Alternative Birthing Methods

photo credit: eyeliam

A birthing method is considered “alternative” if it deviates from what is considered the norm in most modern cultures: a laboring woman enters the hospital, where the staff takes her in as a patient, monitors the birth, and the doctor performs the delivery. Alternative birthing methods include home births, water births, hypnobirths, and others. Here are some of the alternative ways of bringing baby to birth that parents are choosing.

Bradley Birth

This method of birthing is also called husband (or partner)-coached childbirth. This is because the Bradley method, which was developed by an OB named Robert Bradley in the late 40s, involves the whole family in the preparation and process. Bradley students are taught the importance of nutrition, exercise, breastfeeding, and other pre-natal and post-natal health issues, and the husband  is included in the education.

Bradley students learn about how to communicate with their health care providers and hospital staff, and the post-partum period is also discussed. The Bradley method emphasizes a medication- and intervention-free delivery.

The Bradley method can be practiced at home or in the hospital. The husband/partner assists in the birth.

HypnoBirth

Self-hypnosis methods have been developed to help some women overcome the pain of labor. In fact, moms who choose this method may not even seem to be in labor at all! Hypnosis is the power of suggestion, and practitioners learn to tap into the woman’s subconscious where they can make use of this power. Like the Bradley method, hypnobirth can be practiced just about anywhere a woman is in labor. To prepare, expectant mothers work with a professional instructor to learn the technique.

Lamaze

Often depicted on television or in movies as “natural” childbirth, Lamaze emphasizes breathing and relaxation techniques. By controlling her breathing, learning to relax and changing her body’s position at certain points during the labor, the mom-to-be is said to gain control of the labor and experience less pain. Lamaze is a form of natural childbirth which emphasizes minimal interventions and medications, as well as the mother’s comfort and ability to move around.

Water Birth

Laboring and giving birth in a tub of warm water is said to help relieve the pain of labor and help women relax. A true water birth means the baby is born in the water, but some women will use water off and on during their labor and delivery. Water births can take place at home or in a birth center.

Home Birth

Giving birth at home is something more and more women are choosing. If you are having an uneventful, uncomplicated, low-risk pregnancy, giving birth at home with a midwife can be a very positive experience for women who prefer familiar surroundings.

What is the advantage of these alternative birthing choices? For one, ease of breastfeeding initiation. Babies born to mothers who are active and involved in their births nurse quicker and more easily, typically. When mom has been exposed to painkilling drugs in labor, baby is often affected in a way that makes the early breastfeeding experience difficult. Preparing for breastfeeding begins with birth!

Labor is usually broken down into stages. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with these stages so you’ll know what’s going on and what to expect. This helps prevent fear or panic from taking over. So here are some tips on what to expect during each stage.

Stage One: Contractions and Dilation

During this first stage, you will experience regular contractions that are moderate in strength. They may feel like great pressure across your abdomen, or like an over-sized menstrual cramp or ache. In the beginning of your labor, contractions will usually subside in less than 30 seconds, and come every 5 to 10 minutes. As you get closer to delivering your baby, they come closer together and last closer to a minute in length. The sign that you’re really in labor is the strength and regularity of the contractions. False labor doesn’t have this pattern.

What’s going on is this: each contraction thins and opens the cervix (the opening between the mouth of the womb and the vagina) a little bit more. This is known as dilation. Your healthcare provider may measure the progress of the dilation with an internal exam, and once the cervix is fully dilated, the second stage begins.

Stage Two: Transition

Somewhere between Stage One and Stage Two is a phase known as transition, and this usually marks the beginning of Stage Two. There may be an actual pause in contractions toward the end of transition, where the labor seems to “stall” for a moment. You may feel giddy or feel like crying and laughing at the same time. You may feel shaky or nauseated. Some women vomit at this time. Some need a change in scenery, position or temperature (such as feeling too warm suddenly).

Transition is an intense time, and your body kicks in with all kinds of “feel good” hormones and chemicals like endorphins. If you are having an unmedicated labor, transition is often when your labor takes on a dream-like state and you may not remember all of what happens afterward. Some women cry, “gush” over their partners, or let go of fears they had during their pregnancies in a cascade of tears. This is often a necessary process before the woman can “let go” of the baby and bring her into the world.

Stage Two labor involves stronger contractions that come closer together. Your cervix dilates rather rapidly, and your contractions require your full attention now. You may not be able to talk or have anyone else talking during them. The contractions last around one minute each, which is much longer than the shorter contractions of Stage One labor. This stage usually lasts anywhere from 4 to 8 hours, but for a mom who has had a baby or two naturally already, it can take just minutes.

Stage Three: Descent

Sometimes, babies begin to descend during Stage Two. Otherwise, Stage Three is when the baby begins to descend into the birth canal. The stage has been set: the cervix is dilated to allow the baby’s head to come through; the contractions are strong and forceful; and now you will begin to feel the urge to push. Pushing may help relieve the pressure and pain of the contractions too, and they will feel more “productive” now instead of passive endurance.

Interestingly, the contractions often back off a bit at this point, and there may be a longer resting time between each one. If you’ve had an epidural, you may not feel as much urge to push, and may need to be coached to pushed with each contraction. In a non-medicated labor, sometimes women are advised to hold off pushing if it’s early in labor that they get the urge, because it can cause exhaustion if pushing is begun too early. Some moms actually fall asleep in the minutes between contractions to get some much needed rest!

Stage Three ends with the delivery of your baby. A normal birth starts with his or her head, then shoulders, then the rest of the body – and finally with the passing of the placenta. After your baby is born and you’re busy marveling at him or her, your uterus will contract again (you may not even notice). After a few minutes, the placenta separates from the uterine wall and, perhaps with a little push from you, passes out of the vagina. You will probably barely feel it, because in comparison to the baby, it’s small and easy to deliver!

photo credit: jaimekop

By Dr. Michele Hakakha and Dr. Ari Brown
Adapted from their new book, Expecting 411

About 6 million US women will get pregnant this year. Women used to get their pregnancy information from other women–the “old wives” of old wives’ tales fame. Today, however, the most common source of information for pregnant women is their obstetrician. But 3 out of 4 will also look for health answers online, and that’s where the problem starts. According to womenshealth.gov, the accuracy of pregnancy information on the internet varies widely.

Virtually everything about pregnancy has changed since our mother’s time–nutrition and exercise recommendations, pre-term screening tests, and what goes on in the delivery room, for example. What hasn’t changed is that old wives’ tales still abound!

Here are seven untruths we hear all the time from mothers-to-be.

You can tell whether it’s a boy or girl by how you are carrying.
False. The way you “carry” (the shape and distribution of your baby bump) is based on a few things, such as the depth of a mom’s pelvic cradle or the mom’s weight, but it won’t predict your baby’s gender.

Avoiding peanuts during pregnancy will keep my child from developing a food allergy.
False. A recent definitive study in the New England Journal of Medicine put this myth to rest once and for all. It’s okay to eat known allergens while you’re pregnant.

Pregnant women shouldn’t fly because of radiation risk.
False. The amount of cosmic radiation is negligible and not a health concern.

Fatty acid supplements like DHA increase your risk of bleeding during pregnancy.
False. There is no valid evidence to support this theory. You can take DHA supplements all the way up to delivery.

Women who are flat-chested can’t nurse.
False. While there are some women who do not make enough milk to exclusively nurse their babies, it’s not because they have small breasts.

A miscarriage can be caused by exercise or carrying around a toddler.
False. You can’t have a miscarriage from carrying a toddler or any other heavy object. And you can’t have a miscarriage from exercising during the first trimester, either. Miscarriages happen commonly and are often due to genetic reasons where the chromosomes are abnormal.

Epidurals cause autism.
False. Neither do cell phones, high fructose corn syrup, or vaccines.

* * * * *
Dr. Michele Hakakha is an award-winning obstetrician/gynecologist practicing in Beverly Hills, CA. Dr. Ari Brown, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician in Austin, TX, an official spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, and health advisor for WebMD, Parents Magazine, and ABC News. She penned the best-selling Baby 411 and Toddler 411 book series before coauthoring Expecting 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy (Windsor Peak Press, 2010, www.expecting411.com).

Your little one is not weaned yet and you’re pregnant again. Do you have to wean him right away? The short answer is no. It is not harmful to continue nursing while pregnant. Here are some things to keep in mind if you decide to keep nursing during your pregnancy (and afterwards!).

-In some women, the hormonal changes that occur with pregnancy cause their milk supply to decrease or dry up. If this happens to you, it may be necessary to supplement your baby’s diet, depending on his age. If your baby is already eating solids, it may not be necessary to do so, but baby will need extra fluids to replace the breastmilk.

-During the first trimester and sometimes beyond, you may find it difficult to find the energy to do many of your normal daily tasks. Take it easy on yourself and lower your expectations. Breastfeeding your baby is no exception. If continuing to nurse is very important to you, take time to nap when your baby naps and go to bed as early as possible. You may also need to let some of your normal household chores slide in order to conserve your energy. During my first trimester I always experienced severe morning (and afternoon and night!) sickness, and nursing my toddler was a welcome respite from their constant activity. It was a change to get a break and put my feet up, and help the toddler nap too.

Moms who have tandem nursed have found that the older baby experiences less sibling rivalry and feels less displaced by the birth of the new baby, so it’s definitely worth considering.

- Nursing may be uncomfortable during certain times of your pregnancy. When hormones are making your nipples sensitive, pay extra attention to proper positioning and latch on. You can’t afford to get sloppy with an older baby or toddler. There are some more tips on preventing nipple pain here. Using a dab of all natural lanolin may help too. You may also feel “antsy” from time to time. That’s normal. Adventures in Tandem Nursing has lots of great suggestions and stories from moms who have been there.

- Remember that since nursing is a relationship, there is nothing wrong with setting limits with your nursling in order to make yourself more comfortable. Some moms have found that telling their toddler ahead of time that they will nurse “until we sing the ABC song” or finish reading a story, or something concrete that the child can understand, helps.

-Getting nutrition when you are either nursing or pregnant can be challenging. If you’re doing both, it’s doubly important. Make sure to eat enough and to eat a balanced diet. I have to recommend The Fit and Healthy Pregnancy Guide for advice. It is the best book I’ve ever read on the subject, and it even contains mom friendly exercise suggestions.

nutrition for nursing and pregnant women