Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy

There are many things you can and should do to prepare your body to have a healthy pregnancy. This can and should start several months or even years before trying to conceive. Some of these sound like no-brainers, but you would be surprised at what I see pregnant women do because of the lack of knowledge they have about having a healthy pregnancy for both mom and baby.

#1 - Quit Smoking....and never smoke again.
Smoking cigarettes is probably the number one cause of adverse outcomes of babies. These include: low birth weight babies, underdeveloped bodies, and adverse effects to the lungs, brain, and other organs. Even just one cigarette a day can have significant effects on the baby's blood vessels, causing lifelong traumatic effects on him.


# 2 - Stop Drinking Alcohol
Some alcohols that contain yeast can provide an environment on the body that breeds bacterial and fungal infections. As you prepare your body to conceive, understand that these infections can be passed to your baby if not taken care of properly. When you drink alcohol while pregnant, so does your baby. Alcohol has been shown to be harmful to the baby's development. If you drink during pregnancy, you are putting your baby at risk for irreversible Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

#3 - Check Out Medications and Supplements
Before becoming pregnant, check with your health care provider about the affects your medications may be having on your ability to conceive and carry a baby safely. In addition, some medications and supplements are not recommended for pregnant or lactating mothers.


#4 - Cut Out The Junk food and Soda
It is important to develop healthy eating habits before your baby is conceived. Being at an ideal weight and eating well will significantly increase you and your baby's health. Eating foods that are empty in calories is not a good habit to have. When pregnant, it is important to choose foods wisely. Having a balanced diet of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and fiber is important to develop and strong and healthy baby. Reach for the apple instead of the candy bar next time you have a pre-pregnancy craving. The sooner you start, the better off you will be once you are pregnant! Here are just a few ideas of some healthy foods for pregnancy:

• Whole Grains - buckwheat, spelt, rice, millet, quinoa, barley, and rye
• Leafy Greens - spinach, kale, arugula, collard greens, and broccoli
• Protein - wild caught fish, chicken, legumes, tofu, nuts, eggs, and cheese

#5 - Become Active
If you aren't already involved in doing some kind of physical activity, it is going to be important to get your body physically in shape to carry a baby. Try exercises such as yoga or Pilates. This will help minimize the muscle aches and pains that come along with being pregnant when you get there. If the season is right, get outside and walk in the park or around the block each day. Plus, the fresh air is good for you! *I do not recommend starting a rigorous exercise program when pregnant. And, don't start doing anything when you become pregnant that you hadn't preciously done, like jogging or running.

Breastfeeding Polls

Many books have been written about it and there is so much information out there about it. However, as an industrialized country, the USA does not rank highly in breastfeeding. Third world countries, who do not have the access too books, lactation consultants, and all the education, are ranking higher in their efforts to breastfeed. Hmmm...

The previous breastfeeding poll didn't tell me what I really wanted to know. Thanks for taking the time to take my two newest polls.

Epidurals: The Tip of the Iceberg

Recently in my reading, I have come across many alarming statistics, but one in particular stuck out.

From Birthing from Within
by Pam England and Rob Horowitz

"It is a popular myth that epidural medication doesn't get to the baby. Epidural anesthetics do cross the placental barrier. Anesthetic levels in the baby's blood have been found to be as high as one-third of the maternal blood levels. As a result, compared to unmedicated babies, babies in the epidural or pitocin-epidural groups showed "drugged behavior" (trembling, irritability, and immature motor activity) on the first day, with behavior recovery by the fifth day. It takes 48 hours for a newborn to eliminate the epidural anesthetic from its system."

I am going to try and not to step on anyone's toes too much here, but I find it interesting to hear a variety of birth stories. (I am more fascinated by watching all kinds of births, but that is for another post.) What I hear often in medicated births is "the epidural was amazing" or "I don't know what I would have done without it." Some women will bend over backwards to take extreme care during pregnancy by eating well, making every visit with the doctor to see how the baby is developing, exercising, taking prenatal vitamins and other supplements, getting enough rest, and staying hydrated. Parents buy safety locks, outlet plugs, and put all breakable and sharp objects out of reach before baby is even born. But, when it comes to the birth, they seem unphased by the paramount risks the epidural poses to their baby.

Having an unmedicated birth is something you need to decide before you get to the hospital. Often times nurses will try and talk you in or out of having an epidural. The time of birth is not the time to decide to have a natural birth. The anesthesiologist may arrive at a point where all you can think about is "getting drugs!" Can a woman honestly weigh the risks and benefits of an epidural at that stage in labor? Education before the birth is key.

Natural birth takes preparation in a different way then medicated births. I tell anyone who is having a natural birth to take The Bradley Method childbirth class. (FYI: Donna is teaching a Bradley class June-August for those of you expecting in the DFW area).

If you choose to have an unmedicated birth, there are many ways a doula can support you and your partner. As a doula, I provide comfort measures and relaxation techniques to help mothers in labor. I also help dads learn how to provide support to their partner as well. I meet with couples prenatally 2-4 times or more to discuss the birth and needs of the family during birth, as well as provide pregnancy support with nutritional consultations, massage, and acupressure.

Parents, I encourage you to do your research and educate yourself before the birth day. That way, when you decide on your choices for birth, you can have all the facts and support you need to make the decisions that are best for you and your baby!

Take the Polls

If you haven't taken my poll, please do! I want your ideas and opinions on circumcision, breastfeeding, and your birth place preference.

See the right column for the polls and thanks for taking!

Baby Accessories

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The Purpose and Value of Labor Support

A doula a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth. She understands the physiology of birth and the needs of a laboring woman.

The role of the birth doula greatly depends on the woman and family for whom she is providing care. The doula’s main purpose is to be a friend, a mentor, and a helper to the mother, as well as a support to her partner and/or family. If the mother chooses a doula in the early stages of pregnancy, the doula can help to provide information and education for several months leading up to the birth. This can also help the mother and family build an established, comfortable, and trusting relationship with the doula. The doula will usually have one to three prenatal consultations with the mother and family prior to the birth. These sessions may include meeting with other caregivers, answering questions for the parents-to-be, providing referrals when necessary, and massage and other pregnancy comfort measures. Throughout the pregnancy, the doula assists by listening to the mother’s desires, helping her have a comfortable, nourishing pregnancy, helping her to create the plan for the birth she desires, providing factual and unbiased information to enable her to make choices she can feel good about, keeping her comfortable during the birth while doing all she can to ensure the birth outcome the mother wants, advocating on her behalf, encouraging her in her birth decisions, and even providing lactation consulting after birth to help create a breastfeeding relationship. She has no agenda and has nothing to gain by convincing the mother to make certain choices.

As labor and birth are imminent, the doula is experienced in providing comfort measures and relaxations tools. This may include visualization and meditation techniques, preparing cool clothes, utilizing the birth ball, positions to enhance labor, counter pressure massage, aromatherapy, encouraging the mother stay hydrated and energized, and, providing relaxing music. Some doulas may also be skilled in other modalities such as massage therapy, acupuncture, Reiki, and reflexology to help facilitate labor in a positive manner. These techniques can be used in such a way to allow the woman to have a natural, unmedicated birth. And, in some cases, these techniques have been known to help labor and birth progress more timely and efficiently. Or, if the mother chooses or needs to labor with the help of medications, these methods can also help facilitate the labor and birth. These techniques may help reduce the need for prolonged analgesic drugs or augmentation medications. The doula is one of the only birth attendants that does not leave the side of the mother as she labors. This may be several of hours, but she stays near and helps the mother feel empowered during the birth. The doula ensures that the mother’s needs are being met and that her birth plan is carried out in the best possible way without intervening or interfering with the process. She provides guidance and reassurance to the mother and reminds her of her progress and power when labor becomes more difficult.

Statistics show that women who utilize a trained doula are 50% less likely to have a cesarean. They typically have a 25% shorter labor. Additional figures suggest there is a 60% decrease in the number of women who request an epidural, a 40% decrease in her chances of receiving Pitocin, and a 30% reduction in the use of analgesic drugs. Furthermore, the risk of having a forceps or a vacuum delivery is lessened by 40%. Doulas can make a woman feel more empowered and prepared to make good choices during their delivery, and they even can provide encouragement for the expectant fathers and help them to have a more active, supportive role in the birth.

Following the birth, the doula can provide initial breastfeeding support as well as newborn care. A doula will usually follow up the birth with one to two postpartum visits with the mother and family to ensure baby and mother and family are getting appropriately acclimated to their new roles at home. In-home postpartum visits may also include light cooking and housekeeping as the family adjusts into parenthood. In addition, new parents may benefit from education on bonding, attachment, and coping skills

Whether she is a new mother or has had many experiences in childbirth, a mother can always benefit from the care, love, support, and encouragement that comes from the loving heart of a birth doula.

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