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Down Home Mama

Down Home Mama

Orange County Doula, Prenatal & Postpartum guidance!

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By: mrsbasom January 13, 2018

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Posted by:mrsbasom

Hi, I’m Allison! Mama to two beautiful babies (a girl and baby boy). I love period-piece movies and series, sushi dates, and helping other mamas! Thanks for stopping by! Please feel free to browse through my blog posts at www.downhomemama.com

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I cannot believe that Christmas is just around the corner. This year seems to have flown by. But, I’m soaking up all the Christmas Spirit I can (pun intended 😉). I love diffusing this guy all over the house during this time of year. Not only does it smell like Christmas, but it holds awesome health benefits of essential oils. It’s a wonderful alternative to toxic candles (which often contain heavy metals, synthetic fragrances, and carcinogens). ••• Ingredients... 🍊 Orange: Uplifting, antidepressant, boosts immunity, promotes relaxation. 🍂 Cinnamon Bark: anti-bacterial/fungal/inflammatory/viral, circulatory stimulant. Thought to attract wealth. 🌲Black Spruce: Helps release emotional blocks, gives feeling of balance and grounding ⬆️ VBAC Queen ⬆️ I have had the amazing pleasure of supporting some amazing births this year, some of which have been mamas trying for (and successfully achieving) a vaginal birth after having a cesarean (or two!). This mama right here knew exactly what she wanted for baby #2. She recognized the things she would have done differently with her 1st, she took her power back, she controlled the conversation with her midwife team, she demanded respect and the right to birth her baby the way she wanted to. She researched, she planned, and she advocated for herself, her baby, and her family. - ••• With baby #1, she had premature rupture of membranes (waters broke before onset of labor). Following the guidelines from what she’s always heard, she headed straight to the hospital. From there it was a domino effect of interventions that she didn’t want. She wasn’t allowed to labor the way she wanted and ended up in a place she didn’t want to be; in the OR. Yes, her baby was healthy. But, what about mom? This entire experience left her traumatized and wanting. Fast forward to baby #2. Her labor was intense from the very start, with labor waves 3 minutes apart for hours and hours. Intense back labor and emotions told them to go in. Once she arrived, she was evaluated to still be in early labor. So, to prevent any unnessary intervention, mama decided to go home. I commend her for this! It is so hard to turn around and accept that you are not as far along as you had hoped. You’re tired, in pain, emotionally and physically exhausted. But, she knew if she stayed, she would have ended up in the same place she did with her first. So, home she went. More laboring, more discomfort, but MORE PROGRESS. Girlfriend gained 5 more cm in the matter of hours at home. When she returned, she was in the thick of active labor. So, we labored, we changed positions often, pep talks, and counter pressure. And finally, little man was finally ready to make his debut. With all of her might, she achieved what she wanted. This gorgeous little guy came into the world and roared out to his mama. Welcome to the world sweet boy! Your mama moved mountains just for you. 💖 ⭐️Delayed Cord Clamping⭐️ When you choose delayed cord clamping(DCC) for your newborn, make sure you specify exactly what you mean. As this is still sort of a new practice in our maternity wards, each hospital and/or physician may have different definitions of what “delayed” means. For some it’s 30 seconds, for others it’s 3 minutes. For me (and for you) it should be until it stops pulsating (unless there is a medical necessity to cut the cord). Why should you demand this for your baby? - ••• When your baby is born, as much as 30% of THEIR blood volume is still in the placenta. This blood belongs to your baby (it’s theirs, not yours). By allowing your baby to have what is already technically theirs, you are providing them with amazing benefits. Firstly, they will have a higher birth weight, their iron stores will be exponentially increased, higher percentage of red blood cells (aka more oxygen), more stem cells, allows for easier delivery of the placenta, and many more benefits! But wait, what about cesarean, premature birth, or emergency? I’m glad you asked...- ••• You can (and should) speak to your physician about DCC in the event of cesarean, premature birth, and/or emergency. For cesarean, you can still delay. Your physician may have qualms about it (as you are vulnerable to infection the longer your incision is open), but they benefits are still huge and important for you baby. For premature babies: again, huge benefits... DCC can decrease the risk of hemorrhage, sepsis, need for blood transfusions, etc. For emergency: if your baby is born and needs resuscitation, speak you your physician and birth place staff about their protocol. Request (or demand) bedside resuscitation. Clamping and cutting off your baby’s oxygen supply (which they are still getting through the placenta) to be removed from mom’s chest to a warmer across the room is not ideal. If bedside resuscitation is not available at your birth place, speak to the staff and let them know this is a practice they should offer (they can’t change unless they know they should). - ••• So, in summary - DCC has countless benefits for you and your baby. When in doubt, wait for it to stop pulsating. 🌿Elderberry Syrup🌿 This little glass jar is full of 16 Oz freshly made Elderberry Syrup! Why should you have this on hand? It’s super high in vitamins A & C, is extremely helpful in beating and protecting from colds and flu, has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties, strengthens the immune system and supports the respiratory system, and much much more! It’s super easy to make (or you can buy it)! I used and amended the @wellnessmama recipe. See below - ••• 2/3 cup dried black elderberries 3½ cups water 1/2C LOCAL Honey 1 drop Thieves 1 drop Clove 1 drop Nutmeg 1 drop Ginger 3 drops Orange (If you don’t have food grade essential oils, you can substitute for: 2 TBSP fresh or dried ginger root 2 Cinnamon Sticks ½ tsp ground cloves) ••• Add all elderberry (and fresh/dried herbs if you are using them) to a pot with water. bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. Remove from heat and let cool until it is cool enough to be handled. Use a cheesecloth or strainer to strain the juice from the berries. I find a cheesecloth to be most efficient as you can squeeze every last drop out! Discard the elderberries and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. Add the honey and essential oils (skip EOs if you used fresh/dried herbs and spices) stir well. Store in a glass jar or bottle. - ••• Standard dose is ½ tsp - 1 tsp for kids and ½ - 1 tablespoon for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear - ••• I give this to both my kids (3.5 & 2yrs) almost daily and extra when they are sick. Keep in mind, honey must be substituted for an alternative sweetener for babies under 12 months. 💖- ••• Thieves - overall wellness & immune support. Clove - boost of antioxidants Nutmeg - promotes circulation and also the nervous & endocrine systems Ginger - promotes a healthy gut! Orange- adds a fruity flavor, but Orange is also cleansing, uplifting, aids digestion & is high in d-limonene! 💧 Water Birth 💧 I have to say, when I think about a calm, peaceful, comfortable (as much as it can be), and inviting birth space, I think of a big ol’ tub full of hot water. Having the ability to submerge yourself (and your belly) during labor is so wonderful. I spent the majority of both my labors in the water. It offered such a sense of relaxation and weightlessness. As we all know, you are your biggest at the end of your pregnancy, which may make it difficult to comfortably move around. Well, the water can help you immensely with this. As you are rather buoyant, this makes it easy to move around, back and forth, and side to side (plus, all this added access to movement helps your baby move into an ideal position).- ••• Laboring and birthing in water also allows for the release of your pelvic floor, softens your tissues and muscles. Birth can occur slowly in the water, your baby does not have to be birthed and immediately lifted out of the water. Just the opposite, actually. Once your baby’s head is born underwater (without its head or face exposed to air) he/she can stay under for many minutes! And once the whole body is born, sit back and watch your baby’s swimmers reflex! Life your baby out slowly, don’t go all Mufasa with your brand new babe. The immense change in gravity can stress out your baby. First bring out the face slowly, then the rest of the head, then the shoulders. Snuggle that baby up close to you with its body still partially submerged to stay warm. You can also birth your placenta in the tub!- ••• For more in-depth information (and for an incomparable water-Birth midwife team), please see @barefootmidwife Okay, so we all know how incredible a woman’s body is, right? Like we make eyeballs and brains, toenails and eyebrows, and ultimately conscious little humans. Our breasts produce the perfect nutrition for our babies. We create an organ specifically designed to sustain our baby in utero. And we have this amazing muscle that works itself out during pregnancy and ultimately births our baby. But it doesn’t end there! When your baby is born via the vaginal canal, they are smothered in tons of good bacteria on their way out. This bacteria effectively begins your baby’s microbiome. What does that even mean? Well we all have good and bad bacteria in our bodies. While bad bacteria may seek to harm us, good bacteria keeps us healthy by promoting the functioning of various systems in our bodies (respiratory, digestive, immune, etc.). And your baby can take advantage of this good bacteria even if it is born via the belly (cesarean)!- ••• Hello vaginal seeding! Whether you’re planning a cesarean or just want to be prepared for anything, be sure to pack some sterile gauze and sterile baggy (because the hospital may refuse to supply you with these) to use in the event of cesarean. Simply place the gauze in your vagina or swab up all the fluids then place it in the baggy. After your baby is born you can dab the mouth and nose, and swipe around his/her body to help establish their microbiome.- ••• Why should you even do this? Well, studies show that babies born through the belly are more likely to have asthma, allergies, and may be susceptible to other illnesses. This may be due to the fact that they have lower amounts of good gut bacteria. Contraindications of this method may include the mother having contracted GBS or other STDs- ••• For more info please see The Positive Birth Book by @positivebirthmovement and The Microbiome Effect by Harman & Wakeford ⭐️Thieves Roller Bottle for Kids⭐️ So it’s getting to be the most wonderful time of the year! But along with all the fun events, decorations, and yummy foods also comes the change in temperature/season and shorter days (sunlight) which can directly affect our ability to fight of sickness and infection. In our house, we employ multiple measures to stay healthy during the fall and winter (including upping our vitamin C intake, spending as much time in the sun as we can, get sting nutritiously dense foods, elderberry syrup, and of course essential oils!- ••• I make a new thieves roller especially for the kiddos every year when I start noticing a change in both the weather and other people’s health. This little roller beauty (by @oiljourneykit) is 5ml and has only 3 drops of thieves in it!!! But that goes a long way! This is the safe dilution amount for kiddos between the ages of 2-6 years old. I roll this on the soles of their feet and along their spines. We also diffuse this almost daily. Luckily it’s aroma coincides with the coming season!- ••• Why does Thieves help keep us healthy and how does it help us become healthy again? It’s a blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus Radiata, and rosemary. These botanicals combined are a powerhouse of antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-infectious properties! Essential oils applied to the spinal column and the soles of the feet are absorbed through the nerves and pores that feed the entire body. It’s really quite incredible to witness the differences from birth to birth. Every woman is built differently, thus every pregnancy & labor & delivery is subject to different circumstances and outcomes. But, what we ALL share is the ability to strive for the most positive birth experience, for both ourselves & our babies. With cesareans becoming normal practice in our hospitals, resulting from various reasons which I won’t go into depth about here, it’s not surprising that hoards of women are starting to demand better care options for pregnancy, labor & delivery, and postpartum. One such woman is this birth goddess right here.- ••• After two traumatic & unsatisfying birth experiences, both of which ended in a cesarean, Brittany was determined to achieve the birth she had always imagined; one where she felt safe, supported, & in control. With all of the phenomenal statistics surrounding home birth and Midwifery care, she knew this was the only option for her to achieve a vaginal birth. While trial for VBAC can be successfully supported in-hospital, she knew in her heart it wasn’t for her. She surrounded herself with a supportive & extremely knowledgeable birth team (including @barefootmidwife ) & did everything she could to prepare herself emotionally & physically for the big day. Finally one morning, the contractions began. Her labor pattern was consistent from the start. As the hours passed, the intensity grew. We employed some @spinningbabies exercises and POP went her waters. In & out of the tub, on & off the toilet (which is a phenomenal place to labor btw), and many position changes, baby was finally where we needed it to be. With lights dimmed, soothing music playing, & a preserved safe space, she turned inward to her primal instincts and eased her baby down and out into the most peaceful & compassionate atmosphere. It’s a phenomenal thing to witness; how natural & normal birth is, even after such trauma, when it is compassionately & respectfully supported.- ••• Here in California, home birth support for VBAC is currently under attack. Tell the medical board of CA that we demand the freedom to choose where, how, and with whom we birth our babies!!!

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I cannot believe that Christmas is just around the corner. This year seems to have flown by. But, I’m soaking up all the Christmas Spirit I can (pun intended 😉). I love diffusing this guy all over the house during this time of year. Not only does it smell like Christmas, but it holds awesome health benefits of essential oils. It’s a wonderful alternative to toxic candles (which often contain heavy metals, synthetic fragrances, and carcinogens). ••• Ingredients... 🍊 Orange: Uplifting, antidepressant, boosts immunity, promotes relaxation. 🍂 Cinnamon Bark: anti-bacterial/fungal/inflammatory/viral, circulatory stimulant. Thought to attract wealth. 🌲Black Spruce: Helps release emotional blocks, gives feeling of balance and grounding ⬆️ VBAC Queen ⬆️ I have had the amazing pleasure of supporting some amazing births this year, some of which have been mamas trying for (and successfully achieving) a vaginal birth after having a cesarean (or two!). This mama right here knew exactly what she wanted for baby #2. She recognized the things she would have done differently with her 1st, she took her power back, she controlled the conversation with her midwife team, she demanded respect and the right to birth her baby the way she wanted to. She researched, she planned, and she advocated for herself, her baby, and her family. - ••• With baby #1, she had premature rupture of membranes (waters broke before onset of labor). Following the guidelines from what she’s always heard, she headed straight to the hospital. From there it was a domino effect of interventions that she didn’t want. She wasn’t allowed to labor the way she wanted and ended up in a place she didn’t want to be; in the OR. Yes, her baby was healthy. But, what about mom? This entire experience left her traumatized and wanting. Fast forward to baby #2. Her labor was intense from the very start, with labor waves 3 minutes apart for hours and hours. Intense back labor and emotions told them to go in. Once she arrived, she was evaluated to still be in early labor. So, to prevent any unnessary intervention, mama decided to go home. I commend her for this! It is so hard to turn around and accept that you are not as far along as you had hoped. You’re tired, in pain, emotionally and physically exhausted. But, she knew if she stayed, she would have ended up in the same place she did with her first. So, home she went. More laboring, more discomfort, but MORE PROGRESS. Girlfriend gained 5 more cm in the matter of hours at home. When she returned, she was in the thick of active labor. So, we labored, we changed positions often, pep talks, and counter pressure. And finally, little man was finally ready to make his debut. With all of her might, she achieved what she wanted. This gorgeous little guy came into the world and roared out to his mama. Welcome to the world sweet boy! Your mama moved mountains just for you. 💖 ⭐️Delayed Cord Clamping⭐️ When you choose delayed cord clamping(DCC) for your newborn, make sure you specify exactly what you mean. As this is still sort of a new practice in our maternity wards, each hospital and/or physician may have different definitions of what “delayed” means. For some it’s 30 seconds, for others it’s 3 minutes. For me (and for you) it should be until it stops pulsating (unless there is a medical necessity to cut the cord). Why should you demand this for your baby? - ••• When your baby is born, as much as 30% of THEIR blood volume is still in the placenta. This blood belongs to your baby (it’s theirs, not yours). By allowing your baby to have what is already technically theirs, you are providing them with amazing benefits. Firstly, they will have a higher birth weight, their iron stores will be exponentially increased, higher percentage of red blood cells (aka more oxygen), more stem cells, allows for easier delivery of the placenta, and many more benefits! But wait, what about cesarean, premature birth, or emergency? I’m glad you asked...- ••• You can (and should) speak to your physician about DCC in the event of cesarean, premature birth, and/or emergency. For cesarean, you can still delay. Your physician may have qualms about it (as you are vulnerable to infection the longer your incision is open), but they benefits are still huge and important for you baby. For premature babies: again, huge benefits... DCC can decrease the risk of hemorrhage, sepsis, need for blood transfusions, etc. For emergency: if your baby is born and needs resuscitation, speak you your physician and birth place staff about their protocol. Request (or demand) bedside resuscitation. Clamping and cutting off your baby’s oxygen supply (which they are still getting through the placenta) to be removed from mom’s chest to a warmer across the room is not ideal. If bedside resuscitation is not available at your birth place, speak to the staff and let them know this is a practice they should offer (they can’t change unless they know they should). - ••• So, in summary - DCC has countless benefits for you and your baby. When in doubt, wait for it to stop pulsating. 🌿Elderberry Syrup🌿 This little glass jar is full of 16 Oz freshly made Elderberry Syrup! Why should you have this on hand? It’s super high in vitamins A & C, is extremely helpful in beating and protecting from colds and flu, has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties, strengthens the immune system and supports the respiratory system, and much much more! It’s super easy to make (or you can buy it)! I used and amended the @wellnessmama recipe. See below - ••• 2/3 cup dried black elderberries 3½ cups water 1/2C LOCAL Honey 1 drop Thieves 1 drop Clove 1 drop Nutmeg 1 drop Ginger 3 drops Orange (If you don’t have food grade essential oils, you can substitute for: 2 TBSP fresh or dried ginger root 2 Cinnamon Sticks ½ tsp ground cloves) ••• Add all elderberry (and fresh/dried herbs if you are using them) to a pot with water. bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. Remove from heat and let cool until it is cool enough to be handled. Use a cheesecloth or strainer to strain the juice from the berries. I find a cheesecloth to be most efficient as you can squeeze every last drop out! Discard the elderberries and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. Add the honey and essential oils (skip EOs if you used fresh/dried herbs and spices) stir well. Store in a glass jar or bottle. - ••• Standard dose is ½ tsp - 1 tsp for kids and ½ - 1 tablespoon for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear - ••• I give this to both my kids (3.5 & 2yrs) almost daily and extra when they are sick. Keep in mind, honey must be substituted for an alternative sweetener for babies under 12 months. 💖- ••• Thieves - overall wellness & immune support. Clove - boost of antioxidants Nutmeg - promotes circulation and also the nervous & endocrine systems Ginger - promotes a healthy gut! Orange- adds a fruity flavor, but Orange is also cleansing, uplifting, aids digestion & is high in d-limonene! 💧 Water Birth 💧 I have to say, when I think about a calm, peaceful, comfortable (as much as it can be), and inviting birth space, I think of a big ol’ tub full of hot water. Having the ability to submerge yourself (and your belly) during labor is so wonderful. I spent the majority of both my labors in the water. It offered such a sense of relaxation and weightlessness. As we all know, you are your biggest at the end of your pregnancy, which may make it difficult to comfortably move around. Well, the water can help you immensely with this. As you are rather buoyant, this makes it easy to move around, back and forth, and side to side (plus, all this added access to movement helps your baby move into an ideal position).- ••• Laboring and birthing in water also allows for the release of your pelvic floor, softens your tissues and muscles. Birth can occur slowly in the water, your baby does not have to be birthed and immediately lifted out of the water. Just the opposite, actually. Once your baby’s head is born underwater (without its head or face exposed to air) he/she can stay under for many minutes! And once the whole body is born, sit back and watch your baby’s swimmers reflex! Life your baby out slowly, don’t go all Mufasa with your brand new babe. The immense change in gravity can stress out your baby. First bring out the face slowly, then the rest of the head, then the shoulders. Snuggle that baby up close to you with its body still partially submerged to stay warm. You can also birth your placenta in the tub!- ••• For more in-depth information (and for an incomparable water-Birth midwife team), please see @barefootmidwife Okay, so we all know how incredible a woman’s body is, right? Like we make eyeballs and brains, toenails and eyebrows, and ultimately conscious little humans. Our breasts produce the perfect nutrition for our babies. We create an organ specifically designed to sustain our baby in utero. And we have this amazing muscle that works itself out during pregnancy and ultimately births our baby. But it doesn’t end there! When your baby is born via the vaginal canal, they are smothered in tons of good bacteria on their way out. This bacteria effectively begins your baby’s microbiome. What does that even mean? Well we all have good and bad bacteria in our bodies. While bad bacteria may seek to harm us, good bacteria keeps us healthy by promoting the functioning of various systems in our bodies (respiratory, digestive, immune, etc.). And your baby can take advantage of this good bacteria even if it is born via the belly (cesarean)!- ••• Hello vaginal seeding! Whether you’re planning a cesarean or just want to be prepared for anything, be sure to pack some sterile gauze and sterile baggy (because the hospital may refuse to supply you with these) to use in the event of cesarean. Simply place the gauze in your vagina or swab up all the fluids then place it in the baggy. After your baby is born you can dab the mouth and nose, and swipe around his/her body to help establish their microbiome.- ••• Why should you even do this? Well, studies show that babies born through the belly are more likely to have asthma, allergies, and may be susceptible to other illnesses. This may be due to the fact that they have lower amounts of good gut bacteria. Contraindications of this method may include the mother having contracted GBS or other STDs- ••• For more info please see The Positive Birth Book by @positivebirthmovement and The Microbiome Effect by Harman & Wakeford ⭐️Thieves Roller Bottle for Kids⭐️ So it’s getting to be the most wonderful time of the year! But along with all the fun events, decorations, and yummy foods also comes the change in temperature/season and shorter days (sunlight) which can directly affect our ability to fight of sickness and infection. In our house, we employ multiple measures to stay healthy during the fall and winter (including upping our vitamin C intake, spending as much time in the sun as we can, get sting nutritiously dense foods, elderberry syrup, and of course essential oils!- ••• I make a new thieves roller especially for the kiddos every year when I start noticing a change in both the weather and other people’s health. This little roller beauty (by @oiljourneykit) is 5ml and has only 3 drops of thieves in it!!! But that goes a long way! This is the safe dilution amount for kiddos between the ages of 2-6 years old. I roll this on the soles of their feet and along their spines. We also diffuse this almost daily. Luckily it’s aroma coincides with the coming season!- ••• Why does Thieves help keep us healthy and how does it help us become healthy again? It’s a blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus Radiata, and rosemary. These botanicals combined are a powerhouse of antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-infectious properties! Essential oils applied to the spinal column and the soles of the feet are absorbed through the nerves and pores that feed the entire body. It’s really quite incredible to witness the differences from birth to birth. Every woman is built differently, thus every pregnancy & labor & delivery is subject to different circumstances and outcomes. But, what we ALL share is the ability to strive for the most positive birth experience, for both ourselves & our babies. With cesareans becoming normal practice in our hospitals, resulting from various reasons which I won’t go into depth about here, it’s not surprising that hoards of women are starting to demand better care options for pregnancy, labor & delivery, and postpartum. One such woman is this birth goddess right here.- ••• After two traumatic & unsatisfying birth experiences, both of which ended in a cesarean, Brittany was determined to achieve the birth she had always imagined; one where she felt safe, supported, & in control. With all of the phenomenal statistics surrounding home birth and Midwifery care, she knew this was the only option for her to achieve a vaginal birth. While trial for VBAC can be successfully supported in-hospital, she knew in her heart it wasn’t for her. She surrounded herself with a supportive & extremely knowledgeable birth team (including @barefootmidwife ) & did everything she could to prepare herself emotionally & physically for the big day. Finally one morning, the contractions began. Her labor pattern was consistent from the start. As the hours passed, the intensity grew. We employed some @spinningbabies exercises and POP went her waters. In & out of the tub, on & off the toilet (which is a phenomenal place to labor btw), and many position changes, baby was finally where we needed it to be. With lights dimmed, soothing music playing, & a preserved safe space, she turned inward to her primal instincts and eased her baby down and out into the most peaceful & compassionate atmosphere. It’s a phenomenal thing to witness; how natural & normal birth is, even after such trauma, when it is compassionately & respectfully supported.- ••• Here in California, home birth support for VBAC is currently under attack. Tell the medical board of CA that we demand the freedom to choose where, how, and with whom we birth our babies!!! I hope you are now hearing this James Brown tune playing in your head, and I hope you hold onto it when you’re in labor and also when birthing your baby. What “thing” am I talking about? Your back, of course! There is plenty of evidence showing how free movement during labor and choosing your own birthing position provides super beneficial outcomes. What outcomes? I’m glad you asked...- ••• 1. Less painful and shorter labor 2. Being upright, in all 4s, swaying, walking, etc., offers opportunity for your pelvis to open wider 3. Better oxygen supply! 4. Gravity! When laying on your back (or even side lying), gravity is not working toward your benefit. 5. Psychological effects: we feel very vulnerable while laying on our backs (as most animals do) with our genitals exposed for all to see. Keeping an upright position helps with confidence and control of your body. 6. Physical repercussions: delivering on your back puts tons of pressure on your perineum (that part everyone is worried will tear) and also prevents yourself tailbone from extending (which makes more room for baby).- ••• There are many more benefits to laboring out of bed and birthing in alternative positions (there’s simply not enough time or room to list them al here). So, why do we do it? When you imagine a woman giving birth, what do you see? Most of us see a hospital, lady laying spread-eagle with legs in stirrups and Doctor’s hands reaching toward her nether regions with spotlights. Why do we see this? Culture, yall. We see it in movies and TV. Most of our parents probably delivered this way if they achieved a vaginal delivery. So we automatically want to just go with the norm. That doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Don’t be afraid to challenge the norm. As always, hire a physician and support team that won’t take these freedoms from you.

Blog Categories

  • DIY
  • Environmental
  • Essential Oils
  • Family Life
  • Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Beyond
  • Recipes
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