Spa and labour

Spa and Labour? I try to encourage couples to think outside the box. Think about what you would like your atmosphere to be like during labour. I suggest that women should and can have a spa like experience complete with massage, facial, warm bath, music. I am sure initially the idea of labour atmosphere conjures up the idea of obstetric machines, bright lights and sterile room but it doesn't have to be all like that. Most caregivers suggest first and foremost to try to labour at home as long a possible. Some experts have suggested that a labouring women should have a birth setting that is like the love making room.....low lights, romantic music, warm bath, candles (battery operated of course). Why? Because women respond better in an atmosphere of private, safe and undistured atmospheres.

Also, what would you like it to be like for your baby when he or she makes it's first appearance upon the outside world. Wouldn't you like the first few minutes to be warm, calm and welcoming? So take some time to think about what you want your labouring atmosphere to be like. Think about things you could bring to the hospital to create a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere. Now take that thought and put it into action. Start your "labour tool bag" today.

Birth the Universal holiday

We are now in the Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa season. I acknowledge all these holiday traditions. In an era that everyone is trying to be politically correct it is right and proper to a respect people's holiday traditions. Birth on the other hand is an everyday event but is extraordianary for the family. It's a miracle, a blessing and is often life changing. The birth of a baby is usually remembered annually which not only marks a passage of time but acknowledges this person is special, alive and worth remembering. Birth is universal and happens every minute somewhere in the world. After all the hard work of birthing the baby a mother deserve a little holiday. Birth of a Baby, Birth of a Mother. 

Entenox for labour

Entenox during labour can be very useful. What is Entenox you ask?

Dr. Mike Tunstall invented Entenox which revolutionized the control of labour pains for millions of women around the world. Entenox is also know as "Gas and Air" because it is 50% nitrous oxide and 50% air. It's relatively cheap form of pain relief and can be an effective way to reduce pain sensations during labour. It is also used by other health care professionals in acute trauma.

How is it administered during labour? The labouring women controls the use. She places a small mask over her mouth and nose or uses a mouth peice and inhales deeping just as she feels a contraction just starting to build. She continues breathing till the contraction is gone and then she will remove the mask or mouth piece. Sometimes it take a couple, three, four tries to get the hang of it. For some it may smell a bit strange and feel abit strange having something covering your nose but with proper support it can be very helpful.

Benefits: Entenox tanks are transportable so you can use it in the bath or shower or even down the hall if you go for a walk. Because it's short acting if you decide it's not for you then you could stop it and then breathe it right out of system. Effects on the baby? None because it is rapidly elminated out of the baby once the baby takes its first breath. It can be used for 1st and 2nd stage of labour. Entenox doesnn't affect labour.

Possible side effects for the mother: claustirophobia, nausea, dizziness, disorientation.

It's certainly worth trying especially if you are trying to avoid the more invasive forms of pain management.

Babies Benefit from Labour

You've had a long hard labour and much to your total disappointment you had to have an emergency c-section. Afterwards you think to yourself, what was the point of all that labouring and then I end up with a c-section. Actually there is a point, babies benefit from labour! Here's how:

• Labour helps baby breathe. The hormones released during labour increase important elements in the baby's lung which help the lungs stay expanded after birth, it also helps the baby clear the amniotic fluid out.
• Labour stress helps pump more blood to the baby's brain, hear and kidney.
• Labour sends increased energy supply to the baby to help the baby keep satisfied until the transitional milk comes in on day three.
• Labour increases the hormones that aid in bonding. Babies often arrive in the quiet alert state which helps babies be more responsive to their parents in the first hour or so. Hormones are directly responsible for that.
• Labour increases the white blood cells generated during labour which helps increase the baby's immunity

The Gift of Birth

"Remember that birth, as a gift,

was not meant to be scary.

It was meant as an exercise in honouring yourself and

in learning to depend on your inner strength.

It was meant to make you feel more powerful and

more capable than you were before the experience."

Lakshmi Bertram

SWADDLING your baby......is it safe?

Check out the safe sleep recommendation from the http://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/ safe sleep environment guidelines issued in March 2011 from the Perinatal Services of British Columbia. In it you will find evidence based information regarding SWADDLING babies. According to this guideline there are more risks associated with swaddling than there are benefits. In fact one study found that babies that died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) a surprising 1/4 of those babies were found to be swaddled. I have seen some of the popular books out there that suggest a structured, scheduled and swaddling system to help babies sleep and honestly some of the recommendations in these books are not evidence based and are possibly not safe. Not all babies actually like swaddling, plus finding the breast by using their upper body would be greatly restricted if the baby is swaddled. We know that normal breastfed babies are not usually on a predicatable sleep schedule and that making a baby fit a certain system can be stressful on babies and often these babies have been found to not have enough weight gain at the 6 months mark. Arrangement of beds, smoking and drinking are also covered in this guidline. The "Back to Sleep Program" that was inititated by the Canadian government years ago has definately made a difference in the number of SIDS babies. The recommendation was to put babies to sleep on their back and remains in effect to this day. Make sure you are up to date on this very important issue your baby is worth it!

Epidurals for labour

Epidurals for labour. The choice is yours after all. But it's important to know that any intervention has potential benefits and risks. Yes, having an epidural is an intervention. Interventions by natural can change the course of labour because they can distupt the normal balance of labour. Let's take a look at all the things that come along with Epidurals.

• An Anesthetist must do the procedure. You will need to sign a concent form and should be informed of the risks, although they are usually minimul . An important thing to note is that sometimes you can get an Epidural quickly and other times you will need to wait until an Anesthetist is available to give you one. Also don't assume you are eligible for an Epidural because certain medications and some women's backs prevent them from being able to have one. But most women can have an Epidural.


• Most hospitals insist that you have an active labour pattern established before you have an Epidural. Which means your cervix needs to be at least 3-4 cm dilated.


• You will be confined to a bed and need the External Fetal Monitoring belts on you the whole time.


• Most times a Bladder Cathidar is used because you will not be able to feel the sensation to uriniate and your legs will be numb so it would be unsafe to walk to the bathroom.


• You will need Intervenious fluids to maintain good blood pressure.


• A Blood pressure cuff will also be on you the whole time.


• You will be restricted from having food or fluids.


• Your Temperature will be monitored regularly.


• By nature Epidurals tend to slow labour so for most labours there is a need to add Pitocin (Oxytocin) to help labour continue to move along.


• Epidurals do increase the need for instrument delivery (vacuum extraction and forceps) of your baby because sometimes it can be more difficult to push effectively.


• You will be monitored closely to make sure that all the interventions you have do not adversely affect your baby.

The Benefits??? Safe effective pain relief with mental awareness. A woman can relax and sometimes even sleep. It can be especially helpful for women that are highly anxious about labour.

The truth is that Epidurals are a trade off. You trade off the options of movement, walking, bath/shower, basically undisturbed birth for pain relief. Know your options or you don't have any. Be an informed consumer. Take some Childbirth Eduction classes to increase your confidence level. What ever your choice......have good labour support and choose a place of birth that gives you a variety of options.The choice IS yours make it wisely.

Childbirth Education?

To be or not to be? ....that is the question. One guy said to me, "Do we really need to take childbirth education classes"? And I responded, "Why wouldn't you? Wouldn't you want to be prepared for the birth of your baby on that day? Wouldn't you want some tools to be able to support your wife through the physical and emotional journey of Birth"?

The reality is that childbirth education is losing the attention of pregnant women. Why? Because it competes with the mulititude of media at women's finger tips and frankly a lot of women are working full time and this places another thing to do on her list. It's a shame really because I work along side of labour and delivery nurses and they always tell me that they can tell the difference between a couple that has taken prenatal classes and those that have not.

Ask yourself this if you are having a baby. If you were facing a challenge in your life whether it be physically, medical, a marathon, an academic challenge and business challenge wouldn't you want to be well prepard to get through the challenge? Think about all the things that you would need to boost your confidence level to get through that challenge and quess what......birth is not different. Educating your self helps women to be informed consumers and gives them some tools to help good decisions during birth. If you are sitting on the fence about childbirth education get off the fence and sign up today, I am sure it will be worth your time and energy

Happy New Years 2011

One of my New Years resolutions was to try to put my foot in others peoples shoes. In other words for me it means understanding where someone is coming from. When it comes to my work I try that I need to be very sensitive to the impact that the media, family and friends make on pregnant women. Some may offer positive imput but mostly it is not very positive. I take it upon myself to help women tap into their own inner wisdom during pregnancy and birth. I encourage and challenge them and their partners to look outside the box. That box is often filled with scary outdated hospital practices, old wives tales and basically misinformed facts that are not evidence based. Again my goal this year is to help women and couples realize and birth is phsiologically normal and that women are capable of giving birth just fine thank you and those around her need to help make the experience as positive as possible.....including the baby. Happy New Year....Happy Pregnancy, Happy Birthing!!