BeBe Birth & Beyond

7 ways to boost natural birth

2008-04-29T18:50:00.001-07:00

7 WAYS TO BOOST A NATURAL DELIVERY
1. Inform yourself. There are support groups for mothers who need help grieving about their previous cesarean and are adamant about doing everything within their power to avoid another one. Attend these meetings, and talk to other mothers who have delivered vaginally after a previous cesarean. Besides providing you with practical suggestions during your pregnancy and labor that will increase your chances of delivering vaginally, the information you obtain from this group can empower you to have an easier and more efficient labor.
2. Eat right. Overeating may cause you to gain too much weight and your blood sugar to be too high. Both of these factors increase your chances of having a baby too large to be delivered vaginally.
3. Exercise regularly. In-shape women have faster labors and lower weight gains than couch potatoes.
4. Employ a professional labor assistant. Studies show that mothers who use a professional labor assistant (PLA) are much less likely to have a surgical birth.
5. Be upright. Back lying is the position for surgical birth; the more time you spend on your back, the more likely you are to have one.
6. Get moving. Avoid spending most of your time lying in bed wired to monitors – like a surgical patient. When you get moving, your labor will, too.
7. Trust your body. Believe that your delivery system will work. Believe that your pelvic passages are designed to birth your baby. A fear that you can't go through with the delivery can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, since fear frightens the uterus into not working efficiently. Surround yourself with positive advisors. Even if your family tree or circle of friends is full of cesarean deliveries, know that you can beat these statistics.

From askdrsears.com

Sleeping Safely with your baby

2008-04-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

SLEEPING SAFELY WITH YOUR BABY
There has been a lot of media lately claiming that sleeping with your baby in an adult bed is unsafe and can result in accidental smothering of an infant. One popular research study came out in 1999 from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that showed 515 cases of accidental infant deaths occurred in an adult bed over an 8-year period between 1990 and 1997. That's about 65 deaths per year. These deaths were not classified as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), where the cause of death is undetermined. There were actual causes that were verified upon review of the scene and autopsy. Such causes included accidental smothering by an adult, getting trapped between the mattress and headboard or other furniture, and suffocation on a soft waterbed mattress.
The conclusion that the researchers drew from this study was that sleeping with an infant in an adult bed is dangerous and should never be done. This sounds like a reasonable conclusion, until you consider the epidemic of SIDS as a whole. During the 8-year period of this study, about 34,000 total cases of SIDS occurred in the U.S. (around 4250 per year). If 65 cases of non-SIDS accidental death occurred each year in a bed, and about 4250 cases of actual SIDS occurred overall each year, then the number of accidental deaths in an adult bed is only 1.5% of the total cases of SIDS.
There are two pieces of critical data that are missing that would allow us to determine the risk of SIDS or any cause of death in a bed versus a crib.
How many cases of actual SIDS occur in an adult bed versus in a crib?
How many babies sleep with their parents in the U.S., and how many sleep in cribs?
The data on the first question is available, but has anyone examined it? In fact, one independent researcher examined the CPSC's data and came to the opposite conclusion than did the CPSC - this data supports the conclusion that sleeping with your baby is actually SAFER than not sleeping with your baby (see Mothering Magazine Sept/Oct 2002). As for the second question, many people may think that very few babies sleep with their parents, but we shouldn't be too quick to assume this. The number of parents that bring their babies into their bed at 4 am is probably quite high. Some studies have shown that over half of parents bring their baby into bed with them at least part of the night. And the number that sleep with their infants the whole night is probably considerable as well. In fact, in most countries around the world sleeping with your baby is the norm, not the exception. And what is the incidence of SIDS in these countries? During the 1990s, in Japan the rate was only one tenth of the U.S. rate, and in Hong Kong, it was only 3% of the U.S. rate. These are just two examples. Some countries do have a higher rate of SIDS, depending on how SIDS is defined.

Until a legitimate survey is done to determine how many babies sleep with their parents, and this is factored into the rate of SIDS in a bed versus a crib, it is unwarranted to state that sleeping in a crib is safer than a bed.
If the incidence of SIDS is dramatically higher in crib versus a parent's bed, and because the cases of accidental smothering and entrapment are only 1.5% of the total SIDS cases, then sleeping with a baby in your bed would be far safer than putting baby in a crib.
The answer is not to tell parents they shouldn't sleep with their baby, but rather to educate them on how to sleep with their infants safely.
Now the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Juvenile Products Manufacturer's Association are launching a campaign based on research data from 1999, 2000, and 2001. During these three years, there have been 180 cases of non-SIDS accidental deaths occurring in an adult bed. Again, that's around 60 per year, similar to statistics from 1990 to 1997. How many total cases of SIDS have occurred during these 3 years? Around 2600 per year. This decline from the previous decade is thought to be due to the "back to sleep" campaign - educating parents to place their babies on their back to sleep. So looking at the past three years, the number of non-SIDS accidental deaths is only 2% of the total cases of SIDS.
A conflict of interest? Who is behind this new national campaign to warn parents not to sleep with their babies? In addition to the USCPSC, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) is co-sponsoring this campaign. The JPMA? An association of crib manufacturers. This is a huge conflict of interest. Actually, this campaign is exactly in the interest of the JPMA.
What does the research say? The September/October 2002 issue of Mothering Magazine presents research done throughout the whole world on the issue of safe sleep. Numerous studies are presented by experts of excellent reputation. And what is the magazine's conclusion based on all this research? That not only is sleeping with your baby safe, but it is actually much safer than having your baby sleep in a crib. Research shows that infants who sleep in a crib are twice as likely to suffer a sleep related fatality (including SIDS) than infants who sleep in bed with their parents.
Education on safe sleep. I do support the USCPSC's efforts to research sleep safety and to decrease the incidence of SIDS, but I feel they should go about it differently. Instead of launching a national campaign to discourage parents from sleeping with their infants, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission should educate parents on how to sleep safely with their infants if they choose to do so.
Here are some ways to educate parents on how to sleep safely with their baby:
Use an Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper® Bassinet. An alternative to sleeping with baby in your bed is the Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper®. This crib-like bed fits safely and snuggly adjacent to parent's bed. The co-sleeper® arrangement gives parents and baby their own separate sleeping spaces yet, keeps baby within arm's reach for easy nighttime care. To learn more about the Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper® Bassinet visit www.armsreach.com.
Take precautions to prevent baby from rolling out of bed, even though it is unlikely when baby is sleeping next to mother. Like heat-seeking missiles, babies automatically gravitate toward a warm body. Yet, to be safe, place baby between mother and a guardrail or push the mattress flush against the wall and position baby between mother and the wall. Guardrails enclosed with plastic mesh are safer than those with slats, which can entrap baby's limbs or head. Be sure the guardrail is flush against the mattress so there is no crevice that baby could sink into.
Place baby adjacent to mother, rather than between mother and father. Mothers we have interviewed on the subject of sharing sleep feel they are so physically and mentally aware of their baby's presence even while sleeping, that it's extremely unlikely they would roll over onto their baby. Some fathers, on the other hand, may not enjoy the same sensitivity of baby's presence while asleep; so it is possible they might roll over on or throw out an arm onto baby. After a few months of sleep-sharing, most dads seem to develop a keen awareness of their baby's presence.
Place baby to sleep on his back.
Use a large bed, preferably a queen-size or king-size. A king-size bed may wind up being your most useful piece of "baby furniture." If you only have a cozy double bed, use the money that you would ordinarily spend on a fancy crib and other less necessary baby furniture and treat yourselves to a safe and comfortable king-size bed.
Some parents and babies sleep better if baby is still in touching and hearing distance, but not in the same bed. For them, a bedside co-sleeper is a safe option.
Here are some things to avoid:
Do not sleep with your baby if:
You are under the influence of any drug (such as alcohol or tranquilizing medications) that diminishes your sensitivity to your baby's presence. If you are drunk or drugged, these chemicals lessen your arousability from sleep.
You are extremely obese. Obesity itself may cause sleep apnea in the mother, in addition to the smothering danger of pendulous breasts and large fat rolls.
You are exhausted from sleep deprivation. This lessens your awareness of your baby and your arousability from sleep.
You are breastfeeding a baby on a cushiony surface, such as a waterbed or couch. An exhausted mother could fall asleep breastfeeding and roll over on the baby.
You are the child's baby-sitter. A baby-sitter's awareness and arousability is unlikely to be as acute as a mother's.
Don't allow older siblings to sleep with a baby under nine months. Sleeping children do not have the same awareness of tiny babies as do parents, and too small or too crowded a bed space is an unsafe sleeping arrangement for a tiny baby.
Don't fall asleep with baby on a couch. Baby may get wedged between the back of the couch and the larger person's body, or baby's head may become buried in cushion crevices or soft cushions.
Do not sleep with baby on a free-floating, wavy waterbed or similar "sinky" surface in which baby could suffocate.
Don't overheat or overbundle baby. Be particularly aware of overbundling if baby is sleeping with a parent. Other warm bodies are an added heat source.
Don't wear lingerie with string ties longer than eight inches. Ditto for dangling jewelry. Baby may get caught in these entrapments.
Avoid pungent hair sprays, deodorants, and perfumes. Not only will these camouflage the natural maternal smells that baby is used to and attracted to, but foreign odors may irritate and clog baby's tiny nasal passages. Reserve these enticements for sleeping alone with your spouse.
Parents should use common sense when sharing sleep. Anything that could cause you to sleep more soundly than usual or that alters your sleep patterns can affect your baby's safety. Nearly all the highly suspected (but seldom proven) cases of fatal "overlying" I could find in the literature could have been avoided if parents had observed common sense sleeping practices.
The bottom line is that many parents share sleep with their babies. It can be done safely if the proper precautions are observed. The question shouldn't be "is it safe to sleep with my baby?", but rather "how can I sleep with my baby safely." The data on the incidence of SIDS in a bed versus a crib must be examined before the medical community can make a judgment on sleep safety in a bed.
To read more about SIDS, click here

Dads and Doulas

2008-04-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

Dads and Doulas: Working Together
Many dads-to-be worry that a doula will replace them at the birth. A father may worry that his partner doesn’t trust him enough to be a support for her during labor. He may also be concerned that a doula’s presence at the birth will remove the intimacy of the moment.
But a doula can never replace the father’s role, which is to be there to love and support his partner. Plus, he also experiences the birth of the child, in his own way. As far as the doula interfering with the intimacy of the moment, the doula is only one member of the birth team, which includes nurses, a doctor or midwife, and sometimes other specialists. In fact, a doula can often help create that intimate feel by helping shoo the nurses or doctors out of the room for a moment, so the about-to-be-new-parents can be alone for awhile.
A doula is there to help the father, as much as she helps the mother. The fact of the matter is, our society places a great deal of pressure and responsibility on the father-to-be during labor. A childbirth class isn’t enough to prepare a new, nervous dad to support his wife through what may be one of the most difficult and challenging moments in her life. Is it fair to expect the father to remain 100% focused and calm, when his wife is struggling?
A doula can help support the father, so he can concentrate on his wife. Here are some of the many ways dads and doulas work together.
Behind the Scenes Birth Coach
For the father who wants to really be active and provide all the physical and emotional support, the doula can help with hints, reminders, and advice during the birth, so he can just focus on his wife.
Is the mother having back labor? The father may not recognize this, or even know what to do. But the doula is trained to figure out what’s bothering the mother the most, and all the possible ways to help her feel more comfortable. The doula can tell the dad what she thinks would help his wife best, while he does the actual work and support.
The doula can also bring drinks and snacks to the father, so he can keep up his energy during the long labor. She can take the time to speak with nurses or seek out extra pillows, allowing the father to stay with his wife without interruption.
Tag-team Birth Support
Most labors last several hours, sometimes lasting 12 hours and longer. A doula’s presence allows the father to take guilt free breaks. He can go get a bite to eat, or take a nap, without feeling that he left his wife alone.
Whether he needs to take just a few breaks during labor, or he prefers to switch every hour with the doula to keep his energy up, it will allow the mother to feel supported and cared for continuously.
Chance to Just Experience the Birth
As mentioned earlier, society places a lot of pressure on fathers to provide the sole support for their partner’s during labor. But many fathers would prefer to just experience the moment with their wives, without the pressure to perform.
A doula can provide full support for the mother, allowing the father to take a back-seat from active support, and give him the chance to experience the birth along side her.
Before the birth, it’s important that the doula, mother, and father all sit together and talk about how they envision the childbirth. It’s also important that the father participate in choosing and hiring the doula, since they should both feel comfortable with whomever they choose to attend this special moment in their lives.

BeBe Birth & Beyond: 3 Reasons Babywearing Reduces SIDS

2008-04-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

BeBe Birth & Beyond: 3 Reasons Babywearing Reduces SIDS

3 Reasons Babywearing Reduces SIDS

2008-04-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

3 REASONS BABYWEARING REDUCES SIDS
If SIDS is basically a disorder of respiratory control and neurological immaturity (and I believe it is), anything that can help a baby's neurological system mature overall will lower the risk of SIDS. That's exactly what babywearing does.
While wearing our own babies, I noticed how my breathing affected theirs, especially when I was sitting still with a sleeping baby nestled in a sling against my chest. Whenever I took a deep breath, so did baby. Sometimes the stimulus was the rise and fall of my chest, at other times the air exhaled from my mouth and nose against baby's scalp or cheek-stimulated baby to take a deep breath.
Have you ever wondered why mothers in other cultures have for centuries worn their babies in homemade slings? I used to believe this old custom's purpose was simply to protect babies from jungle dangers or to enable mothers to do manual labor. Wrong! When I was researching parenting styles in other cultures, I interviewed African mothers who wore their babies in slings that were extensions of their clothing. They agreed that babywearing protected their infants from dangers, but that wasn't the main reason for doing it. Instead, they said, "It makes life easier for the mother," or "It does good things for babies." "What good things?" I inquired. These mothers replied, "The babies seem happier," or "They cry less," or "They seem more content," or "The babies grow better."
Note: these observations were not from mothers who attended parenting classes, read books on baby bonding, or relied on scientific studies. These were mothers whose "sources" were their own powers of keen observation and centuries of tradition, both of which told them babies thrive better when carried in slings. Now, modern researchers have scientifically proven what these intuitive mothers have long known: Something good happens to babies who spend a lot of time nestled close to nurturing caregivers. Here's why.
1. Babywearing gives a vestibular connection. Babywearing exerts a regulatory effect on the baby, primarily through the vestibular system. This tiny system, located behind each ear, controls baby's sense of internal balance. It is as if there are three tiny carpenter levels back there—one tracking side- to-side motion, another for up-and-down motion, and a third for back-and-forth motion—all functioning together to keep the body in balance. Every time the baby moves, the fluid in these "levels" moves against tiny hair-like filaments that vibrate, which sends messages to the brain to help baby balance her body.
In the womb, the baby's very sensitive vestibular system is constantly stimulated because a fetus experiences almost continuous motion. Babywearing provides the same kind of three-dimensional stimulation and "reminds" the baby of the motion and balance he enjoyed in the womb. The rhythm of the mother's walk, which baby got so used to in the womb, is experienced again in the "outside womb" during babywearing.
Activities such as rocking and carrying stimulate the baby's vestibular system. Vestibular stimulation is a recently appreciated tool for helping babies breath and grow better, especially premature infants—those at highest risk of SIDS. Some studies showed premature babies placed on professionally-monitored, oscillating waterbeds grew better and had fewer apnea episodes than other preemies did (although one study disputed this.) Babies themselves recognize that they need vestibular stimulation; infants deprived of adequate vestibular stimulation often attempt to put themselves into motion on their own, with less efficient movements, such as self-rocking. Researchers believe that vestibular stimulation has a regulating effect on an infant's overall physiology and motor development.
Kangaroo care. Newborn nurseries have recently begun using a method of vestibular stimulation called "kangaroo care," in which a premature baby is wrapped, skin-to-skin, up against the mother's or father's chest. The parent rocks, holds, and gently moves with the baby. The rocking motion, the skin contact, and the rhythmic motion of the parent's chest during breathing produces the following beneficial effects:Babies show:
More stable heart rates
More even breathing
Fewer episodes of periodic breathing
Fewer and shorter episodes of apnea
A healthier level of oxygen in their blood
Faster growth
Less crying and increased time in the state of quiet alertness
Better sleeping
Researchers believe that using kangaroo care helps the parent act as a regulator of baby's physiology, including reminding the baby to breathe. In other experiments, infants with breathing difficulties were placed next to a teddy bear stuffed with a mechanism that seemed to "breathe"; these babies also had fewer apnea episodes. When this "breakthrough" in teddy technology hit the newspapers, a reader wrote in, "Why not use the real mother?"
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SIDS Stories
As an example of how closeness regulates a baby's breathing, a mother shared the following story with me: "My baby was born four weeks premature at five pounds, fifteen ounces. I held her all day long and never put her in a bassinet. She breastfed well. She seemed perfectly healthy, pink, and breathed normally. The evening the pediatrician came to check her, she took her into the nursery and put her in a bassinet. As soon as our baby was lying in the bassinet alone she had a stop-breathing episode, which alarmed the neonatologists, and she was put into intensive care for nine days. They never found out why she had apneic episodes, although they thought it was due to a 'slight seizure disorder.' All they had to do was touch her and she would start breathing again. She never had any stop-breathing episodes when she was in my arms, only when she was lying alone. The doctors told me she was a prime candidate for SIDS. They convinced me that she needed to be on an infant monitor at home. I agreed, but it turned out to be a nightmare for our whole family. They told me not to put her in my bed, so she slept alone with the monitor. The monitor went off all night long, probably from false alarms, and no one got any sleep. I left her on the monitor but put her next to me in bed. We both slept wonderfully, and the monitor alarm never sounded. I strongly feel that my presence stimulated her to breathe until she outgrew her stop-breathing tendencies. My touch and closeness to her was all she needed. In fact, while she was in my arms, all day long, in the hospital no one ever knew she had a 'breathing problem.'"
2. Motion regulates babies. Motion calms babies. Carried infants show a heightened level of quiet alertness, the behavioral state in which infants best interact with and learn from their environment. Researchers believe that during the state of quiet alertness, the child's whole physiological system works better.
3. Carried babies cry less. Parents in my practice commonly report, "As long as I wear her, she's content!" Parents of fussy babies who try babywearing relate that their baby seems to forget to fuss. This is more than just my own impression. In 1986, a team of pediatricians in Montreal reported on a study of ninety-nine mother-infant pairs, half of whom were assigned to a group which was asked to carry their babies for at least three extra hours a day and were provided with baby carriers. The parents in this group were encouraged to carry their infants throughout the day regardless of the state of the infant, not just in response to crying or fussing, although the usual practice in Western society is to pick up and carry the baby only after the crying has started. In the control, or non-carried group, parents were not given any specific instructions about carrying. After six weeks, the infants who received supplemental carrying cried and fussed 43 percent less than the non-carried group. Anthropologists who travel throughout the world studying infant-care practices in other cultures agree that infants in babywearing cultures cry much less. In Western culture we measure a baby's crying in hours per day, but in other cultures, crying is measured in minutes. We have been led to believe that it is "normal" for babies to cry a lot, but in other cultures this is not accepted as the norm. In these cultures, babies are normally "up" in arms and are put down only to sleep—next to the mother. When the parent must attend to her own needs, the baby is in someone else's arms.
In addition to the physiological effects of vestibular stimulation, there appear to be psychological benefits. Sling babies seem to show a feeling of rightness, enabling them to adapt to all that is unfamiliar about the world to which they are now exposed, lessening their anxiety and need to fuss. As baby senses mother's rhythmic breathing while worn tummy-to-tummy and chest-to-chest, the babywearing mother acts as a regulator of her infant's biology

Why Do Women Become Doulas?

2008-04-10T14:23:00.001-07:00

Becoming a Doula

By Beth Scott Stenglein

Why do women become doulas?

Some of us feel it was a spiritual calling, others were motivated by their own birth experiences-both positive and negative. There are women who attended a birth of a friend or daughter, and saw how much their help was needed and valued. While our reasons for becoming doulas vary, all doulas I know share a philosophy that birth is a sacred event which has, "a long lasting impact on the physical and mental health of mother, baby and family." (Doulas of North America, 1998).How do I know if I would make a good doula?
Doulas come from all walks of life. While many of us have children of our own, some (myself included) do not. You do not have to have given birth yourself to be a good doula, though having gone through labor and birth certainly can provide a helpful perspective. An open heart, a willingness to serve women and their families, and quite a bit of flexibility and patience are characteristics that are important for doulas to possess. Some women become doulas because they felt disempowered by their own birth experience. Doulas in this situation may need to be especially conscious of their emotions and personal philosophies when working with clients, being careful to let each woman define her own birth experience.What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of being a doula?
In my opinion, one of the most challenging aspects of being a doula is the flexibility it requires. When I'm working with a mother, I have to be "on-call" for the two weeks prior and two weeks following her due date. A woman's labor usually begins sometime during this four-week block. I also have to be willing to drive and meet a laboring woman during the night or early morning, even if I have not slept well. Doula often have to miss holidays such as birthdays, holidays, et cetera if they choose to schedule a birth around these times. Labor can be unpredictable, and especially with first time mothers, long. Before becoming a doula, you need to realize that labor can last 16 hours or more, and that when a family hires you, you commit to being present from when labor begins (or they call you) until about 2 hours postpartum. If you have another job and/or family responsibilities, you need to make sure they support your doula work and allow you this kind of flexibility. Other challenges include sometimes having to work with difficult providers and hospital personnel, difficult clients, and many others depending on the situation.
These challenges many seem overwhelming, however most doulas deal with them and love what they do despite the difficulties. Birth is a life-changing event few people witness in our culture. Doctors and nurses do not have the same experience as doulas, because they rarely are with a woman and her family prenatally, continuously during labor and birth, and postpartum. As doulas, we witness a the transformation of a woman from pregnancy to birthing to motherhood. Some describe the experience with words such as "holy," "awesome," and "transforming ." Though the financial rewards many not be outstanding, being paid to do something you truly love is a gift.
What do I need to do to become a doula?
Currently doula practice is not regulated by the state. This means that anyone can call herself a doula and educational and practical experience vary widely. Most doulas choose to receive training and certification through one or more organizations, including Doulas of North America (DONA), the Association of Labor and Childbirth Educators (ALACE), or the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA), just to name a few. There are advantages and disadvantages to being certified. The process usually includes reading/studying, attended doula training, and attending a certain number of births towards certification. It can cost upwards of $300 or more, plus membership to the certifying organization. Representing yourself as a certified doula of an organization means that you agree to abide by their code of ethics and standards of practice. Benefits of certification are numerous. Many parents who hire doulas for labor support ask about training and certification, and certified doulas often command higher fees (though experience is just as, if not more, important). Many certified doulas feel strongly they are professionals, much like nurses and social workers, and should be treated as such.How does doula work operate? How much money do you make?
The vast majority of doulas are self-employed, meaning we do not work for a hospital or other organization. There are some doulas, however, that work for such organizations and they pay varies depending on many factors. Unfortunately, doula work is not an extremely lucrative career for many of us. Because of the nature of doula work, there is a limit to how many clients a doula can carry at a time. The hours are unpredictable and require a great amount of flexibility that is often difficult. Some doulas form "practices" or doula in pairs to deal with these issues. Some insurance companies reimburse for doula services, but again, this varies widely depending on the state and region. Doulas usually base their fees on several factors, including education and training, experience and number of births attended, the state/region she is practicing in, etc. Of course, any doula can set her own fees as she desires, but most doulas charge an all-inclusive fee that includes a certain number of prenatal and postpartum visits, and continuous attendance at the mother's labor and birth, regardless of length of labor.I want to learn more! Where do I start?
There are abundant resources available for aspiring doulas. I would encourage you to take your time, shop around, and learn all you can before committing to an expensive and lengthy certification process. If you live in Minnesota, a great place to start is the Childbirth Collective. Find your local chapter and attend an event. You can also email one of the current members - don't be shy! Many of us are happy to share our experiences, and meeting other doulas is important for networking should you continue on your path to becoming a doula. If you don't live in Minnesota, go to DONA's website at www.dona.org and click on "find a doula." There, you can find a listing of doulas in your area. You also can attend a birth as a support person for a friend or family member. While education and training are certainly important, helping someone through labor and birth is truly the best education. This is a great way to see if doula work truly is your "calling." Remember that everyone has to start somewhere, and no amount of reading and training can totally prepare you for the experience of helping a woman through childbirth. Some of the best doulas are those who learned through experience, before doula training ever existed!

April is Cesarean Awareness Month

2008-04-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

April is Cesarean Awareness Month What is Cesarean Awareness Month? An internationally recognized month ofawareness about the impact of cesarean sections on mothers, babies, andfamilies worldwide.It’s about educating yourself to the pros and cons ofmajor abdominal surgery and the possibilities for healthy birth afterwardsas well as educating yourself for prevention of cesarean section.Cesarean awareness is for mothers who are expecting or who might choose tobe in the future.It’s for daughters who don’t realize what choices arebeing taken away from them.It’s for scientists studying the effects ofcesareans and how birth impacts our lives.It’s for grandmothers who won’tbe having more children but are questioning the abdominal pains andadhesions causing damage 30 years after their cesareans.CESAREANS are serious.There is no need for a ’catchy phrase’ to tell usthat this is a mainstream problem. It affects everyone.One in threeAmerican women every year have surgery to bring their babies into the world.These women have lifelong health effects, impacting the families that arehelping them in their healing, impacting other families through healthcarecosts and policies, and bringing back those same lifelong health effects tothe children they bring into this worldBe aware. Read. Learn. Ask questions. Get informed consent.Be your own advocate for the information you need to knowBe aware. Read. Learn. Ask questions. Get informed consent.Be your ownadvocate for the information you need to know.www. ican-online. org