Non-Toxic and Lovin' It! - WINNER

I am happy to be able to announce the winner of the Non-Toxic and Lovin' It Giveaway!

And the winner is....

VICKI!

Vicki, I have sent you an email. Please respond within the 2 days allotted and you will have yourself a soap of your choice. :)

Thoughtful Thursday

Being Born Is Important

"Being born is important
You who have stood at the bedposts
and seen a mother on her high harvest day,
the day of the most golden of harvest moons for her.

You who have seen the new wet child
dried behind the ears,
swaddled in soft fresh garments,
pursing its lips and sending a groping mouth
toward the nipples where white milk is ready~

You who have seen this love’s payday
of wild toil and sweet agonizing~

You know being born is important.
You know nothing else was ever so important to you.
You understand the payday of love is so old,
So involved, so traced with the circles of the moon,
So cunning with the secrets of the salts of the blood~
It must be older than the moon, older than the salt." - Carl Sandburg

An Open Letter to a Mother

A different type of birth story. This birth story was written for a mom I recently worked with that truly gave it all, made all the right choices, and truly encompassed:

"Courage allows the successful woman to fail - and to learn powerful lessons from the failure - so that in the end, she didn't fail at all." - Maya Angelou

Mmmmm, Hormones!

I am such a birth geek. I prefer that term to birth junkie because I am not necessarily addicted to birth, but I am definitely completely geeky about it - insatiably learning and researching and assisting with it at every possible moment.

I love reading about the event; our anatomy and physiology, the hormones of labor and birth, our emotional and mental and spiritual selves during the event - it's amazing.

Which is why I wanted to link you up to some great reads about the lovely and intoxicating hormones of labor and birth:

• Oxytocin - the love hormone. You know, kiss me deeply and make me feel all purry inside.
• Melatonin - yep, dark room and sleepy mama? this even helps! 
• Beta Endorphins - you know, the painless high that athletes get? yep, laboring women get it too, but not if you have an epidural!
• Adrenaline - not so good in first stage, awesome in second stage.

And for further reading on the subject:

• A great PDF of Sarah Buckley's Ecstatic Birth - Hormonal Blueprint of Labor, the most popular article on this subject.
• Natural Childbirth III: Why Undisturbed Birth and Natural Childbirth IV: the Hormones of Birth - a really neat read.
• Childbirth Connections quick reference of the hormones of labor and birth.
• A great slideshow presentation on the Hormones of Birth

Non-Toxic and Lovin' It!

Ok readers, can I just say I am an Earth Mama Angel Baby junkie? I love their products!

So, how thrilled was I to see that they were offering me some samples to try out on my family as well as a giveaway for one lucky reader on my blog?!

I received my trial-sizes of all four of their toxin-free soaps:

• Naturally calming Lavender Vanilla Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash
• Truly unscented Natural Non-Scents Hand to Toe Wash
• Exhilarating, queasy-busting Ginger Lime Happy Mama Hand to Toe Wash
• Gentle Vanilla Sweet orange Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash

Now, what did my family think?

• My 11-year old daughter loved the Calm & Clean Scent, as did the twins. They said the smell and the feel was like honey on their toes. :)
• My 8 year old preferred the Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash, scented with orange. It also made her hair shine in a way that her locks don't normally shine. :)
• My son and my husband preferred the Non-Scents so that it didn't interfere with their MAN-Scents.... (insert roll eyes)
• Me, I am still a die-hard for the Ginger-Grapefruit scent of Happy Mama. Ginger and grapefruit.. who doesn't love the nose-tingling, eye popping, skin invigorating tingle-your-senses mojo of that combination?

Likewise, when my family got hit with the flu just a week ago, they all received a nice, long soak in a Happy Mama bath... and came out without the queasies for the first time in a long time!


I love that I can offer my family Triclosan-free products.

Did you know that newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that levels of triclosan in humans have increased by 50% since 2004? Triclosan is also shown to alter thyroid function, and other studies have found that due to its extensive use in consumer goods, triclosan and its metabolites are present in, fish, umbilical cord blood and human milk.

Although we are a family that believes God Made Dirt and Dirt Don't Hurt, when it comes to the sniffley, germy, coughy, clingy children that my kids will encounter on a day-to-day basis, I LOVE having the option to send them out with Earth Mama Angel Baby products to keep them clean. And they can do it all while smelling HEAVENLY (yes, I meant to use that pun).

So, with all of that said, I really am ecstatic to share this giveaway with you! If you win, you will receive a full-sized soap of your choice (of the scents listed above). This giveaway is open to US and Canadian addresses only. Sorry!

Rules
You must submit a separate comment for each entry. (i.e. if you complete all 3 of the ways to enter, be sure to submit 3 comments). You must complete the first one to be entered to win. You can enter a total of 3 time (hence, three chances).

1. Tell me which scent you want and why, along with what toxin free options mean to YOU! write it in a comment (and don't forget to give me a way to get a hold of you.
2. Follow EMAB on twitter (@EMAB_HQ), then tell me you are in a commen
3. Sign up to receive Mama’s Monthly Newsletter

And, if you have a moment, take the time to visit them on Facebook and let them know how thankful you are that they are offering this giveaway on Bellies and Babies!

The giveaway will close on September 28th at 11:59pm. I will draw a winner from Random.org on September 29th and post the winner. You will have 2 days to contact me if you are the winner, otherwise I will draw another name. Good luck!!!

For more reading, see Soap vs Detergent, What Are YOU Soaking In?

Disclaimer: Earth Mama Angel Baby provided this product for my review at no cost, according to FTC Guidelines. 

Schism

I have been having issues lately; issues from within the birthing community. Now, all of you mamas out there who think we in the childbirth community are perfect, I'm sorry to break it to you that we aren't. For all of you childbirth professionals who read my blog, I am guessing that at least 3/4 of you are nodding your heads out there in cyberspace.

I wish I could remain blissfully ignorant. I wish we would stop this bickering. I wish we could all just get along and act like adults. 

I don't share this story much because I don't want people to think that I am trash talking childbirth organizations. Because that is not the case. I don't want people to think that I don't like certifying organizations, because that is not the case either... Let me just start from the beginning and let you, the reader, get a better grasp on my frustrations.

It all began, for me, about 6 years ago. I was blissfully teaching childbirth classes when I received a 'warning' from the certifying organization I was teaching through that I had been narked on by one of the other childbirth educators in my, then, city. Nancy (not her real name) had called the certifying organization and told them that I was advertising for more than one service along with my certification. This was not the case.

My listing, at the time, read "______ CBE teaching _________ childbirth classes and offering birth doula support. I have experience with hospital and home births, Bradley births, Hypnobirthing, Hypnobabies, Birthing from Within, medicated, unmedicated..." etc...

I attempted to explain this, and even provided proof, to the organization, but they would hear nothing of the sort, believing that they had 'caught me' marketing with numerous credentials.

The part that irks me is that Nancy was actually teaching a hybrid class of two different childbirth methods; resulting in a hybrid program that lasted 5 weeks. I, on the other hand, was simply saying I had experience working with moms who chose these different methods of birth preparation.

Their next disagreement with me came when they found I was giving more current research and studies to my students, in place of the outdated ones in my training packet.

Hello?! Excuse me for providing my clients with current research and options. Forgive me for taking the incentive and doing additional research to support my clients. 

After hemming and hawing with them for over 2 months, getting numerous requests to 'cease and desist' from my current marketing, etc... I finally requested for them to, henceforth, consider me disaffiliated/decertified.

I thought I had it all behind me...

Then another friend of mine, in another town, emailed me to let me know that they had been decertified from _____ for having been 'turned in' for attending one planned unassisted birth and one unplanned, precipitous home birth. Another good friend was reprimanded and reviewed because she let a client know that the doctor's advice didn't sound like the whole story and that perhaps she would get a better idea of the validity of the doctor's advice if she applied the B.R.A.I.N.D. principles of informed consent.

Pretty soon, the emails began pouring in... other doula friends were chastised for performing cervical checks... even though they were trained midwife assistants or midwife apprentices and working as monitrices, other childbirth educators were being persecuted for adding 'non affiliated' relaxation scripts to their clients.

I began hearing of women who, even though they had 10+ years of reflexology, chiropractic, childbirth education, midwifery assistance, massage therapy, and natural childbirth activism under their belts, they were being slandered in their communities for calling themselves a doula just because they didn't affiliate/certify.

And, finally, most recently, I came across the Doula Register. Now, I realize it is an Australian site, but it extends it's listings across the ocean. At first glance, it seems like a great idea...

One of the chief aims of the doula register is to provide clients, hospitals, practitioners and the government reassurance that the doulas in the register are working to a set standard.

but read further.

The doula has no clinical responsibility and hence does not undertake bio-medical observations even if she has been trained to do this in a different course. For example, this means that the doula: DOES NOT : listen to the foetal heart

• DOES NOT : take blood pressure measurements
• DOES NOT : take the client’s temperature
• DOES NOT: do vaginal examinations

All doulas? Because some doulas, myself included, can read FHTs, BP, and assess cervical dilation (monitrice work).  And then, comes the real straw that breaks the camels back:

IN THE CASE OF HOME BIRTH :
The doula does not support a woman having a home birth unless the client has employed a midwife or medical practitioner to provide for her clinical care and that person is either present with the laboring woman or has asked the woman to labor alone.

IN THE CASE OF HOSPITAL OR BIRTH CENTRE BIRTH:
The doula does not go to the client’s house to support her in early labor unless the client has employed a midwife or medical practitioner (hospital or birth centre) and the doula has suggested that the client inform her clinical care provider (or hospital or birth centre) that she is in labor. (This is because only the woman and her cliental care provider can decide on the safety of her staying at home in early labor.)

Wow. Wow... so, really? I cannot labor with a woman at home until such a time that she wants her midwife with her or wants to move to the hospital setting?

This doula register is not for me.

I am just really having a hard time wrapping my head around this. I can understand why midwives and obstetricians have a hard time seeing eye to eye at times... they have a different perception of birth. But us? Midwives, doulas, childbirth educators... us?!?! 

And then I read of blog posts like this one.. where she is cautious to say 'I'm not saying my way is right'.. but she sure goes out of her way to paint other choices as wrong (BTW, since my comment on her blog and this response post she edited her original post - I wish I had screen captured it). I'm not trying to pick on her, but these types of articles only deepen the schism further. I would have liked to have seen a more balanced tete-a-tete between a certified and uncertified doula.  

Since when have we not all been working toward the same goal?

Kathy Oakes, of Serenity Birth Services recently noted on Facebook how disenfranchised she is with the direction that this 'all or nothing' attitude is taking Midwifery practices in Michigan, my home state.

"As many of you know I have been volunteering for Friends of Michigan Midwives for a few months now.  Yesterday I turned in my resignation for my position.  When I started working with them, I was under the assumption that this included ALL midwives.  And that our goal was openly supported by ALL midwives.  Afterall...we were their friends.  Friends help each other out.  After my last conference call with several other volunteers, I was left was a sour taste in my mouth.  Something was stated (that I have now been told I must have misunderstood) that just didn't sit well with me, so I started digging.

Upon my research, this is NOT a group that includes all midwives.  This is a group whose sole purpose is to push/back/support a bill, that on the surface (imo) seems great.  Making Midwifery legal in the state of Michigan.  Upon digging, and asking questions...not so great. ...

... The claim is so there is a standard of care.  But I have seen OB's...they are suppose to have a standard of care, right?  And they are elminating vbacs, pushing epis, pushin inductions, pushing time-frames on moms/births... So for me, standard of care doesn't really mean much.  What I want is midwives that trust birth.  As a parent who spent a lot of time researching homebirths, and researching midwives I feel that moms, and dads are 100% capable of finding a midwife with a GOOD record, a midwife they can trust.  A midwife with experience, and education (which doesn't always mean "book taught").  The more I think about state licensure for midwives, the more I realize the power that is being taken away from parents. " - Midwifery and The Great Divide

She goes on to add that, through legislative efforts, Michigan midwives may very well have strictures and limitations put on their practices, limiting the options of the families that the midwives serve, as well as the midwives themselves.

I lived and worked within this atmosphere in Michigan. I see small strains of it here in Texas.... CPMs against CNMs, both against LMs, and all three against most doctors and hospitals. This movement has created a deeper schism than what we started with in my opinion.


(BTW, this is not a big shout out against the Big Push, I personally think that there are pros and cons to it. My personal thoughts? I think it is a good idea to have a standard of training, educating, and assessing... but too often the protocols and SOP restrict midwives to the point that it takes away parent's rights)... 

Recently, I also found out that this extends into other areas of the childbirth and parenting fields... It seems that a Le Leche League leader, Nancy Mohrbacher, was summarily dismissed from her local LLL when they found out that she was also certified with another organization.

"My crash-and-burn summer continues with the news tonight, delivered in person by my brand-new La Leche League Area Coordinator of Leaders (ACL), that despite my intention to continue as an Illinois LLL leader after almost 29 years, she is removing me from her roster.  Why did she take this action against my wishes?  Here’s the reason she gave:  I made it known that I recently became an accredited breastfeeding counselor with the new mother-to-mother support group Breastfeeding USA and I wanted to represent both organizations." - Goodbye LLL of IL

She goes on to say

"... After all, as the saying goes, “Well-behaved women rarely make history.” As you might expect, my opinion on the issue that led to my actions has not changed. If anything, I am more convinced than ever that LLLI’s directive that Leaders must choose between LLL and BFUSA is divisive and therefore destructive to breastfeeding.

In recent weeks, people on the inside have confirmed that the goal of this directive is to undermine BFUSA, which includes ex-LLL Leaders among its founders. One fact I found particularly damning is that in the recent past concerns were raised by LLLI’s legal advisors about LLL Leaders representing both LLL and Attachment Parenting International, two organizations very similar in philosophy and purpose, yet these concerns fell on deaf ears. The insurance issue given as a reason for this directive is clearly a red herring.

LLLI is headed down a slippery slope. In Illinois, nearly half of its Leaders have resigned in the last two years. It’s clearly time for it to look in the mirror and reevaluate its Leadership and its strategies." - Settling Into My New LLL Home

Really? A woman is so passionate about breastfeeding and supporting women to breastfeed that she took the initiative to expand her training and education. And what does she get for that? A slap on the wrist.

What have I come away with from all of this? I feel, more strongly than ever, that I made the right choice to disaffiliate with the childbirth education organization that I had trained under. I feel, more strongly than ever, that I made the right choice to not certify with the doula credentialing organization that I trained with. But not happily so.

Do others truly believe that I like being a 'rebel doula', a doula with no home?  No. I wish from my deepest heart of hearts that we could have certifying organizations that provided a mother-friendly standard of care for childbirth professionals to operate under. I am finding, more and more, that I cannot be a part of most of these organizations and still provide women with every option that they have a right to... or I have to lie to the organizations that I might be affiliated with.

Instead, I am happy to say that I have passed the certification test for one childbirth education program, but can happily help you, the mother, through many methods of childbirth, since I have studied most.


Instead, I can say that, although I did sit through a 4 day doula workshop and pass the proficiency test for birth doula support, I am not affiliated with any organization. On the other hand, I have apprenticed with a chiropractor, a massage therapist, and now am apprenticing with a midwife.


This means that I bring a wide range of experience and large set of skills to the births I attend, and am unhindered by the politics of many of these organizations.

But I'm not happy about what it takes for me to be able to provide this. I have come to the hard realization that, to take initiative, to further their education and expand their repertoire, often comes at a huge cost to those who pursue it.

I am tired. Tired of the back biting, the in-crowds, the ____-only clubs... I am tired of announcing that I am a doula of 12 years but not certified and see other doulas start whispering.  I am tired of watching people with multiple certifications getting lashed at by their organizations. It's a 'damned if we do and damned if we don't' affair. (excuse my language).

Have some of us become so far removed from the heart of this calling to remember why we started in the first place? It was to provide women with valid options, loving support, and honest care.

A better question is, what can we do to mend this fracture.. this schism... and unify once more for the betterment of the women we so want to serve?

Additional Reading:
Some Thoughts on Doula Certification
The History of Birth Partners
Getting To The Heart
Doulas Scope of Practice
and, for the other side of the coin, Certification: Why Not

Plumtree Baby WINNER!

Thanks for everyone who entered the Plumtree Baby Giveaway! Now, for the winner...

Heather @ Doula Dreaming!!

Congratulations! Heather, you have until Sept 21st to send me your mailing address! If I don't hear from you by then, I will draw another winner. Let me know what you think of it when you get the package!

Houston is B.I.R.T.Hing.. for the 10th time!

Guess what?! Houston is getting ready for their annual B.I.R.T.H. Fair! If you are in the Houston area, please try to come to this, stop by my booth, and say hi!

BIRTH Fair isn't just for those that pregnant, there will be over 50 vendors that support a natural and healthy way of life as well as a great line up of speakers.


You don't want to miss one of the many great speakers, Dr. Pauline Dillard, who will be speaking about 'Healing from Cesarean Trauma'. We will have overstuffed goody bags for our guests, activities for children, and will show the blockbuster film The Business of Being Born with Ricky Lake. 

Our 10th Annual Birth Fair will be held on 

October 1st from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

at the United Way Center on 50 Waugh Drive. 

Check us out on Facebook for our latest giveaways, or visit www.houbirth.org or call 832-318-9654 for more information. 

This event is free and open to all ages.

How Do You Decide

http://www.drmomma.org/2009/09/history-of-female-circumcision-in.html

I recently got in a rather heated discussion with a nurse. 

The argument, after I compared female and male circumcision, declined to this:

"A direct comparison was made between male circumcision and female genital mutilation. The two acts were conflated. Female mutilation is a purposeless and barbaric act performed by evil men who comit this atrocity to keep women as second-class citizens.

The only conclusion that can be drawn when a direct relationship is made between female mutilation and male circumcision is that they are equally atrocious.

And if the two acts are the same (remember, they were directly compared), someone who sees a benefit to male circumcision is by definition just as evil as someone who supports female genital mutilation. If female mutilation and male circumcision are truly exactly the same, then anyone who favors either act must be an equally repugnant person." - Nursing Student

Obviously, she is horrified at the idea of female circumcision but very much in favor of male circumcision.

Which leads me to this post. I'll make it short and sweet...

Which child is protected by current law to have part of their genitalia cut off? Which child is protected by current law to have their genitalia preserved?

Which child's parents would be considered barbaric by the majority of the population if they circumcised the child? Which child's parents would be offered the option before leaving the hospital because it is culturally accepted?

Which child's parents have a right to decide if they should have a healthy part of their body excised? Which child's body is less deserving of their natural state?

Which child's genitalia is more likely to be permanently altered because of religion, cultural acceptance, aesthetic appearance, or 'health reasons'?




You and I both know the answers to these questions. I would encourage you to take a look at the chart that I created below. Feel free to share at will, just give a link back or reference me as a source.

It is amazing what we can justify when it fits our personal paradigms and wants/desires.

Intactivism on the Net

As you all know, I speak out on some less-than-comfortable subjects. Now, this post may offend some. If you are one of the offended, just skip over this post and read the ones that don't offend.

BUT, but, I feel this is an important subject. We did not circumcise our son, and we don't believe in routine circumcision. For more on that, see the list below:

• In Honor of IGIA
• In Honor of IGIA pt 2
• Say What?!
• FGM, AAP, and the Washington Post
• Cut
• By Definition

The point of this post, though, is to bring attention to some recent stirrings on the internet about foreskins and the intact penis. So, without further ado,  here is my list of noteworthy links:

A DICK THING TO DO - a humorous but honest look at one families discussion about circumcised and intact penises.

AB768 HEARING - a great bit of information on the California bill re: forced infant male circumcision.

INTACT OR CIRCUMCISED - a mature-audience only discussion on the difference in adult penises. Educational to say the least.

I LOVE FORESKIN - a very intimate look at how circumcision doesn't only affect the man, but others whom he will encounter throughout life.


And that about raps it up, thoughts?

Viewing Birth - Water Births

Here are some newer beautiful water births on YouTube.












Enjoy on this beautiful Labor Day!

A Sweet Birth

V, you were such an easy mama to work with prenatally. You had no real questions, no pressing concerns. It helped that you worked in the childbirth field yourself and that you came to the event with a wealth of knowledge and trust of the process.

Late in the evening before, you let me know that you were having some cramping that was rather rhythmic and that you would let me know if things changed. Early the next a.m., you called to let me know that it was about time for me to head over to you.

When I arrived, you looked very much in the early/early active labor phase. You were definitely working hard, and your face would pink up with every pressing on your cervix.

You relayed that, after we hung up last night, your husband and you had gone for a bike ride to dinner with a friend, then went home to simply hang out and let things happen as they would. It made me smile to envision you riding your bike in the dusk of the day, coasting during contractions.

Your husband made a smoothie and we talked about your progress. You were around a 3 (husband had checked you about an hour earlier) and your baby was still bobbing high. I asked when the last time you had been outside was. It was the night before. So, we got our shoes on and headed outside in the crisp early morning air.

As we began our trek around the lake, you remarked about the people who were out running, biking, and playing in the morning cool. Some women who passed us would give me secretive thumbs up, while the men stared worriedly.

One man stopped to ask if you needed help and expressed his concern that you were having a baby. Your husband replied that you weren't having a baby but that we were working toward that goal.

With every contraction, you would lean forward, either against the fence along the trail, or against your husbands strong waiting arms, and one of us would give your hips a nice squeeze. I could feel the intensity picking up in your face, your ligaments, and especially your eyes.

As we continued our walk, you both talked about how your son would love the ducks, and we laughed about the man's kind concern. It was a beautiful morning and I took a deep breath, noticing a nearby spider's web, glistening with the mornings dew, and a perfect creamy pink nautilus shell lying in the grass. I plucked up the shell and put it in my pocket, a reminder of the great things I knew were coming for you during the day.

Once we got back home, you asked to be checked again. And I watched as your husband lovingly eased you back against the pillows of your bed. You relaxed into his touch and he leaned forward to nuzzle your neck and whisper something to you that only you could hear. You smiled gently and he checked your dilation. You were 3-4cm and thinning beautifully, turning anterior. Your baby was still bobbing high.

At this point, you decided to go for a swim in the pool. So we three donned bathing suites and stepped out into the early morning sunshine. It was barely peeking over the tree line and the sight was serene and joyful. As you frog swam from end to end, I and your husband would alternate pressing on your hips during birthing waves. You smiled, you cried and I knew your heart was coming in line with your cervix perfectly.

You quickly became chilled, though, and wanted to warm up in a bath inside. At this point, you had around 2-3 minutes between contractions that would last about 45 seconds. I hoped that the bath would warm you to relax enough that they would space slightly and become longer.

As I got out of my wet suit and into dry clothes, I heard you and your husband snuggling in the tub. I walked by to see you in an embrace, your eyes closed, a slightly smile on your lips, and his hands gently caressing your belly. The air literally shimmered with the love in that room.

I busied myself around the house, giving you two time alone, but soon heard the water draining. Your husband emerged from the bathroom to announce that you had 'become a cavewoman', shutting yourself in your closet.

A good sign.

I joined you in your closet to see you sitting on a towel, sun-kissed and belly-ripe. I sat nearby, and we talked about how you were feeling. They were more intense, sharper, and taking your breath away. You wanted close, and dark, and quiet. You were moving through your birthing time perfectly.

Your husband served us espresso and quinoa and beet salad in the closet, and there the three of us had brunch while you decided what you wanted to do next.

Once more, you wanted to be checked. Your towel was showing crimson streaks and we knew you were making progress. Once more your husband nuzzled you lovingly and gently checked your cervix. Baby was low, you were a good stretchy 4, and nearly completely thinned out. You were ready to head into the hospital.

While your husband started the car and brought your bags out, I helped you to get ready. We talked in gentle, quiet tones. I knew your heart was speaking to you. At one point, your tears fell freely and I asked what was going on inside.

This is the last time we leave the house as two... 

Your heart mourned and delighted, simultaneously, that you were moving beyond lovers into lovers and parents. I promised that, when your husband came in for you, I would go to my car and wait.

When he returned to gather you for the car, I left the two of you sitting on your stairs, talking in hushed tones, holding one another.

Shortly after, you made your way to your car and we drove together to the hospital. It took awhile to get situated in your room, but, when you were comfortable, the nurse found you to be 4-5 and 90%.

You were happy, and you were tired. As we continued to work through your labor in the hospital setting, you both worked together to regain the intimacy felt at your home. You used the ball, walked the room, and sat on the toilet. Your labor quickly picked up again, and this time it was pressing down with a strong purpose.

You knew, prior to starting your labor, that you would want the epidural at some point. You were beginning to wonder if you would need it soon. Your contractions were coming every 2-3 minutes and were lasting a minute each.

We talked about when you might not want it. In the end, you chose to be checked and, if you were in transition or greater than 7cm, you were going to forgo the epidural. You were a stretchy 6-7cm and completely thinned out, and you wanted to rest.

The anesthesiologist worked quickly and soon you were resting in bed. Your husband turned on some light jazz music and I recommended you try to get a little sleep as I didn't think you would be laboring very long.

Although you tried to sleep, you were too excited and, instead, you laid on your side and we chatted. As we noticed your contractions were spacing out, and we knew you were hoping to birth with your own hormones, I gave you a foot massage, working on pressure points to stimulate your labor.

Like magic, they became closer together again, but with a triplet pattern beginning to emerge. In order to encourage baby not to move into a posterior position, you sat upright, hugging the ball, and ate a granola bar while grinning from ear to ear. Your labor pattern returned to normal and we enjoyed the music, smiled and laughed.

Your husband's friend came in to deliver pizza shortly afterward and we dined, while you reported some pressure in your bottom. The room was nice and dark, the mood was light, and you were moving your baby down.

When his friend left, we worked on another foot massage and you moved from side to side to help baby move down while also trying to even out a left-heavy epidural. The massage didn't seem to be picking up your again-slowly spacing contractions, so instead, you curled around your belly and began rubbing it, talking to your son, and singing to him.

Magic again! Your contractions came closer and your nurse announced you were 8-9cm. As the pressure became stronger, your doctor came in to talk with you. Your husband expressed interest in catching your son and so he gowned up in preparation.

Soon you were feeling enough pressure to push, and we got the squat bar in place for you. You brought yourself up into a modified squat and began bringing your son down in earnest. As the room gathered your doctor, nurse, and nursery nurse, you alternated between a modified squat with the squat bar and the classic position.

Your husband provided you with counterpressure and perineal massage, and soon you were watching your son in the mirror as his head moved through your body and into view.

His head was born slowly and gently, and your husband made everyone laugh when he twisted his son's hair into two little horns. Once his head was out, he began the slow rotation to move his shoulders out. And, as he slipped from your body, you and your husband both let out an ecstatic yell!

Immediately, your husband threw his scrub-top off and drew your son against his own chest, skin-to-skin. You put your head back on the pillow and smiled lovingly at the sight! You were cleaned up, and soon holding your son against your own chest. As his cord stopped pulsing, your husband clamped and cut it, and you snuggled your son even closer to your heart.

After your husband helped you to deliver your placenta, your son went to the warmer to be weighed and measured. 8 lbs 11 oz, 21 inches long.

We cleaned you up, got you tucked into a clean bed, and immediately afterward, your son was back in your arms, where he latched onto your breast with gusto and began nursing in earnest. Your husband climbed into bed with the two of you and, as a family, you discovered one another.


32 hours after your birthing time began, I quietly made my exit, leaving a newly born family nestled in the love and safety of one anothers arms.

Plumtree Baby Review and Giveaway

I contacted Julie and Michelle of Plumtree Baby when I saw a facebook blip about childbirth educational materials. Any doula or childbirth educator can attest that one of the most arduous parts of starting and maintaining a CB business is keeping up-to-date, educational, and relevant handouts and information for clients.

Most doulas will cover nutrition, exercise, comfort measures, the event of labor and birth, options during that time, and postpartum. This can mean weeks and weeks of compiling resources and designing handouts and worksheets for client use. In their own words, Julie and Michelle share their inspiration:

We were inspired to create Plumtree Baby, LLC after many combined years of feeling frustrated by the lack of relevant and professional materials and resources available to us and our students/clients.  We realized that we had spent hundreds of hours creating our own resources or piecing together materials from many different sources and that many other birth professionals were doing the same.  This waste of time and energy, as well as the lack of a professional feel in most resources, lead us to dream about our ideal childbirth education products.  

We realized that we could save ourselves and other birth professionals so much time, money and frustration by offering customizable, interactive, professional products for many of the topics that are of interest to expectant parents.  Childbirth professionals could then pick and choose the most relevant products and use their time and energy in more productive ways.

Needless to say, their Facebook blip piqued my interest and I wanted to know more. Julie and Michelle sent me an Educator Set (+ Natural Childbirth Module) for review, and a second Educator Set to giveaway to one lucky reader (little happy dance).

ABOUT PLUMTREE
Plumtree Baby was created by Michelle Kettleborough, CLD (CAPPA) and Julie Olson LCCE CD (DONA) in an effort to provide resources and lend support to those who work in the birth profession, particularly childbirth educators, doulas and medical professionals.

Plumtree Baby provides childbirth professionals with educational and marketing materials to help them attract clients, save time and money, and to build profitable businesses.

In order to do this, they have created customizable, up-to-date, comprehensive educational resources and tools, including modules for topics related to pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, visual aids for the classroom or office setting and interactive resources to stimulate learning.

MY REVIEW
I loved the modules. I felt they were a great spring board for conversation, personal interaction, and customizable prenatal education. I felt the information offered was presented in a non-biased, open-ended manner, allowing for my clients and I to discuss personal preferences, prescribe further research and reading, and deviate as needed to ensure complete understanding and informed choice/refusal.

The modules are presented in full-page three-ring punched booklets. This allows for easy assembly and presentation to clients in a three ring binder, while also allowing for me to include my own additional information and worksheets, if needed.

The books are full-color, with lots of photographs and some worksheets and questionnaires to help families work through their personal preferences regarding the information being shared.

I loved the layout, the ease of use, and the versatility of the PlumTree Baby modules and will definitely be spreading the word about these products.

My favorite modules would have to be Finding Comfort and Natural Childbirth. My second-favorite modules would have to be Prenatal Wellness and Following the Birth. By the way, if you are interested in getting a preview of the modules before you commit to purchasing them, they offer that as well!

Additionally, Plumtree Baby has free downloadable/printable resources for birth professionals to be able to tailor for their individual clients needs, an E-Resource called Engaging Parents, which allows professionals to evaluate their teaching style, and a not-yet-released Childbirth Curriculum, a complete and comprehensive course for those interested in teaching the whole gamut of information.

THE GIVEAWAY
I am so happy to be able to offer an Educator Set to one lucky winner! But, just like every giveaway, there are rules for entering. This giveaway is intended for those in the continental U.S. only (sorry my international readers).

EACH ENTRY MUST BE SUBMITTED IN A SEPARATE COMMENT. Otherwise, you will only get credit for the one comment that you supply. You must do #1 for your initial entry, then feel free to do whichever/however many additional entries as you wish beyond the first.

1. Go to PlumTree Baby on Facebook, like them, and thank them on their wall for donating for Bellies and Babies Giveaway. Then go to their website, check out their products, and come back here and comment, letting me know what module you are most interested in for your first entry.
2. Go to Sage Beginnings Doula Services, like me, and come back here/comment letting me know you did.
3. Blog or Facebook about this giveaway, tagging/linking both Plumtree Baby and Sage Beginnings, with a link back to this giveaway. Then come back here/comment letting me know you did with a link to it.
4. Follow Bellies and Babies, then comment, letting me know you are a follower (stalker!).

A winner will be drawn on Sept 15th and the winner will be announced that weekend. The winner will have until Sept 21st to contact me, otherwise I will choose a second winner. Good luck!

*Disclaimer: Plumtree Baby provided this product for my review/giveaway at no cost.