I came across this article in the Sydney Morning Herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/lifeandstyle/lifematters/orgasmic-birth-an-old-midwives-tale/2008/12/29/1230399175667.html

Wow, I can’t believe that a woman is really judging this fabulous person, Ina May Gaskin.  Yes, her views are really out there, however, some women fully believe that an orgasm is possible during labour.  And why not, if anyone can achieve this during labour, then well done, and show me how!  Sometimes it takes a person who is really left field to bring something like this to our attention.  I would never judge a woman who describes birth in this way……………….I say go for it.

I personally did not feel this pleasure, however, my birth was definatley very satisfying and amazing.  I can see how women could have an orgasm during birth. 

Natural birth is an amazing event and one that is remembered forever.  If women could realise how important it is to learn how to have a natural birth then I beilieve the birth statistic will change.  To prepare your body for the journey of birth is truly an enriching experience, I have interviewed 7 women on natural birth and they all give great insight and advice into the world of birth.  If you want to get a hold of these interviews then go to www.child-birth-options.com.

Let me know what you think of this article and whether you had an orgasm during your birth!!

Take Care,

Loretta

Hi there world,

My second child is now 16months old and I still get warm fuzzy feelings when I think of his birth.  I drive past the spot on the road where I nearly gave birth every day and remember how exhilerating and liberating my birthing experience was.

My first birth to my beautiful son, Joshua, was long, hard and scary.  It took me 5 years to pluck up the courage to have another go.  During this 5 years I worked in the birth suite at my local hospital and I saw first hand how women go through the journey of labour.  Most women go into labour with great intentions, however, these are squashed out of them as soon as the first contractions start.  Women arrive at hospital hoping to be saved from the terrible pain. 

If we could just look at these words, ‘terrible pain’, for a moment.  I hear women all over the world speak of labour as a shocking, unbearable experience and very few talk of the joys of labour.  I am here to help women see labour as a journey of self discovery and love, to ride the wave of labour and feel the excitement of believeing in your body and your baby.

As my belly grew with my second child I started to feel the same fears rearing their ugly heads; ‘how am I going to fit this baby out?’, ‘will my baby be ok?’, and ‘can I do this?’  I knew that I had to read every book, website and journal on birthing.  I scoured the internet for inspirational stories and found that there were more horror stories than anything else.  However, I did come up with a common theme which was to relax, trust your body, and have a plan.  But how do I do this while in the throws of labour?  Well this was the key………….I had to learn how to stay focused and positive.

I found that there were about 7 different ways to teach me how to stay focused and positive these were:

• Hypnobirthing
• The Bradley Method
• Lamaze
• Reflexology
• Relaxation, Rhythm and Ritual
• Acupuncture and Acupressure
• Waterbirth

So what I did was contact the experts in each field and explained that I was a midwife and wanted to show women what avenues there were for natural birth.  They were so excited to chat to me and really wanted to share their knowledge.   I, and a bunch of hard working assistants (thank you!), researched everything there was on these experts and finally came up with a list of extremely appropriate and leading questions to ask.  I had about 40mins with each person and recorded the interviews…………………………now here is the great news, you can listen to these interviews yourself and see what fantastic tips are there to for you to use now.  It doesn’t matter if you are thinking about becoming pregnant or about to pop, these interviews will just excite you and make you really look forward to your birth.  And also give you great tips for when the pain does start.  It is all well and good to plan, but it is really when it all starts that you see how much this interview series can put you on the right path and help you stay there.

If you go to  www.child-birth-options.com you will see the fantastic women that have literally changed my life.  Have a read of their bios, you will be blown away.  There are heaps of great bonus’ that include, keeping fit during pregnancy and how to enhance those first, magical few days of your baby’s life. 

Enjoy listening to these interviews and let me know what you think, I am always on the look out for women who take their birth and make it what they want.  Always stay focused and positive and remember to visualise the outcome you want and this will become your birthing story for you to share with the world.

Happy birthing,

Loretta

Hi All,

I wanted to comment on an article in The New York Times Magazine entitled ‘A Near-Death Birthing Story’.  Lisa Belkin has started a dialogue between mothers and will publish women’s stories as Parenting Adventures called Motherload.   What I am concerned with is the fact that women may come in droves to tell their horror stories, such as the one told in this article.  It was by a healthy women, Catherine Saint Louis, who was planning to have a natural birth in the hospital, but initially thought of having it at home.  She ended up with HELLP syndrome which is basically high blood pressure and blood clotting problems, it is quite severe, and does not happen often.

Ms St Louis continues on about how she is lucky to be alive, which she is, but puts it all down to the fact that she was in the hospital!  All the comments after this article are about other womens horror stories, which proves my point that when women share negative then all the negative comes up.  How does this woman know that if she had a homebirth then she would have died??

As a midwife, it is imperitive that we know where to draw the line and call for help.  We know what is normal and we definately know when there is even the slightest warning that all is not well.  A few comments posted after this article were right on the mark, a comment by Frances Smith, states that any competent homebirth midwife or doula would have taken Ms Saint Louis’ blood pressure very early on in the proceedings, and would have immediately transported her to the hospital. Choosing to go to the hospital before she knew about her pre-eclampsia was not what saved her life - the hospital saved her life, and would have done so whether she got there on her own instincts or on her midwife’s insistance.

My main message is that this story should not scare women into having a hospital birth and to have faith in your midwife as they are trained for this event.  In every pregnancy education class, the midwfie is very clear on the early warning signs of impending problems.  Ms St Louis’ swollen ankles were the very first sign of blood pressure problems and her midwife would have known this very common fact. 

Women of the world, trust in your instincts and follow your dream, don’t let other people’s stories scare you into a place that you are not comfortable in.  Birth your baby where and however you want.  If you want to read more about staying positive during your pregnancy then I have written an article, Natural Birth - How Do You Stay Positive?   Have a read and let me know what you think.

Take care,

Loretta

Wow, what an awesome effort!  I commend this Grandma for carrying 3 babies to 31 weeks.  Now I know that a natural birth was a far fetched idea, but at least it was mentioned.  It is amazing what family will do.  Good luck to the whole family.  One thing I do wonder about is if the babies will be receiving breastmilk, as it is so important for premature babies.  What do you think?

Hello to all you beautiful pregnant women,

As you know I am a midwife, lactation consultant and mother of two beautiful boys and I am very passionate about women finding the answers they need.  It is all too common that women are given misleading information which then leads to choices that are not based on facts, common sense or practical knowledge.  So if you have a question about anything I would be happy to answer it with honesty and experience. 

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Take Care,

Loretta

I have met so many wonderful pregnant women that sell themselves short.  When I ask them of their plans for birth, they jump and say, ‘epidural, epidural, epidural!!’  They have shut themselves off before even exploring any other plans.  What I want to say to these women is to open your eyes to the possibility that you CAN handle it.

It doesn’t take much effort to say, ‘ok I will try’.  This then opens your mind to other options, options that may lead you down a very happy, rewarding path.  I am not judging you and I am not trying to change your mind, I am asking you to also look into natural birth and have the epidural as a back stop.  This then allows you to go down the path of natural birth without the pressure it inevitably brings.

I wonder if women actually know what an epidural entails, well it is a needle that is inserted into the epidural space in the lumbar region of your back.  Through this needle, a catheter or a very small tube is inserted.  The needle is then removed and the tube stays in your back as a port to administer drugs.  This tube is connected to a machine which delivers a measured dose of narcotics and local anaesthetic.  You may also have a button that you can press to deliver more drugs if the pain worsens.  The dosage is adjusted according to the pain you are feeling.  It is a very fine line between total numbness and slight discomfort.  The goal of an epidural is to have you feeling sensations but not pain, this allows you to feel the urge to push so you can help your baby out into the world.

Now you have the facts on epidurals you can learn the facts on natural birth and ways to achieve a natural birth.  You may find an avenue that totally works for you and then an epidural is left by the wayside.  Or if you are totally adamant about having an epidural you may want to learn how to modify its use.  For example, there are many relaxation techniques, breathing techniques and pushing techniques used in the study of natural birth.  If you were to have an epidural during the first stage of labor and then have the epidural weaned down for the second stage of labor, fully dilated to birth, then you may implement some of the natural birth techniques that you have learned. 

So you can see that even if you choose to have an epidural as your birth plan, it doesn’t mean that you can’t use various techniques to relax during birth.  These relaxation measures can also help you prepare for a c-section.  It is a scary procedure, you are alert, you don’t know what you are going to feel and you are in a very strange environment.  Don’t you think that learning breathing and relaxation techniques would help you cope with this stress? 

I have interviewed experts in the field of natural birth and yes, we do discuss the various aspects of natural birth but we also discuss how the magnificent female body is designed to go through birth.  Women need to trust their body and their baby and work as a team during birth.  No matter what technique you choose, whether it is natural birth, drugs or c-section, your baby and your body still need to go through this together.  To learn to trust this natural process is the key to having a birth that you are comfortable with. 

If you want to learn more about my interviews then go to www.child-birth-options and have a read or you can click on the natural birth plan link in my blog.  Just remember that you can choose to have the birth you want just look at all your options and you may be surprised with what works for you and your growing baby. 

Take care and enjoy your natural birth planning,

Loretta

Hi All,

I was checking out the fabulous blogs on natural birth and came across a wonderful post about The Bradley Method of Birthing.  The Blog , 50 Book Challenge, is about reviewing books and the person behind the blog is pregnant and reading Husband-Coached ChildBirth.  She makes a fantastic statement, I will display it word for word:

"why avoid medications and take such good care of your body all through pregnancy only to pump it full of drugs for the last few hours"

This is so logical!!  We all need to have this kind of attitude when going into our birthing experience.  I have interviewed the Co-founder of The Bradley Method of Birthing in my ebook, just click on the natural birth plan link and have a look.  We discuss many ways to help women achieve a natural birth, Marjie Hathaway is an amazing person with so much insight and experience.

Just wanted to share this information with you all.  Take care.

Loretta

Natural Birth is what all pregnant women strive for, they may not think they do, but they do.  We are all afraid to say that we are GOING to have a natural birth for fear of not coming through with the goods!  I am hear to tell you that thinking this way is exactly how you have the birth you DON’T want! 

Have you heard of the saying:  “What you focus on expands”, I love this and live by it everyday.  What we don’t realize is that whether we focus on positive or negative, it will expand.  This can be applied to how we feel when pregnant and on our journey to birth.  So, is it that simple to just stay positive?  No it is not!! 

Have you ever been walking through the supermarket, your big belly pressing up against the trolley and a stranger comes up to you, smiles and says “when are you due?” You smile and tell her; this somehow translates into, “please tell me your horror story, when I am tired, emotional and already scared!!!”  We have all been there, and we hate it, so why do we then repeat the process over and over again.   

This kind of negative talk is what pregnant women have to deal with everyday, not only their own thoughts, but that of the general public!  As non-pregnant women we must hold our tongue or share a beautiful birth story, or even just say, “You look lovely”, and leave it at that. 

If we don’t fill our own heads with positive self talk then someone will do it for us!!  So ladies, fill you head with all the beautiful things you want out of your natural birth, particularly how you want it to end.  Visualize yourself holding your baby immediately after birth and feel the love wash over you.  Visualize gazing up at your partner, who has tear filled eyes and visualize yourself being able to tend to your own baby without IV drips, painful wounds and hazy thoughts.  You can have a natural birth you just need to stay positive, I mean, talk to yourself and your baby everyday, saying “I just birthed my beautiful baby and I am so happy and grateful that I achieved this naturally”.   

There are many horror stories online today, but there are some beautiful ones as well.  I know it is hard to tear yourself away from a bad story but please do it.  Remember that it all goes in and if you read enough or hear enough negative stories then that is what you start believing. 

I was a midwife when I had my first son so I saw and heard the really negative stuff, which lead to a long, painful, medicated birth.  When I became pregnant with my second son, I knew I had a battle on my hands as I was still working in the birth suite and surrounded by horror stories (there were good ones to).  So I practiced yoga everyday and used this time to fill my head with positives, until, positivity was all that I believed.  I focused on my outcome, which was to have a 4 hour birth, no drugs, no stitches and home the same day……………………..and, YES, I achieved this.  So I know that positive self talk works!! 

I had to write an article like this to show you how to begin your natural birth planning.  This is something so simple, and can be done anywhere.  Why not start by writing your natural birth goal down, you can use my birth plan template from my blog www.naturalbirthplan.com  it is free.  You can stick it on your wall in the bathroom so you read it everyday.  It will only take a few weeks before you are loving your belly and looking forward to your birth. 

If you want more information along these lines, then have a look at my eBook.  I have interviewed 7 natural birth experts, Marie Mongan, founder of Hypnobirthing and Marjie Hathaway, co-founder of The Bradley Method, to name a few.  They are full of positive advice that you can start using today. You can have a look at this amazing new interview series at www.child-birth-options.com.   Even if you are 39 weeks pregnant, you can still benefit from this advice, you never know, you may just change your whole attitude to birth and have a quick, easy, memorable birth.  It all starts with one thought……….so happy thinking! 

Take Care,

Loretta

Did you know that in the first hour of birth a woman’s oxytocin levels are at their highest ever, and never will be that high again?  Oxytocin is a hormone that our clever body produces to help: 

·        Contract the uterus, limiting blood loss

·        Increases the temperature of the mother’s breasts, providing warmth for the infant

·        Decrease stress

·        A state of calmness and social responsiveness

·        Bonding with their infant, and enhanced maternal behaviors                     

·        Milk ejection 

What a hormone!!  Yes we can get this artificially, called syntocinon or pitocin.  But oxytocin cannot cross from the peripheral circulation, such as through an IV, into the brain to cause the effects described above; therefore it is only naturally occurring oxytocin released by the posterior pituitary gland directly into the brain that will have this effect.   

To really take advantage of nature here it is imperative that this surge not be interrupted, hindered or even dismissed.  I will show you how this can happen.  If a woman has an epidural for pain relief then the hormone oxytocin is inhibited therefore decreasing your love surge and decreasing your rate of breastfeeding success.  Also having IV fluids for a long period of time with or without syntocinon (synthetic oxytocin) causes severe breast, nipple and areola edema (severe swelling).  Edema of the areola interferes with latching the baby to the breast, increasing the risk of poor milk transfer and nipple damage.    

Another area overlooked is the dismissal of this surge of oxytocin.  Let me explain, as I said before there is a surge in oxytocin for about a couple of hours immediately after birth, this aids in ejection of your milk. Research shows that a successful first feed, within an hour of birth, leads to a longer more successful breastfeeding relationship.  This happens because your hormones and your baby are most susceptible to learning breastfeeding at this time and it leaves a positive imprint setting you up for success.  If your baby is not fed in this window then breastfeeding problems are more likely and can persist.   

We need to get rid of this bathing, weighing and passing around of your little baby.  It is imperative that your baby, if possible, be given straight to you and put to your bare chest, skin-to-skin.  I mean no bra, no shirt, everything off. This will allow your baby’s innate instincts to be maximized.  Your baby will seek out your breasts by smelling and visualizing the darkened area of your breast (the areola).  Isn’t that amazing that your baby can find its own way to your breast and feed!  I mean all other species find their mother’s breast without any help, why would humans be any different!  To facilitate this we need to say no to weighing, no to bathing, no to needles and no to passing around (except hubby/partner).  Just keep your baby at your breast at least until the first breastfeed is completed (it’s not long, really!) this will give him/her the start in life that is totally natural and normal, why would we mess with nature, it is perfect!! 

To drive this point home further, the work of Michel Odent is well recognized by those involved in obstetrics.  In 2001 he wrote, “The age of cesarean sections on request, epidurals and drips of oxytocin is a turning point in the history of childbirth.  Until recently women could not give birth without releasing a complex cocktail of ‘love hormones’.  Today, in many countries, most women have babies without releasing these specific hormones.  The questions must be raised in terms of civilization.  This turning point occurs at the very time when several scientific disciplines suggest that the way human beings are born has long-term consequences, particularly in terms of sociability, aggressiveness or, in other words, ‘capacity to love’. 

With this in mind, the importance of skin-to-skin contact for mothers and babies is so crucial to the life of your child.  Please allow this special time to take place and don’t let anyone take it away from you.  Even if you have a cesarean section, skin-to-skin contact is important and can be achieved if you voice your wishes.  

To recap, a natural birth plan is the way to go.  Educate on the ways in which your body works so you can work with it not against it.  If you want to find out more then visit my blog www.naturalbirthplan.com and have a read. You can also contact me personally through the contact page or leave a comment.  Also, if you want to learn more on how to plan for your Natural Birth then follow this  link www.child-birth-options.com.  I have interviewed the best of the best in Natural Birth Planning, you can learn so much from listening to these interviews, you can let go of your fear and maximize what nature gave you. I would love to hear about your empowering stories of Natural Birth and how you achieved this amazing life event or how you are planning for your imminent birth right now.  Good luck and have fun learning.

Loretta