Archive for May, 2010
Reminder: Naturel Baby/EcoClean Open House Tomorrow!
Don’t forget to visit the Natural Baby and EcoClean Open House tomorrow, Saturday, May 29th from 10am – 4:00pm!
Stop by these fantastic, eco-friendly local businesses to stock up on organic baby clothing and accessories and environmentally-friendly household supplies.
- Natural Baby store will be offering a fabulous 20% discount on almost everything in the store!
- EcoClean will be offering a 10% discount all products.
- DOOR PRIZES and organic refreshments will also be available to all attendees
- Check out the $10 bargain table and gather some great literature on living eco-friendly and toxic-free
New Midwives for Phoenix!
The AZBN is pleased to announce that two new Phoenix-area home birth midwives have been licensed!
To contact Mani Canaday, visit her website here.
To contact Joanna Wilder, email her at embracing-birth@earthlink.net.
Our community is so lucky to have these passionate and knowledgeable midwives to support women during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. For more information on midwives and their model of care, visit this post.
Birth Connection Newsletter Feature: Hypnobabies
The Spring edition of our newsletter, Arizona Birth Connection, was published last month. Pick up your copy at our next birth circle (members will be mailed their copy)!
This edition features useful and intriguing resources on a variety of pregnancy and birth-related topics,written by local community members, and includes the following articles:
- Benefits of homeopathy
- The Bradley Method
- Placenta encapsulation
- Hypnobabies
- Q&A with home birth midwife Shell Walker
- Raw pregnancy diet
- Birth story by Tatiana Indrisek
To submit an article for the summer edition, or to advertise in our newsletter, please contact us at abnmembership@gmail.com.
We will be featuring these articles periodically on our blog and are pleased to highlight our our second one today, by valued AZBN Member Noelia Waldo.
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Hypnobabies®- The “Eyes Open” Childbirth Hypnosis Experience
By Noelia Waldo
Amy is forty-one weeks pregnant with her first baby, and early one morning she begins to have signs of early labor. She lets her midwife know, and calmly goes about her day as usual. As the day unfolds Amy begins to feel powerful birthing sensations, a feeling she has never felt before. After some time goes by, she decides to call her midwife and asks her to head on over. The midwife arrives to find Amy resting comfortably in her birth pool, surrounded by family. The midwife thinks to herself, “We’re going to be here for a while.” An hour later Amy decides she would like to have her cervix checked and the midwife hopes she is at least 3 cm dilated. The midwife finds that Amy is not 3 cm dilated, she is 8 cm dilated. Amy’s reaction is a tranquil smile and a quiet, “Yay.” Two hours later she begins to gently push her baby into the world, calmly, peacefully, and with complete control. When her 10lb baby girl is born she joyfully exclaims, “I did it! That wasn’t bad at all!”
Amy is just one of a growing number of women choosing to use Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis for the births of their babies.
Hypnosis for childbirth?
“But I don’t want to quack like a duck when I’m birthing my baby!” Many people think hypnosis is like the stage hypnosis shows they’ve seen where people seem to be unable to control themselves, act goofy, and provide entertainment for the audience. In reality, hypnosis is very simply a natural state of mind in which the body and mind are extremely relaxed and yet the mind is also highly aware and focused. We are all in states of hypnosis many times a day automatically, so hypnosis is a very normal state of being. Watching TV or movies, driving a car, waking up and going to sleep, and daydreaming are just some examples of when we are in hypnosis in our everyday lives. It is not a form of “mind control.” In fact, you can choose to accept or reject any suggestion given to you while you are in hypnosis. You are in complete control.
Did you know?
There are people that have life-threatening allergies to anesthetics who successfully undergo medical and dental surgery with hypnosis as their only anesthesia! Hypnosis alone has been widely and successfully used within the medical community for pain relief and hypno-anesthesia.
Hypnobabies is a six-week complete childbirth preparation course that teaches the same medical hypnosis techniques used by people who undergo surgery with hypnosis as their only anesthesia. Couples will learn about the stages of birth, prenatal nutrition and exercise, options for birthing, positions for labor and birth, what hypnosis is and how it works, powerful “Eyes Open” childbirth hypnosis, and much more. Mothers are awake and aware, can move about freely, still very relaxed, still very deeply in hypnosis, and still comfortable while giving birth.
“My son’s birth was the most powerful experience of my life and I’m thankful I was able to experience it fully, naturally, and without medical interventions. The Hypnobabies training gave me the confidence to trust in my body’s wisdom and let go of my fears about pregnancy and birth. I’m grateful to Hypnobabies and will be using the program again if I have another child.”- Joy F., Phoenix, AZ.
Hypnobabies does not just teach the mother to enter hypnosis on her own, but also teaches the fathers, or birth partners, to assist the mother in entering hypnosis and deepen it powerfully when she needs it. The Birth Partner also receives their own special hypnosis CD to help them remain calm and confident during the birth of their baby.
If you would like to learn more about Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis please visit www.TranquilityBirth.com or call Noelia Waldo at 480-295-0895.
Noelia is a wife and mother of three amazing kids and one on the way; her last baby was born at home using Hypnobabies®. She is a DONA certified doula and Hypnobabies® Instructor and has been attending births since 2004.
NOMINATE! Family-Centered Caregiver Recognition Award
Do you ♥ a Midwife, OB, Nurse, Doula, Family Doctor or ANY other birth professional?
Do they respect and empower women, while treating birth as a normal and healthy process*?
Then NOMINATE them TODAY for the AZBN Family-Centered Caregiver Recognition Award!
[you could WIN a prize just for nominating!]
Our Family-Centered Caregiver Recognition Project serves to honor and celebrate Arizona birth professionals who provide exemplary care, as defined by The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services*. These individuals base their practice on a philosophy of care that is family focused, mother-friendly and evidence-based. They work to improve the conditions under which women labor and birth, and actively discourage, or work to change practices that are not in the best interest of mothers, babies and families.
Former winners include:
Marinah Valenzuela Farrell, CPM, LM
Freedom & The Seed Homebirth Midwifery
480.528.1689
Dr. Nichelle Whitehead, MD, FACOG
2035 N 3rd St Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-288-0777
Lynette Casey, CNM
Bethany Women’s Health Care
602-973-3200
Details of the Nomination and Award
- Nominations are due by 8/18/10 via this web link nomination form.
- Please be prepared to provide us with your contact information as well as the contact information for the person(s) you are nominating.
- Please be prepared to answer 3 brief questions about why your nominee is deserving of this award.
- Nominees will be selected based on review by the AZBN Board of Directors by October 2010.
- All nominees will receive notification of their nomination, and caregivers chosen for the award will receive a framed certificate and will be recognized in the Arizona Birth Network Newsletter, at our “Birth Blooms in the Desert” Conference, and on our website/blog.
- As a THANK YOU: We will also select 3 nominators (that’s YOU) at random for super-cool raffle prizes!
The principles underlying the CIMS model of maternity care are: *
- Normalcy: treat birth as a natural, healthy process.
- Empowerment: provide the birthing woman and her family supportive, sensitive and respectful care.
- Autonomy: enable women to make decisions based on accurate information and provide access to the full range of options for care.
- Do No Harm: avoid the routine use of tests, procedures, drugs, and restrictions.
- Responsibility: give evidence-based care used solely for the needs and in the interests of mothers and infants.
Who is eligible for nomination?
Any professional directly providing care to pregnant or birthing women/families in Arizona, or who otherwise has impact on their care and/or experience (through volunteer work, policy change, etc) is eligible for this award.
This includes, but is not necessarily limited to:
- Obstetricians, Family Doctors, Naturopathic Doctors
- Certified Nurse Midwives, Licensed Midwives, Lay Midwives
- Labor and Delivery Nurses, Post-Partum Nurses, NICU Doctors/Nurses
- Lactation Consultants, Birth & Post-Partum Doulas, Birth Activists
- Childbirth Educators, Hospital Administrators, Volunteers
Please Note: Members of the AZBN Board of Directors and Permanent Committees are not eligible for nomination.
*This information was taken with permission from: Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS).
7th Annual Black Midwives & Healers Conference
International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC) presents:
7th Annual Black Midwives & Healers Conference
“Weaving the Cultural Traditions of Midwifery”
October 7-10, 2010
Long Beach, CA
The AZBN is passing along information on an important conference coming up in October with the International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC). This conference looks to be jam-packed with important seminars and Erykah Badu as guest speaker. Please take a few minutes to visit their informative and resourceful website.
The International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC) was founded in 1991 with the goal of educating Black women to become midwives, doulas, and healers in response to the needs of Black families for better birth outcomes, increased breastfeeding rates and support of healthy parenting. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, ICTC has members and chapters forming globally. As a result, the first Black Midwives & Healers Conference came into fruition in 2002.
This year’s conference theme is, “Weaving the Cultural Traditions of Midwifery” offering cultural traditions that midwives can embrace to reduce health inequities in the Black community and to reduce infant morbidity and mortality. Our banquet keynote speaker is Grammy Award winner, Erykah Badu, who will discuss the benefits of natural birth and breastfeeding .
ICTC recognizes that evidenced-based research is critical to understanding and reducing infant morbidity and mortality. ICTC creates programs, conversations and trainings to increase better birth outcomes and breastfeeding rates in the Black community. If you are interested in being a conference co-sponsor or sponsor, contact Brooke@ictcmidwivdes.org. To learn more about ICTC and its conference please visit www.ictcmidwives.org. You can also contact Tia Thompson, ICTC AZ State Rep, to about membership.
May Blog Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to our most recent Blog Giveaway Winners:
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Karin Tulloch – winner of the book “Momma Zen” by Karen Maezen Miller
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Krystle Porter – winner of a gift pack of Baby’s Bliss/Mother’s Bliss products
Here is how Karin and Krystle the question “What mothering moment (either as a mother, or as you think about your own mother) has defined you?”
“I had no idea being a mom would be such a physical job, until I became one. My son (22 mos) was recenly in the hospital for pneumonia. T he poor kid was hooked up to all kinds of tubes, wires, etc and so beyond frustrated that even changing his PJs was an ordeal (more than normal). When it came to any kind of procedure, the only way to get the job done was for me to climb into the hospital crib with him (a big no-no according to the charge nurse) and wrap my body around his while they adjusted, cleaned, poked, etc. It was exhausting for all involved. Thank goodness for the snuggle time – he only wanted to sleep ON us during the day. I haven’t held him so much in 3 days since he was an infant! This was all a reminder that I am strong and I will do whatever I have to do to take care of my baby.”
“I can’t say that there has been just one moment that has defined me as a mother. There would be too many to pinpoint just one. Every day there are sweet times when I look at my little girl & just melt- I think it’s about loving your little person so much, that it doesn’t matter to you if you’ve had a shower that day, food is all over your shirt, you have forgotten to eat because you are just too busy, or times when you are so frustrated. It turns into pure mush because your child gives you a sweet smile or kiss. So, rather than a defining moment, I’d say it’s more about all of the moments that keep you going and loving the way you do.“
Thank you all for participating! Subscribe to our blogs, or become and AZBN member, and never miss out on a chance to WIN in our monthly blog giveaways!
Many thanks to Karen Maezen Miller and Baby Bliss for the generous donations of their products.
Naturel Baby/EcoClean Open House – 5/29
Mark Your Calendars!
Prizes, Discounts, and Refreshments!
Two of our Network Perks partners, Natural Baby and EcoClean, are hosting an Open House gathering on Saturday, May 29th from 10:00 am to 4:00 PM. These sister stores are located next door to each other.
Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to save BIG on unique and healthy merchandise for your little ones and your home! Remember: Both of these stores ALWAYS offer 10% off to our AZBN members. 
- Natural Baby store will be offering a fabulous 20% discount on almost everything in the store!
- EcoClean will be offering a 10% discount all products.
- DOOR PRIZES and organic refreshments will also be available to all attendees
- Check out the $10 bargain table and gather some great literature on living eco-friendly and toxic-free
More About These Stores: Live Local, Buy Local, Support Local!
Birth Story: Jase Samson Ledner
We wish all of the mothers, and mothers-to-be, a beautiful and peaceful Mother’s Day! Don’t forget to enter our blog giveaway, which ends Monday, May 10th.
In honor of this special holiday, are posting another powerful birth story. We hope you enjoy the story of Jase Samson Ledner’s birth. Welcome to the world, Jase!
Submitted by BreAnna Ledner
Pre/Early labor:
I woke up Saturday morning. In seeing that I lost my plug I also started noticing lower abdomen wave-like surges. There was also pressure in my pelvis so I knew something was happening. The surges were lasting 1 minute long and coming every ten minutes like clockwork. They did not hurt nor were they uncomfortable, but exhilarating. I called my midwife to tell her that something was happening but I was in pre-labor and still in a happy and chipper mood.
We tried to go about our day as normal. My husband, 3 children, and mother in law were home with me. Every ten minutes I would feel the sensation and my husband would come over and we would slow dance, laugh, even kiss our way through them. I asked him not to shower as his scent brought me comfort.
This went on for about 4 hours and I was still in a happy cheerful mood. Then we decided to go for a beautiful walk and on the way looked at a garage sale. I did feel more surges as we walked and Griffin would just hold me until they were over. When we got back, I slept for a good hour and at 11:20ish my water broke and woke me up. I have never had my water break by itself, (with Liam it did while I was pushing) and it was exciting. I called our midwife and told her and she said she would be there in about an hour. Still in a great, chipper mood I asked Griffin if he would start filling my tub.
Active labor:
Griffin is trying to set up the hose for our pool. The knob to turn the water off is broken and you have to turn it with a wrench, which we couldn’t find. So he used another tool and it ended up bumping off the hose with the hot water on and spraying everything in the laundry room, including him! As he’s fixing this, I go into hard active labor, just 10 minutes after getting off the phone with our midwife.
Still in denial that this is truly it, I told Griffin not to call our midwife back that she was on her way already and the look he gave me was priceless, as he said “oooooh I’m gonna call her.”
But indeed they got harder and stronger right after he got off the phone with her. I needed Griffin to hold me, to help me sway, and to be my support but water was still spraying in the laundry room everywhere! He would run to me then run back to try and stop the water. This went on for maybe four or six surges, and then he finally got the water turned off.
As all this is happening, Griffin’s mother (God bless her heart) is filling anything she could get her hands on, like pitchers and pots, and is attempting to fill my tub that way. I see her going back and forth from my pool to the sink (which was maybe 10ft away) back and forth while Griffin was swaying with me, slow dancing, and soaking wet.
It was a peaceful atmosphere once the water problem was solved. The soft music playing, candles lit around me, and my husband being the best thing I could ask for. Even though my pool wasn’t close to being full I still desired to labor in it. The thing that I found most relaxing was when Griffin would pour water on my back with the hose while rubbing my back. He was saying the most encouraging things that I still replay in my head when I think of this birth: ”You were created for this”, “This is completely normal process”, “Just get through this one”, “God made you strong” and “I’m so proud of you, honey”. He was so amazing because he knew exactly what I needed to hear at that time. Having my husband there as my main support was incredible and made our relationship stronger. He was my rock and being there made me stronger, too.
Transition:
It was not long after I got in my pool that that I began to feel the urge to push on my own. At first it was subtle which made me look forward to the next surge to see if my intuition was correct. With each surge, the urge to push came stronger and I found it releasing to push against them and work with my contractions. At one point, my husband said to me “Honey if you feel like pushing then go for it” to which I replied “What do you think I’ve been doing?!”
I reached down and could feel that my baby was still a good inch in. I knew just a couple pushes and he would be here. That’s when our midwife’s assistant came through the door. He was at a +3 station (or a knuckle in) and with one push he started crowning. With two more pushes and his head was out.
Baby Jase
At this time all three children came in as well and all three were in awe. I saw Lilly with the biggest smile on her face. Liam and Beth were just standing there in awe as well. They were quiet and just sat there and watched their brother being born. Seeing them there was one of the many highlights and I am so pleased that they got to see it and be there to share it with Griffin and I.
Jase Samson was peacefully born at 12:50pm. My labor lasted just minutes over an hour. My midwife was coming from Queen Creek which is a good 45 min + away and she came in right after he was born. Jase looked perfect and healthy and everything after the birth couldn’t have gone better! I couldn’t believe I just had a baby because I felt amazing. Jase started nursing wonderfully and we’re just enjoying our newest addition to this tribe.
Looking back it was a truly amazing empowering experience! And yes we will do it again 
Jase was 8lbs 3oz, he was 20 inches long, and he is named after my father Jason. His middle name (Samson) is after a man in the Old Testament who God gave great strength to.
Thank you for everyone’s support and encouragement especially the East Valley & Queen Creek birth circle! It has meant a lot to us!
The Ledners
AZBN Family Picnic a Success
Thank you to all of our community members, and AZBN members, who showed up on this gorgeous day to share great times, great food, and swap clothing & toys! As a result of your good citizenship, we donated two boxes of canned food to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, as well as half a truck-load of maternity and baby items to Maggie’s Place.
[To view and order photos of event]
To view and purchase photos of this event (some beautiful photos of families and babies!), please check out photographer Andrea Trotter’s link by clicking HERE. Andrea is a valued AZBN business member and a lovely, giving spirit. She will donate half of the proceeds of the photo orders to the Arizona Birth Network!
If you are in need of documentary-style photographs that will creatively capture your family, baby, belly, event, or pets, check out Andrea’s website HERE.
We also had a grand time giving away some super cool prizes. Below is a list of our Picnic raffle prize winners. Congratulations!
Click to Enlarge. All photos courtesy of Andrea Trotter.
- AZBN Member Giveaway (2 “Orgasmic Birth” DVD’s): Krystal Tellier, ND & Sarah Currier
- Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover Set - Julianne Ferguson
- aden + anais Swaddle Gift Set – Emily Pettee
- Hotslings Baby Carrier – Jenny Dubisar-Brost
- BabyJewlz bracelet – Julianne Ferguson
- Boon Frog Pod - LuAnne Macy (AZBN member)
- Massage by Sara Tessitore – Jenny David (AZBN Member) & Amanda Ramsey
- Pregnancy and Newborn CD’s by Sound Beginnings – Rachel Davis (AZBN Member)
- Rose Day Belly Cast Gift Certificate (AZBN Member) – Amanda Jamarillo
- Massage by Your Perinatal Partner (AZBN Member Tammy Roecker) – Jenny Dubisar-Brost
- Andrea Trotter Photography Gift Certificate (AZBN Member) – Wendi Beason (AZBN Member)
- Changing Hands Bookstore Gift Certificate – Wendi Cleckner, LM (AZBN Member)
- Boba Organic Carrier – Kelly Wise (AZBN Member)
- Laborlooks Gift Certificate (AZBN Member Brittani Hamilton, CNM) – LuAnne Macy (AZBN Member)
- Tummy 2 Tummy DVD’s – Jenny David (AZBN Member) + Sara Tessitore
- AZBN Chicobag – Julianna Ferguson
Thank you to ALL of our raffle prize sponsors. We appreciate you!
Can’t wait to see you all next year!
Check out the ChicoBag™ Fundraiser
The AZBN is selling a limited supply of ChicoBag™ Reuseable bags as a fundraiser. All of the proceeds benefit the AZBN and will be used toward our “Birth Blooms in the Desert” conference in October.
Do your part for the environment, while being stylish AND supporting the AZBN!
We have a variety of awesome styles and colors to choose from, including Original, Vita, Vitage, Karma, and Nature styles. We LOVE these bags, which come in especially handy for carrying a large quantity of heavy items such as canned goods with total ease!
(L-R): Karma, Vita (Middle): Nature (L-R): Original, Retro
ChicoBag™ delivers a wide array of reusable bags that are meant to deliver solutions to every lifestyle. Our commitment to the environment drives us to provide a trusted brand and a portfolio of quality products aimed at helping humanity solve the environmental challenges ahead. – from ChicoBag™ website
To Order:
- Click HERE to be taken to the ChicoBag™ section of the Supported Birth of Arizona’s website. Note: All proceeds benefit AZBN, but Supported Birth of AZ has generously allowed us to use their store site to sell these.
- You pay the same price that you would for retail (ordering online includes a nominal shipping fee).
- Browse, shop, add to your cart, and enjoy!
- You may also purchase the bags at our upcoming birth circle locations. Cash or check only, please.
