Inexplicable Ways

Mission Hypnobabies

Posted on January 31, 2011 by juliebyers

Because I’ve had such a cluster of amazing Hypnobabies births lately, I plan to do a few posts highlighting what it is all about. To begin, the mission statement:

Hypnobabies exists, and all of our staff and Instructors work diligently every day, for the following ideals :

To help every expectant mother prepare for her baby’s birth in a way that helps her fully enjoy the rest of her pregnancy in health and peace, so that she eagerly looks forward to her birthing day.
To help every expectant mother have the easiest, safest and most comfortable childbirth experience she can, allowing her to fully enjoy her birthing, and pass that legacy along to her children, friends and family.
To educate and support all Birth Partners, so that they too can look forward to and enjoy the birth of their child with confidence, retaining the memory of childbirth as a beautiful, inspiring life event.
To help babies be born as gently and safely as possible, so that their entrance into our world can be one of joy and wonder, quiet and peace.
To support our Hypno-Moms, no matter what their choices are, before, during and after their babies are born. Every mother counts; every baby is loved; every birth is a gift.
To educate the medical community on the benefits of natural childbirth, how to work with couples who have chosen this wonderful way to give birth, and to respect each birthing woman’s choices as she comes to them for prenatal care and birthing assistance.
To educate the natural childbirth community on the special needs and desires of Hypnobabies birthing couples, towards an easier and more enjoyable experience for all.

Beautifully stated. It makes me proud to be an instructor!

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Any pregnant procrastinators out there?

Posted on January 30, 2011 by juliebyers

I have some last minute openings for doula clients. I could add an additional February or March client. I know I turned away many families for these months and hopefully you’ve found doulas to serve you. But if anyone is still doula-less (oh, the tragedy!), do contact me.

Because you know…a doula is a very good thing. AND, her presence at your birth can lower your cesarean risk and increase your satisfaction.

I love my work.

Behind the scenes

Posted on January 27, 2011 by juliebyers

I always post the beautiful pictures from the wonderful Tracie Birch. When we do a photo shoot with her, I often feel deflated afterwards because I can’t imagine that she got anything lovely out of the madness. But she is a miracle worker. Or either has mad photoshop skills. But today I thought I’d share some of the photos of the pictures that did not make it into a wall frame.

The poop blowout.

Feel sorry for the juice box.

The sneer.

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AnMed. Good grief.

Posted on January 27, 2011 by juliebyers

The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization that focuses on hospital standards asked hospitals across the US to voluntarily report their rate of non-medical (elective) inductions and cesarean births before 39 weeks.

Ok. First let’s define why elective inductions/cesareans before 38 weeks are bad. The biggest reason is that the babe isn’t finished cooking yet. Her lungs and brain are still developing. More of these babies go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and more are at risk for health problems. An early induction also carries a high risk for cesarean birth which increases danger to mama and baby. Leapfrog also factors the cost-saving benefit to avoiding early inductions here.

These numbers do not reflect early inductions/cesareans for medical reasons. Medical reasons include preeclampsia or premature rupture of membranes. These are purely elective (convenience–for the parents or the OB, concerns of big baby, tired of being pregnant, etc).

Would you like to check out your hospital?

For the local families:

1) I’m surprised AnMed was willing to admit their non-medical early induction/cesarean rate is a crazy high 67.3%!

2) I understand St. Francis has a new policy for 2009 that disallows these early births prior to 39 weeks. Good for them with their 2% rate! Maybe they will also catch up on the evidence for other things soon too. Like what? Oh, maybe like uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact after birth or vertical positions for birth or…the list goes on.

3) Not specific to our hospitals but good to know, in general, the average length of gestation for a first time mom is 41 wks 1 day. So if a baby is scheduled to be born at 38 weeks, that baby is premature. Whether he meets the medical criteria for prematurity, he had potentially had several more weeks to grow and develop.

4) Finally, beware the back-door induction. The what? Nancy New-Mommy goes in for a 38 week visit. Dr. Sneaky Sneakyscrubs checks her and exclaims, “you’re 2cm dilated and 75% effaced! are you feeling any contractions?” Nancy says, “well, I have been feeling some cramping. I think.” Dr. Sneakyscrubs: Let’s go do a non-stress test to see what is happening. Nancy is surprised that the monitor shows she is having some contractions and they seem to be coming every 7 or so minutes. Dr. Sneakyscrubs returns to say, “Congratulations, you are in labor! Let’s get you over to the hospital. We’ll start you on a very low dose of pitocin to help things along.” Fast forward: Nancy’s membranes are artificially ruptured, she gets an epidural to help cope with the pain of the pitocin, antibiotics because her membranes are ruptured, more pitocin because the epidural slowed things down, oxygen because baby distressed from the pitocin, and a cesarean for failure to progress and prolonged rupture of membranes. Was she ever in labor to begin with?

Ladies, if you’ve ever attended one of my childbirth classes, you know my mantra: Keep your knickers on. Keep your knickers on at your 38, 39, 41 week OB visits. There is nothing your OB or midwife needs to know from your cervix unless you need to know your Bishop’s score for an induction decision. (There is an app for that by the way).

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Posted in Blech, Pregnancy and tagged AnMed, early induction of labor, greenville hospitals. Bookmark the permalink.

New blooper added

Posted on January 20, 2011 by juliebyers

Added a new blooper to my fumbles page.

7) I gave a woman poison ivy. When we realized she was going to birth in the floor instead of the tub, I ran to find something soft for the floor. I saw a fluffy comforter hanging over the stair railing. I grabbed it and threw it down under the mom. Little did I know, she had used that comforter for maternity pics in the woods. And little did I know, she was super sensitive to poison ivy. We all wondered at the itchy rash appearing on her legs postpartum. And spreading to the rest of her body. It took a few days to put it all together.

Beware the postpartum poison ivy, my friends.

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Free Parenting Classes

Posted on January 19, 2011 by juliebyers

I’m late posting this note. One of the classes was last night. But someone might be interested in attending some of the others. These classes are taught by my friend, Kelly. She teaches positive discipline.

PRIDE (Promoting Resources in Developmental Education) promotes its Parenting Toolbox series for upstate residents of South Carolina: Six Tuesday evenings of Positive Discipline parenting workshops will be offered and all parents are welcome. Each two hour class will be held from 6:30-8:30pm.

Six Tuesday Evenings of Parent Workshops in Greenville County

Come to one or come to all six, the only requirement is that you register in advance by calling the PRIDE office at 864-454-2102. All workshops will be held at the Mauldin Cultural Center in the Veteran’s Room and start promptly at 6:30 pm.

Power Struggle Prevention Tools: Creating Structure and Balance in Parenting – Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Parenting Style Profile: Laying a Foundation for Discipline Success – Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Your Child’s Emotional Brain: Building Blocks for Self-Discipline, Empathy and Problem Solving – Tuesday, February 1

Reframing Discipline: Using Misbehavior and Mistakes as Teaching Tools – Tuesday, February 8, 2011

“But I’ve told you 100 times!”: Breaking the Building Code for Misbehavior – Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Behavior Boost Blueprints: The Link Between Self-Esteem and Self-Discipline – Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Mauldin Cultural Center is located in the old Mauldin Elementary school buliding at 101 East Butler Road, Mauldin, SC, 29662. The workshops will be based on the nationally recognized Positive Discipline curriculum. Call the PRIDE office at 864-454-2102 for more information or to register.

Greenville Babywearing group rescheduled

Posted on January 13, 2011 by juliebyers

The Greenville Babywearing group will meet Thursday Jan. 20. See you then! 6pm at Natural Baby.

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Upcoming Free Events

Posted on January 8, 2011 by juliebyers

Greenville Babywearing Group meets Thursday night (Jan. 20) at 6pm. We’re enjoying our new home at Natural Baby. Come to learn, try out a new type of carrier, or teach someone else. Bring your carrier(s) and bring your baby. Or if you’re pregnant, you can practice with a stuffed animal. Dads are always welcome to attend!

Cloth Diaper 101: I can’t believe how many people came out for this class last month! So we’re offering it again. I’ll show you lots of options for cloth diapering. We’ll talk about poop. We’ll talk about money. We’ll talk trash (or lack thereof). Dads need to come, too! 1pm at Natural Baby.

Blessingways: A Gathering of New and Expectant Families: Join us for our monthly gathering. We’re meeting in a new place for 2011. When you arrive at Natural Baby, head toward the back of the store where you’ll find a comfortable lounge. Our positive birth story this month is Noelle who had her first baby at home with a midwife. Our speaker is Ady Orezzoli, the owner of Natural Baby. She will share her expertise on “Saving Money While Going Green.”

Pregnant couples are encouraged to attend. New mamas and papas as well as experienced families are welcome! Bring your babies or older children. We expect it to be a bit noisy. Hope to see you there!

A note about Natural Baby. I’ve moved many of our events to this store because the owners opened the store, in part, as a place of education. And they sincerely love parents and children. Parking is available around the corner in the garage on Richardson street (credit card payment accepted) if you can’t find a spot on the street.

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I need to hear

Posted on January 7, 2011 by juliebyers

If you have a High-Needs, Super Spirited child, I would love to hear how you balance time with your Not-So-High-Needs, Not-So-Super-Spirited child.

High-Needs: Cedar (17 months)

I-only-THOUGHT-she-was-high-needs: Norah (5 yrs)

I’m really struggling to help Norah with learning activities. Honestly, I’m struggling to simply feed, snuggle, and talk with Norah. Cedar takes a measly one hour nap. When can I create space for art or literacy?

Cedar is so very large. Her spirit, that is. She does everything loudly. Her scream could break glass. She is delightful. And incredibly draining and demanding.

I’ve tried putting Cedar in her highchair with playdoh, paints, crayons while Norah and I work. She cannot tolerate restraint and screams until she wiggles her way out or I take her out. When I put Norah at our dining room table to do a project, Cedar climbs Norah’s chair and becomes a destructive force.

I’m discouraged. I’m frankly deflated about the prospect of homeschool. The idea seems impossible to me.

Cedar is 17 months. I know it is a tough phase. Tell me what to expect, experienced mamas and papas of high-needs kids. I need to know. Or give me ideas to survive.

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Thank You 2010 Families

Posted on December 31, 2010 by juliebyers

From Mary-Grace, the first new baby of the year to the TWO sweet boys born today, I am incredibly honored to serve a tiny role in these births.

To the couples who have invited me into their homes.
To the women who’ve met me at coffee shops to talk about their pregnancies.
To the Hypnobabies dads who have fallen asleep (one even snored) while I read the scripts in class.
To the couples I’ve coached through contractions over the phone.
To the tiny new babies I’ve held as if they were the most precious treasure in the world. Because they are.
To the clients who became friends.
To the friends who became clients.
To the women I’ve cried with.
To the first timers who dared to birth differently than everyone else around them.
To the midwives, doulas, doctors, childbirth educators who have been listening ears, back-ups, and teachers.
To my husband who has texted me at births such questions as “how effaced is she? did she do the rotisserie? and when will you be home?”
To the Anderson class who had to listen to the macarena playing outside the window while under hypnosis. Wonder what the long-term consequences of that will be.
To Dr. Stafford who let me use his office (and his fancy technology) to teach classes and who consistently holds the space for alternatives and choice in the hospital birth experience.
To the women who have cared for my children when I leave.
To the VBACs who went to great lengths to avoid another cesarean.
To the nurses who sometimes broke the rules and who always remembered that patients have choices. Even the choice to say “no.”
To my family who is tolerant when I find a way to talk about birth during every mealtime conversation.
To Cedar who cried every time I left and pretty much the whole time I was gone.
To the tearful postpartum mamas who called at 3am.
To the babywearing groups and the women who shared their birth stories at Blessingways (pssst…I’m scheduling stories for 2011).
To the repeat clients who told me they were pregnant before they told anyone else.
And to the births who have taught me so much about serving, honoring, protecting, and loving.