Breech, Naturally.

I'm studying breech birth right now, and the various perspectives (both opinions and evidence-based research) that are out there.  Health A to Z presents a very negative perspective on breech, while OBGYN.net presents a relatively balanced medical overview of breech protocol.  I enjoyed reading Breech Baby - What Are Your Choices? by the NHS Trust.  When baby Haleh was in a breech position at around 24 weeks, and continued to flip back and forth for many weeks afterwards, I panicked a bit, but really enjoyed the information on Spinning Babies.  (She ended up staying vertex well ahead of her arrival!) 

Here's a video of a twin birth, with the second baby breech.  I love the peaceful atmosphere and the mother's strength and calm.  The three-way cuddle is wonderful! 

And heres a breech HBAC.  I think she's fantastic for staying home even with a surprise breech!  

Is this really necessary?!

I'm kind of a purist when it comes to breastfeeding.  Evidence highly favors breastfeeding as the most nutritious and healthful option for baby, and with a plethora of benefits for mama too.  

Nursing my baby is one of the most wonderful things in my life, and its a stretch for me to comprehend why there are women (and men) who think that nursing a baby is inconvenient, old-fashioned, or inappropriate.

Here's a couple of products that I find irritating....  

You thought the fake breast in Meet The Fockers was a joke?  Think again!  Check out  Dindle Bee.

It infuriates me that this product ad uses displays of shock and disgust at the sight of a nursing mother and baby.  Watch the promotional vid for Private Dining .

Ten reasons I love birth

(thanks to doulasurround for creating this birthy wordle!)

Because it is unpredictable

Because it is edgy and freaks most people out 

Because every person in the world has experienced it at least once

Because it is mysterious

Because it means that much hard work is complete

Because it can feel good

Because it points to Intelligent design

Because it is raw and powerful

Because no two are alike

Because it allows women who feel ordinary to become extraordinary

In your face, Freud....

Another and less well known European doctor born in the 19th century named Grantly Dick-Read had some ideas about women that were pretty radical for his time. He's my kind of feminist:

"Too many never know the deep glory of a woman's pride as the hungry child ceases its demanding whimper and draws the ready nipple to itself and snuggles in the soft, satisfying security of its mother's breast. Is this sensuous, sentimental, or scientific? I hope its all three intensely and uninhibited - for if there is one things I have ever envied woman, it is that perfect peace and alienated happiness she demonstrates in her movement, breathing, and facial expression when her baby lies contented and semiconscious at her breast. Can our male science willingly disregard these female experiences because it can never share them?"
- from his book Childbirth Without Fear, 1942

I love this book! It is full of quote-worthiness. As I've said, nursing time is my reading time so I have to shut out the other noise of the household to learn from Dick-Read's brilliance, but so far it's well worth the effort.

Coincidentally, Freud argued that lack of oxygen during the birth process was not a cause of cerebral palsy, but Dick-Read claimed that meddlesome obstetric practices account for approximately 70 percent of cerebral palsy cases. It seems there is still disagreement about this, though most malpractice lawyers seem to agree with Dick-Read. (!)

I've missed birthy blogging!

Okay, so I was a bit off with the mid-July thing. But I've made it through three of my books, which equates to completing my doula reading list for CBI. Hooray for progress, and hooray for so many exciting new revelations about the thrilling world of birth. I have to say, I adored Ina May, but Dick-Read is a bit more difficult to plough through so I've put that book off for the time being. I'm sure it'll very worth reading, but currently I really only read while nursing whilst the other three bounce off the walls, and my focus is just a bit lacking. More on Ina May soon.

But for now, I leave you with these....

Psalm 22: 9-10
Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.
From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.

Ecclesiastes 11:5
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb,
So you cannot understand the work of God, The Maker of all things.

My treasure chest

Yippee! I now have all my manuals for the doula & cbe courses. Also the six birthy books I chose from the reading list are here. It looks like a box full of pure gold. I was thinking I might like to close myself in a room for a couple weeks and read it all...but then I thought I might miss my life and family too much. In reality- I'm going to take a couple more weeks off from blogging...but I'll be back mid-July full of hopefully insightful things to say about the wise birthing wisdom of Grantly Dick-Read and Ina May Gaskin.

Jo's Birthday Eve

My sweet Josiah, tomorrow you will be five years old. Five years ago today, around 1 in the afternoon, I began having mild contractions. I paced like a tigress round our apartment, spurring labor on, as Daddy cooked me my favorite protein source, calamari. I stopped to relax and lean during each contraction, enjoying the first powerful sensations of labor. As afternoon turned into evening, Daddy and I went out to rent some movies. We knew active labor had begun when I began squatting in the aisles of the video shop! Suddenly I just wanted to be at home where I could focus. We called our midwife from home to see if she could stop by soon to check on me. She arrived around 8pm, and found me to be 9 centimeters dilated! I couldn't believe you would be in our arms very soon. I wished that I could stay in my comfy bean bag, but we headed out to the hospital instead, since that was our plan for your birth.

Five years ago today, I still had a few tough hours of labor ahead of me. You were a very big baby at 10 lb 6 oz, and took a few hours to work your way down.

Five years ago tomorrow, at 2:03 am on June 15th, surrounded by your Daddy's love, supported by a midwife and doula/nurse, I gave a final push, and out you spun. Your cord was the most beautiful brilliant blue I have ever seen. You had a little button nose, lots of thick black hair, and a broad chest like Daddy's.

Oh, you were perfect, our first baby, a son!

Josiah Michael, Happy Birthday Eve.