a recipe on the web that "guarantees" labor), and Ravi wanted me to remained focused, I was beginning to waver in my belief that I could get through this. I tried some stadol to get some rest because I had been up for basically 3 days and hopefully it would allow me to relax some. While I was able to get some rest, I wasn’t sure if I had progressed. I asked to be checked (we were minimizing this due to the water being broke) and I was at 4.5. My "agreement" to myself was to do the pit if I wasn't at a 5.
We started the pit and the contractions were within 2 minutes of each other within a few hours but I was in horrible pain. They had been slowly upping the pit and I didn’t feel I was able to handle the pain since I had barely any down time between contractions. I had asked that no order be put for an epidural because I wanted to be sure that I spoke with my midwife again before asking for it. The hospital staff had been mostly awesome to this point because I know they wanted to ask me for an epidural for quite a while but in my birth plan I had asked to not be asked. I called for the nurse and let her know that I wanted the pit turned down. This helped the contractions subside but I knew that wasn’t going to get me closer to having the baby! I was without a doula at this point and was confused and definitely losing focus again. I asked for the midwife, and I swore she was just never coming because every contractions felt like an eternity! While waiting for her to come back, I requested the pit be turned off. The nurse basically told me that if I asked for it, she could, but she couldn’t keep changing it. She turned it off, and I let her know I’d like an epidural. She had to call the midwife who was on her way to get the order. I felt so sad and deserted at this point. No doula, midwife was taking forever, I wasn’t progressing!
Finally just as nurse came in and turned off the pit, the midwife came in and we had a short talk and we agreed that the best bet would be to do the epidural. The anesthesiologist came in and explained the procedure to me. I still think it is a bit funny that they didn’t tell me the side effects of this, but I got the whole “fetal death” talk when I asked for intermittent monitoring. Anyway, we started the pit again along with some antibiotics (this may have happened earlier?) since I had been ruptured for a while and was having cervical checks. The epidural didn’t fully take effect but I was able to get a few hours of sleep. I woke and was feeling the contractions and was able to use breathing to hopefully make them more positive. I had feeling on my left side and most of my vaginal area. Around an hour later I was still awakeand felt the rest of my water break. I asked for the nurse and she came and said I was a 9. I never felt so good in my life! I was getting the urge to “bear down” and she said that it wasn’t time yet. I didn’t really stop myself , but she told me it’d be at least 90 minutes before I’d probably be complete. I looked at the clock- it was 6 am and he was almost all the way in position. Shift change was in an hour. Couldn’t help but think of this! Anyway, the new midwife came in around 6:40 and checked me and said I was definitely at a 10 at this point and baby was fully ready! I could feel that she was trying to help me stretch. She had me do a few test pushes so I’d know what to do. I swear I thought I was pooping (earlier on I had called the nurse to change the bed pad because I swore I pooped, apparently I had farted and there was some show). We worked on where I should be pushing and adjusted the bed (I had wanted to birth squatting but only had use of half a leg so without an additional support person this wasn’t possible. I began pushing with the surges and could feel him progressing again and again. At one point he was crowning and she asked me to feel his head and I said I can’t. Apparently both she and Ravi thought that meant I was giving up, but when I showed them, my arm was too short! Anyway, around 7 am, more people began coming in and I kept saying WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE! It definitely was distracting. A midwife from the UK was in to catch the baby, and I was fine with this, the previous midwife had asked if I was okay with this, which I was. We continued pushing and I felt him begin to come through and was getting tired but knew I had more in me. I was being cheered on by the nurse and two midwives and Ravi. Finally at 7:17, less than 30 minutes of pushing, Rohan Jakob entered the world. I am glad the epidural didn’t fully take effect, without it, I’m sure pushing would have been more difficult. I also am thankful for the entire process of getting this baby here. I now have confidence in my body that I didn’t know I had. I had wavered many times but we made it through.
In the end, he was a vbac and I'm so happy that we were home within 12 hours of his birth. He never left our side :) Official stats (after nursing and pooping and all that jazz)
Born 4/28/10 at 7:17 am19.5 inches long7 lbs, 4 oz13.5'' head
Tons of thanks to my friends who’ve helped me get to this point and especially to Sarah for coming to our house before 5 am to pick up Viveka. I’m so thankful that I knew Viveka was in good hands while we were in the hospital!
Friday, April 16, 2010
March for Babies - Time is Running out to donate!!!!!
As March fast approaches, the time for walking to fight prematurity is here again. Every year, in an attempt to raise funds to fight prematurity and birth defects, the March of Dimes hosts March for Babies. The Phoenix, AZ walk is actually April 17th. Bethany Womens Healthcare has a team and we are inviting everyone....and I do mean everyone...to walk, donate, or both with us! Our goal is to raise $1000 for the march of Dimes....will you help?
Click here to go to my homepage to donate or join our team.
My son was born prematurely at 34 weeks after spending a couple weeks in the hospital on magnesium sulfate on and off. While most babies will do fine in the long run at this gestational age, he did not. He experienced bleeding in his brain, which caused permanent brain damage. He is now mildy mentally retarded.
Do you have a story to tell about a child born premature or with birth defects? We would love to share your story on our blog. Email your story to me by clicking on my name then Email and I will post it up.
Click here to go to my homepage to donate or join our team.
My son was born prematurely at 34 weeks after spending a couple weeks in the hospital on magnesium sulfate on and off. While most babies will do fine in the long run at this gestational age, he did not. He experienced bleeding in his brain, which caused permanent brain damage. He is now mildy mentally retarded.
Do you have a story to tell about a child born premature or with birth defects? We would love to share your story on our blog. Email your story to me by clicking on my name then Email and I will post it up.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
April Support Group Topics and a New Class
Nursing Mothers Group Discussion Topics
April 2010
Wednesday Mornings: 10 AM – Noon
PLEASE PARK ON 37TH AVENUE; CROSS INTO THE PARKING LOT ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE CLINIC
Join us in the Breastfeeding Support Center. Babies and toddlers always welcome. Bring your questions and concerns –
In addition to the discussion topic, we’ll explore answers that work for YOU. This is informal and fun!
April 7 He Can’t Be Hungry – He Just Ate!
Babies nurse for many reasons in addition to food. We’ll discuss normal feeding behaviors in breastfed babies AND how mommies can prepare to cope with the demands this can represent.
April 14 What About Dad?
A Dad’s role in the breastfeeding relationship might seem, well . . . invisible. Surprise! What Dads do for babies is also important, though very different from nursing mothers.
April 21 Ah Choo! Allergies and the Breastfed Baby
Breastfed babies have a reduced incidence of allergies. We’ll discuss the protective effective of breastfeeding.
April 28 Taking Fun Vacations with Breastfed Babies
Traveling with a breastfed baby? Join us for a fun discussion and learn some tips from the experienced travelers in the room. Plan ahead for your own get-a-way!
New Class from the BWHC Breastfeeding Support Center
In response to the NEEDS of nursing mothers who are returning to work, we are offering a new class beginning in April: Employed and Breastfeeding Seminar.
First, the basics:
Breastfeeding Works! is the class that ALL expectant parents should attend to learn about the basics of breastfeeding. This puts new moms ahead of the inevitable learning curve
when their babies are born. It includes information about comfortable positioning and latch, how to know that your baby is getting enough to eat, and basic information for trouble-shooting common breastfeeding challenges. You don't have to go it alone!
If you are returning to work, the Employed and Breastfeeding Seminar, is designed for you:
· from 7 to 8 PM, usually on the 3rd Monday of the month
· Call 602-973-3200 to register
· Dads/one support person are welcome and encouraged to attend
· The fee includes attendance for you and your husband, partner or a support person
· Babies and toddlers are welcome – you DON’T need a babysitter
· All class materials are provided, and space is limited.
After reviewing the critical importance of breastfeeding and how the breast makes milk, the evening will focus on:
· how to prioritize so that you can build an ample milk supply early on
· how to add a pumping routine to your life so that you have some milk stored before your return to work or school
· tips to make the transition back to work a little bit easier
· how to negotiate with your employer for a time and place to express your milk
· options to consider if reality is not ideal
· what to do if breastfeeding challenges arise
· information about pumps -- including how breast pumps work and what type of pump is appropriate for your situation
· how to manage the adjustments as you balance your return to work or school
Payment is made when you arrive at 6:45 p.m. the day of your class
· Fee: $10.00
· We accept cash, MasterCard, Visa, and checks payable to Bethany Womens Healthcare
I'm so proud of the many remarkable mothers in our practice who have overcome common challenges when they began breastfeeding. And, then they have adjusted to the return to work AND continued breastfeeding. It just proves that with a good plan, there is NOTHING a woman cannot do!
Sharon Olson, BS, IBCLC
April 2010
Wednesday Mornings: 10 AM – Noon
PLEASE PARK ON 37TH AVENUE; CROSS INTO THE PARKING LOT ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE CLINIC
Join us in the Breastfeeding Support Center. Babies and toddlers always welcome. Bring your questions and concerns –
In addition to the discussion topic, we’ll explore answers that work for YOU. This is informal and fun!
April 7 He Can’t Be Hungry – He Just Ate!
Babies nurse for many reasons in addition to food. We’ll discuss normal feeding behaviors in breastfed babies AND how mommies can prepare to cope with the demands this can represent.
April 14 What About Dad?
A Dad’s role in the breastfeeding relationship might seem, well . . . invisible. Surprise! What Dads do for babies is also important, though very different from nursing mothers.
April 21 Ah Choo! Allergies and the Breastfed Baby
Breastfed babies have a reduced incidence of allergies. We’ll discuss the protective effective of breastfeeding.
April 28 Taking Fun Vacations with Breastfed Babies
Traveling with a breastfed baby? Join us for a fun discussion and learn some tips from the experienced travelers in the room. Plan ahead for your own get-a-way!
New Class from the BWHC Breastfeeding Support Center
In response to the NEEDS of nursing mothers who are returning to work, we are offering a new class beginning in April: Employed and Breastfeeding Seminar.
First, the basics:
Breastfeeding Works! is the class that ALL expectant parents should attend to learn about the basics of breastfeeding. This puts new moms ahead of the inevitable learning curve
when their babies are born. It includes information about comfortable positioning and latch, how to know that your baby is getting enough to eat, and basic information for trouble-shooting common breastfeeding challenges. You don't have to go it alone!
If you are returning to work, the Employed and Breastfeeding Seminar, is designed for you:
· from 7 to 8 PM, usually on the 3rd Monday of the month
· Call 602-973-3200 to register
· Dads/one support person are welcome and encouraged to attend
· The fee includes attendance for you and your husband, partner or a support person
· Babies and toddlers are welcome – you DON’T need a babysitter
· All class materials are provided, and space is limited.
After reviewing the critical importance of breastfeeding and how the breast makes milk, the evening will focus on:
· how to prioritize so that you can build an ample milk supply early on
· how to add a pumping routine to your life so that you have some milk stored before your return to work or school
· tips to make the transition back to work a little bit easier
· how to negotiate with your employer for a time and place to express your milk
· options to consider if reality is not ideal
· what to do if breastfeeding challenges arise
· information about pumps -- including how breast pumps work and what type of pump is appropriate for your situation
· how to manage the adjustments as you balance your return to work or school
Payment is made when you arrive at 6:45 p.m. the day of your class
· Fee: $10.00
· We accept cash, MasterCard, Visa, and checks payable to Bethany Womens Healthcare
I'm so proud of the many remarkable mothers in our practice who have overcome common challenges when they began breastfeeding. And, then they have adjusted to the return to work AND continued breastfeeding. It just proves that with a good plan, there is NOTHING a woman cannot do!
Sharon Olson, BS, IBCLC
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Herbal Use During Pregnancy Part I
Many women are interested in a more natural approach to pregnancy, labor, and birth. This can include the use of herbal remedies to treat common problems, enhancing one's health and well being, or a desire to avoid man-made medications if possible. There are many herbs available to women, with many being safe during pregnancy. The following is NOT an all-inclusive guide to herbal use. There are so many out there that enitire books are written about herbs! I will discuss some of the more common herbs used during pregnancy as well as what to avoid. As always, you should discuss herbal use with your provider before using. Speaking with an herbalist is also a great way to get safe advice.
Herbs are made from one or more plants. It's important to remember that just because it's 'natural', doesn't mean it's safe!
The most common methods for preparing herbs are capsules, teas or infusions, tinctures or extracts, and infused oils. The standard measure for tea is 1 ounce of dried herb or 2 ounces of fresh herb with 1 pint of water. Pour the boiling water over the herb, cover, and steep for 15 minutes, strain and drink! For roots, seeds, or the hard, woody parts measure out the same proportion as the infusions, but boil in the water for 20 minutes. Then strain and drink.
Herbal Remedies (listed by problem)
Herbs are made from one or more plants. It's important to remember that just because it's 'natural', doesn't mean it's safe!
The most common methods for preparing herbs are capsules, teas or infusions, tinctures or extracts, and infused oils. The standard measure for tea is 1 ounce of dried herb or 2 ounces of fresh herb with 1 pint of water. Pour the boiling water over the herb, cover, and steep for 15 minutes, strain and drink! For roots, seeds, or the hard, woody parts measure out the same proportion as the infusions, but boil in the water for 20 minutes. Then strain and drink.
Herbal Remedies (listed by problem)
- Cystitis - corn silk thread, horsetail, or marshmallow in tea form
- Engorgement - the leaves of a green or white cabbage leaf as a lining in the bra - change when they are limp, or grate a potato and add it to the cabbage leaf along with a small amount of hot water. Mash together and apply as a paste to the breasts. Only for engorgement as cabbage leaves are commonly used to dry up milk as well.
- Exhaustion in Labor - infusions of fresh ginger root, alone or added to raspberry leaf tea (don't use the ginger if birth is imminent or in the first postpartum hour. Other options include an infusion of rosemary tea, or a tincture of blue cohosh root.
- Headaches - fill a clean white sock with white rice, and add lavendar, rosemary, cloves, or combination thereof. Sew up the open end of sock and warm in the microwave or chill in the freezer. Apply to the forehead (being careful not to burn yourself!).
- Heartburn - Teas of ginger, Iceland moss, lemon balm, chamomile, marshmallow, meadowsweet, peppermint, or spearmint. Alfalfa tablets can also be helpful and are a good source of iron as well.
- High Blood Pressure - hawthorn and cramp bark combined in tea form.
- Insomnia - nervine tea at bedtime.
- Lactation - teas of comfrey, dill, milk thistle, red clover alfalfa, nettles, fenugreek, hops, and vervain. Borage, blessed thistle, and wood betony as teas act as an antidepressant and increase milk supply. fennel seeds sipped in a tea throughout the day, then chewed and swallowed, improve milk flow and are thought to decrease infant colic.
- Mood Changes - herb baths using the flowers of roses, lavendar, borage, daisies, or chamomile. Teas of raspberry leaf alone or in combo with equal amounts of either spearmint or peppermint teas. St John's wort in capsule or tincture form. Teas of vervainherb, lemon balm, lavendar flower, borage flower, lemon verbena leaf. Fish oil or other sources of omega 3's.
- Morning Sickness - anise, black horehound, chamomile, cinnamon bark, cloves, fennel, gentian, ginger root, hops, Iceland moss, lavendar, meadowsweet, red raspberry leaf, rosemary, spearmint or peppermint teas. Chewing or sucking slippery elm tablets or candied ginger. red raspberry capsules or tonic.
- Muscle Aches - fill a clean white tube sock with natural buckwheat; add clove, chamomile, and lavendar herbs. Sew up the sock and warm or chill the sock. Placed on affected area.
- Pain in Labor - motherwort in tincture form (5-10 drops mixed in a small glass of water every hour), scullcap drunk as an infusion or sipped from a glass of water to which had been added one teaspoon of the tincture, or St John's wort in an infusion, or add 23-30 drops to a glass of water. Black cohosh root in tincture form in half-teaspoon doses.Pasque flower in tea, tincture, or capsule. Basil and gotu kola teas and sage compresses.
To be continued...
Thursday, February 25, 2010
I'm on Twitter now....check me out - CNMtiffany. I'll be tweeting periodically from work to give you a peak into the life of a midwife.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
E's Birth Story
I always encourage women to write their birth stories, whether they have them posted here or not. Having a written account of your birth story is such a nice keepsake for years later when details have become fuzzy. I think it's also a nice addition to a baby book. Someday this child will grow up and may be curious about how they arrived in this world. I regret not having written any of my births up - so many little details are lost to me now. And my husband, well, is useless at that sort of thing :p
E was coming in for induction due to having cholestasis (a condition that carries with it a very high risk of stillbirth after 38 weeks gestation). E was actually 38.6 weeks and this would be her fourth child. She had epidurals with the first three and was hoping to have a natural childbirth this time. She was not thrilled about being induced. Fortunately when she arrived that morning and I checked her, she was 3-4/70/-2. So I discussed breaking her water and waiting for labor versus starting pitocin. We both agreed that the ROM (rupture of membranes) was the way to go. I broke her water and sent her off walking.
I left her to her own devices, with instructions to call me when she started getting active. In the meantime I headed off to see postpartum patients and then the office. I checked in by phone a couple times during the afternoon, to be told that she was feeling more contractions and mildly uncomfortable.
I arrived back at the hospital about 5:30pm to find her ordering some dinner. I decided to check her at that point and she was 4/90/-2. I explained that it does take some time for labor to get going after the water breaks. I encouraged her to snack a bit then do some walking. I told her I would go grab some dinner while she did the same.
But then chaos occurred, as it so often does on labor and delivery :) A patient of one of our doctors came up ready to deliver. I was involved with that for about 45 minutes. By the time I finsihed up there, E was getting active. She was no longer interested in eating. The nurse had her get in the tub.
I went to sit with her while she was 'tubbing'. Her husband seemed a little nervous as E was gradually getting more vocal. he sat with other family members in the room. I told E that he was just not used to seeing her like this :) She vocalized her way through each contraction, then rested, even dozing between. At one point she asked me "How will I know it's time?" I told her she would know...her body would just start to push.
Eventually, her husband sat with us in the bathroom. He rubbed her shoulders and poured water on her belly. He seemed to be adjusting to the fact that E's behavior was very normal (I had reassured him several times). He was doing a great job being supportive. At one point she asked if it was too late to get IV pain medicine. I checked her and told her she was 8cms and yes it was too late. She accepted that without any problem.
I encouraged her to change her position in the tub. She moved to her side but after one contraction on her side, she said "The baby is coming! I need to push". We assisted her to the bed. I encouraged her to get in whatever postion she wanted. I re-checked her and she was completely dilated. I told her she could have this baby whenever she was ready.
I had 'warned' her about the ring of fire previously but she was still caught off guard by it I think. She held back a little but then just gathered her strength and pushed her baby right out. We had a bit of a mild shoulder getting stuck, but was quickly relieved and both mom and baby were doing wonderfully.
E was coming in for induction due to having cholestasis (a condition that carries with it a very high risk of stillbirth after 38 weeks gestation). E was actually 38.6 weeks and this would be her fourth child. She had epidurals with the first three and was hoping to have a natural childbirth this time. She was not thrilled about being induced. Fortunately when she arrived that morning and I checked her, she was 3-4/70/-2. So I discussed breaking her water and waiting for labor versus starting pitocin. We both agreed that the ROM (rupture of membranes) was the way to go. I broke her water and sent her off walking.
I left her to her own devices, with instructions to call me when she started getting active. In the meantime I headed off to see postpartum patients and then the office. I checked in by phone a couple times during the afternoon, to be told that she was feeling more contractions and mildly uncomfortable.
I arrived back at the hospital about 5:30pm to find her ordering some dinner. I decided to check her at that point and she was 4/90/-2. I explained that it does take some time for labor to get going after the water breaks. I encouraged her to snack a bit then do some walking. I told her I would go grab some dinner while she did the same.
But then chaos occurred, as it so often does on labor and delivery :) A patient of one of our doctors came up ready to deliver. I was involved with that for about 45 minutes. By the time I finsihed up there, E was getting active. She was no longer interested in eating. The nurse had her get in the tub.
I went to sit with her while she was 'tubbing'. Her husband seemed a little nervous as E was gradually getting more vocal. he sat with other family members in the room. I told E that he was just not used to seeing her like this :) She vocalized her way through each contraction, then rested, even dozing between. At one point she asked me "How will I know it's time?" I told her she would know...her body would just start to push.
Eventually, her husband sat with us in the bathroom. He rubbed her shoulders and poured water on her belly. He seemed to be adjusting to the fact that E's behavior was very normal (I had reassured him several times). He was doing a great job being supportive. At one point she asked if it was too late to get IV pain medicine. I checked her and told her she was 8cms and yes it was too late. She accepted that without any problem.
I encouraged her to change her position in the tub. She moved to her side but after one contraction on her side, she said "The baby is coming! I need to push". We assisted her to the bed. I encouraged her to get in whatever postion she wanted. I re-checked her and she was completely dilated. I told her she could have this baby whenever she was ready.
I had 'warned' her about the ring of fire previously but she was still caught off guard by it I think. She held back a little but then just gathered her strength and pushed her baby right out. We had a bit of a mild shoulder getting stuck, but was quickly relieved and both mom and baby were doing wonderfully.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Flu.Gov
The Flu.gov website has easy-to-read information regarding the flu, vaccination, etc. It also gives H1N1 updates and has a vaccination location finder. Patients of Bethany Womens Healthcare who are pregnant or within 6 months postpartum can come to our office should they desire the vaccine.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
T's Birth
I had been seeing T all throughout this pregnancy as well as her first pregnancy. A student midwife and I had caught the baby last time. I was looking forward to catching this baby myself! T was kind enough to go into labor during my weekend on call :)
T is an herbalist and does not believe in taking any man-made medicines with the exception of life-saving. Her first labor and birth was done naturally and this one would be the same.
I had just left the hospital to go meet my mother to try and do some christmas shopping when T called me. She told me she had been contracting through the night and the contractions were pretty intense. They were also about every 6 minutes apart now. Her water had broke earlier that morning. I told her it sounded like she needed to come on in.
When she arrived, I was a little nervous because she looked very comfortable, even when having a contraction. She would breathe through the contraction but there were no other signs that she was having one....meaning her body and face were very relaxed. I was thinking that she might be very early in the labor. But I also know that everyone handles pain differently.
We got her settled in her room, got a quick strip of the baby, who looked great. Then we got her in the tub. Her cervix was dilated 5cms at this point! Woohoo! T and I sat in the bathroom for the remainder of her labor. Well, she was in the tub while I sat on a stool beside the tub :) T was amazingly relaxed and seemed to enjoy the tub. We talked about all kinds of things....from family to spirituality! I was worried that I was distracting her from her labor but she assured me that everything was fine. Her contractions eventually began to move closer together, until they were about 2-3 minutes apart. I was really enjoying watching her labor. I was able to tell when she moved into transition...not because she made more noise or anything, just because she stopped talking but still maintained a very relaxed appearance. I could tell that she was becoming more focused and drawing inward. She looked beautiful!
Eventually she told me that she could feel the baby moving down. I rechecked her while she was in the tub...she was 8-9cms now. However, I had a feeling that would be changing quickly. We waited a few more contractions until she felt like she needed to push. I rechecked her to find the baby at +2 station (+3 is crowning) and told her she was definitely ready! We moved her to the bed, where she made herself comfortable. She pushed when she needed to, focusing on her husband, who stood at the bedside. She was absolutely silent. She looked exactly how I would imagine a labor goddess to look :) She pushed with great control for about 6 minutes. She delivered another beautiful baby girl over an intact perineum approximately 2 hours and twenty minutes after arriving!
Congratulations T and I can't wait until the next one!!!!!!!
T is an herbalist and does not believe in taking any man-made medicines with the exception of life-saving. Her first labor and birth was done naturally and this one would be the same.
I had just left the hospital to go meet my mother to try and do some christmas shopping when T called me. She told me she had been contracting through the night and the contractions were pretty intense. They were also about every 6 minutes apart now. Her water had broke earlier that morning. I told her it sounded like she needed to come on in.
When she arrived, I was a little nervous because she looked very comfortable, even when having a contraction. She would breathe through the contraction but there were no other signs that she was having one....meaning her body and face were very relaxed. I was thinking that she might be very early in the labor. But I also know that everyone handles pain differently.
We got her settled in her room, got a quick strip of the baby, who looked great. Then we got her in the tub. Her cervix was dilated 5cms at this point! Woohoo! T and I sat in the bathroom for the remainder of her labor. Well, she was in the tub while I sat on a stool beside the tub :) T was amazingly relaxed and seemed to enjoy the tub. We talked about all kinds of things....from family to spirituality! I was worried that I was distracting her from her labor but she assured me that everything was fine. Her contractions eventually began to move closer together, until they were about 2-3 minutes apart. I was really enjoying watching her labor. I was able to tell when she moved into transition...not because she made more noise or anything, just because she stopped talking but still maintained a very relaxed appearance. I could tell that she was becoming more focused and drawing inward. She looked beautiful!
Eventually she told me that she could feel the baby moving down. I rechecked her while she was in the tub...she was 8-9cms now. However, I had a feeling that would be changing quickly. We waited a few more contractions until she felt like she needed to push. I rechecked her to find the baby at +2 station (+3 is crowning) and told her she was definitely ready! We moved her to the bed, where she made herself comfortable. She pushed when she needed to, focusing on her husband, who stood at the bedside. She was absolutely silent. She looked exactly how I would imagine a labor goddess to look :) She pushed with great control for about 6 minutes. She delivered another beautiful baby girl over an intact perineum approximately 2 hours and twenty minutes after arriving!
Congratulations T and I can't wait until the next one!!!!!!!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
I Can't Do This - birth story
S was scheduled to come in for an AROM induction (where the membranes are ruptured to hopefully bring on labor) the following day as her cervix was very ready at 4/80/-1. This would be her third baby. She had epidurals with the previous two but was really wanting to have natural childbirth this time.
S came in the day before the induction was scheduled with increasing contractions that felt stronger. Her exam was basically the same so I offered to go ahead and break her water, which she promptly agreed to :) There was clear fluid and the baby was quite the happy camper so I sent S off to walk. I wanted her to wait until the contractions were becoming more uncomfortable before using the jacuzzi tub. She walked for a bit with her boyfriend and I attended to someone else who was also laboring naturally for a bit (it was a busy 6 hours of running back and forth between the two!).
After maybe an hour, S was starting to feel more intense contractions about every 3-4 minutes, so in the tub she went. She stayed in the tub, doing squats or just lying back resting. After some time had gone by, her contractions seemed to be spacing out a bit and less intense, so I suggested walking again. I suspected that the baby may have been OP or 'sunny-side up' due to the back pain she was experiencing and the fact that labor wasn't progressing quite as fast as I thought it would (shows how much we can predict these sorts of things!).
The walking seemed to do the trick, as her labor began to pick back up again. She was also feeling a little pressure so we decided to check her cervix prior to getting her back in the tub. She was 7/90/-1 which was great progress. Things began to really pick up speed at this point. She stayed in the tub for a bit. The night shift nurse came on around this time, and happened to be a very NCB friendly nurse by the name of Kim. Fortunately Kim was able to sit tubside when I would need to leave to check on my other lady. Unfortunately, I would come back to find S getting more agitated and restless. I would then sit with her and she seemed to become a little more at ease. My other lady got an epidural around this time so was able to focus more time on S.
S started to feel more pressure so we got her out of the tub and checked her - she was now 8-9/100/0. But she was definitely hitting that transition phase. She was starting to say 'I can't do this Tiffany' over and over. She was becoming very restless. I got her back in the tub. She was asking for pain medicine but I had told her that it was too late...that she was moving along quickly now....she could do this even if it felt like she couldn't. Maybe fifteen minutes later, she started pushing in the tub. I decided to attempt to check her while in the tub as I didn't want to make her move unless it was time for the birth (unfortunately, we are not doing waterbirths...yet). She was definitely ready - 10/100/+1-2. So she got out of the tub and wanted to sit in the bed to push. She pushed for maybe 10 minutes, the entire time telling me that she couldn't do this :) She pushed out her first daughter with wonderful control over an intact perineum!
The first thing she immediately afterwards?
"I did it!"
Tiffany
S came in the day before the induction was scheduled with increasing contractions that felt stronger. Her exam was basically the same so I offered to go ahead and break her water, which she promptly agreed to :) There was clear fluid and the baby was quite the happy camper so I sent S off to walk. I wanted her to wait until the contractions were becoming more uncomfortable before using the jacuzzi tub. She walked for a bit with her boyfriend and I attended to someone else who was also laboring naturally for a bit (it was a busy 6 hours of running back and forth between the two!).
After maybe an hour, S was starting to feel more intense contractions about every 3-4 minutes, so in the tub she went. She stayed in the tub, doing squats or just lying back resting. After some time had gone by, her contractions seemed to be spacing out a bit and less intense, so I suggested walking again. I suspected that the baby may have been OP or 'sunny-side up' due to the back pain she was experiencing and the fact that labor wasn't progressing quite as fast as I thought it would (shows how much we can predict these sorts of things!).
The walking seemed to do the trick, as her labor began to pick back up again. She was also feeling a little pressure so we decided to check her cervix prior to getting her back in the tub. She was 7/90/-1 which was great progress. Things began to really pick up speed at this point. She stayed in the tub for a bit. The night shift nurse came on around this time, and happened to be a very NCB friendly nurse by the name of Kim. Fortunately Kim was able to sit tubside when I would need to leave to check on my other lady. Unfortunately, I would come back to find S getting more agitated and restless. I would then sit with her and she seemed to become a little more at ease. My other lady got an epidural around this time so was able to focus more time on S.
S started to feel more pressure so we got her out of the tub and checked her - she was now 8-9/100/0. But she was definitely hitting that transition phase. She was starting to say 'I can't do this Tiffany' over and over. She was becoming very restless. I got her back in the tub. She was asking for pain medicine but I had told her that it was too late...that she was moving along quickly now....she could do this even if it felt like she couldn't. Maybe fifteen minutes later, she started pushing in the tub. I decided to attempt to check her while in the tub as I didn't want to make her move unless it was time for the birth (unfortunately, we are not doing waterbirths...yet). She was definitely ready - 10/100/+1-2. So she got out of the tub and wanted to sit in the bed to push. She pushed for maybe 10 minutes, the entire time telling me that she couldn't do this :) She pushed out her first daughter with wonderful control over an intact perineum!
The first thing she immediately afterwards?
"I did it!"
Tiffany
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