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

What’s the Rush?  We live in a society that wants everything NOW, even our babies!  Can we slow down and really feel what pregnancy and birth is all about?  I hope we can and I hope this article makes you think about how you want your birth to be.  There are so many options for women to help have a Natural Birth, so many experts out there to help and so many women who have amazing insights to share.

In an attempt to see our baby sooner, the word "induction", is thrown around like it is part of birth and the birth process.  Induction is not a word that should be used in everyday conversation with pregnant women!  Induction should only be used if medically indicated and not for social reasons…………………..when are we going to understand this!!  Natural Birth is such an amazing event and it cannot be achieved if labor is artificially started.

Let us stop and think for a moment, why can’t we just wait for our precious child to enter the world when they are ready, honestly What is the Rush!  Many doctors offer induction like offering a piece of cake with your coffee! It is ridiculous………..as women we need to take a stand and say no to induction unless there is truly a medical problem.

Induction is the start of a whole cascade of intervention. Let me take you through a typical induction of labor that I witness day in day out in the birth suite. A woman is brought into the birth suite at 38 weeks for a "social induction", which is basically being induced for a reason that is not needed.  The woman either has gel placed in her cervix until it is open enough for the waters to be broken or if the cervix is open then the waters are broken then and there.  The gel may take 24 hours to work with a new application done ever 6 hours.  Once the waters are broken an IV is inserted and an artificial hormone is commenced to make your uterus contract.  At this time continuous fetal monitoring is necessary so your baby does not get distressed with the force of the artificial contractions!!  This medication causes contractions to start strongly rather than the gradual build up of natural contractions during Natural Birth.  The strong contractions are hard to take due to the immediate start of them; therefore, pain relief is usually needed in the form of narcotics and epidurals.  So you can see how one event leads to another and another and before you know it, your birth is totally taken over by a medical team and you are left feeling empty and alone.  I haven’t even mentioned the baby and how the baby copes with these forced events.  Some narcotics such as pethidine stay in your baby’s system for up to 2 weeks and effects your baby’s sucking ability.

Please look at all the Natural Birth Methods available and educate yourself on how to have a natural birth.  I have interviewed 7 experts on natural birth for all women to listen to and learn from.  These women are amazing and discuss such Natural Birth Methods as Hypnobirthing, Lamaze, The Bradley Method, Acupressure, Physical Therapy and Water birth.  If you want to have a listen then get your free grab by signing up to my blog and hear Barbara Harper talking about how women can have an orgasmic birth, why not enjoy rather than endure!  My blog is www.naturalbirthplan.com.  My eBook, which is the interviews, is available from this link  www.child-birth-options.  Take a look and remember to plan your birth as you would any major event in your life…………….no wait, it is THE major event in our lives, so plan well and enjoy your pregnancy and birth……….don’t rush nature.

Take care,

Loretta

Hi to all,

We plan so much for the birth of a child and think little of what happens after.  A lot of women just need to get over the birth hurdle, see that their baby is okay and recover physically from the birth. Once you have a baby your body has changed, it is a wonderful change as it has brought about your beautiful child.  One of the changes we don’t usually discuss is sex life.  It is such an important part of every woman and every relationship and should be brought to everyone’s attention.  The reason I am writing about this is that I crossed paths with a wonderful person who has a blog and book called Reclaiming Sex After Birth. Below is what its all about:

Go to www.reclaimsexafterbirth.com to find out more.

Hello World,

I interviewed Barbara Harper who is an advocate for Natrual Birth, an RN and the founder and Director of Waterbirth International. Barbara is an amazing person and is so passionate about women and birthing.  She supports all women in their choice to have an amazing natural birth.  Below is what Barbara has been achieving throughout her career:

• A single Mom with three children, Barbara has dedicated her life to helping heal the way we welcome babies into the world.
• Barbara is known as the Mother Theresa of Waterbirth by putting all of her personal and professional resources into making Waterbirth an available option for all women.
• Barbara’s organisation has helped millions of families worldwide discover the empowering effects of labouring and giving birth in water
• Barbara’s expertise in Waterbirth and gentle undisturbed birth is widely sought in all areas of the globe.
• Barbara has lectured in 35 countries, including medical schools, nursing schools, midwifery programs and university women’s studies departments
• Barbara has been interviewed by hundreds of newspapers and magazines and has appeared on dozens of radio and TV shows
• Barbara’s research has resulted in the publication of Gentle Birth Choices book and DVD and has also produced Birth Into Beings: The Russian Waterbirth Experience.
• Her video programs are hailed as “the most inspiring birth videos ever produced”  deliver

I have put a grab of the interview, along with my birth plan as a download for free on the right, just click subscribe.  Also if you like the sound of the interview I have interviewed 6 other experts in natural birth who share some fantastic insights and all have a wealth of knowledge  to share.  I had so much fun interviewing these amazing women, they all had so much information on how you can have a wonderful natural birthing experience.  Just click on the Natural Birthing Plan link and have a look at my ebook. 

Enjoy your pregnancy, or for those of you planning to get pregnant, have fun reading all the information.  My biggest tip to all women is educate yourself and then implement what works for you. 

I wish you the most calm, relaxing and memorable birth,

Loretta

Hi all,

I heard about this new DVD that is taking birth by storm!!  It is called Orgasmic Birth The Best-Kept Secret and was released to the world in Prague, Czech Republic on May 16 2008.  From the press release it says that it is a powerful, passionate and thought provoking, with commentary by a dozen preeminent health professionals and 11 women and their partners who share their birthing journey, Orgasmic Birth dismantles untruths about labor and birth that women have been told for generations.  

Pioneering first-time filmmaker Debra Pascali-Bonaro brings to the screen the ultimate challenge to our cultural myths by inviting viewers to see first hand the glorious emotional, spiritual, and physical heights attainable through the miracle of birth. Her documentary reveals that birth is something a woman can enjoy, rather than endure.

 Barbara Harper the founder and director of Waterbirth International reviewed the film and wrote, “Orgasmic Birth tells us what is right about undisturbed birth without blaming anyone.  It is artful, realistic, dynamic, and full or hope for women everywhere”.

 Go and have a look at www.orgasmicbirth.com and see a short video clip of the movie.  You can host a screening if you desire and then purchase the movie at the screening.  You can also find out about screenings in your area from the website.

Hello to all Mothers and Mothers-to-be,

I found an article in the Inquirer about Natural Birth Planning and Hypnobirthing.  Ms Locsin-Chan talks about her natural birthing experience and how her husband was blown away by the ease of her birth, a skeptic no more!  Below is an excerpt from the article or you can follow the link to read the whole article.  It really shows how Natural Birth Planning can lead to amazing outcomes.

While the thought of giving birth without the security of an epidural scared me to death, I later learned there is, in fact, no need for such drugs or anaesthetics. All the pain management we need is in our mind and, with a super supportive spouse, it makes for a formidable “pain-killer.”

 http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080915-160850/My-baby-was-born-through-hypnobirthing

Hi guys,

Just stumbled across this article from Texas, USA about a Natural Birthing Center that offers waterbirth in a Jacuzzi.  The article discusses the birthing centre that is within a clinic set up for services towards women.  A doctor by the name of Quezada, founded the centre which is called Primera Luz (which means "first light" in Spanish). It caters to women of all ages, ethnicities and economic status – and gives those women more of a voice in the health care they receive.  "We want to give them more of a choice. As opposed to ‘Do this,’ we give them options," Dr Quezada said.

This is fantastic to see that women all over the world are given the option of having a great natural childbirth.  Well done and good luck.

Below is a little snippet of the article or click on the link to read the whole article.

The natural birthing center consists of five suites named after pioneering women such as Rosa Parks and Frida Kahlo. They resemble luxury hotel rooms – with upscale decor, large beds, flat-screen TVs, DVDs and jacuzzis.

But the hot tubs are used for delivering babies, not the honeymoons that in some cases helped create them.

"In this day and age, most physicians tend not to put in the time for a natural vaginal delivery. Most of them push C-sections," said Norma Vasquez, a former Planned Parenthood staffer who is Primera Luz’s administrator. "Some women don’t get a choice. But that’s one of the big missions of Dr. Quezada is to give them a choice."

It’s a choice that Andrea Hernandez, 27, has made twice. Daughter Rory was born there 18 months ago, and daughter Lorelai, five months ago. Rory was born on a bed, Lorelai in the water.

"I knew it would hurt, but if I had them in the hospital, drugs would have been an option," Hernandez said. She didn’t want that. "I knew it was better for them (to do it naturally). That’s a benefit. And I figured that millions of women have done it before me."

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_10463686