Beautiful Ray of sunshine

This is a link to a lovely birth I attended this August. It is the mama's story.

Thank you for sharing Carrie.

It has been a while since I've posted. Busy attending births and playing with my family. Soon we are leaving for a month long vacation (in October).

I would like to revive my blog w/ birth stories either written, in pics or video format.

Here is an article in today's Lawrence paper about homebirth. It is short and sweet. Thank you Chansi for a peek into the homebirth world of Lawrence.

http://www.lawrence.com/news/2011/sep/05/home-births-see-boost/

Welcome Dmitri

A family I have served has posted the video of their wonderful birth.
You can view it here.
Carrie has written commentary beneath the video describing her experience.
This is their first baby though it sure seems like they have done this before.
Thank you Carrie and Rich for sharing this video of your birth.

International Midwives' Day

Happy International Midwives' Day to all my sister midwives both near and far.
And thank you to all the families I have served, as well as my very own family, for being the loving people you are.

Instinctive Parenting Classes

Here is a link to information on classes being held this year.
http://herbsfromtheburbs.webs.com/

I will leading the birthing class, with an emphasis on instinctive birthing. There are many topics being covered year round. This is a great group of devoted parents and practitioners wanting to share and learn and gather.
Check it out!
Attend a class.
Offer what you can.

Dr. William Emerson and healing birth trauma

I attended a conference back in October that was absolutely wonderful. It was sponsored and put together by the Doulas of Greater Kansas City.
I was happily accompanied by my two comrades on this midwifery journey.
It was presented by Dr. William Emerson. It was refreshing and informative. He is a perinatal psychologist who guides the healing process from birth trauma. He uses energy and regression therapy prenatally, during labor and in the postpartum period. He works with the whole family. He is a pioneer in the baby healing realm. He works with prenates, newborns, babies and children. He is compassionate and loving. He is a healer.
I am always thrilled and reassured when I meet folks who believe in the intelligence, consciousness and feelings of babies inutero, who believe that babies are active participants in their own births and who treat prenates and newborns with love and respect.
Some of the gems I have stowed away from yesterday are:

• Interventions do not necessarily cause birth trauma if the intention of the one intervening is clear (to help mama and/or baby).
  
• There are other folks out there who remember parts or all of their own births.
• The uterus is a memory organ. (I think of the uterus as a portal to the cosmos)

• The shape and feel of the newborn's cranium can be a sign of birth trauma.

It was a joy to be with a group of folks wanting to make a difference in the world of birth. A lift to my spirit and my hope that we are making a difference. Please check out the work of Dr. Emerson and tell me what you think.

Birth film for papas and suctioning info

I found this link at Pamela Hines-Powell's blog.
Finally there is a resource out there for papas, The Other Side Of The Glass.
The link is a trailer for a film that will hopefully come out in 2009. It looks quite promising, especially if there are resources offered for healing birth trauma.

Babies are active participants in their birth. They are thinking, seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, feeling spiritual beings completely present in the here and now of their birth. To be in the presence of a newborn is holy. Especially when I sit back and observe.
Let the baby enter this world peacefully & gently, nestled close to mama and papa, attached to the placenta with the cord intact. While receiving the blood that is pulsing through the cord and skin to skin with mama and papa, the baby will have all he/she needs; warmth, breath and love.
If extra breath is needed, it can be given right there in mama's arms.

Routine suctioning is no longer recommended and hasn't been since 2005.
Here is a quote from the American Academy of Pediatrics journal:

Aspiration of meconium before delivery, during birth, or during resuscitation can cause severe aspiration pneumonia. One obstetrical technique to try to decrease aspiration has been to suction meconium from the infant's airway after delivery of the head but before delivery of the shoulders (intrapartum suctioning). Although some studies (LOE 3^15–17) suggested that intrapartum suctioning might be effective for decreasing the risk of aspiration syndrome, subsequent evidence from a large multicenter randomized trial (LOE 1)¹⁸did not show such an effect. Therefore, current recommendations no longer advise routine intrapartum oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal suctioning for infants born to mothers with meconium staining of amniotic fluid (Class I). Traditional teaching (LOE 5)^19–21recommended that meconium-stained infants have endotracheal intubation immediately following birth and that suction be applied to the endotracheal tube as it is withdrawn. Randomized, controlled trials (LOE 1)^15,22have shown that this practice offers no benefit if the infant is vigorous (Class I). A vigorous infant is defined as one who has strong respiratory efforts, good muscle tone, and a heart rate >100 beats per minute (bpm). Endotracheal suctioning for infants who are not vigorous should be performed immediately after birth (Class Indeterminate).

Here is a direct link to the Lancet article on suctioning.