Learning through Birth

Moving over to Wordpress.com

2009-04-19T16:23:00.001-04:00

The new link is...

studentbabycatcher.wordpress.com

Gravity and Birthing

2009-04-19T00:46:00.003-04:00

Logic wins again!!

A new study has been published in Cochrane Database which supports the notion that laboring vertically (squatting, standing, etc) reduces the length of the first stage of labor by up to 1 hour and were less likely to have an epidural. Now if only we could figure out a way to get hospitals to let women out of their beds so they could do this...

Read more here on how gravity can help you birth here:

http://mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD003934/frame.html

NYTimes: Early Caesareans Pose Risk to Newborns

2009-01-11T10:52:00.003-05:00

Not too much "new" news here - but I like seeing it written in the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/health/09Caesarean.html?_r=1&ref=health

Here's to wishing that healthcare providers would recognize that estimated due dates are just that - estimated!!

For more on this check out the March of Dimes website re: Why the Last Weeks of Pregnancy Count:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/240_48590.asp

Picture Perfect

2009-01-08T17:17:00.002-05:00

3D Medical Animation of Childbirth...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xath6kOf0NE

Orgasms during Birth and Homebirth on 20/20 - miraculous!

2009-01-03T20:37:00.005-05:00

Last night's episode of 20/20 was quite interesting....

First, they talked about the possibility of orgasms during birth. Not sure why this is such a shocker -- it's the same nerve endings being stimulated during birth as during sex....an orgasm is an imaginable possibility, no?
They interviewed doula and filmmaker, Debra Pascali-Bonaro about her film Orgasmic Birth (www.orgasmicbirth.com).

Birth Orgasms: Women Speak Out
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6569030

To read more about this, you can check out a follow-up article on HuffingtonPost:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-stranahan/orgasmic-birth-the-natura_b_154934.html

Next they interviewed women, including Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein about homebirth. I was really angry that they combined unassisted childbirth (no medical professionals at the birth) with Ricki Lake's planned homebirth (attended by certified nurse midwives who are trained medical professionals that can administer drugs, oxygen, etc):

Women Who Prefer Home Birth
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6569110

Ovulation "Caught on Tape"

2009-01-03T20:19:00.002-05:00

This is a bit old now, but still an interesting look at how our ovaries work for anyone that hasn't seen it!!

The release of an egg took about 15 minutes and was randomly caught on tape by Dr. Jacques Donnez in Brussels while he was performing a partial hysterectomy on a 45 year old patient. The photos were published in an issue of New Scientist magazine:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826604.200-human-egg-makes-accidental-debut-on-camera.html

The Birth Survey

2008-12-31T15:21:00.004-05:00

The "consumer reports" of birthing: www.thebirthsurvey.com

This website provides reviews on care providers, hosptials, birth centers, etc to help you learn more about providers in your area. The website and reports have been developed through the project Transparency in Maternity Care from the Coalition for Improving Maternity Care Service's Grassroots Advocates Committee.

If you have had a baby within the past 2 years please fill out this survey to add your input to the database!

Must Read: Milbank Report on Evidence-Based Maternity Care

2008-12-31T14:49:00.000-05:00

Trusting a woman's body just got a strong show of support - this report provides great evidence and thoughtful ways to bring quality and value to maternity care in the US

http://www.milbank.org/reports/0809MaternityCare/0809MaternityCare.html

A Cervix on Display

2008-12-31T14:45:00.000-05:00

I would be remiss not to share this website:

http://beautifulcervix.com/

This very cool midwifery student decided to share pictures of her cervix each day throughout her cycle. Amazing photos that teach us tons about the female body! (If you're squeamish, this isn't for you)

Why blog?

2008-12-31T14:05:00.000-05:00

I have been toying with the idea of starting a blog for quite a while but wasn't sure the whole idea of a "public diary" was for me....

So - let it be clear that this will NOT serve as a diary in any way. Instead, I wanted to be able to post relevant information, articles, findings, etc about pregnancy, birthing, baby, doulas, midwives, breastfeeding, etc. I am learning so much about these subjects as a nursing student, doula, and in my quest to become a CNM (certified nurse midwife) - sharing this information just makes sense to me!

Feel free to read, comment, or send me articles/info that might be interesting to post. Let the blogging begin...