Pros and Cons of 11 Common Labor Positions

Throw Your Clocks out the Window

"Instead of looking at the clock, observe the woman. Listen to her. If a dad calls me and announces the contractions are matching some formulaic expectation and I can hear the mom chatting excitedly and barely cracking a sweat during the contraction, I tell them to stay home if they can. Very often they'll call me hours later, and even though the contractions may or may not be different in terms of length and frequency, I'll hear a change. She will be vocalizing in some way, or doing some very focused breathing...her voice will sound a little far away even between the contractions. If I'm present and watching her, her motions will be slower, and more deliberate. She'll have to lean over things and sway her hips. When labour is really rocking and rolling, most women will look quite stoned between their contractions, the idea of distracting themselves by conversing or watching tv ridiculous, and there is a sense they are far away, off in labour land, and moving normally is often difficult. Plus it's aparent they are feeling some spectacularly strong sensations. For first time mothers, this is usually the time to go to the hospital, because labour has had a chance to establish itself...endorphins and oxytocin are flowing beautifully. If a woman goes to the hospital too much before this happens, it can be EXTREMELY difficult to achieve this trance-like state with all the routines and strangers asking questions, often making the labour seem longer and more painful."

36 Obvious Reasons You are Capable Of Natural Birth

Love this list!!! Sometimes we just need to be reminded. :-)

Consider the Source: An interview with Cord Clamping Researcher, Judith Mercer

Excellent information in this interview straight from the source of the research. Once again, we see that science is confirming what nature already knows. :-)

"The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed." --Chinese proverb

SE MN Childbirth Network presents... "A Midwife...Why?"

Find out how incorporating a midwife in your
pregnancy can be more than beneficial.

Please join us at the
Rochester Athletic Club
Thursday, February 3rd
7pm—Multipurpose Room

Laborade

Sounds like it could be a nice alternative to gatorade. What did you drink during your labor(s)?

Abdominal Breathing for Labor and Birth

Abdominal breathing is a BIG key to the Bradley Method® of natural childbirth classes. If you will focus on replacing chest breathing, which causes a tension, pain, fear cycle, with nice deep, relaxing, abdominal breaths you will eliminate one cause of unnecessary pain in your labor and birth.

"No medication can deliver complete pain relief without risks," - Dr. William Sears

Why you shouldn’t “try” to have an unmedicated birth.

LOVE LOVE LOVE the logic of this one!!! A MUST read for anyone considering an un-medicated birth.

How Dilated Am I? Assessing Dilation in Labor WITHOUT an Internal Exam.

"It’s the magic question weighing on most laboring mothers’ minds: (as well as the minds of her partner or birth attendants!) How much longer? Is there any way to tell how far along I am in the birthing process?"

Brand New Bradley Method® web site!!!

Come and check out the new and improved, better than ever Bradley Method® web site. It's got a great new look and lay out, as well as awesome new features that are easier to use than ever!

Don't Ask, Just Do It

"What if we simply stopped asking permission? What if we simply did what we wanted to? What if the mantra of laboring women became "don't ask, just do"?"

Class #1 Sample - Exercise

Pregnancy Exercises

• Specifically designed to tone and condition the muscles you will use to give birth and can aid in minimizing many pregnancy discomforts.

Tailor Sitting

• 3 benefits
• 3 ways the coach can help

Squatting

• 4 benefits
• 2 ways the coach can help

Pelvic Rocking

• 5 benefits
• 3 ways the coach can help

Butterfly

• 2 benefits
• 3 ways the coach can help

Kegel

• 1 benefit
• Poor tone may cause 7 problems
• 2 ways the coach can help

Side Relaxation & Sleep Position

• 3 benefits
• 3 ways the coach can help

Operation Special Delivery

Such a fantastic organization offering labor support to those families who have given up so much, sometimes everything, for our freedom. Thank you SO much to all our veterans, past and present. We can never express the depth of our gratitude for your service.

Managing Back Labor

The most frequently thought cause of this type of extended back pain is due to the baby's position, usually in the occiput posterior position, or OP for short."

"There needs to be a two pronged approach to dealing with the pain of back labor:

* Let the baby to change positions
* Assist the mom with comfort measures
* The good news is that most of the techniques used to rotate a baby into a more favorable position also feel good to the mom."

What Dad Needs to Pack for the Hospital Bag

This is a nice basic list of things that Dad might need/want for himself while Mom is in labor. I always stress to my Bradley® Dad's the importance of taking good care of themselves during her labor so that they can better take care of Mom.

Birth Tubs & Waterbirth

Photos and descriptions of a large variety of birthing tubs and the places they are used.

SE MN Doulas

"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it." ~ John H. Kennell

, M.D.

Looking for a doula in the SE MN area? Here is a list of several to choose from. :-) Two of them, Jennie Schindle & Jackie Mysak are included in my "Bradley® Supportive Business Owners" listing, located toward the top of the page.