Birth Stools and Squatting

Often times, when a woman mentions a “birth stool”, she is met with questions about such a contraption.   What is it? What does it look like? Can you buy them?  Does it WORK?

A birth stool is one of the most simple and effective tools for complementing the second stage of labor (pushing).   While most hospitals unfortunately don’t offer a birth stool, a similar position can be achieving using a squat bar, which is available at many hospitals.

Laboring on a toilet also engages a very comparable position to a squat bar or birth stool and can work wonders in relaxing the perineum and bringing down a baby.  In fact, according to Penny Simkin, “During squatting, the average pelvic outlet is 28% greater than in the supine position.”

Many laboring women find that squatting positions help them feel more grounded and powerful during the pushing stage and allow more control in delivery.   Also beneficial about this position is that a support person, or partner, can support the woman from the front or behind by having her lean on them.

Believe it or not, even women with epidurals can sometimes be well supported enough to get in a squat position with a squat bar.   These women need to have excellent movement in their legs and always be safely assisted on either side by members of her birth team.   While many care providers have never witnessed this scenario, it can be worth it to discuss the option with them prior to birth.

Read the below excerpt on the very interesting history of birth stools.   The full version of the article by Sheila Kitzinger is available by clicking here.

“Birth stools and chairs have a long history. The medieval birth stool was a horse-shoe or boomerang shaped slab of wood on legs, without a back and without arms. A woman could sit on it and move her pelvis freely. One of the god-sibs (women birth companions) sat behind her cradling against her body and moving with her. It was a familiar, comfortable posture since women were accustomed to sitting crouched on a low stool when milking a cow or goat and spinning or weaving.

Another version, dating from the sixteenth century, was elongated so that a woman could sit behind the mother on the stool, supporting her with her body. Later solid backs were added to birth stools, and subsequently hand grips.

The birth stool is a development of birth bricks as they were used in Egypt, Persia and India and also of lap-sitting. The latter was common in Africa, Europe and South America. In the early nineteenth century a German carpenter devised a birth stool with a back to it after his wife told other pregnant women in her neighborhood how easy it had been giving birth sitting between her husband’s thighs. As a result women called on him to attend them when they were in labor. He became very popular in the town, to such a degree that he constructed a birth stool to take his place.”

Do you have photos of you or your clients using a birth stool or squat bar that you’d like to share? If so, post and/or comment below!

We ♥ These Companies!

There is a whole lotta ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ floating around the AZBN these days!

The AZBN has been thrilled this year by the generous donations of fantastic companies.    We are so grateful to the following businesses for their support of our efforts!  Check out this partial list (partial because more donations are coming) of both local and global companies that have donated prizes you’ll be seeing at our upcoming events as well as on our monthly blog giveaways…

Stay posted for our next blog giveaway in April!

• aden + anais
• ErgoBaby
• BeBe au Lait
• Boiron Homeopathics
• Bummi’s Diapers
• Boppy
• Earth Mama Angel Baby
• Prince Lionheart
• gDiapers
• Boba Organic Carrier
• Hotslings
• Boon
• BabyJewlz
• TummyTub
• Kristen’s Raw
• ChakraMandalas.net
• Tummy 2 Tummy
• Preggie Pops
• Dr. Brown’s
• Baby Bliss/Mommy Bliss
• “We’re Having a Home Birth” book
• Andrea Trotter Photography
• My Best Birth/Business of Being Born
• LaborLooks
• Changing Hands Bookstore
• Chelsea’s Kitchen
• Your Perinatal Partner
• Naturel Baby
• EcoClean
• Agape Birth Services/Crocheted Items
• Inspired by Finn
• Tranquility Birth Services
• Valley Childbirth Services
• Nikki Ausdemore/Placenta Services

Easing Labor Through Comfort Measures

A comfy toilet seat.  A hand fan.  A beautiful, soft nightgown.  A heated rice sock.

Last year, when we polled the AZBN community on their favorite “comfort measures” for labor and birth, those were some of the ideas that we received.   A comfort measure is an indispensible tool, coping technique, environment, support person(s), or method for relaxation that helps a woman move more confidently and comfortably through the stages of labor.   It is often assumed that only women who plan natural births need to identify comfort measures that may help them.  This couldn’t be further from the truth!

Even women who choose pain relief at any given point in their labor will likely experience some of the physical sensations of labor;  the tightening of contractions, the cervical twinges that come from a cervix dilating, nausea, an ache in their back,  or even exhaustion.    Comfort measures not only can relieve pain and discomfort but can help a birthing woman calm her fears, heighten her sense of awareness and understanding, or allow her to rest more peacefully between contractions.  Studies show that a women who is able to have less fear during labor relaxes her muscles more fully, thus feeling less physical pain than a woman who is scared or fearful (the “Fear Tension Pain Cycle”).   Women who birth via Cesarean can also benefit from many of these comfort measures to help them relax during the birth as well as be more aware, and heal faster,  during recovery.

What YOU said:  Here were the top five favorite items or rituals  that you prepared or used to enhance your birth experience.

Hospital Birth – Top 5

1. Comfort Items (pillows, blankets, robe/nightgown)
2. Yummy Snacks
3. Hydration Drinks
4. Toiletries
5. Camera and batteries

Home Birth – Top 5

1. Environmental Comforts (Music, oils, candles, altar)
2. These all tied for second:  Birth Tub, Food and Drink, Support People (Partners, Midwives, Doulas, Family)
3. Comfort Items (rice sock, bendy straws, ice, breath mints, hand fan, homeopathics)
4. Birth Ball
5. Comfortable Clothing (beautiful robe/nightgown, mesh underwear)

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Click here to read an informative article on “30 Comfort Measures to Ease Labor Pain”.  Print it out and pack it in your birth bag, tape it to your fridge, or share it with a friend who is pregnant!

An excerpt from the article is below:

“What are the benefits of using comfort measures?

Basically, there are three ways of handling labor pain: comfort measures, narcotics (opiates) and regional analgesia, which consists of epidurals, intrathecal or spinal injections, and their combinations. Comfort measures are about as effective as narcotics at making labor tolerable. However, narcotics can potentially have adverse effects on you and your baby. And regional analgesia, while offering superior pain relief, can cause a host of problems not only for you and your baby, but for the labor as well.”

Comfort measures:

• do not inhibit labor and in many cases, can enhance labor progress

• promote a sense of mastery

• facilitate endorphin production

• enable you to postpone the use of pain medication

• can instantly be stopped if it doesn’t help or in the unlikely event that it causes trouble

Tell us again, what were your favorite comfort measures for labor and birth?

Birth Network Barter Program Ends March 31st

Our Birth Network Barter Program has been well-received in the community by folks just like you:  mamas, health and wellness providers, and passionate supporters of the birth and parenting community.

To get in on the final days of the innovative program, click here to view more information on how to sign up.   Memberships exchanged through the Birth Network Barter Program will be accepted through Wednesday, March 31st.

We Welcome Our Newest Valued Birth Network Barter Members:

• Sara Dalton - Business membership for Agape Birth
• Nikki Ausdemore – Corporate membership for The Placenta Lady
• Noelia Waldo – Corporate membership for Tranquility Birth Services
• Andrea Trotter – Business membership for Andrea Trotter.com (art and photography)
• Diane Targovnik - Corporate membership for editorial support and contract attorney work
• Tammy Rocker – Corporate membership for Your Perinatal Partner
  
• Jenny David – Corporate membership for Valley Child Birth Services
• Jen Bass – Personal membership
  

If you don’t feel you can barter goods or services, there’s never been a better time to join as an AZBN member in the classic way.  Personal memberships start at $25 and include our Network Perks Program, discounted tickets to all of our events, and exclusive member giveaways and gifts.

Join today to start receiving discounts with 19 local businesses and artists and to receive a FREE gift at our Family Picnic on April 24th.

We’d love to have you as part of our important member family and appreciate the invaluable support our members provide to the local community.

The “T” Word

Tearing.

Next to the pain or discomfort of childbirth, tearing is usually high on the list of top fears for women embarking on a birth journey.    Among circles of women, stories are often shared about if they “tore or not”, to what “degree”, and what they may have done to prevent tearing.

Midwife Pamela Hines-Powell shares wisdom, myths, and experiences about perineal tearing in her online article from Midwifery Today titled “Honoring Body Wisdom”.

An excerpt is below:

“Sara Wickham, a UK midwife who has mentored me through her writings about birth, asks the question: Who or what are we protecting the perineum from?

Good question. Are we really so sure that we prevent tears?

What is the idea behind “saving” the perineum? How many times have we heard midwives boast “over an intact perineum” as if they were the determining factor in whether or not a woman tore?

Over the past few years in my practice, I have begun to have a different take on this issue: that there are very few things I personally can do to really prevent tearing in a client, but there are a whole host of situations and instances where I could actually create an environment for perineal tearing.

Here are a few reasons why I believe this to be true…”

Dads Advocate for Doulas

Doulas often get asked by Dads-to-Be, with a raised eyebrow, “What is your role?”.   Digging deeper, a Dad usually reveals concerns such as “Will I be left out of this experience?  Will I have an important role? Will the doula take over?”.

The truth is, a doula’s role is whatever a client and her partner want it to be.  It is often very fluid, shifting with the course of labor and birth to fit the needs of the birthing woman and her partner.   But, unless specifically requested or communicated, a doula’s role is not meant to replace that of the partner.  It should instead enhance the role and free up the space for the partner to be more involved and more in-tune with a woman in labor.

Click here to read an informative and honest article, written by a Dad, about his personal journey to hiring a doula.

Dads and partners:  Share with us your doula experience!

An excerpt from the article is below:

“When my wife told me that she wanted a doula, I was hurt. I truly thought with our first baby that I’d be able to be the end all be all for my wife. She showed me the research. She let me meet some of the doulas. I still wasn’t convinced that it would be the right choice for us. I subscribed to the “If you weren’t at the conception, you shouldn’t be at the birth rule.” My wife wound up vetoing me. Here are the reasons I’m glad that she did.”

• A doula can spell you
• A doula remembers what she learned in childbirth class
• A doula knows the questions to ask
• A doula speaks the language of labor
• A doula keeps you calm

Online Birth Videos

With the instant and easy accessibility of real and personal birth videos online, there is now no excuse for anyone to say they haven’t seen a video of a birth!

Every manner, setting, and type of birth can be found on the internet via You Tube and other websites:  unmedicated hospital births, home births, VBAC births, Cesarean’s, Breech birth, multiples births, medicated births, birth center births, and unassisted births.

Have a favorite video link?  Submit it in the comments below to share with the rest of our readers.

Links to Birth Videos

• For a comprehensive list of  natural birth videos, categorized by type of birth (including graphic), visit the Giving Birth Naturally website.
• Here are two very brief (and kid-friendly!) animations of child birth that can be simple and powerful tools for childbirth education and understanding of the birth process.

• And for your viewing pleasure, a powerful photo montage of mama’s that used the HypnoBabies method for birthing.

Meet the Doula Night – 3/26

Passing along information on a fantastic opportunity to meet local doulas and network with members of the birth community.   This event is hosted by Amanda Jaramilo of Heaven Sent Doulas.

Amanda of Heaven Sent Doula Services

Please join us for another “Meet The Doulas Night”. If you are pregnant and thinking about hiring a doula this is a perfect opportunity to meet and interview several local doulas all at once. This event is free and open to the public.

Yummy Paradise Bakery sandwiches and cookies will be served! Don’t miss out!

Where: Paradise Bakery at Gainey Village
8777 N. Scottsdale Rd.,Scottsdale, AZ, 85253
When: Friday, March 26th, 6pm-8pm

What is a doula?
The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.

If you have any further questions please contact Amanda Jaramilo at amanda@heavensentdouals.com.

Blog Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to the following winners of our first blog giveaway!

Winners have been contacted with details of their prizes.

Thank you to everyone who subscribed to our blog – we love our readers!  We will continue to have periodic giveaways, so stay tuned…

A special shout out to Inspired by Finn for their generous donation of an amber necklace.  Remember: AZBN members receive 20% off their gorgeous amber creations!

TWO winners of a $25 AZBN Personal Membership (the first part of their email address):

***krisindp***

***shellak26***

Winner of an amber necklace, courtesy of our Network Perks partner, Inspired by Finn:

***daraluz10***

Recipes – Labor Cookie and Postpartum Depression Brew

Just for a fun, here’s a few recipes that were published in our Winter 2009 “Arizona Birth Connection” newsletter.   Be on the lookout for our next newsletter, due to publish this Spring!

Labor Cookies

These cookies are purported to help labor start (always consult your care provider before considering any natural “induction” of labor).

2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
8 T. butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. molasses
1/4 c. egg whites

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda and spices and set aside. Cream the butter and sugars together. Add the molasses to the creamed butter, then add the egg whites until combined. Add the dry ingredients slowly. Once incorporated, roll dough into 1 inch balls and place onto baking tray. Bake 8‐10 minutes. Once cool eat as many as you can possibly stomach, lay down for a nap and wait for labor to begin!

Herbal Wisdom: Postpartum Depression Brew
From “Wise Woman Herbal: Childbearing Year” by Susan Weed

1/2 oz. dried, shredded Licorice root
1 oz. dried, crumbled Raspberry leaf
1 oz. dried, finely cut Rosemary leaves
1 oz. dried, cut Skullcap

Mix the dried herbs thoroughly together. Use two teaspoons per cup of boiling water to prepare this strongly scented and interesting tasting tea. The usual dose is two or more cups daily for several weeks to two months. Licorice favorably affects the hormonal balance and cheers the spirit. Raspberry leaf tones the uterus and ovaries and increases available calcium. Rosemary increases the milk flow, adds calcium, tones the liver, and is a favorite for depression. Skullcap is also a source of calcium and is a superb nerve strengthener and soother; prolonged use establishes emotional calm.

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One of our Network Perks partners, Althea, crafts an herbal line of teas called “Mother’s Life Teas”.  Both blends that Althea creates and sells decrease postpartum depression and increase energy levels due to many essential nutrients in the herbs.  AZBN members receive 10% off an order of 1 lb or more.