Even as some of my most athletic, marathon-running students will agree, labor is one of the most physical acts a woman will go through in her life. So why restrict energy providing nourishment during this time? The reasoning for this protocol is rather outdated. “In many birth settings, oral intake is restricted in response to work by [Dr. Curtis] Mendelson, [a New York obstetrician], in the 1940s. Mendelson reported that during general anesthesia, there was an increased risk of the stomach contents entering the lungs. The acid nature of the stomach liquid and the presence of food particles were particularly dangerous, and potentially could lead to severe lung disease or death” (1).

While Dr. Mendelson’s findings may sound like good reason to avoid food or fluid, obstetrical anaesthesia has changed considerably since the 1940s. With better general anaesthetic techniques and a greater use of regional anaesthesia (2), risks of potential danger have been greatly reduced. Even the ACOG, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, has announced they are in support of women with uncomplicated pregnancies now consuming “modest” amounts of clear liquids such as water, juices, carbonated beverages, tea, black coffee, or sports drinks (3). While ACOG is still not in support of laboring women eating food, many individual doctors and midwives allow liquid intake for low risk women. A recent study published in the British Medical Journal states, “consumption of a light diet during labor did not influence obstetric or neonatal outcomes in participants, nor did it increase the incidence of vomiting. Women who are allowed to eat in labor have similar lengths of labor and operative delivery rates to those allowed water only”(4). So why not let women eat if they want to?

Truthfully, most women will not have a huge appetite during labor, although it is still important to keep the blood sugar balanced and provide energy for the task at hand. For those who are allowed to eat and have the desire to munch a bit, I would recommend staying away from sugary, processed foods. Keep it light since you will not want anything too heavy in your belly. Think energy food! Ask your helpers to prepare foods like whole wheat toast and almond butter, scrambled eggs or quinoa salad. Also, fresh cut fruit or a brothy vegetable stew are good options. Complex carbohydrates, protein and natural sugars are great energy providers. Years ago, I read in a copy of Midwifery Today a blurb from a midwife about a concoction she always made for her clients. She called it the “midwife’s pitocin” – oatmeal, honey and nuts. Sounds pretty delicious, even if you’re not in labor!

Labor is often a physically draining, dehydrating experience, so remember to also keep hydrated! Dehydration can actually slow labor down. For fluid options, you can try herbal tea, water, watered down sports drinks, coconut water (which is also a great source of electrolytes!), watermelon juice or vegetable broth. You can also make or buy fruit juice popsicles.

It is really important to discuss the option of eating and drinking with your care provider ahead of time, as you definitely do not want to start negotiating this during your labor. For those at a hospital or with a provider who follows the older recommendation of fasting during labor, you will most likely be hooked up to an IV to compensate for your lack of food or fluid. The IV delivers dextrose, which is basically sugar and water. Dextrose is a refined sugar with deleterious physiological effects:  it rapidly elevates blood sugar content, causing a temporary energy rise, but this too-high elevation causes the pancreas to secrete more insulin, resulting in a rapid drop in blood sugar and a sudden energy slump. When dextrose is administered intravenously for many hours, the result can be internal physiological havoc, which the patient will experience as exhaustion (5).  This artificially induced glucose high can also lead to the baby suffering from hypoglycemia (6).  This seemingly innocuous dextrose IV certainly has its downsides that should be considered.

I encourage you not to be shy about asking your care provider for a little leeway in having a light nosh during labor. The benefits really seem to outweigh the risks for both you and your baby.

Happy birthing!

About the Author:

Debra is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music with a degree in Musical Theater. She has spent most of her life performing and was introduced to yoga through a choreographer in 1997. After several years as a yoga student, she decided to continue her education and became certified as a Bikram Yoga instructor. In 2001 Debra headed out to Seattle to study with renowned prenatal yoga teacher Colette Crawford, R.N., at the Seattle Holistic Center. Debra has received certification for Vinyasa Yoga from Shiva Rea as well as completed the OM Yoga advanced teacher training with Cyndi Lee in 2004. Debra has also studied the Maternal Fitness Method with Julie Tupler. Debra currently studies with Cyndi Lee, Genevieve Kapular, and Carrie Owerko.

After being witness to several “typical” hospital births, Debra felt it was important to move beyond the yoga room and be present in the birthing room. In 2003, Debra attended her first birth as a DONA certified labor support doula. In that short period of time, Debra has attended about 100 births. She is continuously in awe of the beauty and brilliance of birth. In 2006, Debra received her certification as a Lamaze® Certified Childbirth Educator. In September of 2007, Debra completed a Midwife Assistant Program with Ina May Gaskin, Pamela Hunt and many of the other Farm Midwives at The Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee. Most recently, Debra had the incredible experience of helping one of her clients give birth on the bathroom floor. Luckily, the EMS arrived seconds before the baby did!

Drawing on her experience as a prenatal yoga teacher, labor support doula and childbirth educator, Debra looks to establish a safe and effective class for pregnancy and beyond.
Debra is the proud (and tired) mother of new baby boy, Shay.

www.prenatalyogacenter.com

Sources

(1)    http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003930/eating-and-drinking-in-labour

(2)    http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003930/eating-and-drinking-in-labour

(3)    http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/snacking-during-childbirth-is-safe-says-study-in-british-medical-journal/story-e6frfku0-1225715391139)

(4)    British Medical Journal: Effect of Food Intake During Labor On Obstetric Outcome: Randomised Controlled Trial (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2660391/)

(5)    http://www.birthingnaturally.net/barp/iv.html

(6)    http://pregnancy.about.com/od/birthplans/a/Choices-That-Affect-Breastfeeding.htm

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of  the International Maternity Institute.

If you had multiple vaginal births, you are more likely to be affected by POP, and it usually happens after menopause. POP can be painful and a bit embarrassing, but it is more common than you think, and you are not alone. In fact, millions of women are affected by this condition. Women with this condition may have trouble with bladder leaks, pelvic pain, constipation and pain during intercourse, but in some cases there are no symptoms. Doctors perform a pelvic examination to diagnose POP.

When it comes to treating prolapse, these are several options, and thankfully not all of them require surgery. You should always discuss all of your concerns with your doctor, but it’s also important to do your homework. Being informed helps you talk to your doctor and ask questions about treatment options that might have more health risks than others.

How Can You Treat Prolapse Without Surgery?

It is important to know that just having prolapse doesn’t mean that you need surgery. In fact, about 40 percent of women who have mild prolapse might not even know they have it because there are no symptoms. Doctors don’t usually recommend any surgical treatment for mild cases. Prolapse doesn’t always worsen over time, but it is recommended that you do what you can to make sure the symptoms don’t worsen.

Here are a few things you can do to take care of your pelvic health if you have the beginnings of prolapse:

• If you are overweight, losing some weight will help.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects.
• Quit smoking.

If you have mild prolapse and want to do something to delay or avoid surgery, you can do Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles. To perform these exercises, you contract your pelvic muscles as if you were holding in urine. Each day, you should try to do about 30. If you are just starting out, you can do them in groups of 10 throughout the day. Aim to hold each contraction for about 3 seconds, and work up to 10 with rest in between each contraction.

Another nonsurgical option is a vaginal pessary. Pessaries resemble diaphragms, are made of plastic or silicone and are inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic floor.

If You Need Surgery to Treat Prolapse

Some cases of prolapse are severe. If you are suffering from intense pain and other discomfort that get in the way of doing daily tasks, chances are your doctor will recommend surgery. If this happens, you should know that complications are possible, and you may want a second opinion before deciding to go through with surgery.
Surgeons may use your own tissue to repair the pelvic floor or use stitches alone. But in some cases, a synthetic transvaginal mesh implant might be used. Some types of implants have caused problems for thousands of women and have led to lawsuits. Complications can include:

• Severe pelvic pain
• Perforation of the bladder
• Erosion of the mesh through the vaginal wall
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Infections
• Vaginal bleeding

Another thing to know is that some doctors are more qualified than others to perform pelvic floor surgery. Most women only think of gynecologists when it comes to problems with bladder leakage or prolapse, but urogynecologists are specialists in treating pelvic floor disorders. These doctors are experts and specially trained to perform these types of surgeries, and you should be able to find one in your area.

Remember, it is your body – so take care of it! When dealing with pelvic organ prolapse, make sure you empower yourself with knowledge. There are plenty of credible resources available online that can help you learn more about it. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of each treatment option, and don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion.

Michelle Y. Llamas is a content writer for Drugwatch. She educates the public about dangerous drugs and medical devices. Michelle has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals and on various websites.

You are a super mom, if you are a mother who works full time, takes care of your household duties and your children. You juggle between work, family, social life, and if you’re lucky your well-being. In addition you are praised for handling as much as humanly possible while maintaining it all under control. “How do you do it all? You are so amazing!” is something you may hear quite often.  You may enjoy the admiration so you keep it up or take on more. You give up sleep or eating, whatever it takes to conquer it all, after all you are a “Super Mom”. However, being a super mom can also take a toll on your mind, body, and spirit. Along the way, you may feel stressed, anxious, exhausted, experiencing body aches, insomnia, or migraine headaches but you still must keep on going in order to take care of your family.

Being a super mom myself, I have learned a lot throughout my journey. Below are a few tips that have saved me:

Make self-care a daily priority and put in your schedule. When you take care of yourself, you not only feel good, but you have the energy to do what you do best and with passion. This may include taking breaks, dancing, singing, walking in nature, playtime or getting a massage. Your children also benefit from this tremendously.

Trust Your Body. “Your Body Knows”. It speaks to us. Check in with your body on a daily basis. How is your body feeling and give it what it needs. This may include eating nourishing foods, getting sound sleep, resting when you are feeling tired, or becoming aware of your breath.

Trust your intuition, especially when you are feeling stuck. What may work for someone else may not be appropriate for you. Your inner guide knows what you need best. Listen to the suggestions or advice of others but tune in to confirm what works best for you.

Embrace Your Sisterhood Family. You do not need to go at it alone. A sisterhood family not only provides you support but tremendously impacts your well-being.

Delegate the work you don’t like to do. You don’t need to “do it all” in order to be a super mom and in fact you become more of a super mom when you don’t. When you delegate the work you do not enjoy doing, you open up space for creativity and more energy.

Collaborate. Collaborating with others can form strong bonds, welcome new ideas, and diminish your workload.

Ask for help. I find that this is one that many super moms have a hard time with. Perhaps because when asking for help it may look like a sign of weakness, however asking for help is actually a sign of courage and strength. Asking for help also connects you closer with others.

Empower Your Voice. This may mean saying no to things or people that do not serve you or believing in yourself enough to take leaps of faith when you need to.

Feed Your passion every day. This may include connecting with a quote, environment, or person that inspires you.

Forgive Yourself. It’s so easy to feel guilty and impose a lot of self-judgment. Make it a habit to forgive instead. No one is perfect. When we are able to forgive ourselves and accept we are not perfect, a tremendous weight is lifted off that provides us more energy and happiness.

Love Yourself. You deserve it. Love is the answer, Love heals all, and you are worth it. Through love all things are possible.

And Lastly, I present you with a new paradigm that may inspire you.

The Sacred Super Mom

Sees the need for holistic integration

Delegates the roles she doesn’t enjoy to do to those who do, so her work feels like play

Is constantly upgrading the body

Knows that a healthy body is the most efficient and powerful tool she has

Collaborates

Relies on the power of her radiance and love

Sees the power of networking

Feels the world as one heart seeking the same love

Puts self-care ahead of everything

Trusts her intuition

Knows the necessity of silence

Relies on quality sleep to get her through the day

Integrates her children into her work in creative ways

Trusts in the power of attraction and the power setting the example

Focused on creating a product/service that is needed to bring love and light into the word

Trusts in the power of living your authentic passion, moment by moment

Integrates the feminine and the masculine in a way that is natural to her body and her essence

For Immediate Release: Friday, April 5, 2013

Media Contact: Mary Oscategui:

415-937-1602 or info@maternityinstitute.com

Maternity Institute Welcomes Child Sleep Expert

of Babies to Sleep, Karen Schwarzbach

The International Maternity Institute (IMI), a leading maternity and birth educating organization represented in twenty-six countries, welcomes Karen Schwarzbach, child sleep expert of Babies To Sleep as co-instructor of the IMI Maternity & Child Sleep Consultant certification program.

April 5, 2013 San Francisco, CA- The International Maternity Institute (IMI) welcomes child sleep consultant expert, Karen Schwarzbach, founder of Babies to Sleep as co-instructor of their Maternity & Child Sleep Consultant Certification program. As a well-known perinatal educator, parent educator and expert on child sleep, Karen has worked with thousands of new and expectant parents over the last fifteen years. Her experience, expertise, highly acclaimed sleep education and support workshops align closely with IMI’s integrated and healthy approach to sleep.

“We are honored to welcome Karen on board to mentor and train our Maternity and Child Sleep Consultant students. She is a master of her work and exemplifies the professional standard we are setting for Child Sleep Consulting industry.” says Mary Oscategui, founder and Educational Director of the IMI.

About Karen Schwarzbach

Karen (Pollak) Schwarzbach, CSC is a well-known perinatal and parent educator and subject matter expert on infant and toddler sleep. For over 15 years, Karen has mentored thousands of new and expectant parents and helped them thrive during this joyful but demanding time in their lives. Karen’s unique ‘Babies to Sleep system’ offers practical and effective solutions to day-to-day challenges which have aided new mothers and fathers enhance the quality of their family life and establish positive relationships with their young children.

Early in her career, Karen realized the significant impact that sleep deprivation had on new parents. Finding support and solutions to sleep struggles was an important, unmet need. In the years since, Karen has helped families achieve their sleep objectives in a compassionate and practical way. Her ability to understand each family’s unique situation and offer sensible solutions is the cornerstone of her success.

Karen began her parent coaching career in 1997 as Perinatal Educator. For ten years she facilitated a portion of the nationally acclaimed “Marvelous Multiples” seminar series for couples expecting multiple. Realizing that the need for support only began once twins arrived, Karen founded DoubleTalk in 2001 offering highly acclaimed education and support workshops for new parents off twins.

In the fall of 2003 Karen further expanded her offerings when founding Babies to Sleep. In the years since Karen has provided sleep solutions to thousands of families throughout North America. She has won contracts with hospitals to educate both parents and pediatricians on the importance of infant and toddler sleep. Most recently, Karen was invited to serve as a Founding Member of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants an international organization supporting family sleep coaches. Further, Karen serves on the Advisory Board of the International Maternity Institute.

Karen and her well rested three sons live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

About IMI

The International Maternity Institute™ is an evidence-based, integrative approach training and certification organization that provides global support for maternity and health professionals at all business stages.

Our mission is to:

• Inspire, support, and educate a global network of maternity consultant professionals
• Provide unparalleled evidence-based educational opportunities to maternity and health   professionals
• To provide an integrative approach with evidence-based content that is inclusive of all      beliefs, cultures, lifestyles, and philosophies
• Provide career opportunities to people looking to support and empower preconceiving, new and expectant parents
• Build a strong and nurturing community for maternity and health professionals
• Provide guidance and careers that are conducive to work-life balance

For more information on the International Maternity Institute, please visit http://www.maternityinstitute.com.

Contact:

(for highlights of this interview purchase Pregnancy and Newborn magazine’s April 2013 issue)

Why is it important for an expecting mama to try to catch her 40 winks?

From the moment a woman becomes pregnant; her body is undergoing many physiologic and biochemical changes. As a result the potential for sleep disturbances increases. Nausea, nighttime waking, bladder pressure, and fatigue issues are very common. Sleep deprivation can lead to complications such as preterm labor, extended labor, as well as other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, snoring, restless leg syndrome, and insomnia. Sleep disorders developed during pregnancy can also lead to sleep disorders in the child.

As we all know, once insomnia hits, it will be hard for a mom to snooze. Do you have any tips for beating insomnia while pregnant?

Certainly, but please keep in mind these are all tips based on my own education, training, experience and not to be considered medical advice as I am not a doctor. A mom should refer her medical practitioner to diagnose and treat insomnia.

Here are some changes mom can make to beat insomnia:

Keep the room very dark. If she needs to get up to use the bathroom at night, rather than turning on bright lights, use a small night light just enough for her to see where she is going but yet maintain a relaxed state that is not over stimulating to the eye and sleep cycle.

Keep a journal and pen handy by her bedside. If she has trouble falling asleep because her mind is racing, or if she wakes up with too many thoughts and is unable to go back to sleep, consider doing some journaling before crawling into bed at night or when woken up at night to clear the mind so there is no residue.

Invite downtime. Make sure she has downtime on a daily basis where she can spend some time relaxing and letting go of stresses. Some examples of this include nature walks, yoga, journaling, massage, etc.

Establish a bedtime routine. Establish a bedtime routine and sleep as close as possible to 10pm. At 10pm, the body begins repairing and being awake slows this process.

Dim lights. Dim all lights, computer screens, smart phones at least an hour or two before bed. Install dimmer switches on lights where possible. Candle light is best for illuminating the house during the hours before bedtime, and many moms find it to be very relaxing.

Establish firm boundaries for bedtime. Make her a bedroom a sanctuary for relaxation and sleep. Try not to work, watch television, or any other activity outside of sleep and sex.

Remove EMF’s. Remove any electromagnetic field (emf) equipment from her room as studies have shown prolonged exposure can suppress the immune system and disrupt sleep.

Get Natural Unfiltered Sunlight. Get natural unfiltered sunlight in your eyes first thing in the morning for at least fifteen minutes if you can. In the warmer months or in warmer climates get sunlight on a good portion of your skin in the morning as well. This will send a strong message to your pineal gland and your internal clock. It works wonders.

Adjust Temperature. Keep the temperature between 68 and 72 degrees.

Use a sleeping aid. Use sleeping aids like sleep pillows or a mattress topper for her comfort and support. Have a mattress, mattress topper, or sleeping pillow that is equipped to support her posture and changing body. Experiment with them to find the best one suitable for you.

Eat light meals before bed. Eat only light meals before bed and familiarize yourself with anti-sleep and pro-sleep foods in order to avoid sleep disruption and encourage deep sleep.

Try to eat foods that are more easily digested. Try to eat foods that are more easily digested, like blended foods and fruits with unprocessed fats, and keep your portion sizes small as you approach bed time.

Eliminate all stimulants from your diet–This includes caffeine, chocolate, and spices of all kinds. It is also critical to eliminate foods that are stimulating and irritating to the digestive system just by their very nature—foods like grains, beans, and dairy. This is even more essential late in the day. Grains also tend to bind with the cholesterol in your gut–cholesterol that is needed to produce sleep inducing hormones and other necessary cofactors. MSG is also something to avoid and it is hidden in all sorts of products nowadays under many different names. One should also be careful of taking vitamin supplements in the evening as they can have a stimulating effect, and in many cases they are like a chemistry experiment. It’s probably best to take them in the morning and early afternoon if possible.

Learn all you can about healthy blood sugar levels. Blood sugar has a huge impact on sleep quality.

Establish healthy gut flora. Something else to consider is your gut. It is important to establish healthy gut flora and then leave it alone. Many researchers are now strongly linking the cyclical die off of bacteria in the gut with sleep cycles.

Are there any sleeping tips that are good for baby while in mom’s belly (left is best, etc.)?

Yes, besides my tips above, my three other favorite tips would be:

• Find a healthy and comfortable sleep position
• Reduce stress
• Green your sleep environment

Sleep positions can affect both the health of mom and her baby. They can aid or hinder strong circulation and blood supply needed for fetal development. Most medical birth professionals say lying on your left side is best because although while lying on your right side may not harm the baby during pregnancy, your uterus put pressure on the liver. Lying on your back during pregnancy puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, cutting off blood supply and while lying on your front during pregnancy may be a rare occurrence after the first trimester, it places pressure on the womb putting baby at risk. Using sleep aids like sleep pillows can be very helpful to support your body’s alignment and provide comfort. Choosing the right mattress or mattress topper can also aid your body’s continued physical changes.

Reduce stress by sleeping more, taking naps, or committing to engaging in a relaxing daily activity like prenatal yoga, meditation, journaling, art, nature walks, etc. Sleep helps to balance stress hormones. When an expectant mom feels anxious and stressed, her nervous system causes physiological changes in her body. Adrenaline and the stress hormone, cortisol, release into her bloodstream, causing her body to react in a fight-or-flight response. As a result, her digestive system slows down, which prevents essential nutrients from being absorbed into her body and passed on to her baby. Her muscles become very tense, making it difficult to think clearly and relax. These physiological changes can lead to premature labor or even complications during labor. Babies exposed to a variety of stress hormones, toxins and malnutrition inside the womb may develop a host of problems during their fetal growth and after they are born. Their bodies have to undergo certain biological changes in order to cope with a high-stress environment.

Greening a pregnant woman’s sleeping environment is essential to diminish the risks of toxic exposure which can compromise her immune system leading her and her baby at risk for a host of health issues. Some studies have also shown that babies in the womb may be affected by air pollution. A few tips for Greening a Sleep Environment include: removing items such as products with fragrances, televisions, computers, and phones which emit electromagnetic fields known to affect sleep and immune system, leaving shoes at the door, using non-toxic cleaners, using indoor plants that clean the air, improving ventilation, and washing bed-sheets, linens, pillow cases, and pajamas with non-toxic laundry detergent.

How can sleep aid in labor on the big day?

When mom is well rested, she is more physically and mentally prepared for labor greatly diminishing the risk of any complications during and after labor. Some studies have also correlated the amount of sleep in late pregnancy with labor duration and type. Sleep helps to balance stress hormones. Excessive stress hormones can affect the labor process, delaying or extending labor.

Is there anything you would like to add about sleep and pregnancy?

With our modern day culture and expectations, the average expectant mom today is juggling quite a bit and as a result experiencing an overwhelming amount of stimulation and stress. Incorporating some relaxation into her daily life is the perfect complement to healthy sleep, her overall health and health of her baby. Pregnancy is also a perfect time to prepare and strategize for healthy sleep to continue once the baby arrives.

In addition baby’s bodies are particularly sensitive to the stimulants we put into our body, and the sensory stimulants in our environments. The number of babies being put on medications nowadays for sleep issues would surprise a lot people I think and it says a lot about the sleep crisis facing parents here in America, and in the world at large.

Is there anything you would like to add in general?

A healthy mom equals a healthy baby. Sleep supports all the vital components of healthy human function.Pregnancy is a perfect time to prepare and establish new sleep habits for healthy sleep to continue long after the baby arrives, and hopefully for the rest of her and her baby’s life.

About Mary

Mary Oscategui is an international business and health coach who has successfully started and grown many businesses and organizations.

She is the Founder and Educational Director of the International Maternity Institute (IMI), International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals (IABPP), Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants (APSC), and Sacred Biz Partner with Sacred Pregnancy.

Additionally Mary founded The Baby Planner, Physical Awakening, and WhollyWoman.us, offering holistic services in sacred pregnancy, baby planning, maternity and child sleep, health, fitness, nutrition, life coaching, stress management, yoga therapy and green living.

She has a multitude of trainings, certification and experience related to business and health including: business management, sales and marketing, business start-up, business coaching, yoga instruction, yoga therapy, personal training, group exercise instruction, dance, wellness coaching, eco-consulting, baby planning, nutrition, sleep coaching, and stress management.

Mary combines her business and health coaching to support maternity professionals, birth professionals, health professionals and mompreneurs. She offers individual consultations, workshops, and retreats.

Her enthusiasm, inspiration, creativity, and knowledge has helped a variety of businesses around the globe including:

Austria, England, France, Luxemburg, Bahrain, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel, Argentina, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Peru, Chile, Bermuda and throughout the United States.

She is a passionate visionary in health, maternity, birth and business education and has been consulting and guiding hundreds of clients for the last 17 years.

She is the author of “The Baby Planner Profession: What You Need To Know! The Ultimate Guide and Resource for Baby Planner Professionals,” and her latest book, “Green Body Green Birth”.

Mary lives in Marin, CA with her two children Bella Luna and Taj Orion Sky.

Typically child sleep consultants are known to work with parents during postpartum to provide “sleep training”, tools, resources, and education in order to get their child to sleep. Sleep Training is most commonly introduced when an infant reaches four months of age or shortly thereafter. Occasionally families begin introducing sleep training earlier on, however very little support or education exists anywhere to support families with sleep challenges during pregnancy and the newborn stages.

According to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), 78 percent of women reported more disturbed sleep during pregnancy than at other times. Sleep is critical for a pregnant woman and her baby. From the moment a woman becomes pregnant, her body is undergoing many physiologic and biochemical changes. As a result the potential for sleep disturbances increases. Nausea, nighttime waking, bladder pressure, and fatigue issues are very common. Sleep deprivation can lead to complications such as preterm labor, extended labor, as well as other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, snoring, restless leg syndrome, and insomnia. Sleep disorders developed during pregnancy can also lead to sleep disorders in the child.

Mary Oscategui a mother, international business and health coach, founder of the International Maternity Institute and co-founder of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants wants to inspire maternity professionals, birth professionals, and sleep consultants to offer sleep education, coaching, and support as early in a woman’s  pregnancy as possible. 

“Planning, preparation, and education are essential to supporting a family’s sleep needs and goals. A sleep consultant can play a viable and empowering role when working with families before the baby is born.  It’s time we take preventative measures to address sleep challenges early on during pregnancy rather than waiting for extremely sleep deprived and exhausted families to seek the aid of a sleep consultant post partum at four months, six months, or  longer. Pregnancy is a perfect time to prepare and establish new sleep habits for healthy sleep to continue long after the baby arrives, and hopefully for the rest of her and her baby’s life. When mom is well rested, she is also more physically and mentally prepared for labor greatly diminishing the risk of any complications during and after labor. Some studies have correlated the amount of sleep in late pregnancy with labor duration and type. Excessive stress hormones can also affect the labor process, delaying or extending labor and sleep helps to balance stress hormones.” says Mary

Mary’s passion and determination led her to develop the first maternity and child sleep consultant training program via the International Maternity Institute to address sleep challenges during pregnancy and postpartum.

“Child sleep challenges are not just a child issue but a family issue. When a child is experiencing sleep challenges, the whole family is affected by it. Therefore it is important to address both the child and adult sleep and when possible begin supporting healthy sleep habits during pregnancy.” continues Mary

Mary also finds that some child sleep consultants are jumping too quickly to implement a specific sleep training method before addressing key issues that could be attributing to sleep disruption. These include and are not limited to:

“It deeply concerns me when I am contacted by families who have worked with a child sleep consultant that forced a particular method and overlooked a medical issue, nutrition issue, trauma and so on that should have been immediately referred out. As professionals, it is our responsibility to understand and address these fundamental areas prior to implementing any particular method.” says, Mary.

Lastly, Mary shares that most often times parents do not associate that poor sleep habits developed prior to their baby’s arrival could also be contributing to their child’s sleep challenges after birth. This is another reason why Mary feels child sleep consultants have a tremendous opportunity to work with adults. “It’s about sleep education. We have so much childbirth education available to families in preparation for birth, but we have little to no preparation on sleep education prior to a baby’s arrival. Mary is hoping to change that.”

About Mary

Mary Oscategui is an international business and health coach who has successfully started and grown many businesses and organizations.

She is  the  Founder and Educational Director of the International Maternity Institute (IMI),  International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals (IABPP), Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants (APSC), and Sacred Biz Partner with Sacred Pregnancy.

Additionally Mary founded The Baby Planner, Physical Awakening, and  WhollyWoman.us, offering holistic services in sacred pregnancy, baby planning, maternity and child sleep, health, fitness, nutrition, life coaching, stress management, yoga therapy and green living.

She has a multitude of trainings, certification and experience related to business and health including: business management, sales and marketing, business start-up, business coaching, yoga instruction, yoga therapy, personal training, group exercise instruction, dance, wellness coaching, eco-consulting, baby planning, nutrition, sleep coaching, and stress management.

Mary combines her business and health coaching to support maternity professionals, birth professionals, health professionals and mompreneurs. She offers individual consultations, workshops, and retreats.

Her enthusiasm, inspiration, creativity, and knowledge has helped a variety of businesses around the globe including:

Austria, England, France, Luxemburg, Bahrain, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel, Argentina, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Peru, Chile, Bermuda and throughout the United States.

She is a passionate visionary in health, maternity, birth and business education and has been consulting and guiding hundreds of clients for the last 17 years.

She is the author of  “The Baby Planner Profession: What You Need To Know! The Ultimate Guide and Resource for Baby Planner Professionals,” and her latest book, “Green Body Green Birth”.

Mary lives in Marin, CA with her two children Bella Luna and Taj Orion Sky.

Years ago, on my wedding day, my brand-new husband and I stopped at a fast food drive-thru on the way to our reception.  My, how things have changed.

It wasn’t long after that day that I began to wonder about where our food comes from, and how it ends up on my dinner table every night.  I began to research farming methods and prepared to grow my own food.  I wanted to know everything there was to know about nutrition, and I signed up for an intensive program that would eventually designate me as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.  As my focus shifted to starting a family, it was a perfect opportunity to specialize in all things maternity:  fertility, preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, infant nutrition, and weight loss.

As I started to make small changes to my diet in preparation for pregnancy, the gastrointestinal issues that had plagued me for over 15 years vanished.  I lost 30 pounds.  I had more energy than I had ever had before.  I felt wonderful.

I was thrilled to find out I was pregnant, and while I was confident that my healthy diet would lead to a healthy pregnancy, I was anxious to ‘practice what I preach’.  I ate nutrient-dense foods that provided all the ingredients for growing a healthy baby, and avoided the typical signs and symptoms of pregnancy:  fatigue, morning sickness, mood swings, etc.  I had a wonderful birthing experience, and continued to be conscious of what I ate throughout the postpartum period and while breastfeeding, both for myself and for my beautiful baby girl.  My, how things have changed.

I’ve been privileged to have had the opportunity to apply my knowledge and education in my own family, and now I have the opportunity to share my love and passion for nutrition and pregnancy through the International Maternity Institute and the Maternity Nutrition Coach Certification course.

Besides being a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, I have been a teacher for the last 10 years, I have a Master’s degree in Education, and Bachelor’s degrees in Education and Biology.  I am also an Infant Massage Instructor, and have taken courses in Lactation Management and Sleep Training.  I am confident that the program we have developed provides an excellent foundation in the field of nutrition, while looking at what nutrients are needed for the various stages of pregnancy.  We explore breastmilk, formula, allergies, common ailments, sleep, stress and how these are all affected by the foods that we eat.

Join us and learn IMI’s secret recipe for growing a happy, healthy baby.

Click here to learn more: http://maternityinstitute.com/baby-planners/maternity-nutrition-coach/

About Sara Spears

Sara Spears is a registered Holistic Nutritionist, having studied at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition.  She is a passionate educator, who specializes in fertility, pre and post natal women, infants, and weight loss.  Sara strongly believes that a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby begin with nourishing one’s self through diet and exercise – both of the body and mind.  Sara provides private nutritional assessments and consultations, with a focus on expecting and new families.  

Sara holds two undergraduate degrees in Biology and Education, through the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University, respectively.  She has been teaching and developing curriculum for various schools in Canada and abroad for the last 10 years.  She also earned a Masters degree in Educational Psychology through Mount Saint Vincent University.    

In addition to educating, Sara is also a Certified Infant Massage Instructor, facilitates Infant Massage classes in her community, and has taken courses in both Lactation Management and Sleep Training.

Sara currently resides in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and baby girl. 

During a recent yoga class I was taking, my teacher discussed our  natural reaction to fear. She explained that students tend to make their poses smaller and constrict themselves when they are fearful of doing  the pose.  For example, they are afraid to shift their weight forward  off their feet and into their hands for arm balances.  Or, they keep  their arms close to their head for wheel poses instead of letting the  pose have some space.  By getting physically smaller in the pose, we  decrease the chances of successfully manifesting the actual posture.

I started thinking about how this concept relates to childbirth.  In  my last blog, “Breathing For Labor”, I talked about the body’s reaction  to fear.  It goes into the ‘fight or flight” mode, releasing adrenalin  into the blood flow and reduces the function of oxytocin, halting labor.  The laboring mother is constricting, becoming small, when the exact  opposite is needed for labor.  The mother needs to focus on getting big-  a big open cervix!  I once had a doula client repeating the mantra “I  can open so big” (referring to her cervix).

The well known midwife, Ina May Gaskin, refers to this phenomenon as  the “Sphincter Law”.  She explains that the sphincters in the body don’t respond well to pressure or fear. Instead of opening up, they close up  even tighter.  Think about it-  If you were told to have an orgasm on  the spot, would your body be able to relax and open, or would feel  pressured, smaller and tighter?  Likely the second. That is the  sphincter law. The cervix is a sphincter and does not respond well to  fear or pressure.

Knowing this basic law of physiology, what are some ways to help remove fear from the birthing equation?

First and foremost, it is important to help build the mother’s  confidence in her body and ability to birth.  A woman’s confidence is  enhanced or hindered by those around her.  If the people she chooses to  be part of her birth experience believe in her abilities, she will feel  more supported and believe in herself.  Here are some additional  thoughts to help reduce fear:

1. Choose your “posse” well! Knowing that those around can influence how the mother feels about her  experience, consider the people involved.  Are these people supportive  of the choices you are making for your birth?  Will they be telling  their own stories about their birth experience, or be open to seeing and listening to what is happening in the present moment?  Will they help  empower you?  Are they knowledgeable about the birth process and can  they help alleviate stress or fear should it arise?

2. Choose Your “care provider” well. I once attended a birth of woman going through a natural delivery.  She  had just moved into the depth of active labor and was working to find a  pain management technique she could use.  The doctor said out loud- “I  don’t know why you are going through a natural birth!  I want an  epidural for my yearly pap smear.”  This kind of statement can be  undermining for the woman trying to work through the birth process.  It  is important to find a provider who is aligned with your birth  philosophy.

Another point to consider when finding a care provider is their  specialty.  If the care provider mainly works with high risk women, they will likely follow those protocols. If you are low risk, you likely do  not need the same amount of intervention.  It may feel overwhelming to  have a very medicalized birth if it is not necessary.

3. Choose the right place to birth This follows the same idea as choosing the right care provider.  Does  the hospital have very high rates of cesarean births or labor  inductions? Does that seem overwhelming or frightening to you?   If so,  you may want to consider a place that practices with fewer routine  interventions.

4. Read positive birth stories and stay away from scary TV shows. The media is packed with TV shows that portray birth as a dramatic,  scarey event.  If you stumble upon those shows, CHANGE THE CHANNEL! The  same goes for listening to unpleasant birth stories of friends and  family.  While I was pregnant, my mother-in-law loved to tell me about  how hard it was to birth my husband’s broad shoulders.  This did not  help my confidence leading up to my birth.  “In a recent survey, women  were asked to rate their fear of birth before reading positive birth  stories, and again three weeks after reading birth stories. Participants reported an average of 33% less fear after they read empowering  stories” (Midwifery Today pg. 31 Winter 2007).

For some positive birth stories, you can read the first part of “Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth” or visit www.prenatalyogacenter.com and read wonderful stories from our community.

Happy birthing!

About Debra

Debra, founder of Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC,  has studied with renowned prenatal yoga teacher Colette Crawford, R.N., at the Seattle Holistic Center. Debra has received certification for Vinyasa Yoga from Shiva Rea as well as completed the OM Yoga advanced teacher training with Cyndi Lee in 2004. Debra has also studied the Maternal Fitness Method with Julie Tupler. Debra currently studies with Cyndi Lee, Genevieve Kapular, and Carrie Owerko. In 2006, Debra received her certification as a Lamaze® Certified Childbirth Educator. In September of 2007, Debra completed a Midwife Assistant Program with Ina May Gaskin, Pamela Hunt and many of the other Farm Midwives at The Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of  the International Maternity Institute.

IMI Advisory Board Member, Bestselling author, Environmental Health Advocate, Corporate Wellness Consultant

As appeared on Huffington Post – Posted: 12/19/2012 12:12 pm (Original article can be viewed here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beth-greer/triclosan-health_b_2246454.html)

“Almost 40 percent of my 4- and 5-year-olds are obese,” said Stephen P. Bolduc, M.D., who’s been practicing pediatrics for 32 years, “and they’re not responding to traditional treatment. When I suggest they exercise more and eat less they don’t lose weight, as an overweight kid, say 10 years ago, would,” he added. He’s seeing a major shift in his practice. “It’s migrated from one predominately focused on infectious diseases that responded well to medical intervention to one with illnesses where the cause is not as easily identified and the treatments are not as effective.” Aside from obesity, Dr. Bolduc is noticing other disturbing trends. “Lots of my 5- and 6-year-olds are now on psych meds, kids as young as 6 have body odor [a possible indication of early puberty] and they need to wear deodorant. I see more and more kids with IBS (irritable bowl syndrome), asthma and diabetes, plus, there’s a huge increase in premie births, and about 30 percent of the young moms in my practice have fertility issues,” he said with a concerned look on his face.

If this one pediatrician’s experience in his “typical” Virginia-based practice is an indication of what other pediatricians are noticing it could be part of a national trend and it’s alarming. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), learning and developmental disabilities now affect nearly 1 in 6 children in the US; ADHD appears in an estimated 9 percent of children; autism spectrum disorder shows up in 1 in 88 children (a 78 percent increase from a decade ago), and girls in the U.S. are entering puberty at earlier ages than they have in the past. Plus, $3-5 billion is spent per year in the U.S. on infertility treatments. What’s going on?

One explanation could be that environmental toxins are acting as endocrine disruptors — substances that interfere with our natural hormones — and pregnant women, unborn babies and children are most susceptible. The exposure happens on a daily basis from being in contact with everyday products in the home. Everything from soap, shampoo and cleaners, to air, drinking water, and food — even plastic containers and register receipts emit chemicals that mess with our hormones. All of this can have profound implications.

“Chemicals in the U.S. are under-studied and under-regulated. As a result, people are being exposed to many chemicals that have not been adequately studied for their health effects,” said Ted Schettler, M.D., Science Director of CHE (Collaborative on Health and the Environment). He was a guest lecturer at a recent training sponsored by CHE at Commonweal in Bolinas, Calif., which Dr. Bolduc and I attended along with a group that included doctors, nurses, government officials, and community activists. We heard lectures from five other scientists and researchers on the impact environmental toxins have on reproductive and endocrine systems and what can happen when these systems are disrupted.

This article is part of a series I will be writing on chemicals in our everyday products that may act as endocrine disruptors. These include the antibacterial chemical tricolsan, found in many personal care products; BPA (bisphenol A), found in plastic drinking containers and the lining of canned food; and flame retardant chemicals, found in as much as 80 percent of furniture sold in the U.S. in everything from couches to baby cribs.

Extreme Clean

When my daughter was about 7 years old, she invited a girlfriend to our home for a sleepover. As they were getting ready for bed, I overheard the following conversation from the bathroom:

Friend: “What kind of toothpaste is that? It looks weird.”

My daughter: “It’s an all-natural one. And what are you using? Colgate? Don’t you know that can kill you?”

I was horrified. Had I been a bit too harsh in my consciousness-raising and created an eco-monster? I sat them both down and explained that the toothpaste her friend was using wouldn’t kill her, or anybody, but that it was better to choose a natural one, without a lot of added chemicals.

Fast forward eight years to present day. Colgate now uses a chemical (which is actually a pesticide) called triclosan in its Colgate Total toothpaste.  A really effective way to absorb chemicals is through the mouth. For example, when a drug like nitroglycerine is administered for a heart condition it is given under the tongue for fast absorption. So are natural homeopathic remedies. So what happens when you brush with toothpaste containing triclosan? You get a dose of the chemical.

There is a warning label on the box of Colgate Total that says “Keep out of reach of children under the age of 6. If more than used for brushing is swallowed, contact the poison control center or your physician.” Colgate is aware that Triclosan shouldn’t be ingested in large amounts. But what about small amounts ingested twice a day over years? And what about children under 6, whose parents may not have read the warning label? No one is certain. But one thing is for sure: “Three out of four Americans have Triclosan in their blood,” said Sarah Janssen, M.D., Ph.D, senior scientist in the health and environment program at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) in San Francisco. “And when you brush your teeth with a toothpaste containing the chemical, your levels go way up.” According to one study (Allymr, 2009), volunteers brushing with Tricolsan toothpaste for 14 days had a dramatic rise in blood levels — 450 times normal.

Here’s the scary part: According to scientists, triclosan (also found in deodorant, acne cream and antibacterial soaps) is proven to be an endocrine disruptor in laboratory animals. It decreases thyroxine levels in the thyroid (Crofton, 2007),interferes with testosterone and decreases sperm counts (Kumar, 2009); and interferes with estrogen, bringing on early puberty (Stoker, 2010). While we know that many people are exposed to triclosan, studies are only beginning to examine what the impacts might be. And of note, people are typically exposed to levels of triclosan that are lower than those used in the animal studies.

And think about this: According to Johns Hopkins University research, about 75 percent of triclosan (found in 75 percent of liquid hand soaps) and its cousin triclocarban (found in 25 percent of bar soaps) is flushed down drains and survives treatment at sewage plants. Most of that ends up in sludge spread on farm fields and enters our food chain! Every year, the study says, an estimated 200 tons of these two compounds are applied to agricultural lands nationwide. 

What can you do?

• Read labels. Look for the word “antibacterial” as a clue that the product contains triclosan or triclocarbon and don’t buy it.
• Use plain soap and water. Antibacterial soaps and washes are not any better at killing germs and could contribute to the growth of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics.
• Choose alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Tell your dentist to read the research and offer Tom’s toothpaste or other, safer choices to their patients.
• Eat organic food to avoid the possibility of consuming triclosan in your food.

Beth Greer, Super Natural Mom®, is author of the bestseller “Super Natural Home,” endorsed by Deepak Chopra and Ralph Nader. She’s former President of The Learning Annex, and an environmental health advocate who eliminated a sizable tumor in her chest without drugs or surgery. Beth is also an inspiring speaker and popular media guest having appeared on CNN, ABC and NBC. She designs Working Healthy corporate wellness programs and personalized in-home detox audits nationwide. www.BethGreer.com

For more by Beth Greer, click here.

For more on natural health, click here.

A student asked me the other day how she should pick a birthing  class. Her doctor had suggested she take one in preparation for her  upcoming birth. She explained how overwhelmed she started to feel while  she researched the different styles and methods of classes available. So this blog is intended to give you a “Cliff Notes” version of the  different styles and also to briefly highlight what each method focuses  on.

Lamaze While the idea of “Lamaze” classes often conjure up the image of a woman panting to a dictated rhythm, that is far from the reality of Lamaze  today. Lamaze International, as it is now referred to, focuses on  providing evidence-based research in helping women build confidence and  find good support in making decisions about how she approaches her  pregnancy, birth and motherhood.

Lamaze classes highlight:

*Lamaze supports evidence-based pregnancy and birth practices  that are supported by research and experienced childbirth educators.

*Lamaze guides you as you navigate all of your options, and their benefits and drawbacks.

*Lamaze seeks to empower you as you explore how your body was  designed for birth, and encourages you to work with your body’s natural  abilities.

*Lamaze provides strategies for natural pain management during labor, reducing unnecessary medical interventions. Lamaze ensures that you feel continuously supported during labor and birth.

*Lamaze stresses the importance of natural pain management  strategies through labor and birth, helping you choose methods that are  safe and healthy.

*Lamaze encourages bonding between you and your baby, with the  importance of skin-to-skin contact and time to get to know your new baby after birth. (1)

The structure of a Lamaze Class is 12-15 hours, usually 6 classes of  2-2.5 hours each. Lamaze teachers are also responsible for creating the  outline of their own class, and class styles may vary as long as the  required Lamaze Childbirth Education material is included and covered.  In my experience, Lamaze is the most “middle of the road” method. It is  more factual, and less experiential then some of the other methods. You  are not likely to be spending lots of time on visualizations, birth art  or explorations of birth fears.

The Bradley Method® The Bradley Method® is taught in a strict 12 week class series. There is a specific week by week curriculum that each certified Bradley Method®  follows. This method is very strongly focused on natural birth and  including the partner as the “birth coach”.

The Bradley Method® describes itself as “is a system of natural labor techniques in which a woman and her coach play an active part. It is a  simple method of increasing self-awareness, teaching a woman how to deal with the stress of labor by tuning in to her own body. The Bradley  Method® encourages mothers to trust their bodies using natural  breathing, relaxation, nutrition, exercise, and education.” (2)

Like the Lamaze method, Bradley Method® also focuses on the  fundamentals of pregnancy and nutrition as well as the anatomy and  physiology of the different stages of labor, variations and  complications and postpartum health.  There is also a whole class  dedicated to constructing a birth plan. Participants also receive a 130  page study guide.

This method may not be suited for couples that are not focused on a drug free birth experience.

HypnoBirthing® HypnoBirthing® focuses on the laboring mother using relaxation and  hypnotic techniques to move into a state of relaxation and allowing her  body to open without fear and trusting the natural process of birth.  This philosophy of HypnoBirthing® is based on breaking the  fear-tension-pain cycle. Basically when a person is fearful, the mental  and physiological response is to get tense. (Tension causes a person to  move into sympathetic nervous system which increases the heart rate,  shortens breath and constrict the blood flow.)  When the body is tense,  pain is felt more intensely. If the laboring woman can feel more  confident and trust the natural birthing process, the fear is removed  and her body will be more relaxed, leaving her feeling less pain.

HypnoBirthing® does not claim to put the mother in a trance or to  sleep. They state, “What you will experience is similar to the  daydreaming, or focusing, that occurs when you are engrossed in a book  or a movie or staring into a fire. In this calm state, your body’s  natural relaxant, endorphins, replaces the stress hormones that  constrict and cause pain.” (3) To achieve this outcome, this system  relies heavily on the couple practicing the relaxation and visualization techniques that are given in the class.

The structure of HypnoBirthing® is similar to The Bradley Method®, in which there is a set curriculum.  HypnoBirthing® is a 5 week program  with each class running 2 1/2 hours long.

*Side note: I would also like to point out, there is very little  focus on anatomy and physiology of the different stages of labor taught  in the HypnoBirthing® system. Since they do not cover much of variations and complications of labor and cesarean births, I would consider  HypnoBirthing® more of a pain management technique rather than a full  childbirth education class. Granted, I am biased as a certified Lamaze  teacher, but I think it is important for women and their partners to  understand the broad scope of what labor will look like and have several pain management techniques to choose from in case one specific method  does not work.

BIRTHING FROM WITHIN® BIRTHING FROM WITHIN® is the exact opposite of HypnoBirthing® in that  BIRTHING FROM WITHIN® classes are NOT about relaxing or “pain-free”  birth. No need to bring pillows: you will not be relaxing, because the  truth of labor is that it is hard work, and you may move better through  labor by being upright, active, dancing, rocking, or sitting. You and  your partner will learn about coping with pain and the challenges of  labor, and have lots of time to practice together. “BIRTHING FROM  WITHIN® is NOT outcome-focused. In other words, we do not promise that  if you practice or believe in a certain thing, you will achieve a  specific result. Your positive actions and intentions will influence  your body-mind, but there is no way of knowing just how.” (4)

BIRTHING FROM WITHIN® is strongly based in approaching childbirth  through a spiritual and holistic preparation. This method encourages the mother to explore her feelings around birth through “birth art” and  discover not prescribed coping methods, but instead, discover more about herself.

Classes cover:

*Experience birth as a rite of passage     *Eat a sound diet (pregnancy and breastfeeding)     *Open your body-mind before and during labor with self-hypnosis and visualizations     *Build confidence in yourself and your partner     *Ask questions and make decisions in labor     *Protect your birth space     *Tame your “Birth Tigers”TM     *Push your baby out     *Welcome your baby     *Recover and plan postpartum     *Care for and feed your newborn     *Give birth from within during a Cesarean, while using pain medication, or with medical support.

BIRTHING FROM WITHIN® believes the essence of childbirth education is self-discovery, not assimilating obstetric information. Following in  this philosophy, the do not offer research-based information about  birth, or routines and policies of the hospital. They suggest if you are seeking this information to take a supplemental Lamaze or Bradley  class, read an evidence-based book about birth or ask the “mentor” for  additional information. Their focus is experiential, focusing on  spiritual and holistic childbirth preparation.

The classes do not follow a specific curriculum; parents’ individual needs and differences determine class content.

International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA): ICEA is a professional organization supports educators and other health  care providers who believe in freedom to make decisions based on  knowledge of alternatives in family-centered maternity and newborn care. (5) ICEA is very similar to Lamaze in the practice of presenting  evidence based research, fully covering the anatomical and philosophical changes of pregnancy, teaching the different stages of labor, pain  management techniques, reviewing interventions and complications and  covering postpartum care.

“ICEA strongly supports the arrival of a baby is very much a “family  affair”. ICEA believes family-centered care consists of an attitude  rather than a protocol. It recognizes a vital life event rather than a  medical procedure. It appreciates the importance of that event to the  woman and to the persons who are important to her. It respects the  woman’s individuality and her sense of autonomy. It realizes that the  decisions she may make are based on many influences of which the  expertise of the professional is only one. It requires that all relevant information be made available to the woman to help her achieve her own  goals, and that she be guided but not directed by professionals she has  chosen to share the responsibility for her care.” (5)

BirthWorks Intenational® BirthWorks® classes are based on the philosophy that every woman is born with the knowledge about how to give birth.  Therefore, birth is  instinctive and what is instinctive doesn’t need to be taught. (6)

One component that sets BirthWorks® apart from some of the other  methods is the strong focus on pelvic bodywork and optimal fetal  positioning. They spend several classes focusing on this topic. The  belief is, if the pelvis is well aligned, the baby will move into an  optimal fetal position which leads to a more efficient labor.

BirthWorks® is taught in an 8 week series. The classes are  interactive and experiential, providing both an academic and an  emotional preparation for birth. BirthWorks® does cover the “basics”  like medical procedures, VBACS, indications of a cesarean, birthing  positions while also including a holistic approaching by encouraging  participants to express fears about birth-related feelings. From my  understanding it seems like a combo of Birthing From Within® and ICEA or Lamaze®.

I hope that this brief breakdown of these six different birthing  techniques will help you decide what is right for you. Happy birthing!

For more reading, see this previous blog post: “Childbirth Education Classes” and “The Importance of Continuing Labor Support.”

Sources and websites for all the different birthing organizations

1. http://www.lamaze.org/

2. http://www.bradleybirth.com

3. http://www.hypnobirthing.com

4. http://www.birthingfromwithin.com

5. http://www.icea.org

6. http://www.birthworks.org

About Debra

Debra, founder of Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC,  has studied with renowned prenatal yoga teacher Colette Crawford, R.N., at the Seattle Holistic Center. Debra has received certification for Vinyasa Yoga from Shiva Rea as well as completed the OM Yoga advanced teacher training with Cyndi Lee in 2004. Debra has also studied the Maternal Fitness Method with Julie Tupler. Debra currently studies with Cyndi Lee, Genevieve Kapular, and Carrie Owerko. In 2006, Debra received her certification as a Lamaze® Certified Childbirth Educator. In September of 2007, Debra completed a Midwife Assistant Program with Ina May Gaskin, Pamela Hunt and many of the other Farm Midwives at The Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of  the International Maternity Institute.