HealthyBabyNetwork.com is a network of sites that include helpful articles about pregnancy, birth and newborn care. We like to share products that are environmentally friendly and healthier alternatives for mom and baby.  We also offer many free downloads and . . . → Read More: Are You Having a Baby in 2012?]]>

Happy New Year! For all the new visitors to our sites, I just wanted to let you know a little more about us.

HealthyBabyNetwork.com is a network of sites that include helpful articles about pregnancy, birth and newborn care. We like to share products that are environmentally friendly and healthier alternatives for mom and baby.  We also offer many free downloads and services for women trying to conceive or those preparing for labor and delivery.

Our Ovulation Calendar is easy to use and will provide personalized monthly calendars to let you know when you are most fertile — giving you the best chance of conception.

Print out our Birth Plan and hospital bag checklist to make sure you have a good start on planning for the big day.

If your business is related to birth, eco-products for mom and baby or you have a blog or book that you feel would be of interest to our visitors, please contact us. We are happy to help those with a similar mission as ours — “Helping moms have the best birth experience possible“

Doulas are certified professionals who are . . . → Read More: Did You Hire a Doula For Birth Support?]]>

Doulas have been around for a long time but only recently have they become a regular part of the discussion in birthing classes and among friends looking for a unique type of support during birth.

Did you have the support of a doula
when you gave birth?
Please take a brief survey and share
your experience.

Considering Hiring a Doula?

Doulas are certified professionals who are well-trained in the birth process and how to support a woman during labor but they do not provide any medical or clinical care — they work with your doctor or midwife to support you in the birth you want.

According to DONA International a doula is “a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth.”

Having the support of a doula may result in a shorter labor with fewer complications. Studies suggest that babies are healthier at birth and they breastfeed more easily.

Interested in hiring  a doula? Visit www.dona.org to search a database of certified doulas in your area. Plan to interview several doulas since you will want to establish a trusting, open relationship. The birth of a baby is an intimate and life changing event so take your time in deciding who you feel most comfortable with.

Doulas can help at other times too

For families looking for support after baby arrives, a postpartum doula can support a family through this transition. The doula provides emotional and practical support once the baby is home  which has been shown to reduce postpartum mood disorders in new moms.

Antepartum doulas may provide  support in the weeks and months prior to giving birth. This can be especially helpful for women who are on bed rest or who are experiencing extreme pregnancy symptoms. The support doulas provide during that time may include helping with other children at home, taking care of small household tasks, offering emotional aid, and helping the mother prepare through childbirth education.

Sleep doulas are available to care for a newborn at night so that a mother can get much-needed sleep.

For more information, visit www.dona.org

We have consulted with many nurses, doulas and mothers to create the most practical . . . → Read More: What is a LaborKit?]]>

Having a baby is a time of great excitement and anticipation.  A LaborKit is a pre-packed canvas bag with all the necessary items to help you prepare for birth and practical items to help make baby’s delivery and your recovery as stress-free as possible. 

We have consulted with many nurses, doulas and mothers to create the most practical and affordable range of LaborKits for expectant moms (four LaborKits to choose from).

“I wish we’d had the LaborKit with my first child. Instead of gathering my stuff together for me to take to the hospital (while I was doubled over with contractions), my husband was in the kitchen making sandwiches for our “guests”!  I would highly recommend the LaborKit to any expectant parents.” –Kerry

Each LaborKit™ contains must-have items – Birth Plan, Hospital Checklist, mesh underwear, an ice pack,  nursing pads, lanolin, sanitary pads, peri bottle, Preggie Pop Drops, non-slip socks and much more. All items were carefully selected to ensure quality with trusted names like Tena, Pampers, Gerber, Burt’s Bees and EcoRite. The lip balms and moisturizers are organic or natural.

The company that produces the canvas bag (EcoRite) donates a portion of sales to charity and we donate $2 from each LaborKit purchased to Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Calgary Health Region Best Beginning Program.

 The Deluxe LaborKit™ includes the DVD Bringing Baby Home to help answer questions on over 140 baby topics. Any mom-to-be would be thrilled to have such a unique and practical gift.

“I was happy to see that my shower gift was a complete hit! One woman, a retired pediatric nurse, after hearing of the kits’ flexibility, noted that every new mom should have a LaborKit …I’d say my gift was a complete success!” – Linda

“When I received my LaborKit at my baby shower, I was so excited! It was such a unique gift. I was stressed out about what to bring to the hospital, so this answered a lot of my questions. The LaborKit is definitely a great gift for a shower – something I’ve never heard of or seen. All the nurses had never seen one either and were going gaga. I would recommend this to anyone.”  – Erika

Visit www.laborkit.comto purchase your LaborKit — it’s everything you need for the big day! 

Question #1: How many Cesarean Births Have you had? 

From the comments in subsequent questions we can see that many women who have had . . . → Read More: A Closer Look at the Cesarean Survey]]>

As we review the results and over 200 pages of comments, we will post the results to each question individually. These links will take you to our main website for complete articles.

Question #1: How many Cesarean Births Have you had? 

From the comments in subsequent questions we can see that many women who have had just one cesarean experienced it with their first birth. This also provides some insight as to why ‘traumatic’ and ‘disappointing’ were the words most participants used to describe their experience. Many women go into their first birth with expectations that may not be met and having it end in a cesarean or in an emergency situation can be very scary and upsetting. 

Interestingly, many women who had subsequent cesareans for various reasons (see question #3) described the experience as calm and even empowering…

Question #2: Your Cesarean Birth was…? 

The majority of women in this case did not opt for their cesarean, nor did they have an emergent situation. Many failure to progress answers, which in some cases (in my experience) has been failure to wait on the part of the provider. I certainly cannot speak for all the women who did answer this survey, but I can share some comments that were left.

While all these comments are not directly related to failure to progress, these are the ones I found to be most interesting, telling, and helpful when…

Question #3: If Elective or Planned Cesarean, What was the Reason? 

There is so much more that could be shared about this subject in general, but I am just going to share some quotes from others instead of breaking this one down because it can certainly be a touchy subject, or carry feelings for some women…

Question #4: What Support Did You Have? 

I do not have very much to say about this in general, but there are a couple alarming trends with this.  One thing that I am not happy to see is women depending on hospital staff for support during labor. Unfortunately in hospital situations and settings we know that nurses as well as hospital staff are completely over worked, and there are some serious shortages across the nation. Depending on a hospital staff member could be a contributing factor to the cesarean rates.

Another issue I can see is the lack of professional support, like using a doula which is connected directly with lowered cesarean birth rates…

Question #5: Would You Describe Your Experience As… 

Wonderful :             27.7%   227 mothers
Empowering :           7.4%    61 mothers
Frusterating :          26.7%   219 mothers
Traumatic :             46.8%   384 mothers
Disappointing :         45.5%   373 mothers

Due to the wide range of experiences and emotional comments, we have separated the comments into two posts; Part 1: Positive Comments and Part 2: Negative Comments. Please understand that some of these comments are extreme but we wanted to represent how women feel and what their experiences are in their own words.  

Question #6: Do You Feel You Were Respected and in Control Throughout the Process?

Like every other question on this survey, we saw complete extremes on each side of the question, and very few moderate or middle of  the road answers. 312 women left a comment with their answer for this question, which left me with 14 pages of information, experiences, and comments that could be a trigger for anyone with any sort of a birth trauma. So I truly caution those same people from reading further.

 More to be added as we continue to look at results.

In a recent survey, hundreds of mothers shared positive and negative feelings about their cesarean birth. While traumatic and disappointing described the majority of experiences, many also expressed gratitude.

Hartford, Connecticut. March 22, 2010 – Eight hundred and sixty one women . . . → Read More: Press Release: Post-Cesarean Feelings Survey]]>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                     

Survey Reveals Overwhelming Support for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean and Desire for Better Care     

In a recent survey, hundreds of mothers shared positive and negative feelings about their cesarean birth. While traumatic and disappointing described the majority of experiences, many also expressed gratitude.

Hartford, Connecticut. March 22, 2010 – Eight hundred and sixty one women recently participated in a survey about their experiences and feelings following a cesarean birth.

The Post Cesarean Feelings Survey was created by Danielle Elwood, doula, birth advocate and blogger at Momotics.com, and Theresa Shebib co-founder of HealthyBabyNetwork.com, with the goal of raising awareness about the emotional impact of cesarean birth.

“With the recent controversy over bans on Vaginal Birth after Cesarean, also known as VBAC, as well as warnings in the news about cesarean births and repeat cesarean sections, we thought it would be important to release these results nationally,” said Elwood.

Of the women who were surveyed, almost half (46.8%) described their experience as traumatic, while 7.4% described it as empowering. Participants were also given an opportunity to expand on their answers and rate their emotional recovery. On a scale of 1 through 10, one being no emotional issues, and 10 being described as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the majority of the women surveyed rated their emotional recovery between 5 and 10.

“This is not surprising since many women do not go into labor expecting a cesarean,” said Shebib. “Women want to talk about their experience but fear being judged or appearing ungrateful. These experiences matter and women need support from family, friends and health care professionals following an unplanned cesarean birth.”

The birth experience impacts future birthing decisions. While many women expressed a desire to have subsequent cesareans, the majority (77.5%) would consider a VBAC for future pregnancies. Unfortunately, many women also feel that their birthing options are severely restricted, even illegal in some cases, showcasing the lack of information and support available to many women regarding VBAC deliveries.

To better understand the birthing experience, the survey included questions about labor support, physical and emotional recovery, whether women felt adequately informed and respected during labor, whether they understood the risks of a cesarean, and plans for future births.

The survey results will be used to write a series of informational articles and blogs exploring the emotional impact of cesarean birth.

About Momotics:
Momotics.com is a personally run blog entailing current events, birth education, postpartum support, and the politics of parenting maintained by Danielle Elwood, birth advocate, doula, and aspiring childbirth educator.

About HealthyBabyNetwork.com:
HealthyBabyNetwork.com is a network of websites providing services and products related to pre-conception, pregnancy and birth. HealthyBabyNetwork.com is owned and managed by Exanics.

The initial survey results are available upon request. Subsequent articles based on the response to each question of the survey will be available in coming weeks. For additional information and inquiries, please contact Danielle Elwood or Theresa Shebib.

Contacts:

Danielle Elwood
203-513-2116
http://www.momotics.com

 Theresa Shebib
1-877-755-0702
http://www.healthybabynetwork.com

###

When Theresa Shebib and I embarked on a small survery about cesarean section mothers, we never imagined it would skyrocket so nearly 861 mothers worldwide.  Starting as a simple project of two cesarean mothers, . . . → Read More: Post Cesarean Feelings Survey Initial Results]]>

This is the first of a series of blogs written by Danielle Elwood summarizing the results of the Post Cesarean Feelings Survey.

When Theresa Shebib and I embarked on a small survery about cesarean section mothers, we never imagined it would skyrocket so nearly 861 mothers worldwide.  Starting as a simple project of two cesarean mothers, and a passion for internet blogging we threw together a survey with 16 questions that peaked our own interests about other mothers experiences.

Over night the project grew a mind of its own multiplying in size a number of times. The information, numbers, and comments.  Much to our surprise many women were more open and honest than we expected. It was amazing to see the impact of social media today on this project.

What became even more shocking to us were the replies, numbers and information we were able to obtain with this project.  I will go question by question reviewing and sharing some of the results through various posts, but first before getting into each individual question, and the comments and experiences listed, I would like to give a general overview and release of the actual poll results.

Starting with question #1 : How many Cesarean Births have you had?
1 Cesarean – 67.4%   580 mothers
2 Cesareans – 23.5%   202 mothers
3 Cesareans – 6.5%    56 mothers
4 Cesareans – 2.6%   22 mothers
1 mother skipped this question

Question #2 – Your Cesarean Birth was :
Elective or Planned : 14.8%   118 mothers
Unplanned : 39.5%  316 mothers
Emergency : 21.0%   168 mothers
Repeat Cesareans :  15.1%   121 mothers
(First was unplanned cesarean, scheduled subsequent cesareans)
First Birth was Cesarean, VBAC attempt or other births : 5.6%   45 mothers
Always attempted vaginal birth, always ended in cesarean : 3.9%   31 mothers
62 mothers skipped this question

Question #3 – If Elective or Planned, What was the reason?
Previous Birth was Cesarean, Doctor Recommended :  33.9%   112 mothers
Knew what to expect, was the birth I wanted: 10.3%  34 mothers
Fear of labor & Natural childbirth : 2.4%  8 mothers
Previous Traumatic Birth, Cesarean was Less risky : 6.4%  21 mothers
No VBAC Support or availability : 5.5%  18 mothers
Other : 56.1 %  185 mothers
531 mothers skipped this question

Question #4 – What Support did you have During Labor?
Midwife : 18.2%  152 mothers
Doula : 9.3%   78 mothers
Spouce/Partner : 90.7%   758 mothers
Family/Friend : 37.0% 309 mothers
Hospital Staff : 49.2%  411 mothers
25 mothers skipped this question
*Note, mothers were allowed to choose more than one option

Question #5 – Would you describe your experience as :
Wonderful : 27.7%   227 mothers
Empowering : 7.4%  61 mothers
Frusterating : 26.7%  219 mothers
Traumatic : 46.8% 384 mothers
Disappointing : 45.5%  373 mothers
41 mothers skipped this question
*Note, mothers were allowed to choose more than one option

Question #6 – Do You feeling like you were in control and respected through the process?
Yes : 37.4%   318 mothers
Somewhat : 35.3%  300 mothers
No : 31.4%  267 mothers
10 mothers skipped this question

Question #7 – Were you happy with your birth support team?
Yes: 71.1%  601 mothers
No : 28.9% 244 mothers
16 mothers skipped this question

Question #8 – Do you feel adequately informed about interventions, medications, and complications during labor?
Yes : 41.1%   350 mothers
No : 28.3%  241 mothers
Somewhat : 21.6%  184 mothers
Does not apply : 8.9%  76 mothers
10 mothers skipped this question

Question #9 – Do you feel you were adequetely informed about the risks of a Cesarean section?
Yes : 51.5%   434 mothers
No : 48.5% 408 mothers
19 mothers skipped this question

Question #10 – How do you feel now about your cesarean section?
It was necessary, greatful we are all ok : 48.2%   406 mothers
It could have been avoided : 25.4%   214 mothers
I wish I had made difference choices that may have not resulted in a Cesarean : 30.6%  258 mothers
Neautral/No strong feelings : 6.0%   51 mothers
It was a traumatic experience : 31.8%   268 mothers
I am angry : 22.8%   192 mothers
18 mothers skipped this question

Question #11 – Did you discuss your experience with family and friends?
Yes : 90.8%  768 mothers
No  : 9.2%  78 mothers
15 mothers skipped this question

Question #12 – Please rate your physical recovery in 1 – 10 scale.  1 being easy, 10 being difficult, painful, with compications.

1 – 16.0 % 136 mothers
2 – 12.9%  110 mothers
3 – 12.2%  104 mothers
4 – 7.0%   60 mothers
5 – 8.7%  74 mothers
6 – 8.1%  69 mothers
7 – 9.9%  84 mothers
8 – 11.5%  98 mothers
9 – 7.0%   60 mothers
10 – 6.7 %   57 mothers
9 mothers skipped this question

Question #13 – Please rate you emotional recovery in 1 – 10 scale. 1 being no issues, 10 being difficult, or PTSD.

1 – 17.9%  152 mothers
2 – 10.2%  87 mothers
3 – 7.5%   64 mothers
4 – 5.5%  47 mothers
5 – 8.7%  74 mothers
6 – 7.1%  60 mothers
7 – 11.8%   100 mothers
8 – 13.5%  115 mothers
9 – 7.7%  65 mothers
10 – 13.3%   113 mothers
12 mothers skipped this question

Question #14 – Did you seek counseling or other support?  (Support group)
Yes : 27.8%  234 mothers
No : 66.7%  561 mothers
N/A : 5.5% 46 mothers
20 skipped this question

Question # 15 – How do you plan on birthing your future children?
Elective/Repeat Cesarean : 23.3%  196 mothers
VBAC : 49.3%  416 mothers
Home Birth : 22.8%  192 mothers
Water Birth : 12.1%  102 mothers
No more children : 26.6%  224 mothers
18 mothers skipped this question

Question # 16 – Would you consider having a VBAC?
Yes : 77.5%  628 mothers
No : 22.5%  182 mothers
51 mothers skipped this question

On top of all the questions we included a box to add any additional comments, in which 302 women used to comment about their experiences and even made comments about the survey itself.
In the following posts, we will start to break this information down question by question providing quotes and comments from the real mothers who took the survey, and opinions on the numbers, and what they say for birth, especially cesarean birth today.

…

The Cesarean Feelings Survey was created by two cesarean moms; Danielle Elwood, Doula, Momotics.com and Theresa Shebib co-founder of www.HealthyBabyNetwork.com

Reflective and affirming thoughts or spoken words can help you focus on what your body CAN do, what is natural and beautiful . . . → Read More: Birth Affirmations: Can They Prevent Cesarean Sections?]]>

If you search online for birth affirmations you will likely find lengthy poems, guided imagery information and many sites referencing “The Secret” but birth affirmations can still be powerful tools while being a simple practice.

Reflective and affirming thoughts or spoken words can help you focus on what your body CAN do, what is natural and beautiful about childbirth and affirm the strength you have in you to get though labor. 

Can affirmations reduce the chance of a cesarean section?

Well, birth is unpredictable so no one can guarantee any specific outcome however according to Can Birth Affirmations Help Prevent Cesarean Section? “The pain of labor often causes a chain reaction in women that can ultimately lead to a cesarean section, even though the mother could have had a normal, healthy, natural birth. Often, pain and doubting one’s ability can cause women to opt for epidural anesthesia. When given an epidural, a woman is unable to push effectively and so, is given pitocin in order to stimulate contractions.” This may lead down a path of even more medical intervention and ultimately a cesarean.

If we focus on the phrase “doubting one’s ability” then the role of affirmations may serve the purpose of reminding a woman of her strength and ability, not allowing doubt to creep in and giving mom the best chance of getting through the more challenging labor moments.

Here are some simple affirmations to memorize or write down as a reminder when you need it.

• I embrace birth as a miracle that my body can handle.
• I believe in my strength and ability.
• I feel the strong waves of labor and know that everything is as it should be. Labor is progressing.
• I trust my instinct.
• I trust my body to give birth just as my body knew how to carry this baby throughout the last nine months.
• Keep breathing, relax and accept the power I have in me.
• I am strong and can do this. I trust my body to give birth.
• Soon I will hold my new baby.
• I do not fear labor. It is natural and I am able to get through this. 
• I am strong, healthy and in control.  

Write down the words that would empower you. Most importantly surround yourself with supportive, encouraging, loving people that will help you experience the birth you want.

Your birth experience may end up being different than you expect but going into it with positive energy, awareness and focusing on the amazing, life-altering event you are experiencing may allow you to feel more empowered and in control. If fear of pain, fear of the unknown (totally normal for moms in labor) and self-doubt creep in, re-focus and ask for the emotional support you need from your support team and try to appreciate the miracle of birth.

There are many things you can do to reduce the chance of having a cesarean birth. Please read Things You Can Do to Avoid an Unecessary Cesarean from the International Cesarean Awareness Network to help you avoid a cesarean birth and  insure that your birth experience is as healthy and positive as possible.

***
If you would rather listen to meditations or affirmations, you could download Pregnancy and Labor Meditations from NaturalChildbirthEssentials.com or Relaxation for Expectant Mothers by Nancy Hopps available through Amazon.com

For more information on Epidurals, please visit the International Cesarean Awareness Network and read Epidurals–Real Risks for Mother and Baby 

To help you convey your birth preferences to your birth team, print and fill out this two-page birth plan.

The bacteria is one of the many common bacteria that live . . . → Read More: Group B Strep Positive? Be Proactive]]>

GBS disease may be more common than you think even if you have just heard about it for the first time. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Group B Strep is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns.

The bacteria is one of the many common bacteria that live in our digestive tracts and is not a reflection on personal hygiene or cleanliness. Group B strep is a bacteria naturally found in the digestive tract and birth canal of 1 in 4 pregnant women. These women “carry” or are “colonized” with GBS. However, GBS can come and go at any time so each pregnancy can be different.

It is now the standard of care in the USA and Canada for all pregnant women to be tested for GBS at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy. If you do or did test postive, don’t panic but please learn more. Although your care provider will likely tell you GBS disease is rare, it does happen and you need to be proactive to ensure the best outcome.

Prolonged labor with baby exposed to GBS in the birth canal increases the chance of the baby becoming infected. Laboring for several hours after your water has broken can also increase the risk of exposure to the baby.  Intervenous antibiotics should be administered to Mom 4 hours prior to giving birth or during a c-section. According to the Society for Women’s Health Research, “Infants whose mothers are group B strep carriers and do not get antibiotics have over 20 times the risk of developing disease than those who do receive treatment” but sometimes IV antibiotics aren’t enough.

Most hospitals are prepared to handle complications that arise including: infections in the blood (sepsis), the fluid and lining of the brain (meningitis), and lungs (pneumonia). A baby may have complications causing one or all of these infections. The complications can be present before or at birth or within hours, days or even months.

If you recently found out you are GBS+ (Group B Strep) please visit Group B Strep International to learn more. Know that even with preventative measures, GBS infections can still occur. Please be tested, get your questions and concerns answered by your doctor/OBGYN and be proactive.

Here is the contact information for Group B Strep International
Tel: 909.620.7214      
Fax: 909.620.5557       
Email: info@gbs-intl.org       
Web: www.groupbstrepinternational.org 

or visit http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/general/gen_public_faq.htm

More and more, hospitals are asking you to bring the basics like diapers, femine pads and water bottles. Others, usually birthing centers, pamper you with Egyptian cotton robes, free local calls and cable TV.

I think it’s pretty . . . → Read More: What should I pack in my hospital bag?]]>

There is no easy answer to this question. Ideally the hospital would provide EVERYTHING, and some do, but many don’t.

More and more, hospitals are asking you to bring the basics like diapers, femine pads and water bottles. Others, usually birthing centers, pamper you with Egyptian cotton robes, free local calls and cable TV.

I think it’s pretty safe to assume your needs will be met. You won’t starve, your incision will be cared for and your baby will be safe BUT if you have preferences, a hospital may not be willing to accommodate them so you will want to be proactive.

Here are some things to consider:

-If you prefer organic and natural products you will want to pack your own soap, moisturizer, lip balm and cloth (or environmentally friendly) diapers.

-If you plan to breastfeed, bring nursing pads. Many hospitals do not provide these and there are many options (cloth, organic, disposable) so choose one that you like and have some handy.

-If you would rather not be seen in a hospital gown, bring some comfy clothes.

-Hospitals may ask you to bring your own femine pads and many women really don’t like the large “feels like I am wearing a diaper” pads the hospital provides so bring your own and you will be much more comfortable.

-Other nice-to-haves are a soft blanket for baby, refillable water bottle, slippers, baby wipes and lots of snacks (not too many moms rave about the fantastic meals at a hospital).

Patient care (ultimately your birth experience) varies depending on geographical locations, type of insurance, birthing center or hospital and the quality of care from staff. This is a wonderfully exciting time so as you pack your hospital bag, think of things that would make the birth experience comfortable, relaxing and what you want it to be and pack accordingly.

For more ideas on what to pack in your hospital bag, view our Free Printable Hospital Bag Checklist