I am Pumped to Birth this Baby!

There's an epidemic in America right now. We have an unnecessarily high c-section rate and birth is no longer seen as a natural, physiological process, but rather as a medical ailment and something that needs to be treated or cured.  For anyone who is pregnant or trying to become pregnant, I highly suggest you watch Pregnant in America and The Business of Being Born. They are both extremely eye opening. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth are really great resources as well.

My goal is a natural, un-medicated water birth. My hospital is the only one in the state that allows water births! I know some of you are probably thinking I'm crazy. "What? Natural?! We'll see...."  "Why not just get an epidural?" "Why put yourself through that?" And my favorite, "It's not like you get a medal for going natural..." You know what? Women may not get a medal for going natural but they sure as hell deserve them! You get medals for running a marathon. Marathons are mentally and physically challenging, just like birth. Why not give credit where credit is due?!

Why I want a natural birth:

• I think that women in America are given far too little credit for their abilities to birth babies. We are made to do this; I am made to do this.
• After everything it's taken me to get to this point (See: New? Start here.) I would really like to experience the natural birth process.
• I want to experience that total rush of oxytocin, the baby high, when I birth my baby. Drugs can interfere with this natural occurence. 
• Every drug given during the birthing process will cross the placenta to the baby. I want to see an awake, alert baby when I meet her for the first time. AND since I'm encapsulating my placenta (maybe I need to do another post on this topic?!) I would rather not have any of that stuff in there.
• A natural birth will lessen the  chance of a cascade of interventions, decreasing my risk of needing a c-section. 

 Of course all this goes out the window if mine or baby's safety is jeopardized. The ultimate goal is obviously to have a healthy baby safely but due to my low risk pregnancy there is absolutely no reason to think that my birth plan can't become a reality. Mike is totally on board with my birth plans and has been so caring and inquisitive. Yesterday, when we were taking a walk with our girls, he asked me what kinds of things I would like him to say to me during labor and which words I would find comforting and motivating. I know he's going to be a great sense of support for me during labor! However, last week we decided to hire a doula to also assist and support us during birth. Why? Well, we're first time parents and have no clue what to expect. I'm more afraid of the unknown than I am of labor pains.  Back in the day, women often labored with the support of other experienced women or  attentive midwives who were able to help them through the pain and all the scary unknowns. This is where a doula comes in. With her help, I am more likely to be successful in my natural birth hopes! She will not take Mike's place in the delivery room. She will, however, be an additional support person for me as well as for Mike.

What is a doula?

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
A Birth Doula

• Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
• Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
• Stays with the woman throughout the labor
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
• Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level

A birth doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials CD(DONA).
Research evidence shows that the quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.

Why use a doula?

Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences.
DONA International doulas are educated and experienced in childbirth and the postpartum period. We are prepared to provide physical (non-medical), emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth, as well as to families in the weeks following childbirth. We offer a loving touch, positioning and comfort measures that make childbearing women and families feel nurtured and cared for.

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

Research shows parents who receive support can:

• Feel more secure and cared for
• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
• Have greater success with breastfeeding
• Have greater self-confidence
• Have less postpartum depression
• Have lower incidence of abuse

                                                                                                                                                                                          

I met with my doula yesterday to go over my hopes for birth and what I expect from her.  I chose her based on a number of factors--she's a friend, she's experienced but not yet certified (so we can actually afford her!) and she has a history of infertility, which makes it much easier to talk to her about our journey so far. We went over my birth plan, discussed my fears and anxieties, she explained her role in the delivery room and shared some stories about the hospital were I'll be delivering. I am so pumped to birth this baby now! I can't wait to meet her, to nurse her and I know my family and friends are very excited to learn her name! I can't believe that I will be full term tomorrow. We are so close to meeting our little miracle! I hope that I get the birth experience I'm dreaming of. If I end up needing help with the pain I hope it will be only after I have tried everything else first.

In other news...Mike's orders came through yesterday so it's finally official--we were moving to Fort Rucker! By 10 October we will be officially be southerners. Okay, not really...I can't imagine ever considering myself a southerner (I'm actually very nervous to live down south!) but we can pretend. :)

Don't Drink The Kool-aid

I recently stumbled across this awesome blog Banned from Baby Showers and loved everything this article had to say.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Don't Drink the Kool-Aid!

American women have drank the Kool-aid and have been completely brainwashed!  You know the Kool-aid I'm talking about:  The purple Kool-aid says that if the baby doesn't come out in 24 hours, it won't fit and the mom should be sectioned.  The red one says that if a woman is 40 weeks, she is overdue and the baby will die if she isn't induced.  The green Kool-aid says that an epidural is just an epidural.  And the orange one says that a cesarean is safer for mom and baby.  We won't even get to the Kool-aid that tells you that your baby can manipulate you!  The list goes on and on.  I just picked a few from some common American birth myths that I've heard repeated lately.

DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AI

I just heard this story last night and I have permission to relay it here.  I am appalled that with such great birth choices, women are being sectioned 60% of the time not 20 minutes up the road from me.  Here's the story from the lactation consultant:

Saw another "victim" of Dr. Seligman & MCA (Medical Center of Arlington) today. At 38.5 weeks, her baby hadn't dropped so Dr. S told her they needed to induce on Tuesday and she would probably need a c/s at 39 weeks. After 10 hours on pitocin, baby still hadn't moved down so Dr. S. told her that the baby probably wouldn't fit through her pelvis anyway, so they needed to do a c/s. Baby was born weighing 7lb 4oz, still covered in lanugo and has very little suck reflex. :-( Mom is starting the make the connection that baby was NOT ready to come yet. Said her mom delivered all of her babies at 42 weeks. Oh, and she said that Dr. Seligman's parting comment to her was "Next time we'll just schedule the c/s for 39 weeks and avoid all of this other nonsense." 

This story really touched a nerve with me.  Frankly, her doctor is a complete idiot.  I feel horrible for the mom.  This is some bad Kool-aid she drank, but she trusted her doctor.  Very few don't trust their doctor and end up in the same situation.  He should not be practicing medicine.

What about the woman that labors "too long"?  "It's barbaric to expect a woman to labor for 24 hours without drugs.  Put her out of her misery!  If she's labored that long, surely something is wrong.  She should just have a c-section."  There is another OB at the Medical Center of Arlington in Arlington, TX, Dr. Udell, that tells her "patients" that the only humane way to have a baby is via cesarean.  She laughs if a woman tells her she wants to have an unmedicated birth.  Yes, this OB is a woman, and no, she does not have children.  I only know one woman who has had a vaginal birth with her, and frankly, it's because the labor was so fast, the OB didn't have time to intervene.  Although she did find a way to get her flat on her back despite the mom wanting to be on hands and knees...

I know of another OB in Mansfield, TX that routinely tells her "patients" that "nothing good happens after 40 weeks" and insists on induction at that time.  The baby must have a sticky note with the date circled in red ink on the side of the uterus so it knows just when it is expected.  It will be evicted by 40 weeks if mom is with Dr. W.  It is dangerous to stay pregnant another day!  Induce, induce, induce! 

"An epidural is safe and you are crazy if you don't sign up for one." This Kool-aid tastes so good, mostly because we want it to.  It's just an epidural.  Nevermind the cascading interventions when a mom says she wants "her epidural".  IV fluids, catheterization, blood pressure cuff, continuous electronic fetal monitoring, possible internal fetal monitoring (which includes breaking water - I'll come back to this one in a minute), fever reducer, pitocin, is more likely to have an episiotomy and assisted delivery (forceps/vacuum), and ultimately, she is more likely to have a cesarean.

I just want to mention briefly that I am hearing less and less about internal monitoring.  I honestly believe that we have become too blase about c-sections that everyone is just comfortable with going straight for the cesarean rather than use a more accurate form of monitoring.  Just an observation.

And the cesarean Kool-aid... This is the biggest lie of them all.  "Cesareans are safe -- even safer -- for mom and baby than a vaginal birth."  Shame on anyone who believes this to be an acceptable -- and even preferred -- way to get the baby out.  Women are going in for surgery and have no idea how this will impact them or their baby for the rest of their lives.  Someone always has to jump in and tell me why they had to have a cesarean.  Yes, folks, I am very aware that a cesarean does sometimes save a life and sometimes the baby really can't get out on his/her own.  Very aware.  What is the rate where you live?  What is the cesarean rate at your closest hospital?  You should know these things.  What can you do about it?  We're getting to that.

So many women (and men) feel defeated when it comes to the Kool-aid.  Everyone has drank it.  I think two things have to happen.  We can scream the truth from the rooftops, but that may or may not work.

1)  We have to start with the younger generation.  Don't be afraid to talk about birth with them.  Talk to your sons and daughters.  Just casual conversations.  Tell them about the day they were born, how their birth was amazing and special.  Just hearing different words associated with birth makes the Kool-aid not taste so good when they do hear it in our culture. 

2)  Get involved in making change happen.  You have to open your mouth, or at least get involved and help the people who are opening their mouths!  There is a rally being formed all across the country right now to take place on Labor Day, September 3, 2012.  Go to Improving Birth for details.  There may already be organizers putting a rally together in your community.  If not, YOU DO IT!  Change has to start with someone.  Why not YOU?