Local Statistics

Recently, for a class, research was required concerning local birth statistics in my area, which I thought I would share.  I’m happy to report Washington state’s cesarean rate is lower than the national average.  I hope to see our breastfeeding rates increase in 2017.

• Cesarean Rates 2015, taken from the state website, “Data and Statistical Reports”: Cowlitz County:  Out of 871 births, 10% were primary Cesareans with 4.4%  VBACs (Vaginal Delivery After Cesarean).   Clark County:  Out of 5,596 births, 15% were primary cesareans with 4% VBAC.
• 2013 Statewide statistics taken from, Cesareanrates.com:  Primary cesareans, 23.7%, VBAC 17.1%.
• Breastfeeding rates for 2016, statewide, taken from the CDC Breastfeeding Report Card:  Ever breastfed, 87.4; exclusively at 3-months, 51.7; exclusively at 6-months, 28.0.
• 2012 state WIC breastfeeding rates: 87.7% at birth with 46.4% at 6-months.

Washington state recognizes both Certified Nurse Midwives and Licensed Midwives with home births being legal.

There are three freestanding or home birth attending midwifery businesses, that I am aware of, within 30 minutes of Longview, WA.  These are; Birth and Family Midwifery, Birth, Babies and Beyond Midwifery, and Laura Hamilton, Midwife.

Research for this class did not include midwives or obstetricians affiliated with local hospitals.  Please see your local hospitals website for those options.

The Season of Motherhood

Having lived a bit more than a half a century I find that one of my favorite words is ‘Seasons’.  Maybe because I’m a die-hard Pete Seeger fan and love the way he took words from Ecclesiastes and turned them into a catchy song, most notably made famous by The Byrd’s, Turn, Turn, Turn.  “There is a season and a time to every purpose ….” What is the season of motherhood?  When does it begin? How long does it last?  What is its purpose?

Just as each woman conceives, carries and bears her child in her own unique way, each woman becomes a mother in her own unique way.  Some women feel that motherly instinct the moment they receive confirmation they are pregnant, for some it slowly develops over the nine months of pregnancy surfacing forcefully upon first site of their newborn while for others it takes some time after the baby is born to become fully conscious her new season of motherhood.

Research shows there is an increase in brain activity in a woman’s amygdala when she becomes a mother. (Zeki, 2003)  This activity results in a higher response of love, protection, and tenderness when a new mother is shown a picture of her baby.  Through this heightened activity a mother acquires the ability to discern the different cries of her baby, whether they are in need of something specific or just a little extra snuggle.

There is also known to be a hormonal shift in women as they enter motherhood. (Eyal Abrahama, 2014)  The same oxytocin hormone which works to initiate and keep labor going helps the mother bond with her new baby after birth.  As with any relationship, spending time together, feeding, caressing, and bathing releases more oxytocin which can solidify the loving bond between mother and child.

This combination of brain development and hormonal changes may be called the season of motherhood.  It begins at a different time for each woman and it lasts forever.  Its purpose is for a mother to love, protect and nurture her child into the next season of her life – – the wonderful season of Grand-mother.

As a childbirth educator I feel part of my responsibility is to help women transition into this next, amazing, season of their lives.  I give them the nuts and bolts on labor and delivery, birth options, breathing techniques and medication choices if they so desire.  I can help prepare them for the physical changes which take place in motherhood, as well as the emotional ones.  Not all women find this change of seasons easy or pleasant at first.  Hopefully in a childbirth preparation class I can help calm some fears and clear up misunderstandings.  I can let them know there is no one manual on becoming a mother, because there is no single perfect mother model, or perfect child model.  Each woman needs to bring her own strengths into motherhood.  Above all, as a childbirth educator, I endeavor to give new moms the confidence they need, to laugh, to weep, to build up, to break down, to cast stones, to gather stones and to dance their way through the season of motherhood.  They need to be reminded, “There is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.” (Seeger, 1965)

 

 

 

Looking for a Childbirth Class?

Research has shown entering labor with anxiety can increase a woman’s risk of Postpartum Depression by 30%.  Taking a childbirth class can help reduce anxiety by educating both the mama and her support person.  Other cited benefits of taking a Childbirth Preparation class include:

• How to make your pregnancy, labor, and delivery more comfortable
• Breathing and relaxation techniques
• How to tell when you are in labor
• Pain relief options during labor
• What to expect during labor and delivery
• The role of the coach or labor partner
• Connecting with other expectant families

Dads & Doulas

Someone recently requested a copy of this article, so I thought I would share it here too.  Great read for all Dads-2-Be!

5 Reasons Dads Should Demand a Doula

 When my wife told me that she wanted a doula, I was hurt.  I truly thought with our first baby that I’d be able to be the end of all be all for my wife.  She showed me the research.  She let me meet some of the doulas.  I still wasn’t convinced that it would be the right choice for us.  I subscribed to the “if you weren’t at the conception, you shouldn’t be at the birth rule.”  My wife wound up vetoing me.  Here are the reasons I’m glad she did:

1. A doula can spell you.  I really thought I’d be able to stay awake for a big event like childbirth.  Who didn’t pull an all-nighter in college?  Bathroom breaks? Ha! I mean, if I could ride my bike for hours, drinking lots of water and not need a bathroom break, surely I could wait a few hours while my wife was in labor, right?

Thirty hours into my wife’s first labor and I was toast.  I’d been up walking with her for what seemed like days as labor began.  We’d come to the hospital and there wasn’t any sleeping for me.  I was physically tired and mentally shot.  The doula really helped me out.  With my wife’s blessing, that 30 minute nap I caught helped me to refocus and be back on my game for the big event.  And we won’t even talk about how much fun my wife made of me for my small bladder.  Needless to say, having the knowledge that my wife had someone else with her while I scarfed down food, went to the bathroom and grabbed a few winks kept me sane.

2. A doula remembers what she learned in childbirth class.  I paid attention in childbirth class.  I’d heard enough horror stories to realize that there was a huge, comprehensive final exam for this course – childbirth.  But when push came to shove, no pun intended, the knowledge went out of my brain.  Those early hours of labor I couldn’t remember if we were supposed to eat or sleep, which positions were good or not so good.  Thankfully, when the doula arrived, she saved my skin and made me look like the good guy.  My wife never really realized that it wasn’t my idea that she try certain positions, but that I’d been privately coached by our doula.

3. A doula knows the questions to ask. When we arrived at the hospital, everyone was bombarding us.   Questions were flying from all directions.  I was busy trying to help soothe my wife, who was not happy with the bumpy car ride to the hospital.  Our doula stepped in and gave them all the information that they needed.  Magically doors opened and we were offered a prime birthing room.

4. A doula speaks the language of labor.   Our doula was an amazing translator.  I’d ask a simple question like, “how’s the baby:” and the nurse would respond with something like, “The EFM indicates that there are no decels during the period of stimulation.”  I’d give her my biggest smile and nod, like I knew what she was saying.  Once she left the room, I’d ask our doula, who would carefully explain each part of what had been said.  She also helped us decipher what AROM was as well as second stage.

5. A doula keeps you calm.    Labor was so hard.  And that’s just how it felt to me.  When the going got tough and my wife was in hard labor, it was difficult for me to keep anything in my brain.  I forgot everything from childbirth class and all I could think of was “Surely this isn’t normal!”  Our doula would smile at me from across my wife on the birth ball and, as if she had read my mind, would mouth the words “This is normal.”  Her calm smile helped me focus again on loving on my wife and keeping her calm.  She showed me how and where to touch, she modeled how to behave quietly and efficiently and she made me the star in my wife’s eyes.

When I first heard about doulas, I thought of them as birth interlopers.  Now I don’t know how anyone could manage to give birth without one.  Our doula really helped bring me together with my wife as she gave birth.  My wife remembers my constant support and never failing love of knowledge.  She remembers the doula as a nice person who did some stuff in the background.  We won’t give birth without a doula.

Retrieved from: http://pregnancy.about.com/od/doula1/a/dads-and-doulas.htm

Birth & Wellness Fair

I had the wonderful opportunity to take part in a Birth & Wellness Fair this last weekend.  I spent the day with alternative health care providers and local support group organizers.  I hosted a booth with another active Labor Doula and made a new friend with a Labor Doula in- training.  We were able to share birth stories and brainstorm ways to make our services more visible in our community.  We discussed how communities to the north & south of us have many Labor Doulas who are continuously busy, yet our community seems unaware of the wonderful services we have to offer.  We hope to attend more events such as this to increase awareness.

Throughout the day many great presenters spoke on family health care in general.  These included a chiropractor, a naturopath and a local MD. I especially enjoyed a homebirth presentation from a midwife whom I had only heard existed. For a couple of years now, in passing, people have mentioned this local midwife, but I was unable to find her.  It was wonderful to finally meet her, glean from her wisdom and spoil her little girl!  I look forward to spending more time with these like-minded folks in the future.  To see who all attended please check out the events FaceBook page, Birth and Family Wellness Fair of Cowlitz County.  We are looking to hold the event again in March of 2015. The organizers of this event are hoping to someday open a free-standing birthing center in Cowlitz County.  How exciting is that!?

Reducing the risk of PPD

Recently I attended a webinar on Postpartum Depression facilitated by Stephanie Morales. She stated that fear of childbirth can increase a woman’s risk of PPD by 30%.  Approaching the most exciting moment of a woman’s life should not be anticipated with fear. For the most part, fear of childbirth stems from having limited understanding or many misconceptions.

Discomfort in labor is productive and purposeful.  It is the natural reaction to a release of hormones which engage the large uterine muscle in order to deliver the baby.  The discomfort of labor cannot be more than the woman herself as it is her; her body instinctively knowing what needs to be done to deliver the baby.

Some ways to reduce a woman’s fear in childbirth are gaining knowledge, staying physically fit, using comforting coping methods and enlisting the use of a Labor Doula.

Attending a childbirth education class is one of the best ways to gain knowledge.  There are several different organizations that offer this service, whether it is through a hospital, birth center or a private educator.  Adding a decent library of evidence-based books which describe childbirth, and share positive personal experiences can also increase a woman’s understanding.

Prenatal Yoga is a great way to stay physically fit in pregnancy.  This practice not only strengthens & tones the muscles, but increases awareness to one’s breathing.   The focus on breathing which helps maintain yoga poses also aids in keeping focus off of labor contractions, all the while giving baby the oxygen needed to tolerate these contractions.

A variety of comfort positions used for the duration of labor can work as a distraction, relieve discomfort and help baby get into an optimal position for birth.  Being up and moving is very beneficial in engaging a woman in her own birth.

Visualization, practiced in advance, either recorded from the internet or read by a partner can put a laboring woman in a relaxed state of mind as she travels to a familiar and safe place.

And, of course, hiring a Labor Doula is the best way to reduce fear for any couple preparing for childbirth.  A Labor Doula is familiar with all the above  methods and will use them as needed, specific to each laboring woman.  The comfort of having an established relationship with one person who plans on being present throughout the entire process can greatly reduce fear for all.

Gaining knowledge of the birth process, staying physically fit, becoming mentally aware and connected to her body can not only help eliminate many fears of childbirth, but can reduce the risk of Postpartum Depression.  And don’t we all need one less thing to worry about when we bring home our new baby?

 

 

 

Breastfeeding struggles

I’m a little too old for the ‘Blossom’ generation and I do not recall my kids watching it.  But I enjoy ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and Amy Farrah Fowler is one of my favorite characters.  So, of course, I have to follow Mayim Bialik’s blog.  The Mothering newsletter recently published this great article on Breast Feeding from Mayim.  She shares how she overcame breastfeeding struggles and how she chose to help other women who struggle.  The comment I like the most in this article is, “For all of our evolution, it has been the females who have cared for each other and helped each other learn how to birth and feed and love and raise strong babies.”  What great validation for all Childbirth Educators, Doulas,  and Lactation Educators.  Women empowering women is what makes families & society stronger.  Thanks Mayim.

http://www.mothering.com/community/a/mayim-bialik-opens-up-about-her-breastfeeding-challenges-and-becoming-a-lactation-educator?utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email

Childbirth class

Another month of childbirth education classes at PeaceHealth St. John’s are coming to a close.  What great classes they have been.  Come to think of it, all of the classes this year have been wonderful. I had the opportunity to meet great couples.  I enjoy helping them through the numerous questions that come up regarding pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, and what to expect with starting a new family.  I love watching the guy’s eyes pop at the birth videos!  It warms my heart to see support people attend to the mamas as they learn labor comfort measures.  This just proves how support people really matter to the pregnant mama.

We use to do a “Baby Reunion” every 3rd month for families to return to show off their babies, share birth stories and reconnect.  I think I will look into starting that again, possibly on a volunteer basis if that is what it takes.