Friday, December 20, 2013

Gifts of the Wise Men (and Women)

It is the Christmas season and a time of gift giving.  We exchange gifts with family and friends in the same way that the three wise men or Magi did on the night so very long ago.

It was the custom for ambassadors to bring gifts to royalty.  The Wise Men came to Jerusalem seeking the newborn king of Israel and did not find Jesus there. The Magi were directed by an angel to Bethlehem to search for Jesus there. They gave Jesus three gifts. The importance of the gifts was the message that each one conveyed about Jesus. The gold represented the fact that Jesus was royal. The frankincense supports the claim that Jesus is divine and the myrrh was for the importance of the mortality of Jesus.
What can expectant mothers give our newborns today that are as valuable? 
First, expectant mothers can give them the gift of health.  By nurturing our own bodies during
pregnancy with healthy foods, plenty of fluids, exercise and quality prenatal care, expectant mothers lay a foundation of health babies can grow on for decades.  Learning about the healthy foods, from resources such as Myplate.gov and the March of Dimes,  expectant mothers can add to or even change their diet to promote healthy newborns.
Second, expectant mothers can give their babies the gift of a healthy birth.  Today, there is a lot of controversy over what the best practices are for labor and birth...what is evidence-based care...and what is traditional care.  Expectant mothers should be encouraged to seek out quality education, either in childbirth education classes that meet in person, online classes or through information on evidence-based websites. Sometimes, the information that is evidence-based is different from what their physician tells them.  To help bridge that gap, childbirth educators, doulas and midwives can use social media.  Handouts and free video clips, like those at mothersadvocate.org, give further credibility to what we teach our clients or share on social media.
Last but not least, expectant mothers can experience the power of their own self...not just during the birthing process but afterwards with skin-to-skin contact and the mother-baby bond.
If we ignore what humans have known for centuries, that health begets health, birth is not an illness and mothers are a powerful resource for their newborns, then we may very well do harm in ways that we have not even begun to comprehend

Monday, December 16, 2013

New App for Mothers-to-Be: The Gift of Motherhood

In terms of apps, there are good apps and not so good apps.  The number of apps for expectant parents is often limited to the ones that time contractions.  The new app from Customized Communications, The Gift of Motherhood, raises the standard of pregnancy/birth apps to a who new
level.

Developed with the expectant mother in mind who wants to be more involved in their care, topics in the app include healthy pregnancy tips, evidence-based labor and birth information that is up-to-date, postpartum care and newborn care tips.  Special features of the apps includes fantastic computer-generated graphics, animations plus videos!  An expectant parent also can receive week-by-week push notifications.  Also included in the app is an appointment tracker, contraction timer and journal!

The functionality of this app is incredible and sure to add to the educational journey expectant parents take to childbirth.  The videos and animations really help to enhance childbirth education.  The trackers can help keep expectant moms organized.  Like having a childbirth educator in your pocket!

This app is compatible with the iPhone, iPad and Android.

What better stocking stuffer to get the expectant parent in your family than this amazing app!





Friday, December 13, 2013

Henna Art for Pregnant Bellies

What could be more relaxing for an expectant mother than having her belly decorated!  She is sitting in a comfortable chair, relaxed and perhaps sipping a cup of tea.  The artist meticulously works with the Henna to make beautiful designs!

Henna Belly Art can be done with henna applied to the belly and using decorative art patterns. 
Henna or Lawsonia inermis is a flowering plant from which dye is prepared.  The henna plant is native to northern Africa, western and southern Asia and Australia. 

Fresh henna leaves are crushed into  a powder and can be mixed with lemon juice, strong tea or mildly acidic liquids to make a toothpaste-like preparation.

After the paste is applied to the skin, the longer it is left on the skin, the darker the stain will be.  You can create your own patterns or purchase pattern suggestions online.  The Henna Page has a lot of great information and free patterns.  After time, the dry paste is brushed away, revealing the stain/tattoo!  With time, this tattoo will fade.

Also called Mehandi, Henna has been used for thousands of years to dye skin, hair and fingernails as well as fabrics.  Many cultures have traditions of using Henna during the third trimester of pregnancy to bless the mother/baby dyad and protect this dyad from evil spirits.


Henna Belly Art can be incorporated into baby showers, baby fairs, and Blessingways.  Doulas, midwives and childbirth educators may also offer henna belly art as a service to their clients.




In addition to local health food stores and retailers, here is where you can find Henna Art Supplies online:

http://www.earthhenna.com/

**We'd like to thank Megan and Janis for sharing their Henna Art with us!

Monday, December 02, 2013

VBAC Success - the latest studies

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean or VBAC has been a highly controversial topic for the past few years. But not any longer. 

World-wide studies are showing that not only is vaginal birth after a cesarean safe, but successful. A study released in summer 2013 from King Abdullah University Hospital in Jordan, reported among 207 women, 117 or 57% achieved a successful VBAC. Parity of ≥ 2 was significantly associated with increased odds of success (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 6.2). Compared with women who had no previous VBAC, those with previous VBAC had higher odds of success (OR = 3.8 (95% CI: 1.5, 9.5). We concluded that women with a previous cesarean section who achieved a cervical dilatation of ≥ 7 cm before caesarean, had a previous history of successful VBAC and had parity of ≥ 2, have the greatest likelihood of successful VBAC. (Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2013 July 33(5):474-8.) 

Another study, this one from New Zealand, showed a 73% VBAC rate between 2008-2009. Increasing parity increased the chances of another vaginal delivery. Variables that lead to a failed VBAC included BMI=25 in women of single parity, labor augmentation and epidural anesthesia. (New Zealand Medical Journal 2013 Sept 27; 126(1383): 49-57). 

Most recently (November 2013), a study from the UK shows of 143,970 women in the cohort, just over half of the women with a primary cesarean who were eligible for a TOLAC attempted a VBAC. Of those, almost 66% achieved a successful vaginal delivery. (British Journal of Obstetrics/Gynecology doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.12508). 

How can women wisely choose VBAC? First and foremost, women need to choose both a careprovider and hospital who will support them in their VBAC. The International Cesarean Awareness Network has identified hospitals who do not offer VBAC. To identify whether or not a provider or hospital supports VBAC, call that hospital and then ask for the names of at least three providers. More information about selecting providers and hospitals can be found at the website VBAC.com.  On that website, author and VBAC researcher Nicette Jukelevics also gives an extensive list of resources for those wanting additional information on VBAC. You may also utilize the VBAC Finder here  

What does all of this say? It says that the research is there. The evidence is speaking. Expectant mothers need to have this education available to them in whatever source of media they use – childbirth education classes, online : blogs and websites, and social media. 

Are you aware of the new video set for 2015 release about VBAC? View the trailer below and then be sure to visit www.themamasherpas.com for additional information!