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!

Coming soon....

1) Interview with homebirth moms. Why did they choose homebirth? What was their experience like? Contrast their hospital births with their homebirths.

2) Interview with Teresa Howard about doula care. How do you benefit from hiring a doula? What kind of training does a doula get? How much do they cost? Will they take the place of my partner during labor and birth?

Soon!

Understanding the Dangers of Cesarean Birth

This episode of Bellycast features an interview with Nicette Jukelevics, author of "Understanding the Dangers of Cesarean Birth, Making Informed Choices".   Nicette is a childbirth educator certified by the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and co-founder as well as Parent Educator at the Center for Family in Torrance, California.  A childbirth educator and researcher for over 25 years, she is also an experienced doula.  She served as Chair of the ICEA's Cesarean Options Committee and the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services.  Her articles have been featured in publications including Mothering Magazine, Childbirth Instructor Magazine, and the International Journal of Childbirth Education.  Her VBAC Fact Sheet was included in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Reducing Cesarean Section Rates While Maintaining Maternal and Infant Outcomes, Breakthrough Series Guide.  She also edits and publishes www.vbac.com

With U.S. cesarean rates soaring to epidemic proportion, it is hard for an expectant mom to know where to turn for information.  In this interview, we discuss evidenced based decisions that you can make that will reduce your own risk of surgical birth, and arm you with facts and resources that can help you to know how to make truly informed decisions regarding your birth.

Links:

VBAC.com

Dangers of Cesarean Birth

The Birth Survey (to participate in national statistics about birth practices)

Spinning Babies (to learn techniques to get your baby in an optimal position for birth)

Webster Technique (chiropractic technique which can help in turning a breech presenting baby)

March of Dimes article on the effects of cesareans and late preterm births

Cochrane Review-Pregnancy and Childbirth-database of studies

Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS)

Listen Here:

M4A file

Breastfeeding: Getting started right

This episode of Bellycast focuses on breastfeeding and learning a few things that may make a difference in your success or failure. I interview Debby Sapp, CLC as we discuss the things we might want to talk to a new mom about as she gets started with breastfeeding. We talk about how birth choices affect breastfeeding success, feeding a new baby according to their needs rather than a schedule, and resources for new moms.

Debby Sapp's Blessed Babies and Families site

Other Resources for Breastfeeding Moms:

La Leche League

KellyMom

101 Reasons to Breastfeed

Dr. Jack Newman

Breastfeeding.com (message boards, find a professional, articles, etc.)

Listen here for this episode or download on ITunes:

M4A file

Natural Remedies for Pregnancy-Part 2-Interview with Shonda Parker

Part two of our interview with Shonda Parker, master herbalist and author of "Naturally Healthy Pregnancy" (among others) covers safe, complimentary solutions to more common pregnancy complaints such as sleep issues, dealing with diarrhea and constipation, hemorrhoids, and GBS (group beta streptococcus). We also talk about how you can find other natural remedies, not only for pregnancy, but for your entire family in her books. Shonda discusses her Intimate Solutions products, available on her website and her herbal courses for those who desire to further their knowledge in this area.

Shonda Parker's Naturally Healthy website
Intimate Solutions
TriLight Herbs-Pregnancy Safe

Listen to this episode here or follow the link to ITunes:

Natural Remedies for Pregnancy-Part 1, Interview with Shonda Parker

If you are interested in dealing with some of the common complaints of pregnancy naturally, they you will enjoy this two part interview with author and master herbalist, Shonda Parker. Shonda wrote "Naturally Healthy Pregnancy", "Mommy Diagnostics" and "Naturally Healthy Woman" and has a new book coming out Feb. 2009 with co-writer, Vickilynn Haycraft called "Naturally Healthy Cuisine, Real Food for Real Families".

In this first half, we discuss why it is important to make informed choices about your own health, achieving a healthy lifestyle pre-conception, fertility issues, morning sickness, heartburn and sinus problems during pregnancy, and well-researched natural solutions to these common complaints.

Links to sites related to this episode:
Shonda Parker's Naturally Healthy website
TriLight Herbs
Intimate Solutions

Listen to this episode here or subscribe through ITunes

Waterbirth with Barbara Harper-Part II

The second part of my interview with Barbara Harper, founder of Waterbirth International, picks up with a discussion about waterbirth in the hospital environment and how a mother can advocate for this option in her local facility. We also discuss options available if your local hospital won't offer waterbirth and Barbara's upcoming new books.

Links to today's topic:
Waterbirth International

Listen to this episode of Bellycast here or find us on ITunes:

Waterbirth interview with Barbara Harper, RN-Part 1

This edition of Bellycast focuses on waterbirth and its many benefits. This two part interview with Barbara Harper, RN, of Waterbirth International has us discussing her own birth experiences and what compelled her to learn more about this fascinating topic. We also learned a little about the history of waterbirth, the prevalence around the world and here in the U.S. and her thoughts on the benefits and drawback of giving birth in water.

Links mentioned in today's program:
Waterbirth International
Gentle Birth Choices
Dr. Michel Odent

Listen here to today episode of Bellycast:

Current Research on Various Related Topics

This episode of Bellycast focuses on current research items in the news concerning prenatal alcohol exposure, dioxins in breastmilk, the FDA and bisphenol-A risks, preterm infants and type 2 diabetes risks, new research on near-term birth risks, chorionic villus sampling and vitamin D supplementation. The links below will take you to the original news articles so you may read them in their entirety and do your own research for your family.

Links:
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Damages White Matter
Benefits of Breastfeeding Outweigh Risk of Infant Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
Nearly Three-Quarters of Youths With Diabetes Insufficient in Vit D
More Evidence that Vitamin D Beats the Flu
More Vitamin D Updates from Mercola.com
Prevention Magazine-Vitamin D
Chorionic Villus Sampling May Increase Risk of Hemangiomas
Late Preterm Birth: Beware!
Low-weight Babies May Have Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
FDA to Re-evaluate Risks of BPA

Listen to the Bellycast podcast here:

The Hormones of Natural Birth

On this episode of Bellycast, we take a look at the hormones involved in birth. What hormones are involved in labor and birth and how can we enhance our birth experience by encouraging these hormones to work for us? Do these hormones benefit the baby also? Listen and learn why choosing to have a natural birth may be your best bet for a better and safer birth for you and your baby.

Links for more information:
Dr. Sarah Buckley's 'Ecstatic Birth'
Birthsource article on hormones
Collection of articles on Gentlebirth

Natural methods of coping for childbirth:
Hypnobirthing
The Bradley Method
Lamaze Method
The Pink Kit
Birthing From Within
Birthing Naturally

Listen to today's podcast

Moving the Feed

Those of you who have subscribed to this podcast via this page may want to click the subscribe button again because I am in the process of moving my feed to a different location that accommodates ITunes a little better. Hopefully in a few days we will be showing up in ITunes WITH the individual episodes! This was the issue that caused me to switch to a new feed provider.

How to Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean

With cesarean rates skyrocketing to an average of 37% nationwide, how can you avoid being a statistic? Listen to today's podcast to learn several steps you can take to lower your risk of becoming a statistic.

Links to more information mentioned in the podcast:
International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN)
Childbirth Connection
Coalition for Improving Maternity Services
Citizens for Midwifery
Pregnant Patient's Bill of Rights

Birth Plans:
Interactive Birth Plan
Birth Plan Creator
IParenting Make your own birthplan

Find a Doula:
DONA International
ALACE

Listen to Bellycast:

Breastfeeding surveys and tainted breastmilk substitutes

Today's podcast examines the findings of a recent survey from pediatricians and their attitudes towards breastfeeding and two current news stories about tainted infant formulas.



Medscape News article on Pediatric Breastfeeding survey
FDA finds melamine in US formula
One infant dies, another hospitalized with Enterobacter Sakazakii from formula

To listen to this podcast:

Are Feminists finally catching on that birth is a relevant women's issue?

This first episode of Bellycast discusses the newest book from Our Bodies Ourselves concerning pregnancy and birth. The organization has made some specific recommendations about improving maternity care, but do they go far enough or do they still limit women's choices?

Links mentioned in the podcast:
Childbirth Connection
Our Bodies Ourselves

Listen to Bellycast