Sweet Peas, Pods & Papas

Time To Rally Around Our Midwives

05/21/2013 08:55:00

(Submitted as a Public Comment)

Open Letter to the Midwifery Scope or Practice Committee:

It feels like healthcare in the state of Arizona is going the way of the public school system. Professionals who are out of touch, some of them not working in the field anymore, or as is said quite often, "couldn't cut it in the classroom," are making rules and regulations for the folks who are in the trenches, getting their "hands dirty" every day. It is bad enough that teachers are overwhelmed with rules that have them teaching to tests instead of using their God-given talents to teach and inspire a younger generation.

Please do not let that model of decision-making work against the professionals who put their hearts and souls into ensuring that mothers and babies have a safe start in life. Go back to the drawing board; honor the tradition of midwifery that existed long before the field of obstetrics. Midwives have been bringing babies into the world since time immemorial. Just because they do not use surgery as their prime mode of delivery does not make them any less professional than their obstetrical counterparts in the hospital. Birth is intrinsically low-risk and a healthy time-period for the majority of women.

Mothers who are induced, given drugs that slow down labor, then given drugs to speed up labor, forced to be still due to all the wires and cords they are attached to, forced to attempt pushing in a semi-supine or supine position: THAT IS NOT BIRTH. That is a medical event that has been managed into a high-risk situation.

Midwives know healthy, low-risk birth. They know that a mother who had a previous cesarean for iatrogenic reasons deserves a second look. She is not broken, and necessarily incapable of a vaginal birth just because a doctor in the hospital decided she was out of time after her medically managed event.

The right to self-determination is the foundation of our country. Rules and regulations that start shackling those rights will be resisted, especially when you are talking about taking away the rights of mothers, parents-to-be and their children.

You might consider writing a trial period into the new rules and regulations. I know that VBAC is already basically approved - along with that, allow breech and twins. I have a firm belief that midwives who know how to assist these births will vette their clients. As long as both parties are in mutual agreement, then they will proceed into a care agreement together. I cannot believe that professionals would risk the lives of their clients by entering into a care contract that would jeopardize the life of the mother and/or the baby they serve. Midwives know that there is a segment of the population that is best served by the care of a surgeon - they will know who needs to be there and lovingly send them in that direction.

If the state sees that the professionals are taking too many risks and that mothers and babies are having more adverse outcomes, then the rules and regulations can be re-opened and modified. I suspect that the opposite will happen, however, we will not know unless the opportunity is provided for the midwives to demonstrate that they know what they can and cannot attend as professionals.

I also want to address, "one life is one too many", in terms of maternal or neonatal demise, or in lay terms, when mothers and babies die. I find that this statement highly suspect and the height of hypocrisy coming from doctors who are trained to perform abortions, and/ or who offer the option for mothers to terminate pregnancies for suspected or known deformities in their unborn children. In my opinion, you can't fight for life in one setting while being willing to extinguish it in another.

At what point does life begin? That is a debate for another day, however, since "one life is too many" is a term that is thrown around in the debate when consumers ask for the midwives to be able to attend their VBAC, breech and twin births, it is something to think about and possibly explore further. I am not advocating for a pro-life position; I am simply trying to point out the hypocrisy of the "one life is too many" argument.

The state of Arizona is at a crossroads. You can proceed with the draft rules as written and force healthy, reasonable women into unassisted births because they know that birth is a natural, non-medical event 98% of the time. The 2% who need extra care and attention, and possibly a hospital transfer will probably die because they choose self-determination over medically managed model of birth.

The other option is to sit down with the professional midwives. Consumers are choosing midwives because they prefer the time honored tradition of midwifery care, and watchful waiting during labor and birth. Sit around the table with them; listen to them - they know how to safely do their work. Consumers want midwives to be able to assist in a greater variety of birth situations because we do not want to be subjected to the traumatic and/or patronizing care they received in the traditional doctor/hospital setting.

Arizona has the potential to set the standard for a new era of honoring the tradition of midwifery. We can be the state where women and parents are free to choose care and midwives are free to offer care. Arizona can be a beacon of light to open the path for better maternal and neonatal outcomes when women of all race, class and creed can be treated as equal partners in their healthcare choices.

Signed: Krystyna Bowman, Chandler, AZ

Readers: For a summary of the proposed changes to the rules and regulations, check out THIS blog post.

Would you like to post your own public comment to the proposed changes in the Midwifery Scope of Practice? You can do so HERE.

Are you in the area? Please join us for a rally tomorrow at the NWC of 18th Ave and Adams Street from 12:00 - 2:00 pm. For more information or to contact the organizers, click HERE.

Disclaimer:
The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.

Rights For Homebirth - May 2013 Update

05/17/2013 05:56:00

The final Midwifery Scope of Practice Meeting was held on Wednesday, May 15, 2013. It is now time for the families of Arizona, and anyone else who believes that compassionate care is a human right’s issue for the mother and the baby to take a stand.

You can click on the links below to read a copy of the current draft rules and to see Wednesday’s proceedings:

Most Recent Draft: http://1.usa.gov/YZw4Xt
Most Recent Meeting: http://bit.ly/104ZtKT

Here is my statement on the Arizona Department of Health Services Website:

In addition to agreeing wholeheartedly with Allyson Fernstrom's statement below, I want to direct the committee to THIS brief article with references if they want to dig deeper:

As the article and study succinctly show, "FTP" and "CPD" in the 21st century are mostly iatrogenic. "Watchful waiting" IS the midwifery model of care in the hospital, in the birth center and in the home setting. Many midwives have less than a 15% cesarean rate (defined as an "acceptable" rate by the WHO) in their practices because they do not intervene until necessary. This does not mean emergency; read: most of these are non-emergent and appropriate.

At this point in our history, 99% of births are still occurring in the hospital setting (read more HERE), and a vast majority of those women are still under the OB model of care: the "do something to help this along" model. A 32.8% cesarean rate calls into question the common practices that are being forced on women. It should not surprise us that some of these women are demanding a different model of care with subsequent pregnancies.

It is unreasonable to essentially punish women who are seeking compassionate care after feeling abused in the traditional care system by doctors who subscribe to a different philosophy about birth. By including FTP and CPD in the final version of the rules and regulations, you are essentially providing a VBAC option on paper without providing a VBAC option that will be a choice for the majority of the consumers who are now faced with choosing unassisted births instead of facing the trauma they faced in a previous birth.

Before a final draft is approved, I implore Dir. Humble to attend a home birth. See what it is we are talking about. Really understand why we are so passionate about this cause, and why we believe that birth is a fundamental human right and a woman's rights issue. We are not asking for the sun, the moon and the stars. We simply want you to understand the power of birth, and why we want our care providers to have all the tools they need at their disposal if we choose a home birth setting.

Midwives have the ability, the training, and the knowledge to bring babies safely into the world without compromising the health of the mother. They believe that mothers care about the life they carry within them, and will do their research when it comes time to choose or decline procedures. Midwives also know how to recognize non-reassuring patterns and when it is time to safely transfer to a different birth setting in the rare cases that complications do arise.

I advocate for midwives to be free to choose the clients that they feel they have the training to care for, be that VBAC, breech, or mothers of multiples. As an informed consumer, I ask for the state to certify that the women who offer this care are educated in the care and management of those labors. Along with this, I trust that midwives will have the opportunity to continue their education so that they can assist at VBAC, breech and multiples births once they have completed training in those areas. I am glad to see that there is a review process to keep midwives accountable for their decisions, none of which will be made lightly because at midwives care deeply about the women and the children that they serve.

Dir. Humble, you have the opportunity to lead here and set a new standard for the great state of Arizona. Please take it.

Respectfully,
Krystyna Robles-Bowman
Mother of 4
Chandler, AZ

Statement from Allyson Fernstrom:
"I am extremely grateful to see that VBAC is still included in the drafts. I believe this is a huge step in the right direction. It shows that the department is listening to the concerns of the consumers. I appreciate that more options are being opened up to the growing number of women who desire to achieve a VBAC. However, I have GREAT concern with some of the conditions suggested. It currently reads that a midwife can not attend a VBAC if their was a diagnosis of "failure to dilate" or cephalopelvic insufficiency". I heard in the last meeting that it is supposed to read "failure to progress". That does not make the problem better. Failure to progress, failure to dilate and cephalopelvic insufficiency/disproportion are ALL unacceptable. There is NO literature to support this rule. Listen to the members of the committee, including those from the medical community, who have mentioned may times that FTP is over diagnosed. FTP only tells you that a mother did not progress. It did not tell you WHY she did not progress. What if there was failed induction? What if it is an emotional issue that stalled labor? What if the baby was in a poor positioning? Maybe the care provider followed the Friedman's Curve, which does NOT allow the typical mother enough time to labor to full dilation? There are too many variables in play. A woman should not be excluded from attempting a VBAC because she had a failed induction, an emotional block, a baby in a poor position, an impatient care provider, etc. Because the diagnosis of FTP does NOT explain WHY the woman had a cesarean section, it should NOT be used to determine whether or not she is capable of vaginal delivery. CPD is also highly disputed in the literature. It is difficult to ever give a TRUE diagnosis of CPD. The testing is unreliable. FTP and CPD are subjective, over diagnosed and would be completely inappropriate in the rules. Director Humble mentioned that if he allows VBAC, he does not want to make it so restrictive that no one can do it. Leaving in FTP and CPD would essentially make it impossible for most VBAC clients to qualify for a homebirth VBAC. Consumers and members of the committee have been asking from the beginning that this be removed from the rules. Listen to these important stakeholders!"

Do you want to get involved? Please do!!

There is a peaceful Rights For Birth rally being planned for today and Monday in the Phoenix area – click HERE for all the details.

Do you want to submit your own comment?

Click HERE for to make a direct public comment.

Let me be clear that I do not believe that OB's are bad people. I simply disagree with the birth paradigm under which many of them practice. I am forever grateful for their skill set as surgeons when it is an appropriate and needed use of their considerable skill in the operating theater.

Do you believe birth is a human right and/or a woman's rights issue? Why or why not?
Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted.

*I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now.

Disclaimer:

The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.

Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.

Natural Oxytocin Boosters

05/14/2013 10:03:00

I read THIS article this morning about how oxytocin helps to reduce stress and promote peace. No surprise that this is the same hormone that is released when we make love, arguably a great stress reliever and a promoter of peace for couples. A lovely consequence: welcome, baby, some 36+ weeks later!

In addition to being the “love” hormome, oxytocin is also produced in great quantity when a woman is in labor. The hard contractions can only happen if the woman’s body is producing ample oxytocin. I find it so ironic that the physical pain and the emotion of love are happening at the same time! That must be the combination that makes natural birth possible, and why people sign up for the experience more than once. I can honestly say that I am really going to miss being in labor. Call me crazy! Anyway.

I wanted to call out their suggestions for non-medical ways to boost oxytocin production and talk about how they may be options to consider while you are in labor since the article was not birth specific.

Breastfeeding: If you have an older sibling who is nursing, you can nurse them during labor. Nursing stimulates the production of oxytocin, so I encourage you to be mindful of any contractions it stimulates. You do not want to trigger an early labor, so pay attention if you feel a pattern developing and it’s not time for baby to make an appearance just yet.

Touch: one of the cornerstones of The Bradley Method® is relaxation. Among the 11 specific relaxation techniques that we teach during the course, one of them is massage and stroking. Even if a mother does not want to be spoken to, a Coach can use those techniques. If she doesn’t want that either, the simple act of holding her hand is listed as a way to boost oxytocin.

Daydream: Another relaxation technique we teach is related to daydreaming. We ask coaches to recount a past experience or a future dream that makes mother feel like she is in her “happy place”. It might be a trip, an experience, dreams you have about your life as a family together...anything that is calming, encouraging and would elicit a smile.

Pet you furry friend: One of the many benefits of laboring at home. Do you have a four-legged friend that wants to cuddle? Go for it! Love on them, speak in gentle tones…it will be calming for both of you.

Pleasant smells: This one has the added benefit of paying dividends at your birthplace. One of the suggestions we make in Bradley™ class is to eat your favorite meal when you think you might be in labor. The other one is baking some yummy treats to share with your care providers. Hopefully both of those things will generate smells that you welcome in labor. Either way: you are producing oxytocin, mama is well fed if it’s the beginning to have energy for the duration of labor, and your care providers get treats. We found that feeding them kept them happy and that always made for positive birth experiences for us.

Music: Mamas or Coaches can take the time to generate a play list to use in their birth space. I have seen a couple use a music service to choose the music in labor – it saved them from the planning/organizing time at the outset while still providing the music that was soothing to mama. Find something that works for you and remember to put it on your packing list so the music makes it to your birth space.

As I leave you with these ideas, I want to remind mamas that even if you are doing all of these things, labor cannot progress by oxytocin levels alone. One of the key components of birth is surrender. Do the things that boost your oxytocin and then let go, give in, and open up to the whole experience of labor. The best gift is at the end when you meet your baby – it is SO worth it!

Best wishes for your upcoming birth – we hope some of these natural oxytocin boosters will help you stay on course with your wish list!

Which one of these do you like and/or have you used?

Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now.

Disclaimer:

The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.

blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.

10 Wishes For Your Birth and Beyond

05/10/2013 08:29:00

It’s hard to believe…and I know, I say this every three months – Time Flies! We are almost finished with another class series. As we get ready to send another set of Papas and Pods off into the world to prepare for the arrival of their Sweet Peas, I wanted to write our “Wish List” for their Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome.

What we hope you will remember:

1. You are a team.

As a couple, you lovingly conceived your child. You have attended a trimester of Bradley Method® classes together to learn about the normal, low-risk process of pregnancy, labor and birth. Trust in the information you learned together; use the communication skills you learned and practiced in class. Fill your toolbox full of comfort measures and relaxation techniques with daily practice. All that information will be available when you need it.

2. You hired a care provider you trust.

We talked about the “red flags” when you are talking to your care provider about your choice to pursue an intervention-free, unmedicated natural labor and birth. Did you listen to your gut? If you saw any of those red flags when you were communicating with your care team, did you do something about it? It’s not that your care providers are bad people if they don’t support your choice. On the contrary, it is likely they have a reason why they don’t support natural childbirth. On the other hand, you have done everything you can to stay healthy and low-risk so that you *can* have as many intervention-free options as possible available to you while you labor. It is your responsibility to find a care provider that has the same philosophy about labor and birth that you do.

3. You have options.

As long as mom and baby are doing well in labor, and as long as your care provider supports you, then mamas are free to eat, drink, move, sleep, and use a shower or tub as needed. Both of you have an inner voice, an instinct that will tell you what your body/ your partner needs and what needs to happen to stay the course you planned and prepared for.

4. You need to sleep!

Mamas: If you want to allow your labor to stay healthy and low risk, you need to rest. Along with that, you need to eat when you are hungry, and drink *before* you are thirsty. Dr. Bradley called the woman in labor an, “obstetrical athlete”. In order to perform with peak strength and stamina, a mother has the best opportunity for the outcome she wants if she has rested, is full of bioavailable fuel, and is hydrated to the point of efficiency for all the hormones that are at work during the process of labor. She has set herself up for an intervention-free outcome. If the mother gets too tired and too weak, then she and her partner will be making different choices.

Coaches: You need to sleep because you will not have the surge of endorphins that mama gets for her “second wind”. You will be laboring just as long as mama is – so take care of yourself so you can support her. Remember to take a few phone numbers of assistant coaches that you can call in for back up, if and when you need reinforcements to run errands or energize your labor.

5. You can do this!

Mamas: This is where I get touchy-feely. I always imagined that all the energy in the universe was available to me in labor. Birth is timeless – the human race is still here. Women were doing this well enough to be the dominant species on the planet long before hospitals existed. Dig in, be brave, touch your primal self. If my “story” doesn’t work for you, then please find something that will be your touchstone. Find an idea that will motivate you, energize you and lend you courage when you are at your most vulnerable.

Coaches: You can do this! You are going to see your partner at her most vulnerable. You need to plan ahead: how are you going to support her when you cannot do anything to “fix it”. What you can do: remind her of how strong she is, tell her how much you love her, and find words to encourage her. Tell her, more than once if necessary, that you believe that she can complete this amazing journey of birthing the child she grew so you both can meet your baby.

6. You are doing this for your baby.

Mamas: You can do anything for 60 seconds – really, you can! You have exercised and eaten well to prepare your body and your baby for the work of labor. I promise that all the effort will be worth it, and that the euphoria of having an empowered birth is like nothing else in the world. You are about to experience raw female energy – allow yourself to surrender to it and stand in awe of what your body is capable of doing through the process of labor and birth.

Coaches: Your words, your touch, and your love are “the something” she needs. Always have three options available in the back of your mind when you offer a comfort measure – one of them will resonate with your partner. Know which relaxation exercises your partner likes, and have few more in your toolbox to use if/when those stop working. Remember the core of her that attracted you to your partner in the first place? Remind her of that when she needs encouragement. You are about to see raw female energy – embrace it and help her find the courage to surrender to the energy of labor that needs no intervention or help from the conscious mind.

7. You are the consumer with three magic questions.

Whether you are at home, a birth center, or the hospital, you will come to decision points in your labor. There are two separate pages in the workbook where we outline questions for informed consent and provide a study help for families to evaluate which path they would want to take if and when they face those decision points in their labor. If you forget your workbook and/or memorizing the list of questions is not “in the cards”, we wish you will remember these three “magic questions”:

Is Mom okay? (“YES”)

Is Baby okay? (“YES”)

Since they are both okay, may we just have some more time? (Usually, “NEGOTIATE”)

If there is no medical reason for an intervention, patience is often the choice that our students make in the interest of avoiding a cascade of interventions: agreeing to one intervention may lead to another, to another, etc.

All the couples that complete our Bradley™ series attend with the intention of having an intervention-free birth. Very rarely, you get a “NO” answer to one of the, “Are they okay,” questions. In your case, it may become apparent that you need to go down a different path for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. Please take it – there are no medals for having a natural birth at all costs. You will not regret the choices that are made out of love for the mother and child in order to ensure that they are both well after labor and birth. You may need time to process your birth story, however, having a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby is the outcome we wish for all of our families.

8. You have a support system.

A normal, low-risk labor and birth is followed by a period of euphoria before reality sets in. If you have some interventions and/or a cesarean, there may be a mix of euphoria and grieving for the birth you did not have.

Then, reality sets in: you have a new life that is completely dependent on you. I have written in more detail about the postpartum period

HERE. Please seek out resources and a community to help you through the first six months to a year – you are not alone! Your Bradley™ classmates are one source of community. Beyond that, there are support groups for breastfeeding, postpartum depression, cesarean recovery, and more.

9. You need to sleep!

Sleep is essential for Mama so that she can heal, make milk, and have the emotional reserves to make the transition to being a mother of one, two, three+ children. Coaches, you need to sleep so that can put your happy face on and be helpful when she wakes up for the night feedings, the extra stops at the store on the way home from work, and anything else that mama may ask of you as you both transition to life as parents.

10. Your baby is counting on you.

Your child will not have words to express themselves for several months. You are your child’s best advocate. Consumerism continues beyond your pregnancy and birth. Newborn procedures, infant standards of care, parenting choices: these are all part of your “new normal”. Which choices work for your family? There is no book that is a manual for raising your child. Your child is your best teacher. Look to the books for ideas; use the ones that work for your family and toss out the rest of them. You two are the best resource – your baby carries your genetic code – trust the process and the genes. You will know how to best parent your child when you honor and respect them as human beings first. We invite you to parent from a place of love now and forever.

What tips would you share with a couple preparing for labor and birth?

Disclaimer:

The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.

It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.

Postpartum: Unplugged

05/09/2013 06:28:00

We see the beautiful newborn pictures taken by professional photographers of sweet sleeping babies. We ooh and ahh and maybe wish we had found someone to capture these days with our children.

Here is what you do not see: the tired mama, and probably papa, standing behind the photographer. They are not getting sleep between adjusting to life with baby, learning how to breastfeed, and trying to figure out just how often they are supposed to feed the baby. How do you sleep when the baby sleeps? The housework is piling up. People want to come by and see the bundle of joy that has finally arrived. Mom and Coach are happy baby is here, but, "joyful"? Maybe not for the new parents. Yet.

The best news about the postpartum period is that, “It Is Temporary”. HERE are some immediate comfort measures you can stock up on for a postpartum care kit. Please read the note that I have written for you if you are the mama or the coach.

A note to the Mamas:
The postpartum period is very leaky. There are tears of joy at the miracle of life that you are cradling in your arms, and then you may cry at the enormity of it all. You are leaking from your breasts and your yoni. Consider placenta encapsulation to help with that.

Please hang up your cape and allow other people to help you. Be specific with your partner – (s)he is not a mind reader. Tell them exactly how they can help you and what you need from them.

Feeling lonely and overwhelmed when all the help goes home, or even before then? Call, text or email your Bradley™ teacher. Call a La Leche League leader or an IBCLC when you have questions about breastfeeding. If you had a cesarean, please get to an ICAN meeting. Reach out to your classmates.

Are you feeling blue? Possibly depressed? Reach out to your partner, your Bradley™ teacher, or find a support group – you are not a bad mother. Life is a journey and PPD is a bumpy road that can be a lot less bumpy if you ask for help and share the burden.

Breastfeeding – the emotional rollercoaster – sleep deprivation. This is all new! It is inhumane to expect a smooth transition to motherhood. You do not have to be alone in *any* part of your journey as a mother. The best words of advice I have ever heard: this is just “for now”. This phase shall pass, and you will be an expert about your baby before you know it.

Your breasts will not be engorged forever. Your body and your baby figure out supply and demand. The bleeding slows down to a trickle and then stops. Your vagina stops hurting and starts to feel normal again. You learn to nurse, and then you figure out how to nurse discreetly in public. Your baby finds a sleep pattern. The pattern may change – usually for the better. Baby will start sleeping in longer stretches. Yeah! Your baby will get more independent and you will be back to being the partner you want to be for your Coach.

A note to the Coaches:
Your partner just did an amazing thing: she just had a vaginal birth, or she had a major abdominal surgery. Both birth outcomes require time to heal from physically, and sometime mentally and emotionally if you made choices that deviated from your birth plan.

Once you are home, get the details. Drill down and find out exactly what she expects from you “for now”. Help with housework? Shopping? Meals? In addition, you are in charge of making sure that she has plenty of water and sleep. Good milk production is tied to hydration and sleep.

In addition to staying hydrated and getting sleep, making milk requires input to create output for your little miracle: she will probably be ravenous. Have easy, comforting and nourishing finger snacks available. She is trying to learn how to breastfeed and using two hands to eat is not always an option. Hold the baby so she can have a hot meal every once in a while.

Find your “sensitive” button – she may be overwhelmed with the responsibility of feeding your baby, and the realization that you, and any additional help that has come into town, is going to leave and she will be alone with the baby. Check in with her: is she okay? Is she getting enough sleep? Do you need to go with her or make phone calls to connect her with the support people she may need? This is your opportunity to rise to the occasion and be the amazing partner that she knows you are.

Your wife still loves you. Do not take the fact that an infant is now the center of mama’s attention personally. Figure out your new role in the family. Are you going to be the amazing partner that makes her life easier? Are you going to be the one that she says she couldn’t have done it all without your love and support? All coaches wonder, what about intimacy? Believe me, you will find time and ways. We are four kids into the journey. It has not been a problem.

Parents:

Best wishes to you as you join us on the journey of parenthood!

It is an amazing experience, and we are here for you.

What do you wish someone had told you about the postpartum period?
Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now.

Disclaimer:
The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.

Bébé Concierge: J'aime la vie by Victoria Antoinette

05/03/2013 02:02:00

Here is a neat business I would like to introduce you to – baby concierge is an emerging industry that is of particular interest to our students and readers. Stephanie Antoinette is the Founder & M.O.M. (Master of Multitasking) at J’aime la vie by Victoria Antoinette Mommy & Bébé Concierge. She is like a wedding planner, except for all things mom and bébé!

BIO: I am the mother of two beautiful girls and have a baby on the way! My husband Andrew is an incredible father, he is my best friend and number one fan! As a mother I know that preparing for the birth of a child is one of the most important and overwhelming events in life! I worked 60+ hours a week in the corporate world with my first two children, and barely had time to eat, sleep and kiss my kids at night. Let me help you get your time back... enjoy the birthday party for your child instead of worrying how you will pull it all off.

SPB: How did you find your way into the baby concierge service?

JLV: There were a couple of different things that brought this business concept to fruition. One being that Arizona is a very transient state; I actually came from Minnesota myself about 6 years ago. So when I was pregnant with my last baby (3 years ago) I really had no idea where to go for furniture, nannies, photographers, doulas, etc. There was a lot of wasted money and time on my end going through the trial an error of this. The second part was that I was working mom who really just didn't have the time to research all of this, do all the interviews, and plan things like baby showers, birthday parties, etc. I really felt that there should be a local "baby planner" just as their are wedding planners! This is a major and ongoing event in our lives! So I left that corporate position and created a premiere one-stop shop for all mommy and baby needs!

SPB: How does the service work, and what kinds of services do you provide?

JLV: I provide package and A La Carte options so that I can fit various budgets and needs! I help moms with finding the right nannies, doulas, photographers, and more. I also do custom baby registry and birth plans, along with nursery stocking and organization! Then I do the custom party planning, which is anything from baby showers, gender reveals, religious ceremonies, birthday parties (any age), graduation parties and so much more!

SPB: Can you tell me a little about your favorite packages and their special features?

JLV: All of my packages are great and you can customize it to fit any needs. One of the most popular is Vous attendez un bébé!- $150

(So you are having a baby!) This is where we will create a tummy timeline, create a custom baby registry and create your birth plan. So many new and veteran moms are not sure what to expect, what to do when, how this baby will change their lives. I help take the worry out of this process so it doesn't become a source of stress for the family.

SPB: How will a mom know which package is right for their family?

JLV: I offer a free over the phone consult where we generally decide where to start, and we can always add on as we go!

SPB: How did you find the vendors that you work with?

JLV: Years of trial and error at my own expense and time! I also belong to some great organizations where I am surrounded with the Phoenix Valley's top vendors! I have done the research for you!

SPB: What are the benefits of using a baby concierge?

JLV: If you are a new mom, I really guide you on anything from the right products, how to maximize your budget, and the get the right resources you need! For veteran moms like myself this is also a benefit: I work with you on how to transition the new baby with your family, I can get you the right childcare you need, and with each child products are constantly changing... you want to know what is best now!

For all moms my event planning services are a HUGE plus! Planning parties is my true passion; those who are close to me know I am a list maker! Organization, party flow, good food and fresh flowers are key to any successful event! My personal tastes for decor flow anywhere from modern, to shabby chic, to over-the-top! Planning events is so much more fun then decorating your home because you can adjust it to your mood, theme and guests! I think outside the box, and work with any budget to create unique events!

As mothers we often spend our time putting together these events for important milestones in our children's lives, yet we barely have the time to stop and enjoy it with them! I make this possible…that it in itself is priceless.

SPB: When would someone want to hire you as a baby concierge?

JLV: As soon as they begin to feel like they need help! I have 13 years experience as a mother myself, I know what it is like to be pregnant, worried, uncomfortable and stressed! I have been through 2 births and about to experience my third, birth can be the most incredible and terrifying experience all at once! I know what it is like to have minimal sleep and still need to work a full time job! I know how personal it is to find the right people to help you take care of your children, and how much it means to execute the perfect party for your kids! I also have the corporate experience to execute all of this properly. I am the best of both worlds for moms!

SPB: Are there any other thoughts you want to share with our readers?

JLV: Let me take the worry out of preparing for baby. For a quote on custom event planning or any of my services, please contact me!

Here are the different ways to connect with Stephanie Antoinette:

Phone- 480-717-2795

Website- www.JLVbebeconcierge.com

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/byVictoriaAntoinette

Blog- http://jlvbabyconcierge.wordpress.com/

Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted.

*I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now.

Disclaimer:

The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.

Meet the Doula: Zabrina

05/01/2013 03:56:00

This month I would like to introduce you to one of my Bradley Method® colleagues, Zabrina Pell. She is a wonderful instructor, and as you will read, a doula and a lactation educator. I hope you will enjoy getting to know her through her interview.

About Zabrina: My husband and I are blessed to have had five beautiful children. My first child was born in 2001 having had no childbirth classes or training at all. Although it was an uncomplicated natural birth for the most part, it felt very chaotic.

We were sure there was another way. When we became pregnant with our second child I was referred to The Bradley Method® by a dear friend. We were amazed at how much information there is to learn about labor and birth. We were amazed at how prepared we felt for our second birth and how it was much more peaceful.

Through hearing birth stories, it became apparent that while husbands are very capable and the perfect person to coach their wives through childbirth, many of them could benefit from an assistant. Further, I had gained such a love and respect for the process of birth that I felt a strong desire to be more involved. Thus began my practice of being a doula. I am so passionate about childbirth and feel so strongly about creating the perfect and peaceful atmosphere for each mother that I will continue reading, researching, and learning how to become better at what I do.

When was the first time you heard the word, “doula”?
The first time I heard the word "doula" was in my Bradley Method® Childbirth Training. I didn't pay any attention to it and wasn't convinced of the the importance. After all... Bradley Method® teaches DADS to be the coach. Why do we need another? I have since learned that I was wrong! Don't get me wrong, dads are WONDERFUL coaches. But there are times when the coach needs an assistant!

How did you decide that becoming a doula was part of your journey?
One of the great joys of teaching childbirth is classes is hearing the birth stories afterward. I LOVE birth stories. I started noticing frequently the need for help. With today's hospital environment especially, there is a need for someone there who not only looks out for the emotional, physical and informational well being of the mom but someone there who's "got dad's back." Having someone there who can continually support both partners is SO beneficial. I had always been available via phone for my couples. But that wasn't quite enough for some.

Are you a birth and/or a postpartum doula?
At this time I am solely a BIRTH doula.

How long have you been a doula?
I have been working officially as a doula for four years now. I have been a certified Bradley doula for 7 years. I did go through all the DONA training, but never submitted the paperwork. So I am not certified as a DONA doula, but do have the training.

What do you enjoy the most about being a doula?
I love empowering couples. I love helping them birth their baby in the way that THEY want. Helping mom's to discover her inner strength and ability is the best!

What is your philosophy when you go to a birth space?
My philosophy... hmm. I have never put it into words. When I arrive at a birth space I quietly observe and evaluate what is going on and how I can best help. I do not blast through the door like a bull charging, but rather quietly and respectfully enter hoping to have the least impact on the moment.

How do you work with and involve the Coach?
Before the birth we clearly define their expectations of me, and I work to live up to this. I make sure to see to the needs of the mother's birth partner, making sure he stays hydrated and fed through out the birth as well as mom. In most cases its important for him to be the main source of physical comfort for mom. When suggesting positions, counter pressure, and comfort measures I will talk to him and explain the benefits to him first and then we (or he) will suggest it for mom. I will assist him in finding new comfort measures/positions as needed. There is LOTS of communication between the birth partner and myself, both verbal and nonverbal. I clue him in when there are things going on with birthing staff that he needs to be aware of with simple gestures and glances.

What is the toughest situation you have ever dealt with? How did you handle it?
Its important that the birthing room be a peaceful environment, and sometimes that means NOT saying anything when the room is filled with high pressure doctors and nurses. It’s very hard to say nothing. This is when it’s especially important to have developed the nonverbal communication cues with dad. I have becoming very skilled at maintaining a peaceful relationship with staff even if I completely disagree with everything they have set out to have mama do. This may be consistently the hardest thing for me.

Most recently I was with a mother who labored beautifully. She had a fantastic completely intervention free birth peaceful birth. After the birth she was bleeding very heavily. The bleeding continued for quite some time. Mom was not open to accepting intervention. The staff was getting very nervous as bleeding was extreme. I am by nature a very anti-intervention person as well, and I understood how she was feeling. Things were getting tense as mom stood her ground and staff was getting afraid and frustrated. As I observed the scene the nurses had mom in the bathroom and baby was with dad. Blood was pouring and doctor and left the room feeling helpless and angry that mom wasn't bending. This was a time when I believe that the intervention was needed to prevent further complications and long-term problems. But protecting the mom and her beliefs, needs, and desires is an important part of my job.

How did I handle this? I quietly knelt down beside her in the bathroom and simply asked her how she was feeling and what she was thinking. Had anyone done that yet? Nope. She was feeling bullied and unclear of what was going on. We were able to have a conversation about what the situation was and the risk and benefits to doing nothing and all the possible interventions and their risks and benefits. THANKFULLY the nurse gave us this time to have the quiet calm conversation. She did accept a shot of Pitocin and felt the decision was HERS. For this mom accepting an intervention would have been very traumatic if she felt pushed or bullied, even if it truly was needed.

I know you may be thinking "breastfeeding could have solved this." In most cases this is true! She did have baby at the breast for a long time. There was a lot more blood than normal. This truly was an unusual case.

What keeps you working as a doula?
That is an excellent question. Sometimes at the end of long, emotionally draining birth when I haven't seen my kids (often for days), I ask myself that very same question as I drag my tired behind home feeling battered and bruised with arms so sore from doing counter pressure or from hours of continual massage that I can hardly lift them. Then I check in with the family with their new bundle of joy. I hear how empowered they feel, how safe they felt, how happy they are and how my presence positively impacted them during this irreplaceable time in their life. That is what keeps me going.

What does your fee cover – how many visits or hours? Is there a different charge for a shorter labor or longer labor?
I charge a flat rate fee that covers your birth whether it lasts 3 hours or 30 hours. I do offer a $100 discount to Bradley trained couples. With this fee you get two prenatal appointments (more if you feel its needed), continual support through email, phone calls and texts. I go on call two week prior to the birth and stay on-call 24 hours a day until you have your baby. I come to you when you are ready, whether at home or at your birth location. That choice is yours. I stay with you until you have successfully breastfed your baby for the first time. After the birth I check in with you a few days after the birth and come and help anytime you need it during that first week.

Do you offer any other services to your clients?
I am a certified lactation educator and can assist with breastfeeding issues.

Just for fun, what do you do when you are not doula-ing?
I am a busy work-at-home mom of 5 kids. Well, kind of work at home. I teach Bradley childbirth classes, and am a student midwife as well. I also vacuum a gymnastic studio several hours a week to help pay for my children's tuition. My children are homeschooled and range from preschool to 7th grade. They are active in many clubs and activities and keep me hopping!

How to contact Zabrina:
(602) 743-9890
zabpell@gmail.com
http://familybirthdoula.vpweb.com

Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.

Labor Is More Than Dilation

04/30/2013 14:50:00

As we close out Cesarean Awareness Month, I want to share this link to a post that I wrote about "Failing To Progress". So often, these are the words of doom to a couple that is working towards a natural labor.

There are other things that are going on when a woman is in labor. The more birth stories I hear, the more convinced I am that labor is about surrender. That concept is not measurable, nor is it graphed anywhere.

Please take a minute to revisit the post about "Failing To Progress or Naturally Aligning" before you go into labor. You may be glad you have another point of reference for the dreaded FTP!!

I hope to bring you a CBAC story later today, maybe tomorrow. I look forward to sharing these words from a mama as she goes through her healing process.

Blueprint for a Vaginal Birth

04/26/2013 16:35:00

While there are no guarantees that the kind or amount of preparation you do will lead to a vaginal birth, there are things you can do to increase your opportunity to have the vaginal birth you want for your baby.

If I could write a blueprint for having a vaginal birth, I would follow the Five-Point Plan outlined in our Bradley Method® classes. Here are five things you can do throughout your pregnancy to decrease your chance of a cesarean when you go into labor:

1. Exercise
Have you ever heard of a person signing up for a race on the day of the event with no prior running experience? Have you ever heard of an athlete being signed to a team without any previous training in that sport? No. You would not participate in an athletic event without at least three months of prior training. Labor is like an athletic event. You will have the best outcome possible if you are free to move, walk, and engage your body in different physical positions. A body that is ready for that event will perform much better than a body that starts labor with no preparation at all.

The Bradley Method® asks students to consider THESE exercises to tone the back, belly and bottom, the most active muscle groups in labor. We also ask all our students to find some kind of stamina-building exercise that they can do on a regular basis. Each mama is encouraged to at the very least walk 20 minutes per day. There are also other exercises that are safe for a pregnant mother that do not cause excessive strain on the mama by bouncing up and down on the Kegel muscle: swimming, jogging in a lap pool, water aerobics, and prenatal yoga are all forms of exercise that former students have found beneficial to build their stamina for labor.

2. Good Nutrition
Coach Bruss tries to impress on the coaches that they have a vested interest in ensuring that their partners are eating a healthy, whole food diet. The benefits for the long-term health of the growing baby will last their lifetime. The mother will benefit in pregnancy and labor if she is well hydrated and well nourished. You can read more about the details of what we teach in Bradley™ classes HERE.

In the event that the MotherBaby do have a cesarean birth, the well-nourished pair has a better chance at recovery and establishing breastfeeding. Barring additional complications from surgery, Mother can withstand the trauma of labor and her milk should come in without too much delay if she has been well nourished. Her good nutrition made strong, healthy, stretchy tissues, so she may also have a better recovery healing from the physical rigors of a cesarean. Baby has been afforded every opportunity to have all the right nutrients for growth while in-utero, and they are likely to be born at their best health possible.

Anecdotally, I can share that most of the babies born via cesarean to our students have had lusty appetites when they are reunited with their mothers!

3. Education
You and your partner are going to live with your baby for the rest of your lives. The decisions you make and the information you learn during your pregnancy will help you make the best decisions possible when it comes time to make choices for your birth.

When time allows, take a comprehensive childbirth education course.
We love the Bradley Method®, which is why we took it twice and then became certified instructors. We both wanted to work together to bring our children into the world so it made sense for Bruss to train as my coach. We felt the topics covered in the twelve weeks would help us to be as knowledgeable as possible about the process of labor and how to handle the work of labor. We liked the focus on communication, exercise, nutrition and relaxation every week.

If “one size fit all”, there would not need to be any other types of childbirth preparation course. The reality is that what works for me, may not work for you, and what works for you, may not work for your best friend, etc. There are several other methods to prepare women and/or couples for birth. Along with a link to The Bradley Method® main page so you can find an instructor in your area, I have listed some of my colleagues in the Phoenix area who teach other methods at the end of the post,.

I also recognize that sometimes classes are not possible due to timing or resources. Read THIS about the natural alignment plateau. I also put a suggested reading list at the bottom of this post – you can read as much or as little as you want. I did list my top three choices if your time is limited and you really want to do your best to be ready for your birth.

I will close this section with a parting thought: you would not save up your money for the vacation of a lifetime and then hand over that savings to a travel agent and say, “Book it” without any further investment in the process. Your child is priceless. Take the time to read, form a community and really be confident in the choices you want to make for your birth, and the options you are willing to consider if your birth takes a different course than you prepared for.

4. Take Responsibility
Piggyback on the last idea: you are the ultimate arbiter of your pregnancy and labor. You can inform yourself and make the best decisions, or you can be completely casual and careless, or something in between.

There are resources like the Environmental Working Group that provide lists of safe products and foods for families. We spend a whole class talking about harmful substances, environmental hazards, and alternatives to them in our Bradley™ series class on Pregnancy.

You can also take responsibility for your pregnancy by taking care of yourself physically and emotionally. Avoid stress and overwork. Instead of popping a pill, what do you think about going to see a chiropractor, getting a massage, or going to prenatal yoga classes to ease the discomforts of pregnancy?

Some of the most important choices for you to make intentionally revolve around your birth plan. Do you have a provider that supports your birth choices? What is their primary cesarean rate? Are you at a birthing facility that supports your choices? What is the facility’s primary cesarean rate? This information is public record – you can find it. If not, you can contact an advocacy group like Childbirth Connection or Improving Birth to help you uncover that information and find the most vaginal-birth friendly providers and birthing places in your region.

Especially if you choose a hospital birth, you can also explore your feelings about hiring a doula. Learn what a doula’s role is in birth, how to hire one that best suits what you anticipate your needs as a couple will be, and then plan it into your budget. Some doulas work on sliding scales, and they are willing to trade and barter – all birth workers want to help you in any way they can. Realistically, couples in all birth places can benefit from a doula – read up and see which choice is right for you.

5. Relaxation
Relaxation is the key to The Bradley Method®. Dr. Bradley believed that a well-trained mother who was accompanied by her loving coach could do anything that nature intended. With the knowledge of the progress of labor, she doesn’t have to be afraid of “what comes next”. A well-trained mother welcomes the sensations of labor with the knowledge that this is a journey she must take to grow as a mother.

Bradley™ classes teach strategies for physical, mental and emotional relaxation to have as many tools as possible to break the Pain-Fear-Tension cycle. We teach our couples various positions for labor so that a mother can follow her instincts and get into the best position possible to achieve maximum relaxation. Both she and Coach know the roadmap. They also know that their course may be a sprint or a marathon, or maybe something in between – their role is to accept the labor and follow mama’s instincts about what she needs and when. Once she is completely relaxed and able to surrender, labor can progress beautifully and unencumbered to an unmedicated, vaginal birth.

In closing:

As I mentioned earlier in the post, sometimes you do all the right things and yet, you are still being presented with a situation that looks like it may lead to a cesarean. HERE is a good post that covers how to handle different labor scenarios that may present as a reason for a cesarean. If mom is okay and baby is okay, you can think about asking for more time.

What if you do everything right and you still end up at the operating room?

Read HERE to learn about your options if you want to maximize your cesarean experience to capture the essence of a vaginal birth. Again, you must educate yourself and prepare. Consider writing a cesarean Birth Plan B so that your provider is well aware of what you want to happen before you are in labor and so that when you ask for these things, they are not forgotten. A natural approach to a cesarean takes more time than a standard cesarean. By discussing these things in pregnancy, you are not going to ask them to change their “game” without fair warning.

All of our students come to class with the intention of having a natural, vaginal birth. There are times when they have made the choice to have a cesarean for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome after laboring and using the tools they learned in class. They had the skill set to help them identify that despite doing all the things they could, the cesarean was the birth that their baby needed. The overwhelming majority of them have been grateful for all the preparation and the communication skills they learned. Unlike families who felt railroaded into their cesareans, couples who prepare for their births choose to have cesareans that ensure a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome and they have a degree of peace with their birth to help them on the road to healing.

I know gratitude for the process doesn’t take away the feelings of not having the birth they planned and prepared for. Barring the rare complications, having an empowered pregnancy does give them the best possible chance of a VBAC next time.

If you did everything right and still had a cesarean, I encourage you to accept your birth. Your baby had a reason for needing a cesarean, and assuming you hired a capable, experienced care provider that you trusted, they knew that knew that was the birth you needed. Seek support from other women who had cesareans through the ICAN organization in person or on-line.

Lastly, there is a group of women who will always need a cesarean. They may be high-risk, or they may have high-risk pregnancies. To those women, I say, “You are strong. You are lionesses.” Cesarean births are no joke, and to be willing to undergo them again and again for the love of family, you are the ultimate examples of a mother’s love. Thank you.

What do you think – would you add or subtract anything from this list?
Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now.

Reading list:
Top Three-Four, especially if you are not going to take a class
Natural Childbirth The Bradley™ Way – Susan McCutcheon, AAHCC
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth – Ina May Gaskin
Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth – Henci Goer
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding – La Leche League, International

Other very informative books:
Husband-Coached Childbirth – Dr. Robert Bradley
Exercises for True Natural Childbirth – Rhondda Hartman, RN, AAHCC
The Birth Book – Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears, RN
Active Birth - Janet Balaskas
A Child is Born – Lennart Nilsson
What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know – Gail Sforza with Dr. Tom Brewer
Metabolic Toxemia of Late Pregnancy – Dr. Tom Brewer
Children at Birth – Marjie and Jay Hathway, AAHCC
The Baby Book – Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears, RN

Main Page for The Bradley Method®

www.bradleybirth.com

Other Childbirth Preparation Classes:
Hypnobirthing: Marinah Farrell (4-6 week course) 480-528-1689Hypnobabies: Noelia Waldo (6 week course) (480) 295-0895

Birthing From Within: Alejandrina Vostrejos (6 weeks) 480-206-1985

Disclaimer:

Planning a VBAC – Dad’s Count, Too

04/24/2013 08:50:00

When it comes to pregnancy, labor and birth, the vast majority of the writing and expectation for preparation is geared at the mother. One of the reason’s we chose The Bradley Method® is because it recognizes that the father may also want to play a role in the birth of the child and Bradley™ prepares the couple for labor to welcome their child, not just the mother.

The same holds true when planning a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). If the partner was present for the first birth, they also experienced varying degrees of stress: watching their loved one undergo major surgery, the physical recovery period, and the emotional recovery period, which might have been longer than the physical recovery. They may have watched their partner struggle with breastfeeding, if that was the choice for their family. In any case, it may be a good idea for a mother to consider her partner’s feelings if she wants complete support in her choice for a VBAC.

Jenni Froment, ICAN Phoenix co-leader, shared some insights at last month’s ICAN “For Dads” meeting. I have added to them from our experience with VBAC couples and from the knowledge I have learned from attending ICAN meetings.

These points are meant to initiate a conversation with your partner if you have not already covered them. You may have talked through some of these after your cesarean birth, and they may bear revisiting as you move forward with future pregnancies.

What is going on in your partner’s head?
Partners have concerns, feelings about your birth(s), and they can get anxious, too.

What is their first reaction when you tell them that you want to prepare for a VBAC?
What is their biggest concern?

How do you involve your partner in the decision of whether or not to VBAC?

Have them express their feelings about the previous cesarean, and then talk about how they feel about a VBAC now that they have had time to hear why you want to prepare for one.
What are your partner’s priorities?
How do they envision their role in the planning process?

Wouldn’t just be easier to have a repeat cesarean?
It is not generally a life-threatening since it is a surgery with a specific procedure and protocol after years of execution. It is, however, a major abdominal surgery. As Dr. Victor Berman explained to us at our Bradley Method® training, if your body underwent this kind of trauma outside of the operating room, very few people would survive. Beyond the physical trauma to the human body, there is a risk for infections, an emergency hysterectomy, an admission to the ICU. There is the introduction of narcotic drugs to the mother and baby, and the incredible physical ordeal of recovery. There is nothing “easy” about a cesarean.

Isn’t the VBAC going to be a lot of work?
Yes, it might be. Most mothers experience a sense of loss when they have a cesarean. Planning can take the power back. The analogy was shared that you spend months planning for the single event of your wedding day. The day of your child’s birth merits at least that kind of attention, if not more. Planning can alleviate stress in the labor and delivery space if the couple already knows their options and how they want to use them for their labor. In a healthy, low-risk mother, a vaginal birth is best for both mom and baby. Even if you should have a repeat cesarean, the prepared approach can empower a couple who can know in their heart of hearts that they did everything possible to prepare for a different outcome and their best choice for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome was a repeat cesarean.

What is the benefit of letting the baby choose their birthday instead of just scheduling their birthday so we can plan?
A healthy baby is the best-informed individual when it come to choosing the day of their birth. A baby that is ready for life outside of the womb will have lungs that are fully developed and ready to breathe without the help of a machine. The breastfeeding relationship has a better chance if the baby is healthy and can have skin-to-skin contact immediately after their birth (yes, even if it is another CESAREAN).

What are the risks of a VBAC? Is it a safe choice?
Uterine rupture is “the” drop word when it comes to VBAC. You can refer to last Friday’s post to see what the numbers really look like (find it HERE). The bottom line is that there are several other complications that can happen, whether or not you have had a previous cesarean. Pregnancy is generally a healthy time in a woman’s life, and with a comprehensive childbirth preparation course, a family can prepare for a VBAC by keeping the pregnancy as healthy and low-risk as possible. Bradley Method® students also get 12 weeks of nutrition education to help them build a strong, healthy mama and baby.

The other thing to note in regards to uterine rupture is that there are two known factors that increase the stats: the induction and the augmentation of labor. If you want to lower your risk of uterine rupture, find a care provider who is willing to do “watchful waiting” as long as there is a Healthy Mom and a Healthy Baby.

Lastly, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology just posted a position in support of vaginal deliveries. You can read the position statement here:
Vaginal Delivery Recommended over Maternal-Request Cesarean

...and this one in case you are bring pressured to induce for suspected large-baby (macrosomia) or anything else that is not a medically necessary:
Early Deliveries Without Medical Indications

Communication Exercises
In the interest of moving forward together, you will need to communicate your needs to each other. Let your partner know if any of these are important to you:

Tell them how you want to be supported
Have them listen to your feelings about your previous cesarean, and why exploring VBAC together is important to you
Go to appointments with you so that together you can asses whether or not providers are right for you
Can he be an advocate for you if people are questioning your decisions?
If your priorities are his/her priorities, could they verbalize and affirm your choices to encourage you?

So you and your partner have talked. Are you both open to the idea of exploring a VBAC? HERE is a guideline to planning a VBAC from ICAN Phoenix leader Jesse Franks, and HERE is the advice from midwives in our area.

Here’s the checklist from Jenni's meeting:

Find a supportive care provider. If possible find out their primary cesarean rate and their VBAC stats. Those should be a good indication of whether or not they subscribe to “watchful waiting”.
Hire a doula. Doulas are proven to reduce the amount of interventions a mother receives, the fewer the interventions, the more likely it will be for labor to progress towards a healthy, low-risk vaginal birth.
Take a comprehensive childbirth class. A good class will prepare you by teaching what to expect from pregnancy, labor and birth. It will also fill your toolbox with coping mechanisms for the work of labor.
Research the protocols at your birth place and know your patient rights.
Have faith in your intuition – let your instincts guide you.
Plan your birth team well in advance of your estimated due date. Everyone is on board with your vision and supports your choices, from you and your partner to your care provider, doula, and family. Knowing who is not on board also helps you avoid “toxic” people who want to change your mind.

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Disclaimer:
The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.