Here are some pictures from our celebration of International Midwives Day here at Papago Park in Phoenix! Check them out! It looks like most of the pictures were taken after my friend and I left, so we're not in any of them, though I know a lot of people pictured, and our very own midwives are in several of the pics. If you missed it, plan to be there next year!
Pictures from Phoenix Midwives Day
Thanks to Cerin of Precious Moments Photography for the pics!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Baby Faith Hope
My blog-friend Kathy made me aware of this blog a few months ago, and I wanted to share it with everyone!
Baby Faith Hope
Baby Faith was born with a condition known as anencephaly, in which parts of the brain, scalp and skull are missing. It is a lethal abnormality, and babies are usually stillborn or die within hours or days. Faith's mother was encouraged to abort, but she bravely carried to term knowing that her daughter would not live, and baby Faith is now..... 10 weeks old! I don't know if she's broken records for anencephalic-baby lifespans, but she's got to be pretty close. I don't know what her prognosis is, but for now she is doing just fine.
I have been unable to email Myah, baby Faith's mother, as she had to remove her email from her blog due some extremely sick people emailing her hate-mail about her baby. So Myah, if you ever read this, know that you are in our prayers! Keep up the awesome work with your precious baby! This family could use all of our prayers and support.
Baby Faith Hope
Baby Faith was born with a condition known as anencephaly, in which parts of the brain, scalp and skull are missing. It is a lethal abnormality, and babies are usually stillborn or die within hours or days. Faith's mother was encouraged to abort, but she bravely carried to term knowing that her daughter would not live, and baby Faith is now..... 10 weeks old! I don't know if she's broken records for anencephalic-baby lifespans, but she's got to be pretty close. I don't know what her prognosis is, but for now she is doing just fine.
I have been unable to email Myah, baby Faith's mother, as she had to remove her email from her blog due some extremely sick people emailing her hate-mail about her baby. So Myah, if you ever read this, know that you are in our prayers! Keep up the awesome work with your precious baby! This family could use all of our prayers and support.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
International Midwives Day in Phoenix: A Success!
A friend and I attended the International Midwives' Day celebration today in Phoenix, and it was a big success! Lots of exhibits, loads of people attending - a hit!
This year (the first year of doing something bigger here in Phoenix), we had music, food, a raffle, ultrasounds, free pregnancy massage, and a number of booths with some of the following:
- Bradley method childbirth
- ICAN of Central Arizona
- Waterbirth
- Arizona Student Midwives
- Baby Wraps
- Pregnancy Photography
- Birth Statuary
AND..... Sign-ups for a soon-to-be-formed Arizona Birth Advocacy group! If you weren't there, contact Mary Langlois to find out more and to sign up! I can't wait. We've needed this for a long time.
The organizers did a terrific job of getting together a great event! Nice work, everyone! Looking forward to next year.
This year (the first year of doing something bigger here in Phoenix), we had music, food, a raffle, ultrasounds, free pregnancy massage, and a number of booths with some of the following:
- Bradley method childbirth
- ICAN of Central Arizona
- Waterbirth
- Arizona Student Midwives
- Baby Wraps
- Pregnancy Photography
- Birth Statuary
AND..... Sign-ups for a soon-to-be-formed Arizona Birth Advocacy group! If you weren't there, contact Mary Langlois to find out more and to sign up! I can't wait. We've needed this for a long time.
The organizers did a terrific job of getting together a great event! Nice work, everyone! Looking forward to next year.
Chiropractic Care for Turning Posterior Babies
When I was at my chiropractor's office on Monday, she told me about a technique that she had recently learned for turning occiput posterior babies that was incredibly effective, and I wanted to share it with everyone!
An occiput posterior baby is a baby whose face is facing the mother's front, rather than her back as babies normally do (occiput anterior). Posterior babies are associated with long, difficult, and extra-painful labors - thus, a position to be avoided whenever possible!
The chiropractic technique used to turn posterior babies is called "diaphragmatic release" and is incredibly simple to give and receive (my chiropractor demonstrated on me, and it was amazingly easy!). So.... If you or a client end up with a pre-labor posterior baby, you might want to try it out! Read about it here.
An occiput posterior baby is a baby whose face is facing the mother's front, rather than her back as babies normally do (occiput anterior). Posterior babies are associated with long, difficult, and extra-painful labors - thus, a position to be avoided whenever possible!
The chiropractic technique used to turn posterior babies is called "diaphragmatic release" and is incredibly simple to give and receive (my chiropractor demonstrated on me, and it was amazingly easy!). So.... If you or a client end up with a pre-labor posterior baby, you might want to try it out! Read about it here.
Birth Mini-Documentary: "Educated Birth"
This is an awesome video that someone posted to a yahoo group to which I belong... It examines current birth practices from the viewpoint of birthing mothers, with a focus on our soaring cesarean rate. Check it out! Also, don't forget to leave a comment and a rating, as this video is being entered in a contest!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Arizona Birth Event Reminder: International Midwives Day Tomorrow!
Don't forget! Come out and join us!
International Midwives Day Celebration!
WHO: Midwives, Families, Doulas, Childbirth Educators, the Birth Community, and anyone interested in supporting midwives and learning more about the Midwifery Model of Care
WHAT: A Celebration of Midwives, including a potluck (bring a dish to share!), raffle with prizes, kids area, maternity and children's clothing exchange (bring your stuff!), and informational booths
WHERE: Papago Park , 625 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix , AZ 85008, Ramadas 9 and 10 (Please park in Phoenix Zoo Parking Lot.) ftp://www.phoenix. gov/pub/PARKS/ papamap3. pdf
WHEN: Tuesday, May 5th From 10a.m. To 2p..m.
WHY: Midwives provide the highest level of healthcare to the pregnant women and families they serve. Let's get the word out and celebrate these amazing women!
MORE: For more information about this event, to assist with planning, or to represent your organization at the celebration, Please contact the Planning Committee at internationalmidwiv esdayofaz@ yahoo.com or call Alison at 602-663-0631
New Birth Website: "Birth Action"
Just found this new website, thanks to an author comment: "Birth Action". Check it out, as well as its sister site, "Birth After Cesarean". Both sites are still under construction but still have great things, with more to come! Awesome!
VBA3C Birth Story! Check It Out!
CJ has posted her VBA3C birth story! Check it out! You can also see pictures of their placenta-burying (something we plan to do with our next).
This VBA3C is an unassisted birth (not desired that way, but she couldn't find a supportive care-provider, grrr) with a hospital transport during second-stage for meconium (and thankfully close enough to the end for her not to be pressured into cesarean #4!). A great story.
Congratulations, CJ, and welcome to baby Ezra!
This VBA3C is an unassisted birth (not desired that way, but she couldn't find a supportive care-provider, grrr) with a hospital transport during second-stage for meconium (and thankfully close enough to the end for her not to be pressured into cesarean #4!). A great story.
Congratulations, CJ, and welcome to baby Ezra!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
22 weeks, 2 days: Moving Along (Slowly)
I'm in love!! In love with a big, purple, birth ball. Mmmm... I bought it as a birth ball, but it is heavenly for a sore back! I don't know how on earth I lived without it.
We've been working on this birth ball purchase for about a month now. I had wanted a specific brand that my friend Laura recommended and which I loved (the Thera-Band ball). She lent it to me last time, but I ended up using it mainly as a foot-rest, and completely forgot about it during our birth (I think it'll be different this time!). Anyhow, we could only find it online and DH didn't want to pay shipping (which increased the cost of the ball by about 50%). So DH has been on a "ball quest" to find the perfect ball... which has taken a while! He finally found "the ball" on Thursday night and brought it home for me (spending, I might add, a good $5-10 more than he would have on the Thera-band, including shipping, LOL)! It's definitely a really good ball, and I love it. It's great for exercising, for sitting, for doing pelvic tilts... I'm living on the thing right now. Now if I can only keep my cat and my toddler away from it!
I'm beginning to see that I should have set an earlier date than 20 weeks for my "start preparing for birth" date. It would have been fine if I'd hit the ground running at 20 weeks, but that seems to have been my "start easing into preparations" date... meaning that I'm really behind on most things. Last time I was calling childbirth educators at 4 weeks... this time I'm really behind the times.
So far I've started a few exercises (not much), some reading, some walking, buying my birth ball, and interviewing doulas. I have so much more to do!! (Not to mention last-month things like gathering my birth supplies and ordering my birth kit.) Let's see... I need to:
- Finalize my doula
- Really start exercising
- Choose a method of childbirth ed and WORK ON IT
- Start listening to my hypnobirthing tapes (just in case they work better this time!)
- Find a chaperone for DS (our midwife requires that so the daddy is free to catch/participate)
- More reading
And a ton of other things that I'm not remembering right now! A year or so ago I made up a huge pre-baby to-do list; I should probably get it out again and update it so that I can feel slightly more organized. Having a move in the middle of everything does complicate things!
Other than that we are doing really well... I am gaining more mobility daily, though my back still hurts quite a bit, and we are moving our way slowly through the first days of home-ownership. However, I quite seriously believe that we won't be moved in and finished with our initial projects for at least a couple of years. But that's okay with me!
I'll check in soon! Have a lovely Sunday, everyone!
We've been working on this birth ball purchase for about a month now. I had wanted a specific brand that my friend Laura recommended and which I loved (the Thera-Band ball). She lent it to me last time, but I ended up using it mainly as a foot-rest, and completely forgot about it during our birth (I think it'll be different this time!). Anyhow, we could only find it online and DH didn't want to pay shipping (which increased the cost of the ball by about 50%). So DH has been on a "ball quest" to find the perfect ball... which has taken a while! He finally found "the ball" on Thursday night and brought it home for me (spending, I might add, a good $5-10 more than he would have on the Thera-band, including shipping, LOL)! It's definitely a really good ball, and I love it. It's great for exercising, for sitting, for doing pelvic tilts... I'm living on the thing right now. Now if I can only keep my cat and my toddler away from it!
I'm beginning to see that I should have set an earlier date than 20 weeks for my "start preparing for birth" date. It would have been fine if I'd hit the ground running at 20 weeks, but that seems to have been my "start easing into preparations" date... meaning that I'm really behind on most things. Last time I was calling childbirth educators at 4 weeks... this time I'm really behind the times.
So far I've started a few exercises (not much), some reading, some walking, buying my birth ball, and interviewing doulas. I have so much more to do!! (Not to mention last-month things like gathering my birth supplies and ordering my birth kit.) Let's see... I need to:
- Finalize my doula
- Really start exercising
- Choose a method of childbirth ed and WORK ON IT
- Start listening to my hypnobirthing tapes (just in case they work better this time!)
- Find a chaperone for DS (our midwife requires that so the daddy is free to catch/participate)
- More reading
And a ton of other things that I'm not remembering right now! A year or so ago I made up a huge pre-baby to-do list; I should probably get it out again and update it so that I can feel slightly more organized. Having a move in the middle of everything does complicate things!
Other than that we are doing really well... I am gaining more mobility daily, though my back still hurts quite a bit, and we are moving our way slowly through the first days of home-ownership. However, I quite seriously believe that we won't be moved in and finished with our initial projects for at least a couple of years. But that's okay with me!
I'll check in soon! Have a lovely Sunday, everyone!
Friday, May 1, 2009
New Birth Story: A Homebirth VBAC!
Michele at Birth After Cesarean has had her baby and posted her birth story, as well as some labor and postpartum pics! Check it out! Congratulations to Michele and her new little one!
A couple of quick notes:
This story is remarkable for a couple of reasons, the first being that this is not only a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) but also a HBAC (homebirth after cesarean)! Despite evidence that HBAC is safe, homebirth midwives do not have the protected legal right to attend HBAC in the state of Arizona (this story occurs in another state), which is a shame. I'm hoping that we'll get a midwifery advocacy group soon here in Arizona that will start changing laws (we also need laws to legalize homebirth-midwife-attended breech and multiples).
Secondly, when you read this story you will see that her birth included a shoulder dystocia, a serious complication in which the baby's head comes out but the anterior should is impacted behind the pubic bone - a condition which can be fatal if not dealt with quickly. This condition is not predictable and is just as dangerous in-hospital as out. They got it resolved and baby was fine, but they ended transporting post-birth for "just in case" reasons. I've only seen one birth video with shoulder dystocia, but it's definitely a scary thing. Great job to her midwives!
Congratulations, Michele! Welcome, Baby Hannah!
A couple of quick notes:
This story is remarkable for a couple of reasons, the first being that this is not only a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) but also a HBAC (homebirth after cesarean)! Despite evidence that HBAC is safe, homebirth midwives do not have the protected legal right to attend HBAC in the state of Arizona (this story occurs in another state), which is a shame. I'm hoping that we'll get a midwifery advocacy group soon here in Arizona that will start changing laws (we also need laws to legalize homebirth-midwife-attended breech and multiples).
Secondly, when you read this story you will see that her birth included a shoulder dystocia, a serious complication in which the baby's head comes out but the anterior should is impacted behind the pubic bone - a condition which can be fatal if not dealt with quickly. This condition is not predictable and is just as dangerous in-hospital as out. They got it resolved and baby was fine, but they ended transporting post-birth for "just in case" reasons. I've only seen one birth video with shoulder dystocia, but it's definitely a scary thing. Great job to her midwives!
Congratulations, Michele! Welcome, Baby Hannah!
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