Just wanted to let you know our little man, Joseph Henry, arrived 16/1/16 (on his due date!) with help from our yogababy lessons! We had a wonderful birth and feel yogababy helped us achieve that. My waters broke 15/1/16 but I didn't go into labour until 16/1. I was in early labour for 4 hours, active for about 4hrs and pushed for 13 minutes. The labour was so quick that it was quite intense and my husband was very good at helping me count my breathing and letting me know how long I had to go before I had a break which was something we did with you. We also had nice music and lights dim in birth suite (made the labour room our own space which we also talked about with you) and I was holding on to him and swaying as standing was least painful for me (I gave birth standing) and a midwife walked in and commented how beautiful it was, that there was heaps of oxytocin in the room and that a baby would be born any minute! 

Learn about the Brain-Uterus and Brain-Breast tissue connection.  Ina May Gaskin, famed alternative childbirth-educator and author of Spiritual Midwifery, taught husbands or partners of birthing women to stimulate women's nipples to aid contractions

“Bliss is the source of unrequited love,

it is everywhere –  inside of me

and all things simultaneously

co-arising in each synchronistic instant!”

My partner Luke and I (and of course Isla), had a wonderful birth experience, which we mostly attribute to not only me attending your yoga classes since week 14 of my pregnancy, but also (and importantly) to both Luke and I attending the Active Birth workshop prior to Isla's arrival.

Birthing a baby is an outstanding experience in your life during which you become acutely aware of your vulnerability as well as your power.  It takes planning, preparation, a strong desire and a carefully chosen support team by your side to help you achieve this. With the overall caesarean section rate trending upward and now at 32.3% women are often working against the odds to achieve the birth they want in our risk- averse hospital system.

Amélie was not in any hurry to join us, she was due on the 13th November. However Sally was very keen to have an all natural birth.

Eventually after many false starts Sally had resigned herself to being induced on Saturday morning (30th Nov), we had had several sweeps which did move things along, just not enough. 

She had been having contractions but apparently not strong or often enough. So after another sweep on Friday morning we went home, chilled out for a little, then went for a walk to try to encourage her out!

 

The goal of this guide is to begin a conversation that explains the components of traumatic birth, increases awareness, and promotes prevention. Through multiple professional perspectives, our hope is to begin to shed light on the symptoms, risk factors, treatment and prevention of traumatic birth.

A birth is defined as traumatic if the woman was or believed she or her baby was in danger of injury or death, and she felt helpless, out of control, or alone, and can occur at any point in labor and birth (Beck, 2004a).  It is important to recognize that it is the woman’s perception that determines the diagnosis, whether or not clinical staff or caregivers agree.  Even though physical injury to mother or baby often occurs during a traumatic birth, a birth can still be traumatic without such physical injury. Unfortunately, clinical symptoms of full diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur for mothers andpartners following a traumatic birth, the effects of which impact attachment, parenting, and family wellness.

Between 25% and 34% of women report that their children’s births were traumatic, even though the staff and their support team may not perceive it that way. Birth trauma includes physical injury, danger, or death to mother or baby, or the perception thereof by the mother or partner. It also includes feelings of extreme fear, aloneness, disrespect, lack of control or helplessness.

The good news is that most traumatic birth experiences do not result in the syndrome of PTSD. The feelings (often called Post-Traumatic Stress Effects or Symptoms), associated with traumatic births usually fade in intensity, and become resolved with time, empathic listening, and support from key people in their lives. We may be able to increase the numbers of women who do not develop PTSD if we can identify those who have pre-existing risk factors for PTSD, and recognize when risk factors occur during labour. Appropriate actions, words, and continuous supportive attendance may reduce or reverse the symptoms and prevent PTSD. Seek opportunities for postpartum support and counselling;  Private Counsellor Jane Campbell-Kaye - 3368 1300  or Birthtalk - 3878 7915.

Because your baby deserves YOU at your best

For thousands of years, women in traditional cultures around the world have practiced postnatal health recovery using the self care techniques.  The period immediately following the birth is crucial for a new mum’s healthy and confident transition into motherhood.  It is surprising to realise that in western cultures, with all our advanced lifestyles and quality of living, we do not acknowledge the recovery time that is needed post childbirth and an honouring of the woman’s transition into motherhood.