“Is there an epidemic of women with breastfeeding problems?”
by Cindy
“Is there an epidemic of women with breastfeeding problems?”
Recently I was with two new moms both of whom had difficulty in the early days of breastfeeding their infants. One care provider had said she saw so many new mothers with breastfeeding issues that she wondered if there were an epidemic.
I have seen this too. So I have looked into some resources to see what’s going on.
*What I have found is several studies showing that when mothers have lots of IV fluids administered to them during birthing, the babies also get some of that fluid and their weight at birth is augmented from a “true” weight. They pee out lots of this fluid during the first twenty-four hours and that together with normal weight loss of newborns, puts their loss at the 10% range so the medical team has heightened concern about weight loss. The mom then has added pressure on her initial breast feeding and is often encouraged to supplement.
*When I checked La Leche League website it mentions the above and also writes about the side effects of epidural medication. There are many cocktails used in an epidural with varying side effects….because moms are hydrated with IV fluids they can become engorged and the nipple can be difficult for the newborn to latch onto.
Some of the medication can get into the bloodstream and then cross the placenta and effect the newborn and the newborn can be less responsive because of narcotics.
*In a recent edition of the Journal of Perinatal Education (Lamaze publication) one of the articles talks about the need for more in-depth education for mothers about the challenge of birth and the lack of education on the effects of pain medication on the birth mother, baby, and the satisfaction level of birth.
One way, I believe, we can help mothers make informed choices is to point out that they have been extremely careful not to ingest anything dangerous for their babies for months of pregnancy and then are encouraged to put all kinds of drugs into their bodies during the last 24 hours.
Birth is definitely a powerful challenge, but with caring, educated support
mothers can do this and they can do it by making healthy choices for themselves in the moment and for the long run for their health and for the health of their babies.
Optimal Fetal Positioning
by Cindy
Recently I attended an eight hour training with Juli Tilsner (Cornerstone and Awakenings Birth Services) on Optimal Fetal Positioning. At Juli’s suggestion I had read two books (Optimal Foetal Positioning and How Will I Be Born both by Jean Sutton et al) so I felt very familiar with the concept. The whole idea behind this is that many births are more challenging because the baby is in a position which makes it difficult for him/her to come down.
I have supported moms during some births where when the baby has a difficult time coming down and the care providers have moved to cesarean as the solution. I was thrilled to gain the information Juli offers so that I can help moms during birth.
During this training we took an in-depth look at different kinds of pelvises, learned about different ways babies can present themselves to be born, became aware of signs and symptoms both before labor and during labor of malpositions.
Forward leaning positions for mothers during pregnancy encourage optimal baby positions. When moms lean back it creates a comfortable little bowl towards her back which her baby can slide into and have a difficult time coming down. Our lifestyles encourage leaning back—reclining on a couch to watch TV, bucket seats in our cars, etc. We aren’t often on our hands and knees scrubbing the floor anymore!
As doulas we should be encouraging mothers to assume positions where their hips are lower than their sitz bones..knees lower than hips. Moms can do this by putting a pillow under their bottoms, sitting on exercise balls, always thinking of leaning forward a bit.
During this past week I attended a birth where the baby was facing posterior. By using positions Juli had taught us, knee/chest for an extended period of time while applying acupressure to little toes, then hands and knees, side-lying, and later standing up the baby was able to move to an optimal anterior position and birthing progressed quickly.
I am so grateful for Juli’s class and her willingness to share this knowledge so that we can support moms to birth their babies in the best way possible for both mother and baby.
…it takes a village to welcome a child
I believe in team-building. Cooperation and community investment make great things happen, even in temporary teams like those that form around a birth. Setting up an us-versus-them mentality benefits nobody in a birth setting, least of all the birthing mom and baby who deserve to be surrounded by peace and love. As part of my doula training I was given an article titled something to the effect, “Can doulas and nurses exist in the same room?” This sentiment occurs to me occasionally in a hospital setting, and always reminds me of how silly I first found it. Of course we can exist in the same room!
A wise doula pointed out to me that when you go to the hospital, it is because they have something you need. This is true whether you’re transferring from an intended homebirth situation, or whether you’ve planned a hospital birth all along. “When is the right time to head in?” I’m often asked. To some extent we play it by ear and pay very close attention to both mom and her partner for clues. Has her communication between surges changed dramatically? Have the surges accelerated significantly? Is mom flushed and taking off layers? Is she experiencing sensations in a totally different part of her body, maybe feeling rectal pressure?
Doulas Cindy and Gwen joyfully attended Jenni's birthing along with wonderfully supportive friends
During a homebirth transfer last summer I was so impressed when a midwife introduced the hospital anesthesiologist to all of us by his first name. They were old friends, and this relationship immediately brought ease and comfort to the room. The epidural was precisely what that mom needed in that moment, and after a few hours of much needed rest, she was fortified to continue her epic and beautiful labor. Both her midwife and the anesthesiologist were warm, intelligent, cordial and talented individuals who served that mom well, but the relationship of trust between them was really the secret ingredient to a positive experience.
Whether you’re planning to give birth at home or in one of the excellent hospitals in the Bay Area, it seems to me that the most important choices come down to being surrounded by the right people. Will a parent, sibling or family member distract some moms during labor? Of course in some cases that’s true, but my most recent two births have included glowing grandmothers who were more than welcome and in the second instance served as a second doula through some of the labor. Friends, doulas, partners and sometimes children can create just the energy a birthing mom desires. There are certainly moms who prefer to keep things as simple as possible and some even desire complete solitude, but I have been thoroughly impressed and honored to be part of some exceptional birthing teams recently.
Honoring those lost through miscarriage, abortion and stillbirth
Placenta Love
By Melissa
When I had my daughter almost four years ago I became very interested in the power of the placenta and for good reason, it is truly an amazing organ! Imagine, you grow an entirely new organ at the onset of pregnancy that nourishes your baby while in utero. Many believe that it can nourish the mother too.
The placenta begins to grow at the very first cell division in pregnancy and grows to approximately 9 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick in the middle. A placenta resembles a disc or slab – one side attaches to the lining of the mother’s uterus, the other side (often called the tree of life) attaches to the umbilical cord.
For centuries the placenta has received ceremonial handling across cultures. Placentas can be planted, buried, burned and (my favorite) eaten. Almost all mammals consume their placenta, as if there is an inherent hunger or need to eat placenta. It is full of minerals, hormones (including oxytocin, the happy hormone) and iron, perfect for a postpartum mother.
In Asia, the placenta is considered a powerful tonic and it is used to restore one’s vitality after illness or injury. The placenta if consumed or encapsulated (with minimal heat), can be a rich source of nutrients for the mother postpartum. Humans for millennia have used placenta in aiding homeostasis. It has been shown in countless studies across many cultures that the placenta is the perfect food for postpartum mothers. The placenta helps to restore iron levels; it aids in recovery and can increase milk supply.
In Wales, in 2000 a group of homeopaths “proved” the efficacy of Placenta humanum as a remedy for both mother and for the child: “Placenta humanum, has indicated its benefit in the treatment of conditions where the child’s immune system has failed to respond effectively to a challenge or illness. If the remedy is prepared from the child’s own placenta, it provides an added individualized boost to overcome the child’s own particular inherited tendencies.”
Following the birth of my daughter, I used our placenta to make a homeopathic tincture. I took two to three droppers-full daily for the first month (individual dosage can vary). Since then, I’ve used it when I have felt hormonally “low”. I have snuck a dropper full in my daughter’s bottle, scrambled eggs and smoothie and she has never complained!
With my second birth I chose to encapsulate my placenta as well as make a tincture. I did eat a little hunk of the placenta; it was mild tasting, very similar to Ahi sashimi. My acupuncturist arrived within hours of the birth. She took the remainder of my placenta and started the process of encapsulating it almost immediately. First, she lightly steamed it with some ginger, lemon and pepper. Secondly, it was cut it into strips and put it into a dehydrator on the lowest setting. Once dry, she ground it up and encapsulated it for me. I started taking the pills two days after giving birth which I believe, helped me rebound quickly from the birth of my son. I took four pills twice daily for two weeks, which is what felt right to me. I saved the remainder of the capsules in the freezer for future “hormonal emergencies”.
I believe both forms of placenta preparation hold merit. Placenta that has been encapsulated is very potent, it is best to be consumed as soon as possible postpartum. Yet, if frozen, can last for years. The tincture can be used for mom and baby, and since there is more of it, it can potentially last you a lifetime.. Many mothers report feeling relaxed and content after taking their placenta pills and tincture.
If you are interested in having me prepare your placenta for you either in tincture or capsule form, or both, please email me directly at: melissakeeneberg@gmail.com. In your email please indicate your Expected Due Date and where I can pick up your placenta. Please try to store your placenta in a glass container and keep it refrigerated or on ice. Freeze the placenta if more than 48 hours elapses from the time of birth. I will do my best to pick it up as soon as I can.
If you would like me to include a print of your placenta (done on archival watercolor paper) with your order, please indicate in your email.
I will return your placenta within 72 hours if I am encapsulating it for you. You will receive your placenta in about a week if I am preparing a tincture for you. I will make two trips if you choose both options.
Tincture is $125. Encapsulation is $200. Combo is $250.
When making the tincture, I follow the recipe from a group of homeopaths in the UK. To read more about the process I invite you to check out this amazing website: www.moonsong.com.au
I will not turn anyone away for lack of funds. I accept trade, payment plans and sliding scale upon request.
