Birth and all the things. A birth blog.
Be Informed
“ Education enhances the power and beauty of experience.”
Debasish Mridha MD
Be Empowered
“ We have a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful. It’s that women are strong.”
Laura Stavoe Harm
Be Supported
“ Whenever and however you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body, and your spirit for the rest of your life.”
Ina May Gaskin
I’m officially a certified BRM® pro
Body Ready Method is based on 5 pillars:
Upper Body Mobility
Core
Pelvis
Pelvic floor
Movement Patterns.
Incorporating these pillars into your movement during pregnancy can help
Have a more efficient birth
Minimize pregnancy aches and pains
Optimize recovery
Minimize unnecessary abdominal separation and pelvic floor dysfunction
Optimize pelvic floor responsiveness
Work smarter, not harder!
As a certified Body Ready Method® Pro...
I have a deep understanding of how to help you prepare for your desired birth.
I can help you address and minimize pregnancy-related aches and pains.
I can support you in experiencing a smooth transition into recovery and postpartum.
Natural Induction Methods: Eating dates in pregnancy
What’s the story with eating dates and inducing labor?
Dates are a fruit that have a sacred, traditional significance in the Muslim community and are included in medical recommendations during the perinatal period. Dates have high nutritional value including carbohydrates, B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Dates are said to be eaten in labor because of the high level of carbohydrates that help provide birthing people with the proper energy to labor. Dates are also thought to impact the oxytocin receptors and aiding the uterine muscle to have more efficient contractions.
Research found that if parents started eating dates (4 large medjool or 10 small) around 36 to 37 weeks that they demonstrated positive findings. These included a decreased amount of time in early labor, decreased parents were found to be induced or augmented in labor, less cases of postpartum hemorrhage, and higher Bishop scores on hospital admission. The data shows that the dates help ripen the cervix by making it softer, thinner, and start to potentially dilate a small amount. Lastly, there was research that demonstrated reduced pain in groups that consumed dates (Evidence Based Birth, 2020).
It is not recommended to consume dates if someone has any type of diabetes due to the potential of elevated blood sugar levels. If you have questions about this, refer to your provider.
For more information, you can listen to the podcast at Evidence Based Birth.
https://evidencebasedbirth.com/ebb-128-inducing-labor-with-castor-oil-and-dates/
If you like smoothies, throw your dates in with some other delicious ingredients to make it feel like a treat.
Peanut Balls
The use of peanut balls has been a labor intervention over the past several years. The purpose of use is to widen the pelvic diameter and allow the baby to descend into the pelvis. For birthing people that make the decision to use an epidural for pain management, using a birthing ball can create different positions to help the labor progress. Position changes are beneficial for many reasons… decreases pain, improves circulation to mom and baby,
Gravity is always important. But if you are laying in bed for a long period of time or looking for a change in positions, the birthing ball is awesome.
What is informed consent?
Informed consent is when your provider shares with you all the benefits, risks, and alternatives about your healthcare intervention options and that you understand what you are being told. This means that you should be an active participant in the decision-making process, you have the right to say yes/no to all decisions being made about your body, and that you should never feel forced into your care.
Remember to use B.R.A.I.N. when thinking over a medicalized decision or to ask more questions if you do not understand.
References
Shah P., Thornton I., Turrin D., Hipskind, J. E. (2022). Informed Consent. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430827/
Looking to add doula services to your baby shower registry?
Be Her Village is a website that allows parents to develop a registry for doula and childbirth educator services. Instead of lots of expensive baby items that barely get used, what parents need is real support with newborn care, chest and breastfeeding, cooking, cleaning, and sleeping. Create a registry for your pregnancy or give the best gift to a friend or family member, which is the gift of support.
Find us on the BeHerVillage registry under https://behervillage.com/partners/starsabovebirthservices
One Strong Mama Program
Working for over a decade as a labor and delivery nurse, I was always interested in learning more about positions that can encourage a vaginal birth. You would think that this was already a component of our training, however, we received none. What I learned about birth was from books and from an older generation of nurses.
I am so excited to be included in an amazing training called the Body Ready Method, where I learn about body mechanics, movement, alignment, and physiology connected with pregnancy and birth. I want my clients to have the best chance at a positive birth experience and birth outcome. This is the change that is needed in our culture of medicalized birth. Our bodies are made to do this, but sometimes we need a little help.
There is also a program called One Strong Mama, that provides exercises and stretches throughout pregnancy and postpartum. These are exercises to work the ligaments, fascia, and muscles that can impact the pelvis in labor and birth. I highly recommned this to anyone seeking a way to actively prepare for their birth. Some of what they offer:
The best of Pelvic Floor and Core training
Ideal baby positioning
Solutions for many pre + postnatal aches and pains
Core preparation to help protect from diastasis recti
Alignment guides
Skills to help you build key muscles for birth and recovery (and learn how to smoothly transition into postpartum life).
Join the thousands of families and pregnant people using the leading online program for pregnancy + beyond!
So what are you waiting for? Choose a program that’s right for you!