Home Birth's topics - tribe.net

Any advice?

2009-10-14T03:28:31Z

Any advice for a home birth? It'll be our first baby. Mom is 27 years old, dad is 36. We dont have much money, so hiring a mid wife is probably out.

Any advice?

posted in Home Birth - 18 replies

how does one afford a home birth?

2009-09-29T05:04:08Z

I am on medicad which does not pay for home births.. my partner and I survive on one income so we have no extra money.. I feel like even if I wanted a home birth I would have to be in a different income bracket.. Are home births reserved for the wealthy and insured?

posted in Home Birth - 24 replies

Sorren's birth story

2009-08-31T20:28:36Z

I had big plans for my due date (the 27th), and was very happy that the baby obliged and stayed in that long!
The morning of the 28th, I woke up early… just couldn’t sleep. My bowels cleared which made me wonder if labor might be near.
At 7:45 a huge contraction rocked through me. It felt familiar - like the real thing. Then 10 minutes, and another one. Okay… this is going to be slower than my last (which was a 45 minutes). The contractions were SO strong though. I tried squatting through one, hands and knees for another, the bath for another, and finally found a semi-comfortable spot on the toilet.
I checked myself and felt a very bulgy bag of waters. It felt like a water balloon. At that point my husband opened the door and asked me if I needed anything - I said no - just leave me alone. He did, which I’m so grateful for. He closed the door and I could hear him busy with the kids and dog. I had originally thought I’d want my kids around me, but I didn’t want anyone anywhere near me… just to be in solitude.
Another contraction and I had the urge to bear down, so I did a bit, and the waters exploded. I pushed a bit more, until the urge went away. I checked myself again and felt a head about an inch inside. I didn’t really want to have a baby in the toilet, but my body wouldn’t let me get up. There is a window over my toilet, and I grabbed the sill, and with the next contraction, my body pushed HARD. I felt a head come out and hit resistance (which I later learned was the toilet seat). I pulled myself up to a squat as I pushed the rest of his body out. Since his head hit the seat first, his butt splashed down into the water and he instantly screamed very loudly. I picked him up and sat on the floor, just as my husband opened the door and said, “It was just that easy, huh?” I said yeah… just like that! He asked what we had, I looked and said, “A boy, and he’s peeing all over me!”
We sat there, breathing together. I noticed meconium in his hair but he was beautiful, alert, and very pink. My best friend arrived 5 minutes later and brought my kids in to see. We sat there, on the bathroom floor, staring and breathing together. Ginger wanted to see the placenta, which hadn’t been birthed yet. This whole pregnancy she’s been SO excited to see the placenta!
We moved to the bed and called my midwife. I think I woke her up… It was about 8:30 by then - another 45 minute labor! The kids, my husband, friend, the baby and I sat in bed and checked him over. He was covered in poop - just a mess. He nursed right away, on both sides for almost an hour.
My midwife came an hour after his birth and gave him the once over. She weighed and measured him, and started a load of laundry. My husband made breakfast for everyone so we sat in bed, eating together.
The placenta finally came after I squatted and pushed. We put it in a bowl and took it to the bath with us to wash off the birth mess. I cleaned him and myself, and the placenta floated in the bowl next to us. We got back in bed and nursed more. After about 3 hours, my husband cut the cord. I handed him over to his eager 8 yr old sister, and took my 5 yr old out to the back deck to make placenta prints.
I made 5, with both sides of the placenta. I let Ginger touch it and check it out - she had so been looking forward to it but was a bit disappointed it wasn’t heart shaped. We looked at the veil, touched the veins, felt it’s weight. She really liked the cord and how it looked like the tree of life.
We washed up and stuck the placenta in the fridge, and went to cuddle more. After a while we went outside. It was warm and sunny and the air was sweet.
It took us 2 weeks to name him, Sorren Michael. He has a head full of hair and is a great breast feeder. 8 lbs, 3 oz, 19 inches, and a 14 inch head. I’m so happy with this little guy!

posted in Home Birth - 2 replies

Photos of Ishan's birth

2009-07-16T21:37:28Z

http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii222/taosmom1/Baby%20Ishan/?albumview=grid

Story coming soon!

posted in Home Birth - 7 replies

Birthing at home with a 3 year old...suggestions

2009-07-16T04:07:52Z

I will be having my second child at home with a midwife and I was debating whether or not to have my three year old present for the birth. I personally feel like it might be scary for him even after preparing him for all the sights and sounds. He is very sensitive and I feel like I would be too concerned about him during the birth. Does anyone have any positive or negative experiences in the this arena?

posted in Home Birth - 4 replies

Yay!

2009-07-13T16:59:25Z

Another successful home water birith! Ishan Erden came quickly and with great intensity on 7/8...yay for a great team!

posted in Home Birth - 4 replies

Coming up on #2, and...

2009-07-01T02:38:29Z

Just wanted to send some love and shouts to all of you who keep this tribe going. I'm MIA here a lot and have not always been the best moderator, so thank you for keeping an eye out for inappropriate or off subject posts and bringing them to my attention so I can remove them. I am planning my 2nd home birth (got the tub this time) due July 11 so will be busy again coming up soon, but hope to check in once in a while to clean up the posts.
Beyond that, I wanted to encourage you all to check out 'Freebirthing' which aired on Discovery Health Channel
www.freebrithing.org
it was inspiring, encouraging, empowering and educational and most of all compassionate toward mothers who make this dynamic and unique choice.
Much love to all of you and gratitude for the love and support you show each other!
-Alexandra

posted in Home Birth - 2 replies

Los Angeles Midwives

2009-06-04T23:09:30Z

i'm looking for recommendations on los angeles midwives.. thanks!!

posted in Home Birth - 4 replies

why I decided to have a high risk home birth....

2009-04-28T18:32:55Z

hey, not much activity here since january! what gives? well just thought I would introduce myself, and my story, just for fun......I was pregnant last year, And also what most would casually term "homeless" although I did live in an RV that I traveled around California with. I was searching for a midwive the entire length of my pregancy, but since I lived in my RV, and was not based in any one county, I did not qualify for state financial assistance, and did not have the funds (only a meager $5000 or so) to hire a private midwife, I just kept rolling. when I did find a midwife group that would work with me in Santa Rosa, Ca, I ended up getting turned away because of a issue regarding VBAC (vaginal birth after cecsaerian) Well, I really had it in my mind that I wanted the least amount of interference as possible, it is just what I am comfortable with. After haveing 3 what i would call disaster births, at least, meant i was not happy that two were medicated one was an unneccesary cecsarian, the first was a "natural" birth in a hospital in Plano, Texas, which the nurses were all so impressed, said it was picture perfect, they wished theyd had a camera to show others blah blah blah, but to me, it was intrusive, degrading and otherwise NOT natural, having been dripped with pitocin ( undoubtedly so the doctor could make it to his flight on time) water bag ripped open unnaturally, exposed and unable to change position while delivering, bright lights, etc. and being 18, a(and not knowing any different) I settled that this was "Normal" birth. And so it is.... in the medical feild. A year later, met a man, and settled down in central Oregon. I had not researched natural birthing process and found myself pregnant. I KNEW that I wanted a home birth, but, my knowledge of such things was minimal. I did not even KNOW of anyone that had birthed at home, midwife or no. we did hire a midwife, but worked also with a local doctor (fresh out of interm school, I might add, I was his first ob patient) and he scared us because I had a rash on my perinium, that he thought it was herpes and I was required to have a cecarean. So hopes of that natural birth dashed away. i was not even allowed to watch my second son "born" into the world. Then a year later I find myself pregnant again. I tell you, fertile myrtle, right? I have ALWAYS considered children to be a blessing, so I have not minded too much. I did not consider too much my midwive, because she lived so far away, and of what happened with the previous birth, I had pretty much given up any hope of doing anything naturally again. So to the same doctor as before (not much to choose from in a small town like Madras, OR.) THANKFULLY, he gave the opportunity to try a VBAC, (I guess he felt pretty confident about his suturing technique, at least medical school is educational!) so, I had learned some breathing techniques....big f'ing deal. I and my partner had decided on no drugs... but why! oh why? when the anesthesiologist came through, and asked, "do you want to be medicated?" I, in my most vulnerable state, chiped, yes please! like it was an ice cream cone or something! And my partner just let me have it, I was mad at him for some time for NOT EVEN REMINDING ME that I WANTED natural birth! DADS and mentors, partners, whatever, it comes down to when it is up to YOU< to help your woman stand for what she wants, and her and the baby needs. Let me explain...I had been having contractions for about three hours steady (which is not long, folks) The only thing that signifies is that within the next 'three days' or so there will be a birth. but, these days, in the hospital, thats enough to "get er dun" haha. mmmmm.
K, so three hours into labor and I get an epidural. (which is when they put a needle directly into the spine to numb the entire lower half of the body. I don't even know why I did it, I am direly afraid of needles in my back, having survived spinal meningitis as a child, and daily spinal taps every day for a week, without anesthetic!! so, anyways... It really made me groggy, and loopy. I slept through a great deal of the contractions, a "dead" sleep. and I don't like being intoxicated one single bit. To this day, I do not drink or smoke enough of anything to go past a mild buzz. (You could say I had a bit of a wild Teen-age) Learned my limits early! so when the pains hit, they came out of NOWHERE, and the feeling of being numb, with these shooting ass harsh pains it was too much, I was writhing, I was screaming, It was H.E. double hockey sticks, man.. These were the "pushing pains" Once again, on my back, legs spread, pushing, and pushing, and pushing, till his head crowned, and it was wrinkled, he was there for a while, I can't say for how long, I was so doped up, I'm suprised I remember any thing. I had asked the doctor to "help" during the crowning, by not allowing the head to come out too fast, but he just sat there with a towel, about six inches from my ass. HUT, HUT, HIKE! (I am sooooo glad I can laugh at this now, I mean, what else can I do, I had to burn the tape recording that my mom took) When my sons head popped out, i became a flower blooming, or a kernal of popcorn popping, I ripped in 7 (might as well say 12) places iside and out, I was hamburger. I have figured now, that the labor pains actually prepare the vagina for stretching to accomidate birth. blood flow is good., swelling down there is good. and so is the pain. My son was purple, and not breathing. You have to think, I was doped, and so was he. I was so doped, I could not tell that he wasnt even breathing yet, and trying to nurse him, I watched the video ONCE, then I burned it, i was so embarassed that an experience like that could have even happened in my life. I felt very foolish, and weak for a long time could not forgive myself, but time thankfully heals such things, and I have empowered myself through knowledge, and thankfully have been givin the experience of what a beautiful, natural birth at home can be like.
Lila was born June 8. 2008, at approximatly 11:11 pm. I had come to the realization, you know when you are on a roller coaster, clacking up tto the top, that there is NO ROOM for fear, you are on this ride, and it will be alright, no matter how it turns out. I had had great fears of death, of the baby getting stuck, mostly of me bleeding to death, because of my past experieence with ripping, what if I needed stitches?
So it came to the day. I am what you could consider a hippie, gypsy or otherwise nomadic,uh, migratory person. I have lived places, but I get a thrill in life traveling, So it is what I like to do. We ended up at the Health and Harmony festival in Santa Rosa CA that weekend, and I had been hoping to find some midwifery type of people there, in fact, I was so dissapointed because I found NOONE, NOTHING that even had to do with the natural kind of health and life I was looking for!? at the Health and Harmony Festival??? go figure. OK, Let me give you some background, I was introduced to Ina May Gaskin through a book of hers, natural childbirth, I think it was called, then I found Spiritual midwifery at a used book store. This opened up a whole new realm to me. Let me tell you, I am inspired, and I am trying to figure out how to model my life around how she started out. The pure, natural, organic way of life for the farm, before it became (the farm)a business, because i feel someone will always get left out when money gets involved. when people are just sticking together, yeah, ....... OK, so you remember me saying I had had a cesarean, right? and I went to the women's health and birhting center in Santa Rosa, yada yada... I really didnt at that point want to get someone involved, because of my fears of death, and God, do I have to say the Word>>>>liability. I am about as high risk as they come, I guess, but I really felt this was the way, I KNEW it was possible to have a successful homebirth, and if not, I did let friends know what was going on, and the hospital was only a couple of miles away. So.... The bands had been playing all weekend, but I just couldn't get into the music on sunday, the last day of the festival. I had figured that I would dance the baby out, but no, just not into it AT ALL. I ended up being most content in the ECO-Village, sitting in an almost meditative state, in the peacefullness of that environment, contracting from about 11am on, about every 20 mins or so, walking around some, not talking much at all, I didn't want to tell too many people, because I didn't want anyone to freak out, and make me go to the hospital, because I know most people's awareness or veiwpoinnts them in that direction. So i quietly rode through the pains,. I remember not wanting to give birth in the fair, that i wanted to be in my motorhome, so it was like I had the ability to "hold off" so to speak, like what Ina May says a cat does, until she is in her space. At 8:45 pm, the fair ended, and i waddled to my home in the parking lot, thankfully, we had got the whole thing clean, and everything was ready, comfortable, we lit candles, My younger son was there, and the father, I was not scared, instead I was at the point of "no feeling" I think the meditativeness of the ecovillage, the peacefull music and calmness around was helpful. I ended up moving my motorhome ( which at that point needed to have the battery changed, to start, here I am laboring, hahaha changing the battery, and move the motorhome into the middle of the parking lot where noone could hear me, I guess thats why, also it gave me a clear view of the almost full moon risin in the wind sheild. When I parked, I went to the back room, but I was not comfortable.(I figured that I would lay down with her father, and let him stroke me, or something, but it turns out I didn't want to be touched at all) So I went back to the drivers seat, and sat there, I inagine it was about 9:30 ish, and The contractions changed. Up to this point, they had been a tightness, a tensing, then they became an pulling, almost I imagined a vice grip in reverse. in fact, another hint from Ina May's book, is to visualize yourself opening up, so I did, I had six of those opening "contractions" looking at the moon, I felt the power of the universe comethrough my body, and it was no longer I that was there, but only a vessel and it was in control. The seventh one actually hurt, and i felt like if I had another one like that, I would lose it. My partner suggested that I was ready, so I got up, the effort to move was enormous, I got on the "Doghouse" of the motorhome and shoved some towels under me, but felt so uncomfortable there, it seemed like a mile to the back room (a 34 foot motorhome) I must have looked funny, because I sure felt it, but there was no time for how I looked, or any thing, I got on my knees right on the bed, with blankets I had prepared for the occasion, and the feeling to push felt sooo good, in no time, I felt her slip down to just inside my lips, I briefly remembered the previous birth, and I stopped for a moment. I remember praying to the baby, please don't hurt me sweet pea. I used my fingers to push my folds back, and around her head, and I thought, I don't care if I tear, this baby must be born, and with a final push, she slid out perfectly intil my hands, ready for her, pulled her forward to lay right infront of me. Glowing perfectly pink and shining, my waters had givin her her first bath, she needed no other. She was alert, and she looked deep within my eyes, into my soul. I admired her little body, it was like she was the first baby I had ever seen, I guess I had expected her to be floppy, but she was a dense little brick, and she looked so small, but she weighed at seven pounds when we took her to the hospital a few hours later for getting checked up. I did not bleed to death, I barely tore, but I did take some precautions of herbal remedies. I feel that my educating myself gave me an edge, gave me courage and strength also. Thaty is what I would encourage anyone else to do, and then, when it comes down to it, you let all of that go, and allow life itself to move through you, as Ina May Says, "Let the monkey do it" Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you, MaMa Sunny freewater

posted in Home Birth - 2 replies

Online Conscious Birth Class

2008-12-28T02:13:42Z

The Co-Creative Birthing Circle is an online holistic, multimedia childbirth class for parents-to-be at www.maiainstitute.com

Comprehensive information for prenatal wellness, labor preparation, conscious birth, and a happy postpartum. Includes videos, links, articles, activities, online discussion forum, ebook, positive birth stories, and whole foods cookbook.

Conscious Birth Education for 21st Century Parents

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

Kaiser Insurance and Home Births

2008-12-05T00:19:04Z

Does anyone have experience with having Kaiser medical insurance and having a home birth with a midwife? Will they give me any type of financial break, like even paying a partial cost for a midwife? I know that Kaiser's whole system is based on doing everything through them, but for me that does not sound like what I want...Thanks in advance!

posted in Home Birth - 29 replies

Beautiful Film - Birth Without Violence

2008-11-24T19:23:43Z

I just watched this beautiful film: http://www.newearthrecords.com/web/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=18&idproduct=1487

It was different than I expected: black and white - no soundtrack - created years ago...but very powerful. It's actually three short films and really puts you in the moment of natural birthing. I thought it would be talking about how to birth without violence, but instead, it just shows you...beautifully done.

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

San Francisco Chronicle article on Homebirth Today!

2008-11-21T20:52:10Z

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfmoms/detail?&entry_id=31189&type=moms

Birthing the old-fashioned way
Just a few days before her due date, Claire Alexander was told by UCSF Medical Center that she should stay at the hospital for observation. Her baby's heart rate showed a deceleration and the attending obstetrician wanted to monitor it.

But instead of checking into a hospital room, Alexander returned to her home in the city's Richmond district, climbed into a tub of water with her husband, and pushed out a healthy baby girl.

"We floated in the tub with her for a little while enjoying the postbirth euphoria," Alexander says. "It was an amazing experience."

Home birthing is on the rise in San Francisco.

California licensed midwife Maria Iorillo was at the birth guiding Alexander through the experience. Iorillo was also at UCSF when a labor and delivery nurse hooked Alexander up to a monitor and an on-call resident said, "We strongly advise you to stay here."

But Alexander knew she wanted to give birth at home--she had planned on this for months--and Iorillo requested that Dr. Julian Parer, an expert on fetal heart tones, assess the situation. Dr. Parer determined that Alexander was safe to go home.

"I think Maria views herself and the hospital as partners," Alexander says. "She's not intimidated in the face of the medical establishment yet she works hard to not create a confrontational scene at the hospital. Sure, she wants what the mom wants, a home birth. But the primary thing is the safety of mom and baby, and deliberate, thought-out, informed decisions are what she's after. She stood up for me when I was too intimidated by the machinery, the staff, and the hospital gown to stand up for myself."

Many women who birth at home deliver in a tub.

In San Francisco the old-fashioned way of birthing is back in style. More and more women such as Alexander want to birth in their own bed or tub, free from medical interventions such as labor-inducing medication and C-sections that are staples of hospital deliveries. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, home birthing accounts for less than one percent of all U.S. deliveries, and this number has remained the same for many years. But in San Francisco, the number of home births is rising. According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, 94 women delivered outside the hospital in 2006. The 2008 number is currently 128 and will likely climb to 140 or higher by the end of the year, according to the department's Office of Vital Records.

"When I started in this business in 2006, we had only one birth tub," says Cara Vidano, owner of Natural Resources, a pregnancy and childbirth resource center in the Mission district. "Now, I have eight and they're booked three months out. Every month, I get calls from people who want a birth tub and I have to turn them away."

"I'm busy, busy, busy--booked through summer," says certified nurse midwife Nancy Myrick of Rites of Passage. "I limit my business to three to four home births a month, but there are months when I get 20 phone calls. Two years ago, there were some months when I had only one birth."

Many midwives such as Myrick believe the 2008 documentary the Business of Being Born is one of the reasons for the increase. Executive-produced by former talk show host Ricki Lake, the movie makes a strong case for drug-free home births and suggests that the rise in C-section surgeries in recent years (one in three births end in a C-section) is a "doctor-friendly" trend that helps hospitals avoid malpractice suits and moves women out of the maternity ward faster. It reveals that in most advanced countries, midwives reduce the need for Cesareans and improve survival rates for mothers and their children.

"San Francisco was one of three cities where the Business of Being Born premiered," says licensed midwife Abigail Reagan, who started her practice Rebirth Midwifery five years ago. "The film was supposed to run for three nights after the premiere. But the crowds were so great that it screened for three more weeks. After that, the phones started ringing."

Midwife Maria Iorillo counts 10 toes on a baby she helped deliver.

Midwife Maria Iorillo says the San Francisco community has fostered the home birthing movement. The city is full of midwives and St. Luke's, UCSF, and Kaiser hospitals all work with them and provide collaboration if necessary (CPMC doesn't allow home birth collaboration due to insurance issues). "Even in the East Bay, it's not as friendly and cooperative," says Iorillo, who opened her home birthing practice Wisewoman Childbirth Traditions in 1987. "At Alta Bates, they don't have any doctors who are willing to work with you. Kaiser in Oakland is a little better."

Most home births are attended by a midwife, a licensed health care professional trained to provide prenatal care, guide labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns. Most midwives charge $4,000 per birth (much less than the price of delivering in a hospital) and insurance companies often cover half the cost. Midwives say they accept only low-risk clients, and the pregnant woman typically chooses a collaborating hospital. An estimated 12 to 20 percent of all home births transfer to a hospital, mostly for pain medication and labor augmentation. Midwives insist they practice preventively, knowing when technology only available at a hospital is necessary.

A study published in 2005 in the British Medical Journal found that home birthing had a similar mortality rate to that of low-risk hospital births. This particular study took into account all home births involving a certified professional midwife (CPM) in the United States and Canada in 2000. "A lot of home birth studies are based on birth certificates and don't take into consideration people who didn't plan a home birth," Iorillo says. "Some of these women had no prenatal care and didn't have a midwife present at the birth."

Despite the evidence supporting planned home birth as a safe option for women with low-risk pregnancies, the home setting remains controversial. The American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) believe a hospital or an accredited birthing center is the safest setting for labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period.

"ACOG doesn't formally oppose home birthing but our position definitely implies that," says Dr. Erin Tracy, an ob-gyn at Massachusetts General Hospital and vice chair of ACOG Massachusetts. "No one at ACOG is advocating for criminalizing home birthing. We just personally think it's much safer to give birth in a hospital or at a birthing center. I think the vast majority of women who give birth do fine, no matter where they do it. But there is a certain number of low-risk pregnancies that become high-risk minutes before their babies need to be delivered. How does someone who needs help within minutes get from home to a hospital in time? Another concern is the lack of availability of potentially life-saving techniques, including Cesarean sections, blood products, and medications in the home setting."

But while some doctors argue that things can go wrong at home, many women opt for a home birth because things went wrong for them at the hospital the first time around. Claire Alexander says her experience with her first child led her to a home birth. When she checked into the hospital, attendants failed to recognize that Alexander was far along in her labor and left her and her husband alone in the room. "I reached down and I could feel the baby's head. The outcome was good but I felt like we could have easily done this ourselves at home."

posted in Home Birth - 1 reply

Bay Area Midwife Recommendations?

2008-11-15T19:34:30Z

I live in San Francisco and am ready to start pre-natal care and look for a midwife...does anyone have any local recommendations and suggestions for what I should ask at the interview? We plan to have a home-birth in our apartment (luckily we have good neighbors). Thank you!

posted in Home Birth - 2 replies

Please Help

2008-11-14T19:36:17Z

I am in this conundrum in that I really want to have a homebirth but am looking at around $2800 in fees as opposed to free if I go to Kaiser Oakland.
I guess the "help" that I am looking for is if some other people could share their experiences going through the same ordeal and what your final decision was.
I also do not feel like it is fair to try to ask for a less price from my midwife. I value the work that she does and do not want to try to talk her down on the price.

posted in Home Birth - 4 replies

The Other Side of The Glass - The Trailer

2008-11-12T18:26:20Z

Hey everyone...

I wanted to share this trailer with you all in Aware Mother's. I think it is important to begin awareness with our babies' birth experience and wanted to share this empowering film trailer. It is being made with father's in mind.

My son's birth was video taped for this film and I feel very blessed to be part of this project. The overview (part 1 to the film) is coming out in about a month.

Peace and Blessings,
AlyGirl xo

p.s. This will be posted in a couple other tribes that some of you might be members of. :-)

posted in Home Birth - 7 replies

How about Newborn DNA collection?

2008-11-06T01:30:33Z

I know that we are all concerned at the AMA's recent statement about home birthing...
But Newborn DNA Collection is legislation that HAS BEEN passed already...

**Described as a "national contingency plan" the justification for the new law S. 1858, known as The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007, is that it represents preparation for any sort of "public health emergency."

The bill states that the federal government should "continue to carry out, coordinate, and expand research in newborn screening" and "maintain a central clearinghouse of current information on newborn screening… ensuring that the clearinghouse is available on the Internet and is updated at least quarterly".

Sections of the bill also make it clear that DNA may be used in genetic experiments and tests. **

http://www.infowars.com/?p=1896

This is scarier to me than the AMA trying to rattle the cages of CNM's and Insurance Companies...
Google it, there isn't too much exposure on this new "law"... hhmmmm? I wonder why that is?

posted in Home Birth - 24 replies

Not that I encourage a birth w/o a midwife, but have you seen Freebirthing?

2008-10-24T02:51:09Z

I saw a documentary on Discovery Health on "Freebirthing." While I would never have a birth without a midwife or doula present, I thought it was pretty amazing what one of the women experienced while giving birth at home. A completely pain-free birth! You can see the video... it is the bottom two YouTube Videos. Pretty neat!

http://freebirthing.org/

http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

Anne Frye Textbooks

2008-10-16T17:37:17Z

I am looking to buy Anne Frye's Holistic Midwifery books Vol. 1 & 2. I would like to buy these for a decent price as they are so exensive new.
Can anyone help?
I also would be willing to trade soemthing for them. I knit, can paint, ect. It would be helpful as I will be assisting very soon. I need to brush up on some basic skills.
Thanks so much sisters.

posted in Home Birth - 1 reply

being moved to the high risk clinic

2008-10-04T07:02:59Z

i was just hospitalized for a week. it seems a fibroid has grown large and is pressing into my bladder so painfully that i was screaming when i had to pee. i'd lost a lot of bladder control, too. and i'd begun having contractions. i was spotting. none of it too swell.

what i'd hoped for was a home birth. i'd like to be in this space.

the week in the hospital (it was a labor and delivery area) showed me that the hospitals are not necessarily as evil heartless and stupid as i think think they are. but i did bump into one evil, stupid, heartless doc, a number others i'd consider sub par, one stealar and kind doc, one good and trustworthy doc, an absolutely fabulous charge nurse and some other decent, okay, and the occassional crappy nurse. -- it was a teaching hospital, as are most in NY, so you get exposed to quite a range of characters. and it does seem like a crap shoot.

i don't know that i will be assigned a particular doc in the high-risk clinic or that that doc will be the person to deliver my baby. but what i saw was that while they may save my life, i might be stuck dealing with a cavalier asshole at the most vulnerable moment of my entire life. i do not like that. not one bit. i don't like taking a chance on it.

in a teaching hospital, you can get stuck with the kind of doc who thinks you are flouting their authority if you ask questions. i had this happen, even though i said over and over that i just needed info. one doc told me that it seemed i just wouldn't be happy with anything she said -- and i had to very carefully say i'm a bit of a slow processor especially when stressed and that i was indeed stressed at that point in the visit. once it was established the problem was with me, she calmed down a bit. as i tried to go over the game plan with the doctor who was discharging me, she kept saying things like "well, if you don't want to trust me...." mind you i'd tried a game plan for pain management with the previous day's doc and had wound up in such bad shape i was crying and could barely breathe. now this doc had gotten "too busy" to try out her game plan but thought i ought to trust her on it. i mean, this is A LOT of pain we are talking about.

i'm at about 21 weeks now and there will be time to see how the pregnancy goes and i may still be able to, but as the medical situations continue to pile up on me, i get more and more afraid to listen to the voice that keeps saying do it at home.

and i know that once you're labeled "high risk" the odds go way up of getting bullied into a c-section or having to fight like hell against it.

it has been heartening to read the encouragement (including my own) on the how do i convince my husband and family thread.

it really is hard not to get cowed into thinking you are doing something selfish if you want to give birth at home.

of course if there is a demonstrable need for me to be in a hospital, i will do it.

posted in Home Birth - 3 replies

Dr. Phil plans show on "Homebirth Horror Stories"

2008-09-15T18:37:58Z

forwarded from another email list:

They appear to be asking for midwife horror stories; I want to
swamp him with stories about great experiences and for the midwives to
write and tell their stories; I think it would really help for
them to see how people really feel.

Please send your story in; It may not do any good, but we can
only try. To be silent will help no one.

Midwives, please send this link to all your clients and ask them to do
the same.

http://www.drphil.com/plugger/respond/?plugID=12524

posted in Home Birth - 8 replies

New group Childbirth and labor

2008-09-12T14:09:41Z

http://triberefugees.ning.com/group/childbirthlaborandeverythingyouneedtoknowaboutit
Tribe has become too unreliable lately the server is not working properly. This new site is much better and we can upload videos music,, The focus of the group is slighly changed.. given the possibilities of interactive media. This is also an expansion of the Tribe watsu and pregnancy
check it out and give some feed back.

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

ACOG is at it again

2008-09-02T20:19:02Z

I am fairly outraged...
I know some people think it is not something to worry about, but honestly I do feel peple need to speak out and defend their right to make their own choices regarding their births. I do feel that both ACOG and the AMA could push through legislation that would hinder these rights...

PushNews from The Big Push for Midwives Campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 1, 2008

Number Two With a Bullet: Critical Women’s Health Issues Neglected as Physician Group
Yet Again Sets its Sites on Midwives

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 1, 2008)In the newest phase of its ongoing effort to deny women the right to choose their maternity care providers and birth settings, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has announced that
eliminating access to midwives who specialize in out-of-hospital birth is now the second most important issue on its state legislative agenda. This move puts restricting access to trained
midwives ahead of such critical issues as contraceptive equity, ensuring access to emergency contraception, and the prevention and treatment of perinatal HIV/AIDS.

“ACOG claims to be an advocate of women’s health and choice, but when it comes to the right to choose to deliver your baby in the privacy of your own home with a Certified
Professional Midwife (CPM) who is specifically trained to provide the safest care possible, ACOG’s paternalistic colors bleed through,” said Susan M. Jenkins, Legal Counsel for the Big
Push for Midwives Campaign. “It is astonishing that an organization that purports to be a champion of women’s healthcare would put a petty turf battle that affects less than one percent of the nation’s childbearing women ahead of pressing issues that have an impact on nearly every woman in this country. If this is not dereliction of duty, I can’t imagine what is.”

In recent years, ACOG has led a well-financed campaign to fight legislative reforms that would license and regulate CPMs and has now teamed up with the American Medical Association (AMA) to promote legislaton that would prevent families from choosing to give birth at home. Despite these joint efforts, the groups have not been successful in defeating the groundswell of grassroots activism in support of full access to a comprehensive range of maternity care options that meet the needs of all families.

“Wisconsin is a good example of what ACOG and the AMA are up against,” said Jane Crawford Peterson, CPM, Advocacy Trainer for The Big Push. “Our bipartisan grassroots coalition of
everyday people from across the state managed to defeat the most powerful and well-financed special interest groups in Wisconsin, all on an expenses-only budget of $3000 during a legislative session in which $47 million was spent on lobbying. When you try to deny women the fundamental and very personal right to choose where and how to give birth, they will get organized and they will let their elected officials know that restrictions on those rights cannot stand.”

Noting these successes, ACOG has recently launched its own grassroots organizing effort, calling on member physicians to recruit their patients to participate in its “Who Will Deliver My Baby?” medical liability reform campaign.

“ACOG itself admits that we’re facing a critical shortage of maternity care providers,” said Steff Hedenkamp, Communications Coordinator for the Big Push. “They certainly realize that medical liability reform is nothing more than a band aid and that increasing access to midwives and birth settings is critical to fixing our maternity care system and ensuring that rural, low-income and uninsured women don’t fall through the cracks. Midwives represent an essential growth segment of the U.S. pool of maternity care providers, but instead of putting the healthcare needs of women first, ACOG would rather devote its considerable lobbying budget to a last-ditch attempt to protect its own bottom line. This is not a happy Labor Day for our nation’s mothers and babies.”

The Big Push for Midwives (http://www.thebigpushformidwives.org) is a nationally
coordinated campaign organized to advocate for regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and to push back against the attempts of the American Medical Association and
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to deny American families access to safe and legal midwifery care. The campaign plays a critical role in building a new model of U.S.
maternity care delivery at the local and regional levels, at the heart of which is the Midwives Model of Care, based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. Media
inquiries: Steff Hedenkamp (816) 506-4630, mail to: steff@thebigpushformidwives.org

The Big Push for Midwives Campaign is fiscally sponsored by
Sustainable Markets Foundation, a not-for-profit organization
recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section
501(c)(3). The mission of the Big Push for Midwives is to build
winning, state-level advocacy campaigns towards successful
regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives
(CPMs) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto
Rico.
Visit the Big Push for Midwives Campaign on the Web at
www.TheBigPushforMidwives.org
Sustainable Markets Foundation | 80 Broad Street, Suite 1600 |
New York, NY 10004-2248
The Big Push for Midwives Campaign | 2300 M Street, N.W., Suite
800 | Washington, D.C. 20037-1434

The Big Push for Midwives Campaign, 2300 M Street, N.W. Suite
800, Washington, DC 20037-1434 United States

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

Co-Creative Birthing

2008-08-21T10:44:04Z

Announcing the Co-Creative Birthing Circle: Online Natural Childbirth Education at the Maia Institute for Co-Creative Healing: http://www.MaiaInstitute.com!

The Co-Creative Birthing Circle features 7 extensive birth class modules, a special Birth Story Library, Birth Humor, and a Discussion Forum. The Birth Circle Deluxe also includes email and phone consultations, essential birth and parenting books, and more.

This is the culmination of 10 years of natural pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting research, study, writing, personal, and professional experience, and 2 months of website design. I am thrilled to be able to now offer conscious birthing education and consultation to parents all over the world with the help of 21st century social technology.

This is Birth Education 2.0!

The Birth Circle also has an Advisory Circle of expert midwives, doctors, childbirth educators, doulas, and mothers who are assisting to co-create exceptional childbirth education in alignment with the Mother-Friendly and Baby-Friendly Childbirth Initiatives by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) and the Lamaze Institute of Normal Births, 6 Care Practices that Support Normal Birth.

Coming this fall, the Co-Creative Birthing Circle Facilitator Training & Sage Femme: Women's Healing Arts Circle, also at the Maia Institute of Co-Creative Healing: http://www.maiainstitute.com

Thanks for checking it out! Please share this information with your pregnant friends!

Why: Because Lamaze reports that attendance in childbirth education classes are dropping rapidly since 2000, and because taking natural childbirth classes significantly increases on chances of a normal birth and positive outcomes for mom and baby. Since more expectant families are looking to the internet for information, and so much of the information out there is inaccurate or hard to find, I have created a comprehensive, multi-media, class online with support from childbirth educators.

Blessings, Kara

posted in Home Birth - 4 replies

encourage Oprah to showcase Business of Being Born!

2008-08-18T20:32:20Z

http://www2.oprah.com/email/reach/email_showideas.jhtml

I got an email that they told one fan that BoBB doesn't have enough "mass appeal"... maybe if we flood them with glowing recommendations and ardent requests, we can convince them otherwise. Couldn't hurt!

Just think, the vast majority of their viewers are moms & grandmas- or will be moms soon.
Ricki Lake would make a great guest, and what a treasure trove of inspiring, tear-jerking clips to show!
They've gotta do it.
What a great way to get more people to see it. Likely the very people who would benefit from seeing it.

posted in Home Birth - 2 replies

How do I convince my husband and family???

2008-08-13T09:34:26Z

I want a home birth....I've given birth a gazillion times in my dreams (babies have come out of me and gone back up into my uterus!) and know that when I'm in pain, the only place I want to be is at home, curled up like a cat, in my own bed.... My husband used to support this idea, until my family got involved and brainwashed him.

My mother, in a very accusatory way, pointed her finger at me and said" if anything happens to MY grandchild, it is all going to be YOUR FAULT....." -- to make matters worse, my dad is a scientist....ever since, my parents have whisked my husband away and told him how irresponsible having a home birth is, etc. and my husband is convinced home births are too dangerous.

Keep in mind, both my husband and I have an incredibly close and loving relationship with my family, who only live 30 minutes away. We all get along so well and hang out together a lot, and this controversy is really the only "issue."

My husband says that's he's the other half of baby-making and I absolutely believe that's true and respect him [he is not the controlling type or anything] and he totally wants the option of all the modern technology in the hospital [he grew up in a country with poverty and few medical options]. I doubt that I can convince my parents of anything, but if it's any consolation, I live in San Francisco and St. Lukes Hospital is 2 blocks away! It's one thing to do this without the support of my family, but I cannot do this without the support of my other half, my husband. We have a great relationship and this is the main thing we 100% disagree on.

posted in Home Birth - 18 replies

Natural Pregnancy & Childbirthing Class

2008-08-12T06:05:17Z

Join us for a 4-week class beginning bimonthly that celebrates pregnancy and childbirth from a holistic & practical approach. Our next class will begin on August 15th. The class is taught by a naturopathic physician & will be meeting weekly to discuss the following topics:

• Natural childbirth preparation
• Home & hospital births
• Maternal & fetal development
• Common concerns
• Nutrition
• Exercises & yoga
• Journal writing
• Partner support
• Relaxation techniques
• Movies & birth stories
• Emergency situations
• Basic newborn care

Cost: $180/couple $90/single mama
Scholarships available for those in need.

Register online at doctorpalmeri@gmail.com or call (503) 515-7377

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

rH negative

2008-07-13T14:51:29Z

does anyone have experience or knowledge of home birthing at home when rH negative?

posted in Home Birth - 6 replies

AMA feels homebirth should be illegal

2008-07-12T18:22:25Z

The AMA this week put out a resolution toward creating legislation that would make homebirth illegal and any woman who has a homebirth punishable by arrest. They are equating it to child abuse. They have taken particular offense to Ricki Lakes Business of Being Born movie

http://cfmidwifery.blogspot.com/2008/06/grassroots-network-ama-resolution-to.html

Ricki, Abby's and Jennifer Blocks response
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ricki-lake-jennifer-block-and-abby-epstein/docs-to-women-pay-no-atte_b_107845.html

Another article
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2033135/posts

posted in Home Birth - 20 replies

any suggestions?

2008-06-19T03:53:40Z

I'm expecting my second baby mid-late August... this will be my first home birth and I'm getting excited and all those jittery feelings about what will/might happen... is there anyone who has had their first birth within a medical facility and then second round gone home for the gold? what did you find easier, or wish you had had available...? I'm looking for tips and ideas of what helped all you loving mamas bring your babies into their own homes right out of their first home...

My midwife is amazing, and a great resource of info having been in this field for over 30 years... but I wanted to hear some other mama's perspectives...

Thanks!! :D

posted in Home Birth - 7 replies

home visiting midwives versus non home visitors

2008-06-17T04:37:26Z

does it seem to anyone that there is a difference in quality of care between the midwives
who visit homes and those who expect you to come in for visits? i was wondering if those
who had been in the business longer stopped doing home visits when their practices got
more busy -- or if it was just a philosophilcal difference. i'd certainly rather someone
come here than me shlep out, but i don't want to sacrifice quality of care for a home visit.
any thoughts?

posted in Home Birth - 8 replies

infant DNA collection -- wtf?!

2008-06-09T03:14:23Z

what the heck do we think this is about? and is home birth a way around it, i wonder...?

http://infowars.net/articles/may2008/020507DNA.htm

posted in Home Birth - 11 replies

HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education Class in North Oakland

2008-06-03T08:01:48Z

HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method
A Celebration of Life
HypnoBirthing is a comprehensive childbirth education class focusing on pregnancy and birth that teaches mothers & their birth companions techniques for safe and satisfying birthing through guided imagery, visualization and special breathing. HypnoBirthing is taught in 5 two-and-a-half hour classes.

“My dream is that every woman, everywhere, will know the joy of a safe, satisfying birth for both her baby and herself—one she’ll not need to forget.”
-Marie F. Mongan, 1999

Terra’s Temple
654 Oakland Avenue, North Oakland
Tuesdays June 10th, 17th, 24th, July 1st & 8th
6:30-9:00 pm
With Carrie Flemming, M.A., H.B.C.E.
$250-300 sliding scale
Includes HypnoBirthing book & relaxation/visualization cd
510.907.0075
flemmica@gmail.com
(Private classes also available in your home)

About HypnoBirthing:
The HypnoBirthing Childbirth method is as much a philosophy of birth as it is a technique for achieving a satisfying, relaxing, and stress-free method of birthing. HypnoBirthing teaches you, along with your birthing companion, the Art and Joy of experiencing birth in a more comfortable manner. You will learn to call upon your body’s own natural relaxant and thus lessen or eliminate discomfort and the need for medication. When a woman is properly prepared for childbirth and when mind and body are in harmony, nature is free to function in the same will-designed manner that it does with all other creatures.

You will be fascinated as you view HypnoBirthing films showing laboring mothers, awake, alert and in good humor as they experience the kind of gentle birth that you, too, can know when you are free of the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome.

HypnoBirthing teaches you to release all prior programming about birth, how to trust your body and work with it, as well as how to free yourself of harmful emotions that lead to pain-causing fear and unyielding muscles.

HypnoBirthing will teach you the art of using your own natural birthing instincts. With HypnoBirthing, you will be aware and fully in control, but profoundly relaxed.

YOU WILL LEARN:

Everything you need to know to achieve safer, easier and more comfortable birth

To explode the myth that pain is a necessary accompaniment to labor

What’s wrong with labor as it exists with most other childbirth methods

Techniques of deep relaxation to help you eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome

How your body is naturally designed to conceive, nurture and birth your baby with ease and comfort

To create your body’s own natural relaxant, the only safe labor enhancement

Natural ways to bring your body into labor without artificial chemical induction

How you and your birthing companion can create a birthing environment that is calm, serene and joyful, rather than tense and stressful

Gentle birthing techniques that allow you to breathe your baby into the world without the violence of hard physical pushing

To use your natural birthing instincts to birth your baby in a way that most mirrors the way that nature intended

Carrie Flemming is a Certified HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator, birth doula & visual artist. She studied birth with Elizabeth Davis, Felicia Roche & Marie Mongan, and has supported families in various settings for 6 years. She holds master’s degrees in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and Women’s Spirituality & Social Change from New College of California, and is affiliated with The HypnoBirthing Institute.
Her support is compassionate, creative & from the heart.
posted by:

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

Joyous victory for PA midwife

2008-05-24T19:25:45Z

Here in Pennsylvania we are currently celebrating with Certified
Professional Midwife Diane Goslin in her recent victory regarding
the Commonwealth Court's judgement of her midwifery practice...

www.savehomebirth.com/newsandviews.html

GOSLIN WINS!
Cease and Desist Order Reversed!

"The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania today reversed
the September 2007 decision of the Pennsylvania Board of
Medicine to order Lancaster County midwife, Diane Goslin,
to cease and desist from the practice of midwifery.

In a surprising blow to the Board of Medicine, the
Commonwealth Court opined that, "...practicing midwifery
cannot be construed to be the same as practicing medicine
and surgery." The Board had contended that Goslin was
in violation of the 1985 Medical Practice Act by practicing
medicine without a license.

They further pointed out that the 1985 Act, "...authorizes
the Board to impose penalties only upon persons who
practice as a nurse-midwife without a nurse-midwife
license." Goslin is a Certified Professional Midwife."

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

favorite portland midwife(s) ....

2008-05-23T17:57:49Z

hi everybody! i just made an appointment to get my IUD taken out next week!!! its baby time!!! well, of course i have to get pregnant first but details, details.... :)

so i was wondering if anyone could recommend a midwife in portland, oregon? there are SO many its overwhelming. i would love to hear your amazing birth story....

thanks in advance!

jessica

posted in Home Birth - 8 replies

any luck with getting re-imbursed through Harvard Pilgrim health plan?

2008-05-21T00:27:57Z

My husband's insurance was just switched from Blue Cross Blue Shield (which re-imbursed us about 80% of the cost of our home birth) to Harvard Pilgrim (which states in its introductory packet that it does not pay for planned home births). Has anyone successfully submitted a claim to Harvard Pilgrim?

posted in Home Birth - 1 reply

I don't know who else to ask...

2008-05-11T00:25:27Z

Hello,
Pardon bandwidth and you can tell me that this is the wrong forum, I'll totally understand, but I don't know where else to begin my search. My husband and I have been trying for a several years now to conceive, it just seems like the natural way hasn't been very effective. I've been very disappointed in the past with the healthcare providers I have met with. So I'm wary of just going to any ole doctor. I need someone who is going to take my concerns seriously. If anyone has any names of people I should contact please message me on or offlist whichever feels more comfortable to you. I'm only asking here because I know some of you have worked with doctors and then just delivered at home with a midwife. And again if you feel like I am totally out of line just tell me, and I'll understand if the moderator decides to delete my post. If you feel there is a more appropriate forum to take this to please just let me know. I live in the Seattle area. Thank you.

posted in Home Birth - 9 replies

Time has come, and I have questions:

2008-05-05T14:18:00Z

Hello Mamas! Well my midwife came over today, and she says I'm 2 centimeters dilated, and %50 effaced, and something else. I don't remember. Basically, I'm ready to go! I know it could still be a week or something, but I really would like for it to be really soon. Especially since the midwife that I would LOVE to do this with goes off call tomorrow. Whatever happens, I can't see it being anything but perfect, I would just prefer the one midwife to the other. I also kind of think it's going to be soon. I've been feeling intense rushes of energy that feel like a combination hormones and brushing against the 'other side'. Also, I've felt slightly nauseated and times, and slightly crampy. All in all, I'm stoked and ready to go.

So here's my question, when you were in labor and the midwives checked how dilated you were, how dilated were you? How rapidly did you dilate? Of course it's different for everyone. I just want to hear all about it. Did you get all high on hormones? Is there anything else about your birth experience that you'd like to share? I'm looking more for the esoteric details of your experience, and they're more interesting, and harder to find! Sometimes I wonder if ANY women out there are experiencing the same other worldly, energetic sensations that I am.

Please do share! That is all.

posted in Home Birth - 9 replies

determining if it is possible

2008-05-03T22:48:00Z

i'm in the thick of all that testing stuff: genetic testing, testing for diabetes, testing testing testing.

after undergoing a level 2 sono, i seem to be at about the same down syndrome risk as other women my age. but the idea has been implanted in my mind that there may be a problem from the earlier bloodwork -- and i'm saying no to the amnio.

the next hurdle is the "slightly elevated" diabetes situation. i did the one-hour test. now they want me in for the three hour.

and slowly, slowly i am losing that mindset where i believe i will be able to birth safely at home.

i do believe flexibility is important. and just because I wanted to give birth at home doesn't, of course, mean that it will be safe or advisable to do so.

but a quiet, little place inside me feels it's getting screwed out of doing it my way, at home, the way that actually would be most peaceful for me and the little one.

i wonder how many moms to be get scared out of home birth.

i hope that after all this test is over, i will be able to recover my equilibrium enough to make a solid, informed decision about how and where to bring this baby into the world.

posted in Home Birth - 8 replies

Do you find birth erotic?

2008-04-30T16:41:04Z

I wonder if I'm the only one. When I watch homebirth videos on you tube, and it's what I consider to be a 'good' birth, a healthy and consious birth, I can't help but notice how incredibly sexual and erotic it is. Anyone feel that way?

posted in Home Birth - 7 replies

time to look for midwives in NYC

2008-04-28T02:12:57Z

i am getting ready to start my midwife search. i have one or two people i am going to ask for referals, but thought i'd ask here, too. i am planning on giving birth in NYC at this point. anybody have personal experience here or know somebody who has? anybody know what it costs to pay the full rate for a midwife here? i know it's possible to negotiate and such, but i'm trying to find out what the going rate really is. i've heard $3000, but i've also heard twice that.

posted in Home Birth - 3 replies

ani difranco ruffles some feathers

2008-04-26T05:25:33Z

a post from celebrity baby blog:
http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/04/ani-difranco.html#more

ani talks about her homebirth.

posted in Home Birth - 5 replies

Support a Family Healing Arts Center!

2008-03-25T22:51:11Z

Hello, please vote for my hoopdancing video "Gemini Hoops" and help me to win $10,000 to fund the creation of a healing arts center!

PLEASE VOTE FOR "GEMINI HOOPS" on CLIPSTAR!

http://www.clipstar.com/videopage.jsf?video=9_7002_159

My intention is to win this contest in order to have the funds to create a Family Healing Arts Center in Eugene, OR with craniosacral therapy, chiropractic, midwifery, and classes for fertility, pregnancy, babies, children, and families. I already have the space and practitioners available. I just need the money to remodel the space, buy furniture, signs, insurance, and the start-up costs. Your vote can help make this family healing space into a beautiful community center!

Thank you! Every vote counts! Feel free to pass this along!

Blessings, Kara

P.S. Voting continues until April 30th. You will need to register to vote, however when you register you can choose not to receive any other emails from this company or others, so your privacy is insured. THANK YOU!!!

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

confused about placentas

2008-03-25T18:26:03Z

well, i somehow manage to make it through life without knowing certain basic things. like when the placenta comes out. first comes the baby, then comes a cord, and then when does the placenta come out? i have been watching tons of birth videos on youtube and there's something i'm just not getting. none of the videos are showing the cord getting cut or what it's attached to. but i have read home birthing accounts where there is something to catch the placenta, presumably sometime not very long after the baby comes. you know how nervous we can get about the things we don't know. help a sister out with some life 101 info?

posted in Home Birth - 23 replies

Birthing Tubs

2008-03-24T15:20:08Z

From my observations, it seems that birthing tubs seem to be ideal for comfortability.
They have that edge you can lean on so you can squat as opposed to being on your back in the bathtub.
Anyone have experience giving birth in a tub and giving birth without one?
What are the costs to rent something like that?

posted in Home Birth - 7 replies

fear

2008-03-23T09:37:49Z

i find that i have an intuitive sense that unassisted birth would be best for me -- at least for most of my labor. and that at the same time, i have a number of fears:

* that i will be bleeding to death and not know it; that i will not know the difference between "normal" bleeding and danger.

* that something will happen to the baby and i will not be able to negotiate it -- for eg a cord wrapped around the neck or something difficult regarding positioning.

* that the baby will die and it will be my fault.

* that the pain will be too much and i will wind up at the ER with a baby's head hanging out of my vagina.

* that i will botch something in cutting the cord. or be too grossed out or tired to deal with it.

i have all kinds of fears, some of them quite creative, some of them having to do with that i still have a lot of learning ahead (someone just told me about "lotus birth" today), some of them perhaps based in reality.

there is so much coming from Culture, telling me it is not safe to give birth at home, just following my body's own wisdom.

there is so much coming from Culture, telling me women used to die and babies used to die routinely in this process.

and yet when i stop to do the research and reading, it seems clear hospitals can be far less safe than home for birth.

the most moderate and helpful thing someone has said to me of late was that she had been at several homebirths with midwives, and sometimes she did not even know what what she was looking at and it seemed to her the midwives had very valuable knowledge and that i might want to consider having one. i could find one who would leave me alone as much as i needed and help me through any complications where i might need her.

what has your experience been? if you've already had your child, what does your fear look like to you on the other side of it? was it real? was it reasonable? were you able to handle the birth on your own? do you wish you'd had a midwife? did you make it through without winding up at the ER with a baby hanging out of your vagina? what were the surprises and mishaps?

on the other side of all the fearful things i read, i read about orgasmic birth -- and find it almost incomprehensible. i've never personally heard any woman say birth was not painful, never mind orgasmic. has anyone enjoyed giving birth?

thanks for sharing.

: )

posted in Home Birth - 13 replies

the business of being born

2008-03-17T17:40:53Z

This is avaliable on netflix and it's instant gratification because of the "watch now" feature. I found this very inspiring and amazing to watch...so if you have netflix and your computer can do the video deal check it out!!!! it's worth it.

The Business of Being Born

"Director Abby Epstein's controversial documentary takes a hard look at America's maternity care system, juxtaposing hospital deliveries against the growing popularity of at-home, natural childbirths that many expectant parents are now opting for. Former talk show host Ricki Lake was inspired to produce this compelling exposé after a dissatisfying birthing experience with her first child left her with many unanswered questions. "

posted in Home Birth - 1 reply

fear continued...

2008-03-16T17:54:05Z

In my observations of the birthing process, no first hand experience here, it seems like when a problem occurs in a pregnancy there is usually at least one red flag before the actual birthing process begins or if there is a problem the birthing process may begin prematurely.
Like if the baby has the cord wrapped around it's neck, or isn't getting something it needs to be getting, the body/baby will begin the process of contracting as a red flag. Even at full term some red flags maybe a high blood pressure.

How many of you have experience Red Flags before having a complicated birth with and without diagnostic test. How many of you just knew there was something wrong and how many of you were told, for example, you have high blood pressure or diabetes during your births?

posted in Home Birth - 3 replies

birthing groups

2008-03-12T04:59:44Z

in reading the many stories of birth on the fear thread and in a couple of gaskin's books i'm currently reading, what hits me is i wish there were birthing groups. as a person who believes, more or less, in my body/spirit's ability to bring my child safely into this world, i am finding i really like the idea of a powerful group of other mamas and mamas to be in the room with me. not necessarily friends, even, but women who have a consciousness about birthing and have had experience with it.... to be there. i think it would be calming. i think there would be a lot of collective wisdom in the room. i wish there were a bunch of novice attendees and experienced mamas to be with me when i gave birth. enough of these stories of doulas that crap out and enough of my anxiety over how to afford a midwife. i think what i really want in there is good company.

posted in Home Birth - 3 replies

cutting the cord

2008-02-21T01:29:49Z

thank you all for continued informational support. i continue to think about the concrete aspects of birth -- the latest question is how the cord is cut. is it complicated? do you need to know anything special about clamping it and such? i understand there are different theories on how long to wait to cut it. the most amazing thing i've learned about it recently is that pulsation is observable in it for some time after birth. wow! okay, so anybody got any 101 level information on cord cutting? how was it done in your experience? what can go wrong?

posted in Home Birth - 6 replies

how much can i expect to bleed

2008-02-19T04:13:12Z

i am confused about how much blood to expect in the minutes, hours, days after the birth. how does one know how much is too much? what herbs have others used to slow bleeding when necessary?

posted in Home Birth - 5 replies

Baby Healing Project Needs Your Votes for Funding!

2008-01-23T08:43:33Z

Your Vote is Needed to Fund a Free Aquatic Baby Bodywork Clinic!

I am a Finalist in the www.IdeaBlob.com Contest to win $10,000 to fund a small business or project. Your support will allow me to create a free monthly clinic for pregnant women, babies, and children to receive Aquatic CranioSacral Therapy in the therapeutic, warm, salt-water pool at the Tamarack Center in Eugene, OR.

Please vote for the WaterBaby CranioSacral Therapy Project!!! Every vote counts!
http://ideablob.com/ideas/1225-WaterBaby-CranioSacral-Therapy-

Thank you!!!!!!

Here's what Mothering Magazine, www.mothering.com, has to say about my project:

Healer's Project Needs Your Votes for Funding

When it comes to bringing aid and comfort to mothers and babies, Kara Maia Spencer, www.maiahealingarts.com, has credentials galore—she is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, CranioSacral Therapist, Holistic Childbirth Educator & Consultant, Homebirth Midwifery Assistant, Reiki Master & Energy Healer, and is Certified in Bodywork for the Childbearing Year.

Dedicated to providing gentle, non-invasive, effective healing—as well as creating community among new parents—Kara intends to facilitate a free monthly CranioSacral Therapy clinic for pregnant women, mothers and babies, at a community therapeutic pool near her home in Eugene, Oregon. She has entered a funding contest with the hopes of winning $10,000 with which to rent the Tamarack Wellness Center's, www.tamarackwellness.com, warm, salt-water, solar powered therapeutic pool (the most eco-pool in Oregon) each month to host the free community clinic.

Please vote here to support Kara's goal—each vote counts, and registration is very quick and free.
http://ideablob.com/ideas/1225-WaterBaby-CranioSacral-Therapy-

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

Business of Being Born on MSN

2008-01-17T05:37:50Z

Well, at least it made the front page...
http://www.slate.com/id/2181860/?GT1=10837

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

dancing out baby

2008-01-15T19:21:23Z

hello lovelies,
i am in the process of developing a dancing out the baby class which will be a part of my childbirth educator certification process. i am doing some independent research on birth dances, and would love to hear your stories if you are interested in sharing. specifically any stories involving dancing as you relate to it. please message me directly, and let me know if i could use examples of your story in the future. thank you so much.
jerushah

posted in Home Birth - 1 reply

patience

2008-01-12T19:30:34Z

I am due on January 30th, my midwife just came over for a prenatal and I asked her to check me. I am about 70% effaced, which is good news, but I could not help feel a little disappointed. I am so ready to have this baby. The baby has dropped, I am HUGE, and really uncomfortable, and I just want to go into labor already. I know I have three weeks until due date, but I sincerely hope I don't have to wait that long or longer. This frustration is eating me up. Just had to get it off my chest.

posted in Home Birth - 4 replies

vbac success!! three cheers for acupuncture!!!~

2008-01-11T03:02:23Z

born on 7-12, an 8 lb. 8 oz baby boy, approximately 40 hours after one acupuncture treatment and a bath in clary sage. That's a big boy, and healthy as a clam. His due date was July 24th but my instints told me now. Thanks for all the support. You can see him at peacehealth.org baby news. His name is Gabriel Francis Red Feather.

posted in Home Birth - 14 replies

Waterbirth International Needs our Help

2008-01-09T03:05:14Z

Please help Barbara Harper keep waterbirth alive

Waterbirth International may close doors. Here is a note from Barbara Harper of Waterbirth International

Barbara Harper wrote:.

I cannot yet imagine a world without the voice and work of Waterbirth
International - we get calls and emails every day from women who need help
convincing one hospital or another to let them labor or birth in water. If
we die - a big part of the movement dies. Waterbirth has shown us all that
women know how to give birth and babies know how to be born. Waterbirth
gave us "hands-off", sit back and let the baby out. I see waterbirth
mentioned on Blogs every single day, not to mention Baby Story on the TV. I
took Waterbirth International to ACOG two years in a row - and was the ONLY
booth showing birth films to obstetricians and especially to student
physicians. There were tears, laughter and outrage - just the thing to stir
up those young crop of doctors. I am finally realizing a life's dream.

But now I am faced with letting this dream go. Perhaps I have done enough.
Perhaps it is time to quit.

About 18 years ago, maybe it was longer, when Mothering Magazine was facing
bankruptcy Peggy did a heartfelt plea asking their readers to consider
ordering a Life-time subscription. I think the subscriptions were $1000 or
$1200, I can't remember now. I do remember that I couldn't imagine not
reading my Mothering. So, I bought two and gave one to my obstetrician's
office.

How can you help us stay open to take the next phone call? - to convince the
next obstetrician to incorporate waterbirth into his/her practice - to work
with the nurse midwives to install pools in their facilities? To educate an
entire hospital on the benefits of allowing women freedom of movement in the
water. How much is it worth to see waterbirth become the norm in the US,
like it is in the UK? I think we only need a few more years to make that
happen. Do women really want waterbirth to be an available choice in every
hospital? I think so.

Can you help us by getting the word out on blogs and lists? I had to let go
of all of the staff except one person to process orders. Miraculously, we
made payroll today, but we can't hang on much longer. We need a miracle.

If I need to call every single waterbirth parent personally, I will. I
don't want 25 years of work to end over a measly $200,000.

The work that we have done the last few years has been phenomenal. How God
arranged for me to teach in hospitals and medical schools around the planet
- Taiwan, Venezuela, Turkey, Mexico, Canada, Holland, Portugal, China,
Trinidad, Croatia - I'll never figure that out. I laugh out loud sometimes
when I get up in front of an audience of physicians in a medical school
overseas - who all want to hear about waterbirth and the incorporation of
Gentle Birth practices and principles into their routines.

Think about what you can do and call me if you want to chat or if you have
some great ideas on how we can quickly move into the black and keep
waterbirth alive and thriving.

We need your help. Barbara Harper needs your help. The waterbirth/gentle
birth movement needs your help.

Blessings,
Barbara
Barbara Harper, RN, CLD, CCE
Founder/Director
Waterbirth International
www.waterbirth.org
503-673-0026 -office (out of US or in Portland)
800-641-2229 - toll free
503-710-7975 - cell phone

We LOVE helping women get into Hot Water!!
And have been doing it for 24 years!!

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

beautiful homebirth montage (x-post)

2007-12-16T05:30:57Z

this was so moving, i'm totally hormonal right now...

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=3c5b874ed95f8ea9bf9466&skin_id=1009&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

posted in Home Birth - 12 replies

Pregnancy/newborn Photography?

2007-12-11T04:27:27Z

Hello all,

I am working to develop a photography business that focus on pregnancy and newborns. I would appreciate your feedback and ideas. I have a few questions:

What would you like to see in pregnancy or newborn pictures?

Prefer a male or female photographer and why?

Where would you feel more comfortable having this type of photography done....in own home or a studio?

Any other ideas or thoughts are welcome.

Thanks.

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

YIKES!!! Just toured the hospital

2007-12-03T03:43:36Z

I have already chosen to birth at home, but also signed up for the hospital tour of the labor and delivery wing to be sure I am fully informed and making my choice accordingly. It was scarry from the very beginning. After some general info it seemed to be all about epidurals and c-sections. I don't know why I was so shocked, but I was. We watched a video on epi's explaining what they were and that it was okay to get one, you haven't failed by asking for one, they don't hurt the baby, and be realistic with yourself - labor is painful!!! They failed to mention the follow-up stufff like pitocin and increased risk of other interventions when an epi is used. Every woman gets an IV because when delivering because there is always the chance that you will end up having a c-section, so be prepared(emotionally too). And every pregnant woman is in a constant state of dehydration so we hook you up to a bag to rehydrate. More info about c-sections. Then we saw a birth room. Regular hopspital bed, no tub to labor in, and shared recovery rooms. More info about c-sections. And the security measures, whoa.! Specific colored badges for employees of the labor and delivery wing, a polaroid of your newborn, a security bracelet that will sound an alarm if you wander into the wrong area of the hospital with your baby. Fetal monitoring, no food or drink, blood tests, eye ointment, vaccinations - it all made me want to scream and run.
And to top it all off, my husband and I were the only ones to ask any questions. Such as c-section rates (which were 25%), unmentioned standard procedures - what are they, what is the eye ointment for and name of it, be more specific about these tests please, how long after my water breaks do I have before you induce (answer was 18 hours with 2 rounds of antibiotics), etc. Why were the others so apparently content with being treated as the average person with the standard procedures? I am not the average person, I will not be treated according to averages and standard practices, I will eat and drink as I please, and don't tell me what I need.
Thank you for letting me rant - I feel better now.

posted in Home Birth - 36 replies

looking for an at home midwife

2007-11-21T17:35:57Z

i live in the "southern tier" in upstate NY, about 30 miles east of Binghamton, 30 miles west of Oneonta.
having little luck so far, the few leads i've gotten have closed or moved.

posted in Home Birth - 2 replies

anyone looking to be a Doula? Labor Assist? Workshop here in San Diego, CA

2007-11-02T17:31:02Z

I am helping to hosting a Labor/Birth Assistant Doula training workshop at the end of this month. ALACE (Association of Labor Assistant and Childbirth Educators) the oldest Labor Assistant/ Doula training program in America, and they are having a 3 day workshop for anyone who has interest in Labor Assisting/Doula. This is a great course for anyone who wants to learn more about Pregnancy and Birth and how to support women and their partners during labor. This has been an amazing career choice for me, and everyone I know that has been able to move into this line of work.

The workshop is November 30th-Decemer 2nd at the UCSD Women's Health Center on the UCSD campus in La Jolla. The trainer coming out for this workshop has been a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) and Doula for over 20 years, and she is awesome! If you want me to mail you a brochure, or email you one give me a call or email me at SDAlaceWorkshop@Gmail.com or (619) 849-8708. You can also message me here on Tribe.

"An ALACE Certified Labor Assistant/Birth Doula is a professional care provider who understands and trusts the process of birth, who respects its transcendent and sacred aspects as well as its physical and emotional aspects, and who facilitates the birth experience for parents, baby and primary care providers."- from the ALACE website.

For more information on what a Doula does please also feel free to visit the ALACE website at www.Alace.org

Thank you!

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

Birth Arts Doula Workshop at Harbin Hot Springs

2007-10-14T02:50:21Z

BIRTH ARTS INTERNATIONAL
DOULA WORKSHOP

at Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown, CA
October 19th-21st, 2007

To Register and for more info: www.maiahealingarts.com/harbin...oct-07/

Join us for a weekend educational immersion into the science and spirit of labor support. Learn how to provide support for women and babies through pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum.

The training includes an three days of class, extensive workbook, and on-going mentoring through didactic work to complete the program and receive certification as a Certified Birth Arts Doula.

Birth Arts offers a complete birth doula training integrating evidence-based maternity care research with traditional women’s wisdom and intuition. The workshop includes hands-on experiential practice in bodywork, rebozo, labor support techniques, and non-pharmacological methods of pain relief. We will go into detail about the practice of supporting women at birth at home, birth center, and hospital environments.

with Kara Spencer, LMT, CD
Harbin Hot Springs, Middletown, CA
October 19-21, 2007

Kara Spencer - Maia Healing Arts: www.maiahealingarts.com
Birth Arts International ~ www.birtharts.com
Harbin Hot Springs Retreat Center - www.harbin.org

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

illegal home births

2007-10-10T20:49:09Z

i have an aquaintance that just had an illegal home birth with a midwife down here in alabama, and it went smoothly (yay!), and she found an OB that said he would back her up. i'm in nursing school, and after witnessing the way women labor and give birth in hospitals here, i feel that it would be a happier, more relaxed, and safer experience if i have my baby at home when we decide to have one. my question is this:
when you are home birthing in a state where licenture of midwives is not allowed, and have an emergency situation happen (i know emergency situations usually don't happen and mamas are screened for risky pregnancies, but what if..), what is the course of action? call an ambulance and hope they don't notice the kiddie pool in your living room? just wanted to hear some of your thoughts :)

posted in Home Birth - 13 replies

Lotus Birth

2007-10-02T16:48:47Z

Hello All...

I'm generally pretty quiet in here .. I do very much enjoy the conversations and have appreciated postings of others. Just wanted to say that. :-)

My partner and I have decided to have a Lotus Birth. I'm wondering if any of you have chosen this path? I'd love to hear some personal stories and ideas. I am "officially" due this Sunday, June 24th, and am very excited about the whole experience.

Love & blessings,
AlyGirl xo

posted in Home Birth - 17 replies

Gentle Birth World Conference in PDX

2007-09-13T01:28:14Z

http://www.gentlebirthworld.com/mc/page.do

This is coming up in about a month here in Portland and i was curious if anyone from Tribe is going? I'm wanting to make the Sat/Sun part.

posted in Home Birth - 7 replies

free and easy way to help homeless children

2007-08-02T21:47:27Z

www.railwaychildren-friends.com/email.asp

place this web search-engine in place of your old one and raise 10p per search

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

what are your favorite hb videos?

2007-08-01T18:48:01Z

We are hoping to start a collection of natural birth videos, and hoping to get quite a few very soon since we are expecting a new little on in October and would like to watch them with our toddler as a kind of preparation.
What are your favorite videos and why?

Thanks! :)

posted in Home Birth - 4 replies

Birth Arts Doula Training at Lost Valley, Oregon - Aug 24-26

2007-07-17T08:37:12Z

Birth Arts International Doula Training
at Lost Valley Educational Center, Dexter, OR (near Eugene)
August 24-26, 2007
www.birtharts.com

facilitated by Kara Maia Spencer, LMT, CD

For more information see: http://www.maiahealingarts.com/lost-valley-oregon-august/
or contact Kara at 541-520-0681

Join us at Lost Valley for a weekend educational immersion into the science and spirit of labor support. Learn how to provide support for women and babies through pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum.

The training includes a weekend workshop, lodging (dorm or camping), meals, an extensive workbook, and on-going mentoring through didactic work to complete the program and receive certification as a Certified Birth Arts Doula.

Birth Arts offers a complete birth doula training integrating evidence-based maternity care research with traditional women’s wisdom and intuition. The workshop includes hands-on experiential practice in bodywork, rebozo, labor support techniques, and non-pharmacological methods of pain relief. We will go into detail about the practice of supporting women at birth at home, birth center, and hospital environments.

Tuition: $350

Food & Lodging: $130 - dormitory lodging, $70 - camping in your own tent
includes delicious vegetarian meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch

For registration or inquiries contact:

Kara at 541-520-0681 or email kara@birtharts.com

Mail your registration form and tuition to: Kara Spencer, 2833 Willamette St, Suite B, Eugene, OR 97405

About Lost Valley Educational Center:

Lost Valley, www.lostvalley.org, is a permaculture school, intentional community, and workshop retreat center. Situated just 25 minutes east of Eugene, OR on a beautiful reserve of land, there are hiking trails, a creek with a swimming hole in the summer, and guided nature trails.

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

Stone Soup : homebirth in a comic strip!

2007-07-14T17:33:15Z

I never read the comic strips, but just happen to glance at this one and went *whoa! What!?* I think they progress day by day or something so this might make more sense in a couple of days?

I personally (no matter how ridiculous and NOT funny the comic strip is) think this is pretty damn cool that homebirth is in a national comic strip.

http://news.yahoo.com/comics/uclickcomics/20070704/cx_ss_uc/ss20070704;_ylt=Aq9MU.WqvzErf383ujc_6L2cocwF

posted in Home Birth - 12 replies

article: Unassisted births dangerous, doctors warn

2007-07-04T18:05:45Z

Thought I'd post this, see what people think

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/06/21/free-birth.html

posted in Home Birth - 16 replies

MO Midwifery needs your help NOW!

2007-07-04T13:50:51Z

If you live in Missouri, or know people who do--contact govenor Matt Blunt at 573.751.3222 and ask him to support the midwifery legislation in HB 818 in the next couple of days (5/16 and 5/17) The session ends Friday.

The legisiation has passed both house and senate and is on his desk! Missourians need to call in support!

Thank you,
Dawn

posted in Home Birth - 1 reply

advice on getting him going

2007-07-03T07:47:16Z

Anybody have any word on how to get a baby going gently and naturally (please don't recommend sex because I don't have a partner and it's slightly depressing how many people have told me that it's the only way)... My last baby was overdue ad huge and I want this one to be a normal size. I had a previous c-section so it's also really important that it's a gentle method. I've heard black and blue cohosh can be pretty fast, and I don't want to rupture. I'm getting more nervous everyday the more I read about it. any input is great, thanks guys.

posted in Home Birth - 12 replies

Home birth veterans, some advice please

2007-07-02T21:43:32Z

I'm a newbie here expecting my first child in July and I'm starting to prepare for a home birth. I've seen that there are 'packages' available, but I was wanting to know from those of you that have already done this what the actual necessities are. What were the most helpful must-haves and what didn't get used? And what were your favorite comfort items? Any information is greatly appreciated.

posted in Home Birth - 17 replies

Birth Arts International Doula Workshops

2007-06-22T08:35:12Z

Upcoming Birth Arts Workshops in Vermont, Oregon, Texas, and California!
www.birtharts.com

Birth, Postpartum, and Advanced Doula Trainings integrating wise women traditions with evidence-based research.

Birth Arts Postpartum Workshop
Bennington, VT - July 28th-29th
contact: Helena Wu at helena@birtharts.com / 802-235-1512

Birth Arts Advanced Workshop - Vibrational Medicine for Birth
Chester, VT - August 25th-26th
contact: Helena Wu at helena@birtharts.com / 802-235-1512

Birth Arts Labor Doula Workshop
Lost Valley Center, Dexter, OR - August 24th-26th
contact: Kara Spencer at kara@birtharts.com / 541-520-0681
www.maiahealingarts.com/doula-training/

Birth Arts Labor Doula Workshop
Alma De Mujer, Austin, TX - August 24th-26th
contact: Patricia Couch at patricia@birtharts.com / 541-556-8415
www.pattycakebirthingservices.com/b...x/

Birth Arts Labor Doula Workshop
Harbin Hot Springs, Middletown, CA - October 19th-21st
contact: Kara Spencer at kara@birtharts.com / 541-520-0681
www.maiahealingarts.com/harbin...oct-07/

More dates coming soon. Contact demetria@birtharts.com if you are interested in hosting a class in your area or for interest in distance learning programs.

Birth Arts International
www.birtharts.com

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

Unassisted/autonomous birth

2007-05-27T23:19:26Z

I am looking to speak with women who have had or are going to have an unassisted birth. I am interested in your stories (respectfully!).

Anyone here doing so? Would love to connect!

Ondra

posted in Home Birth - 38 replies

Another Home Birth movie

2007-05-18T18:31:13Z

from Mothering magazine's website:
--------------------------------------------------------

The Business of Being Born 2007 NYC Tribeca Film Festival
By Wendy Ponte

New Yorkers had an opportunity to experience a real "birthing" week in Manhattan starting with the much-anticipated opening of the documentary film, The Business of Being Born, which had its premier at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 29th.

The idea for the film sprung from the personal experience of actress/talk show host Ricki Lake, Executive Producer for the film, after birthing her own children—one in a conventional hospital setting, and the second at home with a midwife. The film's message is clear and unflinching: modern medical practices have so distorted the process of birth that we have lost the natural beauty of this rite of passage. "If you really want a humanized birth, the thing to do is to get the hell out of the hospital," say Marsden Wagner, a physician and former Director of Women's and Children's Health for the World Health Organization, in an interview during the film.

Interviews with other experts, such as medical anthropologist Robbie Davis-Floyd, acclaimed midwife Ina May Gaskin, and French obstetrician Michel Odent, are contrasted with moving interviews from real-life women. We see these women before, during and after their homebirths.

But the best part of the film by far is the surprise twist it takes when director Abby Epstein discovers that she herself is pregnant. Both Epstein and Lake share their own personal experiences in such an open and giving way that the old cliché held true—there were very few dry eyes in the house by the end.

Two days later, on Tuesday May 31st, Childbirth Connection's event, Women and Childbirth: Choice, Control, Knowledge and Decision Making, was held in Manhattan's venerable Harvard Club. The organization presented the Carola Warburg Rothschild Award for outstanding contribution to the health and well-being of women and their families to Betsy Gotbaum, New York City's Public Advocate, and Choices in Childbirth, whose director, doula Élan McCallister, was also interviewed in the film, The Business of Being Born.

Gotbaum and Choices in Childbirth were chosen to receive this award for their collaborative effort to enforce the Maternity Information Act, originally written in 1989. The law directs that all hospitals that provide maternity services in New York State must provide prospective patients with a brochure that clearly outlines that hospitals track record. The brochure, which is provided to hospitals by the state's Department of Health, requires precise information about current c-section rates and rates of induction and episiotomies so that women can make informed decisions.

Over the past two years members of the two organizations actually visited 44 New York City hospitals posed as pregnant women in order to determine whether or not the brochures were being handed out. None of the hospitals visited, except one, complied with the ruling. This effort made it possible for compliance with the law to be enforced. Present at the event were doulas, midwives and birth advocates from all over the country—but when Childbirth Connections director, Maureen Cory, asked if any hospital administrators were present, no hands were raised. Also present was former Carola Warburg Rothschild recipient, Doris Haire, whose dedicated efforts had helped to get the original bill passed in the 1980's.

After taking in the poignant and provocative works of the film and award ceremony, New Yorkers also had an opportunity to laugh out loud at some of motherhood's more everyday challenges at the one-woman show, Mother Load, playing at the Sage Theater through June 16th.

Although purists might take issue with some of the commentary (i.e. epidurals are okay, and so is a bottle of formula or two), few could argue with the play's bottom line: our culture bombards mothers with such a high standard of perfectionism that just relaxing and enjoying your kids is nearly impossible.

Actress Amy Wilson wrote and stars in this lively production, which is based on her own life as the mother of two young sons—with a third on the way. The bewildering array of conflicting information that comes at most mothers these days is personified by the amplified voice of an astringent announcer whose commentary becomes increasingly distorted as the onslaught of information builds from television shows, magazines, pre-school applications and even that sacred old standby, What to Expect When You're Expecting.

Wilson's comedic timing is excellent, her bewildered and frenzied facial expressions are easy to both identify with and laugh at. One wishes for a few more of the poignant moments, such as when she describes the joy of finally getting the hang of breastfeeding. Still and all, though, this play is an hour's worth of entertainment that any mother will thoroughly appreciate.

For more information:

* The Business of Being Born; directed by Abby Epstein; Executive Producer: Ricki Lake; www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com
* Childbirth Connection (www.childbirthconnection.com) has a link to more information about the Maternity Information Act in New York State, along with a download link to the Public Advocate's report on the recent enforcement of this act.
* Mother Load; written by Amy Wilson; directed by Julie Kramer; produced by Hyde Park & Lafayette. Playing through June 16th at The Sage Theater. Order tickets at 212-279-4200 or go to www.motherloadshow.com

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

A movie everyone here will like. Pregnant in America

2007-05-17T05:35:02Z

Hi everyone,

I cannot wait for this movie to be released. I think all of you who feel strongly about the politics around birth might really enjoy it, and those who don't will find it fascinating all the same. http://pregnantinamerica.com/ The quote they have on their website says it best-

"Pregnant in America examines the betrayal of humanity's greatest gift--birth--by the greed of U.S. corporations. Hospitals, insurance companies and other members of the healthcare industry have all pushed aside the best care of our infants and mothers to play the power game of raking in huge profits. "

Some interesting facts-
The United States has the 2nd worst newborn DEATH rate amongst all industrialized nations.
98% of women have their babies in hospitals
66% of hospitals profits come from births.

Have a good weekend all! :)

posted in Home Birth - 12 replies

tribe ads

2007-05-15T03:47:09Z

anyone noticed thetype of ads that are located in between the the thread topics on our homebirth tribe? today i saw an ad that said, "research shows that home birth is not as safe as hospital birth". i understand that tribe has to make money to offer this free online community that we enjoy, however... the advertisers are definitely barking up the wrong tree with that one! i am sure they are computer generated ads, etc... but really.

maybe this is an old issue that everyone else is used to, but i thought i'd mention it!

posted in Home Birth - 5 replies

to know or not to know

2007-05-11T23:41:12Z

i'm just curious, did you or did you not choose to find out the baby's gender prenatally? it's interesting how this seems to be a dying mystery in life. i choose not to know, btw.

posted in Home Birth - 11 replies

baby blossom

2007-04-25T17:58:38Z

april23, in the wee hours of a deeply star-lit night, a beautiful baby girl was born, at home, in a warm tub.
all natural, gentle enterance into the world.
if only all babies had the possibility for this type of birth - no interference, a gentle acceptance of this powerful transformation, whatever that looks like- what would the world look like?
thankyou mama for being empowered and trusting in the perfect process of your labour and birthing experience.
may all women be empowered and joyful in their strength.
gracious thanks for the gift of being with this new being as she came through...
may all children be blessed with a gentle, beautiful birth.
welcome xox

posted in Home Birth - 1 reply

10 steps to be a mother friendly provider

2007-04-19T16:56:09Z

go to http://www.ingentac onnect.com/ content/lamaze/ jpe and download the booklet...give it to your midwife, ob doulas nurse etc...

posted in Home Birth - 3 replies

Healing the Birth Process: How to Maximize Your Baby's Developmental Potential

2007-03-23T05:13:08Z

HEALING THE BIRTH PROCESS:
How to Maximize Your Baby's Developmental Potential

95% of births in America result in some level of infant shock and trauma, ranging from the normal rigors of labor to medical interventions.
These imprints can profoundly affect a baby's full developmental potential.

Learn how to recognize and resolve any negative birth imprinting and dramatically increase your baby's:
Feeling of Safety and Well-Being
Intelligence and Ability to Learn
Ability to accomplish and persevere through difficult situations
Capacity for Empathy, Joy, and Love
Physical health and coordination

Tuesday, March 27, 12:30-2:00pm
Blossom Birth Services
299 S. California Avenue, Ste. 120
Palo Alto
650-321-2326

Jeremy Goldberg, C.M.T., is a Birth Integration Specialist and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist in Redwood City. He specializes in working with babies and families from the preconception to postpartum periods.

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

New film on hospital birth!

2007-03-18T23:38:05Z

A friend from my local AP group sent this to me-it looks amazing! Much love-Baby Tao's Mom (Alexandra)
http://www.pregnantinamerica.com/

posted in Home Birth - 1 reply

Spamming

2007-03-18T17:51:05Z

Hello everyone. I don't check in as often as I should and would like to enlist your help in keeping this tribe spam free. If you spot anything, please send me a message and I will contact the poster and delete the post. Thanks for your help!-Alexandra

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

Bay Area midwife recommendations?

2007-03-14T20:32:56Z

I am 21 weeks pregnant with my second child.

Although I am a new birth doula and a midwifery student(completed Elizabeth Davis' Basic and Advanced Heart & Hands Midwifery Intensives this year and hoping to continue with NMI soon) I had resigned myself to having my baby at Kaiser Walnut Creek because it made sense for us financially.

We are very tight on money right now, but the last couple weeks has brought a deep and renewed desire for a homebirth for this second baby.

The midwives that I used with my first baby are unavailable- one is in nursing school and the other has moved out of state.

Does anyone have any recommendations for good midwives in the Oakland area? Also, do you know their fees?

posted in Home Birth - 6 replies

2007 midwifery related legislation

2007-03-12T23:55:00Z

The following states currently have legislation or budget items pending in their legislatures:
* Alabama
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Missouri
* North Dakota
* South Dakota
* Utah
* Virginia

more info is available at http://birthpolicy.org/

posted in Home Birth - 1 reply

Baby Nutrition Advice

2007-03-08T22:51:15Z

My daughter is almost 3 months old. I believe in breastmilk only, however, I am having a hard time keeping enough pumped milk on hand, as I work fulltime, and also have another child....

Anyway, I am wondering about supplementing with rice milk, or soy, or other wholesome and organic vegetarian options....
Does anyone have any suggestions, and/or, is she old enough?

posted in Home Birth - 12 replies

4th degree tear

2007-03-03T16:11:38Z

anyone ever heard of, had, or seen a 4th degree tear at a homebirth with no episiotomy?

posted in Home Birth - 4 replies

My unassisted birth story

2007-02-20T04:11:41Z

I just posted my birth story on my blog - check it out!

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

spontaneous delivery and funky birth myths

2007-02-19T00:31:25Z

This news item about a birth caught my attention because the birth of my first daughter happened in a similarly quick and unexpected way, however, the lesson that I took away from the experience was exactly the opposite of this new dad's.

I wonder how many mothers wouldn't trade their own most recent labor and delivery experience for one like this.

February 16, 2007
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/16/Tampabay/Devil_Ray_s_new_assig.shtml

" ST. PETERSBURG — Infielder Ty Wigginton came through with a lot of big hits for the Devil Rays last season. But that was nothing like the way he delivered during the offseason.

...The unforgettable episode started around 3:45 the morning of Dec. 20, when Angela woke with contractions about seven minutes apart. “I asked her, 'Do we need to go?’ and she says, 'We’re all right,’ ’’ Wigginton said.

A couple of hours of more intense contractions later, Angela — who went through a 14-hour labor with Chase — changed her mind. She began getting ready for a trip to the hospital, though expecting the doctors would simply send them home. Ty was already up with Chase, giving him medicine for a flu that had him vomiting and preparing to drop him off at Angela’s parents’ house.

“About 6 o’clock she’s in the closet trying to get dressed, and I’m getting our son ready to go out the door and she yells, 'We’re having this baby now,’ ’’ Wigginton said.

“I think she’s kidding. Then I come around the corner and, sure enough. … I called 911 and told them to get somebody over there. And like a minute later, I’m holding the baby in my arms.”

It took about 10 more minutes for the paramedics to get there, though Wigginton said it seemed like an hour. Not that he had time to get too worried.

“The baby came out and he looked great,” Ty said. “The scary part was that he never really cried until the EMTs got there, but he was breathing. His tongue was moving in and out of his mouth. I could feel his heart beating. They just told me to keep wiping his nose and mouth and keep him wrapped in a towel.”

[THE SCARY PART WAS THAT THE BABY WASN'T TRAUMATIZED? --WHAT A SAD REFLECTION OF THE MEDICAL MYTHOLOGY OF CHILDBIRTH]

The baby weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces . . .

[SO, WHAT DOES THE BASEBALL PLAYER LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE?]

“Next time, if she even sneezes or coughs, we’re going to the hospital,” Wigginton said. “I don’t care if she is only two weeks pregnant.” "

...SO EVERYONE CAN BE TRAUMATIZED :-)

posted in Home Birth - 1 reply

Birthing Freedom petition

2007-02-18T20:48:36Z

Hi Friends,

I have just read and signed the petition: "Decriminalize Birth & Midwifery - Support Birthing Freedom!"

Support Birth Freedom and join me in signing this petition on behalf of women's birthing rights. It takes just a few seconds, but can truly make a difference. Please sign here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/425908741

Thanks!

posted in Home Birth - 3 replies

I'm having a home birth

2007-02-12T03:13:53Z

I'm new to this tribe...hi.
I found a great house, a midwife, and I get to have a homebirth! I'm so excited. This is my second pregnancy, 5 months. With my first, I planned for a birth center birth but my daughter was 2 weeks and 1 day late causing me to be induced in the hospital. While being dosed with pitocin I tried my best to labor as naturally as I could...I did it without pain killers.
I know I can have a home birth.

posted in Home Birth - 6 replies

Art photographer seeks home birth to photograph

2007-02-06T08:18:54Z

Hi everyone,

I'm an award-winning documentary filmmaker who recently segwayed to still photography and is seeking a birth to photograph in the next month.

I'm looking to capture folks "in those moments of the pure essence of you. You without masks, without concealment, in your most unmoderated, unfiltered, true self." This is for a passion project: www.divine-eye.com/projects.html

If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, due before mid-March, and would love to have your birth captured, please say hello. I'm particularly interested in nontraditional/home/waterbirths but all births welcome.

Thank you!
Antonia Kao, MFA

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

new tribe

2007-02-06T05:30:25Z

a tribe to join together birth professionals/educators and parents who would like to both learn from them and (inevitably) contribute to their education.

http://tribes.tribe.net/childbirtheducation

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

CIMS forum march 07

2007-01-27T13:50:41Z

CIMS proudly invites the national and international community to participate in this dynamic event.

The 2007 CIMS Mother-Friendly Childbirth Forum will feature the debut of Coalition for Improving Maternity Services: Evidence Basis for the Ten Steps of Mother-Friendly Care. The result of a precedent-setting research project, the review and guidelines summarize the findings of 15 years of international evidence on all aspects of Mother-Friendly care and provides professionals, advocacy groups, policy makers, and families alike with a powerful, new resource for improving the care of mothers and babies.

The CIMS Forum brings together research experts, professionals, advocates, and consumers of maternity care from the U.S. and abroad to learn and work side by side for three energizing days of collaborative education, networking, problem solving and sharing. Attendees will benefit both from formal presentations by leaders in the field, and from participation in workgroups of their choice addressing issues facing childbearing women and their families today. Attendees will gather a wealth of information, to bring home to their own practices, workplaces and communities while gaining inspiration and making and renewing connections with those who share a common interest in the health and well-being of mothers and babies.

visit the site to register and know their work

http://www.motherfriendly.org/

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

how to prepare our first for coming of her sibling?

2007-01-25T13:08:33Z

Hi, all! We just found out we are expecting our second child. Our first is now almost 16 months old, so she will be 2 years old when the next little one comes out. We had a home birth with our older daughter, and will be doing so again with the one growing inside right now.
Does any one have any experience preparing a little one the age of our daughter for her siblings birth and our pregnancy? Any resources to recommend? I've found a few things, but they are more to prepare slightly older children for their siblings, like 3yrs and older. (cross posted to a few tribes)

Many thanks!

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

Birth Ecology Tribe

2007-01-23T00:21:19Z

Hi there!

You are invited to join the new Birth Ecology Tribe at http://tribes.tribe.net/birthecology - it's a satellite discussion tribe for the Birth Ecology Project at www.birthecology.org

Be well, Kara

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies

homebirth of triplets

2007-01-22T11:22:42Z

Tuttle parents get surprise of triplets
Associated Press
Published Wednesday, January 17, 2007

TUTTLE, N.D. – Lynette and Dusty Johnson expected to have another large baby, after their first two weighed more than 9 pounds. Instead of one large baby, they got three.

Triplets Marissa, Silas and Anna were born Nov. 14. A community benefit was held last Sunday to help with medical costs and living expenses.

“It touches our hearts that (our neighbors) put other people’s needs ahead of theirs,” Dusty Johnson said.

The Johnsons’ oldest child, Christopher, now 3, weighed more than 9 pounds at birth. His 1-year-old sister, Abigail, weighed 10 pounds, their mother said.

Lynette gave birth to the triplets at home, and her midwife quickly prepared for a multiple birth after Marissa, the first of the three, was born and she realized more babies were on the way.

The 2-month-old Johnson triplets: from left, Anna Marie, Silas Paul and Marissa Ann sleep on a couch in their home Sunday in Tuttle. Associated Press
The girls did well, but Silas was put on oxygen. When the canister ran out, he began to turn blue and Audrey Johnson, Dusty’s mother, called 911.

Silas was in the hospital for 17 days. He is home now and doing well, his parents said. He put on a few ounces in the hospital, and within the first week of being home after his hospital stay, he gained a pound, his father said.

Lynette Johnson said she was able to go into town

2½ days after the triplets were born, and it was reassuring to have her children at home.

“I wanted a quiet home birth,” she said.

While Silas was in the hospital, the girls gained more weight than he did at home, Dusty Johnson said. Now, the triplets all weigh more than

8 pounds.

About 100 people braved wind and cold to come to Sunday’s benefit supper. They got a chance to make donations, bid on a silent auction item and watch a computer presentation about Silas’ stay in the hospital.

Emergency workers Delila and Diana Larson and Denise Bickle, who went to the Johnson home to provide first aid after Silas was born, helped organize the family benefit potluck last Sunday.

Besides the Tuttle community, the Johnsons have heard from people in Harvey, McClusky and other communities in the state.

Some have donated clothes, diapers and other items for the babies. Sometimes, the Johnsons say, they get a box and they don’t even know the sender.

posted in Home Birth - 8 replies

Unassisted childbirth tribe...and then some

2007-01-18T19:27:10Z

I have enjoyed the thread discussing unassisted childbirth. I was surprised to see that there was not a tribe for UC. After the previous post on UC, I see there are those who have UCed or were interested in UCing. So I have created a tribe for UC, as well as for those who believe in the free choice of UC (but have not done so). It is also a tribe for those who choose to go different routes in mothering practices. It is similar to this tribe, but yet a bit different as well.

My purpose in posting this is for those who want a little more room to talk about their birth choices...specifically UC. I understand that some people on this tribe do not believe in UCing and I respect their point of view.

You can access the tribe at:
http://tribes.tribe.net/freethought

posted in Home Birth - 0 replies