If you’re in need of further doula training, or are interested in hearing Debra Pascali-Bonaro speak on having a “Safe, Satisfying and Pleasurable Birth Experience” you are in luck!! Belly Bliss has two special offerings you need to know about.
The first collection of stories have been posted to the Web site for The Pushing Project. Please visit www.thedoulaguide.com/pushing for inspiring stories about the second stage of birth which safely lasted from 5 to 14 hours.
The goal of The Pushing Project is to demonstrate that current time limits on second stage of 2 to 3 hours are arbitrary and not evidence-based, and to expand options for laboring women.
Stories and research are being added on an ongoing basis. If you are a mother or birth professional, please submit YOUR story of a second stage which lasted 7 hours or longer.
Use these simple guidelines and email your story to ananda@thedoulaguide.com:
Tell your story in less than 350 words.
Use terms the general public will understand or explain unfamiliar medical terms.
Check spelling and punctuation so the story is ready to publish.
If the story is about you, use details you feel comfortable sharing with the public.
If the story is not about you, make sure there are no identifying details about the mother. For example, instead of saying “Labor started on Thursday,” say “on day one of labor.” Instead of saying “mom pushed from 5 PM until midnight,” say “seven hours after mom started pushing, the baby was born.”
Include your first and last name, and what city and state you live in (and country, if outside the US).
Ananda Lowe
Co-author, The Doula Guide to Birth
Order at www.thedoulaguide.com
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TFJ: What services do you provide or products do you offer?
Pivotal Wellness: We provide chiropractic care for prenatal, postnatal, family, and sports related kids and adults. In conjunction we utilize mostly deep tissue/neural-muscular massage but we also offer prenatal, postnatal, children and adults with varying techniques. We believe in the balancing and strengthening learned through Yoga. We currently have private and semi-private all levels yoga classes including, prenatal, postnatal, and our famous yoga for Kids: ‘Yoga-urt’, ages 4-12 on Tuesdays at 4pm. Nutrition is very important. We help our clients to reach maximum benefit through dietary nutrition and offer supplement when necessary, such as, Active Folate which is a methylated version of folic acid, the neurologically active form of Folic acid. At our location we also offer acupuncture for all ages, and life and business coaching.
TFJ: How does your business support the nursing relationship?
Pivotal Wellness: Dr. Cathy Hollstrom is a prime example of our support for breastfeeding; she currently works at Pivotal Wellness as a Chiropractor and continues to breast feed our 10 month old daughter Kali. We have several quiet areas that may be use to deliver those crucial nutrients. We can assist the growing pains that come with a growing belly and breasts. We also support mothers by adjusting their back, and teach exercises and stretches to help with any discomforts that may be associated with nursing. Let us not forget the fathers, they are a major part of the support unit and they need to function optimally as well. We have affiliations with lactation consultants such as Kim Lenderts whom we refer to, as needed.
TFJ: Describe a situation when you feel your dedication to being a Breastfeeding Friendly business made a difference for a client.
Pivotal Wellness: This happens often as we have several families that frequent our office. Always the most notables are the new mothers who are not only still learning the skill of nursing but need not have undue pressure for public compliance. We welcome and encourage all to feel comfortable nursing their little ones and assist with any questions pertaining to breastfeeding.
Additional info: Mention this posting for a discounted initial exam and adjustment, with one of our Chiropractors for only $35 or an initial massage with Felicia for $45.
Visit the Pivotal Wellness website for more information
There has obviously been miscommunication at some level regarding the Colorado Rockies’ policy on breastfeeding in their stadium. It will be interesting to see where this story goes in the coming days and weeks.
When I see stories like this, it makes me that much prouder of the local businesses who take part in our BreastFeeding Friendly Project. These businesses agree to support the nursing family. Please make it a priority to patronize these businesses, and when you stop in, be sure to tell them THANK YOU for being a BFF Business!
The Family Journey is becoming increasingly connected with other Colorado grassroots birth organizations. We are excited to share some of their very important events here:
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Long gone are the days when a father paced back and forth in a smoky hospital waiting room while his wife gave birth elsewhere, in a room full of strangers. This was the stereotype during the mid-twentieth century. Today, nearly 90% of fathers are present at the birth of their children. A lot is known about the changes a woman goes through as she becomes a mother, but what about the changes of a man into a dad?
London-based author Patrick Houser has much to say about becoming a dad. Houser will visit Colorado April 29 – May 8, 2010 on a state-wide tour, stopping in Denver, Salida, Grand Junction and Durango. His workshops, presentations and classes are designed to educate parents, birth professionals and healthcare providers on the importance of the father’s role in pregnancy, birth and early parenting. Says Houser, “The transition to fatherhood is one of the most significant and challenging experiences a man will ever face. In order to have a satisfying and successful experience, fathers must feel safe, supported and confident. To optimize the possibilities for our families, we need to provide appropriate educational, physical and emotional support for ‘father love’.”
And supporting ‘father love’ is Houser’s mission. Houser’s workshops and presentations engage participants in both new and timeless information: the idea that fathers go through significant hormonal changes in much the same way as their wives, that they too need support during these transitions in order to best support their families, and that they must attend to how they themselves were fathered.
Patrick pioneered conscious birthing with his son’s waterbirth in 1980–the first in the US–and went on to work as a social architect in the world of birth advocacy for 25 years. In 2006, he co-founded Fathers-To-Be International and works internationally with expectant and new dads, birthcare professionals and educators. He is the author of Fathers-To-Be Handbook: A Roadmap for the Transition to Fatherhood.
Birth professionals, healthcare providers, mothers, fathers and parents-to-be are all invited to attend any workshop or speaking engagement. Continuing Education credits are available for birth professionals. (4 L-CERPs have been approved through IBLCE. 4 CEU reciprocity has been offered and verified through NARM, DONA, CAPPA and ACBE.)
2010 Colorado FatherLove Tour Dates
Denver:
Birth Professional Workshop
Topic: Supporting Fathers in Pregnancy, Birth, Breastfeeding and Early Parenting
Date: April 29, 2010, 1 – 5:15 PM (Registration opens at 12:30 PM)
Location: St. Anthony Central Hospital, 4231 W. 16th Avenue, Denver, CO
Registration: At the Door, $45 general admission or $85 admission with CERPs or CEUs.
Register online for a DISCOUNT of $5 general admission/$10 admission with CERPs or CEUs. Online registration is available at www.wisdomwithinyourbody.org/fatherlovedenver and ENDS April 28th.
Community Presentation
Topic: When Dads Have Babies: The Science of FatherLove
Date: April 29, 2010, 7 – 8 PM
Location: St. Anthony Central Hospital, 4231 W. 16th Avenue, Denver, CO
Registration: Free and Open to the public. Walk-Ins Welcome. Donations appreciated.
Salida:
Birth Professional Workshop
Topic: Including Fathers in our Perinatal and Breastfeeding Language
Date: April 30, 2010, 10:30 AM – Noon (Registration opens at 10 AM)
Location: 2010 Reproductive Wellness Symposium, Salida Café and Roastery Community Room, 300 W. Sackett Ave., Salida, CO
Registration: $10 general admission/$50 admission with CERPs or CEUs. Register early for the full symposium weekend, or at the door for this individual workshop.
Full Symposium Weekend registration costs are $65 general admission/$105 admission with CERPs or CEUs. Early registration ends April 27, 2010. Register online at www.wisdomwithinyourbody.org.
Community Class
Topic: Proud Papas – Creating Community-Supported Fathers’ Groups
Date: May 1, 2010, 3 – 4 PM
Location: 2010 Reproductive Wellness Symposium, Salida Café and Roastery Community Room, 300 W. Sackett Ave., Salida, CO
Registration: Free and Open to the Public. Walk-Ins Welcome. Donations appreciated.
Birth Professional Workshop
Topic: Supporting Fathers in Pregnancy, Birth, Breastfeeding and Early Parenting
Date: May 2, 2010, 1 – 5:15 PM (Registration opens at 12:30 PM)
Location: 2010 Reproductive Wellness Symposium, Salida Café and Roastery Community Room, 300 W. Sackett Ave., Salida, CO
Registration: $20 general admission/$60 admission with CERPs or CEUs. Register early for the full symposium weekend, or at the door for this individual workshop.
Full Symposium registration $65 general admission/$105 admission with CERPs or CEUs. Early registration ends April 27, 2010. Register online at www.wisdomwithinyourbody.org.
Grand Junction:
Community Presentation
Topic: When Dads Have Babies: The Science of FatherLove
Date: May 5, 2010, 7 – 8:30 PM
Location: Coffee Muggers, 644 Main St, Grand Junction, CO
Registration: Free and Open to the Public, Walk-Ins Welcome. Donations appreciated.
Birth Professional Workshop
Topic: Supporting Fathers in Pregnancy, Birth, Breastfeeding and Early Parenting
Date: May 6, 1 – 5:15 PM (Registration opens at 12:30 PM)
Location: Koinonia Church, 730 25 Road, Grand Junction, CO
Registration: At the Door, $45 general admission/$70 admission with CERPs or CEUs.
Register online for a DISCOUNT of $5 general admission/$10 admission with CERPs or CEUs. Online registration is available at www.wisdomwithinyourbody.org/fatherlovejunction and ENDS May 5th.
Durango, CO:
Birth Professional Workshop
Topic: Supporting Fathers in Pregnancy, Birth, Breastfeeding and Early Parenting
Date: May 7, 1 – 5:15 PM (Registration opens at 12:30 PM)
Location: Serving Life Chiropractic, 1040 Main Ave. upstairs, Durango, CO
Registration: At the Door, $45 general admission/$70 admission with CERPs or CEUs.
Register online for a DISCOUNT of $5 general admission/$10 admission with CERPs or CEUs. Online registration is available at www.wisdomwithinyourbody.org/fatherlovedurango and ENDS May 6th.
Community Presentation
Topic: When Dads Have Babies: The Science of Father Love
Date: May 8, 10:30 – Noon
Location: The Durango Pregnancy Expo, Serving Life Chiropractic, 1040 Main Ave. upstairs, Durango, CO
Registration: $10; Contact Serving Life Chiropractic to register over the phone: 970-422-2032
Houser’s visit is hosted by a cooperative effort of Wisdom Within, Fathers-To-Be International, A Bump in the Road, Mountain Midwifery Center and BirthSmart.
Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you at one of these events!
Birth Smart is hosting a low-cost, high-value talk about empowered birth. I’m hearing more and more about groups that are changing birth culture through grassroots effort. It is so inspiring!
Baltimore ICAN is looking for art pieces on cesarean birth. See their site for details!
It’s so intriguing to me that the woman who created such powerful images considers herself a ‘cautionary tale’ about cesarean section. A traumatic birth catalyzes us (or not) in many different directions. See a recent interview with the artist on the BirthCut Blog.
She did it! CNN has a surprisingly informed article about it. This is a nice change from the negative.
UPDATE: According to PVH, the policy is being changed but does not specifiy that someone with multiple cesareans is restricted from having a VBAC. The language in the policy leaves the discretion up to the provider.
According to this same source at PVH, the success rate is high for attempted VBACs. I am still trying to secure exact statistics.
This leads to so many more questions… Why would this OB tell his or her patient that PVHS is restricting VBA2Cs? Is the provider choosing not to attend this type of birth? Has it become too costly for OBs to insure themselves against litigation? Was the provider trying to pass the buck? Did the OB have misinformation?
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We just heard through the proverbial grapevine that our local hospital network, Poudre Valley Health System, no longer permits a woman who has had two or more cesareans to have a vaginal birth in their facilities.
If you are currently pregnant, ask your provider detailed questions about your specific situation, and how or if this policy will affect you.
Women who have had two cesareans without a vaginal birth in their history do not have the option of choosing a homebirth attended by a Certified Professional Midwife in Colorado due to legal regulations. If choosing a VBA2C at the local hospitals is not available, a woman in this situation will be left with the “option” of having a potentially unnecessary c-section, or she may “choose” an unassisted birth at home. This is the birth climate we will be facing should a ban be put in place.
If this policy were to go into effect, northern Colorado birth culture would be taking a huge step backward. Let’s get in contact with PVHS and figure out just what is going on, why, and change what we can. Please take a few minutes over the next couple of days to do some research and share what you find out.
Please contact
Public Relations (970) 495-7427 or (970) 237-7003
Director of Women & Family Care, Pat Bohling Smith, (970) 495-8252.
And for general questions regarding Women’s Health, please call (970) 495-7000 or 1-800-252-5784