Preparing For Birth

There is much awareness and conversation of what the routine interventions are that can occur during the labor and birth process within the hospital environment.  These interventions can include induction, augmentation with Pitocin, epidural, or cesarean. In all my professional and personal roles, I am privy to a great amount of pregnancy and birth stories. [...]

While “teaching” childbirth class the topic of being a consumer is addressed often in a variety of ways.  I have a firm belief that a woman has the ability to understand, be well educated, and make her own decisions based on what she wants and needs. It is in no way in my job description [...]

Guarding what you put into your eyes, ears, and mind is such an important part of pregnancy and birth.  As women we learn socially, from one another.  When we allow the pervasive negativity (TV, horror stories, fearful education, good patient education, unsupportive comments, etc.) to take root we lose so much inborn knowledge and wisdom [...]

during childbirth class there is always a question of “What should I eat?”.  Pulling from the FDA pyramid plan for moms interactive website, the below information puts it into an easy perspective.  I input information based on an average sized 30 year-old pregnant woman.  On the site, you can put in your information to personalize [...]

Though most hospitals have “birth centers”, they are really nothing more than the labor and delivery floor where births take place. The only freestanding birth center in Colorado is the Mountain Midwifery Center.  MMC is owned and run by Tracy Ryan, CNM  along with 4 other main midwives along with supporting staff.
What is a birth [...]

There is an incredibly disturbing trend regarding “advanced maternal age” mothers being a hostile uterine environment for their babies. They are being subject to weekly Biophysical profiles or Fetal Non-stress tests tests that are normally reserved only for high-risk mothers and babies from as early as 32 weeks in pregnancy.  On top of the scans, [...]

A couple of weeks ago I went on a quest to find out just what pushing was like for other women.  As an educator and doula it is probably one of the more challenging concepts to address.  Why?  Well some of the imagery can be quite vulgar.  “Push like you are pooping.” Do women REALLY [...]

A birth plan is a tool to express your desires and needs for birth and initial postpartum, as well as, to make sure that you and your provider are on the same page.  Your birth plan should be brief (no more than one page) and only have the bullet point information that is specific to [...]

Applied Skills for Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals
A continuing education seminar featuring sessions taught by CAPPA Faculty Trainers, designed to benefit Doulas and Educators alike.
August 22, 2009 ~ 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ~ Swedish Medical Center.
. Amanda Glenn MA, CPD – Navigating the NICU Experience
. Desirre Andrews CCCE, LCCE, CLD, CLE [...]

Today the cesarean rate is an alarming 31.8% (CDC 2007 preliminary data).  Only a maximum of 15%  of birthing women should be having cesarean deliveries in order to keep mortality (death) and morbidity (poor outcomes) to the healthiest levels according to the World Health Organization. With the staggering discrepancy in what should be and what [...]