I recently read a great quote. It said "The definitions of "train" vs. "educate"; to train is to not deviate to the left or right, but go straight ahead. To educate is to broaden one's mind on a subject. This society primarily trains - doctors, nurses, attorneys, etc".
This is our medical profession to a T! We have trained them on how to react to situations. They are trained to not do a breech delivery. They are trained to not vaginally deliver twins. They are trained to vaccinate, trained to push for epidurals, trained to do routine c-sections. But are they truly educated? Are they educated on the risk of vaccinations? Are they educated on the dangers of induction? Are they trained on the hazards of repeat and routine c-sections?
We as normal everyday patients, have been trained as well. We've been trained to accept everything our doctors tell us fact. We've been trained to not ask questions or not doubt what we are being told. We are trained, just like we would train a dog, to speak when spoken to in the doctors office and not cause a scene. We train our dogs to jump through hoops and roll over and play dead, just like we've been trained to do when it comes to our opinions and ideas about our health, our bodies or our decisions.
It's time we EDUCATE ourselves!!! It's time we stop being simply trained and start researching and finding our voice. It's time we stand up for ourselves in the delivery room, to our doctors, to the insurance companies and the government.
EDUCATE YOURSELF AND FIND YOUR VOICE!!!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
The rules for having a baby
This was something that a group of OB nurses on Cafemom.com. The post asked what rules they'd like to see in the delivery room, and this is the 'humor' that they came up with. SAD!!!!!
Rules of the Labor and Delivery area
1. Don't ask me if my wheel can tell you if you got knocked up on the 15th or the 16th. That's too damn close to have 2 different partners anyway... Just suffer for 8 more months, assuming the father is not the one it should be.
2. Bed rest does not include walking around Walmart, or running by the mall to pick up something.
3. Don't come in the middle of the night because you've been throwing up for a week... and then ask me to get you something to eat.
4. Breathing hard, and faking to your family like you're having contractions, WON'T open up your cervix.
5. Tears, and rolling around in the bed also will NOT open your cervix.
6. Doing sit ups while in the bed to make the monitor "go up".... also..... WILL NOT open your cervix.
7. Until your cervix is opening.....don't plan on staying.
8. If you fight with your boyfriend and need a little TLC... go to his mother's house, not the labor room.
9. If you are there with someone in labor, don't try to read the strip and tell me what's going on. You don't know the difference between a fart and a contraction and you'll likely just piss me off and delay your loved one getting pain medication or her epidural.
10. When I ask the patient a question, that's who I want the answer from... OK? I don't need her mother to tell me when she had sex last....
11. This day and time, if a patient is between the ages of 37 and 42... she has had approximatley 2-5 partners. If she is between the ages of 28-36, the average is 7. If she is in her early to mid twenties, then her age is how many partners she's had... If she is a teenager, then "too numerous to count" applies. (and she has had, or currently has chlamydia or trich)
12. Open your damn legs. If you were a virgin, you wouldn't be here.
13. Shave that shit. If we wanted a trip to the jungle... we'd go there.
14. Clean your ass before you come in. Unless you have the umbilical cord hanging out, are in a serious accident, or are bleeding profusely, take time to wash it up a bit... it's going to be on display.
15. You'd better be nice to your nurse. She, not the physician, decides when you get pain medication... There is such a thing as placebo. We can also make you wait the entire 2 hours... adding 45 minutes for our convenience... or we can give it to you 15 minutes early.... it's all in your attitude.
16. The fewer visitors you have in with you... the better mood your nurse will be in.
17. Get rid of that one "know it all" visitor before it's too late. She can ruin the entire experience for you by pissing me off.
18. If this is your 6th baby, either get the epidural before you come in, or don't plan on one.
19. Don't blame us when you're baby can't say it's own name when it's 5. Chances are, it was the cocaine you snorted in the parking lot, just before you were rushed in abrupting.
20. If your pulse is 50 when you come in... from all the downers you've been downing... chances are your baby will be several bricks shy of a full load. It's your fault, not ours.
21. When I ask you if you smoke... you should include marijuana in that answer. Other things that should be included are, hashish, crack, meth, and any other illegal drug that you may have smoked. Nicotine is the least harmful of all the crap you could smoke...dummy.
22. Don't bitch at us because your baby has to stay in the hospital until it's 2 months old, weaning off of Methadone or Morphine. Regardless of what the bullshit clinic says to you.... Methadone is NOT healthy for babies.
23. If you call us and say you're bleeding profusely, then I'd better see some blood when you come in. Do you know how many people we notify for shit like that!
24. Hard labor doesn't just stop with 1 bag of IV fluids. We know a faker when we hydrate one.
25. If you're an addict, we already have a preconceived notion about you, and we probably don't like you. Nothing personal... it's just the way it is. You chose that life... now live it.
26. Regardless of the fact that your neighbor's sister's aunt had a baby at 30 weeks and it is perfect... that does NOT mean we're going to let you have yours at 30 weeks.
27. Your neighbor's sister's aunts baby likely had to stay in the hospital for 6 weeks, and could possibly have problems that you're not aware of... dumb dumb.
28. You'd better tell us if you're on narcotics... trust me...... We'll know soon enough, because our drug of choice is Stadol.... HA HA.
29. If you have track marks on your arm, "NO YOU CAN NOT GO OUT AND SMOKE" with your IV. What do you think we are, Stupid?
30. Don't scream. We hate screamers. It get's on our nerves and we just sit at the desk looking at each other and grinning and making faces. It's not to your advantage.
31. If you don't have custody of your 3 other kids, chances are you won't go home with this one either. We ARE calling Social Services. That's our job.
32. If the baby's dad is in jail, and he's still your boyfriend, we automatically assume "birds of a feather flock together
This is for real. I wish I was making it up. this list was created by a group of OB nurses on a message board http://www.cafemom.com/group/14160/
Rules of the Labor and Delivery area
1. Don't ask me if my wheel can tell you if you got knocked up on the 15th or the 16th. That's too damn close to have 2 different partners anyway... Just suffer for 8 more months, assuming the father is not the one it should be.
2. Bed rest does not include walking around Walmart, or running by the mall to pick up something.
3. Don't come in the middle of the night because you've been throwing up for a week... and then ask me to get you something to eat.
4. Breathing hard, and faking to your family like you're having contractions, WON'T open up your cervix.
5. Tears, and rolling around in the bed also will NOT open your cervix.
6. Doing sit ups while in the bed to make the monitor "go up".... also..... WILL NOT open your cervix.
7. Until your cervix is opening.....don't plan on staying.
8. If you fight with your boyfriend and need a little TLC... go to his mother's house, not the labor room.
9. If you are there with someone in labor, don't try to read the strip and tell me what's going on. You don't know the difference between a fart and a contraction and you'll likely just piss me off and delay your loved one getting pain medication or her epidural.
10. When I ask the patient a question, that's who I want the answer from... OK? I don't need her mother to tell me when she had sex last....
11. This day and time, if a patient is between the ages of 37 and 42... she has had approximatley 2-5 partners. If she is between the ages of 28-36, the average is 7. If she is in her early to mid twenties, then her age is how many partners she's had... If she is a teenager, then "too numerous to count" applies. (and she has had, or currently has chlamydia or trich)
12. Open your damn legs. If you were a virgin, you wouldn't be here.
13. Shave that shit. If we wanted a trip to the jungle... we'd go there.
14. Clean your ass before you come in. Unless you have the umbilical cord hanging out, are in a serious accident, or are bleeding profusely, take time to wash it up a bit... it's going to be on display.
15. You'd better be nice to your nurse. She, not the physician, decides when you get pain medication... There is such a thing as placebo. We can also make you wait the entire 2 hours... adding 45 minutes for our convenience... or we can give it to you 15 minutes early.... it's all in your attitude.
16. The fewer visitors you have in with you... the better mood your nurse will be in.
17. Get rid of that one "know it all" visitor before it's too late. She can ruin the entire experience for you by pissing me off.
18. If this is your 6th baby, either get the epidural before you come in, or don't plan on one.
19. Don't blame us when you're baby can't say it's own name when it's 5. Chances are, it was the cocaine you snorted in the parking lot, just before you were rushed in abrupting.
20. If your pulse is 50 when you come in... from all the downers you've been downing... chances are your baby will be several bricks shy of a full load. It's your fault, not ours.
21. When I ask you if you smoke... you should include marijuana in that answer. Other things that should be included are, hashish, crack, meth, and any other illegal drug that you may have smoked. Nicotine is the least harmful of all the crap you could smoke...dummy.
22. Don't bitch at us because your baby has to stay in the hospital until it's 2 months old, weaning off of Methadone or Morphine. Regardless of what the bullshit clinic says to you.... Methadone is NOT healthy for babies.
23. If you call us and say you're bleeding profusely, then I'd better see some blood when you come in. Do you know how many people we notify for shit like that!
24. Hard labor doesn't just stop with 1 bag of IV fluids. We know a faker when we hydrate one.
25. If you're an addict, we already have a preconceived notion about you, and we probably don't like you. Nothing personal... it's just the way it is. You chose that life... now live it.
26. Regardless of the fact that your neighbor's sister's aunt had a baby at 30 weeks and it is perfect... that does NOT mean we're going to let you have yours at 30 weeks.
27. Your neighbor's sister's aunts baby likely had to stay in the hospital for 6 weeks, and could possibly have problems that you're not aware of... dumb dumb.
28. You'd better tell us if you're on narcotics... trust me...... We'll know soon enough, because our drug of choice is Stadol.... HA HA.
29. If you have track marks on your arm, "NO YOU CAN NOT GO OUT AND SMOKE" with your IV. What do you think we are, Stupid?
30. Don't scream. We hate screamers. It get's on our nerves and we just sit at the desk looking at each other and grinning and making faces. It's not to your advantage.
31. If you don't have custody of your 3 other kids, chances are you won't go home with this one either. We ARE calling Social Services. That's our job.
32. If the baby's dad is in jail, and he's still your boyfriend, we automatically assume "birds of a feather flock together
This is for real. I wish I was making it up. this list was created by a group of OB nurses on a message board http://www.cafemom.com/group/14160/
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Pregnant Woman Has Natural Birth After Two Cesareans with Chiropractic - Case Study
From the March 11, 2008, issue of the the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), comes a case study involving a pregnant women who was suffering from back pain and therefore sought out chiropractic care. This was her third pregnancy and the previous two pregnancies resulted in cesarean births. The 29 year old woman was hoping to deliver this baby vaginally.
In this case, the woman started chiropractic care in her 34th week of pregnancy because of suffering from back pain. She reported having experienced on and off lower back pain throughout her pregnancy. She had also had similar problems in the third trimester of her previous pregnancy.
A chiropractic examination was performed and the determination of subluxations was made. Care was initiated focusing mainly on the lower spine. On the patient's 4th visit, she reported that her low back pain had improved significantly and she was "getting around better" than before the care.
In the 40th week of her pregnancy, the woman went into labor. She labored 12 hours at home with her husband before going to the hospital. Although she reported that the medical staff was extremely anxious, given her previous birth history, she delivered a healthy baby girl, naturally and without the use of medications or a Caesarean surgical procedure, as had been the case in her prior births.
The study authors, Joel Alcantara, BSc, DC and Ingrid Hamel, DC, FICPA, concluded, "This case report described the successful chiropractic management of a patient with pregnancy-related low back pain and possibly facilitated a successful vaginal birth despite two previous Caesareans."
http://www.fergusonfamilychiropractic.com/
In this case, the woman started chiropractic care in her 34th week of pregnancy because of suffering from back pain. She reported having experienced on and off lower back pain throughout her pregnancy. She had also had similar problems in the third trimester of her previous pregnancy.
A chiropractic examination was performed and the determination of subluxations was made. Care was initiated focusing mainly on the lower spine. On the patient's 4th visit, she reported that her low back pain had improved significantly and she was "getting around better" than before the care.
In the 40th week of her pregnancy, the woman went into labor. She labored 12 hours at home with her husband before going to the hospital. Although she reported that the medical staff was extremely anxious, given her previous birth history, she delivered a healthy baby girl, naturally and without the use of medications or a Caesarean surgical procedure, as had been the case in her prior births.
The study authors, Joel Alcantara, BSc, DC and Ingrid Hamel, DC, FICPA, concluded, "This case report described the successful chiropractic management of a patient with pregnancy-related low back pain and possibly facilitated a successful vaginal birth despite two previous Caesareans."
http://www.fergusonfamilychiropractic.com/
Breech Pregnancy Returned to Normal with Chiropractic - A Case Study
I'm a chiropractic student right now. When I graduate I will also get my midwifery certification as that is my true passion. Knowing that, my chiropractor gave me this. I thought I'd pass it on. :)
A documented case study showing chiropractic care helping a breech pregnancy was published on April 7, 2008, in the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR). In this case, a 28 year old woman returned to the chiropractor in her 34th week of pregnancy. She had previously been receiving chiropractic care for headaches and sacroiliac pain.
In week 34 of her pregnancy, the woman's nurse midwife recommended that she return for chiropractic care after it was discovered that the presentation of her current pregnancy was breech. She had previously carried her first pregnancy in a breech presentation until 37 weeks until seeking chiropractic care.
This study notes that approximately 3%-5% of term pregnancies in the United States result in a breech presentation, while 80%-100% of those breech presenting fetus’ are delivered by cesarean section. Breech presentation is when a fetus is set up for the birth with the buttocks or feet toward the birth canal rather than the normal head first, known as the "cephalic presentation".
Upon chiropractic examination, the breech presentation was confirmed and the chiropractic analysis and procedure known as the "Webster Technique" was utilized to determine intrauterine constraint and initiate correction.
Two days after receiving chiropractic care using the Webster Technique, the woman returned to her nurse midwife for her follow up visit. That examination showed that the fetus had turned to a normal presentation. In the conclusion of this case report, the chiropractor, Dr. John Cameron Thomas noted, "The importance of preventing intrauterine constraint and cesarean section deliveries is apparent. For women who desire to deliver vaginally, there are options that can be performed before having a scheduled cesarean section.
http://www.fergusonfamilychiropractic.com/
A documented case study showing chiropractic care helping a breech pregnancy was published on April 7, 2008, in the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR). In this case, a 28 year old woman returned to the chiropractor in her 34th week of pregnancy. She had previously been receiving chiropractic care for headaches and sacroiliac pain.
In week 34 of her pregnancy, the woman's nurse midwife recommended that she return for chiropractic care after it was discovered that the presentation of her current pregnancy was breech. She had previously carried her first pregnancy in a breech presentation until 37 weeks until seeking chiropractic care.
This study notes that approximately 3%-5% of term pregnancies in the United States result in a breech presentation, while 80%-100% of those breech presenting fetus’ are delivered by cesarean section. Breech presentation is when a fetus is set up for the birth with the buttocks or feet toward the birth canal rather than the normal head first, known as the "cephalic presentation".
Upon chiropractic examination, the breech presentation was confirmed and the chiropractic analysis and procedure known as the "Webster Technique" was utilized to determine intrauterine constraint and initiate correction.
Two days after receiving chiropractic care using the Webster Technique, the woman returned to her nurse midwife for her follow up visit. That examination showed that the fetus had turned to a normal presentation. In the conclusion of this case report, the chiropractor, Dr. John Cameron Thomas noted, "The importance of preventing intrauterine constraint and cesarean section deliveries is apparent. For women who desire to deliver vaginally, there are options that can be performed before having a scheduled cesarean section.
http://www.fergusonfamilychiropractic.com/
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Miss Bimbo
This is the kind of thing that we of moms of girls are up against!!! MissBimbo.com is a site geared to 7-17 year old girls. Remember playing with Barbies? Remember when parents started getting upset because of Barbie pushing a new body ideal of what perfect was? Barbie had perfect boobs, perfect hips, the perfect little waist. Barbie then started having more professional careers, in an attempt to help empower our young girls, through their play, to become doctors, veterinarians and politiciand.
While my 7 year old daughter is busy playing with Webkinz or Barbie online, now there is this virtual bimbo game. In Miss Bimbo, girls are encouraged to purge and have eating disorders, get breast implants and find a sugar daddy to support their shopping habits.
The games creators think that the game is harmless fun, while our youngest daughters are being taught that plastic surgery and diet pills will make them popular. Our daughters face so many challenges when it comes to advertising. They are the target of constant ads being placed that have 'beautiful' women who have large breasts, blond hair, blue eyes and are size 3s. Our daughters don't understand that the real world isn't all women in that range. Even the 'teen magazines' are covered in articles about image and weight. Everything right now is stacked against our daughters.
When you manage to get MissBimbo.com to load, there is a message on there from the creators. It says "As a result of this rather surprising media attention we have decided to remove the option of purchasing diet pills from the game. We apologise to any players whom this may inconvenience but we feel in light of this weeks proceedings it is the correct action to take.
We would also like to sincerely apologise to our players for the media comparison of Miss Bimbo and Paris Hilton. We feel that this does a dis-service to the players whom send their bimbos to university, tea parties or chess tournaments.
At this time we would also like to remind players that the Miss Bimbo team assume no responsibility or liability for any fashion faux pas, hair style disasters or boob jobs incurred in real life as as a result of playing the Miss Bimbo game."
They KNOW that girls go out and have these things done in real life, and are trying to cover their butts. Instead of encouraging girls that this is 'just a game' and to not try these things at home, they are more worried about the 'what ifs' in case girls do go have them done. And they are concerned that their bimbos are being compared to Paris Hilton??? I think the comparison is a real one! I mean lets see a comparison...
Hhhhmmm, do you see comparions??? I think "I" do!!!!
Another question, is why are we allowing the term 'bimbo'? If a game were created that used the 'N word' and was targeted at young black girls, would everyone stand by and support it? Why are we allowing our daughters to be targets??? If the a game as created that was called "The Pimp" and was targeted at getting our boys to find girls to prostitute, do drugs, sleep around, would we stand by and watch, silently? It's time we as parents stand up and voice our concerns over the media and ads geared toward our daughters. We need to begin to protect them!!!
While my 7 year old daughter is busy playing with Webkinz or Barbie online, now there is this virtual bimbo game. In Miss Bimbo, girls are encouraged to purge and have eating disorders, get breast implants and find a sugar daddy to support their shopping habits.
The games creators think that the game is harmless fun, while our youngest daughters are being taught that plastic surgery and diet pills will make them popular. Our daughters face so many challenges when it comes to advertising. They are the target of constant ads being placed that have 'beautiful' women who have large breasts, blond hair, blue eyes and are size 3s. Our daughters don't understand that the real world isn't all women in that range. Even the 'teen magazines' are covered in articles about image and weight. Everything right now is stacked against our daughters.
When you manage to get MissBimbo.com to load, there is a message on there from the creators. It says "As a result of this rather surprising media attention we have decided to remove the option of purchasing diet pills from the game. We apologise to any players whom this may inconvenience but we feel in light of this weeks proceedings it is the correct action to take.
We would also like to sincerely apologise to our players for the media comparison of Miss Bimbo and Paris Hilton. We feel that this does a dis-service to the players whom send their bimbos to university, tea parties or chess tournaments.
At this time we would also like to remind players that the Miss Bimbo team assume no responsibility or liability for any fashion faux pas, hair style disasters or boob jobs incurred in real life as as a result of playing the Miss Bimbo game."
They KNOW that girls go out and have these things done in real life, and are trying to cover their butts. Instead of encouraging girls that this is 'just a game' and to not try these things at home, they are more worried about the 'what ifs' in case girls do go have them done. And they are concerned that their bimbos are being compared to Paris Hilton??? I think the comparison is a real one! I mean lets see a comparison...
Hhhhmmm, do you see comparions??? I think "I" do!!!!
Another question, is why are we allowing the term 'bimbo'? If a game were created that used the 'N word' and was targeted at young black girls, would everyone stand by and support it? Why are we allowing our daughters to be targets??? If the a game as created that was called "The Pimp" and was targeted at getting our boys to find girls to prostitute, do drugs, sleep around, would we stand by and watch, silently? It's time we as parents stand up and voice our concerns over the media and ads geared toward our daughters. We need to begin to protect them!!!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Powerful Women
Powerful women come in all shapes and sizes. They come in all religions, all nationalities and all colors. They are moms, they are teachers, they are pastors, politicians and store clerks. Every woman carries within her the ability for greatness and power, but how do we go about finding that? When you think about world changing women, who comes to mind? Joan of Arc? Rosa Parks? Princess Diana? Mother Theresa? Queen Elizabeth? [url="http://www.amritapuri.org/amma/wonder.php"]Amma[/url]? The list goes on forever.
What makes these women so powerful? It isn't necessarily their pride or their education. It isn't necessarily their 'Type A personality'. It isn't their looks or their financial status. It's their passion. It's their drive for life, their longing to change the things around them and better their world. Amma is a great example. This woman's only goal is to show love. She has millions of followers and all she does is kiss and hug them and tell them a small word of encouragement. She doesn't have to stand up from a pulpit and preach about love. She demonstrates it. Mother Teresa was the same way. She spent her days wtih the 'unlovely' and 'unlovable'. She had a following of people because of her passion for life and her desire to make a difference, no matter how small. She set out to change the world, one person at a time.
What makes you a woman of greatness and power? What is it within you that excites your heart, makes you come alive? Finding out what this thing is, will change your life. It will bring you a new sense of purpose and in that purpose comes your power. Whether your purpose is to change the world in a huge way or to change it by changing your children, the cause is great. No woman is without purpose. None of us without something that truly excited us. Find that thing, and set out to achieve it. Become a powerful woman of purpose!!!
What makes these women so powerful? It isn't necessarily their pride or their education. It isn't necessarily their 'Type A personality'. It isn't their looks or their financial status. It's their passion. It's their drive for life, their longing to change the things around them and better their world. Amma is a great example. This woman's only goal is to show love. She has millions of followers and all she does is kiss and hug them and tell them a small word of encouragement. She doesn't have to stand up from a pulpit and preach about love. She demonstrates it. Mother Teresa was the same way. She spent her days wtih the 'unlovely' and 'unlovable'. She had a following of people because of her passion for life and her desire to make a difference, no matter how small. She set out to change the world, one person at a time.
What makes you a woman of greatness and power? What is it within you that excites your heart, makes you come alive? Finding out what this thing is, will change your life. It will bring you a new sense of purpose and in that purpose comes your power. Whether your purpose is to change the world in a huge way or to change it by changing your children, the cause is great. No woman is without purpose. None of us without something that truly excited us. Find that thing, and set out to achieve it. Become a powerful woman of purpose!!!
Back to it's purpose
I created this as a way to educate women about pregnancy, birth, their bodies, their hormones and just post about women's issues in general. I managed to get away from that this year and turn it into my personal blog (mostly so my family back home would keep up on things going on with us). Well, since NONE of them read it and only one friend does, I'm going to switch gears and go back to what it was intended for. Hopefully it'll then grow some and bring in a small following of women who are interested in these same sorts of things.
Don't worry Karen, I'll start a new one about our family...nothing but MILANO!!!! ;)
Don't worry Karen, I'll start a new one about our family...nothing but MILANO!!!! ;)
Thursday, March 27, 2008
An Amazing Birth Story
I was reading some birth stories today and I love what this lady says. She says it so perfectly that I decided to go ahead and post it.
"We are "taught" to fear birth, not embrace it. We are treated as if we are not "qualified" to understand the process or reason to give life which leaves us disoriented, depressed and detached. We are indoctrinated with myth instead of truth to support an insignificant and unneeded field of "medicine". To neonatal and infant surgeons, I tip my hat of respect to you; but to the many men and women OB's who "manage" normal pregnancies and meddle with a natural process turning it from peaceful to pathological for sake of experimentation, self importance or money; you are to me, a tool of ignorance that has injured many generations of innocence. For you I have pity.
If my story plays even a small part to change the evolution of though concerning birth in just one woman and help her "UN"learn the lies and deception that has forced many of us into unnecessary situations, procedures and in some cases statistics, and help her trust her body; then I would forever be grateful, humbled and satisfied. Our body was designed to give birth, and we should not tread lightly on the canvas of the one who created them. Let the truth be the healing balm to hurting wombs everywhere."
http://www.empoweredchildbirth.com/stories/Darla_Jessica.html
This is an AMAZING read and I highly recommend the time it takes to read it.
"We are "taught" to fear birth, not embrace it. We are treated as if we are not "qualified" to understand the process or reason to give life which leaves us disoriented, depressed and detached. We are indoctrinated with myth instead of truth to support an insignificant and unneeded field of "medicine". To neonatal and infant surgeons, I tip my hat of respect to you; but to the many men and women OB's who "manage" normal pregnancies and meddle with a natural process turning it from peaceful to pathological for sake of experimentation, self importance or money; you are to me, a tool of ignorance that has injured many generations of innocence. For you I have pity.
If my story plays even a small part to change the evolution of though concerning birth in just one woman and help her "UN"learn the lies and deception that has forced many of us into unnecessary situations, procedures and in some cases statistics, and help her trust her body; then I would forever be grateful, humbled and satisfied. Our body was designed to give birth, and we should not tread lightly on the canvas of the one who created them. Let the truth be the healing balm to hurting wombs everywhere."
http://www.empoweredchildbirth.com/stories/Darla_Jessica.html
This is an AMAZING read and I highly recommend the time it takes to read it.
Pain Free Childbirth and Dealing with Fear
In spite of all the advertising touting "home-like" birthing rooms in hospitals, for most women, a hospital birth will be nothing like a home birth. Interventions are routine in the hospitals in my state. Every laboring woman will be hooked up for some period of time to an electronic fetal monitor, given vaginal exams, and be told where and in what position she must give birth. If her membranes are ruptured, she will be required to deliver her baby within a certain time period. If her labor is moving too slowly, she will be given pitocin to augment it or have her water artificially ruptured. She will be told how many companions she may have with her. If she has other children she may or may not include them at the birth. How long she is kept in the hospital will vary depending on her physicianand the particular hospital. How soon her baby will be released also will depend on the baby's pediatrician and hospital policy. Some of the more common interventions that take place during hospital births are discussed below.
AMNIOTOMY
Artificially breaking the amniotic sac is done routinely at many hospitals to speed labor up, get labor going, to test thefluid or to get it out of the way so that an internal monitor can be screwed into the baby's head. It was believed that breaking the water would speed up labor by 30 to 60 minutes butthe only randomized control trial done disproved this. This procedure causes cord prolapse, a serious complication for the baby and increases the chances of an infection. With less amniotic fluid in the uterus during labor, the baby has a greater risk of cord compression problems leading to fetal distress and malpositions of the head.
DRUGS & EPIDURALS
Nearly every woman giving birth in a hospital will receive a drug at some point during her stay. Pitocin is frequently usedto induce or augment labor. Because it causes abnormally strong contractions, many women receive a pain-relieving drug such as a narcotic. Unfortunately, narcotics also are received by the baby and can affect the condition of the baby at birth and for years after. Some of these side effects are respiratory problems,impaired muscular, visual and neural development in the firstweek of life and in the following years, lower reading and spelling scores, difficulty in solving problems or performing tasks when they pose a challenge.
The new drug of choice at many hospitals is the epidural. It must be administered by an anesthesiologist and requires the mother to remain in bed afterward. She must be flushed with an IV fluid prior to getting it to keep her blood pressure up. A needle is inserted into the woman's back and small catheter is left in place where the medication is injected. It numbs the woman's body from the ribs to the toes. Many women ask for this drug because they do not want to deal with the pain of childbirth and believe it is safe for themselves and their babies because the physician who administered it, their obstetrician and the labor and delivery nurses all encourage the use of it and give no information regarding side effects.
The known complications are many ranging from requiring EFM, IV, immobility, urinary catheterization. An epidural also may allow no sensation of labor or the pushing urge, lower blood pressure, abnormally relax the pelvic muscles which may encourage the baby to adopt malpositions of the head, may decrease the production of oxytocin at critical times, and increase the need for forceps and cesarean section. Epidurals cause some serious complications such as heart attack, spinal damage, and spinal headache. After the birth, chronic backache is a common complaint as well as backache. The baby may be exposed to narcotic drugs given to enhance the effect of the epidural and which if given alone can compromise the baby's respiratory efforts as well as require the newborn to metabolize the drugs. We do not know the short or long term effects of the epidural or other drugs on the baby. Some claim that the baby is unaffected unless the mother becomes hypotensive. Some non-interventionist birth attendants recognize that occasionally epidurals may be useful for certain situations. Some examples when an epidural may permit a normal birth are for maternal exhaustion, severe back labor, certain malpresentations or psychological dystocia. Although the FDA approves drugs as safe or unsafe, they have no definition of safe and do not guarantee safety of drugs. Many who work with brain damaged children, wonder if the disability is due to obstetric drug use. They also question if women would make the drug choice if they were given complete information about side effects. The American Academy of Pediatricians discourages the routine use of obstetric drugs.
ENEMAS
This procedure is still done routinely at many hospitals, although no research proves any benefits for the mother or baby. Home birth and natural birth advocates recognize that for the vast majority of women, the process of labor will empty thebowels.
EPISIOTOMY
Although many believe that an ep[isiotomy is necessary to have a baby to prevent damage to the baby's head, prevent trauma tothe mother's perineum and the cut will heal faster and prevent3rd and 4th degree tears, no research supports these myths. Shiela Kitzinger writes that 9 out of 10 American women will have an episiotomy with her first baby although in Holland, only 2 or 3 out of 10 will. The facts are that episiotomy is a cultural phenomena. Research shows that episiotomy is donebecause the doctor was trained to do it, not because it was anecessary procedure. It can be avoided by using more physiologic positions to give birth (not lithotomy), pushing only when mom feels need to, giving birth gently, slowly to thehead, preparing for the birth by doing perineal massage andKegel exercise, avoiding forceps delivery.
FORCEPS & VACUUM EXTRACTOR
Forceps are obstetrical tools which are shaped like large spoons have been in use since the 1500's. Years ago, forceps were used for many problems which are now handled by cesarean section. Today, most forceps deliveries are low forceps, which means they are applied when the babies head is low in the pelvis and birth is imminent. According to Henci Goer, "There is no research to support the elective use of forceps.
"The risks to the mother are perineal trauma, extensive episiotomy, possible extension tearing from episiotomy, hematoma and nerve damage. Lasting effects of forceps or vacuum extraction to the mother may be anal incontinence in spite of a repaired third degree tear. The baby may have damage to the head, eyes, the nerves that lead to the face and neck and arms. However, an article written by a physician which appeared in Parents magazine claims, "Medical studies comparing outlet forceps deliveries with spontaneous (no forceps) deliveries have shown that there is no difference in risk to the baby."(Emphasis mine)
Vacuum extraction is a newer technology that sometimes takesthe place of forceps. As with low forceps, the baby's head must be very low in the pelvis before the suction cup can be attached. It has the benefit of not requiring an episiotomy andmaternal perineal trauma is less than with forceps, but the babystill has the possibility of trauma to the head and face.Chiropractors also recognize that pulling a baby out by thehead changes the spinal alignment, although this is notrecognized in any medical texts.
IMMOBILITY
Along with the lithotomy position comes immobility. It is impossible to move around when you are flat on your back. It's even more difficult if you have internal and external fetal monitors attached to your body, an IV running into your arm and after a narcotic drug was given to "take the edge off." It goes without saying, that if you had an epidural, you would not be going anywhere at all as your legs would have no feeling.
Some hospitals encourage walking and moving around. Others do not like you to be out of your room, which may be quite small and loaded with equipment, making any real walking about nearly impossible. Studies have shown that moving about and being upright can shorten labor as well as changing positions.
INDUCTION
According to statistics from the health department in Wisconsin, one-third of all births in that state are the result of induction, the artificial starting of labor. Most inductions are accomplished using pitocin in an intravenous solution or artificially rupturing the amniotic sac. The reasons for doing this are many. One of the most common for healthy full-term women, is fear of going too far past the "due date" and having a baby with postmature syndrome or meconium staining. Another reason is fear of having a big baby.
Benefits of inducing would seem to be avoiding postmature syndrome, attempting to deliver a baby that had grown too big for the mother and bypassing meconium staining. However, studies fail to confirm this line of thought. The actual amountof time needed for a baby to grow to term varies and figuring an exact due date for each baby has not yet been done. Ultrasounds have at best a 10 day window of error if done in the first trimester. The phenomenon of postdates, is poorly understood. Macrosomia occurs prior to postdates as does "postmaturesyndrome." (p. 181) The entity of postmature syndrome is based on a single physicians "subjective evaluation of 37 babies." Research seems to indicate that watchful waiting is the more prudent course of action for healthy women.
IV
At a great many U.S. institutions, one of the first items of care to be rendered to the obstetric patient will be her IV,"just in case." Just in case she needs drugs or surgery or her veins collapse making insertion of an IV impossible. Nancy Wainer Cohen and Lois Estner interviewed many labor and delivery nurses to find out how frequently a laboring woman's veins collapsed. They learned that this does not happen. This is not the way birth happens in other nations, where a laboring woman is permitted to eat and drink lightly. This cultural warping began in the 1940's when anesthesia was being given to nearly all birthing women by mask and vomiting and food aspiration were risks associated with this. Eliminating food and drink, they felt would eliminate this risk. Today, however, anesthesia methods have improved and this is no longer the problem it once was. Improved intubation techniques make this problem virtually a thing of the past. Doris Haire, a maternity care writer, in looking at 20 years of medical literature on aspiration during surgery found that the cause was not eating or drinking prior to the surgery, but caused by incompetence of the anesthesiologist.
General anesthesia is given to approximately 4% of those who undergo cesarean section. Approximately 0.3% cesarean surgeries will require intubation that will be difficult to do yet not all women who require intubation will aspirate. This translates into denying all laboring women food and drink because 1 cesarean sectioned woman out of 10,000 may aspirate.
Although IV's are supposed to keep the stomach empty, a glucoseIV actually works to slow down the emptying of the stomach. It also may encourage tissues to swell so that it makes it moredifficult to intubate, if that becomes necessary. IV fluidaccumulates in the bladder and that may slow down labor. Somewomen may have sensitivities to the IV and have a reaction fromone. It restricts the woman's mobility. The needle in the arm ispainful and inhibits free movement. The baby also may suffer from the mother's IV, as studies are being done to determine if the excessive sugar administered through a glucose IV may harmthe baby.
About The Author: Yvonne Lapp Cryns is the owner of Midwives.net - http://www.midwives.net/ Yvonne is the co-founder of Nursing Programs Online at http://www.nursingprogramsonline.com/and a contributor to The Compleat Mother Magazine athttp://www.compleatmother.com/ . Yvonne is also a law school graduate, a registered nurse and a Certified ProfessionalMidwife.
AMNIOTOMY
Artificially breaking the amniotic sac is done routinely at many hospitals to speed labor up, get labor going, to test thefluid or to get it out of the way so that an internal monitor can be screwed into the baby's head. It was believed that breaking the water would speed up labor by 30 to 60 minutes butthe only randomized control trial done disproved this. This procedure causes cord prolapse, a serious complication for the baby and increases the chances of an infection. With less amniotic fluid in the uterus during labor, the baby has a greater risk of cord compression problems leading to fetal distress and malpositions of the head.
DRUGS & EPIDURALS
Nearly every woman giving birth in a hospital will receive a drug at some point during her stay. Pitocin is frequently usedto induce or augment labor. Because it causes abnormally strong contractions, many women receive a pain-relieving drug such as a narcotic. Unfortunately, narcotics also are received by the baby and can affect the condition of the baby at birth and for years after. Some of these side effects are respiratory problems,impaired muscular, visual and neural development in the firstweek of life and in the following years, lower reading and spelling scores, difficulty in solving problems or performing tasks when they pose a challenge.
The new drug of choice at many hospitals is the epidural. It must be administered by an anesthesiologist and requires the mother to remain in bed afterward. She must be flushed with an IV fluid prior to getting it to keep her blood pressure up. A needle is inserted into the woman's back and small catheter is left in place where the medication is injected. It numbs the woman's body from the ribs to the toes. Many women ask for this drug because they do not want to deal with the pain of childbirth and believe it is safe for themselves and their babies because the physician who administered it, their obstetrician and the labor and delivery nurses all encourage the use of it and give no information regarding side effects.
The known complications are many ranging from requiring EFM, IV, immobility, urinary catheterization. An epidural also may allow no sensation of labor or the pushing urge, lower blood pressure, abnormally relax the pelvic muscles which may encourage the baby to adopt malpositions of the head, may decrease the production of oxytocin at critical times, and increase the need for forceps and cesarean section. Epidurals cause some serious complications such as heart attack, spinal damage, and spinal headache. After the birth, chronic backache is a common complaint as well as backache. The baby may be exposed to narcotic drugs given to enhance the effect of the epidural and which if given alone can compromise the baby's respiratory efforts as well as require the newborn to metabolize the drugs. We do not know the short or long term effects of the epidural or other drugs on the baby. Some claim that the baby is unaffected unless the mother becomes hypotensive. Some non-interventionist birth attendants recognize that occasionally epidurals may be useful for certain situations. Some examples when an epidural may permit a normal birth are for maternal exhaustion, severe back labor, certain malpresentations or psychological dystocia. Although the FDA approves drugs as safe or unsafe, they have no definition of safe and do not guarantee safety of drugs. Many who work with brain damaged children, wonder if the disability is due to obstetric drug use. They also question if women would make the drug choice if they were given complete information about side effects. The American Academy of Pediatricians discourages the routine use of obstetric drugs.
ENEMAS
This procedure is still done routinely at many hospitals, although no research proves any benefits for the mother or baby. Home birth and natural birth advocates recognize that for the vast majority of women, the process of labor will empty thebowels.
EPISIOTOMY
Although many believe that an ep[isiotomy is necessary to have a baby to prevent damage to the baby's head, prevent trauma tothe mother's perineum and the cut will heal faster and prevent3rd and 4th degree tears, no research supports these myths. Shiela Kitzinger writes that 9 out of 10 American women will have an episiotomy with her first baby although in Holland, only 2 or 3 out of 10 will. The facts are that episiotomy is a cultural phenomena. Research shows that episiotomy is donebecause the doctor was trained to do it, not because it was anecessary procedure. It can be avoided by using more physiologic positions to give birth (not lithotomy), pushing only when mom feels need to, giving birth gently, slowly to thehead, preparing for the birth by doing perineal massage andKegel exercise, avoiding forceps delivery.
FORCEPS & VACUUM EXTRACTOR
Forceps are obstetrical tools which are shaped like large spoons have been in use since the 1500's. Years ago, forceps were used for many problems which are now handled by cesarean section. Today, most forceps deliveries are low forceps, which means they are applied when the babies head is low in the pelvis and birth is imminent. According to Henci Goer, "There is no research to support the elective use of forceps.
"The risks to the mother are perineal trauma, extensive episiotomy, possible extension tearing from episiotomy, hematoma and nerve damage. Lasting effects of forceps or vacuum extraction to the mother may be anal incontinence in spite of a repaired third degree tear. The baby may have damage to the head, eyes, the nerves that lead to the face and neck and arms. However, an article written by a physician which appeared in Parents magazine claims, "Medical studies comparing outlet forceps deliveries with spontaneous (no forceps) deliveries have shown that there is no difference in risk to the baby."(Emphasis mine)
Vacuum extraction is a newer technology that sometimes takesthe place of forceps. As with low forceps, the baby's head must be very low in the pelvis before the suction cup can be attached. It has the benefit of not requiring an episiotomy andmaternal perineal trauma is less than with forceps, but the babystill has the possibility of trauma to the head and face.Chiropractors also recognize that pulling a baby out by thehead changes the spinal alignment, although this is notrecognized in any medical texts.
IMMOBILITY
Along with the lithotomy position comes immobility. It is impossible to move around when you are flat on your back. It's even more difficult if you have internal and external fetal monitors attached to your body, an IV running into your arm and after a narcotic drug was given to "take the edge off." It goes without saying, that if you had an epidural, you would not be going anywhere at all as your legs would have no feeling.
Some hospitals encourage walking and moving around. Others do not like you to be out of your room, which may be quite small and loaded with equipment, making any real walking about nearly impossible. Studies have shown that moving about and being upright can shorten labor as well as changing positions.
INDUCTION
According to statistics from the health department in Wisconsin, one-third of all births in that state are the result of induction, the artificial starting of labor. Most inductions are accomplished using pitocin in an intravenous solution or artificially rupturing the amniotic sac. The reasons for doing this are many. One of the most common for healthy full-term women, is fear of going too far past the "due date" and having a baby with postmature syndrome or meconium staining. Another reason is fear of having a big baby.
Benefits of inducing would seem to be avoiding postmature syndrome, attempting to deliver a baby that had grown too big for the mother and bypassing meconium staining. However, studies fail to confirm this line of thought. The actual amountof time needed for a baby to grow to term varies and figuring an exact due date for each baby has not yet been done. Ultrasounds have at best a 10 day window of error if done in the first trimester. The phenomenon of postdates, is poorly understood. Macrosomia occurs prior to postdates as does "postmaturesyndrome." (p. 181) The entity of postmature syndrome is based on a single physicians "subjective evaluation of 37 babies." Research seems to indicate that watchful waiting is the more prudent course of action for healthy women.
IV
At a great many U.S. institutions, one of the first items of care to be rendered to the obstetric patient will be her IV,"just in case." Just in case she needs drugs or surgery or her veins collapse making insertion of an IV impossible. Nancy Wainer Cohen and Lois Estner interviewed many labor and delivery nurses to find out how frequently a laboring woman's veins collapsed. They learned that this does not happen. This is not the way birth happens in other nations, where a laboring woman is permitted to eat and drink lightly. This cultural warping began in the 1940's when anesthesia was being given to nearly all birthing women by mask and vomiting and food aspiration were risks associated with this. Eliminating food and drink, they felt would eliminate this risk. Today, however, anesthesia methods have improved and this is no longer the problem it once was. Improved intubation techniques make this problem virtually a thing of the past. Doris Haire, a maternity care writer, in looking at 20 years of medical literature on aspiration during surgery found that the cause was not eating or drinking prior to the surgery, but caused by incompetence of the anesthesiologist.
General anesthesia is given to approximately 4% of those who undergo cesarean section. Approximately 0.3% cesarean surgeries will require intubation that will be difficult to do yet not all women who require intubation will aspirate. This translates into denying all laboring women food and drink because 1 cesarean sectioned woman out of 10,000 may aspirate.
Although IV's are supposed to keep the stomach empty, a glucoseIV actually works to slow down the emptying of the stomach. It also may encourage tissues to swell so that it makes it moredifficult to intubate, if that becomes necessary. IV fluidaccumulates in the bladder and that may slow down labor. Somewomen may have sensitivities to the IV and have a reaction fromone. It restricts the woman's mobility. The needle in the arm ispainful and inhibits free movement. The baby also may suffer from the mother's IV, as studies are being done to determine if the excessive sugar administered through a glucose IV may harmthe baby.
About The Author: Yvonne Lapp Cryns is the owner of Midwives.net - http://www.midwives.net/ Yvonne is the co-founder of Nursing Programs Online at http://www.nursingprogramsonline.com/and a contributor to The Compleat Mother Magazine athttp://www.compleatmother.com/ . Yvonne is also a law school graduate, a registered nurse and a Certified ProfessionalMidwife.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Atlanta Tornadoes
This weekend we had some amazingly insane weather hit the area. Fortunately we weren't hit, but it literally went about 3 miles south of us. Seth was at a birthday party and I didn't really think much about it since we didn't have it bad by us, but he told me stories later of golfball size hail, horrible wind, tornado sirens and power outages. It was a scarey realization to know my son was at Chuck E Cheese that was in the midst of the storm and I wasn't there with him. So scarey! In the last 3 weeks or so, we've had at least 4 MAJOR storms come through here, knocking down trees, cutting out power and causing serious damage. While we need the rain and it's always welcomed, the wind and tornados can stay away. Here are a couple pictures of the tornadoes that hit downtown Atlanta. The CNN tower, Omni Hotel, Westin and many buildings were hit. Centennail Park (where the Olympics were held) is a 'war zone'. Many roads are closed and a lot of buildings are probably going to have to be torn down. They say that the tornado cut a path of destruction 6 miles long!!!! While it was scarey for all of us, the stories of survival and these pictures are truly amazing.
This is one of my favorites I've seen. I took all of these off of www.11alive.com so won't be abe to keep them up for long.
This is one of my favorites I've seen. I took all of these off of www.11alive.com so won't be abe to keep them up for long.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
What a day
Nothing like a 75* day in March!!! Josette was outside and got FRIED on the shoulders. The flowers and trees are blooming and today I saw a budding Magnolia tree, which is my favorite of the flowering trees. Ah....gotta love this weather!!!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Monday Mournings *3-10-08*
I have a really rough day yesterday. Not one I'd like to repeat again, but a place I'm still finding myself this morning. It's a very dark place. A low place. A lonely place. A place of isolation, desperation and suffocation. As this blog progresses I'll talk more about it. I want to talk about it to get it out, but I want to keep it locked away as my own little secret too so this is going to be a tough one.
Since starting school, I've found myself in a new place of fulfillment. I love school and remember years ago saying that I could be a fulltime college student. I'm loving this aspect of life and the challenge that it's providing (although I still think I may be in WAY over my head, but that's a different story). For the most part, I then love coming home. I love the hugs my kids give me when I walk in the door, but then the fighting starts. Over the weekend I got tired of breaking up the fights. It's all they did was fight, tattle and call my name. I didn't want to be here anymore; I wanted to be back at school. I looked forward to my alarm going off at 5:30 Monday morning so that I could know I was going back to peace and quiet. I cringed everytime the kids said my name. I knew it was going to be followed by "Seth did....", "Mikayla touched....." or some other going on about how someone had done something to them. As the weekend wore on, my emotions got more and more out of control. I started beating myself up for being a 'bad mom', but at the same time, not doing anything to change it. I told Tim I was running away (joking of course) but inside I really wished at that moment that I could.
By the end of the night, I made the mistake of watching Extreme Home Makeover and Oprah's Big Give. I normally love these shows and they are weekly highlights for me, but this week, they just set me off. Some people just seem to have all the luck, while others of us have to beat our heads against the wall day after day after day, just to survive. The family on EHM was a family in WV who had 7 people in their family, not unlike my own. They lived in a very small house (that they owned). While my house is bigger than theirs, it's not mine. I can't afford to buy a house. Did this family deserve a house? Sure. They were involved in community activities and were always gracious about helping and serving. This is where I started to get irritated. How much have Tim and I given? How many times have we opened up our home for months...YEARS...to various people so they could 'get back on their feet'. The first couple who lived with us stayed with us at my parents apartment above their store. I had 2 kids, pregnant with the 3rd and they had 2 kids. We had 8 of us in a 1200 sq ft apartment, that smelled like fried chicken all the time cause the frier vent was right outside my door. When they left, they had infested my house with cockroaches, not something we are used to in the north unless you are D-I-R-T-Y, which they were. But I served and I gave and I did it willingly out of the love I had for people. God would want me to serve them in this way and help them get on their feet. They since have moved to CA, then to Alaska, where she had a 3rd baby, decided she had enough and left her husband and all 3 kids. I've heard rumors she's remarried and the kids are still with her Ex. :( So sad. I won't go into the other stories of people staying with us...the last for 2 years!!!! We've served our church back home more than most people ever did. There were times where we never saw each other because Tim was gone ALL the time doing things for the pastors. Again, gracious giving. He loved serving people and loved being part of something. At the end of EHM, they surprise the family by saying that someone anonymously paid off their mortgage. Not only did they get this beautiful home built for them, they got it completely paid off! Why them????
After that, Big Give came on. If you haven't seen the show it's really got a great premise. Oprah gives each person money and they have to go out and serve someone who touches them. There are some truly touching stories on it and the people are really blessed by the money they receive. One team this week took their money and was able to turn it into $200,000 in 48 hours to help an orphanage! One team turned theirs into $20,000 to help a soldier and his family. I sat there by the end, screaming at the tv. Where's MY help? All I want is my teeth fixed. I've begged and pleaded for years. I've prayed a dentst would come forward and volunteer his time and resources. Problem is, my story doesn't appear 'big enough'. My story isn't going to bring in the ratings, so you'll probably never see me on Oprah. Fulltime college student going to be a chiropractor, alongside her husband doing fulltime school at the same time for the same thing, relocate their family of 5 kids from Michigan to Georgia. Living 100% on student loans so everything we buy, every bill we pay, etc will have a 6% interest tacked on to it starting 6 months after we graduate....graduate with a $200,000 debt load EACH! And all I want is some major dental work done, but I'm on my own. I'm slowly feeling myself suffocating behind my smile. Everday when the other students (who drive Lexus and Mercedes and have perfect white smileis) that when they talk to me, they aren't looking at my eyes but my teeth. Are they? I don't know, but it feels like it. I am going to into a profession that professionalism and friendliness count, and I'm finding myself smiling less and less, all over something that could be fixed and corrected with a few thousand dollars. And dental insurance? Don't get me started on that! $1000/mo is all they allow and that fixes what? One root canal these days???
I know there are people far worse off than me. I understand that, which is why I've been one to give as much as I can. Shoot, several months ago I took my money and bought someone at school $100 worth of groceries. He's living on the same student loans that we are and it's just him and his wife, but something had happened and they needed help so I took it from my own money and gave it to him. I don't ask for much. I'm not asking for a house, a car, someone to pay my bills. I just want dental help, and no one is there to fulfill MY dream. :(
Ok, pity party over for today. I know this was a MONDAY Mourning and it's Tuesday but it took me awhile to decide if I ws going to really write it. There is so much more, so many places on this to fill in and change, but for now this has to do. I'm off to school to face another day of learning and hopefully bring a smile back to my face.
Since starting school, I've found myself in a new place of fulfillment. I love school and remember years ago saying that I could be a fulltime college student. I'm loving this aspect of life and the challenge that it's providing (although I still think I may be in WAY over my head, but that's a different story). For the most part, I then love coming home. I love the hugs my kids give me when I walk in the door, but then the fighting starts. Over the weekend I got tired of breaking up the fights. It's all they did was fight, tattle and call my name. I didn't want to be here anymore; I wanted to be back at school. I looked forward to my alarm going off at 5:30 Monday morning so that I could know I was going back to peace and quiet. I cringed everytime the kids said my name. I knew it was going to be followed by "Seth did....", "Mikayla touched....." or some other going on about how someone had done something to them. As the weekend wore on, my emotions got more and more out of control. I started beating myself up for being a 'bad mom', but at the same time, not doing anything to change it. I told Tim I was running away (joking of course) but inside I really wished at that moment that I could.
By the end of the night, I made the mistake of watching Extreme Home Makeover and Oprah's Big Give. I normally love these shows and they are weekly highlights for me, but this week, they just set me off. Some people just seem to have all the luck, while others of us have to beat our heads against the wall day after day after day, just to survive. The family on EHM was a family in WV who had 7 people in their family, not unlike my own. They lived in a very small house (that they owned). While my house is bigger than theirs, it's not mine. I can't afford to buy a house. Did this family deserve a house? Sure. They were involved in community activities and were always gracious about helping and serving. This is where I started to get irritated. How much have Tim and I given? How many times have we opened up our home for months...YEARS...to various people so they could 'get back on their feet'. The first couple who lived with us stayed with us at my parents apartment above their store. I had 2 kids, pregnant with the 3rd and they had 2 kids. We had 8 of us in a 1200 sq ft apartment, that smelled like fried chicken all the time cause the frier vent was right outside my door. When they left, they had infested my house with cockroaches, not something we are used to in the north unless you are D-I-R-T-Y, which they were. But I served and I gave and I did it willingly out of the love I had for people. God would want me to serve them in this way and help them get on their feet. They since have moved to CA, then to Alaska, where she had a 3rd baby, decided she had enough and left her husband and all 3 kids. I've heard rumors she's remarried and the kids are still with her Ex. :( So sad. I won't go into the other stories of people staying with us...the last for 2 years!!!! We've served our church back home more than most people ever did. There were times where we never saw each other because Tim was gone ALL the time doing things for the pastors. Again, gracious giving. He loved serving people and loved being part of something. At the end of EHM, they surprise the family by saying that someone anonymously paid off their mortgage. Not only did they get this beautiful home built for them, they got it completely paid off! Why them????
After that, Big Give came on. If you haven't seen the show it's really got a great premise. Oprah gives each person money and they have to go out and serve someone who touches them. There are some truly touching stories on it and the people are really blessed by the money they receive. One team this week took their money and was able to turn it into $200,000 in 48 hours to help an orphanage! One team turned theirs into $20,000 to help a soldier and his family. I sat there by the end, screaming at the tv. Where's MY help? All I want is my teeth fixed. I've begged and pleaded for years. I've prayed a dentst would come forward and volunteer his time and resources. Problem is, my story doesn't appear 'big enough'. My story isn't going to bring in the ratings, so you'll probably never see me on Oprah. Fulltime college student going to be a chiropractor, alongside her husband doing fulltime school at the same time for the same thing, relocate their family of 5 kids from Michigan to Georgia. Living 100% on student loans so everything we buy, every bill we pay, etc will have a 6% interest tacked on to it starting 6 months after we graduate....graduate with a $200,000 debt load EACH! And all I want is some major dental work done, but I'm on my own. I'm slowly feeling myself suffocating behind my smile. Everday when the other students (who drive Lexus and Mercedes and have perfect white smileis) that when they talk to me, they aren't looking at my eyes but my teeth. Are they? I don't know, but it feels like it. I am going to into a profession that professionalism and friendliness count, and I'm finding myself smiling less and less, all over something that could be fixed and corrected with a few thousand dollars. And dental insurance? Don't get me started on that! $1000/mo is all they allow and that fixes what? One root canal these days???
I know there are people far worse off than me. I understand that, which is why I've been one to give as much as I can. Shoot, several months ago I took my money and bought someone at school $100 worth of groceries. He's living on the same student loans that we are and it's just him and his wife, but something had happened and they needed help so I took it from my own money and gave it to him. I don't ask for much. I'm not asking for a house, a car, someone to pay my bills. I just want dental help, and no one is there to fulfill MY dream. :(
Ok, pity party over for today. I know this was a MONDAY Mourning and it's Tuesday but it took me awhile to decide if I ws going to really write it. There is so much more, so many places on this to fill in and change, but for now this has to do. I'm off to school to face another day of learning and hopefully bring a smile back to my face.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Got registered for next quarter
Seems like we just started this quarter, and now finals are 2 weeks away and next quarter is less than a month away. Next quarter is a bit overwhelming to look at.
Spinal Anatomy
Motion & Static Palpation (with a lab)
Instrumentation (with a lab)
Spinal BioMechanics
BioChem
History of Chiropractic
Cellular and Neuromuscular Physiology
Intro Business 2
Muscular & Skeletal Gross Anatomy (with 2 'wet' labs where we dissect cadavers)
Clinic Patient experience 2
I don't even understand what half those words mean. LOL
Spinal Anatomy
Motion & Static Palpation (with a lab)
Instrumentation (with a lab)
Spinal BioMechanics
BioChem
History of Chiropractic
Cellular and Neuromuscular Physiology
Intro Business 2
Muscular & Skeletal Gross Anatomy (with 2 'wet' labs where we dissect cadavers)
Clinic Patient experience 2
I don't even understand what half those words mean. LOL
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tuesday Ten *3-4-08*
This one is going to be hard this morning. Let's see
1. I'm eating Cocoa Pebbles, one of my favorite cereals
2. I could LIVE on cereal
3. I started my garden yesterday. We are working on the tilling and planning right now.
4. I love thunderstorms
5. I'm ready for a break at school.
6. My mom is coming down in 2 weeks and I can't wait.
7. I'm addicted to MySpace
8. We register for our next set of classes on Thursday.
9. We start dissecting cadavers next quarter. Is it sick that I'm sort of excited about that? (Scared poopless, but excited).
10. I have to leave for school now.... :(
1. I'm eating Cocoa Pebbles, one of my favorite cereals
2. I could LIVE on cereal
3. I started my garden yesterday. We are working on the tilling and planning right now.
4. I love thunderstorms
5. I'm ready for a break at school.
6. My mom is coming down in 2 weeks and I can't wait.
7. I'm addicted to MySpace
8. We register for our next set of classes on Thursday.
9. We start dissecting cadavers next quarter. Is it sick that I'm sort of excited about that? (Scared poopless, but excited).
10. I have to leave for school now.... :(
Monday, March 3, 2008
Monday Mournings *3-3-08*
Can you believe it's already March? Where is this year going? This weekend was a BEAUTIFUL Georgia spring weekend and we northerners took full advantage of it. On Saturday we spent the day at Panera studying, as usual, but on Sunday, we took the family to Kennesaw Mountain. They did a great job hiking the steep, rocky trails, although there was a lot of complaining. Seth didn't want to take the bus to the top so we decided to walk it, and guess who was the first one complaining? Yep! Seth!!! It was sort of an odd feeling though, when I got to the top and really sat and thought about the irony. Here I was, a Northerner, standing behind a cannon that killed my ancestors as they came up the hill in the Civil War. What an odd feeling. For a brief moment, I wasn't sure whether I should feel pride as a Northerener or feel completely out of place in this state. I decided to just feel whatever came, and that was pride that times have changed and that there are no real dividing lines between the north and south (although pride runs deep on both sides, especially down in the south).
Next we went to the actual battlefield where they do Civil War re-enactments. We were sitting on the grass and again, I had that weird feeling. People DIED here! Of course, people have died all over this area, but there was something sentimental about this spot. Jacob picked up this big stick and was walking around making shooting and growling noises. It really made us laugh. He had no idea what had happened on this plot of land, but being all boy (even at such a young age), he was in the spirit of it. I've posted a few pictures of our weekend trip. It's one we will take many times while we are down here, I'm sure.
One of the views from the top. Atlanta is in the distance on the right and Stone Mountain in the distance to the left. Marietta is in the front.
Next we went to the actual battlefield where they do Civil War re-enactments. We were sitting on the grass and again, I had that weird feeling. People DIED here! Of course, people have died all over this area, but there was something sentimental about this spot. Jacob picked up this big stick and was walking around making shooting and growling noises. It really made us laugh. He had no idea what had happened on this plot of land, but being all boy (even at such a young age), he was in the spirit of it. I've posted a few pictures of our weekend trip. It's one we will take many times while we are down here, I'm sure.
One of the views from the top. Atlanta is in the distance on the right and Stone Mountain in the distance to the left. Marietta is in the front.
West Cobb Life
Interested in learning a little bit about where I live? I found this site listed on a message board in Panera Bread this week. It's a newer blog, but has some history and local events and flair about the county. www.westcobblife.com
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
All this with 5 kids...
This post has been a long time in coming and many of you have been waiting anxiously. FINALLY, here are our grades from midterms. The quarter is going really well, but we are definitely busy. It seems that all we do is go to school and come home and study. Our internet at home has been down so it's been hard to find time at school to post this. So many people have said "I don't know how you do it" in regards to us having 5 kids. The answer is "We ARE doing it!" Truth is, we did better than most of our friends on these!! I know that we couldn't do it without Josette though. What a blessing she is to us, even though she may not fully know the depth of that. I know it's hard for her to be here doing what she does day after day, but I'm so thankful that God put it on her heart to come and help us in this way. She is truly a blessing and if she looks at it the right way, this is giving her a lot of life experience that she never had growing up. Would you believe that when she first started babysitting for our kids back in Belleville, she had NEVER babysat before because her mom didn't think she was responsible enough? Her room had YEARS worth of clothes piled on the floor because she didn't get rid of the clothes that she'd outgrown. How she's changed and become a beautiful lady now, not just a little girl. :)
Anyways, here are the long awaited grades.
Anatomy- (K) 86% (T) 92%
Public Health- (K) 92% (T) 90%
BioChem- (K) 73% (T)75% (In this class, 45% of the class failed the exam, so we were more than happy with our Cs.)
Embryology- (K) 86% (T) 89%
Med Terms- (K) 84% (T) 86%
Histology (K) 90% (T) 94%
Intro to Chiro-(K) 89% (T) 89%
Osteology Lab- (K) 85% (T) 95%
Osteology- (K) 80% (T) 88%
Anyways, here are the long awaited grades.
Anatomy- (K) 86% (T) 92%
Public Health- (K) 92% (T) 90%
BioChem- (K) 73% (T)75% (In this class, 45% of the class failed the exam, so we were more than happy with our Cs.)
Embryology- (K) 86% (T) 89%
Med Terms- (K) 84% (T) 86%
Histology (K) 90% (T) 94%
Intro to Chiro-(K) 89% (T) 89%
Osteology Lab- (K) 85% (T) 95%
Osteology- (K) 80% (T) 88%
Friday, February 8, 2008
Slap Happy
This is today in the library. We were getting a bit slap happy while studying this darn skull!
Grades, Grades, Grades!
I'm so excited about what we have accomplished with our tests so far. While our classes that we've tested in, aren't the hard ones, it's still nice to get good grades and help cushion the GPA a bit, right off the bat. Here's what we've gotten so far.
KELLY
Anatomy-86%
Med Terms-87%
Public Health-92%
TIM
Anatomy- 92%
Med Terms-89%
Public Health-90%
After having 2 rough quarters and failing 2 classes, it's nice to get started out this way. After last quarter I wondered if I was capable of doing this school thing so it's a bit of an ego boost to get started with good grades. The hard tests are coming though. This week we have an Osteology Lab midterm that is approximately of 250 structures of the skull, ribs and vertebrate, only to be asked 20 of them! We also have a Histology (Study of the cells and tissue) test and another Med Terms test. The next week we have BioChem, Osteology and Public Health I believe. We'll see how those go....
KELLY
Anatomy-86%
Med Terms-87%
Public Health-92%
TIM
Anatomy- 92%
Med Terms-89%
Public Health-90%
After having 2 rough quarters and failing 2 classes, it's nice to get started out this way. After last quarter I wondered if I was capable of doing this school thing so it's a bit of an ego boost to get started with good grades. The hard tests are coming though. This week we have an Osteology Lab midterm that is approximately of 250 structures of the skull, ribs and vertebrate, only to be asked 20 of them! We also have a Histology (Study of the cells and tissue) test and another Med Terms test. The next week we have BioChem, Osteology and Public Health I believe. We'll see how those go....
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Wordless Wednesday *2-6-08*
So this is actually Thursday by the time I'm posting this, but just pretend it's Wednesday. ;)
This was in our Osteology lab. These are real human bones that we were 'playing' with today.
This was in our Osteology lab. These are real human bones that we were 'playing' with today.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
An Update
Hard to believe that we are already in week 4 of this quarter! Midterms are about a week away already! Even more hard to believe is that in just 6 weeks, Tim will have been in Georgia for a year! Where does the time go??
School is going great, although it's more challenging than I ever expected. It's also much more rewarding. There is something about getting into the actual DC program and feeling like we are actually moving forward now, not taking a bunch of classes toward even starting into the program. There have been some major challenges along the way revolving household issues, but those will be left for private conversations, not open blogs. ;)
We had our first tests on Thursday and did really well on them. While it was only a simple medical terms test, I got an 87 and Tim got an 89. The class average was an 80 so we excelled on it. Just starting off with that grade gave me a bit more confidence that I can do this, even though it was one of the easiest classes we'll be taking. We took an anatomy test yesterday and are still waiting for those results but it wasn't too bad and I expect to do well on it.
Let me update on the kids now; that's what you want to hear about anyways! Mikayla had her first news report this week at school. I haven't seen the video yet but will post it as soon as the school gets it up. We had parent teacher conferences last week and her teacher had high praises for her. She is excelling in everything she does in class and is the leader of the group. She's quick to help out wherever needed. I was excited to hear that since she is in the gifted program now, she will continue to be in it until she leaves the elementary schools. She won't need to be retested at all, as long as we stay in the district. She is reading at a 3.9 reading level (comprehension is 3.0 so it brings the overall down some, but she's only in 1st grade!!!!)
Seth is doing well in class too. His grades have come way up and he too has been placed in a gifted program. He is going to be evaluated for his writing abilities as well and there is a good chance he is put into a gifted program for that too!!! A mom couldn't be more proud!
Then there's Katelyn. Her conference was very good too (much better than I expected.) We never know what to expect with her and her crankiness but she is doing well with school. We have some things to work on but her teacher said that if she can master them by the end of the year, they would like to test HER for the gifted program too!!!!!!!!!!! (Think maybe I can convince all my kids to be chiropractors???) It's nice to know that the kids have adjusted well and that our crazy schedule and hectic life isn't affecting them much. They are such great kids.
Micah is as funny as ever. His new thing is that he tells me that I can't be a doctor. From what I can understand from him, it's because he doesn't want me to be gone. He wants me home with him. How sweet!!!!
Jacob is our little monster at the moment. He's into everything! There isn't really much to say except he looks forward to meeting his future wife....AHEM!!!!! really soon. ;)
Tim? Well, he's still Tim. He's scaring away a friend of mine but refering to her as his new concubine. She's now beginning to understand his weird sense of humor, but it's taking her some time. We haven't let her husband in on the joke yet though. I'm not sure he'll find it as funny as Jamie and Ryan would.
Anyways, that's the update for now. It is time to get the kids ready for bed and hit the books. Public Health test on Thursday that I haven't really looked at yet. It won't be bad but it'll take time.
I'll try to remember to post more often. More tomorrow.... :)
School is going great, although it's more challenging than I ever expected. It's also much more rewarding. There is something about getting into the actual DC program and feeling like we are actually moving forward now, not taking a bunch of classes toward even starting into the program. There have been some major challenges along the way revolving household issues, but those will be left for private conversations, not open blogs. ;)
We had our first tests on Thursday and did really well on them. While it was only a simple medical terms test, I got an 87 and Tim got an 89. The class average was an 80 so we excelled on it. Just starting off with that grade gave me a bit more confidence that I can do this, even though it was one of the easiest classes we'll be taking. We took an anatomy test yesterday and are still waiting for those results but it wasn't too bad and I expect to do well on it.
Let me update on the kids now; that's what you want to hear about anyways! Mikayla had her first news report this week at school. I haven't seen the video yet but will post it as soon as the school gets it up. We had parent teacher conferences last week and her teacher had high praises for her. She is excelling in everything she does in class and is the leader of the group. She's quick to help out wherever needed. I was excited to hear that since she is in the gifted program now, she will continue to be in it until she leaves the elementary schools. She won't need to be retested at all, as long as we stay in the district. She is reading at a 3.9 reading level (comprehension is 3.0 so it brings the overall down some, but she's only in 1st grade!!!!)
Seth is doing well in class too. His grades have come way up and he too has been placed in a gifted program. He is going to be evaluated for his writing abilities as well and there is a good chance he is put into a gifted program for that too!!! A mom couldn't be more proud!
Then there's Katelyn. Her conference was very good too (much better than I expected.) We never know what to expect with her and her crankiness but she is doing well with school. We have some things to work on but her teacher said that if she can master them by the end of the year, they would like to test HER for the gifted program too!!!!!!!!!!! (Think maybe I can convince all my kids to be chiropractors???) It's nice to know that the kids have adjusted well and that our crazy schedule and hectic life isn't affecting them much. They are such great kids.
Micah is as funny as ever. His new thing is that he tells me that I can't be a doctor. From what I can understand from him, it's because he doesn't want me to be gone. He wants me home with him. How sweet!!!!
Jacob is our little monster at the moment. He's into everything! There isn't really much to say except he looks forward to meeting his future wife....AHEM!!!!! really soon. ;)
Tim? Well, he's still Tim. He's scaring away a friend of mine but refering to her as his new concubine. She's now beginning to understand his weird sense of humor, but it's taking her some time. We haven't let her husband in on the joke yet though. I'm not sure he'll find it as funny as Jamie and Ryan would.
Anyways, that's the update for now. It is time to get the kids ready for bed and hit the books. Public Health test on Thursday that I haven't really looked at yet. It won't be bad but it'll take time.
I'll try to remember to post more often. More tomorrow.... :)
Tuesday Twelve *2-5-08*
Man, where is time going? I had committed to blogging and doing good with it, then got sidetracked by Life....both life in general and Life University. ;) I'll post an update tonight, but here are my Tuesday Twelve.
1. I'm feeling a bit down today.
2. I miss my friends like crazy.
3. I got an 87 on my first test!!!!!
4. I feel so fulfilled while going to school.
5. I wish that I had a house cleaning genie.
6. When I get upset or stressed, I reach for chocolate.
7. I really want a night at FireFly!!!
8. I'm going to be an aunt again in September. My sister is pregnant with her second!
9. I want to start working out, but don't have the time.
10. I'm trying to learn to live in the moment, but really want to be done with school so I can start my practice and 'get on with life'.
11. I didn't get to vote in the primaries and am pretty bummed
12. I'm not sure who I would have voted for anyways.
1. I'm feeling a bit down today.
2. I miss my friends like crazy.
3. I got an 87 on my first test!!!!!
4. I feel so fulfilled while going to school.
5. I wish that I had a house cleaning genie.
6. When I get upset or stressed, I reach for chocolate.
7. I really want a night at FireFly!!!
8. I'm going to be an aunt again in September. My sister is pregnant with her second!
9. I want to start working out, but don't have the time.
10. I'm trying to learn to live in the moment, but really want to be done with school so I can start my practice and 'get on with life'.
11. I didn't get to vote in the primaries and am pretty bummed
12. I'm not sure who I would have voted for anyways.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Pain Free Childbirth and Dealing with Fear
In spite of all the advertising touting "home-like" birthing rooms in hospitals, for most women, a hospital birth will be nothing like a home birth. Interventions are routine in the hospitals in my state. Every laboring woman will be hooked up for some period of time to an electronic fetal monitor, given vaginal exams, and be told where and in what position she must give birth. If her membranes are ruptured, she will be required to deliver her baby within a certain time period. If her labor is moving too slowly, she will be given pitocin to augment it or have her water artificially ruptured. She will be told how many companions she may have with her. If she has other children she may or may not include them at the birth. How long she is kept in the hospital will vary depending on her physicianand the particular hospital. How soon her baby will be released also will depend on the baby's pediatrician and hospital policy. Some of the more common interventions that take place during hospital births are discussed below.
AMNIOTOMY
Artificially breaking the amniotic sac is done routinely at many hospitals to speed labor up, get labor going, to test thefluid or to get it out of the way so that an internal monitor can be screwed into the baby's head. It was believed that breaking the water would speed up labor by 30 to 60 minutes butthe only randomized control trial done disproved this. This procedure causes cord prolapse, a serious complication for the baby and increases the chances of an infection. With less amniotic fluid in the uterus during labor, the baby has a greater risk of cord compression problems leading to fetal distress and malpositions of the head.
DRUGS & EPIDURALS
Nearly every woman giving birth in a hospital will receive a drug at some point during her stay. Pitocin is frequently usedto induce or augment labor. Because it causes abnormally strong contractions, many women receive a pain-relieving drug such as a narcotic. Unfortunately, narcotics also are received by the baby and can affect the condition of the baby at birth and for years after. Some of these side effects are respiratory problems,impaired muscular, visual and neural development in the firstweek of life and in the following years, lower reading and spelling scores, difficulty in solving problems or performing tasks when they pose a challenge.
The new drug of choice at many hospitals is the epidural. It must be administered by an anesthesiologist and requires the mother to remain in bed afterward. She must be flushed with an IV fluid prior to getting it to keep her blood pressure up. A needle is inserted into the woman's back and small catheter is left in place where the medication is injected. It numbs the woman's body from the ribs to the toes. Many women ask for this drug because they do not want to deal with the pain of childbirth and believe it is safe for themselves and their babies because the physician who administered it, their obstetrician and the labor and delivery nurses all encourage the use of it and give no information regarding side effects.
The known complications are many ranging from requiring EFM, IV, immobility, urinary catheterization. An epidural also may allow no sensation of labor or the pushing urge, lower blood pressure, abnormally relax the pelvic muscles which may encourage the baby to adopt malpositions of the head, may decrease the production of oxytocin at critical times, and increase the need for forceps and cesarean section. Epidurals cause some serious complications such as heart attack, spinal damage, and spinal headache. After the birth, chronic backache is a common complaint as well as backache. The baby may be exposed to narcotic drugs given to enhance the effect of the epidural and which if given alone can compromise the baby's respiratory efforts as well as require the newborn to metabolize the drugs. We do not know the short or long term effects of the epidural or other drugs on the baby. Some claim that the baby is unaffected unless the mother becomes hypotensive. Some non-interventionist birth attendants recognize that occasionally epidurals may be useful for certain situations. Some examples when an epidural may permit a normal birth are for maternal exhaustion, severe back labor, certain malpresentations or psychological dystocia. Although the FDA approves drugs as safe or unsafe, they have no definition of safe and do not guarantee safety of drugs. Many who work with brain damaged children, wonder if the disability is due to obstetric drug use. They also question if women would make the drug choice if they were given complete information about side effects. The American Academy of Pediatricians discourages the routine use of obstetric drugs.
ENEMAS
This procedure is still done routinely at many hospitals, although no research proves any benefits for the mother or baby. Home birth and natural birth advocates recognize that for the vast majority of women, the process of labor will empty thebowels.
EPISIOTOMY
Although many believe that an ep[isiotomy is necessary to have a baby to prevent damage to the baby's head, prevent trauma tothe mother's perineum and the cut will heal faster and prevent3rd and 4th degree tears, no research supports these myths. Shiela Kitzinger writes that 9 out of 10 American women will have an episiotomy with her first baby although in Holland, only 2 or 3 out of 10 will. The facts are that episiotomy is a cultural phenomena. Research shows that episiotomy is donebecause the doctor was trained to do it, not because it was anecessary procedure. It can be avoided by using more physiologic positions to give birth (not lithotomy), pushing only when mom feels need to, giving birth gently, slowly to thehead, preparing for the birth by doing perineal massage andKegel exercise, avoiding forceps delivery.
FORCEPS & VACUUM EXTRACTOR
Forceps are obstetrical tools which are shaped like large spoons have been in use since the 1500's. Years ago, forceps were used for many problems which are now handled by cesarean section. Today, most forceps deliveries are low forceps, which means they are applied when the babies head is low in the pelvis and birth is imminent. According to Henci Goer, "There is no research to support the elective use of forceps.
"The risks to the mother are perineal trauma, extensive episiotomy, possible extension tearing from episiotomy, hematoma and nerve damage. Lasting effects of forceps or vacuum extraction to the mother may be anal incontinence in spite of a repaired third degree tear. The baby may have damage to the head, eyes, the nerves that lead to the face and neck and arms. However, an article written by a physician which appeared in Parents magazine claims, "Medical studies comparing outlet forceps deliveries with spontaneous (no forceps) deliveries have shown that there is no difference in risk to the baby."(Emphasis mine)
Vacuum extraction is a newer technology that sometimes takesthe place of forceps. As with low forceps, the baby's head must be very low in the pelvis before the suction cup can be attached. It has the benefit of not requiring an episiotomy andmaternal perineal trauma is less than with forceps, but the babystill has the possibility of trauma to the head and face.Chiropractors also recognize that pulling a baby out by thehead changes the spinal alignment, although this is notrecognized in any medical texts.
IMMOBILITY
Along with the lithotomy position comes immobility. It is impossible to move around when you are flat on your back. It's even more difficult if you have internal and external fetal monitors attached to your body, an IV running into your arm and after a narcotic drug was given to "take the edge off." It goes without saying, that if you had an epidural, you would not be going anywhere at all as your legs would have no feeling.
Some hospitals encourage walking and moving around. Others do not like you to be out of your room, which may be quite small and loaded with equipment, making any real walking about nearly impossible. Studies have shown that moving about and being upright can shorten labor as well as changing positions.
INDUCTION
According to statistics from the health department in Wisconsin, one-third of all births in that state are the result of induction, the artificial starting of labor. Most inductions are accomplished using pitocin in an intravenous solution or artificially rupturing the amniotic sac. The reasons for doing this are many. One of the most common for healthy full-term women, is fear of going too far past the "due date" and having a baby with postmature syndrome or meconium staining. Another reason is fear of having a big baby.
Benefits of inducing would seem to be avoiding postmature syndrome, attempting to deliver a baby that had grown too big for the mother and bypassing meconium staining. However, studies fail to confirm this line of thought. The actual amountof time needed for a baby to grow to term varies and figuring an exact due date for each baby has not yet been done. Ultrasounds have at best a 10 day window of error if done in the first trimester. The phenomenon of postdates, is poorly understood. Macrosomia occurs prior to postdates as does "postmaturesyndrome." (p. 181) The entity of postmature syndrome is based on a single physicians "subjective evaluation of 37 babies." Research seems to indicate that watchful waiting is the more prudent course of action for healthy women.
IV
At a great many U.S. institutions, one of the first items of care to be rendered to the obstetric patient will be her IV,"just in case." Just in case she needs drugs or surgery or her veins collapse making insertion of an IV impossible. Nancy Wainer Cohen and Lois Estner interviewed many labor and delivery nurses to find out how frequently a laboring woman's veins collapsed. They learned that this does not happen. This is not the way birth happens in other nations, where a laboring woman is permitted to eat and drink lightly. This cultural warping began in the 1940's when anesthesia was being given to nearly all birthing women by mask and vomiting and food aspiration were risks associated with this. Eliminating food and drink, they felt would eliminate this risk. Today, however, anesthesia methods have improved and this is no longer the problem it once was. Improved intubation techniques make this problem virtually a thing of the past. Doris Haire, a maternity care writer, in looking at 20 years of medical literature on aspiration during surgery found that the cause was not eating or drinking prior to the surgery, but caused by incompetence of the anesthesiologist.
General anesthesia is given to approximately 4% of those who undergo cesarean section. Approximately 0.3% cesarean surgeries will require intubation that will be difficult to do yet not all women who require intubation will aspirate. This translates into denying all laboring women food and drink because 1 cesarean sectioned woman out of 10,000 may aspirate.
Although IV's are supposed to keep the stomach empty, a glucoseIV actually works to slow down the emptying of the stomach. It also may encourage tissues to swell so that it makes it moredifficult to intubate, if that becomes necessary. IV fluidaccumulates in the bladder and that may slow down labor. Somewomen may have sensitivities to the IV and have a reaction fromone. It restricts the woman's mobility. The needle in the arm ispainful and inhibits free movement. The baby also may suffer from the mother's IV, as studies are being done to determine if the excessive sugar administered through a glucose IV may harmthe baby.
About The Author: Yvonne Lapp Cryns is the owner of Midwives.net - http://www.midwives.net/ Yvonne is the co-founder of Nursing Programs Online at http://www.nursingprogramsonline.com/and a contributor to The Compleat Mother Magazine athttp://www.compleatmother.com/ . Yvonne is also a law school graduate, a registered nurse and a Certified ProfessionalMidwife.
AMNIOTOMY
Artificially breaking the amniotic sac is done routinely at many hospitals to speed labor up, get labor going, to test thefluid or to get it out of the way so that an internal monitor can be screwed into the baby's head. It was believed that breaking the water would speed up labor by 30 to 60 minutes butthe only randomized control trial done disproved this. This procedure causes cord prolapse, a serious complication for the baby and increases the chances of an infection. With less amniotic fluid in the uterus during labor, the baby has a greater risk of cord compression problems leading to fetal distress and malpositions of the head.
DRUGS & EPIDURALS
Nearly every woman giving birth in a hospital will receive a drug at some point during her stay. Pitocin is frequently usedto induce or augment labor. Because it causes abnormally strong contractions, many women receive a pain-relieving drug such as a narcotic. Unfortunately, narcotics also are received by the baby and can affect the condition of the baby at birth and for years after. Some of these side effects are respiratory problems,impaired muscular, visual and neural development in the firstweek of life and in the following years, lower reading and spelling scores, difficulty in solving problems or performing tasks when they pose a challenge.
The new drug of choice at many hospitals is the epidural. It must be administered by an anesthesiologist and requires the mother to remain in bed afterward. She must be flushed with an IV fluid prior to getting it to keep her blood pressure up. A needle is inserted into the woman's back and small catheter is left in place where the medication is injected. It numbs the woman's body from the ribs to the toes. Many women ask for this drug because they do not want to deal with the pain of childbirth and believe it is safe for themselves and their babies because the physician who administered it, their obstetrician and the labor and delivery nurses all encourage the use of it and give no information regarding side effects.
The known complications are many ranging from requiring EFM, IV, immobility, urinary catheterization. An epidural also may allow no sensation of labor or the pushing urge, lower blood pressure, abnormally relax the pelvic muscles which may encourage the baby to adopt malpositions of the head, may decrease the production of oxytocin at critical times, and increase the need for forceps and cesarean section. Epidurals cause some serious complications such as heart attack, spinal damage, and spinal headache. After the birth, chronic backache is a common complaint as well as backache. The baby may be exposed to narcotic drugs given to enhance the effect of the epidural and which if given alone can compromise the baby's respiratory efforts as well as require the newborn to metabolize the drugs. We do not know the short or long term effects of the epidural or other drugs on the baby. Some claim that the baby is unaffected unless the mother becomes hypotensive. Some non-interventionist birth attendants recognize that occasionally epidurals may be useful for certain situations. Some examples when an epidural may permit a normal birth are for maternal exhaustion, severe back labor, certain malpresentations or psychological dystocia. Although the FDA approves drugs as safe or unsafe, they have no definition of safe and do not guarantee safety of drugs. Many who work with brain damaged children, wonder if the disability is due to obstetric drug use. They also question if women would make the drug choice if they were given complete information about side effects. The American Academy of Pediatricians discourages the routine use of obstetric drugs.
ENEMAS
This procedure is still done routinely at many hospitals, although no research proves any benefits for the mother or baby. Home birth and natural birth advocates recognize that for the vast majority of women, the process of labor will empty thebowels.
EPISIOTOMY
Although many believe that an ep[isiotomy is necessary to have a baby to prevent damage to the baby's head, prevent trauma tothe mother's perineum and the cut will heal faster and prevent3rd and 4th degree tears, no research supports these myths. Shiela Kitzinger writes that 9 out of 10 American women will have an episiotomy with her first baby although in Holland, only 2 or 3 out of 10 will. The facts are that episiotomy is a cultural phenomena. Research shows that episiotomy is donebecause the doctor was trained to do it, not because it was anecessary procedure. It can be avoided by using more physiologic positions to give birth (not lithotomy), pushing only when mom feels need to, giving birth gently, slowly to thehead, preparing for the birth by doing perineal massage andKegel exercise, avoiding forceps delivery.
FORCEPS & VACUUM EXTRACTOR
Forceps are obstetrical tools which are shaped like large spoons have been in use since the 1500's. Years ago, forceps were used for many problems which are now handled by cesarean section. Today, most forceps deliveries are low forceps, which means they are applied when the babies head is low in the pelvis and birth is imminent. According to Henci Goer, "There is no research to support the elective use of forceps.
"The risks to the mother are perineal trauma, extensive episiotomy, possible extension tearing from episiotomy, hematoma and nerve damage. Lasting effects of forceps or vacuum extraction to the mother may be anal incontinence in spite of a repaired third degree tear. The baby may have damage to the head, eyes, the nerves that lead to the face and neck and arms. However, an article written by a physician which appeared in Parents magazine claims, "Medical studies comparing outlet forceps deliveries with spontaneous (no forceps) deliveries have shown that there is no difference in risk to the baby."(Emphasis mine)
Vacuum extraction is a newer technology that sometimes takesthe place of forceps. As with low forceps, the baby's head must be very low in the pelvis before the suction cup can be attached. It has the benefit of not requiring an episiotomy andmaternal perineal trauma is less than with forceps, but the babystill has the possibility of trauma to the head and face.Chiropractors also recognize that pulling a baby out by thehead changes the spinal alignment, although this is notrecognized in any medical texts.
IMMOBILITY
Along with the lithotomy position comes immobility. It is impossible to move around when you are flat on your back. It's even more difficult if you have internal and external fetal monitors attached to your body, an IV running into your arm and after a narcotic drug was given to "take the edge off." It goes without saying, that if you had an epidural, you would not be going anywhere at all as your legs would have no feeling.
Some hospitals encourage walking and moving around. Others do not like you to be out of your room, which may be quite small and loaded with equipment, making any real walking about nearly impossible. Studies have shown that moving about and being upright can shorten labor as well as changing positions.
INDUCTION
According to statistics from the health department in Wisconsin, one-third of all births in that state are the result of induction, the artificial starting of labor. Most inductions are accomplished using pitocin in an intravenous solution or artificially rupturing the amniotic sac. The reasons for doing this are many. One of the most common for healthy full-term women, is fear of going too far past the "due date" and having a baby with postmature syndrome or meconium staining. Another reason is fear of having a big baby.
Benefits of inducing would seem to be avoiding postmature syndrome, attempting to deliver a baby that had grown too big for the mother and bypassing meconium staining. However, studies fail to confirm this line of thought. The actual amountof time needed for a baby to grow to term varies and figuring an exact due date for each baby has not yet been done. Ultrasounds have at best a 10 day window of error if done in the first trimester. The phenomenon of postdates, is poorly understood. Macrosomia occurs prior to postdates as does "postmaturesyndrome." (p. 181) The entity of postmature syndrome is based on a single physicians "subjective evaluation of 37 babies." Research seems to indicate that watchful waiting is the more prudent course of action for healthy women.
IV
At a great many U.S. institutions, one of the first items of care to be rendered to the obstetric patient will be her IV,"just in case." Just in case she needs drugs or surgery or her veins collapse making insertion of an IV impossible. Nancy Wainer Cohen and Lois Estner interviewed many labor and delivery nurses to find out how frequently a laboring woman's veins collapsed. They learned that this does not happen. This is not the way birth happens in other nations, where a laboring woman is permitted to eat and drink lightly. This cultural warping began in the 1940's when anesthesia was being given to nearly all birthing women by mask and vomiting and food aspiration were risks associated with this. Eliminating food and drink, they felt would eliminate this risk. Today, however, anesthesia methods have improved and this is no longer the problem it once was. Improved intubation techniques make this problem virtually a thing of the past. Doris Haire, a maternity care writer, in looking at 20 years of medical literature on aspiration during surgery found that the cause was not eating or drinking prior to the surgery, but caused by incompetence of the anesthesiologist.
General anesthesia is given to approximately 4% of those who undergo cesarean section. Approximately 0.3% cesarean surgeries will require intubation that will be difficult to do yet not all women who require intubation will aspirate. This translates into denying all laboring women food and drink because 1 cesarean sectioned woman out of 10,000 may aspirate.
Although IV's are supposed to keep the stomach empty, a glucoseIV actually works to slow down the emptying of the stomach. It also may encourage tissues to swell so that it makes it moredifficult to intubate, if that becomes necessary. IV fluidaccumulates in the bladder and that may slow down labor. Somewomen may have sensitivities to the IV and have a reaction fromone. It restricts the woman's mobility. The needle in the arm ispainful and inhibits free movement. The baby also may suffer from the mother's IV, as studies are being done to determine if the excessive sugar administered through a glucose IV may harmthe baby.
About The Author: Yvonne Lapp Cryns is the owner of Midwives.net - http://www.midwives.net/ Yvonne is the co-founder of Nursing Programs Online at http://www.nursingprogramsonline.com/and a contributor to The Compleat Mother Magazine athttp://www.compleatmother.com/ . Yvonne is also a law school graduate, a registered nurse and a Certified ProfessionalMidwife.
Snow in Georgia
The weather here in Georgia has been absolutely crazy. On Wednesday we had snow. It sent the whole city into a bit of a panic. Schools were shutting down. There was a run on groceries at the stores. People were just nuts. Friday, the weather was in the mid 50s and beautiful. Today it got cold again and it snowed. While our yard doesn't seem to hold snow well and we had a lot of bare spots, most of the neighbors had close to an inch. The kids went into the backyard and built a snowman. Even though we are from Michigan and have spent a lot of time in the snow, this was the first snowman they had made. It's not pretty, but it's THEIRS. ;)
Friday, January 18, 2008
Friday Funny *1-18-08*
How many chiropractors does it take to change a light bulb?
Only one but it will take him 7 visits to do it.
Only one but it will take him 7 visits to do it.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Georgia Snow
A few weeks ago, Micah asked me when he got to play in snow. My answer? "When you are 7." Why 7? Because that is when we will be moving back home to Michigan. While we hope to be back next Christmas, who knows what will happen. The past several years, michigan winters have sucked, to put it mildly. Of course the year we leave, they have an amazing winter and seem to constantly be getting snow. FIGURES!! Well, we in Atlanta got a little snow of our own today. :) It was funny to hear students walk out the building in shear amazement because they've never seen snow before. Many tried to take pictures of the flurries and were disappointed when their cellphones didn't capture the flakes. By the time we got home tonight, we had an inch of snow at our house and the news said that a few areas got up to 4"!!!!! This is not normal down here and people don't know what to do. The news tonight is already filled with schools that are closed tomorrow, even though it should all turn to rain overnight. It's quite humerous to all of us Michiganders. Here are a couple pics from my yard tonight.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Tuesday Twelve *1-15-08*
1. I just started the DC program yesterday
2. These 7am classes really suck!!! I had to get up at 5:15 to leave by 6.
3. I'm looking forward to the spring.
4. I love bears.
5. I hate birds
6. The one thing about myself I would change is my smile/teeth.
7. I also want to have my boobs done someday.
8. I was married at 19 years old.
9. I just had my 12th wedding anniversary.
10. That makes me.....you do the math!
11. I just had an IUD put in so I don't have more kids. (How's that for TMI)
12. Last but not least for today, I'm starting to like coffee!
2. These 7am classes really suck!!! I had to get up at 5:15 to leave by 6.
3. I'm looking forward to the spring.
4. I love bears.
5. I hate birds
6. The one thing about myself I would change is my smile/teeth.
7. I also want to have my boobs done someday.
8. I was married at 19 years old.
9. I just had my 12th wedding anniversary.
10. That makes me.....you do the math!
11. I just had an IUD put in so I don't have more kids. (How's that for TMI)
12. Last but not least for today, I'm starting to like coffee!
Monday, January 14, 2008
An Amazing Birth Story
I was reading some birth stories today and I love what this lady says. She says it so perfectly that I decided to go ahead and post it.
"We are "taught" to fear birth, not embrace it. We are treated as if we are not "qualified" to understand the process or reason to give life which leaves us disoriented, depressed and detached. We are indoctrinated with myth instead of truth to support an insignificant and unneeded field of "medicine". To neonatal and infant surgeons, I tip my hat of respect to you; but to the many men and women OB's who "manage" normal pregnancies and meddle with a natural process turning it from peaceful to pathological for sake of experimentation, self importance or money; you are to me, a tool of ignorance that has injured many generations of innocence. For you I have pity.
If my story plays even a small part to change the evolution of though concerning birth in just one woman and help her "UN"learn the lies and deception that has forced many of us into unnecessary situations, procedures and in some cases statistics, and help her trust her body; then I would forever be grateful, humbled and satisfied. Our body was designed to give birth, and we should not tread lightly on the canvas of the one who created them. Let the truth be the healing balm to hurting wombs everywhere."
http://www.empoweredchildbirth.com/stories/Darla_Jessica.html
This is an AMAZING read and I highly recommend the time it takes to read it.
"We are "taught" to fear birth, not embrace it. We are treated as if we are not "qualified" to understand the process or reason to give life which leaves us disoriented, depressed and detached. We are indoctrinated with myth instead of truth to support an insignificant and unneeded field of "medicine". To neonatal and infant surgeons, I tip my hat of respect to you; but to the many men and women OB's who "manage" normal pregnancies and meddle with a natural process turning it from peaceful to pathological for sake of experimentation, self importance or money; you are to me, a tool of ignorance that has injured many generations of innocence. For you I have pity.
If my story plays even a small part to change the evolution of though concerning birth in just one woman and help her "UN"learn the lies and deception that has forced many of us into unnecessary situations, procedures and in some cases statistics, and help her trust her body; then I would forever be grateful, humbled and satisfied. Our body was designed to give birth, and we should not tread lightly on the canvas of the one who created them. Let the truth be the healing balm to hurting wombs everywhere."
http://www.empoweredchildbirth.com/stories/Darla_Jessica.html
This is an AMAZING read and I highly recommend the time it takes to read it.
Fetus Ejection Reflex
I've been doing some reading on Fetus Ejection Reflex (FER) and have found the concept most intriguing. While I never knew there was an actual term for it, I know that this is how my body handles delivering it's babies. During FER a woman may suddenly have a small outburst of fear. It's typical to hear "I'm not going to make it", "I can't do this", or some other seemingly irrational saying. Her body may arch forward into more of an upright position. She has an overwhelming ability to push that can't be stopped even if trying. In a hospital setting, labor is often seen as 3 stages...early labor, transition and the final stage of labor (which is pushing). During these stages, interventions are taken at each step of the way and some of these interventions decrease the mothers ability to know and understand FER. For instance, pitocin being used in the early stages, brings on unnatural contractions that are not what the body wants to do. Instead of the uterus working from top to bottom to push baby out (like a wave) the uterus has intense contractions through the whole thing and no wave pattern is created. A natural contraction also has a peak and a low point, with a small resting phase in between contractions. When pitocin is used, the contractions are right on top of each other, with no rest between, and causing the uterus to get overly tired and 'stressed' causing it to not work the way it naturally should to expel the baby. Throughout labor, vitals are checked, nurses come in and out, monitors are beeping. This all causes a bit of 'uneasiness' even if mom doesn't fully realize it. It still causes her to be uncomfortable. There is at some point in every woman's labor, a point where she wants to make noise or scream, but many women don't want people to hear them so they try to fight that urge, putting more pressure on themselves and causing their body to not react the way it was created to. Those kind of stresses all work AGAINST labor and the way that the body is supposed to react to the baby. As the final stage approaches and a woman is fully dilated, she is often told be being pushing. Many women can push for hours, even though their body has no desire to. This pushing can cause unnecessary tearing as it is putting an abnormal amount of pressure onto the cervix and vaginal area. Oxygen can be decreased to both mom and baby as mom holds her breathe to push. It causes the mother to be overly tired from working harder than she needs to. Swelling in the vaginal area can (and does often) occure, causing even more intense tearing and pain. The mothers blood pressure can rise as she is working harder than she probably ever has in her life and is becoming stressed. The list goes on and on.
A mother who is left to her own instincts however, will have very few (if any) of these above mentioned issues. Her body knows when it needs to push and it will push on it's own, without the extra effort from her. Usually when this happens in a hospital and a woman is finally getting that overwhelming urge to push, she is told to STOP pushing and to 'pant'. Who is the 'genius' who thought this process up?? Talk about 100% unnatural! It's like telling someone to not their next breath. It's not possible. The body needs to breathe just like in that moment, the body needs to push out the baby. A baby is eventually going to come out, whether a mom tries to not push (and instead pants) or not. A baby isn't going to stay in the body forever.
I have 3 examples in my own 4 pregnancies of FER. With baby #2, my labor progressed quickly. I went from 7cm-10cm in a matter of a minute. The nurse had just checked me and left the room when I felt the need to push. Of course, being the all knowing, 'educated' nurse, she knew more about my body than I did and said it wasn't possible since I was only 7cm. I told my husband that she better get in there or the baby would be on the floor. Reluctantly she came back, rechecked and sure enough, I was 10cm and baby was 'right there'. She of course paniced since nothing was ready and the doctor was no where to be seen. She did the traditional "pant, don't push" line and went to call the doctor. I remember telling the intern at the end of my bed could catch this baby cause there was no way I could keep it in, even if I tried. The head crowned and the doctor got there just in time to give me a VERY unnecessary episiotomy catch the baby. He did nothing to assist in the delivery. My body had taken over and my body had delivered the baby, without any help or hinderance from me.
With my 3rd baby, I was in the car on the way to the hospital. My husband was out of town on business and baby was 3 weeks early. I remember telling my mom "My water just broke. You need to go fast because it won't be long now" and then seconds later saying "I NEED to push". She too said "Don't push. You need to blow". I was holding on to the "Oh Shit" bar at the top of the car and pulling my bottom off of the seat. I knew baby was crowning and was afraid it would deliver and didn't want to smoosh it. (Funny sounding when I think back on it). I tried with everything in me to not push. We pulled up the ER and by the time they got me on a table and got my pants off, the head was already out. There was no intentional pushing my baby girl out. My body took over and FER took control.
With my fourth pregnancy I decided that I didn't need the outside 'help' and that my body knew exactly what it needed to do. I decided early on that this baby would be born at home. I remember that feeling of 'ring of fire' as baby's head began to crown. That was the last I remember of straining. I put my hands on the points that were burning and my baby boy slid out. There was no effort from me except for pulling him from the water and to my chest. I never once forced a push out. My body gently slid him out.
So, while there will alway be the camp that says that 'purple pushing' is necessary, there is NO proof that needless pushing increases the speed of labor. In fact, the evidence is beginning to show the exact opposite to be true. It works in reverse of what the desired goal is.
For further research on FER:
http://www.activebirthpools.com/chapter3.html
http://www.wombecology.com/fetusejection.html
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/enews/enews0617.asp
A mother who is left to her own instincts however, will have very few (if any) of these above mentioned issues. Her body knows when it needs to push and it will push on it's own, without the extra effort from her. Usually when this happens in a hospital and a woman is finally getting that overwhelming urge to push, she is told to STOP pushing and to 'pant'. Who is the 'genius' who thought this process up?? Talk about 100% unnatural! It's like telling someone to not their next breath. It's not possible. The body needs to breathe just like in that moment, the body needs to push out the baby. A baby is eventually going to come out, whether a mom tries to not push (and instead pants) or not. A baby isn't going to stay in the body forever.
I have 3 examples in my own 4 pregnancies of FER. With baby #2, my labor progressed quickly. I went from 7cm-10cm in a matter of a minute. The nurse had just checked me and left the room when I felt the need to push. Of course, being the all knowing, 'educated' nurse, she knew more about my body than I did and said it wasn't possible since I was only 7cm. I told my husband that she better get in there or the baby would be on the floor. Reluctantly she came back, rechecked and sure enough, I was 10cm and baby was 'right there'. She of course paniced since nothing was ready and the doctor was no where to be seen. She did the traditional "pant, don't push" line and went to call the doctor. I remember telling the intern at the end of my bed could catch this baby cause there was no way I could keep it in, even if I tried. The head crowned and the doctor got there just in time to give me a VERY unnecessary episiotomy catch the baby. He did nothing to assist in the delivery. My body had taken over and my body had delivered the baby, without any help or hinderance from me.
With my 3rd baby, I was in the car on the way to the hospital. My husband was out of town on business and baby was 3 weeks early. I remember telling my mom "My water just broke. You need to go fast because it won't be long now" and then seconds later saying "I NEED to push". She too said "Don't push. You need to blow". I was holding on to the "Oh Shit" bar at the top of the car and pulling my bottom off of the seat. I knew baby was crowning and was afraid it would deliver and didn't want to smoosh it. (Funny sounding when I think back on it). I tried with everything in me to not push. We pulled up the ER and by the time they got me on a table and got my pants off, the head was already out. There was no intentional pushing my baby girl out. My body took over and FER took control.
With my fourth pregnancy I decided that I didn't need the outside 'help' and that my body knew exactly what it needed to do. I decided early on that this baby would be born at home. I remember that feeling of 'ring of fire' as baby's head began to crown. That was the last I remember of straining. I put my hands on the points that were burning and my baby boy slid out. There was no effort from me except for pulling him from the water and to my chest. I never once forced a push out. My body gently slid him out.
So, while there will alway be the camp that says that 'purple pushing' is necessary, there is NO proof that needless pushing increases the speed of labor. In fact, the evidence is beginning to show the exact opposite to be true. It works in reverse of what the desired goal is.
For further research on FER:
http://www.activebirthpools.com/chapter3.html
http://www.wombecology.com/fetusejection.html
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/enews/enews0617.asp
A substitute for natural pregnancy...*A little humor*
A little *humor*
A substitute for natural pregnancy...
--Author Unknown
A substitute for natural pregnancy has been developed by Breed Bronson, Inc., makers of Infantill formula and other baby products. The YOUterus/Plus-centa unit was introduced in pharmacies and discount stores nationwide today.
A company representative explained the rationale for the product: "Many women find it inconvenient to carry their fetuses and maintain a healthy food supply for them for an entire nine months. Pregnancy changes their figures, can interfere with job performance, and requires avoiding drugs and junk food. And some men don't like to be reminded that female sex organs don't exist solely for them."
After a woman's fetus is implanted in a YOUterus/Plus-centa, the unit is simply kept in contact with a body having a temperature of 98.6* F. "But after the second trimester, " commented the representative, "the fetus can maintain its own warmth. It can be left completely alone, except for periodic refilling of the Plus-centa feeding solution."
When asked if such technology would be an acceptable substitute for a woman's experience of new life developing within her, the representative stated: "We believe it will be fairly common for women to carry their own babies the first few weeks, when the thrill of motherhood is new. But soon, anyone experiencing nausea will be referred to our product. Eventually, anyone appearing pregnant after 6 months will be considered a fanatic."
"Eventually there will be psychologists, completely ignorant of the history of human reproduction, who will state that after 6 months, natural gestation is harmful to the fetus' independence."
All preliminary research has indicated that artificially fed fetuses are significantly less healthy than their naturally nourished counterparts. The Breed Bronson representative commented: "The literature accompanying the units will state that natural pregnancy is preferable. But that won't affect sales. We'll spend millions on freebies to obstetricians, and they'll convey to their patients that natural pregnancy is not greatly important, just a matter of personal preference."
"Through advertising dollars, we'll also enlist the media. Television will present natural pregnancy as abnormal by never showing it. 'Yes, we're expecting,' your favorite sitcom character will say, 'our housekeeper is carrying the baby right now.' Parents will come to believe that pregnancy, especially in public, is immodest."
"In natural pregnancy, only mom carries and nourishes the baby. With a YOUterus/Plus-centa, dad, grandma and sitter will all have equal access. We'll promote this idea that democracy, and not quality or safety, is what is important in fetal feeding."
When asked if the company was concerned about government regulation of a product proven harmful to developing babies, the representative stated: "Are you kidding? We project the government will buy one third of our units to distribute to poor women."
A substitute for natural pregnancy...
--Author Unknown
A substitute for natural pregnancy has been developed by Breed Bronson, Inc., makers of Infantill formula and other baby products. The YOUterus/Plus-centa unit was introduced in pharmacies and discount stores nationwide today.
A company representative explained the rationale for the product: "Many women find it inconvenient to carry their fetuses and maintain a healthy food supply for them for an entire nine months. Pregnancy changes their figures, can interfere with job performance, and requires avoiding drugs and junk food. And some men don't like to be reminded that female sex organs don't exist solely for them."
After a woman's fetus is implanted in a YOUterus/Plus-centa, the unit is simply kept in contact with a body having a temperature of 98.6* F. "But after the second trimester, " commented the representative, "the fetus can maintain its own warmth. It can be left completely alone, except for periodic refilling of the Plus-centa feeding solution."
When asked if such technology would be an acceptable substitute for a woman's experience of new life developing within her, the representative stated: "We believe it will be fairly common for women to carry their own babies the first few weeks, when the thrill of motherhood is new. But soon, anyone experiencing nausea will be referred to our product. Eventually, anyone appearing pregnant after 6 months will be considered a fanatic."
"Eventually there will be psychologists, completely ignorant of the history of human reproduction, who will state that after 6 months, natural gestation is harmful to the fetus' independence."
All preliminary research has indicated that artificially fed fetuses are significantly less healthy than their naturally nourished counterparts. The Breed Bronson representative commented: "The literature accompanying the units will state that natural pregnancy is preferable. But that won't affect sales. We'll spend millions on freebies to obstetricians, and they'll convey to their patients that natural pregnancy is not greatly important, just a matter of personal preference."
"Through advertising dollars, we'll also enlist the media. Television will present natural pregnancy as abnormal by never showing it. 'Yes, we're expecting,' your favorite sitcom character will say, 'our housekeeper is carrying the baby right now.' Parents will come to believe that pregnancy, especially in public, is immodest."
"In natural pregnancy, only mom carries and nourishes the baby. With a YOUterus/Plus-centa, dad, grandma and sitter will all have equal access. We'll promote this idea that democracy, and not quality or safety, is what is important in fetal feeding."
When asked if the company was concerned about government regulation of a product proven harmful to developing babies, the representative stated: "Are you kidding? We project the government will buy one third of our units to distribute to poor women."
Monday Mournings *1-14-08*
What an exciting weekend. On Thursday Tim took his last CLEP test and passed it. He needed 12 more credits to start DC so was planning to CLEP a basic science and Analyzing Lit. He did the science on Wednesday and lit on Thursday, turned in the reports from them and got approved to start the DC program this morning. The weekend was a busy one, filled with last minute cleaning, laundry and getting ready for this early morning. Tim was so antzy and anxious that he was driving Josette and I crazy and we couldn't wait for him to start back to school!
Classes this morning were at 8am so we had to leave by 7. I have this theory that they start your first day in DC with the 'exciting' professors and then hit you day 2 with the dull, boring ones. Today we had an hour with Dr Koch (pronounced Coke) for Chiropractic Philosophy, followed by 2 hours with Dr Silverman for BioChem I and then 2 hours of Dr Cane for Anatomy & Physiology. The whole day just had a different 'feel' to it. As pre-DC students, we wait for the day we get to Annex C and join the ranks of the true blue chiropractic students. Granted, we are bottom of the totom pole, but somehow there is a sense of "we've made it!". We could almost hear the angels singing as we walked in the door! LOL Here's just a couple pictures from our first day as future doctors of America and the world. :) The journey has begun!!!!
Kelly & Deanna
"Drs Milano & Milano"
Tim & Phil
Classes this morning were at 8am so we had to leave by 7. I have this theory that they start your first day in DC with the 'exciting' professors and then hit you day 2 with the dull, boring ones. Today we had an hour with Dr Koch (pronounced Coke) for Chiropractic Philosophy, followed by 2 hours with Dr Silverman for BioChem I and then 2 hours of Dr Cane for Anatomy & Physiology. The whole day just had a different 'feel' to it. As pre-DC students, we wait for the day we get to Annex C and join the ranks of the true blue chiropractic students. Granted, we are bottom of the totom pole, but somehow there is a sense of "we've made it!". We could almost hear the angels singing as we walked in the door! LOL Here's just a couple pictures from our first day as future doctors of America and the world. :) The journey has begun!!!!
Birth Plan for a Natural Hospital Birth
If a homebirth or clinic birth isn't an option for you, you may want to put together a written birth plan to give to your doctor so you can achieve what you are wanting in a natural birth. This was written by a friend of mine who did an amazing job with her birth plan. The couple things I would also suggest are putting a sign on your L&D room that says "Natural Birth in place. Please do not offer an epidural. Thank you for your support and encouragement." The reason for this is that nurses are almost programed to come in and offer an epidural or pain meds. It's routine and they don't think about which mom wants them and which has said in a plan that she doesn't. Keep your birth plan as short and to the point as you can. When you fill it with too much information, it runs the risk of being thrown in a file and not ever really read by the staff.
Also, sitting down with your doctor or midwife around the time of your 36 week appointment and going over your birth plan is also advisable. This will let your doctor/midwife actually hear your desires and review them with you. Continue to push for the things that you want in your labor and delivery. Remember, this is about YOU, the patient/client, not the doctors stop watch or hospital.
This is my birth plan:
My wishes for Childbirth - Insert Name
Estimated Due Date: Insert Due Date
Patient of Insert Dr Name
Scheduled to deliver at Hospital Name
Dear Doctor/Midwives Name,
This birth plan is intended to express the preferences and desires concerning the labor and birth of my daughter/son/child. It is not intended to be a script. I understand the need to remain flexible and will be prepared for any necessary last minute changes in care. However, I need to be informed (medical reason, risks, benefits and alternatives) of each procedure and given time for discussion before it is done, so that I have the opportunity to be involved in my daughter's birth and how it is managed.
I plan for my husband/mom/sister/doula/midwife (and include their names) to be my birthing coach. As soon as possible after birth I would like for my other children to be able to come and meet his brother/sister. My mother/father (include their names) will accompany him.
I would prefer that no students, interns, residents or non-essential personnel be present during my labor or the birth.
I would like to take still photographs and make a video recording during labor and the birth.
Labor
I would like to be free to walk around during labor.
I wish to be able to move around and change position at will throughout labor.
I would like to be able to have fluids by mouth throughout the first stage of labor.
I do not want an IV unless I become dehydrated.
Monitoring
I do not wish to have continuous fetal monitoring unless it is required by the condition of my baby.
I do not want an internal monitor unless my daughter has shown some sign of distress.
Labor Augmentation/Induction
I do not wish to have the amniotic membrane ruptured artificially unless signs of fetal distress require internal monitoring.
I would prefer to be allowed to try changing position and other natural methods (walking, nipple stimulation) before pitocin is administered.
Anesthesia/Pain Medication
I realize that many pain medications exist — I'll ask for them if I need them.
Cesarean
Unless absolutely necessary, I would like to avoid a Cesarean.
If a Cesarean delivery is indicated, I would like to be fully informed and to participate in the decision-making process.
I would like my husband/support person present at all times if my baby requires a Cesarean delivery.
I wish to have an epidural for anesthesia
If my daughter is not in distress; she should be given to my husband immediately after birth.
Episiotomy
I would prefer not to have an episiotomy unless absolutely required for the baby's safety.
I would appreciate guidance in when to push and when to stop pushing so the perineum can stretch. I would also like to be given the chance to wait for my body to need to push, not just push because I'm at 10cm.
I would like a local anesthetic to repair any tear or an episiotomy.
Delivery
I would like to be allowed to choose the position in which I give birth.
I would like my husband/support person and/or nurses to support me and my legs as necessary during the pushing stage.
I would like a mirror available so I can see my baby's head when it crowns.
I would like the chance to touch my daughter's head when it crowns.
I would appreciate having the room as quiet as possible when my baby is born.
I would like to have my daughter placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.
Immediately After Delivery
I would prefer that the umbilical cord stop pulsating before it is cut.
I would like to have my husband/so/support person/myself cut the cord.
I would like to hold my baby while I deliver the placenta and any tissue repairs are made.
I would like to hold my baby for at least fifteen minutes before she is examined.
I would like to have my baby evaluated and bathed in my presence.
I plan to keep my baby near me following birth and would appreciate if the evaluation of her/her can be done with him/her on my abdomen, with both of us covered by a warm blanket, unless there is an unusual situation.
If my baby must be taken from me to receive medical treatment, my husband or some other person I designate will accompany her at all times.
I would prefer to hold my baby rather than have him/her placed under heat lamps.
I do not want a routine injection of pitocin after the delivery to aid in expelling the placenta.
I would like to delay the eye medication for my baby until a couple hours after birth. (You may choose to put that you want this avoided all toghether. Be prepared with proper waiver forms if required.)
Postpartum
Unless required for health reasons, I do not wish to be separated from my baby.
I would like to have my baby 'room in' and be with me at all times.
Breastfeeding
I plan to exclusively breastfeed my baby and would like to begin nursing very shortly after birth.
Unless medically necessary, I do not wish to have any bottles given to my baby (including glucose water or plain water). (You may want to also add that this needs to first be approved by you before they say it is medically necessary and give it to the baby).
I do not want my baby to be given a pacifier.
Thank You for your Support & Encouragement in my making my birth the best it can be.
NAME _____________________________
*** Author Notification *** We ask that you notify the author of publication of her work. Kelly Milano, can be reached at: kmilano@gmail.com Please provide a link to her work on your site.Do not publish without permission of the author.
Also, sitting down with your doctor or midwife around the time of your 36 week appointment and going over your birth plan is also advisable. This will let your doctor/midwife actually hear your desires and review them with you. Continue to push for the things that you want in your labor and delivery. Remember, this is about YOU, the patient/client, not the doctors stop watch or hospital.
This is my birth plan:
My wishes for Childbirth - Insert Name
Estimated Due Date: Insert Due Date
Patient of Insert Dr Name
Scheduled to deliver at Hospital Name
Dear Doctor/Midwives Name,
This birth plan is intended to express the preferences and desires concerning the labor and birth of my daughter/son/child. It is not intended to be a script. I understand the need to remain flexible and will be prepared for any necessary last minute changes in care. However, I need to be informed (medical reason, risks, benefits and alternatives) of each procedure and given time for discussion before it is done, so that I have the opportunity to be involved in my daughter's birth and how it is managed.
I plan for my husband/mom/sister/doula/midwife (and include their names) to be my birthing coach. As soon as possible after birth I would like for my other children to be able to come and meet his brother/sister. My mother/father (include their names) will accompany him.
I would prefer that no students, interns, residents or non-essential personnel be present during my labor or the birth.
I would like to take still photographs and make a video recording during labor and the birth.
Labor
I would like to be free to walk around during labor.
I wish to be able to move around and change position at will throughout labor.
I would like to be able to have fluids by mouth throughout the first stage of labor.
I do not want an IV unless I become dehydrated.
Monitoring
I do not wish to have continuous fetal monitoring unless it is required by the condition of my baby.
I do not want an internal monitor unless my daughter has shown some sign of distress.
Labor Augmentation/Induction
I do not wish to have the amniotic membrane ruptured artificially unless signs of fetal distress require internal monitoring.
I would prefer to be allowed to try changing position and other natural methods (walking, nipple stimulation) before pitocin is administered.
Anesthesia/Pain Medication
I realize that many pain medications exist — I'll ask for them if I need them.
Cesarean
Unless absolutely necessary, I would like to avoid a Cesarean.
If a Cesarean delivery is indicated, I would like to be fully informed and to participate in the decision-making process.
I would like my husband/support person present at all times if my baby requires a Cesarean delivery.
I wish to have an epidural for anesthesia
If my daughter is not in distress; she should be given to my husband immediately after birth.
Episiotomy
I would prefer not to have an episiotomy unless absolutely required for the baby's safety.
I would appreciate guidance in when to push and when to stop pushing so the perineum can stretch. I would also like to be given the chance to wait for my body to need to push, not just push because I'm at 10cm.
I would like a local anesthetic to repair any tear or an episiotomy.
Delivery
I would like to be allowed to choose the position in which I give birth.
I would like my husband/support person and/or nurses to support me and my legs as necessary during the pushing stage.
I would like a mirror available so I can see my baby's head when it crowns.
I would like the chance to touch my daughter's head when it crowns.
I would appreciate having the room as quiet as possible when my baby is born.
I would like to have my daughter placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.
Immediately After Delivery
I would prefer that the umbilical cord stop pulsating before it is cut.
I would like to have my husband/so/support person/myself cut the cord.
I would like to hold my baby while I deliver the placenta and any tissue repairs are made.
I would like to hold my baby for at least fifteen minutes before she is examined.
I would like to have my baby evaluated and bathed in my presence.
I plan to keep my baby near me following birth and would appreciate if the evaluation of her/her can be done with him/her on my abdomen, with both of us covered by a warm blanket, unless there is an unusual situation.
If my baby must be taken from me to receive medical treatment, my husband or some other person I designate will accompany her at all times.
I would prefer to hold my baby rather than have him/her placed under heat lamps.
I do not want a routine injection of pitocin after the delivery to aid in expelling the placenta.
I would like to delay the eye medication for my baby until a couple hours after birth. (You may choose to put that you want this avoided all toghether. Be prepared with proper waiver forms if required.)
Postpartum
Unless required for health reasons, I do not wish to be separated from my baby.
I would like to have my baby 'room in' and be with me at all times.
Breastfeeding
I plan to exclusively breastfeed my baby and would like to begin nursing very shortly after birth.
Unless medically necessary, I do not wish to have any bottles given to my baby (including glucose water or plain water). (You may want to also add that this needs to first be approved by you before they say it is medically necessary and give it to the baby).
I do not want my baby to be given a pacifier.
Thank You for your Support & Encouragement in my making my birth the best it can be.
NAME _____________________________
*** Author Notification *** We ask that you notify the author of publication of her work. Kelly Milano, can be reached at: kmilano@gmail.com Please provide a link to her work on your site.Do not publish without permission of the author.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Do the "impossible"
Do the 'impossible'
Walt Disney once said ""It's kinda fun doing the impossible." As homebirthers so often the views that others throw at us about our choice is that it is impossible. It's impossible that you can do it without drugs. It's impossible that you can do it without assistance from anyone. It's impossible that in that moment of pulling the baby out, that you can actually have the energy and desire to do it. It's impossible that you can actually have a 100% problem free delivery. It's kind of fun to do the 'impossible'. It's fun to prove them wrong and be able to educate them all at the same time. There is NOTHING impossible when you let your body work the way it was designed to work. There is NOTHING impossible about delivering a baby. While there are always complications that COULD arise, truth is they are rare and don't make for the impossible.
Knowing that everyone viewed my choice as 'impossible' made me more excited to accept the challenge and trust my body. There is an old Spanish proverb that says "To tell a woman what she can't do is to tell her what she can do". In other words, when rules and regulations are created to try to force women to all birth the same, the rise inside of women's souls will result in them doing exactly what it is you are telling them they can't do. To tell a woman she can't homebirth is certainly a challenge to many who will purposely birth at home just to show a point that a baby will come whenever and wherever it wants, whether a doctor is present or a not. Doctors don't deliver babies. MOMS deliver babies. Doctors just assist a mom in her delivery. A midwife or a husband or best friend can assist just the same. And if no one is there, the mom will still deliver the baby, for SHE is the one does all the work. No male doctor has EVER delivered a baby! EVER. He has never had a baby pass through his open cervix and out into the world. He has never felt the sensations of needing and wanting to push or of having that new baby put to his bare breast. And a male doctor never will deliver a baby. Pizzas are delivered by outsiders. Babies are delivered by moms. Next time you are asked by a well wisher "So, who will be delivering this baby?" Proudly say with a smile "I will be". Whether you have a doctor or midwife present or go completely unassisted, take pride in the fact that YOU will deliver the baby that is growing inside of you. More than likely, your doctor will just be getting in the way! ;)
Walt Disney once said ""It's kinda fun doing the impossible." As homebirthers so often the views that others throw at us about our choice is that it is impossible. It's impossible that you can do it without drugs. It's impossible that you can do it without assistance from anyone. It's impossible that in that moment of pulling the baby out, that you can actually have the energy and desire to do it. It's impossible that you can actually have a 100% problem free delivery. It's kind of fun to do the 'impossible'. It's fun to prove them wrong and be able to educate them all at the same time. There is NOTHING impossible when you let your body work the way it was designed to work. There is NOTHING impossible about delivering a baby. While there are always complications that COULD arise, truth is they are rare and don't make for the impossible.
Knowing that everyone viewed my choice as 'impossible' made me more excited to accept the challenge and trust my body. There is an old Spanish proverb that says "To tell a woman what she can't do is to tell her what she can do". In other words, when rules and regulations are created to try to force women to all birth the same, the rise inside of women's souls will result in them doing exactly what it is you are telling them they can't do. To tell a woman she can't homebirth is certainly a challenge to many who will purposely birth at home just to show a point that a baby will come whenever and wherever it wants, whether a doctor is present or a not. Doctors don't deliver babies. MOMS deliver babies. Doctors just assist a mom in her delivery. A midwife or a husband or best friend can assist just the same. And if no one is there, the mom will still deliver the baby, for SHE is the one does all the work. No male doctor has EVER delivered a baby! EVER. He has never had a baby pass through his open cervix and out into the world. He has never felt the sensations of needing and wanting to push or of having that new baby put to his bare breast. And a male doctor never will deliver a baby. Pizzas are delivered by outsiders. Babies are delivered by moms. Next time you are asked by a well wisher "So, who will be delivering this baby?" Proudly say with a smile "I will be". Whether you have a doctor or midwife present or go completely unassisted, take pride in the fact that YOU will deliver the baby that is growing inside of you. More than likely, your doctor will just be getting in the way! ;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)