Best Parenting World

Obese and morbidly obese women are more likely to have pregnancy complications and caesarean sections than women of average weight, according to a study published in the April 2004 American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The controlled study is one of the largest ever to look at obesity in pregnancy, following more than 16,000 pregnant women at 14 medical centers across the country.

Compared with women of normal weight, obese and morbidly obese pregnant women were at greater risk for gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, fetal birth weight greater than 4,000 grams, and fetal birth weight greater than 4,500 grams, the study finds.

Morbidly obese women who undergo gastric bypass weight loss surgery and lose weight report a higher rate of normal births and healthy deliveries if they lose weight prior to becoming pregnant.

In a study by Dr. Alan C. Wittgrove, past president of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery and pioneer of the laparoscopic technique, post-gastric bypass pregnancy indicates fewer risks than commonly reported by women who are obese during pregnancy. His study was conducted with nurse-practitioner Leslie Jester who had a low-risk pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby after gastric bypass surgery.

What if you received a letter from a 13 years old girl telling that she is pregnant? Her monthly period has stopped. She is so scared and not knows what to do. How do you react to her and what should you do to help her?

First, calm down yourself. If she is your daughter, your niece, cousins or your friend’s daughter or who ever they are try not to show disappointment. Try to be cool when you face such situation. You have to understand that it’s not easy for her to tell her personal problems with someone else.

You must talk with the girl face to face and understand what she is facing. This is a dramatic frightening moment for her, so not make it rough. Try to find out by yourself is she really pregnant or just afraid she might be. Buy her pregnancy test kit. Take her to doctor to do more test because the sooner you’ll know the truth, the sooner you’ll be able to deal with it.

She probably thought you are the only person she trust to solve her problem so don’t get upset with her. If she is pregnant, her body is going to through a lot changes. You can consult her problem with doctors or go to Planned Parenthood clinic in your area.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women gain somewhere between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. Of course, this poundage depends on the woman’s starting weight. If she is overweight, then she should gain less and if she is underweight, then she should gain more. Easy enough. Now, let’s assume that your gal starts her pregnancy at a healthy and sexy weight. What the heck will she look like with thirty more pounds? Don’t worry! It gets evenly distributed throughout her body and doesn’t all go to her ass. Here’s a general breakdown of where the weight goes:

* Baby (aka the bun in the oven): 7.5 pounds

* Placenta: 1.5 pounds

* Amniotic Fluid: 2 pounds

* Increase in uterus (This gets bigger, too): 2 pounds

* Larger boob size (Yay, for you!): 2 pounds

* More blood (She now overheats easily): 4 pounds

* Fluid retention (Not fun for your partner): 4 pounds

* Maternal fat stores (Her weight gain): 7 pounds

Total Average Gain: 30 pounds

What is Homebirth Midwifery? Homebirth Midwifery is prenatal care that may include homebirth care, newborn exams, prenatal and postpartum care, labwork and more. Homebirth Midwifery also consists of using alternative therapies like Aquanatal, exercise, herbs, hydrotherapy, massage and other modalities.

Homebirth Midwifery is utilized to achieve and maintain a healthy pregnancy. With the ability to give birth in an individuals’ own home and own natural pace, Homebirth Midwifery enables multiple advantages such as allowing women to work with their own bodies by relaxing and bringing forth labor in its natural course.

Homebirth Midwifery is also beneficial in that laboring women have the freedom to move about freely, bathe or shower, and take walks at will.

Accentuating the whole person, mind, body and spirit, Homebirth Midwifery is a wonderful and natural means of giving birth to one’s newborn.

To learn more about Homebirth Midwifery, or if you are interested in a career in Homebirth Midwifery, feel free to peruse our healing arts’ schools and holistic practitioners’ directories at Holistic Junction. Additionally, if you would like to share your homebirth midwifery experience with our vast audience, please feel free to do so in our Experiences’ section of our site.

Have you considered hiring a doula for added support during labor? Wouldn’t it be easier for a mother to have someone nurturing, guiding, suggesting and comforting throughout the entire childbirth process? Doulas have your best interest at heart because they work for you not the hospital.

WHAT ARE DOULAS?

? Specially trained women helping women through childbirth.

? Offer a continual presence vs. the hospital staff coming and going.

? Provide pre-natal visits to go over birth plans and birth desires.

? Give suggestions to help facilitate labor progress.

? Massage, encourage and guide a woman throughout labor.

? They have a bag full of labor aids that help eliminate the discomforts during childbirth.

WHAT DOULAS DON’T DO:

? Vaginal exams, or medical interventions.

? Deliveries

? Speak up for the woman; rather encourage her to voice her wishes

? Take over Dad’s role

WHAT’S IN IT FOR BIRTH PARTNER?

? The birth partner can participate at his own comfort level.

? When he wants to be the main partner, he has an assistant. He can go to the bathroom, eat or even sleep if he needs to without compromising the woman’s comfort.

A doula is a Greek word meaning "woman servant." Doulas are trained professionals helping and guiding a woman and her partner through childbirth. A doula provides a continuous presence during labor and delivery as she takes care of a mother’s emotional and non-medical needs.

ARE YOU DOULA MATERIAL?

Do you pick up childbirth magazines, immediately turning to the labor section, and you aren’t even pregnant? Do you long to talk to anyone who is pregnant? I was this way before I became a doula or labor assistant. When I was looking for a new career path after the birth of my second child, I came across a doula when I was waiting in line to register my son for preschool. I was in a certified doula training class a month later and have never looked back. Now, I want to help other women who are passionate about childbirth and want to pursue a life change into the doula world. Once you decide that you want to become a doula, you will never be the same person again.

ALL NIGHTERS AND SHORT DELIVERIES

In the olden days, mothers were told to toughen their nipples to avoid pain when the baby started breastfeeding. Rubbing with a wash cloth, pumping and even alcohol was once used to toughen the nipples.

The number one reason why a woman has sore nipples is poor positioning and latching, not the lack of preparation. Possibly, the baby is not turned toward the mother or the baby’s mouth is not over the nipple but on the tip of it. Some babies go on to the breast with a wide mouth. But, throughout the feed, slides slowly down to the nipple.

Another reason for sore nipples may be the mom is feeling exhausted and doesn’t think she can deal with one more thing, including sore nipples. Pain with latch is not normal and needs to be addressed. The sooner the mother fixes the problem, the sooner she will have pain-free breastfeeding.

PREVENTING SORE NIPPLES:

? Whatever position the mom wants to try, the baby’s body needs to be turned in facing mom. Make sure the baby’s bottom is also tucked in close.

Pain is the word most associated with labor. Women go to great lengths to deal with the discomforts of childbirth. They attend classes, buy products, read books and talk to their friends. However, relaxation is the one essential ingredient, often overlooked, which helps with the reduction of painful contractions. When Moms have fear in labor, their body tenses. When there is tension (opposite of relaxation), there is pain. Relaxation takes away the fear, therefore, reducing tension and pain. You can’t have relaxation and tension at the same time.

Relaxation exercises help a mother desiring either a medicated or a natural childbirth. The pregnant mom has to take responsibility before labor to prepare for her birth by practicing relaxation. The more the woman practices before delivery, the faster she can draw upon relaxation when she needs it, making her labor quicker and easier.

PREPARING FOR RELAXATION DURING THE PREGNANCY:

· Daily listening to a relaxation CD

· Attending a childbirth class that emphasizes relaxation

· Sitting on the birth ball to reduce muscle tension

· Having pregnancy massages

· Practicing breathing exercises

· Taking a pre-natal yoga class

· Reading Dr. Dick-Read’s book "Childbirth Without Fear."

WHY LACK OF SUPPORT?

Several years ago, ACOG, American College of Obstetrician and Gynecology stated, that the risk of vaginal birth after cesarean poses a threat of uterine rupture and isn’t worth the risk to the fetus or the mother. Since then our hospitals and physicians have changed their views and policies. Larger hospitals with anesthesia coverage around the clock are a little more open to the idea of VBAC. Women aren’t given the choice if they are at smaller hospitals. Women who are going forward with their decision for a VBAC may find that the biggest obstacle is lack of support from the medical staff.

PREPARING FOR A VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN

First of all, know why you had a cesarean the first time. Was the cesarean for failure to progress or fetal distress? The reason behind the cesarean makes a difference in trying for a vaginal delivery. Discuss this with your physician. Hiring a labor assistant or Doula will be the most valuable thing you can do. She can help guide you through the entire labor, therefore reducing your chances of a repeat cesarean. Relaxation exercises, a pre-natal yoga class and visualizing a vaginal delivery will also help reduce your chances of a cesarean.

EPIDURALS CAN SAVE YOU FROM THE “HORRORS” OF CHILDBIRTH

It is true that an epidural may make a woman have an easier birth, but may also complicate matters? Recently, I heard of a new study written by an anesthesiologist, stating that epidurals do not increase the woman’s risk of cesareans. I immediately dismissed it as an attempt to sell a book. The audience is for women who are wanting the validation that it is OK to have an epidural. Guess what? It is OK to have an epidural. If that is what a woman wants, I am all for her right to choose. However, there are still risks with any medical intervention. To sell a book to women who are wanting an epidural and convincing them there are no complications is a farce. This author loves what he does. He loves to save and protect women from the "horrors" of labor contractions. I would love to have him inside my labor and delivery room, if I desired an epidural.

WITH NATURAL CHILDBIRTH YOU DON’T NEED “SAVING”