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Mamas on Bedrest: How Are You Planning for Your Delivery?
April 18th, 2012Something about spring makes me think of preparation. Spring is definitely a time of new beginnings and for mamas getting ready to give birth, they are most certainly preparing for a new beginning-into a whole new stage of their lives!
Preparing for the pending birth of a baby can be a bit different for a mama on bed rest, but most certainly no less important. While mamas having uncomplicated pregnancies may be doing last minute shopping, finishing up tasks at work and handing off assignments to co-workers before going on maternity leave, preparing the nursery, attending hospital tours and childbirth classes, mamas on bed rest are often restricted in their abilities to prepare for the addition to their families. Those with family and friends close by may in fact have a baby shower and have help preparing their nurseries. Because of their bed rest status, work is often a long gone event-one they hope to get back to after the baby is born. But its the individual preparation, the childbirth education that I find most mamas on bed rest lack.
In this age of the internet, mamas on bed rest need not go without the vital childbirthing information that they need. There are literally hundreds of programs available, locally and online, that can prepare mamas for their childbirth experience. We share just a smattering of them here.
Doulas and Birth Attendants. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I really wish that I had had a doula at my first birth. While I don’t believe that she would have prevented anything that happened with me or my baby, I think that having a skilled attendant to help my husband and I while things were coming completely unhinged would have been great.
Doulas are often that impartial third party that can help mamas maintain their focus and confidence, help calm spouses and partners so that they can provide support to a laboring mama and they can act as a bridge between the health care providers and mama when she cannot necessarily speak up for herself. There are lots of doula resources but two of the most widely known are Doulas of North America (DONA) and The Childbirth and Post Partum Professional Association (CAPPA). While they both offer training and educational resources they also list their members and mamas can find a doula in their area to assist them. The International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC) is another great doula resource especially for mamas of color.
Lamaze International. Lamaze promotes a natural, healthy and safe approach to childbirth and early parenting. They offer childbirth education classes and support for families as well as education and training for health care professionals. Lamaze education and practices are based on the best, most current medical evidence available. They can help reduce the use of unnecessary interventions and improve overall outcomes for mothers and babies. The Lamaze Safe Birth Practices were adapted from the World Health Organization and promote, protect and support natural, safe and healthy birth. The 6 healthy birth practices are:
- Let Labor Begin on Its Own
- Walk, Move Around, and Change Positions Throughout Labor
- Bring a Loved One, Friend, or Doula for Continuous Support
- Avoid Interventions That Are Not Medically Necessary
- Avoid Giving Birth on Your Back, and Follow Your Body’s Urges to Push
- Keep Mother and Baby Together – It’s Best for Mother, Baby, and Breastfeeding
The Bradley Method. The Bradley Method “stresses the importance of Healthy Baby, Healthy Mother and Healthy Families”. By taking classes in The Bradley Method® of natural childbirth, mamas and papas will learn about:
- Prenatal nutrition & exercise
- Relaxation for an easier birth
- Husbands as coaches
- Birth plans and more!
Hypnobirthing.The Mongan Method used is a unique method of relaxed, natural childbirth education, enhanced by self-hypnosis techniques.
Mamas, pain, fear and lots of sterile instruments don’t have to be your memories of your child’s birth. Find out your options for labor and delivery. Find out who can be with you, who can assist with the birth and what you can do in advance to be prepared and as calm and in control of your body as possible. The above childbirth methods (and so many more!!) are available to help you have a stress free and reasonably pain free labor and delivery. Many of the above organizations and services offer online courses and some educators even make house calls! Find out your options and educate yourself today!
If you know of another effective method of childbirth, please share it with us at info@mamasonbedrest.com so that we may share it with other mamas. Check out our resources page for other resources on pregnancy, health and maternal and infant well being.
Mamas on Bedrest (To Be?):8 Tips for Preparing for A High Risk Pregnancy
April 16th, 2012“I purchased your Bedrest Fitness DVD. I am newly pregnant and am anticipating that I may have some complications based on my history. I’m gathering all the resources I can now.”
First and foremost, I am always thrilled to get e-mails from mamas telling me that they have purchased Bedrest Fitness and how it has helped or how they intend to use it. But this e-mail especially caught my attention because this is a very new mama who knows that she has a “complicated medical history” and is taking measures to be prepared for her pregnancy.
Some would say that planning for complications is “calling them into existence”. Personally, as a mama who had a complicated reproductive history prior to becoming pregnant, I have to disagree. I wish that I had had the information that I now provide to mamas. There are several simple things that mamas who have known complications in their reproductive history can do to enhance their chances of becoming pregnant and lessening complications during their pregnancy.
Start taking high potency prenatal vitamins. When you are pregnant, your body will have an increased demand for nutrients so as to not only sustain your health and well being, but to also grow and develop your baby. A good prenatal vitamin should not only contain the US RDA for nutrients, but also nutrients in adequate proportions to sustain mama and her developing baby. Read more about prenatal vitamins and we do offer individual consultations about on prenatal vitamins and supplements. Schedule a consultation by e-mailing info@mamasonbedrest.com.
Quit Smoking. Smoking has no benefits to health. Smoking is especially detrimental to a mama and her baby. If you are contemplating getting pregnant or are newly pregnant and smoke, you must quit. Speak with your health care provider TODAY to discuss smoking cessation options.
Address and stabilize chronic health conditions. Pregnancy is a major stresser to a woman’s body and will alter the function of all of her major organ systems. If a woman has a pre-existing condition such as diabetes, depression, rheumatoid arthritis or any one of a wide variety of medical disorders, it is critical that these conditions be as stable and tightly controlled as possible entering into and throughout the pregnancy.
For example, if a woman is diabetic, she should get her blood sugars in tight control (if possible) prior to becoming pregnant. She and her OB will need to work closely with an endocrinologist and diabetician to ensure that the mama maintains blood sugar control throughout her pregnancy and minimizes complications and/or damage to her liver, pancreas, kidneys, heart and most especially her baby.
Lose Weight/attain Ideal Body Weight. If at all possible, mama should be at or near ideal body weight prior to becoming pregnant. Additional body weight increases a mama’s chance of having complications during her pregnancy such as gestational diabetes and pregnancy induced hypertension. If a woman is overweight and is contemplating pregnancy, especially if the weight is due to a prior pregnancy, she will significantly lower her risk of complications if she loses weight prior to becoming pregnancy.
Eat Well. Many women use pregnancy as a time to indulge in whatever they want to eat. “I’m eating for 2?” they say. The truth is that a pregnant women needs only to increase her daily caloric intake by about 500 calories in order to adequately nourish herself and her developing baby. What is more important is what she eats. Mamas should limit high fat, sugar laden processed foods and opt instead for whole grains, lean cuts of meat and fresh fruits and vegetables. Sodas should be eliminated and caffeine limited to not more than one 8-12 oz caffeinated beverage daily. Mamas should try to drink 6-8 eight oz glasses of water daily (minimum).
Alcohol. Alcohol is a sticky topic. While many health care providers will allow a woman to have an occasional drink, I am of the opinion that women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not drink. Some call my stance hard core or overly dramatic. However, a developing fetus has no need whatsoever for alcohol! If anything, depending on the stage of development, alcohol is detrimental. If you are anticipating getting pregnant I would suggest that you avoid alcohol. However, the decision is yours and you should discuss this issue further with your obsetrician if you have questions.
Sleep. In America especially, we don’t get enough sleep. Sleep is often substituted for getting more work done, watching TV, cleaning the house (especially if you are a mama!) or caring for children. If you are pregnant or contemplating getting pregnant (and even if you are not!!), getting 7-9 hours of sleep daily is critical to establish and maintain normal circadian rhythms, for hormone production and output, for restoration of bodily functions and for maintainence and repair. As many mamas note, early on in pregnancy all you can do is sleep. This is nature’s way of making sure your body’s energy is conserved and utilized to grow and develop your baby. If you are planning for or in the midst of pregnancy allow yourself 7-9 hours of sleep daily and take naps as necessary.
Exercise. Exercise is a critical component to good health in every individual. What is often overlooked is the benefit of exercise during pregnancy. Even today, in 2012, there are obstetricians who advise their patients against exercising during pregnancy stating (false) evidence that exercise will somehow harm the baby. Now this is not to say that there aren’t activities that pregnant mamas should avoid such as skiing, rollerskating, contact sports, scuba diving and anything that wil cause mama to significantly overheat, put her at risk for direct trauma to her abdomen or compromises her metabolic function (such as scuba diving which puts her oxygen consumption at risk). Exercise during pregnancy helps mamas maintain healthy weight gain, maintain adequate muscle mass, maintain strength, ease soft tissue (tendons & ligaments) discomfort, help with posture, aid in sleep, aid in insulin uptake and function (helping to avoid insulin resistance and gestational diabetes) and overall help mamas feel good.
Exercise is possible for mamas on bed rest. These mamas, who are at increased risk of muscle loss, bone loss, metabolic distubances, acid/base disturbances and numerous aches and pains from being in bed, benefit greatly from daily movement. Bedrest Fitness was designed with mamas on bed rest in mind! It is a set of modified prenatal execises that mamas can do daily from the comfort of their own beds. Most mamas who have done them have reported that they were able to maintain muscle tone, strength and move more easily and freely after their bed rest experiences.
So if you are planning to get pregnant or a newly pregnant mama and are thinking you may have problem or just want to be prepared as best possible for your pregnancy, labor and delivery, these 8 tips will set you well on your way to a healthy and happy pregnancy and hopefully to a beautiful healthy and happy baby!
Mamas on Bedrest: How The US Can Overcome Barriers to Breastfeeding
April 11th, 2012
Human breastmilk is the best food for human babies.
Everyone from the American Academy of Pediatrics to Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD., have extolled its virtues and clearly stated, in no uncertain terms, that “Breastmilk is Best.” We know that infants who are breastfed are at decreased risk of lower respiratory tract infections in the first year, lower incidence of diarrhea and vomiting, have fewer ear infections, are less likely to develop asthma, childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes, Sudden Infant Death, eczema, acute lymphocytic and acute myelogenous leukemia. In preterm infants, lack of breastfeeding is linked to a 138% increase in necrotizing enterocolitis, a potentially life-threatening problem. Breastfeeding also benefits mamas. The risks for breast cancer and for ovarian cancer are increased in women who have never breastfed.
So it is a huge disappointment to see that in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only 74% of mothers start breastfeeding exclusively at birth. By six months, that number dips to approximately 43% exclusively breastfeeding and by one year that number is a sparse 23% who are still breastfeeding. What is even more disappointing is that amongst African American mothers, only 60% initiate breastfeeding and only 28% are still breastfeeding at six months.
These numbers are far from the targets set for Healthy People 2020.
Breastfeeding Goal Current Rate
Ever-breastfed infants 82% 74%
Exclusive breastfeeding at 3 mos 44% 33%
Breastfeeding at 6 mos 61% 43%
Exclusive breastfeeding at 6 mos 24% 14%
Breastfeeding at 12 mos 34% 23%
New Mothers Need Breastfeeding Support to Continue Breastfeeding long term
What the CDC and the data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (IFPS II) showed is that while many mothers started with the intention of breastfeeding, there is a large lack of support provided to new mothers in order to be successful. The surgeon general’s call to action cited the following five obstacles to breastfeeding,
- Lack of experience and/or lack of understanding amongst family members, consequently lack of support for the nursing family
- Limited support from other nursing mothers
- No support of provisions available for breastmilk pumping for moms at work.
- Lack of up-to-date instruction and information from health care professionals
- Hospital practices that impede successful breastfeeding and hinder getting professional help from a knowledgeable nurse or lactation consultant
Support from Qualified, Educated Hospital Personnel is Critical to Breastfeeding Success
These barriers are directly addressed and removed when hospitals are educated and willing to support new mothers who wish to breastfeed. The US Breastfeeding committee also recommends placing a newborn immediately on mama’s chest at birth, even before cutting the umbilical cord, because evidence shows that
“a baby who is placed skin-to-skin will likely find the breast and initiate breastfeeding within the first 60 minutes of life”
To better ensure that hospital staff are able to support and educate new mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding and to assist with any potential problems, The CDC developed Baby Friendly Hospital Practices as part of the IFPS II. These practices have also been promoted by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, which includes a breastfeeding-promotion component. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative has identified “10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding”
- Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff
- Train all healthcare staff in skills necessary to implement this policy
- Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding
- Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth
- Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they should be separated from their infants
- Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated
- Practice rooming-in by allowing mothers and infants to remain together 24 h/d
- Encourage breastfeeding on demand
- Give no artificial teats, pacifiers, dummies, or soothers to breastfeeding infants
- Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them upon discharge from the hospital or clinic.
Sometimes a mama and her baby must be separated following delivery. In these cases, mamas should be taught to use breast pumps and to express breast milk that can be stored and given to their infants for feedings. When the infants are stable enough to breastfeed, mama and baby should be coached on best breastfeeding techniques by a trained lactation consultant to ensure the best chance of success.
Ensuring Success after Discharge Home
Prior to discharge, a trained lactation consultant should meet with mama again to ensure that principles of latching on, milk letdown, normal infant stooling patterns and weight gain are understood. Mama should be evaluated to ensure that she is not experiencing nipple pain, has adequate experience expressing milk and knows how to pump if needed, has all of her questions answered, has resources and numbers to call if she has subsequent questions and/or needs support.
For Resources on Breastfeeding Support, check out our resources page here.
For useful books on Breastfeeding, Check out our store and look in the breastfeeding section.
