How I Became a Natural Birth Advocate

If you would have met me five years ago and talked to me about my plans for birth you most likely would have heard me say "I'm going to get an epidural as soon as I find out I'm pregnant."  Yes, I did used to say that and quite often.  You see I do not have a high pain tolerance. In fact I am really terrible with pain.  The first time my now husband took me backpacking I cried out in agony when I had to walk through an ice cold stream. 

our first backpacking trip (before I cried)

Tears and all.

I also just assumed that my babies would be born in a hospital.  I mean, where else are babies born? I had no idea midwifes existed and I am a bit embarrassed to admit that my first exposure to them was through a foreign thriller movie.




I had always pictured myself being driven to the hospital in a mad rush, screaming from the pain and cursing Mark for doing this to me. When in the labor and delivery room I would get my epidural and chat with friends and family until it was time to push.  Then, after the baby was seamlessly born I would give the baby a bottle and simply enjoy my stay in the hotel hospital.  I would be so content in the postpartum  room that they would literally have to push me out of there.


It was not until I googled the term 'midwife' while watching said foreign film that my curosity about a career in the birth field would spark a passion that would lead to me becoming a student midwife, natural birth advocate, lactivist and intactavist. It is strange when you look back on your life and can pin point the exact moment of when your life takes a dramatic turn and leads you to your current mission.  The first time you are exposed to a health and human rites issue that makes you want to spend your life raising awareness and educating others about is truly a life changing event and I will always remember that not-so-great foreign film that introduced me to this world of activism.


After watching the film I did a little research and thought  'I could do that'.  And so it began.  I ordered a few books off Amazon.com including one by Ina May and one by Henci Goer in hopes to learn a little more about this new (to me) and very different kind of birth: birth without doctors.


I certainly got more then I bargained for!


Not only did I learn about the midwife's model of care and how it differs from the techno-medical model of care that hospitals use and the importance of breastfeeding but I learned about the regular use of a counter-indicated (not just off-label!) abortion drug 

note the pregnant lady with the line crossing through her!

that is used to induce labor in hospitals, the lack of informed consent and the sky-high cesarean rate.


I was shocked.  Never in my life have my opinions turned 360 degrees on an issue in so little time (and anyone that knows me knows I am a very passionate and opinionated person. My mind is not swayed easily).


 I was furious.  How could I have not known this information.


I was betrayed.  By the system and by society for giving me a false sense of comfort and perpetuating the illusion that hospitals are the safest place to birth.


I went from the feeling that only crazies and hippies birthed at home to felling that homebirth was the best option. I now understood the women who wanted to so badly to birth without drugs.  The same women that I previously thought to be a bit extreme I now knew were just educated. I am also positive that if every expectant woman read Pushed by Jennifer Block, The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer, and Ina May's Guide To Childbirth or watched The Business of Being Born and  Pregnant in America 100% of women would view birth differently and maybe feel just as betrayed by the system as I did.


I am incredibly thankful that I stumbled onto this knowledge before I became pregnant with out first born for I do not think I would have taken the time to search out a care provider that had statistics I could trust and employed women that I could bond with. I also would have not done everything in my power to avoid medical induction, augmentations and a cesarean.  Unfortunately, plans don't always turn out they way we like and I did end up being transfered to a hospital, augmented with an IV, epidural analgesia and pitocin and ended up at part of the birth center's 7% cesarean rate. 


I have suffered from birth trauma over the fact that the birth of my daughter turned out being the exact experience I did everything in my power to avoid; the only way I have been able to move past this trauma has been healing through writing, birth circles, good friends, the best husband and the fact that I do feel confident that I did give it my best.

my precious daughter after a cesarean delivery

 Ignorance may be bliss but the curse of knowledge is that you can't ignore what you know. Having the birth experience I did allowed me to experience birth center care and hospital care in a single birth.  Walking away with both experienced has fueled my desire to advocate for natural birth and midwifery care even more. I will spend my life trying to change the system and inform women of the facts and obstacles they face so even when births do not go as planned the woman and baby will rest assured that the care they will receive from me will be evidence based and will not be fueled by birth politics.

Wellness Tea Recipe

I love making my own loose leaf teas and this is one of my all time favorite recipes.  Similar recipes are know as  Woman's tea or Pregnancy tea but I choose to name my version a wellness tea because in my house my husband and four year old benefit from it too. 


All my herbs are purchased from a bulk herb store that has a wonderful selection and unbeatable prices.

Here are the ingredients: 

Red raspberry leaf (2 parts)

Nettle (2 parts)

Oatstraw (1 part)

Alfalfa ( ½ part)

Rose hips ( ½ part)

Red clover ( ¼  part)

Spearmint ( ¼ part)

Now I am thirsty...

Here is a bit about each of the ingredients from bulkherbstore.com

           

Red raspberry leaf 

                        Red Raspberry is used as a basic herbal foundation for all female organs and problems. It is in many female combinations.  Strengthens wall of uterus and entire female reproductive system.  Decreases profuse menstrual flow.  Good during all months of pregnancy. Alleviates morning sickness and nausea. Has been used as a preventative for hemorrhaging during labor. Assists labor, makes delivery easier and relieves after pains. Tones and regulates before, during and after childbirth.  Increases and enriches milk for lactation, can be combined with marshmallow tea.  Raspberry tea is mild and pleasant to taste. It is good for stomachaches and bowl problems in children. For diarrhea in babies.  Soothing to stomach and bowels and cankerous conditions of mucous membranes in the alimentary canal.  High mineral and vitamin source. Has been used in the following:  Nausea, Antacid, Childbirth, Colds, Coughs, Diarrhea, Digestion, Female problems, Fevers ,Flatulence – gas, Flu – influenza, Gastritis, Labor pains, Decreases menstrual flow, Miscarriage, Mucous membranes, Afterpains of childbirth, Nursing, Pregnancy, Strengthens and tones uterus

           

Nettle 

                        Like many bitter herbs, nettle is a blood purifier. Its long list of traditional uses can be summed up in its ability to increase the production of urine, its mild laxative effect and its ability to increase the efficiency of liver and kidney function. Besides these general effects, folk use points to the herb’s affinity for treating imbalances of the mucous membranes. It has traditionally been used to treat asthma, ulcers, bronchitis, jaundice, nephritis, hemorrhoids and spasmodic dysmenorrhea. Contains bitter compounds that increase the flow of urine, are antiseptic, and relieve pains. It also contains astringent compounds that shrink inflamed tissues and stop bleeding. Nettle has been used to treat urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, inflammatory skin conditions, diarrhea, and asthma.

           

Oatstraw 

                        A tea or extract of this herbal product is the most effective way of obtaining its virtues. The dried plant material is too fibrous to be eaten directly. Oatgrass tea is said to relieve hysteria and balance the menstrual cycle of females. Further, it is touted as a prevention for osteoporosis and a quick cure of urinary tract infections. Little is known about the chemistry of oatgrass. We performed a nutritional analysis on it for this work but little else is available. It ranks as the best terrestrial source of magnesium in our study. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to menstrual disorders, irritability and poor calcium absorption. This may contribute to its folk uses. Contains mucilaginous compounds as well as crude fiber that encourage normal bowel function. These compounds reduce bowel transit time, absorb toxins and enhance the efficiency of digestion. Oatstraw is an excellent herbal source of magnesium.             The herb has been used to treat hysteria, calcium deficiency, nervous disorders, urinary tract infections and osteoporosis. Oatstraw is high or very high on the following nutrients: Calcium, Chromium, Crude Fiber, Dietary Fiber, Magnesium, Vitamin A, Silicon, Sodium

           

Alfalfa ( I don't always add this)

                        Contains bitter compounds that enhance the efficiency of digestion by increasing appetite and the assimilation of nutrients. These compounds also lower blood pressure and balance estrogenic hormones. Alfalfa is an excellent herbal source of vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin, and vitamin B-1. The herb has been used to treat debility, anorexia, arthritis, weak digestion, hypertension and gout.

           

Rose hips 

                        Rose Hips are the dried fruit of roses. They contain a good deal of vitamin C and vitamin C complex. Rose Hips are especially good for stress and fighting infections. Rose Hips also have bioflavonoid which affects the heart and circulatory system, particularly strengthening the capillaries.

           

Red clover 

                        It is often compared to alfalfa both for its nutritional value and appearance. The flowers are used in folk medicine as a cure for any lump or tumor. They are reported to have diuretic, expectorant, antispasmodic and estrogenic properties. Red clover is a blood purifier that increases the body’s production of urine and mucous and promotes menstrual flow. It is most often combined with chaparral as a folk remedy for cancer. Red clover has been used to treat cancer, rheumatism, jaundice, inflammatory skin conditions (acne), spasmodic dysmenorrhea and bronchitis. Contain bitter compounds that increase the production of digestive fluids and enzymes, especially bile. These compounds also shrink inflammation and relieve pains. Red clover is an excellent herbal source of calcium, chromium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. It has been used to treat arthritis, jaundice, liver congestion, muscle cramps, and inflammatory skin conditions.

           

Spearmint 

                        Contains aromatic compounds that increase the production of digestive fluids and enzymes, relieve smooth muscle spasms, increase blood circulation, promote sweating, relieve pain and are antiseptic. It also contains astringent compounds that shrink inflamed tissues. Spearmint has been used to treat indigestion, morning sickness, nausea, menstrual cramps, flatulence, muscle aches, flu and vomiting.

Change of Plans: cross-posted from The Yippie Mama

Again, as things often do in our house, plans have changed in regards to my schooling.  The previous plan was for me to begin classes for direct-entry midwifery at Aviva in January.  I love the school and the plan but after months of going back and forth over what I want my end goal to be I have, yet again, and for the last time changed my mind.

I have debated for and against the benefits of becoming a direct-entry midwife and over the possibility of becoming a nurse midwife.  Lists have been made, research has been conducted and I have discussed endlessly with family and friends the reasons that I prefer the direct-entry approach:

-community based learning
-hands-on approach
-more financially feasible
-all education being midwifery specific
-working in a home-birth setting
-online program
-not to mention that  my views of birth are more aligned with the direct-entry approach

as well as the reasons that I have reservations over this approach:

-the possibility of relocating to Portland in order to obtain my births in the allotted time (making it no so community based)
-I would be unable to work or apprentice at the wonderful Mountain Midwifery, our local birth center
-I would only be certified to attend births at home

I have also been considering the nurse-midwife approach. Of course, in my mind I always think of the cons first because this really is the option I least prefer of the two.  Realistically though, the reality of our situation keeps leading me back to this path. So this is what appeals to me about this option:

-financial security for our self-employed family
-ability to work in a home setting, birth center setting or hospital setting
-insurance
-job stability (as much as one can expect this)
-mainly online / no need to relocate

Then there are always the reservations:

-three years of non-specific education
-large time commitment (5 years instead of 3)
-lack of agreement in the routine interventions and the medicalization of normal birth that is taught to L and D nurses

After considering all the possibilities I am confident to say that even though it may not have been my original plan I am very happy and excited with the decision to first attend nursing school then continue on to earn my masters in nurse-midwifery.

The best way to affect change is from the inside right? And boy is our maternity system due for some
change.

Get it? Due. 

So here is my new plan of action.  Attend Arapahoe Community for my pre-requisites and Associates in Nursing then transfer to Frontier School of Midwifery and Nursing for the bridge to masters program and finally the masters in nurse-midwifery.  After 5 (8 if you count the out-of-school studying) long years I will finally be a midwife.

I am very excited to take the next step of my life in January!

No Longer Movin' on Over

I feel as if I have established an audience with this blog and I do not want to loose all of my wonderful readers so I am no longer going to combine my two blogs.  The Yippie Mama will stay separate and, although I may cross post, I will attempt to draw a clear line between the two parts of my life.  This may be unsuccessful as I do love me some natural birth advocacy! But I will try.


Thank you to all my wonderful readers!!

why Midwifery Part 1: Why are people choose OB /GYNs over Midwifes

I can name thirteen friends, myself included, who have been pregnant over the past two years. Out of them I can count on a single hand those who have gone to a midwife for care.  Actually I can count then with two fingers.  One, myself, went to an out-of-hospital birth center and number two went to an in-hospital midwife.

Seven of the thirteen friends were induced.

Six were first time moms whose labors ended with cesareans. 

Two labored without drugs. (This includes myself but I will disclose that my daughter was born surgically requiring me to get an epidural for the procedure)

A single mother completed the entire birth process without drugs.

What these numbers are telling me are that more then half of these women can not labor and birth without medical intervention.

Does that seem correct?

The World Health Organization  (WHO) tells us that once the cesarean limit exceeds 10-15% the risks of the procedure outweighing its benefits .  Our national average is at 31.8%.  Colorado’s cesarean rate is 25.9% (click here for a list of ceserean rates by state) 

So why is our rate so high?  According to Childbirth Connection there are 7 reasons:

-Low priority of enhancing women's own abilities to give birth

-Side effects of common labor interventions

-Refusal to offer the informed choice of vaginal birth

-Casual attitudes about surgery and cesarean sections in particular

-Limited awareness of harms that are more likely with cesarean section

-Providers' fears of malpractice claims and lawsuits

-Incentives to practice in a manner that is efficient for providers. (emphasis mine)

All of these reasons coincide with OB /GYN care and are contrary to the midwife model of care.  But I will get to this later..

Now I am digressing…

The point is not that the cesarean rate is rising to epidemic proportion; rather I am posing a question:

Why are women in our country choosing to use OBs over midwives?

I understand that it is engrained in our culture that you go to a hospital for birth and to OB /GYN for pre-natal care but I want to change that.  My hope is that as midwifery becomes more mainstream people will conduct their own research and make an informed decision.  I know too many people who go to a provider just because it is easy to go to someone who is in-network or close.  Are these good reasons to choose the person overseeing one of the most emotional and important events in your life?  Is the fact that something is easy a good reason to choose anything in life?  Now, I am not saying that people who go to OB /GYNs are uneducated or making the wrong choice, but I do believe that sometimes people go to an OB /GYN because they are under-informed or misinformed. I often think that people forget that care providers are providing a service and that you can shop around until you find the one that best suites you. Sometime this will be a midwife other times it will be an OB. You wouldn’t just buy the first pair of jeans you tried on in a store would you?  So why choose the first care provider you run into?

Fear also dictates choice.  Couples choose OB /GYNs for the ‘just in case’ or ‘what if’ factor believing that a hospital is the safest place to birth. My response to this is look at the research. Women who planned homebirths overseen by midwifes experienced “significantly lower risk of obstetric interventions and adverse outcomes, including augmentation of labour, electronic fetal monitoring, epidural analgesia, assisted vaginal delivery, cesarean section, hemorrhage, and infection” when compared to a group of women who had in-hospital physician attended births according to a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Additionally women who birthed in out-of-hospital birth centers were half as likely to have a cesarean section and had a similar rate of death among babies after 20 weeks of pregnancy or in the first four weeks after birth. This information is from the website Childbirth Connection.  Here is a link to a great article that compare physician attended births, in-hospital birth center births, out-of-hospital birth center births , and homebirths against each other.

In reality though the majority of the people I spoke with did not even consider a midwife because they didn’t know they had an option. 

We do have options and our choices do influence. This is the great aspect of such a varied maternity care system- there truly is a care provider for every type of woman.  For those who have a fear of hospitals and prefer a home like setting you can hire a certified home-birth midwife. For the person who wants the safety of a hospital relationship but wants to avoid the interventions that are common placed in hospitals there are free standing birth centers run by nurse midwives.  For in hospital birth women have the options of hospital based nurse midwives who work under the OB /GYNs, Family Practitioners as well as an OB /GYN.