The word "induction" can strike fear in the heart of many expectant moms. There are two main fears - that the pain will be unmanageable and that starting with an intervention will lead to many more.
So when is induction a good plan?
No matter how wonderful our plans can be for an intervention free birth - sometimes a mom's health or a baby's health dictate a change in plans. So when either mom or baby are compromised, an induction can be a good plan.
In working with your medical team, make sure you understand the details. How will the induction start? Are there several options in beginning this process? If one doesn't start labor - what is the next step? Will this be a slow process allowing labor to kick in - or are there medical reasons that it needs to be moved along more quickly?
Will you be allowed to eat up to a certain point, if labor does not start by evening, do you have the option to turn everything off, shower, eat and sleep before starting again.
What will your limitations be with the method of induction chosen? Will you be able to move around? Will you need constant monitoring?
These are all questions to discuss to come to a medically sound, safe process of induction.
I've seen many families go through an induction unmedicated and with a happy ending. There are definitely inductions that don't lead to many more interventions. But if that happens, just keep asking questions so that you feel informed of the choices made.
Having a doula to support you through this process can be a great help. But in any case, be well - and try not to fear that induction can lead to a bad memory of your birth.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
PATIENCE
All parents know how important the quality of patience is needed when raising children. But where does that lesson start? Soon after conception.
Are you not sure you are pregnant? Perhaps you have to have patience in having this reality verified. Then patience on having the pregnancy become well established. Patience on telling family and friends may be needed.
Patience on learning if you are expecting a boy or a girl - or even more patience if you decide to delay that information until the birth itself.
But the most patience has to be exercised when the due date is approaching. Allowing labor to start on it's own can be so helpful to having a safer, easier delivery. Each day may seem like a year - the phone may be ringing off the hook from family and friends who are just "checking" on you. This can make it more difficult to be patiently waiting.
When labor does start - being patient in allowing it to increase at it's own pace is important.
But this can also be difficult. This can be difficult on the doula also - to be on alert but not needed yet.
But in the end, the more labor is allowed to set the pace, the better the birth can turn out.
So learning this lesson of patience in pregnancy/labor can be a great starting point for your new life as a parent. Take a breath - enjoy the lesson - and have a great day!
Are you not sure you are pregnant? Perhaps you have to have patience in having this reality verified. Then patience on having the pregnancy become well established. Patience on telling family and friends may be needed.
Patience on learning if you are expecting a boy or a girl - or even more patience if you decide to delay that information until the birth itself.
But the most patience has to be exercised when the due date is approaching. Allowing labor to start on it's own can be so helpful to having a safer, easier delivery. Each day may seem like a year - the phone may be ringing off the hook from family and friends who are just "checking" on you. This can make it more difficult to be patiently waiting.
When labor does start - being patient in allowing it to increase at it's own pace is important.
But this can also be difficult. This can be difficult on the doula also - to be on alert but not needed yet.
But in the end, the more labor is allowed to set the pace, the better the birth can turn out.
So learning this lesson of patience in pregnancy/labor can be a great starting point for your new life as a parent. Take a breath - enjoy the lesson - and have a great day!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The Sounds of Labor
In the movies, labors are very noisy with moms screaming at her support people, the medical staff or to no one in particular. But is that an accurate depiction of a labor? No. However, labor does have it's own unique sounds.
Some moms find it best to stay very quiet during contractions and just sink into a quiet world while their body and their babies do the work. Some use rhythmic breathing patterns to focus during contractions. Some find low moaning to be comforting. And some are more vocal with loud expressions.
I feel all the above are fine. A mom in labor has to figure out what works for her - and in some cases their own sounds have to give them some type of a platform to stay above the "noise" of their labor going on inside. The down side to this is that they usually notice a throat that feels a little raw once the baby is in their arms.
How should support people react to the sounds. First of all - allow her to do what feels best to her. But there are times when added direction can be helpful. If a mom's sounds are in the high, nasal range, I encourage her to bring them low and deep - describing it like a "mama bear in a cave".. Upper range has a more hysterical feeling whereas the lower range has a more powerful feeling.
If a mom is making sounds that are heading in a more "desperate" direction, describing that she is feeling "lost", "scared", "in pain", then I try to direct her in a more positive direction of sounds. When she is saying "no", I encourage "yes"....when she is saying, "this is painful", I may suggest, "this is working" and if she is expressing feelings that she is scared, I acknowledge her fears but then suggest that she is surrounded by support and that she has the ability to do this. That she is okay.
So - whether you are at a birth that is very quiet - or in a room filled with sounds, remember to respect laboring moms' right to make sounds. And enjoy the end result - the sound of a newborn baby!
Some moms find it best to stay very quiet during contractions and just sink into a quiet world while their body and their babies do the work. Some use rhythmic breathing patterns to focus during contractions. Some find low moaning to be comforting. And some are more vocal with loud expressions.
I feel all the above are fine. A mom in labor has to figure out what works for her - and in some cases their own sounds have to give them some type of a platform to stay above the "noise" of their labor going on inside. The down side to this is that they usually notice a throat that feels a little raw once the baby is in their arms.
How should support people react to the sounds. First of all - allow her to do what feels best to her. But there are times when added direction can be helpful. If a mom's sounds are in the high, nasal range, I encourage her to bring them low and deep - describing it like a "mama bear in a cave".. Upper range has a more hysterical feeling whereas the lower range has a more powerful feeling.
If a mom is making sounds that are heading in a more "desperate" direction, describing that she is feeling "lost", "scared", "in pain", then I try to direct her in a more positive direction of sounds. When she is saying "no", I encourage "yes"....when she is saying, "this is painful", I may suggest, "this is working" and if she is expressing feelings that she is scared, I acknowledge her fears but then suggest that she is surrounded by support and that she has the ability to do this. That she is okay.
So - whether you are at a birth that is very quiet - or in a room filled with sounds, remember to respect laboring moms' right to make sounds. And enjoy the end result - the sound of a newborn baby!
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