Childbirth And Pregnancy Blog

Childbirth professionals, birthing networks, birth professionals, natural childbirth advocates…are all names used to describe the growing community actively advocating for childbirth as a normal healthy part of a woman’s life cycle. Through the use of childbirth education, this community’s life goal is to empower women to make informed choices around their pregnancy and delivery options using evidence-based research as the foundation.

As a member of this growing community, I am often caught between what I view as two worlds. My reality, in which I am childbirth professional certified in childbirth education, perinatal fitness, and a breastfeeding peer counselor trainer. Then there is the other real world, where my work in a community-based agency allows me to witness the politics of being pregnant and giving birth in the “inner city.”

I listen to my professional daytime colleagues express opinions indicating that what we birth advocates do is ‘cute’, but distracting to the bigger picture, their picture. They ask if our services are free, as if we shouldn’t dare dream of earning a living this way. They even sometimes dismiss our credentials with statements such as, Yes, what you do is nice, but clients prefer to have someone qualified with them.”, when they talk about providing quality education.

To be fair let’s examine the flip side of the coin. The same people who I treasure for their insightfulness and dedication to mothers and their families can sometimes be overwhelming with their crusade. Exaggerations are made about obstetricians and the quality of hospital births and bashing sometimes becomes part of the circle of sharing.

What is childbirth education and why is it important?

The definition of childbirth education can be as varied as there are education modalities. Although definitions can vary among educators and or certification institutions… it can be simply defined as follows:

Childbirth Education Classes prepare a woman for the experience of pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Through the use of a series of classes a woman is educated on the anatomy, physiological changes, nutrition, risks and benefits of medical interventions, pain coping strategies, cesarean risk reduction, and breastfeeding. Some educators are also taught to encourage women to recognize and use their innate abilities and intuition to birth.

Did you know the Healthy People 2010 update section 16:7 directly addresses childbirth education? The Healthy People 2010, a set of health objectives designed to guide health professionals in achieving improved health results for Americans over the first decade of the new century, speaks to the importance of improving maternal, infant and child health in this quote:

Section 16:7

As part of comprehensive prenatal care, a formal series of prepared childbirth classes conducted by a certified childbirth educator is recommended for all women by the Expert Panel on the Content of Prenatal Care.[49] These classes can help reduce women’s pain [50] and anxiety [51] as they approach childbirth, making delivery a more pleasant experience and preparing women for what they will face as they give birth. A full series of sessions is recommended for women who have never attended. A refresher series of one or two classes is recommended for women who attended during a previous pregnancy. At a minimum, the childbirth classes should include information regarding the physiology of labor and birth, exercises and self-help techniques for labor, the role of support persons, family roles and adjustments, and preferences for care during labor and birth. The classes also should include an opportunity for the mother and her partner to have questions answered about providers, prenatal care, and other relevant issues, as well as to receive information regarding birth settings and cesarean childbirth. Attendance is recommended during the third trimester of pregnancy so that information learned will be used relatively soon after presentation. Classes should begin at the 31st or 32nd week and be completed no later than 38 weeks. The refresher class should be completed at any time between 36 and 38 weeks.

This recommendation is important and should be highlighted by all advocates and prenatal care providers. It validates the need for childbirth education as a routine part of comprehensive women’s prenatal healthcare. Independent childbirth educators are an excellent choice for women who want to receive unbiased information not driven by hospital policy and procedures. For those educators whose work does come under the parameters of organizations’ policy and procedures, they must remember their main function is to work for the betterment of their client “the expectant mother”. In evaluating the quality of childbirth education classes, the curriculum should be consumer focused and the materials and information presented should be honest and forthcoming in presenting the risks vs. benefits based on evidence-based research.

What is the bottom line?

We live in a fast paced society, particularly here in the New York metropolitan region. As a result, many consumers are requesting shorter classes and fewer sessions. It is our responsibility as birthing advocates to give them quality services, and if this means an increase in the quantity of time we devote to instruction then that’s a responsibility we need to meet. Many online classes and weekend intensives are now replacing traditional 6 week plus classes. This new trend is essentially depriving women of the support that is traditionally found in longer face-to-face settings. Although the Healthy People 2010 statement does not specifically spell out what a full series of classes consists of, one can intelligently conclude that based on the amount of recommended information to be covered a realistic time allotment is needed for the human mind to receive, accept and digest.

As childbirth professionals we need to continually refer back to the evidence-based literature around childbirth which includes research findings which can be found online (at sites such as Childbirth Connection (formerly the Maternity Center), the Coalition to

Improve Maternity Services and the World Health Organization (WHO) to name a few).

The Expert Panel on the Content of Prenatal Care has officially validated the value of childbirth education classes essentially confirming what we know anecdotally. It is now our responsibility to know what that truth is and speak it boldly to our clients. The truth about pregnancy is that childbirth education classes should be a routine part of every woman’s comprehensive prenatal care. Recognizing that every pregnancy and birth is unique, for the woman who has delivered before a refresher course would update her on her options and also allow her and her support person to ask related questions. These two scenarios are examples of knowledge as power because they create an opportunity for the mother to be educated and as a result make decisions that are best for her and her baby.

This article is a product of Just Us Women Productions.

http://www.Justuswomen.org

More than 90 percent of women who suffered one miscarriage get pregnant again. And more than 60 percent of those who have had two miscarriages can still enjoy successful pregnancy. So there is no truth to the notion that women cannot conceive after miscarriage.

It is true that miscarriage takes a toll on women both physically and emotionally. Losing a much expected child because of a miscarriage can be very traumatic for a woman. The emotional impact would be severe for couples who are trying hard to have a child.

However, there is no need to lose hope in case you have suffered from a miscarriage. Science and the experience of other mothers show that women have the ability to conceive again and successfully carry their babies to term even after an unfortunate miscarriage.

The Waiting Period

Some women have an intense desire to conceive again after a miscarriage. This is a very common feeling especially for those who want to get pregnant right away without waiting for a few months.

There is really no reason why you can not try again after a miscarriage. Besides, it is you who totally understands your body and there is no need for a long wait if you feel that you are ready to get pregnant.

However, make sure that your body has fully recovered from the miscarriage before attempting to get pregnant again. It is a good idea to wait for your first menstrual cycle to allow your body to prepare for the pregnancy. Some doctors suggest that a woman should wait for at least three menstrual cycles before trying again. The bottom line is that you can get pregnant successfully even after a miscarriage.

A Few Factors to Consider Before Attempting Conception

If you had an uncomplicated miscarriage, then you will be able to conceive again once your menstrual cycle begins. For complicated miscarriage, especially abortions on the second or third trimester, there could be a possibility that some tissues might be left behind in your womb. These tissues may impede with successful pregnancy and they could be the cause why you cannot conceive after miscarriage.

The best that you can do is to schedule a visit to your gynecologist for an ultrasound to determine if you are really ready for conception.

The stress of getting pregnant and fear of having a miscarriage again could also affect your ability conceive again. So it is important to develop the right mindset when you try to get pregnant after miscarriage. You and your partner should enjoy the effort and never treat conception as a job. This could diminish the intimacy of the relationship and could have an adverse impact on your efforts to have a baby.

Remember, miscarriage is a common occurrence. Your case is really not unique so there is still hope to get pregnant again. The notion that you cannot conceive after miscarriage is not true. You can get pregnant successfully after miscarriage and carry the baby to term as long as you are emotionally and physically prepared for it.

If you are looking for serious help to conceive again, this eBook will help you Conceive After Miscarriage quickly and easily. You have to remember that a large percentage of women have successful pregnancies even after a miscarriage. You just have to prepare your mind and body to Conceive Again immediately after miscarriage.