Being released in June, is a 65 minute documentary which follows 3 birth doulas as they support 3 couples before, during and after their births. I am looking to purchase a screening kit so that I can bring this film to you.
Friday, 30 April 2010
Yoga featured in this month's Practising Midwife
I had a pleasant surprise this morning when my latest copy of Practising Midwife arrived. They have devoted a double-page spread to the practice of yoga during pregnancy. Mmm...this will be interesting reading I thought.
The conclusion at the end of the article was lovely in summing up. Here's what it said...
"Through yoga, a pregnant woman learns the language of her body and of birth. She visualises how her body works. As a result of feeling and understanding her physiology, she can develop trust and confidence in her own body and in the natural process of birth." [Article written by Jill Benjoya-Miller; Practising Midwife May 2010]
The conclusion at the end of the article was lovely in summing up. Here's what it said...
"Through yoga, a pregnant woman learns the language of her body and of birth. She visualises how her body works. As a result of feeling and understanding her physiology, she can develop trust and confidence in her own body and in the natural process of birth." [Article written by Jill Benjoya-Miller; Practising Midwife May 2010]
Sunday, 4 April 2010
As safe as hospital
Often through my teaching I do encourage that women consider their reasons behind their choice of birth environment. Many times in class, hospital will be cited as the best place to birth as 'it's safer'. It can then come as something of a shock when I explain that it is 'just as safe' to have their baby at home. I came across an old article from The Independent (April 2009) that cites this very thing...http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/annalisa-barbieri-i-gave-birth-at-home-ndash-and-heres-why-1669309.html
I still prefer Caroline Flint's thoughts on where a woman should birth her baby. At a conference many years ago she said that women should have the right to get up in the morning (in early labour), look out of their window and then decide what to do. Perhaps if it's raining they will decide to stay at home ;-)
I still prefer Caroline Flint's thoughts on where a woman should birth her baby. At a conference many years ago she said that women should have the right to get up in the morning (in early labour), look out of their window and then decide what to do. Perhaps if it's raining they will decide to stay at home ;-)
Get up, Stand up!!
Yay! I read the following with a huge smile on my face...http://www.lamaze.org/ChildbirthEducators/ResourcesforEducators/CarePracticePapers/NonsupinePositions/tabid/485/Default.aspx
Birth statistics and over-management of labour in America are huge causes for concern. There are many people working to help re-educate women, but like here in the UK, there's still a long, long way to go. There's a wonderful video to support this - those of you who have attended my classes will spot the "not what to do during 2nd stage" bit!
Birth statistics and over-management of labour in America are huge causes for concern. There are many people working to help re-educate women, but like here in the UK, there's still a long, long way to go. There's a wonderful video to support this - those of you who have attended my classes will spot the "not what to do during 2nd stage" bit!
Tongue in cheek
Made in 1983, but this still has some resemblance to what can be found today (unfortunately). Sometimes we need to view these rather sarcastic takes on birth in order to appreciate how, as educators, we can empower women away from giving away their birth power and it's magic to the 'professionals'.
Not designed for normal birth
Beverley Lawrence Beech of AIMS has spoken out and said that "the present financially-driven NHS structure is not designed to promote normal birth."
Here's a call to all those politicians greasing palms and smiling like lizards in the run-up to the General Election to take notice of what women need. The women's vote is far more powerful and has a much greater reach.
Here's a call to all those politicians greasing palms and smiling like lizards in the run-up to the General Election to take notice of what women need. The women's vote is far more powerful and has a much greater reach.
Stand and Deliver
I was very heartened to read in the latest issue of Practising Midwife, that a £2.6M study is underway. A study in what(?) I hear you ask. "To investigate whether adopting an upright position during the late stage of labour with an epidural gives a greater chance of having a straightforward birth."
All dependent on the analgesia and that an effective mobile epidural has been administered, they are looking to see if it reduces the risk of an instrumental delivery (forceps, ventouse etc).
Mmm...I've been teaching adopting 'supported' upright positions during an epidural for many years now, and failing that, encouraging women to lie on their left-side if anything else is not possible. Anything, but be on your back.
My teaching has been further supported by the wonderful visual aids I use, which were created by Lina Clerke.
I'm looking forward to seeing the results of this one!
All dependent on the analgesia and that an effective mobile epidural has been administered, they are looking to see if it reduces the risk of an instrumental delivery (forceps, ventouse etc).
Mmm...I've been teaching adopting 'supported' upright positions during an epidural for many years now, and failing that, encouraging women to lie on their left-side if anything else is not possible. Anything, but be on your back.
My teaching has been further supported by the wonderful visual aids I use, which were created by Lina Clerke.
I'm looking forward to seeing the results of this one!
The Back-Up Plan
I came across this video via Terri Shilling's blog. I first met Terri several years ago at the Birth International Conference at the University of Reading. She was such an inspiration.
This video is obviously over acted(!)
This video is obviously over acted(!)
Thank Heavens for Lorraine!
One Born Every Minute had an angel in it's midst. Midwife Lorraine, who was new to the hospital and yet to help deliver her first baby there was brilliant. She could be clearly heard explaining why it wasn't good for Kelly (having her 5th baby) to be on her back, and encouraging her to move on to her side if she wasn't prepared to stand up and move about a bit.
This is what's needed. Giving clear information coupled with the benefits. Kelly insisted that she should have her water's broken as they've never broken naturally before. It could have been that she wasn't given the encouragement or opportunity to allow it to be natural before. Yet again, Lorraine insisted that she just needed to give it a little more time. Lo and behold, Kelly was finally encouraged to move on to her side and within minutes her waters popped and baby presented.
Absolute magic!
Can we have more of this please?
As for the prolonged inducement of Joy's birth and having her water's broken at 1cm...please, I'd rather not go there right now..!
This is what's needed. Giving clear information coupled with the benefits. Kelly insisted that she should have her water's broken as they've never broken naturally before. It could have been that she wasn't given the encouragement or opportunity to allow it to be natural before. Yet again, Lorraine insisted that she just needed to give it a little more time. Lo and behold, Kelly was finally encouraged to move on to her side and within minutes her waters popped and baby presented.
Absolute magic!
Can we have more of this please?
As for the prolonged inducement of Joy's birth and having her water's broken at 1cm...please, I'd rather not go there right now..!
One Born Every Minute
Having watched two of Channel 4's programmes, "One Born Every Minute", it never ceases to amaze me that birth can still be seen as sensational viewing. The programme makers have missed a golden opportunity to portray birth in it's most natural form and to enable women to see that it is a normal, physiological process from which they don't need to be saved.
Most of the programme is spent watching women lying on their backs complaining of the pain that they are in. Every good childbirth educator and midwife knows, that this is the worst position for a woman to labour in, coupled with the fact that it's not so great for baby either.
"We're just going to pop this monitor on and see what baby's up to..." equates to..."I want you to lie on your back for at least 30 minutes, but probably longer as we are really busy in the unit today and I don't know for sure when I'm going to be back. If you lie still, it will give a clearer reading for me."
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