Avoiding an epidural is also helpful in preventing perineal damage. In one study, women with no anesthesia had the highest rate of intact perinea (34.1 percent), while women with epidurals had the highest episiotomy rate (65.2 percent). Another study shows that women who got an epidural were more than three times as likely to suffer third- or fourth-degree tears. Why would this be?
For one thing, women with epidurals often end up getting cut because they don’t have enough sensation to push the baby out. The effects of epidurals are notoriously variable, and even the best anesthesiologist in the world can’t predict when delivery will occur, or how different women may be affected by the same dosage of medication. Furthermore, an epidural prevents the mother from assuming optimal positions during delivery. She is also denied the natural sensations of an urge to push and has to rely on external sources to tell her when it is appropriate, instead of listening to the wisdom of her body.
Not surprisingly, oxytocin (or Pitocin) also increases a woman’s chances of serious tearing: 47 percent with Pitocin vs. 29 percent of those without Pitocin tore deeply.
— Elizabeth Bruce
From the article “Everything You Need to Know to Prevent Perineal Tearing,” which was excerpted from the book Get Through Childbirth in One Piece? How to Prevent Episiotomies and Tearing and published in Midwifery Today, Issue 65
“Having a highly trained obstetrical surgeon attend a normal birth is analagous to having a pediatric surgeon baby-sit a healthy 2 year-old.” — author Marsden Wagner
You are what you eat! While pregnant, your baby is what you eat, too. And your body performs according to the fuel you give it. It’s vital during pregnancy especially, to eat a diet rich in whole foods, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein. Be sure to take quality pre-natal vitamins while pregnant and breastfeeding.
Posted by Jenn Purdy, CLD
Our skin is the largest organ in our body. Consider what lotions, ointments, soaps, sunscreen, clothing detergents/softeners and such that comes in contact with your baby’s skin. His skin is absorbing toxins every day and there are good alternatives you can use, for instance soaps without petroleum-derived sodium laureth sulfate – use those made from plant sources. We will talk about this at our Meet The Doulas Tea on March 1 (see “Meet Decatur Doulas” page). This post below is from The Week, Vol. 8, Issue 349 Feb. 22, 2008, p.20 – news on Health and Science…
Health Scare of the Week: Babies Absorb Chemicals
“It’s not enough to worry about what you feed your baby: Now you have to think about what you’re smearing on his skin, too. A new study has found that babies’ skin can absorb chemicals from lotions, powders, and shampoos. Researchers found that infants who were lathered up with the most cosmetics products were exposed to high levels of phthalates, hormone-altering chemicals that can have effects on a baby’s developing reproductive system. When researchers tested the urine of 163 infants, they found surprisingly high phthalate concentrations: All of the babies had detectable levels, and 80 percent were carrying seven or more different variations of the chemicals. “We found that mothers’ reported use of infant lotion, infant powder, and shampoo was significantly associated” with the amount of phthalates found in the babies’ urine, researchers tell the Los Angeles Times. Phthalates are used to hold in fragrance and color, but they’re not listed as ingredients on labels, so it’s impossible to tell which cosmetics contain them.”
Posted by Jenn Purdy, CLD
Link: http://www.ican-online.org/advocacy/ican-responds
ICAN’s Response to ACOG AND AABC Statements on VBAC and Homebirth
Redondo Beach, CA, February 7, 2008: The International Cesarean Awareness Network (www.ican-online.org) would like to publicly condemn both the AABC (American Association of Birth Centers) and the ACOG (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) for their statements* this week that limit not only women’s choices in birth but imply that birth is a fashion trend rather than a safety concern.
Since VBAC is the biological normal outcome of a pregnancy after cesarean, ICAN encourages women to get all of the facts about vaginal birth and elective repeat cesarean before making a choice. This decision should not include weighing the choices of your doctor’s malpractice payments but only be a concern of the mother, her baby and their health and safety.
Since some mothers will make the choice to give birth outside of the hospital, we encourage the AABC to not cave into ACOG’s demands that all women give birth in a hospital facility with a surgical specialist, but instead allow women to make their own choices about care providers, birth settings and risk factors. ICAN respects the intelligence of modern women and accepts that the amount of information available about VBAC and elective cesarean should serve as informed consent.
ICAN further encourages the governments of individual states to look closely at their cesarean rates (31.1% national cesarean rate as of 2006) and the informed consent laws that apply and help women to reach a standard of care that lowers the risks of major surgery and the risks of elective or coerced cesarean without medical indication. Women and children should not bear the brunt of malpractice risks being conveyed into physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health risks in order to protect their physicians.
Mission statement: ICAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean. There are more than 94 ICAN Chapters across North America, which hold educational and support meetings for people interested in cesarean prevention and recovery.
* AABC statement: http://www.birthcenters.org/files/file.php?id=2&file=file&file_type=file_type
ACOG statement: http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr02-06-08-2.cfm
Posted by Jenn Purdy, CLD
