Some midwives have been searching for alternative approaches to dealing with GBS. Most protocols that they have developed are based on anecdotal evidence and knowledge of holistic treatment methods. Numerous approaches are being used by midwives and pregnant women—too many to elaborate on with great detail in this article.

Some of these protocols are described in networks such as Gentlebirth (www.gentlebirth.org) and Moondragon (www.moondragon.org) Web sites. Midwives can examine these protocols and determine what information they are comfortable sharing with women.

The basic principle behind most holistic approaches is to provide the mother’s and baby’s immune systems with the support and strength necessary to combat infection. Garlic, or more specifically the allicin in garlic, has a great reputation for its antibacterial properties. Some midwives are currently developing protocols in which garlic is used vaginally as a nightly suppository to combat GBS colonization.

Another approach is to build the body’s immunity. Acidophilus, echinacea, vitamin C, tea tree oil and bee propolis can be taken to boost the immune system which may then keep the GBS bacteria under control. Holistic treatments with antibiotic properties can also be of benefit. These include goldenseal, Oregon grape root, grapefruit seed extract and homeopathic treatments, among others.

Others are looking at the idea of chlorhexidine washes during labour. This antiseptic can eliminate GBS bacteria from the vagina, but not the rest of the body, at the time of birth. This ensures that the baby is not exposed to GBS during birth. The benefits of such an approach are that chlorhexidine does not cause bacteria to become resistant to treatment and the baby’s normal colonization of skin and intestinal flora with healthy bacteria is not disturbed. One study has shown the effectiveness of chlorhexidine in reducing the rate of newborn infection by antibiotic-resistant strains of the bacteria. A Cochrane Review of studies regarding the use of chlorhexidine concluded that while it decreased the rate of neonatal colonization by GBS, it was not useful as a vaginal disinfectant in labour to prevent GBS. That review also noted that the results should be interpreted with caution, as the quality of the studies reviewed was poor. Further research may be helpful in determining whether this is an effective prevention tool.

While the approaches mentioned above attempt to eliminate established colonization by GBS, some midwives and other professionals believe that we must first begin with prevention. Caregivers can apply basic principles that will assist in reducing the infection rates of GBS and other bacteria. First, amniotic membranes should remain intact as long as possible. Second, vaginal exams should be kept to a minimum so that bacteria do not get pushed towards the cervix.

If a woman is induced due to premature rupture of membranes, natural methods of induction should be used. Prostaglandin gel should not be used, as the rate of infection is five times greater with this method.

Some midwives believe that if a woman takes good care of herself by eating well, exercising and keeping her immune system healthy, her body will be better equipped to deal with GBS. Others encourage women to be tested for GBS at 35 to 37 weeks gestation. If the result is positive, they recommend using one of the holistic methods mentioned above and then getting retested to see if the colonization has cleared.

While midwives seem to have found a wide range of approaches to dealing with GBS infections, the effectiveness of these methods remains largely anecdotal and not supported by research.

— Renee Meuse Bishara

Excerpted from “GBS in a Homebirth Setting,” Midwifery Today, Issue 79

View table of contents / Order the back issue

Editor’s Note: Read an article online about GBS:

“How to Treat a Vaginal Infection with a Clove of Garlic”—by Judy Slome Cohain, CNM

For more articles relating to pregnancy visit www.yogajanda.com/article.php 

·       Relief From Sciatica Pain or Back Pain

Put time aside for yourself and your baby. These downloadable prenatal yoga classes come with printable pose guides so you will know you are doing each pose correctly. www.yogadownload.com

Have Faith in it. Believe. It can be done with the right support people around you. Surround yourself with people who believe that birth is a normal, natural, physiological process. You can achieve anything! Dream your dream. Then live it. Click on this youtube link to be inspired.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E-wULAaD50&eurl=http://www.babies-in-bloom.blogspot.com/

After Caesareans, Some See Higher Insurance Cost

 

Matthew Staver for The New York Times

Peggy Robertson, with sons Sam, 9, and Luke, almost 2, in their garden in Centennial, Colo. Ms. Robertson was denied insurance by one company because she had had a Caesarean birth.

Chuntharapat, S., Petpichetchian, W., & Hatthakit, U. (2008). Yoga during pregnancy: Effects on maternal comfort, labor pain and birth outcomes. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 14(2), 105-115. [Abstract <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18396254?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum> ]

Summary: In this trial conducted in Thailand, nulliparous pregnant women without previous yoga experience were randomly assigned to practice prenatal yoga (n=37) or to usual care (n=37). The yoga group attended a series of six 1-hour yoga classes every two weeks in the final trimester and were given a booklet and audio tape for self-study, which they were encouraged to practice at least three times per week. Daily diaries kept by participants and weekly phone contact from researchers helped ensure compliance. Participants in both groups completed a prenatal questionnaire to assess anxiety and collect demographic data.

Once in labor, pain and comfort were assessed every 2 hours in the first stage of labor (for a maximum of three measurements) and again 2 hours postpartum using multiple pain-measurement instruments that have previously been validated for use in laboring women. The researchers controlled for maternal age, marital status, education level, religion, income, and maternal trait anxiety.

Data were available for 33 of 37 women assigned to each group but the researchers provide no explanation for this attrition. Although this omission limits the reliability of the study, the strength and consistency of the researchers’ findings suggest that attrition probably did not significantly alter results. The experimental group (yoga group) had significantly less pain and more comfort than the control group at each of the three measurement intervals during labor and at the postpartum measurement. This finding was consistent and significant across all three pain main measurement instruments used.

The researchers do not present data about mode of birth. However, the length of the first stage of labor and total duration of labor were significantly shorter in the yoga group (mean length of first stage = 520 minutes in yoga group versus 660 minutes in control group; mean total time in labor 559 minutes in yoga group versus 684 minutes in control group). There were no differences in length of second stage of labor, pethidine usage or dose given, augmentation of labor, newborn weight, or Apgar scores. Epidural analgesia was not mentioned so presumably it was not available.

Significance for Normal Birth: This study provides evidence that regular yoga practice in the last 10-12 weeks of pregnancy improves maternal comfort in labor and may facilitate labor progress. The researchers offer several theories for these effects. First, yoga involves synchronization of breathing awareness and muscle relaxation which decrease tension and the perception of pain. Second, yoga movements, breathing, and chanting may increase circulating endorphins and serotonin, “raising the threshold of mind-body relationship to pain” (p. 112). Third, practicing yoga postures over time alters pain pathways through the parasympathetic nervous system, decreasing one’s need to actively respond to unpleasant physical sensations.

Prenatal strategies that help women prepare emotionally and physically for labor may help reduce pain and suffering and optimize wellbeing in childbirth by providing coping skills and increasing self-confidence and a sense of mastery. More research is needed to confirm the findings of this study. However, yoga’s many health benefits and the lack of evidence that yoga is harmful in pregnancy or birth provide justification for encouraging interested women to incorporate yoga into their preparations for childbirth.

  PRENATAL YOGA in San Diego, serving North County with Liza Janda www.yogajanda.com/prenatal.php  

Garrett was born on September 26th, 2007. What an angel. And, again, I have to sing the praises of my doctor, Dr. Biter. He was THE BEST! I strongly encourage anyone who is willing to consider natural childbirth to do some research of their own and really give it some thought. And no, that doesn’t mean I look down on you if you don’t consider it! You don’t have to be a super hero, or a martyr - you just have to be a mom. It is the way our bodies were built that helps you deliver naturally. Comparing my first experience (pitocin, epidural, etc.) to this experience, my dilation progressed much faster, the delivery went more smoothly, and my recovery was INCREDIBLY faster without any interventions. I gained a sense of self that I wasn’t expecting. I was just trying to do what is best for the baby, but it has made me more confident in myself and in the body God gave me. If I can do this, you can too! I know there are some exceptions, where it isn’t possible physically, or emotionally if someone is truly terrified of the process. But for most of us, I believe giving birth naturally is a union of body and spirit in delivering a new little person to the world - it is such a sacred experience! 

Sooo … here’s the story.

I had been having contractions for a week or so, regular for 3-4 hours, then stopping, and I felt close to having the baby. Then I got really sick - a deep chest infection - and I knew if I went into labor I would have a rough time. Mentally I think I stopped the process, because my contractions stopped. After taking antibiotics to ensure no bronchitis or pneumonia, I was feeling better. It was about 5-6 days later that I was thinking to myself that I felt good enough to have the baby, that I felt ready. That day, Tuesday the 25th, at 3pm I started having contractions 10 minutes apart, about 45-60 seconds long. We just ignored it as we went about our day, shopping and doing normal things. At about 5pm, they started taking my concentration, and we had the grandparents come pick up our older son Cohen. We waited until after 7pm to drive to the hospital, when contractions were 3-5 minutes apart, at least 80 seconds long, and had been coming that way for at least an hour. When we got the hospital, I was a 5! That was great news, because that meant I was halfway there already!

We labored in the shower, walking around, on the birth ball, over the back of the hospital bed, and in so many other positions. I couldn’t stay still. I had back labor once again which was very intense, but Cameron was excellent at putting pressure on my back and relieving some of the pain. Hurrah for Scripps Encinitas! The nursing staff was great - they looked at our birth plan and honored every single point! I had no IV, only necessary fetal monitoring (the nurse even listened to the heartbeat while I was in the shower in order to accommodate), and brought us heat and ice packs, ice chips, juices, etc. The heat packs were awesome for my back labor!. Om Sanctuary - some meditational music - also helped quite a bit! Cameron was the best coach, talking me through contractions and helping me release tension, and attending to every need!

At 10pm they checked me again and I was a 7-8, and an hour later, I was a 9-10. I was ecstatic, and that is just what I needed in order to get up and move around with the last few contractions. The nurse also said the heartbeat was a little low, and she was slightly concerned, but that the baby seemed fine. Dr. Biter came about 20 minutes later, and broke my water to get the last lip of the cervix to melt away. I was in the supported squat position to push, but it just didn’t feel right. Dr. Biter said Garrett was sunny-side up, and to get on my left side with my right leg up in a squat. After pushing that way for maybe 2-3 minutes, the baby turned, and all of a sudden pushing felt great! Dr. Biter helped me ease the baby out with mineral oil, and Garrett was born within minutes, maybe 15-20 minutes total of pushing time.

Later I found out the cord was wrapped tightly around Garrett’s neck. Dr. Biter had tried to loop it over his head after he crowned, but it was too tight, so he had to cut it right then. Cameron was able to catch the baby’s head and helped support the head while Dr. Biter cut the cord so Garrett could slip into the world. Total labor is hard to count, but from early labor to birth it was about 9.5 hours, only 5 at the hospital. It was a full moon, by the way, on the 26th at 12:29am when he was born!

Afterwards, I felt fantastic!! This picture is from the day Garrett was born. The only reason we stayed in the hospital was for the 24hour rule for the baby. I am recovering 100000% faster than with Cohen - no tearing, hardly any swelling, and bleeding was very minimal. Everyone that sees how great I feel says, “it must have been a natural birth.” Even my nurses told me they were grateful to have attended Garrett’s birth because they enjoyed watching the process since hardly anyone delivers naturally anymore.

I have to recommend Dr. Biter to absolutely every woman who needs a referral for a doctor! He is a doctor, but really more like a midwife at the same time. He is absolutely the best and most caring doctor I have ever met. When he came into the room, I didn’t even notice, because I was in the middle of a contraction, and he knelt by my bed and just watched me relax and breathe. I opened my eyes to see him watching me, and won’t forget the care and attention in his face. He is an incredible guy and I felt so well taken care of.

I also have a newfound respect for my body and the ability to create and deliver a tiny person. What an experience to feel the rhythm of each contraction and to work with them and appreciate them instead of fearing them. I won’t say it was pain-free, because it was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done physically. But I feel so empowered, and I have such a special bond with Garrett, and with Cameron, because of what we accomplished together.

Thanks to all those who encouraged us instead of looking at us like we were nuts! And to my yoga teacher, Liza, I know that your encouragement and wealth of knowledge helped to prepare Cameron and I for the most intense yet most rewarding experience ever!! Yoga and birthing go hand in hand … I am so grateful for my background in yoga!!

My last comment on natural childbirth is - anything worthwhile demands great sacrifice, and great sacrifice leads to something worthwhile for those who seek it.

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. 

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.

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!