Valley Birth Network

by Anja Farin, Childbirth Educator, Doula, Midwifery Student

So you’ve done your research and decided that you want to have a natural birth. There are a lot of convincing reasons to choose a natural birth. Healthy, alert babies born to mothers who are conscious, alert and empowered are among the best benefits of natural birth. And while birth is by nature an unpredictable event, there are several steps you can take to increase your chances of achieving a natural birth.

1. Choose your care provider wisely. Be sure that your care provider is not just paying lip service to a natural birth, but is instead a true advocate for a woman who wants to make that choice. How often do the women in their practice have an un-medicated, un-interventive birth? Make sure that you choose a doctor or midwife who sees natural birth as normal, and anything else is a risky intervention. Ask about your chosen practitioner’s rates of specific interventions—epidural, episiotomy, etc. If “normal” for your chosen provider is a birth full of intervention, don’t expect that you will receive anything other than the routine.
2. Educate yourself. Make reading and researching about childbirth issues a priority. Share resources with friends, and make good use of the internet. There are lots of great books with information about natural birth—check out ones by Ina May Gaskin, Sheila Kitzinger, and Mothering Magazine for starters. Take a childbirth class. Be sure that your childbirth class is taught by an independent instructor; a childbirth educator who works for you can be honest with you about issues and concerns that you have because she only works for you. Make sure that your class will focus on how to have a natural birth as well.
3. Consider hiring a doula. A doula is a woman who is trained to support a laboring woman. Again, be sure that the doula you hire is familiar with ways to support a woman who wants to give birth naturally. There are many ways a doula can assist at your birth—she can advocate for your wishes while you are focusing on your labor, she can provide hands on support (backrubs, water, food), she can assist you with breastfeeding, and postpartum adjustment. While your doula is an advocate for you, she can’t speak for you, or make medical decisions for you. You will still need to advocate for yourself for a natural birth. Expect to meet with your doula a couple of times prenatally, and then to be able to call her when you’re ready for support during your labor. She will be with you during your labor and birth, and will probably do at least one postpartum visit to make sure you’re adjusting well to family life. “Doulas clearly improve clinical and service quality; they provide an absolutely safe way to reduce cesareans and other invasive birthing interventions.” Coming to Term: Innovations in Safely Reducing Cesarean Rates. Medical Leadership Council, Washington D.C. 1996
4. Surround yourself with people who believe in natural birth. It’s a big deal to give birth to a baby, whether you’re planning to do it naturally or not. The last thing you need is people doubting you. Try sharing your perspective, but don’t try to spend a lot of energy trying to change other people’s attitudes. Be confident that you’re making your choices for the right reasons.
5. Believe in yourself. Women have been giving birth naturally for millennia, and you can too. Your body was specially designed for the work of pregnancy and birth ~ don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
6. Remain flexible. Childbirth, by its very nature, is unpredictable. Keep your goals in mind, stay positive and confident, and be flexible about your birth because it may turn out very differently than you originally thought. Remember that there are times when medical intervention is appropriate and even necessary. Natural childbirth isn’t an unreasonable goal; it also shouldn’t be an inflexible goal. The health of you and your baby are paramount.

Many blessings to you on this wonderful journey of motherhood!

Please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to any pregnant moms that you know! Acupressure is a great option for couples looking for tools for pain relief during childbirth.

In our hands-on class we cover a variety of acupressure points that you can use for pain relief and to promote labor. Learn how to prepare the body for labor with acupressure massage, which points to use during different stages of labor, and how to use acupressure for specific challenges that can arise during childbirth.

Thursday, April 9th, 6:30-8pm

Class is held at Birthwise Health & Birth Center, 1703 S. Oneida St. in Appleton. The cost is $20/person or $30/couple. A detailed acupressure booklet is included.

Class size is limited, so please register with Leah Olson at 920.574.0447 or email leah@wholefamilyacupuncture.com.

by Cathleen Grunwaldt, Doula

While pregnancy and the birth of a child are suppose to be joyous times for women, survivors of abuse may not share that opinion. Survivors may feel as if they are being abused all over again due to the lack of control they have over their body during pregnancy and labor. Some survivors may not even realize the unique impact that the abuse has on them during this time and even into their mothering techniques with their children. There are a number of ways that previous abuse and also current abuse manifests itself during this time. Common themes and behaviors from a study in Madison, WI conducted by Jennifer Burian and Sara Williams include but are not limited to are a lack of willingness to disclose the issue, avoidance of health care, somatic discomfort, control issues, dissociation and flashbacks.

Most women do not readily disclose the fact that they have been or are currently being abused. Their abuser as well as society has probably made them feel shame and embarrassment. They may not want that information in their medical record. They may not feel a personal connection to their provider. They may not feel safe that once the information is revealed it will be handled appropriately.

Avoiding health care is also a common theme among survivors. Going for a prenatal exam in some ways mimics abuse knowing that unwanted and foreign objects will be inserted into her vagina as well as the anticipation for it to happen such as waiting in the lobby and then waiting some more in the room until the provider arrives. If the survivor makes the appointment they may find it difficult to keep.

Survivors may also have problems that manifest themselves as somatic disorders. Chronic headaches or migraines, back, neck and or abdominal pain, recurring vaginal infections, pelvic pain and even eating disorders are among some of the manifestations. Survivors react with the disease at the site of the abuse. (Blume, E.S.) For example, women forced to give oral sex may have a gag reflex that is triggered easily or even suffer from spontaneous vomiting.

Retaining control is very important to survivors since this is taken away from them while they were being abused. These control issues may present through aggression, submission, rituals or living in a state of crisis. Many do not consider compromise, as that is to give up their power and control.

Survivors also relate the sensation of feeling numb and not a part of their own body as a coping mechanism. This dissociation response is common during labor when pain triggers abuse memories.

Flashbacks to the abuse can happen anytime and anywhere. Almost anything can set them off. It could be something as simple as a smell. Some women have suppressed the abuse and when they experience a flashback they have no idea what is happening.

If you are currently pregnant and you know you are a survivor of abuse, it is recommended that you find a care provider, a doctor, midwife or doula, that you feel safe disclosing this information to. These care providers are not necessarily trained to aid you in counseling but they do know ways to help you get through your pregnancy and birth that will alleviate added discomfort. If you would like a place to turn to you can start by calling RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network) at 1-800-656-4673.
Reference:

Ronnie Falcao, LM MS, Abuse Issues in Pregnancy and Labor, n.d.,

Blume, E.S., Secret Survivors: Uncovering Incest and Its Aftereffects in Women. New York, Ballantine Books, 1989.

by Leah Olson, L.Ac.
www.wholefamilyacupuncture.com

More and more pregnant women are interested in natural childbirth and exploring various ways
to help them achieve their goal. Some are interested in natural childbirth because of its health
benefits to the baby, others see birth as an important rite of passage they want to experience.
Whatever your reasons, it’s important to remember that birth is a challenging experience where
the unexpected can and often does happen.

Too many women go into birth without enough knowledge of natural tools for pain relief and
find themselves overwhelmed at some point by the pain of contractions. Other women may
encounter problems during labor like irregular contractions or a baby with a posterior position
and think that medication is the only option. Still others may have had a previous bad birth
experience, or may be considered high risk, and find themselves pressured by medical staff or
family. If a natural birth is important to you, consider prebirth acupuncture to increase your
chances of having the birthing experience that you want.

What is Prebirth Acupuncture?

The use of acupuncture during pregnancy and childbirth is thousands of years old. Prebirth
Acupuncture is a relatively new phenomenon that grew out of modern research and has been
further developed by Debra Betts, a pioneering acupuncturist who trains midwives in New
Zealand. Initially midwives were interested in using acupuncture during labor to help with pain
relief. What they found is that women receiving acupuncture in the last few weeks leading up to
delivery had better outcomes during childbirth. As Betts writes in her research study on
Prebirth Acupuncture,

Feedback from midwives using acupuncture has consistently been that within their
practices, it reduces the length of time women spend in labor, especially women having
their 1st birth, and there is a noticeable reduction in medical intervention, including
induction of labor, use of epidural anesthesia, and cearean delivery (Betts 2006).

Research on Prebirth Acupuncture

In 2004 Betts completed an observational study involved 169 women receiving prebirth
acupuncture.The acupuncture was performed by 14 midwives in the Wellington region of New
Zealand. The midwives found that mean labor time was reduced. For women having their first
labor, mean labor time was 9 hours with 59% of women delivering within 10 hours. Mean labor
time was 4.7 hours for women having their second birth or more, with 60.5% delivering within
5 hours. Just as important, the study authors compared labor results of women receiving
acupuncture to an audit group from the same region of New Zealand and observed the
following results:
• 35% reduction in inductions (43% for women having their first birth)
• 31% reduction in epidural anesthesia
• 32% reduction in caesarean deliveries
• 9% increase in normal vaginal birth

Prebirth Care at Whole Family Healthcare

Our Prebirth Care helps you move to a place of greater balance and calm in the last weeks of
your pregnancy, gives you the strength and endurance for labor and delivery, and helps ease the postpartum transition. The Prebirth Package consists of 4 acupuncture sessions, beginning in your 37th week of pregnancy. We develop a specialized treatment plan that addresses any
health issues you are experiencing as well as including acupuncture points from the Prebirth
protocol developed by Betts. In addition, you will have a one-on-one session with Leah to learn
acupressure points for pain relief during labor, as well as acupressure points and home herbal
remedies to help you during your postpartum recovery.

~by Bekah Sealey

Purchasing a breast pump is made all the more difficult for the fact that they are almost always a nonreturnable item. A good pump is not inexpensive, either. After doing a little internet searching, I stumbled upon a model of breast pump I’d not heard of before–the Whittlestone (there is also a Dr. Brown’s pump that looks virtually identical, except for the shape of the collection bottle). It looks very similar to the Isis which is a good, though not great, pump. It appeared to have remedied many of the qualities I found inferior about the Isis, namely lots of separate pieces making assembly and cleaning a chore, also increasing possibilities for cracking and breakage because of repeated assembly and disassembly. My biggest complaint with the Isis, though, is that I’ve never been able to achieve a let down while pumping with it. Also, with the shape/size of my nipples, I’ve incurred damage due to too much suction. While I am not an avid pumper, after six years of ownership, I’ve certainly had enough time with the device. At some points, I’ve even preferred manually expressing my breast, since the Isis wasn’t relieving the engorgement I was suffering having been away from tandem nursers through more than one feed. The trouble with expressing, however, is that I can be a little too harsh on my breast through a combination of impatience and efficiency.

The Whittlestone claims, like many pumps, to more closely imitate the suckling action of a nursing child. Unlike other pumps, this pump has minimal suction, and a adjustable dial to control even what little suction it offers. It’s main method of operation is the shape of the silicone inserted into the plastic flange.

–continue reading this review–

For years, consumers have enthusiastically shared online reviews of movies, restaurants, products and services, but readily available information about maternity care services was nearly unattainable—but no longer. The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) has developed www.TheBirthSurvey.com, a consumer feedback website where women provide information about the maternity care they received from specific doctors, midwives, hospitals, and birth centers. Families choosing where and with whom to birth can utilize this consumer feedback, along with data on hospital and birth center standard practices and intervention rates, to make more informed health care choices.

Have You Given Birth in the Last Three Years?

If so, take The Birth Survey and provide feedback on your doctor, midwife, birth center or hospital at www.TheBirthSurvey.com.

Breastfeeding expert Dr. Hale is conducting a survey on mothers of infants ages 0-12 months on their sleep and fatigue along with aspects of the birth and method of feeding. From the flyer:

We are pleased to announce our new
online survey of mothers’ sleep and
fatigue. Please tell mothers you work
with about our study. The more
mothers we can get to participate,
the more valid our findings.
This study is open to all mothers
with babies 0-12 months old. We
would like to include breastfeeding
and non-breastfeeding women, and
women of all ethnicities and income
levels.
We hope to document:
• Where and how much do babies sleep?
• Are mothers who breastfeed and co-sleep more or less tired than
mothers who don’t?
• Are mothers telling their friends, relatives and health care providers
where their babies sleep?
• Are there ethnic group differences in where babies sleep?
• What is the role of depression, psychological trauma and difficult birth
in mothers’ ongoing daytime fatigue?
The questionnaire takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete
and is confidential. It has been approved by the Institutional
Review Board at Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center, Amarillo, Texas.

Follow this link if you are eligible to participate in the survey.

Written By: Jennifer Metzenbauer

The experience of having my own 2 children encouraged my interest to work as a doula or labor assistant. When a woman goes through the birthing process she welcomes the support of the people around her. Support can be given by different people in many different ways. A woman’s husband may support her in a different way than a doula or midwife would. Both types of support are needed during the birthing process. Statistics have shown having the support of a doula may decrease the chance of having a c-section.

While I was in labor with my son I can remember being very scared, but as members of the medical team and my midwife came to my room to support me, my labor progressed to a safe and positive birth.

Currently, I am attending Child Birth International for my doula coursework. I feel this professional education will enhance the experience I already have, so that I can become a knowledgeable, caring doula.

Many mothers and fathers-to-be ask the question, “Are we ready? Do we have everything we need to welcome our little one into our family?”

There is no cause for worry; all you really need to care for your newborn baby you already have access to - body heat, mother’s milk, and love. Your baby will need to stay warm and dry, to be comforted by human touch, closeness, and voices, and to be nourished by mother’s milk. Rarely does an infant need anything other than these simple basics. So, rest easy and welcome your baby, knowing that you can already fulfill his or her every need.

If, like many parents, you wish to have a plentiful supply of amenities such as, sleepers, bibs, diapers, etc. or you are creating a baby registry and do not know where to begin, I have created an easy to print and use layette checklist.

Congratulations and best of all wishes to you and your growing family!

Review by Bekah Sealey

I was privileged to attend the Appleton screening of The Business of Being Born last month, hosted by Jill Coulter, LM of BirthWise Health & Birth Center, with my husband. The film does a really good job of portraying the current atmosphere of birth in America and comparing our outcomes to the rest of the modern world. The graphics used to illustrate the dozens of developed countries who have better mortality statistics than the United States is very effective. It is shocking to discover that our world-renowned health care system is next to last in producing healthy moms and babies!

The Business of Being Born tells the history of birth and obstetrics in America in a humorous and captivating way. I could even hear my husband chuckle, especially at the Monty Python hospital sketch and the cartoonish portrayals of a typical experience of hospital delivery. However, in the evolution of the film, the product becomes personal as the director finds herself in the very midst of making her own decisions regarding her first pregnancy and birth, and choosing to film her journey even through its unexpected end.

The Business of Being Born makes a thought-provoking case for the resurgence of midwifery care in America. To date, a very small percentage of pregnant women will choose the care of a midwife, and even smaller yet will these women choose an out-of-hospital birth experience. The midwives model of care is a key element which differentiates the most successful maternity cultures in the developed world from those which, like ours, have fallen short of expected goals. Through striking and sensitive birth footage, The Business of Being Born depicts the very real differences through the different potential avenues of giving birth, from home to birth center to hospital, and even cesarean surgery.

The Business of Being Born is available now through Netflix, and is being released in a limited number of theaters nation wide. Every pregnant mother in America deserves to see this film!

by Mary DiCamillo, Ed.D, MT-BC

Although there have been advancements in anesthesia for labor and delivery in recent years, many couples today choose to have a natural childbirth experience. It has been substantiated by research that birth outcomes for mother and baby can be greatly enhanced through the natural childbirth process. Many free-standing and hospital-based family birthing centers are popping up around the country to meet this growing need. Several nonpharmacological interventions are available to laboring mothers including hypnosis, biofeedback, touch and massage, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation. Another successful pain management technique being explored is the application of prepared music programs during Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth.

In the early 1980’s, Music Therapists began to explore the use of “audioanalgesia” (sound for pain relief) in the music therapy process in working with labor and delivery patients. Music therapists assist patients in the clinical application of music in suppressing the pain response, but can also work with patients in deeper psychological and emotional ways. The process of “music therapy” differs from “music medicine” based on the establishment of a relationship between therapist and patient. Music therapists specifically design and develop unique treatments for each patient based on the patient’s need and condition.

A Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth program is conducted by a board-certified music therapist, (with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree) and consists of a series of sessions usually offered in the last trimester of pregnancy. Some music therapists also provide labor and delivery support for the couple during the birth and post-natal visits. Couples are taught how to use music to support their physical and emotional needs throughout the stages of labor and delivery.

The music therapist assists the couple in selecting and applying a specially chosen music program to calm, comfort, block pain and focus breathing for each mother. The music therapist may also provide instruction in imagery and relaxation techniques, movement training, singing of lullabies and womb songs, and other creative arts experiences. (A womb song is a special song that is written for the baby while in utero.) Familiar music can help comfort the mother during the birth experience and practice with the music before the birth is essential. This therapy has been found to significantly decrease the mother’s anxiety and pain responses, decrease the need for analgesic medications during birth, and has contributed to overall positive feelings about the birth process (DiCamillo, 2000).

A recent study of 14 couples who participated in a Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth program found that music therapy was very beneficial during the labor and delivery process (DiCamillo, 1999). The use of music during labor and delivery was most effective in supporting (rhythmic) breathing (86%), remaining calm (86%), focus (71%), and in pain management (64%). Women who practiced the techniques at home and who were familiar with their music felt in control and had more positive birth experiences. Many of the women (64%) felt in control most of the time during labor and delivery. Imagery techniques were effective when paired with the music and (71%) stated that these techniques were the most beneficial. All of the women (100%) felt well supported during labor and delivery. All participants (100%) stated that the music therapy program enhanced family bonding with the baby during the immediate postpartum period.

For more information, or to consult with a Music Therapist in the Fox Valley area for your birth, contact:

Tiffany Vollrath, CD (DONA), MT-BC
Home - 920-303-9567
Cell - 920-716-1018

*DiCamillo, M (1999). A bio-psycho-social model of music therapy assisted childbirth: an integrative approach to working with families. Doctoral Dissertation. Pepperdine University.

*DiCamillo, M. (2000). Music therapy assisted childbirth: a case study of an emergency high-risk pre-term delivery due to pregnancy-induced hypertension. International Music Society for Prenatal Development Review. 12. 2. 8-13

Welcome to the VBN Newsletter. This page will offer a variety of original content from each of our members, including biographical sketches, informational articles, media reviews and hopefully a birth story or two!