Whenever I introduce myself as a pediatric chiropractor I’m generally met with a look of confusion. And even though parents have been taking their kids to chiropractors for over 100 years, it still seems to be misunderstood. Let me be perfectly clear, I believe that every child should be taken to visit a chiropractor shortly after birth. If that seems odd to you, let me explain why your child might be due for a check up.
A recent study showed that rates of chronic childhood conditions, such as asthma and ADHD, more than doubled from 1994-2006. This study, which looked at data during a 12-year period, is now nearly 12 years old itself and rates have continued to rise. According to the CDC, 14% of boys between the age of 5-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD and 8% of all U.S. children have asthma. Although there are many studies to show this growing trend, most of us don’t need research studies to see what is happening to the children in our lives. Our kid’s health is in a steady decline and few researchers have come up with a convincing reason to explain it. In my office, I have the opportunity every day to work with kids suffering from ADHD, asthma and many other common childhood issues. Getting to know these kids and their health history, I can’t help but to notice the prevalence of trauma in nearly all of their birth stories. These traumas include abnormal positioning in the uterus during pregnancy, stress to the spine and nervous system as the baby journeys through the birth canal and stress created in the delivery process. The more I work with these kids, the more I have started to see this as a common thread that links them together. Giving birth, as beautiful an experience as it is, involves a lot of stress on the mother’s body. But it is very stressful for your baby as well. In a normal hospital birth, without significant complications an obstetrician uses between 60-90 lbs of force to pull the baby through the birth canal. And when the use of forceps, vacuum extraction or C-section are used, it requires even more force and all of that force is being applied to your baby’s head and neck. A German medical doctor, Dr. Gotfried Guttman, looked at 1,000 newborns and found that 80% of them had undiagnosed spinal injuries that had resulted in interference in nerve and immune system function. Furthermore, another study conducted in America found that at least 90% of babies they looked at had suffered some form of birth trauma that had resulted in a strain to the neck and cranial areas. Due to of all of the delicate neurological structures located in your child’s neck, injuries to this area can have lasting consequences throughout childhood. Because the nervous system is our body’s tool for reacting and interacting with the outside world, when it’s not at it’s best our body is unable to adapt to outside forces. Whenever the spine, whose purpose is to protect the brain stem and spinal cord, experiences traumas, big or small, it can disrupt the flow of the nerves it is meant to protect. Chiropractors call these areas of nerve system disturbance “subluxation”. As a pediatric chiropractor, my objective is to check every child for nerve dysfunction (subluxation) that is created as a result of birth trauma, or trauma and stress after birth. Once a subluxation is found, I can correct it with a gentle adjustment, using very little pressure, similar to what you would use to check the ripeness of a tomato. These adjustments are not like what you may be used to, if you’ve been to a chiropractor yourself. Because your child’s spine is still developing, it isn’t necessary to turn or bend the neck and there is no “pop” or “crack” sound. These adjustments help to relieve the pressure to the nervous system and restore proper function. Chiropractic care for kids is safe, effective and very important. If you feel like your child may have experienced trauma at birth or that they could benefit from being adjusted, please reach out and let me help or direct you to someone that can.
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I am normally an out-of-hospital birthing momma that has a preference for birthing at home but in 2016 while being a surrogate for my lovely friends we decided that, for this particular birth, hospital was the route we wanted! Once you have birthed outside of the hospital and experience the freedom to listen to your own body instead of following "hospital policy" it's hard to go back to thinking about birthing the way I once did in a hospital setting. So we made the decision that we wouldn't. We wouldn't settle for the drive-through-window experience that is often birth in the US. I stayed upright and moved as my body wished, I ate and my nurses happily spoiled me with food, I wore my favorite maternity dress that made me feel comfortable, I didn't feel a loss of control over my body at any moment, the staff actually READ my birth plan and knew it! Not once did anyone offer to check me or offer me pain meds (as per my birth preference paper requests). The staff and my lovely Midwife, Annie, stood back and followed my lead. I also gave birth to baby squatting on our hospital room floor while hanging from the squat bar. This wasn't some unicorn birth, this birth is possible to ANYONE! You CAN have the experience that you may think is only available to homebirthing women! I had what I consider to be a perfect birth minus my own bed and comfort of home lol! Here are some tips that can help! 1. Choosing you provider with your birth experience in mind. This is definitely number one for a reason. The provider you choose can definitely determine the birth you have. There are so many kind, caring, nice providers in this area but while these are great qualities they are not the ONLY things you are looking for in a health care provider. As a Doula I have worked with most providers in this area and the mass majority are amazing people! They got into this profession because they love helping women! While this is great, I can't stress enough that there is MORE that we are looking for. First, look at your birth preferences, then make sure that your provider is not only on board but supportive of these preferences. Birth can sometimes be unpredictable and when different situations arise we must be willing to compromise but in the scenario where the labor/birth is uncomplicated and low-risk does your provider support your wishes? To read about our favorite in-hospital providers click here! 2. Have informed "backup" plans for each possible scenario. Yes, we all prefer that smooth and hang-up free birth with no surprises and no change-of-plans but sometimes we are thrown a curve ball. What are your preferences if you test positive for Group B strep? In the rare case of a cesarean, what are your preferences? These curve balls do not mean that we no longer have options. You have options in ALL birth scenarios! Learn them! 3. Have extremely open communication with your birth team. I feel like sometimes, as moms, we can have a hard time being blunt and honest with our providers. We can sometimes feel shy or nervous making our wishes known but this is SO important!!! How can our providers help us the way we want if they don't know what we want? Also, before we can properly gauge if they are the right providers for us, we must see how they feel about all of our preferences. "Going in blind" is leaving yourself open for surprises on your big day! I went to my Midwife, Annie, with a list of my needs. Some were very important and some were less important but I told her ALL if them. She never stopped smiling and said "well, of course!" after my looong list. This doesn't have to be a big scary thing! 4. Never be afraid to change providers if it's not love. Ask any mother who has changed providers mid-pregnancy and they will tell you that not only was it easy, it was necessary for them and they were happy they did it! We have this preconceived notion that once we hire someone that it is a permanent thing. That changing providers will completely turn our world upside-down and will cause much grief. This is so incorrect. In fact, changing providers is quick and painless! You may need to fill out some "new client" forms but that's the extent of the trouble! Never be afraid to leave a situation with a provider that's working against you instead of FOR you. Remember YOU hire your birth team. They work for you! 5. Walk into your birth informed and confident in your body's ability to birth.
Your Doula will do an amazing job and giving all the fact-based information you would like about anything your heart desires! Your Doula knows that with education comes confidence. We want you to have the evidence to back up your knowledge and with this comes power. Your body already knows how to birth this baby, our job is to help you discover this and to realize the powerful and wise birthing goddess you are! You want to eat in labor? We will show you the new recommendations in favor of this from the World Health Organization You want to squat while pushing? We will show you evidence on birthing positions! You want your Doula with you at all times? We will show you the ACOG recommendation in favor of Doulas! Knowledge is power! 6. Don't feel that you need to settle for 1 or 2 requests just because you are birthing in a hospital. These amazing, raw, primal experiences aren't just for out-of-hospital births! You can still do most of the things that your friends do while birthing at home with the right mindset, knowledge, and team behind you! Many women will think "I'd love to eat and birth out of bed but my main concern is to birth naturally. I'll only focus on my most important requests and let the others go since I can't be too picky." Why can't you be picky? Why don't you deserve the same experience? Guess what? You do! I'm not saying it will be easy to find the right birth team to help you achieve this but it's definitely possible! Don't settle for less than you deserve! Hi. I am Talesha Carter. I am a wife and mama to two awesome kids and one fur baby. I am a firm believer in creating the life you desire, and I can often be found with my nose in a book learning new ways to improve. I love to go on adventures with my family and explore new places. When tough times come my way, I turn to God and energy healing and I always find my way. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured! It is my mission to uplift, strengthen and empower hearts. I am an energy healer who practices as a Reiki Master and educator in Logan, Utah. My business, Foster Vitality was created to help women, like myself, release stress, anxiety, fear, anger and worthlessness to help them be the best they can be. I know from personal experiences that living with feelings like these can wreak havoc on relationships. And leave us feeling alone. Nearly four years ago I brought home a beautiful baby girl. Miss C had soft curly brown hair, and squishy cheeks, and her eyes glowed. She had that wondrous fresh baby smell, and I couldn’t believe she was mine. But I had a secret that took me years to admit. Have you ever kept something buried deep within you out of fear and shame of what others may think of you? I didn’t dare speak a word. On some levels I don’t think I understood the depth of my anguish. My mind has this great default button called the subconscious, and I know it blocked out many of the emotions I felt so that I didn’t become a complete shut-in. My secret was that I did not feel those ooey gooey “you’re my child” connection feelings. I have a son who is a couple years older than Miss C. Because of him I knew how I was supposed to feel, and I didn’t. I felt alone, disconnected, and fearful that something was wrong with me. From the outside my life was what would be described as a cookie cutter life. I had two beautiful children, a husband that had a great job that allowed me to stay home, we had a cozy apartment and lots of family nearby. But, these things didn’t change how I felt. I was not connecting to Miss C. I felt I didn’t know how to take care of her. I felt I was not a good mom to her. I was spinning in a world of grief, depression, anxiety, and fear. My sweet baby would cry and I wanted to help her but unlike with her brother I didn’t know what she needed, and the only thing that worked was her daddy. Looking back on that time with healthy eyes, I can recognize the depression for what it was. However, in the moment I thought I was a failure a failure to myself and my Miss C. Do you have feelings similar to this? Do you feel like something is broken inside of you? I feel your pain, and I know the destruction you’re battling. You’re not alone. I have hope for you! I began searching online for classes, or groups. Something that I could “busy” myself with. One particularly rough afternoon I was searching our community calendar. My soul jumped. I found an introduction to energy work course and although I had no idea what it was, I signed myself up. I like to refer to this time as my journey, because it was the time I went from a depressed shell of a person to a person who helps others heal from their emotional and physical pain. That is right- heal. There is healing, and it doesn’t require you to be drugged up on medication and miss out on more connecting opportunities with your child. As I mentioned above, I am a Reiki Master. This is a modality of energy healing. With Reiki I am able to help you relax and tap into your life force energy. What does this mean? We are energetic beings. This energy that flows through you and I is referred to as life force energy. When you become stressed, worried, or sick, this energy flows at a slower rate. Likewise when you are happy, fulfilled, and love yourself, this energy is much higher. If you feel like you are not connecting with your child, that you’re alone, anxious, fearful or consumed with guilt your life force energy is going to be flowing at a slower rate. There is no shame in having these feelings. It means you’re a living, breathing person. There is hope. Reiki can help you. Reiki heals by charging the affected body parts with positive energy, allowing your body to heal the way that it was originally designed to. It raises your vibratory level. This causes the negative emotions to break apart and fall away. Reiki then clears, heals, and straightens energy pathways, which allows the life force energy to flow in a natural way. You can receive the benefits of Reiki. It will relax you, open new energy pathways, open your heart and mind, release negative emotions, and help you find clarity, peace, and acceptance. The greatest benefit that I have felt and seen from receiving regular Reiki treatments is the ability to love myself and others with fewer judgments. Practice today. Hold one hand over your heart. Feel your heartbeat. Feel your lungs increase with air. Feel them lower as you exhale. Think about the stress you feel in your heart, the worries and burdens you’re holding onto. Think, or say the words, “I give myself permission to release these feelings into my hands.” Take a deep breath in and on your exhale take your hand off your heart and shake it out while picturing those feelings leaving your hands. This feeling of release, feeling like you’re lighter, this is only a fraction of what you will feel with an entire Reiki session. Healing is possible. You do not need to put up with those nasty thoughts and feelings. You can connect to your child. You can feel happy, and you can feel intense love! For more information about Reiki, what it is, how it works, and who can benefit from a session, I invite you to go to my website, fostervitality.com, and contact me with any questions. With love, Talesha This week's Guest Blogger is from our dear friend, fellow advocate for empowering births and families, and an alternative healing practitioner. Mally Griffin is also a Wife, Mama to two sweet baby girls, Certified Foot Zonologist, SimplyHealed Energy Practitioner and Soon-to-Be RYT-200. She is located in Logan, Utah. More info at her website here. Hello, all! I am so excited to share with you how Energy Healing can benefit us mamas in such phases of life. After two miscarriages, I was led to the SimplyHealed Method of Energy Healing and I can say with confidence that it was one of the key factors in my conception, healthy pregnancy and birth of my second child. Here’s my top few tips and reasons why everyone should look into a bit of energy healing while pregnant, trying to conceive, and in preparation for labor and delivery. Sacral Chakra Clearing (Hello, Conception!) The Chakra System is one of your main energy systems and consists of seven (main) energy centers. Each Chakra has specific characteristics and deals with specific issues. Many, if not most women who are struggling to conceive have energetic blocks in their Sacral Chakra. Clearing low-vibrations, traumas and past issues help to make their reproductive system a happy and fertile home for that future sweet babe to come into! Clearing the Sacral Chakra is also extremely helpful in preparation for labor and delivery. Generational Issues Resolved (Hi, Happy Baby!) We all have a Mother, Aunt, Grandma, Sister or Cousin that has told you their “horror” birth story. And if you don’t, odds are that somewhere up your family tree, someone had a bit of a rough time in the labor and delivery department. Pregnancy and Labor can be (and should be) THE most beautiful and empowering experience in a woman’s life. However, that’s not always the case for people. What most women don’t realize is that sometimes our relative’s “stories” or experiences of trauma can become genetically encoded and passed down through the DNA. (The field of study that is now proving this “theory” is called EpiGenetics). Our predecessor’s fears, false beliefs, and/or phobias can come down through this network and manifest themselves in their descendants (us!). Many women who have irrational fears of pregnancy or labor and delivery suffer from these negative Generational Issues. We then continue to pass on this Fear Cycle to our babies in utero. Clearing Generational Issues is crucial for a happy momma and happy baby. Meridian Balancing (Goodbye, Morning Sickness!) Meridian Lines run throughout your entire body. Each one links to specific organs and specific emotions. When these get a little “criss-crossed” they can cause a myriad of issues in pregnancy; one of them specifically being morning sickness. Balancing the meridians can help alleviate, and in some cases eradicate, your nausea. This is why acupuncture can also be so helpful (acupuncture works specifically with your Meridians). Third Eye and Crown Opening (Delivery, Your Way) Two other Chakras that need to be open for an emotionally and physically healthy pregnancy and delivery are your Third Eye and Crown Chakras. Your Third Eye helps you to know that “the universe has a safety net” and that everything and everyone is safe no matter what the future may hold. Your Crown Chakra is your connector to Divinity and Inspiration. Having these opening and fully functioning help to ease any anxiety and fears you are having (specifically in regards to your pregnancy, baby and labor!). Clearing and opening these Chakras helped me to be very specific about how I wanted to manage my pregnancy and labor and delivery. I felt very grounded and secure in my choices which was HUGE for me. Affirmations, Meditating and Yoga Positive Affirmations have an amazing ability of shifting energy. I always am giving women things to affirm in pregnancy in my sessions because they can do their own mini (or not so mini!) energy sessions on themselves. Plugging in these affirmations through phone reminders, index cards on your mirror, meditating on a specific one as your mantra, or doing yoga with your affirmations as your theme can create massive, positive energy shifts. Here are a few examples: -I am confident in my body's ability to carry a baby -My body knows how to birth this baby, just as it knew how to grow this baby -I am confident in my body's ability to have a healthy pregnancy -I birth with ease -I am confident that my baby and I will have all of the nourishment we need throughout the entire pregnancy -I am surrounded by loving and nurturing support -I am confident in my healthcare professionals to give me the care and help that I need -My body is wise and knows how to carry and deliver this child I hope that everyone who reads this looks into a bit of Energy Healing and Balancing for help in their pregnancies. My door (or more likely email and phone) are always open and I’d love to answer any and all questions my fellow mamas may have! Love, Mally **Have you used energy work for help conceiving, during your pregnancy or postpartum? Let us know what your experience was in the comments below!** If you know Lindsay and myself AT ALL you know how we loooove to be able to tell our clients about the endless options they have for pregnancy and birth. The more options available the better! That's the beauty of empowered birth... knowing all your options and making your own choices! Well, we have a great new option in the area! Brigham City now has a LICENSED birth center!!! Are you looking for a middle ground between hospital and home? Are you wanting a beautiful ambiance to bring your baby earthside in? Are you wanting to be able to bill your insurance for your birth? If so, this may be a fantastic option for you! Here are what a few mommas have had to say about Mermaid Birth on their FB page! "The Cadillac birth package with Cadillac midwives!!!! Not only do they truly care about you but they are highly skilled and supportive! They listened to me and what kind of birth I wanted, and were amazing at my birth! Also, their postpartum care is so wonderful, unlike any other! They care so much about you and your baby! I couldn't have asked for any better! I will be returning to them for every baby I have, thank you Mermaid Birth for helping and guiding me threw my birthing experience! Highly recommend them!!!!!" -SC "I have wanted to have a home, underwater birth for many years but my husband was always concerned for safety. Well, we finally found the right combination! Mermaid Birth gave me the wonderful support to experience the birthI wanted and the skilled staff to provide safety for me and my baby that my husband wanted. Thank you so much for your service. It is what I have always wanted and more." -SY "The best care from the minute I walked into their birth center. We had an amazing, powerful and supportive home birth. Pampered and spoiled the whole way and postpartum care is extraordinary! Every visit was filled and were available every step of the way !! I love each and everyone of them, the best team!!" -AM Sounds intriguing, right?! Take a guided tour of their newly licensed birth center here! https://www.dropbox.com/s/7k263rdrgts05c4/Guided%20tour.mov?dl=0 For more info visit: www.mermaidbirth.com You’re probably here because you’ve discovered you’re growing a little seed inside of your womb, congratulations! You are probably wondering what else you could be implementing into your life, that you haven’t already thought of. What better way to become knowledgeable and empowered, than to open a book! But what are THE best pregnancy books, when you have so many to choose from?! Books are a great way to become informed. You can find books on any topic of interest to you and a book to contradict everything you just thought you knew. That’s the thing about informing yourself through the writings of others. Some people resonate more with a book that is based in pure science, while others will base their beliefs around a book that they connected to on a more emotional or spiritual level. So, there’s no right or wrong way to choose a book, but when it comes to a matter of the heart, your best bet is to listen to yours. If you find a book that just isn’t cutting it for you during your pregnancy, don’t be afraid to put that one down and look for another one. We all know that “What to Expect” books are too cookie cutter for this day & age. We want evidence based facts, but we don’t want to be bombarded with science terms, boring statistics, or to feel like we are reading an encyclopedia! As us ‘Millennials’ continue to grow, become informed, and understand the impact that our pregnancy, labor, and birth experience, has on the family unit as a whole. We can become overwhelmed by the amount of information we have at our finger tips. It tends to muddy the waters when we are looking for the most accurate and evidence based information, to base our decisions on! So, we created a solution for our clients, a top list of the best pregnancy books to date! I considered taking a survey about what everyone’s favorite read was, but as a Doula who constantly has her nose in a book pertinent to her job, I felt knowledgeable enough to write this piece without assistance! However, feel free to add your favorite in the comment section below! This is a variety of books, some are more inspiring/spiritual, some are more basic/straightforward, some are everything you ever needed to know, and some are just good old fashioned uplifting birth stories! Here ya go... · The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin – This book is great for the couple that is planning a hospital birth (or not) and wants to know all there’s to know about ALL.THE.THINGS. Don’t let that frighten you though. It may be big, but it’s an easy to read book, and something that you can go back to reference while in labor! It also gives tips for the partner, information about Doulas and what a Doula might do. Written by the childbirth queen herself. · The Natural Pregnancy Book By Aviva Jill Romm M.D. & Certified Professional Midwife – This book is an excellent read if you’re starting earlier in your pregnancy, and even if you aren’t. If you’re looking for a more holistic approach to your pregnancy and birth, with nutritional information to ensure you and your baby’s optimal health, or to get rid of some common pregnancy complaints. It also includes; short chapters on exercise/movements, pelvic health, coping/relaxation techniques, emotional changes, celebration ideas, and common concerns in pregnancy. It is another easy to read, easy to reference, book. It isn’t too alternative, but right in the middle. She is brilliant! · Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth - This is that “good old fashioned” compilation of inspirational birth stories type of book. Written by the Nation’s leading Midwife, Ina May Gaskin. The stories are heartfelt, uplifting, reassuring, exciting, and sweet. If you’re feeling unsure or frightened about your upcoming labor day, this one is sure to leave you feeling empowered! · The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth – By Sheila Kitzinger It is one of those books with a little bit of everything. From common procedures through pregnancy and labor, physical and emotional well-being, what to expect in labor, coping with the pain, gentle birth, newborn information, and much much more. It is also very basic and unbiased. It contains wonderful and supportive information, though some of it may be a little more outdated (I have the revised Fourth Edition), and it contains real pictures and plenty of visuals. It is however less holistic than some of the others. · Birthing From Within- By Pam England or Rob Horowitz. Are you more of the artsy type? If so, this book is definitely for you. No? Well this book can still be for you! They even have a curriculum that some Doulas teach, which you can find more about here https://www.birthingfromwithin.com/ Art can be therapeutic for some, especially if you’ve had a traumatic previous birth experience. Even if you haven’t, it is a great way to release fears and have an inside look at what your brain is trying to tell you. It isn’t just about drawing though, it is about looking at birth from a different perspective. It doesn’t have all of the medical advice, what certain tests/procedures are, or what to expect, but nonetheless it is still great for those of you who are struggling with the fears surrounding pregnancy & birth. · Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method – By Marie Mongan Even if you aren’t planning a birth using the Hypnobirthing techniques outlined in this book and partnered with a class, I have still included the text because it is a book filled with great information for coping! It might not have the educational aspect of what you can expect from tests, procedures, and common complications BUT it almost like having a common-sense guide to how labor works and how to cope. Plus, it comes with a CD that is quite relaxing! So if you already trust in your body’s ability to give birth and you just need some education on how to have a successful unmedicated birth, than this one is right for you! Oliver's Home Birth:
8:46 am. I was getting breakfast ready for my toddler and I when contractions started. They were coming every (5 or 10) minutes and lasting approximately 30 seconds each. My husband had already left for work. It was the only Saturday he was required to work and we had joked before he left that today would probably be "the day". I was 2 days past my due date. 10am. I texted my husband to let him know I had been having contractions for over an hour now. He asked me if I wanted him to head back home from his work (45 minutes away) but I suggested we should wait and I would keep him updated. He reminded me to message our midwife and so I did. I made some labor-aid to keep myself hydrated. Around 11 am I got a phone call from our midwife and she was excited about the news She said she had never had a baby born on her birthday! I didn't even know it was her birthday! She suggested I eat as much as I can as long as I feel like eating and to take a nap when my toddler does. She said she would call me again to see if things were changing and we would go from there. I gave my son a bath and kept drinking labor-aid. 12:25 PM. I felt it would be wise to ask my husband to come home for lunch because I had no idea how fast things would change. Contractions started to be more consistent (around every 5 minutes each and slightly more intense). 1:11pm: My midwife called to see how I was doing. I told her things hadn't changed much and that my husband was on his way home now. She suggested I take a nap if I can and she told me she was going to hang out at the birth house and would check on me in a little while. She wanted to make sure she was in town in case things changed quickly. She also told me that since I had Pitocin with my first birth, I may underestimate how far along I was in labor. My husband got home around 1:45 PM. Toddler and I were in the middle of our lunch. I had a big plate of Thanksgiving leftovers! Hubby helped toddler take a nap while I got some chicken in the crockpot and headed upstairs to take a shower. 3:11 PM. Right after I got out of the shower, My midwife called while I was listening to my Hypnobabies Birthing Day Affirmations. She asked how things were going and I told her that I had just taken a shower and that the contractions were definitely increasing in intensity and lasting between 30-45 seconds. She sounded excited and ready to go She told me she would like to stop by for a visit and maybe check my cervix to see how far along I had progressed if I was ok with that. I hadn't had any cervical checks so far but I agreed that it would be useful to have an idea of how close I was to deliver this baby While toddler was napping, I laid down and tried to sleep without success while listening to my Hypno affirmations. An intense contraction made me get up and use my birthing ball instead. I started taking regular trips to the bathroom. I snacked on sweet potato chips and a honey stick and more labor aid! 4:25 PM. My midwife and one of her assistants got to our place and quietly made it upstairs as toddler was still napping. They found me on the birthing ball, took my vital signs and checked on Oliver's heart rate. We were both doing wonderful. My midwife asked me if I wanted my cervix checked (I hadn't had any checks this pregnancy) and I thought, 'Sure... Let's find out if I am anywhere close to having this baby', so I said yes. I had a contraction in the middle of the cervical check making it very uncomfortable even though my midwife was gentle. We found out I was almost 5 cm dilated, 60% effaced and -1 station. My midwife suggested I continue to drink and eat while I can, and maybe rest a little. She and her assistant would go to grab some dinner and then come back to check on me and I would call her if I needed anything in the meantime. I had been texting my doula to keep her updated on how things were going. She asked me if I wanted her there yet and I wasn't sure what to tell her because I didn't want to call her too soon. I felt like 7 PM was probably a good time to get her here. 5:17 PM. I called my mom to tell her about my midwife's visit and she was surprised that things were moving quickly. She said she was on her way. 5:49 PM. I called my midwife to tell her that I had some bleeding going on and contractions were lasting a minute each and every 5-7 minutes. She said she and her assistant would be on her way. I told her to finish her dinner because I was still doing good. I was changing into more "birth friendly" clothes when my mom arrived and found me half dressed, leaning on the wall mid contraction. She helped me finish getting dressed and then we headed downstairs to make another pitcher of labor-aid. Hubby and toddler got back home from the store followed shortly by my midwife and her assistant. We told Toddler it was our midwife's birthday and he offered to sing "Happy Birthday" to her, which he did in English and Spanish At this point it was probably around 6:30 PM. We all headed upstairs to my room to get my vital signs and baby's heart tones again. We talked about my wishes for this birth while working through contractions, which had become strong enough that they required my full attention. 7 PM. My doula joined the party and we talked some more about what was coming ahead. She showed my husband how to squeeze my hips, which felt heavenly during contractions! My awesome birth team headed downstairs to hang out with my family. I decided I would try to rest and snack a little while I could. My husband helped me use the restroom (again!) and then went downstairs to get toddler's late dinner ready. My mom kept me company and we laid in bed and chatted for a little bit. I had to get up to go to the bathroom, yet again, and the second I stood up, I had a strong contraction followed shortly by another one. I asked my mom to let our midwife know and they all headed back upstairs to check on me. It was probably around 8:30 PM and my midwife asked if I would like to be checked. I declined because I was very uncomfortable at this point. I agreed to try the tub and see if my contractions felt any better. My midwife warned me that they could go either way; slow down or speed up. I had a couple of contractions while I sat on the birth ball waiting for the tub to be filled and my husband held my hands through them. I needed his hands to be high on his chest as I felt the need to pull down on them. I got really frustrated if his hands were low. I got in the tub and it didn't feel right. I felt constrained and sitting was awkward and uncomfortable even though my doula helped me set up towels to make it easier. I had 3 intense contractions probably only a minute apart and I wanted out of the tub because I needed to use the toilet (or so I thought). My doula and my husband helped me out of the tub and sit on the toilet. I started shaking and wasn't sure if it was that I was in transition or the fact that I had just gotten out of a warm tub. I was half in denial haha... Then I turned to my doula and said, "I feel like pushing". My doula relayed my words to my midwife and I could hear everyone hustling in the bedroom asking me if I wanted to have baby in bed or on the floor. I said on the floor and so they hurried and set up everything for a delivery on my bedroom's carpeted floor. I had a couple of contractions on the toilet before being lifted and helped to walk back into my bedroom. They helped me out of the tie dyed dress I was wearing in the tub and into my favorite night shirt. I was offered the birth ball to lean on and I didn't feel comfortable as I felt I needed to pull on something. Some pillows were set up for me to lean on while being on my hands and knees. Suddenly the urge to push was strong and my body started pushing instinctively. My midwife hadn't noticed a head yet so she advised me not too push too early. I said, "I am not pushiiiiing", while pushing haha... But I wasn't doing it on purpose At that point my midwife saw the head and realized it was really my body and "not me" lol. After pushing a few more times with an intact bag of waters, my midwife asked if I would like her to break it since it was right there and it only needed to be pinched or I also had the option of baby being born in the caul. Since I could feel a lot of pressure, I thought it would probably be easier to get rid of it and help my baby join us faster. My midwife easily pinched and broke my bag of waters and then I pushed a few more times on hands and knees. Since not much progress was made, my midwife suggested we changed positions. She asked me if I'd like to try to lie on my side in bed. If there was something I was sure about was that I did not want to be in bed or laying down. In fact, on my last trimester I constantly pictured myself delivering in a squat position, so I told her that I would like to try to squat. As soon as the next contraction was over my midwife, my doula and my husband helped me into a squat. I felt instant relief as well as a new surge of energy! Pushed once, pushed twice and head started to come out (ring of fire!). At that point I remembered to relax and "breathe my baby out" to protect my perineum, so I did. One more involuntary push and body was out (10:37 PM). My midwife scooped him onto my belly and I fell in love with my slippery, warm baby He came out crying, announcing his entrance to the world A few minutes, another push and my placenta was out. We waited for the cord to stop pulsating and then it was clamped. My husband cut the cord. I got in bed and they brought Oliver to me for some skin to skin. He nursed both sides and we snuggled in bed for an hour. My husband got his shirt off for some skin to skin with Oliver and they snuggled for a few minutes before Oliver decided it was time to poop!... Meconium all over daddy! After everyone was clean, my midwife examined, weighed and measured Oliver: 7 lbs 2 oz and 21 inches long (post meconium haha). I dressed Oliver into some newborn jammies and we were left to be We were all on cloud 9! I still can't believe we did it! I did it! I got my healing birth and nobody can take that away! I can always go back to that memory and feel that happiness over and over again. Though I was physically sore (no tearing though, yay!), there was no emotional pain. My home birth healed my heart from the first experience I had with birth. I had been in hell and now I knew heaven So eternally grateful to experience it on Earth Oh, and I don't know if I looked like a goddess (reference to Ina May's quote), but I sure felt like a goddess because I was treated like one by my awesome birth team. Love them forever This is a very encouraging, upbeat, and fun story about a mother and father who had a home birth like experience, in the hospital, with the care of a midwife. She was educated and aware of her options, had a very optimistic mind set, and worked with her baby through labor. Read more here.
Some pregnancies are planned and some come by complete surprise. Like a small seedling sprouting, searching for the sun without the smallest glimmer of awareness from the soil around it. This is how my third son came into existence by chance against the odds and totally in charge. I would later learn that these amazing and frustrating traits would also carry through into his next stage of life as a breathing, creating child. At the time of conception my husband Ben and I were raising ourselves and two small children ages three and a half and one years old. The thought of adding to our family was enough to cause me to inhale into a paper bag with a full blown panic attack.
As the months went on of hugging porcelain and always having a garbage can nearby, the thought of a new baby grew warm in my mind. Thoughts of tender moments nursing and small socks kept me going through those long hard months of the first trimester. As the months changed so did I. I became a new woman who could take any day and make it my own. “Patience is a virtue” my mother always shouted as I blew full force into any given situation and the world, and I would respond in a whisper just loud enough for her to hear “A virtue that I don’t have.” Once you give your life, body, and soul over to motherhood patience is all that can save you from the whirlwind of chaos that is being MOM. Learning this has been my greatest challenge and blessing. Some things come when you plan them and some things come when you don’t, and that was my thinking when I woke up after a much needed nap at 42 1/2 weeks pregnant with my spirit child. I am strong. I am powerful. After two previous homebirths I was following a long line of strong powerful women that date back to the beginning of time. Trusting our bodies to know what to do and become one with a place where life and death meet. I was doing a spiral dance into the heart of creation and at the center was birth. Ben told me he could tell the time had come for our child to be born. I called him that afternoon wanting to check in and I told him I was feeling a little groggy. In true fashion he was home in 10 minutes. He told me that he could hear it in my voice, a mirror of births past, that I was in early labor. The labor of love that you can experience is ever changing and always transforming. Each labor experience is different, each unborn child has a say in the way it all turns out and so do you. The way a mother responds to each surge of her body’s contracting uterus has a direct reflection on the birth of the child. When the water of our child’s old life came forth and soaked me I knew the moment was here when you test your resolve to live. Giving birth is what I imagine a caterpillar must go through inside its cocoon. A complete metamorphism, the closest thing I can compare it to is a self-induced trance where the only battles are the ones in your head. My husband Ben is my midwifes ideal cast of a father to be, her praise still rings in my ears even after all these years. It amazes me that he always remained so calm, a pillar of strength for me to lean on when I needed it. Being who I am I never doubted my body or the fact that everything would turn out ok, but he was on the outside of all that, an observer to my pain and he was still able to be fully present in the moment. After a quick phone call made by him to inform our midwife of our momentum he discovered that our son had turned and was no longer head down, but had decided to present himself to the world bum first. Much of the memories are mine alone; cellular changes in my DNA; unremembered grandmothers chanting in my blood, a divine flow of energy transmuting pain into a birth of my son and myself. I can only really remember a small amount of what others spoke to me during this meditation of consciousness, but this said to me by my midwife will never be forgotten. After she had indeed confirmed Ben examination that our son was breech she came to talk to me. “Sarah your baby is breech”, “Ok,” I said “What does that change?” She whispered back at me with worry in her eyes thinking she was going to scare me “Well instead of dilating to a 10 I need you to dilate to a 12” my response was automatic “I can do that!” I had totally confidence in myself. A lifetime went by, days turned into years as I waited for my body to release its captive, to give life. I was later told only four hours had passed in the mortal world, but I knew the universe had sped up in those moments to help me bring his life to earth. My body waged a battle on itself, bending, spreading, opening like a dew laden flower ready to be picked. My mind was totally dedicated, with one goal, one focus, to open for this child to come through me and be born. I was ready for the shift to the next stage and my body followed in blind faith. I believe once a woman believes in herself a primal echo engulfs her body and provides all the courage needed to fulfill the path that crosses the chasm between life and death. As Sage Jacob came forth into the world at 9 lbs. and 11oz. and 23 inches long a deep stillness came over me. An exhale you feel all the way to the core of your being. He is pure undiluted light. My midwife told me once that there is a unique connection that comes with birthing a breech baby because your hearts are aligned and in sync, and I believe her. I am not saying I love him more or even that we get along better but we have a link, an understanding, a spark that binds us together as spirits. Remembering these next few moments are the hardest. After being handed my new son and snuggling him close, things changed fast. Gone was the peace inlaid state that had filled our bedroom, fear had crept in while I wasn’t looking. The blood of my body was leaving me. A kind of panic I never seen before became apparent on my families faces. I couldn’t understand why my midwife was frantic; I knew in the end all would be fine. I truly felt untouchable. I remember her trying to will my body to comply; offering up prayers to whatever God would listen. My head started to feel heavy and words started to sound like they came through a long pipe before they got to my ears. Finally in desperation my midwife, this woman I loved, just looked at me and told me to make it stop. She all but stomped her foot at me, “Make it stop!” The words 'I can do that', rang out in the front of my mind again and I did. Singing songs I learned at my mother’s side as she attended women gave me focus. I drew upon the endless supply of energy and I sealed my wounds. I bathed in pure love as all my fears and inhibitions were cleansed from my soul. I was alive. |