Bellycast News

This episode of Bellycast features some of the latest news of interest to expectant mothers and parents of young children.

Giving Birth: Upright Positions Shorten First Stage Labor

Reducing Infant Mortality film

The Truth of VBAC webinar

The Birth Survey-speak up about your birth experiences

Neonatal Eye Care from Dr. Jay Gordon

Epidurals Impact Infants

Teaching breastfeeding could save 1.3 million lives a year

Dr. Bob Sears responds to inquiries about the H1N1 vaccine

CDC confirms as many as 30,000 potential adverse reactions to H1N1 vaccine

Canada investigates the role of Vit D in providing natural protection from the flu

Listen to the current episode here:

Childbirth Education-Part III

For the next six weeks, I will be working at a high volume freestanding birth clinic, getting clinical training and hopefully enough numbers to allow me to finish out the certification process for midwifery. When I return, I will have LOTS to share and talk about. I'll finish up the childbirth class info and who knows what else will pop up? There will most likely not be time for any podcasts while I am working at the clinic. Hang in there, I'll be back!

This episode focuses on some of the interventions that are universally used in most hospital settings for

birth. From the epidemic use of inductions, to the equally frequent epidurals, you need to be armed with the facts of how this will influence your birth experience.

Here are some links to more information on some of the topics covered:

Induction of Labor

Vitamin K for infants

Vitamin K article 2

Delayed Cord Clamping

Delayed Cord Clamping 2

Epidural Anesthesia

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Photo of a cephalohematoma in newborn:

Listen to the current episode here:

Childbirth Education-Part II

This episode of Bellycast continues the childbirth education series. In this episide, we discuss the pregnant patient's bill of rights and how to formulate a good birth plan. The links below will help to educate you concerning some of the interventions offered and give you some things to think about that affect you and your baby as you approach your upcoming birth.

Links:

AIMS (The Pregnant Patient's Bill of Rights)

Childbirth.org Birth Plan

Pregnancy Today Birth Plan

BabyCenter Birth Plan

Childbirth Solutions Helps for Birth Plans

Eating and Drinking in Labor

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer

Delayed Cord Clamping article

Vitamin K article

Circumcision Information

Creating Your Birth Plan by Marsden Wagner

Listen to the current episode here:

Childbirth Education-Part I

Many women live in areas without access to good childbirth education. They enter into the process without basic knowledge, without good information about their choices and with fear. Sometimes hospital based educators are pressured into only including topics or information that favors the growing number of interventions that are encouraged by caregivers. It leaves women vulnerable to becoming another unnecessary cesarean statistic, or feeling very uninvolved in their own birth choices.

So, I am starting a series of podcasts with some basic information that will help you to understand the birth process a little better and to make you more knowledgeable about the choices available to you during labor and birth.

This first one is basic labor information. It includes some vocabulary you will be hearing as you progress through labor and what to expect.

Links included in this podcast are:

Monty Python's parody on hospital birth

Spinning Babies site on optimal position for the baby

Animated clip showing stations of baby during descent

To listen directly, click on this player:

Organic Baby Food from Yummy Spoonfuls-Interview with CEO Agatha Achindu

Most mothers are unaware of the amount of chemicals and pesticides that are used to grow and produce our food supply. Agatha Achindu grew up on healthy organic food and when she became a mother, she was saddened to find a lack of healthy choices to feed her growing infant. What began out of her own frustrations, became a thriving business as more mothers became concerned about the effects of all these chemicals on their own children. Yummy Spoonfuls was birthed about three years ago and on this episode, we discuss the need for organic food and the types and varieties of baby food available through this growing metro Atlanta, GA company.

Links:

Yummy Spoonfuls web site

The Dirty Dozen (list of foods which show the highest levels of chemical contamination)

Listen to the episode here:

What's a doula? Interview with Teresa Worthy Howard

Teresa Worthy Howard

A doula is a Greek word meaning "servant" and in this episode, we explore what that has come to mean as more women are choosing to birth with a doula. As we interview Teresa Howard, certified doula, and certified childbirth and lactation educator, Teresa explains the role of a doula, both before, during and after birth. We talk about doula training and certification, costs and benefits of birthing with the help of a doula.

Teresa Worthy Howard, CD(DONA), CLD, CLE, CPD, CCCE (CAPPA), CHBE

A Labor of Love Doula and Childbirth Services, Inc.

Other links mentioned in this podcast:

DONA (certification and search for a doula in your area)

CAPPA (certification and search for doula or other childbirth professional)

ALACE (certification and search)

Operation Special Delivery (provides a volunteer doula if your spouse is deployed in the military)

Listen to this episode here:

Interviews with Home Birth Moms

This episode of Bellycast features home birth mothers from many walks of life. Some were first time mothers, others were seeking a VBAC that had been denied to them by the medical community. Find out what factored into their decisions to birth at home and hear their sweet (and sometimes funny) stories.

Enjoy!