labor and delivery
Next Entries »Drugs vs. No Drugs In Labor: What I Chose and Why
Monday, December 17th, 2007As we anticipate getting pregnant with number two, I’ve been thinking about my labor and delivery choices. For my first birth, I gave birth in a hospital without drugs with an OB attending the birth (ahem…catching the baby). For my second birth, I intend to give birth without drugs again, but I hope to go [...]
Techniques to Manage Labor Pain
Friday, November 30th, 2007I remember my ninth month of pregnancy. I felt uncomfortable, round, and ready. I can’t say that I felt particularly frightened by labor. Instead, I felt curious. What would labor feel like? What kind of pain was it? Would I scream or breath methodically or retreat “inward”? Would I rock on the birthing ball or [...]
Managing Pain During Childbirth, with Special Guest Dr. William Camann
Friday, November 16th, 2007Dr. William Camann has been an anesthesiologist for twenty-three years, almost exclusively in obstetrics. He currently works at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Needless to say, Camann has seen many women in labor, including his own wife (he is the father of two sons, ages 19 and 21).
Camann is also the co-author of [...]
Birth in the United States…In Crisis
Monday, October 29th, 2007I just watched two trailers for documentaries about birth in the United States: The Business of Being Born (to debut on Netflix in early 2008 - you can save it in your queue now) and Pregnant in America (not sure about premiere date).
Both films seek to answer why the United States has the second worst [...]
Gentle Birth World Congress in Portland, OR
Thursday, August 30th, 2007You are invited………To the Gentle Birth World Congress.
From the Gentle Birth World Congress website: “The Congress participants are obstetricians, midwives, nurses, childbirth educators, lactation experts, alternative health providers, risk managers, lawyers, hospital administrators, healthcare executives, birth advocates, parents and more.“
Some of the questions that will be discussed:1. Do current care practices help or hinder?2. What [...]
The Final Hours: What to Do The Week Before Labor & Delivery
Monday, April 9th, 2007I remember the week or two B.B. (Before Baby) quite vividly. The diaper changing station was set up. The crib was assembled and the linens were washed. The baby’s clothes were laundered and organized by size. The hospital bag was packed.
And I waited and wondered what else I should be doing to prepare and waited [...]
Thank You Notes/Gifts for Physicians
Friday, April 6th, 2007Yes, your doctor, midwife, or nurse is probably bringing in a hefty sum for the delivery of your baby (especially if you happen to have an OB attending your birth). Still, it’s a nice gesture to bring along a small gift and simple thank you note for any parties that stand out to you after [...]
What to Pack: The Hospital Bag
Tuesday, February 27th, 2007Pack light and keep it simple. Birth is a whirlwind experience and you need very few items for the journey:
A robe
Slippers
Heating pad
Loose coming home outfit: pajamas (like the cute majamas nursing pj set I found at www.tummystyle.com - see illustration), athletic wear items, etc.
A nursing bra
Toiletries: Shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush, deodorant, hair tie, etc.
A pillow from [...]
Childbirth Recovery Kit
Wednesday, January 17th, 2007I vividly remember how I felt after giving birth - relieved, dizzily happy, overwhelmed, proud, overjoyed - and like a train ran over me. It really was a marathon event. It was the hardest work-out I had ever done and my body knew it. My muscles ached, it hurt to sit, it hurt to stand, [...]
Book Review - Childbirth
Sunday, January 7th, 2007Easy Labor: Every Woman’s Guide to Choosing Less Pain and More Joy During Childbirth by William Camann and Kathryn Alexander (Ballantine Books, 2006)
Written by an anesthesiologist, this objective and comprehensive guide outlines the pros and cons of pain relief options in childbirth. From acupuncture to hydrotherapy to hypnosis to the Bradley method to the epidural, [...]