Started to read this one along with the Bradley one…the Bradley one was kind of bashing on another type of practice…kind of turned me off but I will finish it!

So I started the “Spiritual Midwifery”, I love this book.  It has all kinds of birth stories and accounts of Ina May and her community called, “The Farm”.  They were basically hippies traveling around and learning as they went along about birth. 

Just awesome, awesome accounts, advice, thoughts etc. 

Now she is the leading midwife in the U.S. and people from all over the nation come to have their babies at “The Farm”. 

Must go to the conference in May!

Well, finished up the ‘Birthing Without Violence’ it was actually a very short book but with very clear messages about the way we bring our babies into the world.

One of the points was cutting the cord

More often than not the cord is cut a bit too early, when allowing baby to maintain getting the oxygen from the placenta until the baby has adjusted to breathing the air outside the womb, makes sense to me.

Just the whole thought of being mindful of the environment that our children are brought into from the start.  Of course is starts from before conception but then at birth to have a peaceful, quiet setting for baby to enter the world seems like a logical scenario to want.

The new book is, “Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way”, all the books I’m reading now are very old and pretty out dated though most of the information is still relevant.

I’m so excited about an opportunity that has come up to learn about Midwifery from some midwives here.

It will be a course outlining Midwifery, steps to take to becoming one etc etc

So looking forward to this

Another event I’d love to go to is the

Midwifery Today Conference
“Nurturing a Better Future through Birth”

Eugene, Oregon
March 11–12, 2009 Pre-Conference
March 13–15, 2009 Conference

Ina May Gaskin will be there and my personal fave Dr. Michel Odent…if I could meet and hear these two speak at this conference it would make my year!

If anyone reading wants to join me, lemme know!  It’ll be cheaper to share a room etc…I’m not kidding! LOL

Sorry, C!  I put that last part in on accident…lol!  Here’s the link to the conference info:

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/conferences/Eugene2009/

So the new book I’m reading is called, “The Ultimate Breastfeeding Bood of Answers” by Jack Newman, M.D. and Teresa Pitman.  It’s recommended by Lamaze International.

So, everyone knows that breastfeeding is the best and most healthful way to feed baby, yet at the slightest assumption of there being a ‘problem’ with nursing, mom is told to give the baby a bottle with formula.

In this book however it gives several ways in which to supplement but still following the basic premise of ‘baby’s and mom’s learn to breastfeed by breastfeeding’.  Giving baby another type of ‘nipple’ hampers their ability to learn to nurse at mommy’s nipple, including pacifiers.  Therefore these ways to supplement are given:

1) The Lactation Aid 2) Cup-feeding expressed mother’s milk 3) Finger feeding

Many physicians and pediatricians are not familiar with these methods therefore are quick to tell the mother to use the bottle.

If you want to provide your baby with the best nutrition and best start breastfeeding provides than please know and locate the lactation consultants in your area.

There are several at the different hospitals but there is also the Le Leche League and doulas that are trained in lactation consulting as well.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Suspected Fetal Macrosomia Increases Risks of Cesarean Section and Maternal Morbidity without Improving Newborn Outcomes

Sadeh-Mestechkin, D., Walfisch, A., Shachar, R., Shoham-Vardi, I., Vardi, H., & Hallak, M. (2008). Suspected macrosomia? Better not tell. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, doi: 10.1007/s00404-008-0566-y. [Abstract]

Summary: In this prospective observational trial, researchers followed 145 women thought to be carrying babies weighing more than 4000g (about 8lb, 13oz) to evaluate the reliability of sonographic and clinical estimates of fetal weight and to determine whether a diagnosis of “suspected macrosomia” affects pregnancy management or outcomes. To answer these questions, they first divided the “suspected macrosomia” into two subgroups depending on whether the babies in fact weighed more or less than 4000g. This resulted in a “false-positive” subgroup of 82 babies thought to be macrosomic but actually weighing less than 4000g and a “true-positive” group of 63 babies thought to be macrosomic and indeed weighing more than 4000g.

The researchers compared outcomes between these two groups, then compared the “true-positive” group to all other births of macrosomic infants to women admitted to the same hospital in the study period (i.e., women giving birth to infants weighing over 4000g but who did not have a prenatal diagnosis of suspected macrosomia).

The study confirms an existing body of literature that tells us that prenatal methods for detecting macrosomia are not reliable—only 44% of babies suspected to weigh over 4000g actually did. Clinical estimates (those performed by a care provider using palpation) were more reliable than ultrasound estimates, but were still off by more than 10% in one out of every six cases.

The 145 women with suspected macrosomia were assigned by the admitting doctor to elective cesarean surgery (16%) induction of labor (39%) or observation awaiting labor (46%). Thirty-five of the 56 women who underwent induction and 47 of the 66 women who were admitted in spontaneous labor gave birth vaginally, for an overall vaginal birth rate of 57% (including 2% who had instrumental vaginal births). The remaining women gave birth by cesarean surgery either before (21%) or during (22%) labor.

When researchers compared outcomes of the “true-positives” with the “false-positives” within the “suspected macrosomia” group, there were no differences in maternal or infant complications.

When the researchers compared the true-positive macrosomic infants in the study group (those suspected to weigh and actually weighing >4000g) to the macrosomic infants in the comparison group (those not suspected to be macrosomic prior to birth), they found much higher rates of intervention and related morbidity in the study group. The cesarean surgery rate for macrosomic infants in the suspected macrosomia group was 57%, compared with only 17% for macrosomic infants in the comparison group (absolute difference 40%). Likewise, 25% of macrosomic infants in the study group were induced compared with 14% in the comparison group (absolute difference = 11%). There was no difference in shoulder dystocia between the two groups. However, maternal morbidity (including hemorrhage, wound infection, wound dehiscence, fever, and use of antibiotics) was significantly higher in study group, most likely because of the much higher rate of cesarean surgery in this group.

Significance for Normal Birth: The concern that a baby is growing “too big” is one of the most common reasons cited for induction of labor and also prompts decisions to perform cesarean surgery both before and during labor (Declercq, Sakala, Corry, & Applebaum, 2006). However, there is strong and consistent evidence that elective induction or cesarean surgery for “suspected macrosomia” does not improve outcomes and expert bodies including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists oppose routinely interfering when a baby is suspected to be large (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, 2004).

This study, summed up by its title, “Suspected macrosomia? Better not tell” provides damning evidence that shows clearly that the provider’s belief that the baby is “too big” is itself a strong risk factor for injudicious intervention and poor health outcomes.

An initial suspicion that the baby is large may instill fear in the pregnant woman which may impede both her confidence in her body and her labor progress. Slow labor progress reinforces the suspicion that the baby is big and more aggressive management ensues. This management often hinders the woman’s ability to move freely and assume the positions that may help her baby negotiate through her pelvis, further slowing progress and reinforcing the perceived need for surgical intervention. Based on this study and previous evidence, women should strongly consider refusing tests late in pregnancy intended to estimate fetal weight.

The estimate itself may be bad for her health because the care provider’s expectation that the baby will be macrosomic appears to increase both unnecessary medical intervention and the morbidity that may accompany it.

References:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2004). Ultrasonography in pregnancy. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 58. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 104, 1449–58.

Declercq, E., Sakala, C., Corry, M. P., & Applebaum, S. (2006). Listening to mothers II: Report of the second national U.S. Survey of women’s childbearing experiences. New York: Childbirth Connection.), 116-122.

Thanks for the info Pat

I never really realized just how backwards things are in America until I started reading about different things that happen with maternity and postnatal care.

Breastfeeding is THE way to feed a human being, it changes in compostition to suit the baby’s needs days, weeks, months, years.  It protects from diseases and carries live antibodies to keep baby healthy.

Formula does none of that. 

Yet, we actually have to overcome not only learning how to breastfeed w/ our baby but dodge ads, free samples, falsehoods and undermining others in order to do so

The World Health Organization actually mandated that all countries not allow formula companies to directly market formula to mother’s/parents/customers…yet you get a nice little baby bag with formula samples and coupons from your OB/Pediatrician or from the hospital…the most disguisting thing about this is that the formula companies have contracts with hospitals to be ‘their choice’ formula.  The company gives cash, money for equipment, free formula etc to entice the hospitals as well.

Here we are told that giving a baby formula is second best to breastfeeding, yet the WHO says that the next best thing to breastfeeding is the pumped milk from the mother, followed by human milk from a breastmilk bank.

If your desire is to nurse your child then please do research of the people who will be caring for you

What is the rate of breastfeeding success with your OB, hospital, pediatrician?

Do they hand out ‘going home bags’ or other articles that include formula products/coupons?

Do they have calendars, posters etc that are stamped from a formula company?

We women need to stand together and help each other to overcome these crazy obstacles that keep us from doing what is most natural and right by our babies.

I’m on a new book now called, “The Year After Childbirth” by Sheila Kitzinger

It’s actually one of the books to choose from if you want to take the post partum doula training, so I’m actually considering becoming a doula…you’ve heard it hear first! LOL!

I’m on a chapter that talks about the feelings of new mother’s…after the birth of my first, I was beyond happy, then came a bit of other feelings I hadn’t even thought I’d have after having a baby!

Loneliness, isolation, resentment, feelings of inadequecy etc etc. 

After having my second it was whoa what have I gotten myself into, how am I going to do this etc etc

Then I came to realize that I’m not alone in my feelings and worries that at least some mother’s have felt this way too and it makes it easier to except the feelings, deal with them and move on.

I’ve heard or read several people say now that after having a child your senses are hightened and all things you thought mattered really don’t anymore and you are more thoughtful of things you thought you didn’t care about.

All I can say is, so true

Someone on a board I frequent: www.hawaiimoms.com

Brought up a very important issue, maternity leave

The U.S. has one of the worst maternity leave policies in the developed world

I can just see how this was a bragging right at some point that, “oh yeah, our women workers don’t need to stay home to take care of their babies, they’re right back out to work a few weeks after giving birth *smug laughter*”

Unfortunately for our society and especially for our babies and mother’s, aside from trauma in birth seperating from your infant before you are ready too just isn’t right.

That maternal feeling mother’s have to stay with their baby has to be shut off in order to return to work.  Of course there are mother’s who can do both but I think for the most part, the baby and mother lose out on important bonding time.

I hope that what I say here or anywhere for that matter doesn’t get women defensive about their decisions.  Because of course we have to do what we have to do to survive and take care of our family.

What we should do with any feelings of hurt, discuss, competitiveness, defensiveness is turn it into demanding change.

We as women need to demand what we know in our souls to be right, to be done.

Six weeks is not long enough for a mother and baby to form a solid bond, nursing relationship etc

Until we stop trying to beat each other down, we can never lift each other up.

In the works are a few events that will be happening in the coming months, small birth fairs at public libraries and screenings of different birthing films

Please post if there are other things you would like to see available on a regular basis or other wise, concerning birth/maternity care.

Education is the key!

Just received this disturbing news, please help if you can and send to all you know:

As you may have heard, Jeff Comer, the CEO who initiated
> the mass firings last week on behalf of the current board
> has stepped down, but the discussions are still underway
> regarding the suggestion that the Midwives be replaced by
> Doctors/ OB-GYN’s. This is due–in large part–to the
> fact that generally, insurance companies reimburse at a
> lower rate for Midwifery care than for=2
> 0traditional OB/GYN care. If you have insurance other
> than Quest this is not necessarily the case and is worth
> mentioning in any letter you may write.
>
>
>
>
> If you have any feelings about the significant change of
> care practices around pregnancy and birth, that would result
> from a loss of the Midwives, PLEASE write
>
> and /or call the Hospital ASAP. The local newspapers
> need to hear from you too! A letter detailing your
> thoughts and your experiences with the Midwives would be
> worth its weight in gold and would go far in helping to
> ensure that we maintain the wonderful services that they
> provide. If you are one of the couples that have chosen to
> bypass your local hospital in favor of making the longer
> trip to Waimea for the specific purpose of being cared for
> by Midwives, please outline those reasons as well. The
> more details and reasons for choosing Midwifery care, the
> better.
>
>
>
>
> It is also worth noting that regardless of what is taking
> place now in terms of discussions at WWC, the actual Labor
> and Delivery Nursing staff has *not* changed. If you have
> yet to give birth, you can look forward to your delivery
> just as you were before the controversy. The delivering
> Midwives; Pat Hopkins, Joann Johansen and Dr. Jade McGaff
> are all still employed by the Hospital and standby ready to
> provide the same excellent and sensitive care as always.
>
>
>
>
> Please feel free to forward this to anyone you may know who
> has an interest and investment in20this community. Copies
> of your letter should go out to all addresses below.
> Mahalo to all of you who have already sent in letters or
> made calls. Your kokua is greatly appreciated.
>
>
>
>
> Here are the appropriate addresses: Wayne Higaki /
> Jeff McLane
> c/o NHCH Administration
> 67-1125 Mamalahoa Hwy
> Kamuela, HI 96743
>
>
>
>
> Pat Hopkins / Joann Johansen
> c/o NHCH/WWC Midwives
> 67-1123 Mamalahoa Hwy.
> Kamuela, HI 96743
>
>
>
>
> Hawaii-Tribune Herald
> 355 Kinoole St
> Hilo, HI 96721
>
>
>
>
>
> Big Island Weekly
> 305 Wailuku St.
> Hilo, HI 96720
> kkubat@bigislandweekly.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Sincerely yours,
>
>
> Mary
>
>
>
>
> Mary Blyth
>
> Natural Family Living Advocate
>
> Birth Doula • Educator • Writer
>