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Childbirth thread!
All I have to say is based on my personal experiences and research. I've personally had each method presented here.
First up: Cesareans.
The vast majority of Cesareans are unnecessary. Lets start with a comparison of the best and worst countrys' stats.
All I have to say is based on my personal experiences and research. I've personally had each method presented here.
First up: Cesareans.
The vast majority of Cesareans are unnecessary. Lets start with a comparison of the best and worst countrys' stats.
Cesarean Rates (the percentage of live births resulting from cesarean):
USA 32%
Sweden <9%
Maternal Mortality Rate per 100,000 live births:
USA 26.4
Sweden 4.4
It's really not hard to see the correlation between high cesareans and high mortality. Cesareans are MAJOR surgery.
USA 32%
Sweden <9%
Maternal Mortality Rate per 100,000 live births:
USA 26.4
Sweden 4.4
It's really not hard to see the correlation between high cesareans and high mortality. Cesareans are MAJOR surgery.
Why is the Cesarean rate so high in the USA?
There are many reasons.
First, OBs are trained surgeons. They went to college to learn to perform surgery. Between their HUGE college debts and the fact that they're SURGEONS, OBs *want* to perform cesareans.
There are many reasons.
First, OBs are trained surgeons. They went to college to learn to perform surgery. Between their HUGE college debts and the fact that they're SURGEONS, OBs *want* to perform cesareans.
Natural birth just doesn't pay the bills like a $25k+ cesarean.
Second: Interventions. Premature manual breaking of waters leads to the "need" for pitocin, which leads to the "need" for epidural, which leads to arrested labor and "necessary" or "emergency" cesarean.
Second: Interventions. Premature manual breaking of waters leads to the "need" for pitocin, which leads to the "need" for epidural, which leads to arrested labor and "necessary" or "emergency" cesarean.
There are MANY other things I can say about unnecessary Cesareans, but I will save those for a separate thread.
Why are cesarean rates so low in Sweden?
Midwives are plentiful in Sweden, & the focus is placed on natural delivery. OBs and Midwives work together to keep the # low
Why are cesarean rates so low in Sweden?
Midwives are plentiful in Sweden, & the focus is placed on natural delivery. OBs and Midwives work together to keep the # low
Obviously, cesareans have their place. I'm not arguing otherwise.
Next birth option: induction and epidural
Again, both of these have their place. Once you're nearing or beyond 42 weeks, and labor has not initiated naturally, absolutely, one should talk to their midwife (or doctor) about induction.
Again, both of these have their place. Once you're nearing or beyond 42 weeks, and labor has not initiated naturally, absolutely, one should talk to their midwife (or doctor) about induction.
Induction methods:
First: manual rupture of membranes (a tool is used to break your water).
This removes the cushion from baby, pressing baby's head into the cervix, spurring labor. I highly recommend this method if birth is imminent. BUT the method puts you "on a clock"
First: manual rupture of membranes (a tool is used to break your water).
This removes the cushion from baby, pressing baby's head into the cervix, spurring labor. I highly recommend this method if birth is imminent. BUT the method puts you "on a clock"
If you haven't delivered by 24 hours after rupture, you will have to be transferred to a hospital for monitoring. Once in the hospital, as long as you don't develop a fever and baby's not in distress, a good doctor will let you continue to labor (assuming labor has begun).
Your midwife can walk you through when breaking your waters is right for you.
The "prerequisites" include (but not limited to):
-being beyond 41 weeks,
-dilation of 4cm (this # is different for each woman/midwife)
-proper position of baby
-a history of successful vaginal birth
The "prerequisites" include (but not limited to):
-being beyond 41 weeks,
-dilation of 4cm (this # is different for each woman/midwife)
-proper position of baby
-a history of successful vaginal birth
Second: pitocin. It is intense. W/ #2, I endured 12 hours of high pitocin w/ no pain meds until I had an "emergency" cesarean. It's torture.
Pitocin *can* be wonderful. A little bit can kick start your body into labor then the pitocin can be stopped & allow the body to take over
Pitocin *can* be wonderful. A little bit can kick start your body into labor then the pitocin can be stopped & allow the body to take over
Often a combination of ruptured membranes and light pitocin can achieve labor if you're beyond 41 weeks. Pitocin before birth to induce labor can only be administered by a physician, not a midwife.
If utilized improperly, though, both can easily lead to cesarean.
If utilized improperly, though, both can easily lead to cesarean.
Breaking waters too soon means your body and/or baby isn't ready, and you will not go into labor. Cesarean would be imminent.
Pitocin cranked too high will make your uterus squeeze baby too hard and decelerate their heart rate. ANY parent will chose C/S if baby's heart is at 40
Pitocin cranked too high will make your uterus squeeze baby too hard and decelerate their heart rate. ANY parent will chose C/S if baby's heart is at 40
There are natural herbs, tinctures, and exercises your midwife will have access to that can naturally encourage labor.
Some examples:
Daily Yoga beginning by 28 weeks
Black Cohosh
Blue Cohosh
Evening Primrose Oil
Castor oil
Nipple stimulation or breast pumping
Cotton Root Bark
Some examples:
Daily Yoga beginning by 28 weeks
Black Cohosh
Blue Cohosh
Evening Primrose Oil
Castor oil
Nipple stimulation or breast pumping
Cotton Root Bark
Moving on to EPIDURAL.
I had an epidural with my third when I asked for pitocin. In hind sight, I wish I hadn't. That's my only birth regret.
I had an epidural with my third when I asked for pitocin. In hind sight, I wish I hadn't. That's my only birth regret.
While it's true that epidural is the ultimate pain relief, that's not a good thing during labor. Your body needs to be able to feel baby's descent so you know when not to push. This is vitally important to prevent tears.
Crowning needs to happen slowly, gently.
Crowning needs to happen slowly, gently.
Onto my favorite type of birth: NATURAL
Your body releases an amazing concoction of hormones raising your consciousness to a new plane. Yes, you feel the pain, but it's manageable when you're looking at it from within the hormone high.
Your body releases an amazing concoction of hormones raising your consciousness to a new plane. Yes, you feel the pain, but it's manageable when you're looking at it from within the hormone high.
A trick I employed was to concentrate on keeping my pain inside a small box. You mentally push the pain to its place of origin (your uterus at first, then your cervix at the end). If you don't keep the pain contained, you begin feeling pain all over your body; that's overwhelming
When you reach the transitional phase of labor, your body will likely begin to shake uncontrollable, teeth chattering, nearly convulsing. That's normal, and it means your body is switch from opening the uterus to pushing out baby.
This is the most painful phase of childbirth. It will think you can't handle labor, and you'll beg for relief, but keep heart! This is the shortest phase of labor, and it means meeting your baby is just around the corner!
Another natural pain relieving method is laboring and delivering in a pool of warm water. (though I have one friend who hated being in the water during labor!)
The water helps you to focus on keeping your pain contained.
The water helps you to focus on keeping your pain contained.
I'm open to answering any questions you have about any of my tweets! Just know that I am NOT a professional. I can only supply my experiences and personal deductions.
