Labor Stations

We're going to do labor stations this week in class. It's my favorite class. I love to watch the group.

Stations gives couples a chance to play with lots of different tools for labor support. They communicate, find out what they like, what they don't. How to help someone in labor and it's just fun. Kerry came and talked about having a doula in labor. Most of our moms can't afford the $350-500 for a doula but they do have the nurse and partners who love them... what more could you want.

I invited one of our local doulas Kerry.. she offered a nice help at the massage station and gave couples some idea of how a doula can help in labor.

During the activity the group moves around 8 different "stations". There is a station for massage, the birth ball, pushing positions, slow dancing and the rebozzo, back pain in labor strategies. I love how the partners get into it. I try to get all the couples to adapt as they need to. It makes a great class activity.

Prepare for birth in lots of different ways!

A Unique way to prepare for birth!
(this mom said it was OK to use her very cute picture!)

I'm off to a conference in Seattle this week, so I've asked one of our other teachers to fill in for me this week. Amber is one of our labor and delivery nurses. She is an awesome labor nurse and she recently had her third baby. When you come to the hospital in labor you'll find your nurses will be wonderfully supportive and helpful. To have someone you know, like Amber, you're stress will go down even more.

In this class you'll be learning about prenatal care topics such as; nutrition, hazards to avoid and warning signs of problems. You've probably already been paying attention to improving your diet, but it's one of the topics you need to really pay attention too, even in the last few months of pregnancy. We have so many food choices available to us and it takes a lot of control to choose the more healthy foods. If you want to have more energy, have an easier delivery (the recommended wt. gain during pregnancy is 25-35 lbs. It's really easy to let yourself go and eat, eat, eat! Keeping wt. gain down will help you have an easier birth)

Keep it simple, eat lots of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, protein and drink plenty of water each day. You can take a look at the food pyramid for pregnant women at www.mypyramid.gov.

Hopefully you've already heard many of the hazards to avoid. I always ask classes what they've read about hazards . I usually hear: staying away from paint fumes, cigarette smoke, uncooked meat, fish. Other warnings include; not handling cat droppings, drinking alcohol, street drugs and certain medications such as; ibuprofen, and aspirin. March of Dimes has an awesome site with lots of information on taking care of yourself and hazards to avoid and warning signs of problems during pregnancy. The March of Dimes foundation has identified preterm birth as there current focus. The foundation gives grants for research into the causes of preterm birth and has developed an educational campaign on preterm birth for pregnant women. Signs of preterm birth can be very subtle.

Every pregnant family should be aware of the signs (before 37 weeks):

1. Change or increase in vaginal discharge
2. Pelvic or lower abdominal pressure
3. Constant, low, backache
4. Mild abdominal cramping (with or without diarrhea)
5. Regular or frequent contractions... more then 4 times in one hour ( the tightening in your uterus that may be painful or painless.. you just notice frequent tightening)
6. Your water breaks in a trickle or a gush

The rest of your class will focus on labor. You'll learn the signs of labor, how to help your partner during early labor and finishing with massage.

Take a peek at this video on signs of labor, preterm labor:





And finally here's a good video on massage during labor at this site:

The First Class

I love the first night of class

We started a new Lamaze class last night. Couples began to come a few minutes early, which is always a good sign. We start as strangers eager to learn about each other.

We introduce ourselves. As nurse/childbirth educator and lactation consultant I have the obvious role of teacher but mostly a first night is about the couples and getting to know each other. I ask the group to turn to another couple and spend a few minutes trying to find 3 things they have in common... other then being pregnant. This is of course the obvious commonality. When you are pregnant you feel like the only one in the world going through this experience. In the real world though you have lots of company. Your first pregnancy is full of questions and new experiences. It's fun and scary as you watch your body grow and feel the new little person growing inside. You and your partner start preparing for the arrival.

We begin introductions and I always ask couples to tell their due date and one thing they've done to get ready for the baby.. but it has to be unique. If someone says they've put together the crib someone else can't say they did that. It's always fun to hear the answers, cleaning out the spare room for a new baby, reading a book about fathers and daughters, putting together the swing, preparing a family heirloom cradle for the soon to appear new baby, and all the traditional things couples do to prepare for a new baby. Since the beginning of time parents have prepared the very same way. Just as in the miracle of birth a family begins to form as it has throughout the generations. We find out that we have lots in common.

The class then turns to the obvious focus.. birth. The word alone has taken on a whole new meaning for the couples. We start by finding words that describe birth, "birth is... exciting, expensive, unpredictable, amazing, but then I ask for the four letter words that describe birth... hard, long, pain, messy, SCARY! As a group we come to realize that this normal process of birth has many unknowns. A woman and her partner need to take time to examine what birth means to them. What questions do you have, what fears are hidden inside, how will partners help? The nine months of pregnancy gives us time to prepare. In childbirth class we will begin tonight learning the ageless strategies that women pass on. We begin talking about "Healthy Birth Practices" that Lamaze has collected. Lamaze has looked at studies from all over the world to find simple practices that help a woman and her family work through labor and birth.

1. Labor begins on it's own
2. Find a loved one, support person or doula to help you through labor.
3. Move, walk, follow your need to move around during labor.
4. Avoid routine interventions, unless medically necessary.
5. Stay upright to give birth
6. Keep mother and baby after birth, preferably skin to skin, allowing baby to breastfeed as desired.

These simple practices give women and their care givers a guide for care. We will be learning more about the "Healthy Birth Practices" in the remainder of class. Be sure and spend some time exploring the Lamaze.org website and watch a video on what happens in a Lamaze class.
Prepare your home, your heart, and yourself to bring this new person into your family. Examine your feeling about giving birth. Name your strengths, your partners strengths, your questions. When you put all your questions on the table you can deal with them. Work toward increasing confidence. You will know how to give birth and take care of this baby, just as you are growing this baby. It comes from care, love and surrounding yourself with loving supportive people.

I love the first night of class. I get to share in the joy of the miracle of birth with a new collection of families. I meet new friends. We will share in this amazing experience. Each family will tell a different story, each baby will be a new and shiny person.

Keep Moving!

MOVE DURING LABOR

The most common question I hear in Lamaze class is; what will labor be like? It's hard to imagine this experience. It is a natural experience, but yet you have nothing to compare it to. You have learned to cope with all manner of signals from your body. Your body signals you to rest when you need too, when you need to eat, go to the bathroom, and when to move to find the best position. The simple fact of the matter is that moving in labor helps you give birth and keeps a woman more comfortable. Try to think of the pain you feel as a message. Find more comfort.

Move, move, nothing feels better. Inside your baby is moving too.. you are in synchrony with this little person. You both are working. Imagine the dance you are doing. Allow yourself to give into the messages.


I found this awesome video today and thought it would make an impression. This girl dances with the contractions of labor. Watch her expressions change:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxjABhLEJi0#


Your baby is part of this experience. Your baby is making a journey. Trust the process. The baby matures and grows stronger. His body sets the labor in process. The hormones of birth work together with the messages from the fetus to allow the baby to be born. As you progress through your pregnancy you have noticed many body sensations, aches or pains that you have managed. This is your bodies message. The baby gets bigger, your body allows your joints to relax. The hormone Relaxin is produced in increasing amounts during pregnancy. It allows your joints to "relax" more. Your baby also has increased relaxin produced during development. This hormone allows more movement during labor and birth.

Follow your body signals, find positions that are comfortable and helpful for birth. Movement helps.