I'm NOT a Blogger!

My strength lies in "talking" about birth and I do that with great enthusiasm at doula trainings and workshops. So here are some blogs and websites that have lots of interesting discussion and information.

http://www.childbirtheducation.blogspot.com/
http://tinacassidy.blogspot.com/2008/01/our-new-baby.html
http://pushedbirth.com/
http://orgasmicbirth.com/
http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/

Mommy & Baby Duckies in My Backyard

The Birth Story Behind the Picture . . . .

All births are special and no two are alike, but I can assure you that you will not hear another birth story like this one!

In August 2001 I was in my second year as Executive Director of the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) http://www.motherfriendly.org/. We planned our Leadership Team meeting at the home of Jessica Porter, the Executive Director of the Association of Labor Assistance and Childbirth Educators (ALACE). Jessica was 37 weeks pregnant with her second baby so it made sense for us to travel to her New England home.

In preparation for a long busy working weekend, Jessica and I went grocery shopping. In the produce section, I noticed Jessica pulling a piece of paper out of her purse – she shared that it was her list of required birth supplies. From practicing with homebirth midwives for years, I knew that the birth supplies were supposed to be ready three weeks before the due date! So, we finished picking up the few remaining items and went back to prepare dinner and begin our meeting.

That night, I was sleeping quite soundly when Jessica woke me tapping my shoulder. She stood over me and announced that her water had broken and that it was all my fault!! If I had not made her finish her birth kit preparations she would not be in labor! So what do we do now – she had 5 very experienced birth advocates in her home that were not part of her birth plan. This is the unbelievable historical piece of this story, the CIMS Leadership Team consisted of Barbara Hotelling, president of DONA, Deb Woolley, past-president of Lamaze and a PhD CNM, Pat Turner, president of ICEA, and Carol Davis CIMS designation committee chair – all had extensive experience with labor and birth.

While everyone slept Jessica shared the pictures from her first birth with me. We discussed what was important to her and what she wanted differently this time, and then we began preparations as her contractions continued to do their work.

As labor progressed, Jessica modeled normal birth to her family and close friends. She created a rhythm as contractions ebbed and flowed. She naturally demonstrated how labor had its own look, feel, and sound. Nothing compares to the intensity, strength and power of labor and birth and Jessica expressed how to embrace each contraction and trust the process. I was honored to be present.

The birth room was prepared, and as Jessica sat on the birth stool I recalled the photo of her first birth. She sat on the same stool, but her mother sat behind her. Her mother would have been there, but this baby had another agenda so I asked Jessica if she wanted me to support her in the same fashion that her mother did – she said yes. About that time the rest of the house was awake and standing at the door. Barbara Hotelling had her camera and was able to capture many incredible pictures including this one. My view over her shoulder was heartwarming. Her husband had tears streaming down his face as his baby was slowly and gently moving into his hands with the midwife and their three year old right next to him. Baby Jack was welcomed by unexpected guests that had tears rolling down their faces as Jessica held him and announced that she would not be able to be part of the rest of our meeting!!

Reframing Attitudes About Birth Through the Words We Use

Amy is in late first stage labor - what words can be used to describe what's happening? This is one of my favorite topics, and the Sept-Oct 2006 Mothering magazine www.mothering.com featured an article that I would love to have been the author of. Alyssa Colton, the author is not a birth activist but a freelance writer and she did a fabulous job in “The Language of Birth” article. The website also has an article titled “Language of Labor” which was written by a childbirth educator that proposes using another word for “contraction.”

At the beginning of my doula training I discuss the importance reframing our feelings about birth. Everyone is given a sheet and encouraged to reframe negative words about birth and write them down throughout the training. This is also a good tool for doulas and childbirth educators to use with their clients or students.

When I began teaching the Bradley Method in 1969 we reframed “pains” to “contractions” because we knew that labor didn’t have to be painful, but you needed contractions to have labor. Hypnobirthing uses “surges” because “contraction” implies pain. Of course, in Ina May’s Spiritual Midwifery contractions were given a 60's term - “rushes.” I have had clients use “waves” and “sensations.” We need to think positive about what is happening, so how about describing them as “dilating events”?

In my opinion “contraction” is not the most important word to be reframed, but “pain” is, and that's another post. Does Amy look like she is in pain? No, she is in labor!

Amy is supported here by her cousin, Monica a Bradley Instructor/doula, her daugher, and her mother.

My Birth

The video, Childbirth for the Joy of It, includes the birth of Shana, my first baby, and can be purchased from The Bradley Method at www.bradleybirth.com. I am very grateful to my Bradley Method childbirth educators, Marjie and Jay Hathaway, for playing a significant role at my birth, and for including my birth in Childbirth for the Joy of It.

Three Generations

Intention to Blog

I have every intention to become a blogger. Where do I start? Do I start with where I am today, with what I love to do, with how having children created my career path, or with simply keeping a record of events, experiences and journeys?