Big Brothers and Sisters

When my family was expecting our youngest baby girl, one of our major concerns was how our twins would react to a new sibling. So talked, read books, and took a local big brother/sister class. The adjustment was smooth, and we were thankful that we were proactive. The blog below has some great suggestions for getting your little ones ready for the little, little one.

http://www.sweetpeabirths.com/blog/2011/10/04/Preparing-Siblings-for-New-Baby.aspx

Yes, Breastmilk Counts!

I recently discovered a darling and informative breastfeeding website geared toward new moms. There's a great breastfeeding plan you can download, ways to prepare for nursing, and helpful tips and techniques. Check it out!

 http://www.breastmilkcounts.com/index.php

Can You See It?

I've been seeing some really cute cervical dilation visual aids around the 'net lately. I'm sharing my favorite.

Let Them Eat Dates?

A recent study shows a correlation between eating dates in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy with lower induction rates and improved labor outcomes. All this, plus they're yummy?! I say, eat up!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21280989

Delayed Cord Clamping: Should You Consider It?

Delayed Cord Clamping has been getting a lot of press lately. Simply by waiting 3-4 minutes to clamping and cut your baby's umblical cord you could be giving your child a great headstart. Penny Simkin, a giant in the childbirth world, explains the practice in the video above. Below is an article about a recent study that shows that delayed cord clamping is beneficial for babies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/health/research/delay-in-clamping-umbilical-cord-has-benefits-months-later.html

I AM LAMAZE!

I am so pleased and honored to announce that your favorite childbirth educator (ME!) is now a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. After a long process of verifying my teaching hours, completing online learning modules, and a 150 question exam,  I am apart of the oldest and one of the most well-respected birth organizations in the World!

Standing in Support of Breastfeeding Moms

I was so happy to see that a Black, breastfeeding mama is being celebrated for her courage after she was asked get off a Detroit city bus for nursing her newborn. Moms and advocates have come together and staged a nurse-in in protest of the mistreatment nursing moms, and our society's distorted view of breastfeeding. I love it! With the dismal numbers of breastfeeding moms of color, how dare anyone discourage them!

Read about it HERE.

Close to the Heart: Breastfeeding our Children, honoring our values

The ABC’s of Bonding with Your Baby

Allow your motherly instincts to flow-You know what your Baby needs.

Breastfeed your Baby.

Cue led feeding is best. Feed you Baby when you see signs of hunger.

Daddy duty! Men and women interact differently with Baby-Babies needs both.

Everyday, that’s when you should take time to interact with your little one.

Follow your Baby’s led when it comes to active play. Watch for signs of overstimulation.

Get the rest you need in order to feel refreshed and relaxed while taking care of your Baby.

Handle your Baby with gentle, loving care.

I love you, say it everyday to your Baby.

Jump around and dance with your Baby. It’s great exercise for you!

Kangaroo care, holding your Baby skin to skin helps brain development.

Let your Baby create the routine. Do the research before considering letting your Baby “cry it out”.

Massage your little one. Infant massage is a great addition to a bed time routine.

No excuses allowed when it comes to bonding. You can do it right now even if your Baby is still in the womb.

Open your heart to embracing other cultures in finding ways to bond with your Baby. 

Play music! R-n-B, hip hop, jazz, reggae, classical-what ever you chose your Baby will love it.

Quickly build your Baby’s communication skills by using sign language.

Read, Read, Read and read some more with your Baby!

Sing to your Baby even if you can’t. The Baby won’t mind.

Tummy time is important. Use it as opportunity to play with your Baby.

Use everyday activities as a way to interact with your Baby-point out everything and talk your way through the day.

Venture out and try new things. Go to the zoo or a museum. They are never too young!

Wear your Baby-use slings and wraps to keep your Baby close.

X-tra care should be taking when choosing toys and activities to share with your Baby.

You can not spoil a Baby-give him what he needs!

Zoom in on your Baby’s likes and dislikes. Make her life safe, fun, and enjoyable. She’ll thank you later!

 

A Mother’s Worth Birth Services

Assisting Mothers in Birthing a New Worth

amothersworth@yahoo.com

The Birth of Nur Al-Huda

My most recent and very sweet doula clients have given me permission to share their birth story. Enjoy! 

The Birth of Nur Al-Huda . . .

On the morning of Thursday, November 4, 2010 around 9 am, DeAndrea and Hannibal went to Banner Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ for a non-stress test. During this test, the nurse found DeAndrea’s blood pressure to be slightly high. After a call to the doctor, the decision was made to induce labor at 3 days past her due date of November 1. After waiting quite a while for an available room, the couple was admitted to Room 332. Since the doula had arrived, Hannibal made a quick trip home to pick up the pre-packed hospital bags, a few extra items like food, lotion, and movies, and to print out the birth plan. After his return, the resident doctor checked DeAndrea’s cervix. She and the charge nurse, Rhonda, agreed she was “closed and thick,” but the baby was head down. At 12:50 pm, DeAndrea decided to get up and move to help her baby make her way down. Shortly after, the day shift nurse, Shawna, arrived and introduced herself. She had a warm spirit and was very supportive of the couple’s natural approach. At 2:15, Shawna placed the drug, cervidil, which would help to soften the cervix in preparation for labor. The cervidil had to be in place for 12 hours. The couple advocated for themselves and DeAndrea was able to get of bed and walk every other hour. A few hours later, Dr. Sharon Thompson, the couple’s obstetrician, came by to briefly explain the process and stated she would check back in the morning. DeAndrea was vigilant about walking. She counted down the minutes until she was able to get up and move, all in the hopes of making the baby’s arrival easier. At 7:15, the night nurse, Bailey, came on duty. During the 8 pm break, the couple shared a conversation and some special time while on the birth ball. There was lots of kisses and hand holding. Around 9:30 pm, DeAndrea got into the shower and tried some natural techniques to get the contractions going which were coming, but not very strong. By 10:30, we were in contraction city! This was the turning point of the labor, because the contractions kept coming, longer and stronger as the hours passed. Hannibal was a rock for DeAndrea, supporting his wife through each contraction with massage, encouragement, affection, and his undivided attention. He was a role model support person.

Some of the natural comfort measures that helped DeAndrea were:

Position changes
Slow dancing
Massage tools
The birth ball
The peanut ball
The rebozo
Tennis balls
Dum dum suckers
A rolling pin
Heating pads

DeAndrea kept describing what she felt as pressure. She never said the word, pain. At 2:10 am, the cervidil was removed and DeAndrea had dilated 4 cm! At 2:30 am, she got a heplock IV placed while standing with Hannibal holding her in his arms. In the meantime, DeAndrea developed a case of the shakes. This was a sure sign that her body was preparing to deliver this baby. DeAndrea’s cervix was checked again when she requested pain medication. She was given Stadol through the IV and found that within the past hour she had dilated another 2 cm. It was at this time that the nurse noticed the baby’s heart rate dropping during contractions. Recommendations were made, but once again the couple advocated for themselves.   With oxygen and IV fluids, Dr. Billie Zoby determined that birth was imminent. After having her water broken and internal monitors put in place, DeAndrea dilated to 8 cm while shaking uncontrollably. She fought though the next few contractions in her husband’s arms. While Hannibal was suiting up to catch their baby, DeAndrea felt the urge to push. With 4 big warrior mama pushes, Nur Al-Huda Maryam Muhammad was born into her father’s waiting arms at 4:47 am, November 5, 2010. When DeAndrea, who was still pushing, opened her eyes and saw her beautiful baby girl for the first time, her smile could have rivaled the sun. She gleamed with pride at the work she had done. After being placed on her mom’s chest, Nur promptly peed!  The couple soon discovered their daughter weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces and was 19 ½ inches long. Even after enduring a rough repair, the brand new mother’s only thoughts were getting her baby to the breast.