Kinesiology Taping, take 2

Earlier this year I saw a post about Kinesiology taping and shared it, below.

Feb 26, 2015

If it's good enough for football players, children requiring help to strengthen muscles and other athletes, I wonder if Kinesio taping would help pregnant moms ?

 "Kinesio taping is not just for the treatment of muscular pain, it is also quite effective in helping reduce postural pain in pregnant women and new mums."

Now, here is another link talking about the benefits.

"Kinesiology tape is a drug-free, safe alternative, which can help relieve many pregnancy symptoms including back pain, swollen feet, sciatica, carpal tunnel, and other aches and pains. Because of this, it is an ideal option for expectant mothers seeking relief from the ailments associated with pregnancy."

Shopping with infants

Grocery shopping can be quite a chore with infants and toddlers. During this busy holiday month it can seem an even greater challenge. But, please do not put the car seat on top of the cart!

Falls from carts lead to tragic head injuries. Car seats are safest when rear facing in a car...not atop a grocery cart.

Safety means more time (wear baby in a front carrier) and perhaps more people (take along a person to help with the children) But your children are worth the investment.

 It suggests on the AAP News web site,

• use carts with safer designs that allow children to ride closer to the ground (for example, in a small model car in front of the cart).

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has some ideas too: -

     Use seatbelts to restrain your child in the cart seat.

 Retailers should ensure that all carts have seatbelts and that the seatbelts work as intended.

 Stay with your child at all times.

 Don’t allow your child to ride in the cart basket.

 Don’t place a personal infant carrier or car seat in the cart seat or basket.

 Don't allow your child to ride or climb on the sides or front of the cart.

 Don’t allow a child to push the cart with another child in it.

#CradledComfortableConfident

www.birth-newbornservices.com

Party Planning!

When planning a big party (Bar Mitzvah, Quinceañera, wedding) people use consultants, wedding day coordinators, caterers, decorators and florists. They may even hire tables, chairs, linens and the like to make the event memorable for all.

The same can be said about pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period....it's a big event bringing a new person into this world and should be given the same attention, if not more, than a big party.

A birth and postpartum doula allows you the freedom to focus on what is important to you. A doula might guide and teach you in some areas. She may even take over the preparation of light meals, or the folding of laundry, so that you can snuggle your baby or take a much needed nap.

Who is helping you plan for your big birth day? And the days after the birth?

Contact Beverley via www.birth-newbornservices.com 

or Fredericksburg.doula@gmail,com

Placenta encapsulating. Ingestion of your what??

There is much anecdotal evidence that placenta encapsulation etc., can be beneficial to the health and wellbeing of a new mother.

There is now a group of scientists seeking to truly investigate the benefits of placenta ingestion.

What are your thoughts on placenta ingestion?

Thirty two years ago the USA Today published a piece by Mei Mei Chan, entitled "A Nanny is nice...if you can find one" about professional, fully trained Nannies in the USA. ( Ms Chan just retired,  having attained wonderful accomplishments in her chosen career).

The photo I shared yesterday was part of the photo shoot for the article.

In the years between then and now, I have added new roles and titles to my repertoire ...mummy or mommy, aunt, foster parent, grandparent and doula (birth and postpartum).

While my titles have changed my work has stayed the same - caring, loving, nurturing, encouraging, educating, helping and guiding new lives and new families.

I still enjoy my work.

www.birth-newbornservices.com

Interesting read from the Doctor. Some good thoughts and ideas here!



https://wkstafford.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/my-birth-plan/

My Birth Plan

I have been delivering babies now for 25 years.  Birth plans have been around for that whole time, but they are certainly presented by couples to their doctors more frequently today than they used to be.  The increase in birth plan development is a consequence of couples trying to influence what happens in a hospital where one frequently becomes swept along by events out of their control.
I certainly do not mind being presented with a birth plan and using it to review a couple’s expectations and preferences.  However, in my opinion, it is far more important that one find an accoucheur (birth attendant) whose default style is in line with your birth plan, than trying to get someone to change their style to match your preferences.  In light of this I decided to write down my birth plan from the perspective of the professional who is being entrusted with caring for an expectant couple.  Here are my goals and preferences:

1. Give the couple the type of birth that THEY want to experience.  While most overt birth plans are produced from those who are looking for a natural birth experience.  Not everyone is looking for this.  I have some moms who want no medications at all and I have some who want an epidural placed in the parking lot.  Whatever the preferences, I will do my best to accommodate them.
2. Explain all interventions and get the mother’s permission, before doing them.  One of the biggest complaints I hear about unpleasant birth experiences is that things were done to them without them knowing what was happening.  While it is easy for a doctor to go into automatic mode, I do my best to not let that happen.
3. Alleviate fear.  One of my frequent statements about pregnancy is that it is the permanent state of paranoia.  Couples are often plagued by the “what ifs”  and modern obstetrics often adds to this with the constant pursuit of worst case scenarios.  While it is certainly true that bad events can occur during pregnancy, thankfully this is the exception and not the rule.  My job is to be alert for  problems without turning every visit into a worry generating experience and to reassure moms when there is no reason to worry.
4. Avoid Inductions.  I hate inductions.  Sometimes, inductions cannot be avoided, but even then I still hate them and really try not to do them.  No one knows what actually triggers labor, but one thing I do know is that forcing a uterus not yet ready to labor to labor is asking for trouble.
5. Encourage mothers to stay out of bed and in motion.  The best way to reduce discomfort and to move labor along is to stay out of bed and move about and frequently change position.  One can also use birthing balls, whirlpool tubs, showers, hypnobabies.  Doulas are welcomed as part of the birthing team and a great help in keeping the labor moving along in a productive manner.
6. Prefer no epidural.  If women want to have an epidural, they may, but my preference is no epidural as this allows for the most physiologic beneficial labor possible.
7. Keep the stirrups stowed.  When someone is ready to have their baby, the nurse’s automatically reach for the stirrups.  I tell them to put them away.  In my opinion, the stirrups serve no useful purpose and they impede a mother’s ability to find the most comfortable position in which to give birth.  I deliver women in whatever position they are most comfortable and have delivered ladies on their side, hands and knees, leaning over bed, standing, squatting, whatever works.
8. No episiotomy.  I avoid episiotomies.  (Hint:  when a doctor says they only cut an episiotomy when it is needed, they probably cut episiotomies on most of their deliveries)
9. Put baby on mother’s chest as soon as baby is born.  The baby goes from me to the mom, not the nurse.
10. Delay cord clamping.  I cannot say, that this is something that I fully understand, but it is frequently requested so I have incorporated it into my routine.
11. View Cesarean section as a negative outcome.  Again sometimes cesarean sections are unavoidable, but I never view them as equivalent to vaginal birth for delivering a baby.  Whenever, I have a pregnancy ending with a cesarean section I review the various aspects of the pregnancy and labor to see if I could have done something different to have ended with a vaginal birth instead of a cesarean section.
12. Maintain a relaxed environment.  Sometimes things can get pretty tense in the birthing suite, but it is my job as the team leader to keep things relaxed and low key.  I have no use for all of the drapes and masks.  I do  not even wear scrub suits (though my wife wishes I would).  This is how I got my nickname “Dr. Polo Shirt.”  I work at calling everyone involved in the birth by their name and try to treat them the way I would want to be treated.  
13. Care for the baby I deliver.  I really like it when I get to take care of the baby that I have delivered.  This is one of the services that is unique to family physicians who do obstetrics. Keeping the pediatric care with the same doctor who one has gotten to know throughout the pregnancy provides a level of comfort not available with most other care providers.

A Doula for Death?

This morning I read an article about death doulas. I had it open on my computer for days before I actually read the article. The idea seemed a bit macabre. Although, I have helped families when their baby was born still. I have taken a Still Birth Day Workshop and plan to take the full 8 week course in January 2016, but seeing those words was a bit off putting.

However, once I read the whole article, it all made sense and resonates so well with me. Just as I wait on the transformation of pregnancy and life earthside (birth), I can also support and love in the transition from life to eternal life (death) in the prenatal and perinatal times.

I am forever grateful for the close friends, and Hospice volunteers, who sat with us as Ledya, at 6 years old, made her journey from life on earth to life eternal.