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Archive for the ‘Labor Tips’ Category

Cervical scar tissue

By Buscando la luz on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 | 83 Comments

When I first learned about cervical scar tissue’s impact on labor, I thought: women need to know this! I did share a link on facebook and in the sidebar of my blog, but then I let it slip to the back of my mind. After the chat with my midwives on Friday, I felt driven, again, to spread the word. With more and more women approaching childbirth with scarred cervixes, this information is more important than ever. In fact, I have a hunch that cervical scar tissue is likely contributing greatly to the rising cesarean rate. (Click over to read the full post…)

Preventing postpartum hemorrhage: a follow-up

By Buscando la luz on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 | 7 Comments

I’ll admit that I was originally a little hesitant to suggest that low lighting might make a difference in preventing postpartum hemorrhage. Of all the tips I mentioned in my last post, that was the one I felt least confident about. I even asked my husband, after he finished reading the post, whether he thought I was “way out in left field” on that one. So I was relieved, as I skimmed through Odent’s book this afternoon, to find that his views support my “left field” suggestion. (Click over to read the full post.)

Preventing postpartum hemorrhage naturally

By Buscando la luz on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 | 27 Comments

Childbirth involves blood loss. There’s no way around it. How much blood a woman loses is the potentially dangerous variable. Postpartum hemorrhage accounts for the majority of maternal deaths worldwide. Fortunately, in the United States where maternity care is more readily accessible, most postpartum hemorrhages are not fatal. But they do happen, regardless of where you give birth. (Click over to read my research on preventing postpartum hemorrhage naturally)

Electrolyte replacement

By Buscando la luz on Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 | 13 Comments

It’s not uncommon for women in labor to be offered Emergen-C by members of their birth support team. I had never used Emergen-C drink packets until I got a free sample in a folder of materials given to me by one of the midwives I interviewed during my last pregnancy. Emergen-C packets contain a slew of helpful vitamins and minerals. In our family, we have reserved our packets for “emergency” immune system boosting use (when we feel the first twinges of an illness coming on). When used in moderation, I believe the packets can be helpful. But excessive use can be problematic, especially for women at the end of their pregnancies or women in labor. (Click over to read the full post.)

And the winners are…

By Buscando la luz on Monday, August 16th, 2010 | 3 Comments

Click over to find out who won the contest and giveaway! And see a pic from baby #4′s first race in utero. And find out what this morning’s run had me thinking about.

Hopes for next time

By Buscando la luz on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 | 13 Comments

Each of my births has been an improvement upon the last one, with fewer interventions, faster recovery, more intense bonding, etc. So, naturally, I’m looking for ways to make birth #4 even better than the rest. . . . So… drawing on all that I’ve learned over the last seven years, and assuming that I remain low-risk and complication-free throughout the duration of my pregnancy and labor, here are my plans, hopes, and goals for this next birth…

Exercise your creativity–my first contest/giveaway!

By Buscando la luz on Saturday, July 31st, 2010 | 29 Comments

This contest/giveaway will run for two weeks, ending on August 14th.

There will be two sets of prizes.

The first set of prizes will go to the person who comes up with the winning name for my series of posts documenting my adventures running and exercising through my pregnancy (something like “Running for Two,” but cooler and better since you’re all creative geniuses).

In addition to the post-series-name-contest, I will hold a drawing for a second prize. You can earn entries into this drawing in a number of ways… (Click over to read the full post.)

My home birth slideshow

By Buscando la luz on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 | 1 Comment

Just uploaded my home birth slideshow to YouTube. Click over to check it out in this post.

Ask Busca: Dads and Doulas?

By Buscando la luz on Monday, July 19th, 2010 | 3 Comments

Some men just aren’t comfortable taking on the “coach” role, but so many women have the expectation that they will (or MUST) fill that role. Then they’re disappointed when their overwhelmed husband can’t be that support during labor. Some husbands plan to fill the coach role but find themselves blind-sided by the intensity of birth (think: deer in headlights). (Click over to read the full post.)

Why hire a doula?

By Buscando la luz on Monday, July 19th, 2010 | 12 Comments

When I gave birth for the first time, I didn’t know what a doula was, but I recently realized that the care and support of a “doula” is what actually carried me through that birth.

Her name was Eve. She was the labor and delivery nurse assigned to me when I entered the hospital for my oldest daughter’s birth. She was gentle, unassuming, and kind. When I told her that I was hoping to “go natural,” she mentioned that she could offer positions to try and techniques to cope with the pain of labor. She said she had given birth without drugs before, and knowing she was supportive and experienced gave me courage. (Click over to read the full post.)

Avoiding tearing and episiotomies

By Buscando la luz on Monday, July 19th, 2010 | 3 Comments

Giving birth for the first time was one of the most empowering experiences of my life. My water broke, my contractions started, everything progressed smoothly, and, less than six hours later, my baby girl was born. It was an ideal birth experience, except for one thing. That one thing made my next few weeks of recovery extremely painful. I tore. I really tore. (Click over to read the full post.)

“Nobody thinks you’re a hero”

By Buscando la luz on Sunday, July 18th, 2010 | 5 Comments

I didn’t pursue natural childbirth so people would call me their hero. But people have. Does that make me feel superior to other people? Of course not. I feel honored that my experiences have inspired other people because I believe wholeheartedly that the same strength I drew upon to birth my children lies within all of us. We are all strong. We are all heroes-in-the-making. We all have opportunities to discover our strength. Childbirth just happens to be where I discovered mine. (Click over to read the full post.)

Birth in the standing position

By Buscando la luz on Sunday, July 18th, 2010 | 6 Comments

A statement out of a recent Midwifery Today E-Newsletter reminded me of something I’ve been wanting to blog about ever since my doula training in February of ’09. Dutch midwife, Gre Keijzer, explained:

In my view, starting the second stage in a standing position can be seen as a preventive measure against the occurrence of shoulder dystocia. If it does occur, it can be easily corrected without having to perform all sorts of heroic manoeuvres.

I’ve become somewhat obsessed in the last year with giving birth in standing positions. My fascination began when my doula trainer, Mary, shared a handout adapted from an article by Jean Sutton called, “Physiological Second Stage or Birth Without Active Pushing.” (Click over to read the full post.)

Epidurals and scoliosis

By Buscando la luz on Sunday, July 18th, 2010 | 1 Comment

A recent post by Rixa alerted me to something fascinating. It’s totally logical… one of those things you learn and wonder how you never thought of it before. Scoliosis and epidurals aren’t always compatible. Makes sense, huh? I really don’t know how it never occurred to me before. (Click over to read the full post.)

Labor tips for dads

By Buscando la luz on Sunday, July 18th, 2010 | 1 Comment

Remember these “Five PR’s”–the most helpful things you can provide for your partner while she labors… (Click over to read the full post.)

Archive for the ‘Labor Tips’ Category

Cervical scar tissue

Preventing postpartum hemorrhage: a follow-up

Preventing postpartum hemorrhage naturally

Electrolyte replacement

And the winners are…

Hopes for next time

Exercise your creativity–my first contest/giveaway!

My home birth slideshow

Ask Busca: Dads and Doulas?

Why hire a doula?

Avoiding tearing and episiotomies

“Nobody thinks you’re a hero”

Birth in the standing position

Epidurals and scoliosis

Labor tips for dads

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