The Birth of Savannah

Here is what I remember…
Sunday morning at 4 a.m. I woke up feeling period like cramps. I thought it was quite unusual to have that feeling so I grabbed my cell phone to check the time.  Sure enough 8 min. later I felt the same cramps. I timed the contractions for the next half hour before waking Gustavo.  I wanted to be sure these were the real deal.  
At 4:30 I woke Gustavo. We laid there for a bit talking about how excited we were to soon meet Savannah.  It was still so early and contractions were steady at 7 and 8 min. apart.  We both tried to go back to sleep but I couldn’t.  I just laid there thinking that soon I would meet my little girl.  Contractions were very bearable at this point especially when I compare them to contractions at 8 and 9 cm.
My mother in-law was flying in at 4:30 pm that day, her timing couldn’t have been better.  My father had plans to make pizza so we could all gather for my mother in-laws arrival.  All day Sunday my contractions stayed about 7 and 8 minutes apart.  I pretty much ignored my labor all day.  I showered, ate my Dad’s irresistible pizza, and I went to the airport with Gustavo to pick up his mother. We brought her back to my parent’s house to visit and eat.  At around 9 pm we decided to head home which was right up the street.  My mother in-law was tired from her long plane ride and went to bed.  Contractions were still very tolerable so I told Gustavo to get some rest while my sister stayed up with me to continue timing contractions.  At about 10 pm contractions started getting more intense and were now 5 and 6 min. apart.  I went from walking around the house to leaning over the birthing ball.  At this point I was more vocal but kept my voice deep and breathing very controlled.  At about 12 a.m. Monday morning my contractions began at 3 and 4 minutes apart and stayed steady that way until 1 a.m.  By 1:30 Gustavo was pulling the car up to the front of the house and we were loading up to head to the hospital.
By the time I was checked in, signed a bunch of consent forms and answered a bunch of questions it was 3 a.m. and the nurse finally checked to see how far I was dilated.  She said I was 5 to 6 cm dilated and I could stay in the hospital free to walk around if needed.  Gustavo and I never left the room.  I continued to labor on the ball for another hour while contractions started to get more intense.  At 4 p.m. the nurse checked me again and I was 8 cm dilated.  At this point I was starting to feel desperate and contractions seemed to be getting closer together.  We didn’t really time them at this point instead Gustavo and I were trying different techniques to relieve pain that moved from my lower abdomen to my back.  Massage or touch was annoying.  We tried dancing around the room and walking but I was trembling a lot at this point.  Even though the shower did not sound soothing at the moment Gustavo convinced me to get in the shower.  I continued to tremble uncontrollably and barely had a break between contractions.  I could barely stand and I was very vocal at this point.  I began getting frustrated in the shower and wanted out.  At about 5 a.m. I asked Gustavo to call the nurse so I she could check my cervix again.  It was so painful to lie down and let her check.  At this point I was praying to God for strength to endure the pain and Gustavo kept reassuring me and reminding me that I was so close.  I was 9 cm dilated.  When the nurse was done I jumped off the bed and continued to walk around the room with Gustavo, every time a contraction came I had to hang on him because I could barely hold myself up.  I was trembling so bad through every contraction and continued to pray.  At this point I started to doubt myself and my body’s ability to withstand the pain.  I felt so much pain in my lower back I thought I was going to break.  I could feel my lower body shifting and expanding.  I began to wonder if I should have allowed an epidural and if it was still too late to have one.  But then I would hear Gustavo telling me, “you’re doing so good Lorena, you are almost there and I am so proud of you!” 
After about 30 min. more I had enough, I started feeling delirious and I wanted her out “NOW!”  I told Gustavo to call the nurse.  She came in right away and I asked her if she could break my water in hopes that things would speed up.  She told me she couldn’t break it but she could check me again and there might be a chance that my water would break.  
While checking me I could feel her putting lots of pressure on my bag of water.  She also told me to bear down a couple of times.  I knew she was trying to pop my bag of waters.  It was the most annoying and painful feeling to feel that pressure but I was glad she was attempting to break it.  As soon as she broke it she told me I was just about ready to push.  She told me to get on all fours and she was going to call the Dr.  At this point Gustavo said it was about 6 a.m.  The nurse told me I could go a head and bare down when I felt a contraction come.  I couldn’t bare the pain while on all fours.  I turned around and asked to use the squat bar.  She brought out the squat bar and I tried that for a couple a pushes.  At this point the Dr. was in the room and getting into position to receive the baby.  I told the Dr. I wasn’t liking the squat bar so she suggested I lean back into a sitting position and bring my knees all the way back towards my chest.  It was in this position I felt most comfortable and able to push the strongest.  Gustavo said it took about 6 more pushes and at 6:15 Savannah was on my chest crying and making all these cute little sounds.  Gustavo was crying and I was trying to catch my breath after being blown away at the site of my child in my arms, so alert and beautiful!  
I didn’t get an episiotomy but I did tear in two spots.  The Dr. sewed me up and my mom and sister came in to meetSavannah.  As soon as I saw my mom I started crying with joy.  I was so proud to introduce my mom to her first grandchild.  
My mother had my sister and me natural.  I would always ask her, “Mom how painful is it to have a natural birth?”  She always said that it hurt but the pain went away as soon as they place your baby in your arms.  
After labor I asked my mom, “When you had us did it ever cross your mind that you weren’t going to make it?”  She said, “Of course, but you are my daughter and I could never bring myself to tell you that.  Why would I want to instill fear in your head when I knew you wanted this so bad and I had faith you could do it!?”  
My mom was my inspiration, I always thought if she did it then so can I.  I was so glad she never emphasized on the pain of natural birth.  I went into labor with no fear and no doubts.  I believe my mind set together with Liza’s prenatal yoga and the Bradley classes helped me to achieve the best birth experience for both Savannah and I. 

Thank you Liza for sharing all you know about pregnancy and childbirth.  I admire your passion and dedication to touch peoples lives during this most important event.

 

All our love,

Lorena, Gustavo and Savannah

The Home Birth of Zephyr

Here is another positive birth story from one of my Prenatal Yoga students, who is also a childbirth educator.

I went into labor at about 10:30pm on Sunday night 04-06-08 (the day after my last yoga class!). We had taken a huge long walk that day, and I spent about an hour in the afternoon visualizing and telling the baby that it was a good time to be born. At my midwife appointment the previous day (40w 3d), La Shel had mentioned that if I was still pregnant the next weekend, she’d want me to go in for a NST. I did NOT want to do this, so I became very focused on having this baby before that became an issue! My contractions were almost immediately 2-4 minutes apart. They weren’t too long, only about 30-45 sec, but I had to vocalize through them from the start. I had a ton of bloody show, and knew that things were happening. I was still convinced that I could get some sleep in ‘early labor’ but I honestly don’t think I had early labor- I had to work through contractions from the start. Ian got going getting everything set up, and around midnight he called our doula to have her head down. We texted La Shel a few times to keep her apprised. Around 12:30am, my water broke while I was on the toilet. I had been spending a lot of time there because of the bloody show and I felt better there. Our doula arrived around 1:30 or so and I was full out in what I think was transition. I felt really nauseas during each contraction, but only threw up once. I alternated between the toilet, leaning over the bathroom sink, and all fours on the floor. When our doula arrived, she encouraged some squatting and gave me light massage on my back, which was about all the touch I could handle. She helped Ian get the tub up to temp. and I got in about 3am or so. The water felt miraculous! Ian called La Shel, and she arrived about 3:45am. I was convinced that I was only at a 2 or 3, so I didn’t want her to check me, but she insisted. She barely reached in and told me to feel for myself. The baby’s head was about an inch up- I could hardly believe it. Around 4:30am, I started pushing, or really my body did- I didn’t have any control over it. I was squatting in the tub. I have no recollection of the time passing at this point, but it felt like I only pushed for a few minutes before La Shel asked me to get out of the tub to try using gravity. In hindsight, I think it had been about an hour or so. From that point on, I pushed in every position known to man- squatting, toilet, leaning, etc. I was yelling so so loud and cursing a ton (so much for my gentle peaceful birth)- it was like an animal took over. Ian said he’s never heard a human be that loud. I was vaguely aware that I was pushing for a long time. I had a hard time getting out of my head and I was thinking that I wasn’t doing things the ‘right’ way (this is where all my education hindered me, I think!). The baby’s heart rate stayed totally steady and calm through the whole thing- she didn’t seem fazed at ALL about being there in my birth canal for so long. There was never any drama or tension- they kept encouraging me and having me try different positions. Even though I knew it was taking a long time, I never once thought about transfer or that something was wrong. Jamin played ‘bad cop’ a bit- having me eat, try new positions, and especially having me stand up straight in between contractions, which at the time was the most impossible task I had ever encountered- I just wanted to lean over! Even though I remember being pissed at her during it, I needed that from someone, and she provided. I pushed on the bed with my feet pressing against my doula and La Shel’s chests, I pushed on the birth stool, it went on and on. It became daylight and I was so so tired and worn out. Beyond belief. This is where the yoga really helped me- they kept commenting about how strong I still was (as I bruised their chests) and I was able to be in some pretty difficult squats and positions. The yoga practice got me ready to use my body in ways that were unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable but in the long run satisfying and important. At one point towards the end I felt bones grinding inside me- bizarre! The baby’s head was visible for a while, but she never really crowned. I was squatting, and finally I just sat down for one push. I went from everyone seeing a tiny circle of head to the entire baby out in ONE PUSH at 9:09am on 04-07-08 after 4.5 hours of pushing! She was asynclitic, and apparently decided to tuck her chin and when she did I was still pushing full force as I had been for the previous hours and she literally shot out of me like a champagne cork! La Shel almost missed her, and we all were shocked that a baby had just shot out! She didn’t cry, but was wide awake and alert and coughing. I held her against me and after a bit I looked and saw we had a daughter. After about 15 minutes, I passed her to Ian, and I delivered the placenta. Her cord was super long- like 18 inches or more, and wrapped all around her body. I got a shot of Pitocin since I was bleeding quite a bit, but it wasn’t all that bad after all (most of the blood was from tearing). I tore a lot since she shot out so quickly, and got about 12-14 stitches. We waited to clamp or cut her cord until about an hour after her birth. Ian just held her attached to the placenta while I was getting stitched up. I was very sore and stiff and swollen and bruised for a few days because of all the pushing, but within about a week was feeling much more human! I spent the first few days in bed with Zephyr, and the first time we left the house was when she was one week old and we went to the pediatrician. She has nursed like a champion right from the start, and I have a ton of milk. Things are going really well, and I am so so lucky that Ian is home with us- I don’t know how people do it who don’t have a supportive partner!

Overall, it was definitely NOTHING like what I’d been picturing for the past 4 years as I planned my ideal homebirth. I didn’t get my waterbirth (maybe next time!) and I was loud and crazy and didn’t focus the way I thought I would. Ian or I didn’t get to catch her, I had a ton of directed pushing (which I didn’t think I wanted), etc. But I certainly got the birth I needed to have to learn that I can’t plan everything and that things work out the way they need to. We are so thankful we planned a homebirth. I know that she would not have entered this world the way she did if I had been in the hospital. I would have probably ended up with a cesarean because they would have never let me push for 4.5 hours, and at the very least I would have faced vacuum or forceps and/or episiotomy. As it was, she did great and entered the world as gently as possible. She never left our arms, and never had any procedures done to her. What a beautiful thing. She gave me a very easy pregnancy and a very fast labor, she just made me work a bit to finally meet her. Time will tell if this is indicative of her future personality- doing things her own way and only giving in when she feels like it! 

I know this is long and wordy, but I figure a fellow childbirth educator appreciates the details in a birth story!

I want to sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you gave to me during my pregnancy. I have spent the entire pregnancy telling people how awesome [www.yogajanda.com] prenatal yoga is, and I will continue to do so. I firmly believe it is one of the very best things I’ve ever done for myself and my body. I have never loved my body more than while I was pregnant, and your classes really contributed to that. I only gained 19 lbs and am easily back in pre-pregnancy clothes, and while perhaps genetics have something to do with that, I think we can also thank yoga. I loved spending time in your Prenatal Yoga classes[ at Blue Raven Yoga], and am so sad that I won’t get to be there each Saturday. 

The Birth of Our Family

These are the Bradley Birth Stories of Another Bradley Instructor

My name is Julie and I am a stay-at-homeschooling mom to six beautiful children.  I have a Bachelor’s Degree in the Science of Nursing which afforded me the opportunity to work on the labor and delivery floor as well as the newborn nursery of our local hospitals.  Thankfully, in the years before I was married and began having children, I realized a very obvious difference in birthing women:  those who were medicated just didn’t have that same twinkle in their eyes that the natural birthing moms had; and, babies were asleep versus alert and bonding. 

These realizations lead me to seek out a natural-minded physician with my first pregnancy.  She suggested I attend a Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth® class and our first son was born, in a hospital, epidural-free, in December of 1994.  Unfortunately, a new doctor joined the group just before our birth, and we had to stand our ground on no episiotomy, no pitocin, etc. to achieve the birth we’d long desired.

After Alec’s birth, I sought out a new doctor practice.  It was a blessing since soon after finding our new doctor, I became pregnant with twins.  Here is the birth story of our twins, Noah and Nathan, born December 30th, 1997.  

 

            I was diagnosed as having a twin pregnancy at just 8 weeks gestation.   I began having Braxton Hicks contractions just before 12 weeks gestation; by 19 weeks I was leaking colostrum.  Being a Bradley Method® Instructor, I felt very strongly about pregnancy and birth being a natural process.  After all, twins are a natural occurrence and there is no reason to believe that a twin pregnancy should be considered any more high risk than a singleton.  I stayed away from all those multiple books that talked only of bed rest, scheduling the c-section and visiting the NICU ahead of time to become familiar with the surroundings. Instead, I surrounded myself with my very supportive husband, family, friends and doctor – no mention of bed rest or c-section was ever made.  I followed Dr. Tom Brewer’s advice on protein consumption of 125gms minimum.

        

           I had a routine US at 24 weeks and a follow-up at 36 weeks.   For the few weeks before their birth, my contractions increased greatly in strength and frequency.  On Saturday, Dec. 20^th (Alec’s 3^rd birthday) my contractions seemed to be staying the same as they had all week - start early in the morning then ease by lunch and pick back up around dinner continuing until around midnight. 

 

Sunday, the 21^st, my contractions became 3 minutes apart regularly and were at least 45 seconds long, but I still didn’t call my doctor; by late that night my contractions spaced enough for me to fall fast asleep.  This pattern continued and I went for my regular check-up on Tuesday the 23^rd.  I was still having contractions, as he noticed, so he checked me to find that I was 2cm and 30% effaced.  He re-affirmed his belief in the natural process.  I was happy to have what I knew would be the last few days with my babies safe and happy, warm and comfortable, inside me - yes we were cramped for space, but there was also a lot of love between the three of us. 

 

             Sunday, December 28^th, I began spotting and contractions continued until bedtime.  I awoke on Monday morning with sharp cramping and dark, bloody show.  I fell asleep at just about midnight only to be awakened by very active contractions at 2am, Tuesday morning.  By 5:30am contractions were 1 minute long and 3 minutes apart.  I felt tremendous rectal pressure, as well as back and belly hugs. 

 

We called Dr. at 7:30am to let him know what was going on and that I wouldn’t make it into the office for my appt.  We got to the hospital around 11:30am to find I was 100% effaced and 5cm.  When Dr. got there, not long behind us, he found Baby A (Noah) to be posterior, which I already knew (there’s no denying a posterior baby) and he began helping with counter pressure. 

 

By 3pm I just had to push.  At this point, my water was leaking and I wanted to push in the bathroom (I was free of everything — no IV’s, locks, monitors, nothing — no one argued with me have anything attached at all). 

 

I began pushing very forcefully on the toilet and my nurse, standing in the doorway, was looking quite nervous.  She kept looking in at me while I was pushing, then out at my doctor, who was rolling around on the little stool… he told her I could do whatever I wanted and that it would be fine. 

 

I asked where Noah’s head was when I had first gone into the bathroom; the nurse asked Dr. and he said +3!!!!!  After a couple more contractions, I really felt the need to lie on my side; much to the surprise of everyone - they expected me to squat - I just told them that I HAD TO LAY DOWN, SOMETHING WAS TELLING ME TO LAY DOWN AND TAKE IT SLOW!! 

 

At 4:24pm Noah was born; he had the cord wrapped twice tightly around his neck and once around his chest – this was no emergency, but part of the natural process - by lying on my side, which my body was telling me to do, I was able to give birth slowly and gently.  I was able to feel Noah’s head emerge - so warm, wet and wrinkly with lots of hair… just so special!  I grabbed his wet little body and pulled him up to my breast… his wide eyes looked up at me and he began to nurse immediately. 

 

After about 10 minutes, contractions resumed.  I asked how dilated I was and my doctor said 8cm, but that with one push my cervix would open right back up (it’s the pressure of the head that keeps it open).  The nurses all wanted to do an ultrasound to see if Nathan was breech or vertex, but my doctor said it didn’t matter, that he’d be fine. 

 

I began pushing, which was very hard since my stomach muscles were so tired (my doc. likened it to doing 500 sit-ups and then being asked to do a few more).  Nathan was born, head-first, at 5:54pm.    The boys were exactly 30 minutes apart on December the 30^th.  Nathan also nursed immediately.

 

Noah was born December 30th at 5:24pm weighing 5 pounds 2 ounces.

 

Nathan was born December 30th at 5:54pm weighing 6 pounds 1 ounce.

 

 

             My birth experience was a great one, as I had a wonderful doctor who NEVER EVER treated me like I was high risk.  He, like my husband and I, believe that twins are natural, just as a singleton.  Women were meant to have babies; we were born to give birth; we were made to easily feed two babies.  I felt completely supported throughout the pregnancy; never any talk of bed-rest, c-sections, or other complications.  I remained very active, moving into our new house at 36 weeks and digging in my front yard (you’ve got to have tulips in the spring) at 37 weeks! 

 

I knew that I was doing the very best for my babies by working on having a healthy pregnancy and giving my babies the gift of birth; a natural birth.  I turned my pregnancy over to God and felt a great sense of peace.  This was, however, the last of my hospital births, as the next three children were born in the comfort of our home attended by myself and their father.

 

Our twins were exclusively breastfed for almost 10 months.  They continued nursing until Nathan was 2yrs. 3 mos. and Noah was 2yrs. 9mos. - which was when they decided to wean themselves (just a week before our fourth child was born). 

 

Nursing babies long enough for them to become good talkers also lends itself to some interesting discoveries.  For instance, because I became pregnant about the time of their second birthday, I learned, via their private mini-conference across my lap, that my milk changed during the 18^th week of pregnancy with their sister J.   This discovery was made when Noah latched on, began to nurse and then quickly pulled off.  He ran to get Nathan.  They both latched on looking across at each other.  Then Nathan pulled off stating, “different” and Noah added, “good!”  That, was priceless.

 

 

Since the birth of Noah and Nathan, we have been blessed with 3 peaceful homebirths:

 

Claire was born in October of 2000. She waited till 41weeks to make her grand and beautiful appearance and emerged into our dimly lit bedroom with her daddy catching.  She weighed 8 pounds and exclusively breastfed for over 15 months.  She self-weaned after 3 years of age.

 

 

Aidan was born a healthy 9pounds and 2ounces in August of 2003 after a brief, but intense, 4 hours of active labor; though he’d waited 43 weeks to that point.  His big sister just happened to wake up (at 2:30am) in time to see his head crown, followed by that wonderfully warm and slippery body slide out into daddy’s hands. 

Claire exclaimed the next morning, when her brothers mentioned how lucky she was to see “the baby come out of mommy’s belly”, that, “He did not come out of mommy’s belly!”

Aidan is still nursing as I type (20 months).

 

 

AvaGrace was born in February of 2005.  Her birth was witnessed not only by her daddy, but also her three oldest brothers.  They spent the day of her labor doing their lessons at the kitchen table and waited until they heard me proclaim, “She’s coming!”

All four boys – daddy included – lined up across the bathtub step to watch as I squatted on the floor and gently birthed our second daughter, this time into my own hands.  I immediately sat down, scooped her up close to me and stared deeply into those awesome, love-filled eyes. 

Shortly after her birth, the placenta passed and, leaving the cord and placenta attached, I took my baby into the warm bath where she began nursing (of course she is still nursing as she is presently only 3 months old).

 

   

There is nothing so special as to be the first to touch and hold your babies; to catch their gaze and stare into those angel eyes, so trusting; to be able to give the gift of birth instead of having your baby “delivered”; to be able to share the joyous experience with the whole family; to be able to cuddle, as a family, in the comfort of your own bed and share a meal in celebration.

 

 

The Story of Whitney’s Birth

On Thursday, I went to the midwife and I was 4 cm dilated, 90% effaced. After a bit of bleeding and a hospital check-up on Friday to make sure things were OK, I went into active labor around 10 p.m. on Friday night. My contractions were waking me up 45 minutes apart and soon became intense enough for me to wake Louis up around 1:00 a.m. He was the best coach and helped me through 4.5 hours of contractions at home until they were 3 minutes apart. We were waiting for the doula at our house, but decided to head to the hospital and meet her there. When I got to the hospital around 5:30, I was 8 cm dilated and 100% effaced. After checking me and getting situated in L&D, I labored through transition for another few hours and then was ready to push after about 10 hours of labor! My bag of waters remained intact through a bit of pushing and I was so happy for that. I pushed for about an hour through some heavy contractions and an emotional surge that I had to work hard to get through mentally. My doula and Louis were amazing at helping me to remain focused and to realize I could get through the birth. After they reassured me, I said, “I can do this…” and a few pushes later, Whitney’s head was out, followed quickly by the rest of her. There was some meconium in her amniotic fluid, so they worked on her while I was stitched up and delivered the placenta and then returned her to me a few minutes later. It was an amazing experience and almost directly after she was born, I knew that I’d have another natural birth in a heartbeat. I felt so good after her birth, alive and in touch with the experience. Our midwife thanked us for sharing our labor with her, saying that she used to do a lot of natural births but hasn’t done many since being at this hospital. She watched out for us and made sure we got the birth we desired and I couldn’t thank her enough for being so supportive.

Here is my doula’s version of my birth story if you’re interested.

Emily called about 3AM on 11/17/07 to let me know she was contracting.  She was at 40 weeks and 6 days.  I asked how she was doing and if she needed me yet, and she answered she was doing OK so far.  She had been having contractions earlier but thought they hadn’t been very strong or regular until now, and were probably about 7-10 minutes apart.  I asked her to call as soon as she felt she needed me, and I would come right away.  A bit before 6AM they called to say the contractions were 4-5 minutes apart and they had decided to go to the hospital.  I replied that would meet them there.

 

     I arrived at 6:45AM, and she had just been checked.  She was already at 8cm, 100% effaced and –2 station!   She was managing the contractions very well, staying on top of the breathing.  We moved into the room, and she was anxious to get out of the confining bra and “stuff”!  I set up the music, and fixed a lavender washcloth for her to smell and cool her forehead.  Colleen was her nurse, and Sheri was the midwife.  Sheri checked her again at 7:01AM, and in only 16 minutes, she had already progressed to 9cm!  Sheri and Colleen were fabulous, very supportive of Emily’s desire for no medical interventions.  She was being monitored for a while and she couldn’t wait until they got her off so she could move around!  It drove her crazy that they kept on asking the same questions over and over again, too! It was because she was in transition, and she was doing amazingly well in spite of all of it! 

 

Once off the monitors, I helped her change positions, and we tried the birth ball for a few contractions.  She did some lunges, but her best position seemed to be leaning into Louis while I did the double hip squeezes.  When a position or technique stopped “working” we would try another.  Emily was progressing very fast, finding it difficult to make decisions due to the intensity of the contractions.  Louis and I encouraged her a lot.  She used the bathroom, and found sitting on the toilet felt good for a while.  Then Emily leaned against the birth ball while it was up against the wall.  That wasn’t so successful, and she leaned against Louis instead!  She even tried the shower, but she cried, “I don’t like it in here!”  So, Louis and I got her out, dried her off, and helped her back into the bed.  We set the bed up like a “throne” with her feet down and her back sort of straight and supported.  That was successful, and then she was checked again about 7:41AM because she was beginning to feel a lot of pressure.  She was still 9cm and 100%, but the baby had dropped to –1 station, Yaay!  She was feeling very hot, and asked if she could take off the gown, of course she could!  Louis and Emily worked very well together and he was so very supportive of her.  In just a few minutes at 8:05AM, Emily was already 10cm! 

 

     At about 8:08AM Emily began pushing because she felt the very strong urge to do so.  Colleen got the squat bar, and Emily used it while still in the “throne” position.  Then her arms started to tire, and I suggested changing positions a little.  I said we could raise the foot part of the bed up, and lean her head back a bit, then she could hold herself up better and still use the squat bar.  She was reluctant to try it.  When Sheri came in a little while later, she suggested the same thing!  Emily decided to go ahead and give it a go.  She began to push much more effectively as she had more leverage.  Colleen gave her a sheet to hang on to while she pushed, and shortly thereafter baby’s head crowned, so she called Sheri in for delivery!  Sheri was a little skeptical, but Emily showed her with just one push how well she was doing!  Her water broke shortly thereafter, as well.  When Louis told Emily he could see the head, that gave her much more incentive, even though she was getting tired!

 

     Emily pushed for about an hour, and little Whitney Kate was born at 9:17AM, weighing 7lbs 3oz, and 20½ inches long.  She was just beautiful, so pretty and pink!  Her APGAR scores were 7 and 9, and she loved nuzzling at her Mommy’s breast.  The fingers and toes were all accounted for, pictures were taken, and tears were shed! Emily did a wonderful job of birthing her little one, and Louis was an excellent coach…was so proud of them!  They were also successful in fulfilling their birth plan wishes, including the desire for no medication …Emily was amazing, and it was a wonderful birth!    

 

 

Yoga Helps Alleviate Sciatica During Pregnancy

 Sciatica in Pregnancy-Healing or Alleviating the Discomfort

www.yogajanda.com/prenatal.php  

During pregnancy sciatica can be aggravated and make for a miserable Mom-to-Be. I can attest to that fact since during every single prenatal yoga class, there is at least one or two people who claim to be suffering from sciatica. “Sciatica is the condition whereby either compression of the L4-S1 nerve roots affects the sciatic distribution or the sciatic nerve is injured as it exits the buttocks. It can also be influenced by the piriformis muscle, which originates on the anterior of the sacrum and passes under the sciatic notch, inserting on the top of the greater trochanter. The piriformis functions in lateral rotation of the thigh.” Yoga Journal, Sarah Powers 

Pregnant or not, yoga practitioners will find that straight-leg forward bends aggravate their sciatica. Especially when pregnant it is important to keep a slight bend in the knees when doing a forward fold. This helps to prevent the rounding of the lower spine while the pelvis tugs back. This is why you often hear the instruction to “fold forward from the hips”. If the pelvis does not tilt forward in a forward bend, you will feel a strain of the sacroiliac (SI) ligaments or sciatica.

It is therefore important to avoid or modify any poses that aggravate sciatica. as well as any pose where shooting pain develops. Always tell your prenatal yoga teacher if something doesn’t feel right. If she is trained in yoga for pregnancy, she should be able to show you an alternative pose or a modified pose.

“Using your practice to heal the condition is possible with patience and specific sequencing. It is important to strengthen the muscles around the sciatic nerve and bring circulation to this region. First, I suggest you bend the knees when in standing forward bends and Downward-Facing Dog to assist in the forward pelvic rotation. Also, moving in and out of poses increases the circulation to the area.” Coping With Sciatica-Yoga Journal,By Sarah Powers

Doing pelvic rocks, cat/cow, and alternating opposite arm and leg raises can help strengthen both the lower back and the abdominals during pregnancy. Women can repeat pelvic rocks 50-100 times a day. Cat/cow can be done any time, and repeatedly to help circulation, relieve back pressure and pressure on the pubic bone. You can either balance in the arm/leg raises or repeatedly switch by inhaling and lifting the opposite arm and leg, lowering with an exhale, and repeating the other side. It is also very relaxing to do this with your breath.

 Stretching the area by folding forward in Pigeon Pose or doing gentle twisting in may also be helpful. I frequently get requests for Pigeon Pose from women suffering from sciatica or lower back pain.

Finally, remember to continue with these poses long after the symptoms have disappeared, while still avoiding seated forward bends or forward folds with straight legs because it is very difficult during pregnancy to fully heal many injuries. Maintaining a regular yoga practice can really help stave off many pregnancy discomforts. Visit www.yogajanda.com/prenatal.php for more information on pregnancy, yoga, and resources in San Diego county.

Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training

Yoga Teachers,
•    Ever had a pregnant woman walk into your class and you had no idea how to keep her safe?
•    Do you know what is safe, appropriate, contra-indicated for pregnant women in yoga? And why?
•    Ever wanted to learn how to teach Prenatal Yoga?
www.yogajanda.com
Come learn from a Yoga Alliance RYT who is also an experienced, Certified Childbirth Educator with a combined 40+ years of experience in Fitness, Childbirth Education, and Yoga. Here is what you will learn:
•    Physical changes in pregnancy including basic anatomy
•    Working responsibly, professionally, and safely with pregnant women
•    Working with women at different stages of pregnancy
•    Essential exercises for a healthy pregnancy
•    The nuts & bolts of 1st & 2nd Stage Labor
•    Relaxation exercises
•    Alternative asanas for pregnancy
•    Developing your own class
•    Promoting/marketing your own class
•    How to adapt standard asanas
•    Using props
•    Pranayama in pregnancy + breathing in labor
•    What to avoid-when, why + poses for specific symptoms
•    A certificate upon completion
Saturday, March 1, 2008 12:00 PM-5:00 PM
Price: $150.00 pre-register by 2/23/08; after 2/23/08 $160.00
Blue Raven Yoga and Healing Center
1001 W. San Marcos Blvd. Ste 165 
San Marcos, Ca 92078 www.yogajanda.com
To Register Email: liza@yogajanda.com or call 760-716-6386
REGISTER NOW!
For Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with Liza Janda, RYT, AAHCC, CBE
Liza Janda, has valuable experience as a Certified Fitness Instructor for 27 years, Bradley Method Certified Childbirth Educator for 12 years, and Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Instructor for six years.  In addition to specializing in Prenatal Yoga, she has worked at some of the world’s leading spas: The Golden Door, Cal-a-Vie, and Rancho La Puerta. 

Her dedication to helping women during pregnancy, labor, birth and post-partum is a top priority. In addition to her educational programs she provides support, information, and fellowship for mothers-to-be and new mothers.  

Liza has a passion for helping women have better birth experiences, feels blessed to be doing what she loves, and is excited to share the gift of health and contentment through yoga with her students and friends Go to : www.yogajanda.com

10 Things You Need To Know About Pregnancy, Labor, and Birth

 

1.     Your growing baby gets every nutrient needed for growth—from nerves to muscles to bone to brain—from your bloodstream, and nowhere else. The baby is fed by placental circulation, which gets nutrients only from the mother’s bloodstream, and the only way nutrients get into the mother’s bloodstream is through what she eats. Eat 80-100 grams of high quality protein every day. Protein forms the foundation of every cell of your baby’s body. These can be lean meats or vegetarian combinations. Take in at least 2,400 calories every day, to prevent your body from burning the protein you eat for energy. http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/6keys.asp

1.  
   1. Medication is not the only choice for pain control. Women can successfully rely on relaxation techniques, deep abdominal breathing, massage, getting in the bath or shower, and having a supportive, knowledgeable coach or doula. Visit www.birthingnaturally.net
   2. Pain medications do have an impact on your labor, you, and your baby. There are times when an epidural is a very helpful addition to labor, but, as with any medication, there are risks and benefits. Some side effects of an epidural are: contractions slow down or stop, hypotension, respiratory distress for mom and baby, maternal fever, uneven, incomplete, or nonexistent pain relief. For baby: drowsiness at birth, poor sucking reflex, both of which interfere with bonding and breastfeeding. www.lamaze.org, www.motherfriendly.org
   3. First time mothers who are induced are 50% more likely to end up with a cesarean section as compared to first time mothers who wait for the natural onset of labor. www.ican-online.org
   4. Only 11% of women will have their bag of water break before labor begins ( also known as PROM-premature rupture of membranes). Most women will begin labor on their own within 24-48 hours. The cesarean rate is 30-50% for women who are induced to deliver within 24 hours of PROM. Because most women will spontaneously go into labor within this time frame, the patient and wise birth attendant will wait. http://www.midwiferytoday.com/enews/enews0512.asp#main; www.ican-online.org
   5. Having a doula during labor shortens labor by 25%, reduces the cesarean rate by 50%, reduces requests for epidurals by 60%..www.dona.org, www.alace.org, www.sandiegoborn.org
   6. Nearly 90% of students of the Bradley Method who give birth vaginally, do so without medication. www.bradleybirth.com
   7. Women need to be taught how to give birth naturally. The Bradley Method^® teaches couples ways to stay low risk. While occasionally there are risk factors out of your control, staying healthy and low risk can help to avoid complications. Low risk mothers have more choices. www.bradleybirth.com
   8. The Bradley Method^® teaches natural childbirth and views birth as a natural process. It is our belief that most women with proper education, preparation, and the help of a loving and supportive coach can be taught to give birth naturally
   9. Practicing yoga while pregnant can help increase flexibility, decrease swelling and anxiety, and divert the pain of labor. Many women find that regular yoga practice helps to reduce swelling, back and leg pain, and insomnia. The ability to be present and breathe into the sensations of stretching or of holding a strenuous pose allows for a kind of softening and letting go that directly applies to the experience of labor. Women discover that much of their pain is resistance, trying to get away from or tightening against the sensations that come with contractions. www.wholebirth.com, www.yogajanda.com

www.bradleybirth.com, www.yogajanda.com  or contact <!–[if supportFields]> CONTACT _Con-415974281 \c \s \l <![endif]–>Liza Janda<!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–> liza@yogajanda.com (760)-716-6386

The Home Birth of Annemyn Margaret

The Birth of Annemyn Margaret
December 24, 2007

On Saturday the 22nd I knew that things were happening with my body preparing itself for birth. Unfortunately, our doctor had insisted we come in for non-stress testing that day, and she ended up keeping us there doing more testing until she could “find a reason to admit me for induction” (those are her words.). The only non-perfect test was my amniotic fluid levels which were just a tiny bit low. However, because of this, we had to sign AMA papers in order to leave the hospital about 5 hours later. And thank goodness we did that, because Saturday night things started rolling with my early labor — I had early labor contractions all night Saturday night and all day Sunday. All of them were over a minute long, and ranged from 8 to 12 minutes apart. Sunday morning I called my sister to come over, and Arik was also here with me. By Sunday night, the contractions were more intense. Arik and my sister tried to relax me using Bradley techniques.

But around 11:30 that night, I knew I needed more support. I was confused and lost about how to handle the contractions, so I called my doula to come. She came right away and said she saw a shooting star over our house as she drove toward us. There was also a full moon that night.

My doula’s gifts are really unbelievable. As soon as she arrived and started breathing with me and holding me and telling me how to let the energy flow, I was able to work with my body. She held me and stayed with me while my sister and Arik filled the labor pool with warm water. In the meantime, the midwife’s assistant arrived, and shortly after my midwife Andrea, and then her other assistant. I was so supported my this loving team of women. Things got intense as I started laboring in the pool, and Andrea sent Arik to bed, which was actually just fine with me because for some reason I just wanted to be with women. They took turns coming to breath with me, hold my head, and bring me snacks and drinks. They helped to keep the water a comfortable temperature for me. Toward daybreak I started feeling pushing contractions, and the midwifes encouraged me to push in the pool for awhile, and then to get up and walk around a bit, and use the bathroom. Andrea woke Arik up. The pushing contractions got more and more intense, with lots of throwing up, I moved from the bathroom to the bed. As I continued to push, Andrea showed Arik what was happening, and he ended up getting squirted with amniotic fluid!

I was leaning up against Arik in a sitting squat position, Arik and Andrea holding one leg and my sister holding the other. My sister tells me that as our baby’s head came out, she faced to the side toward my sister, opened her eyes, and her mouth opened up like a flower. Our baby was placed directly on my stomach/chest, where she started crawling up toward me. I told her, “We did it!” and it was the best moment of my life. Arik was still behind me supporting me when he cut the cord. Shortly thereafter I delivered the placenta.

This part of the story is hard for me to write. I never expected anything to go wrong with my body, but the midwifes started to realize I was bleeding quite a bit. They asked me to move over to the window so they could see what was happening. The baby was placed next to me and she started to latch on. In the meantime, I was given pumpkin bread my sister made and some Recharge drink. I was still bleeding. Andrea told me to stop bleeding. I couldn’t. There were many small tears, none of which looked like the one that was still bleeding. The bad thing was that the leaking blood had a pulse, which meant it was next to an artery. I was given 2 shots of pitocin and some other drug I can’t remember. I was so scared I asked for a piece of the placenta which they put under my tongue. I was losing more and more blood and it was decided that an ambulance was needed. This was the worst moment for me — to leave my new baby while I was wheeled away on a gurney, still bleeding. My sister brought the baby to me as I was wheeled out the front door. I gave her a kiss and told her I would be right back.

Fortunately, as scary as this situation was for everyone, it turned out that just one tiny hidden tear was the source of all the blood. I was stitched up at Palomar hospital (NOT fun, much worse than labor) and allowed to go home four hours later.

I am so proud of myself and the magic of the birth and Annemyn’s arrival can erase the horrible moment of leaving her. We really worked together — she is a very strong baby. My sister said Annemyn was waiting calmly with her at home, sleeping and hanging out in the sling, until my return. As frustrating as it is to have had to leave, I am comforted by the fact that I was able to protect her and keep her out of the hospital and away from interventions. If anyone had to go to the hospital, I am glad it was me, and not her. And I have to say, hospitals really do serve their purpose — and I needed to be there. My baby needed me to stop bleeding, and everyone at Palomar was so nice to me. The doctor even allowed Andrea to watch him stitch me up and showed her where the problem tear was.

Annemyn is our Christmas Eve baby, truly the best gift we could ever receive. She is wonderful. And she is grateful to the loving people who made her entry into the world so smooth and safe. Birthing at home felt so right for me — I would never give birth any other way.

The Natural Bradley Birth Of Sofia Alexandra, November 8, 2007

The birth of Sofia Alexandra, November 8^th, 200710:08 PM

8lb 10oz, 21 inches long 

Here is the story of how Sofia made her way into the world:

On Wednesday evening November 7^th I went to seeour midwife, Jasmine, for my 40 week checkup. We had discussed the option ofdoing a procedure called sweeping the membranes once I reached 40 weeks if Ihad not yet gone into labor to help get labor going. When Jasmine checked tosee how I had progressed she found that I was 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced. Wedecided to go ahead with the stripping the membranes 

On Wednesday night, November 7^th, I started tohave some menstrual like cramping that was uncomfortable enough to use a hotwater bottle on my lower back to help relieve the discomfort. After resting allevening, I went to bed early with the hot water bottle to try to get some rest.I woke up frequently throughout the night, as I had been in the previous fewweeks, with cramps and mild contractions. As I had been having strong,uncomfortable, and frequent Braxton Hicks contractions for about 4 weeks, Ididn’t think too much of it. I finally got out of bed around 6:00 am andEduardo and I had some breakfast. Eduardo decided to work from home, thinkingthis might be the real thing and he didn’t want to be too far away. 

 Duringbreakfast I started to feel the contractions a bit stronger and started towrite down the time of each one around 6:45am. At this point the contractionswere irregular, some quite strong, some almost unnoticeable. This continued forabout another hour when I decided to take my morning bath (a morning bath hadbecome a routine since I was waking up with very sore joints). The contractionscontinued to get stronger and closer together in the bath. Once I got out, Icontinued to time the contractions and noticed that they were more or less 8 –15 minutes apart. Every now and then one of the contractions would come on sostrong that it would send me to the toilet needing to get sick. By 9:30am Iknew that this was really labor and not more Braxton Hicks contractions. But Iwas still feeling ok and kept busy doing things around the house. I ate a smallsnack, pausing to lean over onto the counter when a big contraction would comeon. I continued to get sick when a very strong contraction would come, but Itried to continue to drink water and some juice for energy.  When things started to get moreintense, I started trying out the different positions we had practiced in ourBradley class. Eduardo would rub my back when the contraction would come on. Wetried the drunken prom date, squatting while leaning against the wall, therelaxation pose, lunging etc…but what seemed to work best for me was leaningover on a big stack of pillows on the bed while Eduardo rubbed my back. 

Around 1pm we decided to call the midwife on call at UCSD tolet them know that the contractions were about 5-7 minutes apart and that wewould be coming in some time that afternoon. Eduardo finished packing thehospital bag and got everything in the car. The contractions were gettingstronger and I definitely had to stop and concentrate through them. We didn’twant to get to the hospital too early so I first went to take a shower andspent some time in the shower with the hot water spraying on my back. 

At 3:00 we called the midwife on call at the birth center toreport that the contractions were 4-5 minutes apart and Jennifer, the midwifeon call, told us to come on in. We arrived at the hospital at 4:00pm I was 5cmdilated, 80% effaced, and -1 station. I immediately asked if there was avolunteer doula available (UCSD has a volunteer doula program through Heartsand Hands). Doula Erin arrived within 30 minutes of being at the hospital. As Ihad been vomiting much of the day and was feeling a big dizzy, the midwifesuggested giving me an IV with saline and sugar water to help keep me fromgetting too dehydrated and to keep my blood sugar up. Although I was hesitantabout getting an IV, I decided it was the best decision. The midwife reassuredme that I could still move around, get in the shower, the tub, etc… 

Once settled into our room, I immediately started using thebirthing ball. The best position for me was to put the ball on the bed (theyhave queen size beds at the birthing center), with a pillow on top, and leanover onto the ball, rocking forward and back when a contraction came whileEduardo and Erin rubbed my back and shoulders. Doula Erin had brought somearoma therapy with her and she gave me some lavender to smell which reallyhelped me relax. When the contractions started to get unbearable Erin wouldsuggest trying a new position. I was resistant at first to move because I wasin so much pain, but Erin convinced me to give the new position a fewcontractions to see if I could get into a rhythm with that position. This strategyreally worked for me, as there were several positions where at first I wouldhave turned away immediately, but I ended up finding a comfortable way to usethe position. I used the hot shower for a while, but that was not ascomfortable as only one person fit in the shower and I really wanted thesupport of Eduardo and Erin right there with me. The large soft sided bath tubwas great!! I stayed in there for about 60-90 minutes, leaning over on pillowson the edge of the tub. It was in the tub when my water broke. The nurses cameto check that it was clear and let me stay in the water a bit more. 

From the tub I tried the ball again and then moved into therocking chair with a stool. Eduardo turned off all the lights and asked thenurse to keep it dark in the room. Sitting there in the dark rocking myselfthrough the contractions enabled me to enter a very deep relaxation, so much sothat I almost fell asleep in the 30-60 seconds between each contraction. Thecontractions were VERY strong at this point and the only way I could managethrough them was to count while breathing, knowing that I could certainly makeit to the next number but not sure of anything beyond that.

 The midwife came in and checked me while I was sitting inthe rocking chair and told me that I was 8cm dilated. I was very disappointedby this, as I was sure that I was in transition and must be getting closer. Iwas starting to feel like I wasn’t sure how much more I could take and doubtingwhether I could make it through. 

Finally Erin suggested we get up and go for a walk to try toget things going. At this point, standing up, much less walking sounded likethe most awful idea in the world. But with Eduardo and Erin each at one side ofme so I could lean on them, I managed to walk down the hall about 30 feet. Thecontractions were so strong that I couldn’t really hold myself up and I was notable to stop myself from clenching at least one part of my body. Eduardo kepttelling me to relax and not to strain my face of my hands, but at this point itwas impossible. On the walk back to the room I felt a sudden need to go to thebathroom. I sat on the toilet for a few minutes thinking I was going to have abowel movement, but the nurses kept assuring me that it was the pressure of thebaby’s head and not a bowel movement. I was feeling a very strong urge to push,but the nurses were telling me not to push, as I couldn’t yet be fully dilatedsince I was only 8cm about 40 minutes earlier. 

Throughout all this time, Erin was having me vocalize withmy breathing through the contractions rather than push. This gave me somewaythat I could expend some energy and something else to focus on rather thanpushing. Finally I got up from the toilet and decided to try squatting. Thenurse brought in the birthing stool and I tried squatting on that, leaning intodoula Erin behind me. In this squatting position, all my body wanted to do wasto push, but they kept telling me not to. I told the nurses that I needed topush now! The midwife came running in at the point after having just deliveredthe baby next door, check me, and said the head was right there and that I wasready to push. With the next contraction I pushed with all my energy and themidwife, nurses, and Eduardo all started exclaiming “ooh, oh, there it is!”that they could see the head start to come out. I couldn’t believe that it wasfinally the time for the baby to be born! With just two more pushes the headcame out and then one good hard push and the body slithered out. They put thebaby on my chest immediately, wiping the face as they lifted the baby out ofme. I felt as though I had just run and won a marathon, feeling such a sense ofexhilaration and accomplishment, holding the beautiful little being. Themidwife commented that “he” looked like a big baby. It was not until this pointthat I realized we didn’t know the gender yet. I asked if it was a boy, and shesaid she didn’t know, she just called him a boy. So I lifted the blanket andfound that she was in fact a girl!! She was perfect in every way and the momentshe was born I no longer felt even the tiniest bit of pain. It was as if thepain of the contractions were years away. 

With the preparation we received from the Bradley childbirth class with Liza Janda and the support of the doula once we got to thehospital and the nurses and midwives at the birth center we never lost thefeeling of confidence that we could do this nor did we ever feel like we had tofight for the birth that we wanted. Eduardo was an amazing coach and was ableto provide even better coaching to me with the support of the doula. I wouldsay that to have a natural child birth every couple should take a goodnon-hospital class such as the Bradley method and have the support of a doula. 

Thank you Liza, for a great class!!

 Alison, Eduardo, & Sofia    

STARTLING STATISTICS ABOUT BIRTH IN AMERICA

You may find these statistics, below, startling. They may sadden you or make you angry. I hope they evoke some kind of emotion in you, because birth in America is not normal nor is it “mother friendly” or “baby friendly”.

• 90% of all babies born in hospitals begin life with drugs in their system. We are not talking about street drugs such as cocaine, but about drugs given to mothers by physicians and nurses—artificial hormones to stop, start or speed up labor; drugs to sedate, and anesthetics to numb sensations. None of these drugs have been fully tested on babies to ascertain the full extent of risk they pose for a baby’s liver and brain. 
• U.S. hospitals make 60% of their revenue from birth-related services.
• Women run 5 to 7 times the risk of death with cesarean section compared with vaginal birth. 
• World Health Organization data shows that mothers die at a higher rate in the
U.S. than 40 other countries. 

• Babies born by cesarean were 45 percent more likely to be in the neonatal intensive care unit for 7 days and 41-82 percent more likely to die than babies born vaginally. 

• Women whose labor is induced are 30-50% more likely to end up with a cesarean section. 

• It is safer to have a baby in Cuba &/or the Czech Republic than the United States. The US ranks 28th in infant mortality among industrialized nations, one of the highest in developing countries, yet we spend the most money on birth. (Child Health USA 2002, Maternal Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services http://mchb.hrsa.gov/chusa02/main_pages/page_03.htm ) 

• Each year 4.3 million babies are born in America.   Fewer than 5% of these births occur naturally. 

• U.S. Center for Disease Control reports that 1 in 3 women will give birth via Cesarean.

As mothers, we need to protect our babies and ourselves. Obstetrics, in the US, is practiced, not based on evidence and research on what is best for mom and baby, but is practiced to prevent lawsuits. Parents have an obligation to educate themselves about the risks/benefits of every possible intervention. Just as doctors are legally bound to present risks and benefits and alternatives, parents should be obligated to ask questions whenever possible, and take responsibility for decisions that are made that affect both mother and baby. 

In San Diego, there are only two “Mother-Friendly” Hospitals, Scripps Encinitas and UCSD Birth Center. See Having A Baby? Ten Questions To Ask: http://www.motherfriendly.org/resources/10Q/

Ensure your health and your baby’s health. Educate yourself. Take a class outside of the hospital. Most hospital childbirth educators are not allowed to give you all the risks and benefits of interventions. There are many choices out there. All of which can lead you into an amazingly positive birth experience. Start looking for a childbirth educator and/or a doula in the beginning of your 5^th or 6^th month of pregnancy. Here are some resources: www.yogajanda.com/links.php; www.bradleybirth.com;  www.alace.org;  www.lamaze.org;  www.birthingfromwithin.com;  www.dona.org;   www.hypnobirthing.com;  www.icea.org; www.birthresourcenetwork.org;  www.beautifulbeginnings.org.