My Birth Story - Part 4

OK....about 6 weeks to go and this baby is head up! We got an ultrasound to confirm. The tech casually says, "Don't worry, you still have 6 weeks, plenty of time for it to flip". Yeah right, I'm thinking. There is barely room in there for the baby, let along room for it to move much. And it's growing by the day! All the beautiful, romantic thoughts of my perfect birth start to melt away. All I can now see in my mind is a big, red, ugly word: "C-Section".

Michelle re-assures us that there is still time, but we need to act quickly with our interventions. She gave us a list of things to try to turn a breech baby. Our shot-gun approach included: Chiropractic adjustments, Acupuncture, moxabustion, herbs, hypnosis, visualization, pelvis tilts, sifting, hanging up-side down, flips in the pool - even cold potatoes and flash lights! (theory is to put something cold by the baby's head and it will move away from it, and towards the light). Amazingly, when we did several of these techniques, especially the chiropractic, acupuncture and hypnosis, the baby DID move! It started to shift head down about half way around, but then stopped, and moved back to where it was. We later learned there could have been a number of factors preventing it from turning all the way, such as placenta or cord location.

(moxabustion) 

(sifting)                                                                                              

(chiropractic)                                 My new mission was to get this baby turned! It was on my mind all the time. And, unfortunately, that stressed me out. We continued all of our interventions, hoping that something would work. I was so discouraged when people told me they had a breech baby, did one pelvic tilt and the baby turned. Or a medical professional who said they had a 90% success rate, but no, not successful for me! I was glad we exhausted all our options, though. I would not be at peace knowing we did not try everything!



The last several weeks of my pregnancy were filled with worry. After discussing our situation with many professionals, and alot of thinking and praying, Avery and I decided to go for an elective C-Section if the baby did not turn. If a baby is breech, especially a Frank breech as our was (both legs up straight), there are chances for complications or even serious injury to the baby. Hip and shoulder dislocations, or even a broken collarbone. I would rather have a c-section, and have the baby breastfeeding immediately and get out of the hospital, then the baby stay in the hospital with an injury and miss out on bonding.

I know, I know, you all are thinking "Here she is promoting natural childbirth, saying that all women can do it, and she elects to have a c-section!" First, I always say "educate and empower". So, I educated myself on the pros and cons and all facets of a natural breech birth and a c-section. Secondly, I always tell mothers to trust their instincts, follow their heart and do what they feel is best for their family. I believe that if we were living 100 years ago, our baby might have be born fine, but he could also have been born with broken bones or serious injury, such as a breech baby's chin getting stuck on the pelvic ring as it descends. This can cause the baby serious neck and spinal cord compression, and suffocation and even death. I could have had many complications, including hemorrhaging, and even death. These events do not always happen, but they could. We are fortunate to have emergency care for when we need it. Not for normal, healthy births - which makes up 90% of births! But for that small 10% that need it. We choose to have 5 minutes of "emergency care" that would result in a lifetime of perfect health.

If you have a breech baby, or have another complication, and choose an elective c-section, you can still have a "natural" c-section, which I will explain below and in future blogs.

We insisted on waiting to go into labor before heading to the hospital. Why? When a women knows she has to, or chooses to, have an elective c-section, the OB will schedule it about 2 weeks BEFORE her due date. That way he can be sure that she will not be in labor. A contracting uterus makes his job a bit harder. However, due dates are estimates only. And the lungs are the last thing that develop, finally complete right before birth. So, if your due date is off by a week or two, and you go in 2 weeks early, your baby could be born 3-4 weeks early! Way too early, and not ready to face the world yet! That is why we insisted on waiting to go into labor. That way we would know baby was ready to come out. Also, many times, babies will turn with the contractions. It would be our last hope.

We met with the OB that Michele uses. Dr. Boulting was amazing! He understood our desire for a natural birth, and reassured us that if the baby turned while we were at the hospital, he would send us right back to the birth center. He knew our birth plan and would follow it as much as he could. That made both Avery and I feel much better. I never gave up on the thought that this baby would turn, but I finally started to come to terms with the reality of a c-section.

(my henna belly tattoo)

Breastfeeding Psychology

What's that?

"Breastfeeding psychology" is something I have discovered in my mothering experience. It is discussed very little, if at all, in all my reading. If more mothers were in-tune to their own "breastfeeding psychology", there might be less difficult and/or failed breastfeeding experiences.

The mind is a very powerful tool, sometimes more powerful then we think it is! It controls the entire body. Have you ever noticed that you start to let-down when thinking about your baby, seeing your baby, smelling their clothes or even hearing a baby's cry? That is your mind being so powerful that it controls the body's response without you even having to think about it.

Mothers that use "Attached Parenting" (see Attached Parenting) are very in-tune to their babies. They hold them constantly, especially as an infant, in a sling or baby carrier. They co-sleep (see Co-Sleeping, Our Experience) with their baby. They bathe together. Mom's and Baby's bodies work in synergy.

Mothers that are having breastfeeding problems, especially in milk production, milk quantity, let-down and latch, might need to get in-tune with their "breastfeeding psychology". Here are some tips...
1. You have to want to breastfeed. Not because you think your supposed to, but because you want to.
2. Relax! If your body is tense, baby will notice. He might not want to latch or get a poor latch.
3. Quite your mind...and only think of baby! If you are stressed out and thinking of other things then your baby, milk production can slow down, and latch can be difficult too. When you are breastfeeding, lay down, relax, and day-dream about you and your child. Turn off the phone and TV if you must.
4. If you are a working mom and are pumping, breastfeed as much as possible. No matter how good a pump you have, nothing compares to your baby. Besides, a pump won't gazes into your eyes and rub your back like your baby will! When you are pumping at work, try to eliminate all distractions, and think of baby. Bring a piece of clothing or blanket to smell, listen to soothing music, or look at a picture of baby. Our senses are so powerful!
5. If these tips don't work, contact a lactation consultant immediately.

My story...

Nolan and I have an excellent breastfeeding relationship (going on 18 months now!) We have not had any problems with latch or milk production, except for one time, which is when I discovered my "breastfeeding psychology". Nolan was about 3 months old. We had house guests and alot going on. There was a night that I had to work, and Avery was going to take Nolan to a dinner and I would meet them there. This does not seem like a big deal, but this was my first time away from him for such an extended time. I had to give Avery a pumped bottle - too much time would pass that Nolan would need a feeding. And as much as we loved our friends staying with us, it was out of our routine. I had to keep up with cooking, cleaning and social outings, as well as working. I fell into problem #3 - my mind was stressed! That morning, I started to pump and only got half a bottle. Nolan had sucked them dry during the night, and I still needed to feed him throughout the morning. All day I kept thinking about this "problem" and worrying that I would not have enough milk for him. Sure enough, my "problem" become my reality. Later that afternoon, I tried to pump again and only got a 1/4 more. Even more anxious, I just breastfed Nolan as much as I could until I had to leave. Of course, he was fine. He had enough milk in the bottle, but certainly wanted me when I arrived at the dinner!

The lesson learned, "breastfeeding psychology" is real. When you are pregnant, read as much as you can about breastfeeding, and watch other mothers nurse their children. Attend LLL meeting, get to know a lactation consultant before you have any issues, so if one does arise, you know who to call. And just RELAX! Enjoy every moment with your baby. Before you know it, they grow up!

Another common anxiety issue mothers have is breastfeeding in public. When baby wants to be fed, baby must be fed! Sometimes there is no subduing them. Many new mothers feel embarrassed, or awkward. Let me tell you, most people don't even know you are nursing. There have been several times that I was nursing Nolan in public, and people would come right up to me and start talking and not even know that he was under the blanket or in his sling! They would actually ask me where he was! When I told them, then they would figure it out and they would get embarrassed. I always just laughed and said "no worries, he's just having lunch!" Have a sling, and know how to use it. Always have an extra blanket ready. Sit somewhere comfortable. And don't ever let me hear that you fed your baby in the bathroom! No one else eats their meal in the bathroom - your baby shouldn't either!!

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (La Leche League International Book)

Family Yoga at the Library

Family Yoga is a great way to get out of the house, exercise and have fun...together as a family! I feel that too many times moms and dads leave their kids with a babysitter while they go to the gym and then watch their kids' baseball games from the bleachers. While parents need time to "escape" and do their own activity, as well as kids, it is not only fun but essential to the family unit to do things together. Family Yoga is for everyone in the family to get creative and move their body! Inspired by classic yoga poses, we sometimes change the name and/or style of the pose to build kids' imagination. An easy-to-follow flow of moves keeps you moving while we stretch and strength all the muscles in the body. This is a great start to the day or to release some energy after school.

Please contact me directly for more information on Family Yoga. 561-309-4543 or jenncohen79@yahoo.com

 

Mama&Baby Yoga at the Library

I recently taught "Mama&Baby Yoga" at the library. I originally designed this class when Nolan was just a few months old. Although it works best when Baby is old enough to hold their head up but young enough not to crawl away (approx 3-8 months), there are lots of alternatives for older babies. Now that Nolan is almost 17 months, it was quite interesting! The main focus of the class is for Mama and Baby to bond and have fun. Mama uses Baby as her yoga partner and "weight" by holding and lifting baby. We use a variety of yoga stretches, Pilates-base core moves and full-body exercises, which helps Mama postpartum. Baby loves the attention from Mama and moving around. We stretch and massage Baby, and use strengthening exercises to encourage head holding, crawling and eventually walking. As we sing songs and say Baby's name, this stimulates their auditory as well as visual and physical skills. As for the social aspect, babies love to look at other children and moms get to meet other mothers.

Please contact me directly for more information on when Mama&Baby Yoga classes will be held. 561-309-4543 or jenncohen79@yahoo.com.

 

Exercising while pregnant - Time Magazine article

Here is a copy of a wonderful article in Time Magazine, which discusses the benefit to mother and baby of exercising while pregnant. I will be discussing in more detail exact exercises in a future blog.

For most pregnant women, exercise is the last thing on their minds. After all, keeping slim while you're expecting isn't exactly the top priority — rather, it's making sure your baby gets enough nutrients to grow. But in a small new study, researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand report that a mother's regular aerobic exercise may be good for a growing fetus' health — and may even help a baby get a healthier start in life.



The finding is a bit surprising, because exercise is known to lower the risk of insulin resistance — the precursor condition to diabetes. Although insulin resistance is a detriment in healthy adults, it turns out to be helpful for proper fetal development. Insulin-resistant individuals gradually lose their ability to respond to changing glucose levels in the blood; in pregnant women, the condition, which occurs when hormones produced by the placenta interfere with the proper function of insulin in the body, means nutrients get shunted to the growing baby. (If the condition gets severe, however, it can result in a temporary condition called gestational diabetes in the mother, which is associated with heavier babies and a higher risk of obesity in childhood.)


The question is, Could a mother's exercise put her developing baby's food supply at risk? Past studies looking at the effect of exercise on birth weight have been inconclusive, and none have really investigated the influence of exercise on the mother's sensitivity to insulin. So the University of Auckland's Dr. Paul Hofman and his team decided to study 84 first-time mothers, who were of normal weight on average, and track any effects aerobic exercise might have on their insulin sensitivity and, ultimately, on their babies' birth weight.


Researchers asked some women to exercise on a stationary bicycle for at least 40 minutes per session, up to five times each week, starting in the 20th week of pregnancy; the other women were not specifically asked to exercise. When the two groups and their babies were compared, the team found that women who bicycled regularly gave birth to babies who were on average 150 g (about 5 oz.) lighter than those born to the nonexercising mothers. In both groups, however, the babies were of healthy weight, and there was no difference in the mothers' weights.


Generally speaking, babies on the lower end of the normal weight range are considered healthier and less prone to developing diabetes and obesity than heavier ones, so this was an encouraging result.


Even more reassuring was that regular exercise did not seem to affect the flow of nutrients to the growing babies in the womb. Over the course of the 15-week regimen, there was no additional exercise-related impact on mothers' insulin-sensitivity measures. Both exercising and nonexercising moms showed the same, expected increase in insulin resistance that accompanies pregnancy. "This suggests that the hormonal regulation of insulin resistance is incredibly strong and occurs irrespective of other environmental factors such as exercise," says Hofman. "I speculate that it's an important survival mechanism to make sure that moms maintain insulin resistance so the baby receives enough food."


Hofman's theory is supported by previous studies that have documented normal-weight babies born to mothers experiencing famine, says Dr. Raul Artal, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at St. Louis University. "The fetus is actually quite protected, and there may be a preferential diversion of nutrients to the fetus regardless of how much the mother gains during pregnancy," he says.


He was encouraged by the new study's findings, which support the importance of exercise for expectant moms, in particular those who are overweight or obese. Indeed, pregnant women should not be afraid of exercising and should be careful not to gain too much weight, especially if they are already overweight or obese, says Artal. "We've published a study on the benefits of lifestyle interventions such as exercise for obese women and found that they deliver normal-size babies, with fewer complications, and often don't require a C-section," he says.


Artal and several of his colleagues are concerned about current guidelines that they believe allow too much weight gain during pregnancy. The latest recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), released last September, allow normal-weight women to gain up to 25 lb. (7.3 kg) while they are expecting, which Artal feels is too much. The women in the New Zealand study gained an average of 16 lb. and gave birth to babies within a healthy weight range. "I am excited by these findings, because here you have normal-size women who engaged in daily exercise and did not gain weight as per the IOM recommendations, and their babies were of normal weight," he says. "That strengthens the argument that the current recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy are too lax."


It's an even more important message for overweight and obese mothers-to-be, who tend to deliver heavier babies (anything over about 8 lb. 12 oz., or 4 kg, is considered a high birth weight), who are then at higher risk of diabetes and obesity later in life. Those heavier children are then more likely to become overweight adults and in turn give birth to bigger babies. The goal, says Hofman, is to break the cycle of ever bigger generations of babies. According to his latest findings, exercise during pregnancy may be a safe and reliable first step; the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends 30 minutes a day for pregnant women, for as long as they are physically able.


Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1978193,00.html#ixzz0yWqt08i1

Indian Roasted Pumpkin Soup - Recipe

We are finally approaching the Holidays...the weather has started to cool off, the smell of pumpkin and cinnamon is in the air (in my house at least!) and I am craving warm comfort food!

Here is a yummy fall recipe - you gotta try it! This is very easy to make and the whole family will love it!

Indian Roasted Pumpkin Soup:
2 Cups Chopped Pumpkin
4 Shallots
2 Carrots, chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and sliced
1 med. Onion, chopped
4 Garlic cloves
2 Tbsp. EVOO
1/2 tsp each of ground coriander, cumin and turmeric
2 cups Vegetable broth
1/2 cup Coconut Milk

Preheat oven to 425. Combine all ingredients except veggie broth and coconut milk in roasting pan and cook for 30 minutes until tender. Transfer everything to blender, adding broth and milk. Blend until smooth. Stir in s&p to taste.

Not only is this soup homemade with all-natural ingredients, the coriander, cumin, turmeric, garlic and onion are anti-cancer ingredients, and the pumpkin and apple have tons of vitamins, such as A and C. I personally doubled the amount of the spices from 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp. Nolan loved it!

Another thing I just tried and loved is Acorn Squash. Cut in half, scoop out seeds and strings. Place cut-side down on oiled cookie sheet, bake until tender. I put it in a bowl, filled the cavity with raisins and cinnamon (also anti-cancer!) and ate it right out of the skin! And, we roasted the seeds so nothing went to waste. Another Nolan favorite!

Nolan has eaten Indian food before and has not had a problem. If you suspect your child might have a problem with the spices or you are just not sure, omit the spices while roasting. Blend and then separate baby's food to the side. Add spices to your portion and blend.  Baby will love the acorn squash!

Making a butternut squash soup tomorrow...

Vegan World Fusion Cuisine: The Cookbook and Wisdom Work from the Chefs of the Blossoming Lotus Restaurant With a Special Foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall

My new favorite book!

Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
http://www.llli.org/
by La Leche League International

An LLLI classic, this definitive guide to breastfeeding reflects current research while maintaining its trademark style of mother-to-mother sharing. Filled with research along with personal stories from mothers, the seventh revised edition of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding includes new explanations of how the breast makes milk, details about effective positioning and latch-on, suggestions for using herbs and medications to increase milk supply, and more. Updated information provides mothers with the tools needed to make informed decisions about birth, breastfeeding, and parenting.

This book is amazing! I recently started reading it and it has been a great source of reassurance for our family. Sometimes, even though you know your doing the right thing, it helps to read the story of another mother's success. It's like a little pat on the back, saying "your doing good!". Not just about breastfeeding, the book goes into birthing, parenting, discipline, nutrition and more! I highly recommend this book for all mothers and mothers-to-be!

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (La Leche League International Book)