Dad's Love HypnoBirthing
Many of my referrals come
from dads who have participated in the birth of their
child. This is the only class that actually teaches dads
what to do and how to do it so they feel they are part of the
entire experience. They know that being there for their
wife brought both of them closer.
“Dear
Lenay – My husband, Michael and I visited you for a brief
time to learn the HypnoBirth techniques (Peggy F.
referred us to you), and I just wanted to thank you for
helping me to deliver my 10-pound 19-½ inch baby girl on May
2nd without any anesthesia!
(We named her Torrey.)
I am so elated to have experienced natural childbirth
and feel empowered knowing that my body is such an amazing
system. The staff
at the hospital followed my birth plan (provided by you) to a
“T” and the birth was exactly how I wanted it!
Thank you for educating and empowering us!”
–Valerie W.(last name withheld for privacy)
SAN DIEGO CHILDBIRTH EDUCATIONCLASSES
San
Diego HypnoBirthing for Women who want a Natural Childbirth
OR
EZ Birth for Women who want an
Epidural
ARTICLES
About
Epidural
About Pitocin
Birth Stories - My Clients
FDA
Approved Obstertic Drugs
Pain studies using Hypnosis - Abstracts from Medical Journals
Pushing
and the Valsalva’s Maneuver
Ultrasound Exposure can
affect fetal brain development
What
causes Braxton Hicks contractions?
Pitocin
and how it affects the baby
Moms who are induced with Pitocin
should ask that it be withdrawn when the body takes
over. This request should be made as a condition for
consenting to the Pit in the first place. It has to come
upfront and before they reach a point of no return.
Many times the pit is hung and blasted. Moms must ask
all the questions...
titering the dose up slowly, turning it off once labor well
established. Pitocin does not cross the blood-brain barrier to
enhance relaxation..
..natural oxytocin does do this. As more oxytocin is
released so too does relaxation increase as it is an
endorphin. When pit is in use they should also encourage the
release of natural oxytocin to help "balance" the
body with light touch massage, nipple stimulation, and thumb
sucking. This synthetic
oxytocin usually tells the brain to shut off its own natural
supply oxytocin, which can leave women vulnerable to the 'need' to
continue the Pitocin.
Pit is a doable labor for many moms as long as they don't fear
it. Many times this is a re-education, releasing the fear of Pitocin
and changing over to the techniques to work with pit.
PITOCIN
(oxytocin) description.
PITOCIN has been approved by the FDA for the medical induction and
stimulation of labor. Pitocin has not been approved for the elective
induction or stimulation of labor.
Oxytocin crosses the placenta
and enters the blood and brain of the fetus within seconds or
minutes. There appears to be a correlation between fetal exposure to
oxytocin and autism in the exposed offspring.
Synthetic oxytocin administered
intravenously in labor acts very differently
from a laboring woman's intrinsic oxytocin. First, the uterine
contractions
produced by IV Syntocinon are very different from natural
contractions,
possibly because the drug is administered continuously rather than
in a
pulsatile manner and can cause detrimental effects to the baby in
utero. A
woman's uterine contractions can occur too closely together, leaving
insufficient time for the baby to recover, and Syntocinon also
causes the
resting tone of the uterus to increase (1). Such effects can produce
abnormal fetal heart rate patterns, fetal distress (leading to
cesarean),
and even uterine rupture (2). As well, oxytocin augmentation
stimulates
uterine contractions out of proportion to cervical dilation,
compared with a
natural labor (3): this creates the possibility of a "failed
induction" in
which a woman's cervix fails to dilate and a cesarean becomes
necessary.
Uterine stimulants which
foreshorten the oxygen-replenishing intervals between contractions,
by making the contractions too long, too strong, or too close
together, increase the likelihood that fetal brain cells will die.
The situation is analogous to holding an infant under the surface of
the water, allowing the infant to come to the surface to gasp for
air, but not to breathe. All of these effects increase the
possibility of neurologic insult to the fetus. No one really knows
how often these adverse effects occur, because there is no law or
regulation in any country which requires the doctor to report an
adverse drug reaction to the FDA.
Also, oxytocin, whether synthetic or not, cannot cross from the body
back
to the brain through the blood-brain barrier. This means that when
it is
administered in any way except directly into the brain, it cannot
act as the
hormone of love. It does,
however, generate negative feedback -- that is,
receptors in the laboring woman's body detect high levels of
oxytocin and so
signal her brain to reduce production. We know that women who labor
with an
oxytocin infusion are at increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage (4)
because
their own oxytocin production has been shut down.
What we do not know, however,
are the psychological effects of giving
birth without the peak brain levels of oxytocin that nature
prescribes for
all mammalian species. In one study, women who had synthetic
oxytocin
augmentation did not experience an increase in beta-endorphin levels
in
labor (5), indicating the complexities that may result from
interference
with any of the hormonal systems in labor. Other research has
suggested that
oxytocin may pass through the placenta unchanged (6), which implies
that the baby's oxytocin system may also be disrupted by
administration of
synthetic oxytocin in labor.
Uterine contractions stimulated
with Pitocin reach over 40 mm Hg pressure on the fetal head. The
quality and quantity of uterine contractions are greatly affected
when
oxytocin is infused. The contractions tend to be longer, stronger,
and with
shorter relaxation periods between....With each uterine contraction,
blood
supply to the uterus is temporarily shut off.
If deprived of blood supply,
fetal bradycardia (decreased fetal heart-rate deceleration) follows
with oxygen deprivation and cerebral ischemia, causing the grave
possibility of
neurological sequellae. Truly the fetus has been challenged, and the
EFM
dutifully records the stressed fetal heart rate. With suspicions
confirmed,
a diagnosis of fetal distress is noted and elective cesarean section
is the
treatment of choice.
The manufacturer of oxytocin warns the provider in the package
insert:
"Maternal deaths due to hypertensive episodes, subarachnoid
hemorrhage, rupture of the uterus, fetal deaths and permanent CNS or
brain damage of the infant due to various causes have been reported
to be associated with the use of parenteral oxytocic drugs for
induction of labor or for augmentation in the first and second
stages of labor."
Because oxytocin is used so commonly to stimulate labor we note here
that, in addition to the more benign effects of uterine stimulants,
such as nausea and vomiting, the manufacturer of Pitocin (oxytocin)
points out in its package insert that oxytocin can cause:
(a) maternal hypertensive episodes (abnormally high blood pressure)
(b) subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in area surrounding spinal
cord) (c) anaphylactic reaction (exaggerated allergic reaction)
(d) postpartum hemorrhage (uterine hemorrhage following birth)
(e) cardiac arrhythmias (non-normal heart rate)
(f) fatal afibrinogenemia (loss of blood clotting fibrin)
(g) premature ventricular contraction(non-normal heart function)
(h) pelvic hematoma (blood clot in the pelvic region)
(i) uterine hypertonicity (excessive uterine muscle tone)
(j) uterine spasm (violent, distorted contraction of the uterus)
(k) tetanic contractions (spasmodic uterine contractions)
(l) uterine rupture
(m) increased blood loss(n) convulsions (violent, involuntary muscle
contraction(s).
(o) coma (unconsciousness that cannot be aroused
(p) fatal oxytocin-induced water intoxication (undue retention of
water marked by vomiting, depression of temperature convulsions, and
coma and may end in death.
Fetal and Newborn Effects
The following adverse effects of maternally administered oxytocin
have been reported in the fetus or infant:
(a) bradycardia (slow fetal heart rate)
(b) premature ventricular contractions and other arrhythmias (non-
normal heart function
(c) low 5 minute Apgar scores (non-physiologic neurologic
evaluation)
(d) neonatal jaundice (excess bilirubin in the blood of the neonate.
(e) neonatal retinal hemorrhage (hemorrhage within the innermost
covering of the eyeball)
(f) permanent central nervous system or brain damage
(g) fetal death
These findings underscore the importance of the midwife managing the
woman's labor in a way that will avoid or diminish the need for
Pitocin and the pain relieving drugs that are often administered to
help the woman cope with the contractions intensified by Pitocin.
Pushing
and the Valsalva’s Maneuver
Marie Mongan stated that it never ceases to
amaze her that the knowledge of just how short the "Birth
Canal" is, is sadly lacking. I think a lot of the
fear and trepidation comes from women thinking that the birth
path is really quite long and arduous to navigate.
If women are relaxed and fully open and receptive in the region
of the birth
path, the baby will be moved down with further pulsation of the
surges.
There is no pathological reason for pain in the birthing phase
of labor.
Again, we see lack of knowledge and fear bringing about the
discomfort that
most women experience. I think also that women who insist on
strenuously s
"pushing" in an exhaustive manner are actually closing
those sphincters and impeding the descent of the head and
birthing.
It is the uterus does the pushing. There
IS pushing, but it is not the mom consciously doing it. We
describe how during the surges, the long finger-like muscle
fibers are drawing the lower fibers up and away from the cervix,
helping the baby to move
down and the cervix to thin and open. So, once the cervix is
fully open, there is a concentration of muscle fibers in the
upper portion of the uterus. As the uterus continues to surge,
it nudges the baby down very slowly in the birth path. This is
usually felt by the mom as slowly increasing rectal and pelvic
pressure and fullness. At first, she may feel some rectal
pressure, very slight, during the
peak of a surge. As the baby moves lower, that pressure during
surges increases. As the baby moves even lower, the pressure
remains constant between surges and is stronger at the peak of
surges.
When the baby gets low enough in the birth path,
it stimulates trigger points in the birth path which stimulate
the uterus to get down to the business of getting the baby out.
The uterus now uses that concentration of muscles to push the
baby through that last bit of the birth path. This is felt by
the mother as an "urge to push".
That description is a result of social
programming. It is not an urge. It is a push. The uterus is
pushing the baby out in a safe and effective way. The body is
doing exactly what it is supposed to do. Every mom feels this
part in a different way. Some are very aware, and it catches
their breath and they feel better bearing down
with those uterine pushes. Some moms barely feel that this is
happening until "THE BABY IS COMING OUT!!". In either
case, the job of the mom is the same. Stay relaxed and calm and
breathe. BREATHE. STAY RELAXED AND CALM AND BREATHE. The dad's
job is to remind her of that. Nobody has to tell her how to push
or what to do...her body tells her that. Sometimes her body
tells her to hold her breath and
push with her body, but usually that's not the case. Usually,
her body gently nudges her baby down and then there is crowning
and thenbirth. Either way, she will know what she needs to do if
she STAYS RELAXED AND CALM AND BREATHES.
Pushing - The Description
During the second stage of labor, regular and
rhythmical breathing during pushing allows a mother to push
longer while maintaining good oxygen flow to the baby and
reducing fatigue. The
urge to push is a relentless urge to push – it is nearly
involuntary.
Slow Exhalation Pushing – Breathing Baby
Down
Working with the urge to push and producing a
push that is slow and easy.
Similar to blowing up a new balloon.
During a surge, a mother inhales and exhales slowly
through pursed lips in much the same way as if she were blowing
up a balloon…letting the air out with a low sound.
This is the preferred way when mother and care giver are
trying to avoid an episiotomY, since the push from Slow
Exhalation Pushing is so gentle.
Use this when mom is fully complete and ready to
move baby down and out.
Directed Pushing
When baby is on the perineum, mom inhales and
bears down and makes a growl while her birth companion counts to
ten. (This is about
six seconds.) This
is extremely helpful to mom at a time when mothers do not
process information well and a count of ten is helpful to her.
Mom SHOULD NEVER HOLD HER BREATH. When
her breath runs out, she should take another deep breath and do
the same thing to the count of ten, until the contraction ends.
Only push with a contraction.
Valsalva’s Maneuver.
Holding the breath and bearing down for longer
than six seconds with such force that the small capillaries in
the cheeks and face burst is called purple pushing which
produces the Valsalva’s Maneuver.
The prolonged breath holding increases the maternal
intrathoracic pressure by forcible exhalation against the closed
glottis, causing a trapping of blood in veins and preventing it
from entering the heart. When
the breath is released, the pressure drops and the trapped blood
is quickly propelled through the heart producing an increase in
the heart rate (tachycardia) and the blood pressure.
All of this disrupts the blood flow to the uterus and
ultimately to the baby. The
disrupted oxygen flow can show up on the fetal heart monitor as
fetal distress leading to inefficient contractions and failure
to progress.
Learning how to push effectively, allowing
optimal oxygen flow to the uterus, mom and baby, can lead to a
beautiful, healthy birth.
Ultrasound
Exposure can affect fetal brain development
WASHINGTON
- Exposure to ultrasound can affect fetal brain
development, a new study suggests. But researchers say the
findings,
in mice, should not discourage pregnant women from having
ultrasound
scans for medical reasons.
When pregnant mice were exposed to ultrasound, a small number of
nerve
cells in the developing brains of their fetuses failed to extend
correctly in the cerebral cortex.
"Our study in mice does not mean that use of ultrasound on
human
fetuses for appropriate diagnostic and medical purposes should
be
abandoned," said lead researcher Pasko Rakic, chairman of
the
neurobiology department at Yale University School of Medicine.
However, he added in a telephone interview, women should avoid
unnecessary ultrasound scans until more research has been done.
Dr. Joshua Copel, president-elect of the American Institute of
Ultrasound Medicine, said his organization tries to discourage
"entertainment" ultrasound, but considers sonograms
important when
there is a medical benefit.
"Anytime we're doing an ultrasound we have to think of risk
versus
benefit. What clinical question are we trying to answer,"
Copel said
in a telephone interview. "It may be very important to know
the exact
dating of pregnancy, it's certainly helpful to know the anatomy
of the
fetus, but we shouldn't be holding a transducer on mom's abdomen
for
hours and hours and hours."
Rakic's paper said that while the effects of ultrasound in human
brain
development are not yet known, there are disorders thought to be
the
result of misplacement of brain cells during their development.
"These disorders range from mental retardation and
childhood epilepsy
to developmental dyslexia, autism spectrum disorders and
schizophrenia," the researchers said.
Their report is in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the
National
Academy
of Sciences.
Early ultrasound scans are done to determine the exact week of
the
pregnancy and they are also done later to check for anatomical
defects
and other problems.
However, some expectant parents have sought scans to save as
keepsakes
even when they were not medically necessary, a practice the Food
and
Drug Administration discourages.
Copel, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at
Yale
University
School
of Medicine, did point out that there are large differences
between scanning mice and scanning people.
For example, because of their size, the distance between the
scanner
and the fetus is larger in people than mice, which reduces the
intensity of the ultrasound. In addition, he said, the density
of the
cranial bones in a human baby is more than that of a tiny mouse,
which
further reduces exposure to the scan.
The paper noted that the developmental period of these brain
cells is
much longer in humans than in mice, so that exposure would be a
smaller percentage of their developmental period.
However, it also pointed out that brain cell development in
people is
more complex and there are more cells developing, which could
increase
the chances of some going astray.
In Rakic's study, pregnant mice were exposed to ultrasound for
various
amounts of time ranging from a total exposure of 5 minutes to
420
minutes. After the baby mice were born their brains were studied
and
compared with those of mice whose mothers had not been exposed
to
ultrasound.
The study of 335 mice concluded that in those whose mothers were
exposed to a total of 30 minutes or more, "a small but
statistically
significant number" of brain cells failed to grow into
their proper
position and remained scattered in incorrect parts of the brain.
The
number of affected cells increased with longer exposures.
The research was funded by the National Institute of
Neurological
Disorders and Stroke.
On the Net: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/print?id=2284962
What
causes Braxton Hicks contractions?
There are a few speculations
for why women have these contractions.
Some physicians and midwives think they may play a part in
toning the
uterine muscle and promoting the flow of blood to the placenta.
They
are not believed to have any connection with dilating the
cervix, but
may have some effect on the softening of the cervix. However, as
Braxton Hicks contractions become more intense closer to the
time of
delivery, the contractions are considered false labor, which can
help
in the dilation and effacement process.
What triggers Braxton Hicks contractions?
When you or the baby are very active
If someone touches your belly
When your bladder is full
After sex
Dehydration
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