Category Archives: Birth

Placenta What?

Posted on May 4, 2014 by juliebyers

Encapsulation.

Everybody’s doing it.

I’m not going to do a placenta promo in this post.  I’ve gone placenta fan-girl on this blog often enough to lose followers.

Besides, this magical place called the world wide web has plenty of information on placenta encapsulation.

No, today I’m giving a shout out to our community’s only certified placenta encapsulation specialist.

Kellyann Battista is a busy, busy bee!

A few months ago, my sister gave birth to her second child.  Kellyann arrived at my sister’s home the day after she gave birth to do the deed.

Now, let’s pause a moment and think about the deed.  A stranger is going to come into your home to steam, dry, grind, and encapsulate your placenta.

Awkward could be an understatement.

Truly it takes a special person to enter anyone’s postpartum space.  But guess what?  Kellyann makes such an occasion a delight.  Here is what my sister had to say:

Kellyann was professional, flexible, and thoughtful.  She brought me a cup of Mother’s Milk Tea and gave me a sweet card to congratulate me on Emmett’s birth.  She was very quiet and did her work without asking for anything from us.  She let us be lazy and focused inward while she did everything.  She brought all her own tools and appliances to prepare the placenta, took out all her trash, and cleaned up everything.

Are you thinking about encapsulation?  What you need to know:

  • Contact Kellyann early so get a space on her calendar.
  • Birth location doesn’t matter.  With the exception of Spartanburg Regional (It can be hit or miss there), hospitals accommodate families keeping their placentas.  They package it up in a very tightly sealed plastic container.
  • You’ll receive a very professional labeled bottle containing your capsules with complete instructions for use.
  • You won’t have to clean up anything.  You don’t even have to be at home while she works.
  • You can request flavored capsules so you can avoid any psychological heebie-jeebies about what you’re swallowing.  🙂

Did you encapsulate your placenta?  What were your reasons for doing so?

 

 

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For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Posted on December 24, 2013 by juliebyers

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But there are carols
That carry phrases
Of the haunting music
Of the other world
A music wild and dangerous
As a prophet’s message

Or the fresh truth of children
Who though they come to us
From our own bodies
Are altogether new
With their small limbs
And birdlike voices

They look at us
With their clear eyes
And ask the piercing questions
God alone can answer.

–from Noel by Anne Porter

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New Birth Story

Posted on December 22, 2013 by juliebyers

I’m thrilled to share a new birth story with you!  Jenni shared her first birth a couple of years ago.  Now her husband is telling the story of their second birth.

Read on.

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Focal Points for Birth

Posted on December 6, 2013 by juliebyers

I had a beautiful focal point during my first birth.  It was a gorgeous piece of moss that my husband glued to a flat rock.  I let my eyes grow blurry and lazy as I stared at that moss.  Norah’s middle name is Moss.  I still have it sitting on a shelf in my bedroom though the moss has turned yellow.

For my second birth, I used plants and affirmation.  At my amazing blessingway, guests brought plants to surround me during my birthing time.

I see many focal points used during births.  I remember a woman who used a picture of herself sailing a boat.  That experience reminded her that she could do anything.  I’ve seen parents display their baby’s first outfit or an ultrasound photo.  Or, a couple who cut out a circle with the word, “Peace” and taped it over the clock in the hospital room.  Brady covered a wall in her home with individual affirmations.  Focal points can be fantastic reminders and affirmations during your birthing time.

But my favorite focal point ever was from Katy.  She traced a circle exactly 10 cm and used it in her affirmation.  See it here taped to her hospital bed.  It says, “Go ahead and let gO, Katy.  He’s almost here.”

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Did you use a focal point during your birthing time?

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Birth Language

Posted on December 5, 2013 by juliebyers

“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.”  –Rudyard Kipling

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Recently, I was asked to teach some lovely nursing students about hypnosis for childbirth.  I thought it would be an excellent time to slip in some suggestions for using positive language in the birthing room.  Regardless of whether a woman is using hypnosis for her birth, she is still in an altered state of consciousness.  Words become suggestions when we are in an altered state.  In other words, the power of language grows exponentially during our births.

Based on statements I have heard during births, I put together a hand-out for these nurses.  Here is a sampling of what I included.

General Language Suggestions

  • “You’re safe” instead of “Don’t be scared, you’re not in danger.”  When we are in an altered state of consciousness, our brain takes in only the prominent words in a statement.  So “you’re not in danger” becomes simply “Danger.”  In movies, I hear people saying, “Don’t die on me!” and think “No!  Say, live instead!”
  • “Your body is wise.”  The birthing mother is the expert on this birth.  We must never forget this nor should she.
  • “Feel your shoulders relax” instead of “Don’t tense your shoulders.”  Again.  If we speak in negatives, she might hear “tense your shoulders.”
  • For IV placement or injections, “I’m going to rub on some cold and then there might be some pressure” instead of “This will feel like a bee sting.”  No one likes a bee sting.
  • “Breathe your baby down” instead of “You’ll feel burning.”
  • “Special considerations” instead of “complications”
  • “You’ve dilated so much!” instead of “You’ve only dilated ½ cm.”
  • “When babies are in a posterior position, we can try to…” instead of “Your baby is posterior.” (distance the negatives, only personalize positives)
  • “You’ll have all the energy you need to birth your baby” instead of “I’m scared you’re going to wear yourself out.”   I hear this one all the time as a reason for women to get an epidural.  Women release a surge of adrenaline just before they begin pushing.  You’ve heard stories of what incredible feats people accomplish under the influence of adrenaline.
  • “You look so strong” instead of “You look like you’re in a lot of pain” or “What is your pain scale?”  When a perceived expert tells someone they look like they are in pain, then certainly that is going to influence pain.

Do not say:

  • “Get mad at your baby.”  I cannot tell you how much this one bothers me.  I have strong beliefs that regardless of how babies come into the world (cesarean, forceps, on the side of the freeway), they should be welcomed with joy.  Why would you tell someone to get mad at your baby?  Or get mad at all?  Anger and birth don’t mix in my book.
  • “This is going to hurt.”  Don’t assume what she will feel.  Maybe it will/maybe it won’t.  But telling her it will hurt is a guarantee that she will expect pain and likely experience it.
  • “You’re not allowed/I can’t let you.”
  • “I’m going to be your worst enemy”  I’ve actually heard a nurse say, “Think of me as the Wicked Witch.”

Avoid:

  • Mentioning numbers (dilation, stats, time) unless she specifically asks.  During an unmedicated birth, the thinking brain slows way down.  Numbers, questions requiring cognitive answers, consent forms, bright lights may keep the thinking brain engaged.
  • Telling her what she’ll feel or trying to describe what you think she’s feeling
  • Negatives (Don’t tense your jaw)
  • Speaking during pressure waves/contractions
  • Unnecessary questions.  Questions wake up the thinking brain.

When in doubt:

  • Be silent.  Or murmur how well she is doing.  Be frugal with words.
  • Give yourself an affirmation such as “I am entering a sacred space and I will use my words and my skills for healing and comfort.  These are the gifts I bring.”

What would you add?  What language have you heard in the birthing room that hindered rather than enriched.

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Greenville Memorial and Family-Centered Cesarean

Posted on September 2, 2013 by juliebyers

I guess Greenville Memorial didn’t want me to only blog about Greer. They one-upped Greer’s family-centered cesarean.

History: When I first started doula work, sometimes I was permitted in the operating room at Greenville Memorial with my client. It was still hit or miss. However in recent years, the “rule” is only one support person for cesarean births. Until now.

Much to my surprise, at my last Greenville Memorial birth, JoAnn the trailblazing midwife, told me I was going back. I threw on some (cloth!) scrubs and Louise, a favorite nurse of mine, insisted I go with my client as she was being wheeled back.

That was the one-up.

Whenever I’ve been allowed back, I’ve first waited with dad until mom was prepped. This time, I stayed with mom the entire time. I was able to wipe a few tears while she waited, hold her while she received her spinal anesthesia, and talk with her as the surgery began. After the surgery, when dad left for a little while with their baby, I stayed until she was wheeled into recovery.

True continuous care.

Even better? JoAnn says the policy has now changed to allow two support people into the operating room.

I’m not saying I’m responsible for that. I’m just saying I’m glad I didn’t trip and face plant on mom’s uterus or something. Ruin it for everybody, you know? 🙂

Now, look at this adorable poppet enjoying skin-to-skin time with daddy in the operating room. Don’t worry, she got lots of immediate skin-to-skin time with mama first. Mom voluntarily permitted dad a turn.

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It looks like family-centered cesarean birth will be standard care now at Greenville Memorial.

Now, let’s keep that cesarean rate on the decline!

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Another Family-Centered Cesarean Birth

Posted on August 17, 2013 by juliebyers

This post contains pictures of cesarean birth. 

I am more and more impressed with Greer Memorial’s cesarean practices.  If I had to plan a cesarean, that’s the place I’d give birth.

There are four OBs who attend cesarean births at Greer so the policy and practice is fairly cohesive.  None of the “well, if you get dr. so and so, then expect x, y, z.”

I was honored to attend a repeat client’s planned cesarean.  I use the term “planned” loosely since her darling boy decided to come early.  Just to keep us on our toes!  Come to think of it…her last “planned cesarean” also had me rushing to the hospital.  Her babies don’t like to be told what to do, I suppose.

Here is her birth in pictures.  I only took 150 snapshots so it was easy to narrow it down to a few.  Hehe.

Top reason I prefer Greer?  Doulas can enter the sacred operating room.  And I dig the nurse’s scrubs instead of the paper ones.  In this picture, I’m waiting with dad.  The mom goes back first and there is about a 30 minute wait while she receives her spinal anesthesia and her stats are monitored.  Dad was nervous even though it wasn’t his first rodeo so we talked about our kids while we waited.

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Now we’re in the operating room.  Notice mom’s arms are not strapped down.

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Dr. Danielle Harris is the OB.  She is lovely; relaxed and accessible.   I remember my first birth with her four years ago.  I suggested something wildly uncommon and she responded with a “hey, let’s try it!”

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The sweet baby grabs an arm and says, “Wait!  I want delayed cord clamping!”  No, actually, Dr. Harris delays cord clamping because it’s not a big deal to delay cord clamping.

(which is interesting because I’ve heard all sorts of reasons from other OBs as to why they can’t delay cord clamping during a cesarean)

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So, who’s this guy?  He’s the pediatrician on call.  Typically, the pediatrician or neonatologist examines the baby in the warmer immediately after birth.  When he walks in, Dr. Harris tells him, “Mom would like immediate skin-to-skin with her baby.”  And he says, “Fine by me.”

(again, I’ve heard all sorts of interesting reasons why this can’t happen:  a nurse will have to rotate out in order to hand baby to mom or it’s too darn cold in the operating room).

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Now you’ll see how fantastic it is that mom’s arms are free.

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Beautiful.  Mom will never forget this moment.  And perhaps, just as important, significant aspects of bonding, breastfeeding, heartrate and thermal regulations are happening in this moment.

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A little while later, that laid back pediatrician asks if he can just take a quick listen to baby’s heartbeat.  He does so without disturbing mom or baby and then steps back once more.

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Twenty minutes after the birth, as they prepare to transfer mom to her room, Dad gets in on the skin-to-skin.

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Focus on the calm, alert baby.  Do not focus on the bloody gauze behind him.

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Then mom is transferred to her hospital bed via a clever inflatable people-mover blown up with a shop vac.  Fascinating stuff, hospital ingenuity.  Side-note, many nurses wrap hep-locks in Glad press ‘n seal wrap so they won’t get it wet in the shower.  Necessity is the mother of invention.  

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The hospital bed returns to mom’s original room where she will stay until she goes home.  There are no recovery or postpartum rooms at Greer.  There is no nursery either.

Mom gets down to the first order of business.

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I don’t attend many cesarean births.  I’m honored when I am invited to a planned cesarean as part of the team.  Many thanks to this sweet family for sharing their positive birth experience with the community.

Another family-centered cesarean birth is featured here.

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Doulas as pacers

Posted on July 28, 2013 by juliebyers

Truth?  Sometimes I’m baffled by my work as a doula.  I’m confused by the mystery that my presence makes an impact.  Especially when I don’t *do* anything.

Take Julia’s birth.  I left Julia’s birth feeling like her three year old did more than I did.  I mean, really.  What did I possibly offer to that family?  And then later, Julia’s husband says I was worth every penny.

It made no sense.

Or Melissa’s birth.  I fanned her.  With a manilla folder.  That’s about all I did.  And then later, she says she couldn’t have done it without me.

It made no sense.

I read about the early studies on doula support.  In those double-blind randomized controlled trials, the laboring women had no idea that the extra woman in the room was a doula.  They’d never met before.  Yet, their birth outcomes were significantly better than the births that did not get the “extra person.”

It made no sense.

Nearly 8 years into this gig, I think I’m maybe beginning to understand how doulas work.

We’re pacers.

I’m reading an incredible book titled The Worst Is Over:  What to Say When Every Moment Counts.  I bought the book thinking it would help with my kids.  Norah has an anxious tummy and Cedar is ever catapulting from high places.  I never imagined how it might relate to my birth work.  But, of course, women in childbirth are in an altered state of consciousness just like people who experience trauma.  Childbirth is NOT trauma and not always even painful but the brain does go into an altered state.  Women in childbirth are often dreamy, time becomes hazy, thoughts may be confusing, suggestions plant deeply.  I already knew how important language is for birthing women but this book took it up 10 notches.  And it taught me about pacers.

So what’s a pacer?

You know how you modify your body language, voice, words to become more in sync with others?  It’s a normal part of communication.  Or sometimes a strong personality can change the entire mood of the room when that person is having a bad day.  The author describes pacing as “our natural human tendency to tune in to others nearby by matching our words and our behaviors to theirs.”

The author talks about the importance of pacers when people are afraid, hurting, in shock, etc.  Pacing builds confidence, healing, comfort, rapport, and cooperation.

supportHow does this work in childbirth?

Nancy is deep in the birth zone.  She is in an altered state of consciousness.  She is barefoot in the hospital shower–a state that would disturb her any other time.  Usually a very modest woman, Nancy is naked.  Her husband, in swim trunks, supports her physically in the shower.  What am I doing?  I’m leaning against the wall, offering a sip of water from time to time.  I don’t say a word.  But here is the non-verbal pacing that is happening:  Nancy locks eyes with me as she welcomes each surge.  My eyes are confident, grounded, and full of love.  She knows I’ve done this before.  My eyes tell her everything is normal.  What else?  My posture is relaxed.  I’m not carrying tension or shedding adrenaline.  As we lock eyes, I take a deep cleansing breath and release it slowly.  She mimics me.  I smile.

IMG_2632Sarah sits on her birthing ball leaning on her king-sized bed.  Her husband rubs her back.  Bon Iver plays in the background and the rain is falling outside.  There is nothing for me to do so I sit in the corner and knit.  Sometimes, Sarah looks over at me and I smile.  My calm, slow knitting reassures her that all is progressing perfectly and there is no rush.

Heather’s labor is showing signs that baby is not in an optimal position.  I show her a technique to lunge during her waves.  Her husband stands behind her providing extra support.  I stand in front of her and lunge with her.  We are exactly in sync as we lunge and lunge and lunge some more.

What makes doulas uniquely suited for pacing?

The doula’s focus is entirely on the mom.  Midwives are amazing pacers but they sometimes have other important tasks that may come first or interrupt:  monitoring baby, checking mom’s blood pressure, etc.  Particularly in those rare cases of emergency, it is vital to have a pacer who can remain focused on mom.

Dads, close friends, family members are not always the best pacers.  Why?  They’re emotionally caught up with the experience.  They should be!  I remember catching a glimpse of my mother’s concerned face at my first birth.  It did not reassure me.  Sometimes dad isn’t sure if what his wife is feeling is normal and his face can mirror it.  And the birthing mom’s spidey senses can smell fear and uncertainty.

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Photo credit: http://michelledimaiophotography.com/

Giving name to this intuitive process has helped to deepen my understanding of what seems so mysterious–how the presence of a doula-who-does-nothing can be enriching and often crucial to the birth.

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A First Time Family’s Homebirth Story

Posted on July 11, 2013 by juliebyers

I have a new birth story available for your reading pleasure. Tori and Eric were such a pleasure to have in my Hypnobabies class. They were nearly giddy about all things related to their birth.

I’m happy to share their birth story here.

You can also catch them in person at July’s Blessingway. They will be sharing their birth story with our community at 2pm on July 27 at Natural Baby. The event is free and open to everyone!

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New Birth Story

Posted on June 20, 2013 by juliebyers

I am excited to share Moira’s birth story!  Moira experienced a completely comfortable birth using Hypnobabies.  I’ve never seen doctors and nurses behave the way they did at her birth.  She refused to be checked for dilation and she was so relaxed that her care providers didn’t believe she was very far along.  I had to physically go find a nurse (twice–she didn’t come the first time) because the baby was almost born!  Moira had the Hypnobabies sign on her hospital door and once everyone realized that she really was about to give birth, curious nurses quietly filed in to watch.  The doctor waited for the placenta to deliver before clamping the cord.  Later the doctor told me, “I just got caught up in the physiological process!”

Enjoy!

 

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