CHILD BIRTH Archives - PregnancyBeyond

Best Labor And Birthing Positions

PregnancyBeyond.com — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 22:36:06 +0000

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Best Labor And Birthing Positions:

Best Labor And Birthing Positions By Miri Sais (Traditional Birth Attendant ).

Generally, there are many ways to give birth. From squatting to standing, since the beginning of time women have been giving birth in almost any position you can imagine. However, this isn’t an exemplar in the delivery room.

For instance, according to the Third National U.S. Survey of Women’s Childbearing Experiences, 90% of American women who give birth, do so, either laying down or in some state of refinement, often with their legs propped up. In Australia only 78% of women give birth laying down, a 12% difference, even still that’s far too much.

Particularly, multiple studies have proven birthing laying down leads to an increase in pain, longer labor, and tearing. Also, it is the most likely of all positions to lead to the use of forceps/vacuum and epitomizes. Moreover, the same is true for the supine (lying face upward), or reclining positions.

Birth Vlog: “SHE MADE ME REALIZE HOW MUCH OF A STRONG WOMAN I AM”

Still, the numbers are slow to improve. The reason being, many women don’t know of any other birthing positions. Further, it is the primary position we see in regards to birth. Be it TV or literature of the women who do know of other birthing positions, a majority view them as risky “alternatives” and aren’t willing to attempt for fear of harming themselves and their baby, this is not true.

Every birthing position has it’s pros and cons, but each and every one has its needed purposes. And it is vital for mothers to know of them, so when the great laboring day comes she is well aware of all her options.

Birthing Position:

Squatting

In general, this position is done with some form of back support, to keep the mother steady and give her a place to shift weight to. Many choose the aid of another person, or two. You can also use a birthing bar.

Pros

• Good advantage of gravity encouraging faster descent
• Opens pelvis giving baby room to maneuver
• Also allows mobility and betters freedom to shift weight and comfort

Cons

• Can be tiring
• Requires some form of support.

Standing

For support in this position, many use a birthing bar to hold on to, or another person to lean against.

Pros

• Strong advantage of gravity, pushing the baby down
• Reduces backache
• Baby is well aligned in the pelvis
• Helps create a pushing urge

Cons

• Harder for birth attendants to monitor baby.
• May require some form of support.

Hand and Knees

Generally, outside of laying down and reclined, the hands and knees position is the next frequently used.

In this position, the mother’s arms are propped up to reduce tiredness.

Pros

• Can help shift or rotate baby if needed
• Baby is well aligned in the pelvis
• Takes pressure off spine thus relieving back pain
• Can help boost baby’s oxygen level

Cons

• Harder for Mother to view what’s happening
• Arms may get tired

Laying Down Or Reclined

There are two variations of laying down, during labor and delivery, you can lay flat down on your back with or without a stirrup. As well as you can recline with legs down, or with stirrups. While these can be the most complicated of the birthing and laboring positions, there are times when these positions are needed.

Pros

• Comfortable for the laboring mother
• Great resting position
• Easier for the birth team to monitor baby

Cons

• Tearing
• Works against gravity
• Very restricted of Mother’s movements
• Compresses all major vessels which reduce blood flow to the baby
• Can lead to more painful and less effective contractions

Birth Position And Laboring Tools:

These are some tools made to help you in laboring and delivery.

Birth Stool And Chair

Supports birthing positions: sitting, squatting

It may not look like much, but this tool does the most. It’s best to support is in the sitting position, but it’s also helpful to hold on to when squatting, especially if it has handled.

Birthing Bar

Supports birthing positions: squatting, standing

Also called the squat bar, this tool is most commonly used for mothers to hold while squatting or standing.

Birthing Ball

Supports laboring positions: squatting, sitting

There’s nothing particularly fancy about the birthing ball, in fact, many people just use an exercise ball. If you chose to use an exercise ball it’s vital to assure that it’s the right size. Unlike the previous two tools, it’s not a good idea to birth while using the birthing ball, but it is good for laboring.

Preparation

Now that you know a little bit about the different birth and laboring positions and the tools that support them, there’s still some preparation work to be done.

As for the acquiring of birth and laboring tools, many should be available at most hospitals. Make sure in your birth plan you check your hospital for the tools you desire.

As for the positions themselves, for the past two centuries laying down has been the position for birthing. It’s the primary position most doctors know and trust. And for fear of complications, doctors may advise against uncommon birth positions. As I said earlier, there are pros and cons to every position. Each opens up the pelvis a different way and has a different relation to the pull of gravity. No position is the absolute best. There’s no position that you should solely rely on, be it hands and knees, squatting, or laying down. Always keep in mind when choosing your delivery position, the positioning of the baby.

Along with knowing positions and the tools available, always stand firm, and trust your instincts. The best position is choosing your birth team wisely, and your greatest tool.

BREASTFEEDING MOM WHO LOST HER SON TO BREASTFEEDING ADVOCATES BOTTLE FEEDING

About the Author: Best Labor And Birthing Positions

Miri Sais is a Traditional Birth Attendant, Prodigy Entrepreneur, and a Certified Market Garden Trainer. She is 2nd generation home birthing babies.

Miri has helped hundreds of families in her 20+ years as a birth attendant and doula and has personally ushered the births of hundreds of healthy babies into the world. She has also guided countless human beings to heal from emotional pain, grief, miscarriage, inner stress, and trauma, tap into their strength and power, live fully and live vibrantly, and reclaim their radiance, joyfulness, calm and overall sense of well-being. She teaches empowered birth which has the ability to heal the soul and awaken the most enlightened version of ourselves. Find more of her on www.Mirisais.com, on her Facebook page, and on her Instagram page.

Join us at the PB Moms Exclusive Circle, where we healthcare experts prepare you for life after childbirth and motherhood. Go to: pregnancybeyond.com/exclusive-circle.

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The Safest Way To Sleep During Pregnancy

PregnancyBeyond.com — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 03:53:09 +0000

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Safest Way To Sleep During Pregnancy:

Sleep On Side: The Safest Way To Sleep During Pregnancy.

Wondering about the safest way to sleep during pregnancy? New research by NHS England and Tommy’s, the baby charity has shown that you should sleep on your side during pregnancy #SleepOnSide.

The campaign #SleepOnSide was launched in a bid to reduce the rate of stillbirth and aims to educate women on how sleeping positions especially during the third trimester could increase the risk of stillbirth.

The research confirmed that the risk of stillbirth is doubled if women go to sleep on their backs in the third trimester and highlight the importance of sleeping on your side especially at the end of pregnancy.

Check out the video for more information and read more about the campaign here.

We’re supporting Tommy’s important #SleepOnSide campaign and we are happy to be able to contribute in spreading awareness for #SleepOnSide.

ALSO SEE: BAD PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE

Maternity Pillow

About Tommy’s: The largest charity funding research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. They also provide information for parents-to-be to help them have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Join us over at the PB Moms Exclusive Circle, where we invite healthcare experts to prepare us for life after childbirth and motherhood. Go to: pregnancybeyond.com/exclusive-circle.

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Benefits Of Delayed Blood Clamping For Your Baby

PregnancyBeyond.com — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 22:30:01 +0000

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Benefits Of Delayed Blood Clamping:

Benefits Of Delayed Blood Clamping For Your Baby, By Natasha Burgert, MD, FAAP (@doctornatasha).

Following the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference, Dr Natasha Burgert (@kckidsdoc) shares some key information that emerged from the recently concluded conference.

What You Need to Know About Delayed Cord Clamping

You’ve rejoiced at the two lines on your home pregnancy test. You’ve watched your baby grow from the size of kiwi to a watermelon. You’ve felt first kicks and hiccoughs. Gender reveals, baby registries, baby showers… You’ve done it all!

Throughout these months of excitement and anticipation, your baby has been connected to your body by an umbilical cord. This slippery, thick “rope” is a literal lifeline, containing two arteries (carrying waste products away from the baby to the placenta) and one vein (returning oxygen-containing blood to the baby) to perform this vital job. At the time the baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut as baby begins his or her new life as an independent human.

Traditionally, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut less than a minute after a child is born. Recent research has challenged this practice, however, suggesting that allowing the cord to remain intact and untouched for 3-5 minutes after delivery may have benefits to the new infant. In fact, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports delayed cord clamping for all healthy newborns.

Delayed Cord Clamping (DCC ) has shown numerous benefits to the newborn. It allows time for more oxygen-rich placental blood to return to the baby before cord cutting; resulting in baby receiving more red-blood cells, more iron, and more stem cells before separation. In addition to the potentially easier transition to living outside the womb, this extra blood decreases the risk of both anemia in infancy the risk of needing blood transfusions.

The cool part? The benefit of DCC may extend past the infancy period. One study followed infants for four years after using DCC during delivery and found improved fine motor and social skills relative to non-DCC peers. This neurocognitive benefit was seen more in baby boys than baby girls.

So why wouldn’t you want DCC for your baby? Studies suggest that the benefit of DCC is most significant in preterm babies and babies in developing countries. For women delivering in well-resourced areas, some argue healthy term babies don’t need the extra boost. Also, DCC does not allow for healthy babies to significantly contribute to stem-cell donation. Donated stem cells are responsible for saving lives of children in need of life-saving medical interventions. Many families choose to donate umbilical cord blood rather than opt for DCC.

Although DCC is possible for both vaginal and caesarian births, it’s important to remember that not all birth experiences go as planned. For babies needing additional support at the time of birth, delayed clamping is likely less important than other urgent life-support measures. Alternatively, DCC may not be in the best interest of a mother’s health if excessive bleeding occurs at delivery, or has other chronic illnesses.

Talk to your doc about your preference for delayed cord clamping. Make the decision together on your baby’s birthday to determine what is best for both you.

Congratulations and good luck!

About the author: Dr. Natasha Burgert is a board-certified pediatrician in Kansas City, MO and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. She shares evidenced-based child health information blended with her experience as a mom of two on KCKidsDoc.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Join us over at the PB Moms Exclusive Circle, where we invite healthcare experts to prepare us for life after childbirth and motherhood. Go to: pregnancybeyond.com/exclusive-circle.

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Couple Welcome Twins After Losing Sons in Crash

PregnancyBeyond.com — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 21:20:53 +0000

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Couple Welcome Twins

North Carolina Couple Welcome Twins After Losing Sons in Crash, July 10, 2017.

Hadley and Gentry Eddings, a pastor at Forest Hill Church in Charlotte who lost their two sons in a tragic accident in May 2015, on the way home from Gentry’s sister’s wedding, have welcomed twin boys. The elated couple named their double blessings – Isaiah Dobbs and Amos Reed, in honor of their older siblings.

Courtesy of the Eddings family

Earlier this year in January, the couple announced the great news that they were expecting twins and used the opportunity to state that they had forgiven the driver who caused the wreck. The couple was in a caravan with family members on their way home from Wilmington to Charlotte during Memorial Day weekend when a truck driver slammed into them, killing their 2-year old son Dobbs and sending Hadley, who was 37 weeks pregnant, into labor. Hadley, ended up having an emergency C-section, but the baby boy — whom they named Reed — died just two days later.

Relying on their faith to get through the difficult time, the couple mentioned that they wanted people to understand the power of forgiveness. “Be willing to forgive others – that’s been an important part of our healing, is just to be able to forgive the driver that caused the accident.”

Courtesy of the Eddings family

In a statement to PEOPLE, Hadley said “The Lord has not left us for one second in our grief of losing our two boys almost two years ago. God is a redeemer and a restorer! God blesses us beyond what we deserve or could ever imagine.

“We are excited that Dobbs and Reed are going to be big brothers to twins! We are so thankful for our family and so many friends who have prayed for us and cheered us on our way. We’re rejoicing, and thank Jesus for these two precious little ones!”

In an Interview, Hadley said she had missed being a mom from day one “but around this summer I thought, we’re getting to that point where it’s ok for me to be pregnant and I want to have more babies. And I don’t want to continue to live this life without being a mom again.”

She says she had to come to terms with exactly what it means to have more kids.

“It’s not betraying my children who are no longer here to have more children and that was the things we had to work through before we decided to try again.”

Gentry Eddings and twins
Courtesy of the Eddings family

Asides supporting with prayers, well-wishers have been able to raise $203,000 through GoFundMe to cover medical and other expenses. “We believe there is a lot of hope in our story and it reminds us God is a restorer,” says Gentry Eddings.

Also Read: Plane Forced To Turn Around – Mom Forgot Her Baby!

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The Importance of Your Baby’s First Cry!

PregnancyBeyond.com — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 12:34:23 +0000

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Baby’s First Cry

The joy of hearing your Baby’s First Cry is almost an indescribable feeling. Why is it so important to hear your baby cry within the first minute of birth?

During your baby’s stay in the womb, the umbilical cord carries oxygen and carbon dioxide from the placenta into your baby’s bloodstream. As soon as your baby is born, they should begin crying within the first 30 seconds to one minute of life, his/ her first cry will be at the top of your doctor’s priority list. The reason is, your baby’s first cry acts as a kick-starter for their little lungs, as it helps them to get rid of any amniotic residue and other secretion in the lungs and nasal passages.

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It is considered a medical emergency when a baby does not cry/ breathe immediately after being born, the baby who cannot breathe cannot establish independent life outside the mother and will have to undergo what is known as neonatal resuscitation which simply means that the baby will require some form of assistance to begin breathing.

The first cry hence signifies a successful transition from “breathing” fluid in the womb to breathing air after being born. This breath sounds like a gasp, as the newborn’s central nervous system reacts to the sudden change in temperature and environment.

Once the baby takes the first breath, a number of changes occur in the infant’s lungs and circulatory system:

Increased oxygen in the lungs causes a decrease in blood flow resistance to the lungs.
Blood flow resistance of the baby’s blood vessels also increases.
Amniotic fluid drains or is absorbed from the respiratory system.
The lungs inflate and begin working on their own, moving oxygen into the bloodstream and removing carbon dioxide by breathing out (exhalation).

Now you understand that your baby’s first cry is synonymous with their first breath and perhaps a way of saying hello to you and the world!

See below to watch more videos of baby’s first moments!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUUse7Il9UR/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BODQffdhMlU/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWA27CKh7QB/?taken-by=pregnancy_beyond

What do you think? Leave your thoughts and questions in the comment below!

Also Read: Heartburn and Acid Reflux During Pregnancy

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First Moments! 24 Adorable Photos Of New Moms

PregnancyBeyond.com — Tue, 16 May 2017 23:04:56 +0000

Reading Time: < 1 minute

First Moments!

First Moments! 24 Adorable Photos Of New Moms and Their Babies.

Childbirth can be both exhilarating and exhausting at the same time! Hearing your baby’s first cry, holding the tiny fingers in your hand and cradling the soft bundle can be an overwhelming experience. Scroll on to see adorable and beautiful photos that capture the moment, just after childbirth, of mothers meeting their newborns for the first time!

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