From another HypnoBirthing instructor in Singapore:
I met Sarah at NUH when I was invited to speak at the O&G Nurses conference. Sarah is a midwife in the labour ward and was in charge of organising the speakers.
She loved the concept of HypnoBirthing and registered in December for the March sessions. She and her hubby have been pleasantly surprised with the class and have taken to it like ducks to water.
She left a message today to call her and she would not be making the class (class 4 of 5). When I called back, she said she gave birth last night at 36+ weeks.
About 7:30 last night she noticed she was leaking a bit of fluid and was not quite sure if it was amniotic fluid or not. At 8:30 her surges started at 5 minutes apart and quickly went to 2-3 minutes apart. She called for her husband to come home and her mother to come for her 3 year old. At 9:15 she was calmly directing her helper to grab towels to bring to the couch in the living room andher mom arrived just in time to wrap the baby! She had a one hour labour!!
She was over the moon with the birth and full of praises for HypnoBirthing. She said she remained calm throughout her unplanned homebirth and directed everyone as to what needed to be done. She received her baby into her own loving hands =). Her baby girl was 2.6kg.
Di Bustamante, CH, HBCE, CD (CBI)
Director~ParentLink
Singapore in affiliation with the HypnoBirthing Institute
Selasa, 31 Maret 2009
Senin, 30 Maret 2009
Me, Kate Moss & the Spanish Inquisition
So last week I went to a clinic in London to have a hysterosalpingosonogram - yeah try saying that with your mouth full. My eyes were immediately drawn to the word 'pingo' in the middle of that ridiculously long label, and it did not fill me with confidence. Images of doctors playing a variation of ping-pong in my uterus, and weirdly enough that little black-and-white fella loved by children the world over, Pingu, waddling around in my womb, filled my wildly-over-active imagination. (I think this is a symptom of the fact that I hate going to see Doctors, Dentists or anything medical. Mainly because I don't trust them, they treat you like you're an idiot and act far more knowledgeable than they actually are. The ones who snort and give a condescending laugh whenever you ask a question, particularly infuriate me. Yeah I had one of those this time. Grrr...)
However I digress. So there I am lying on the chair, legs up in stirrups, with a very al fresco situation going on down below. I cannot tell you how disconcerting it is to be in this position as the two (male) doctors potter about, slapping on rubber gloves and preparing various instruments that can only have been inspired by the Spanish Inquisition. Exhibit A below. After having these articles prodding and probing my lady bits, the doctor says peering over his glasses, looking down at me in that condescending way that only doctors can manage 'Your bladder is quite full. Were you not told to go to the toilet beforehand?' Yes actually, but I thought doing this twice might be more fun. Are you kidding me?
It would be the day that I chose to wear a skirt and tights (pantyhose to my American readers) and boots that take an age to get on and off. So having redressed I climb the stairs to the only bathroom in the building. On my way back to the little room of joy, I see a blonde woman entering the room next to mine. She looked vaguely familiar. Hmm a bit like Kate Moss, I thought.
However the feelings of relief were short-lived that day as I felt very icky and the pain was intensifying. The cramps got stronger and sitting up was a real effort. It doesn't help that the doctors don't really make you feel like you can take your time. When I finally got dressed - with big thanks to my hubbie for putting my tights on (Clarification: he put the tights on me, not on himself) - I wobbled out the door, and a lovely receptionist told me to take a seat and rest a while until I was ready to go home. And she brought me a much-needed cup of herbal tea.
A few moments later one of the doctors reappeared and asked me to sit upstairs. The receptionist explained that I just needed to rest while I had my cup of tea. He insisted 'just go on upstairs. Go on you can sit upstairs.' Thinking it was a bit weird but not really in a state to disagree, we picked up our things and clutching my hubbie I went upstairs. As I sat down in the waiting room, feeling very spaced out, a moment of clarity hit me. I turned to my husband 'Hey we were just asked to leave 'cos Kate Moss is downstairs. I saw her when I came back from the bathroom.' Now not only was I feeling wobbly and in pain, I was pissed off too. 'Are you sure?' my husband asked. 'Well let's wait and see. She has to come out this way.'
A few moments later, a slight woman in jeans, with the uniform huge celeb-sunglasses appeared talking on her mobile phone. Yep I was right. She air-kissed the doctor and promptly turned on her heels and walked out of the clinic. Why else would the doctor have been so insistent that I sit upstairs? He asked me to move despite the fact that I was in pain and needed to rest. Then my husband reaffirmed to me why I married him. He just walked straight up to the desk and complained. The woman at the desk said she was sure that's not why I was asked to move. My husband replied 'I'm sorry but that's exactly why she was asked to come up here.' The woman was silent. I am so proud of him. He stood up for me when I really couldn't have done it for myself. We left the clinic without looking back and we certainly won't be going back.
The Bigger Picture: I'm A-okay and that's what's important. A lot of women don't get good news. I did and for that I am thankful. One more step closer to hearing those tiny feet.
Sabtu, 28 Maret 2009
It's Time!
This last year has pretty much been ruled by calendars, thermometers, peeing on sticks (which are surprisingly expensive, especially after a year!) and erm, well, a good amount of bed gymnastics. But things change.
The first six months of trying was filled with excitement, hope and general optimism. Checking the calendar, circling the days and informing your partner that he must absolutely positively not be away on business trips, not plan any nights out with the boys, and be a ready and willing participant in the timetabled baby-making bonanza. My husband, the sweet man that he is, dutifully complied with all of the above and with good humour, for the first six months anyway.
I'm not exactly sure at what point his patience may have started wearing thin. Perhaps it was the running in to the bedroom at 7am and exclaiming 'I'm ovulating! We have to do it today!', while my weary husband, who is definitely NOT a morning person, prises open one eye and tries to convey agreement. Or perhaps it was my practice of returning from work and immediately proceeding to undress, leaving shoes and clothes scattered down the hallway and then lying stretched out on the bed yelling 'Come on, it's time!' Not sexy, not arousing, not working.
After six months of unsuccessful efforts, the panic began. Something's wrong. What if I never get pregnant? I have to get pregnant, it has to be this year. If I get pregnant this month, then my baby will be born in July - which is perfect for work. It has to be this month. I want to have a baby before my next birthday, okay before Christmas, okay at least by the end of next year. Unfortunately I wasn't keeping all of these crazy targets to myself, my now long-suffering husband was taking the full brunt.
So the last six months were intense. Arguments. Lots of them. Crying-fits galore. But then something happened. We passed our one-year of trying mark. The point at which couples are usually defined as infertile. It had a strange effect on me. It calmed me. We were more kind to each other. We resolved to get answers, to find out if anything could be done but above all to stop stressing about it. I had to accept that this might not happen soon and I had to be okay with it. I started reading this great book:
Since then we have had loads of support. Our families have been wonderful. We're on a nutritional support programme. We've had acupuncture and reflexology. We've seen a fertility doctor (weird story for later), scheduled tests and are now awaiting the results.
As for me, I feel like I've turned a corner. No more calendars, no more peeing on sticks, no more 'I'm ovulating and we have to do it NOW!', no more pressure. I remain ever hopeful and resolve not to put my life on hold anymore.
Though I can't promise all of my desperately-wanting-a-baby behaviour will disappear.
Rabu, 25 Maret 2009
Of being TTC and the TWW
It's been over a year now that my husband and I have been TTC. It's been a learning experience to say the least. The fact that over a year ago I had no idea what TTC even stood for is testament to that. Scrabbling around on the internet, desperate for some insight on how I could improve my chances of getting pregnant, or what tell-tale pregnancy signs I should look out for, I fell into a whole other anxiety-ridden, pregnancy-obsessed world. All these women were talking about being TTC and how their TWW was absolute hell. Lost? I certainly was. I had no idea there was a secret pregnancy code!
Yes it seems that women Trying To Conceive (TTC) have come up with a secret code, or at least a list of abbreviations for those in the know. Once I cracked the code I was well on my way into a world where the most intimate details of one's bodily functions are shared, discussed and honestly, obsessed over. Every twinge, cramp, ache and wave of nausea excitedly detailed, ad nauseam. And that's not even mentioning the countless threads discussing each other's cervical mucus. (Apologies to more delicate readers, I promise not to mention the words 'cervical mucus' too frequently in this blog.)
It wasn't long before I decided this form of group therapy was not for me. It's not that I'm prudish in anyway, we should all feel free to discuss our bodies and get the information we need. But this all felt too intense, bordering on the neurotic. However some six months later I soon found myself bordering on the neurotic on my own TTC journey. More about my amusing and not-so-amusing neurotic escapades later.
Oh and as for the TWW it is hell. But this blog is part of my therapy for that. Oh and no more calendars. For those of you not in the know (no condescension implied) the TWW is the Two Week Wait. The two week wait before you get the best news of your life, or the big disappointment. Then the TTCing begins all over again...
My First Post
Creating a blog is something I've wanted to do for a long time. I put it off because it seemed too technical, but then I felt like 'everyone' was doing it, so how hard could it be? But then I didn't want to seem like I was just following the crowd and imitating others' ideas. I have to admit I was inspired by and am a big fan of the mymarrakesh blog (mymarrakesh.com), which is simply the most beautiful and wonderfully reflective blog I've seen (I live in Marrakech too!). But I realised that all our stories are unique and have their place out there, somewhere deep in cyberspace.
So I have chosen my blog name, my background and fonts and feel well on the way to creating a little special space for, I guess, what is 21st century therapy. I must say I am very happy with the little bird who appears on the tree, as if no one else reads this, at least I can pretend the little bird is listening :)
Hmmm, perhaps he deserves a name?
Senin, 23 Maret 2009
Preserving the Intimacy of Birth
Preserving the Intimacy of Birth~One Doula's View
(This article came across my desk. It was written a few years ago by a HypnoBirthing Doula, who has become a Licensed Midwife. I think it gives a wonderful overview of what a doula's role can be in a woman's birth experience.)
Birth is the most quintessentially feminine an experience that has ever been. The power of the body meets the power of the mind in a spectacular explosion of the perfection of nature. These are the moments when a woman is only who she is. There is no pretending and there is no running. There is only being. The person that most women choose to share this experience with is her husband or partner. Although he cannot fully feel the internal workings of the harmony of his partner's body, a birthing father moves through his own kind of awakening and rebirth. Woman becomes mother and man becomes father and for just a moment the realization is made that this child is a product of their work together.
As a Labor Companion, or Doula, I have often been privy to this renaissance moment. It has caused me to silently cry for the beauty of it all and to look away to preserve the peace of this sacred time between a mother and father who have just come to be so. As witnesses to such a special occasion, we as Doulas must realize that a birth experience is the complete and total property of the birthing parents. Whether or not we agree with where or with whom our clients are birthing is not an issue. Our job, much like parents ourselves, is to educate, guide,and support the laboring family.
My only birth experiences were bearing my own children. The births I attend are someone else's experience that I am invited to assist in. In the initial interview with a prospective couple, it should be explained first and foremost that as a Doula, we should not be holding the mother's hand or stroking her hair. A Doula is not the person she wants to stare at for hours. Her husband should be that person, and if he chooses not to involve himself in the birth he will do his partner and his child a grave disservice, not to mention his own personal regret for having missed such an incredible opportunity.
It is widely understood that the word "Doula" is a Greek word for "slave." Personally, I reject the notion that a Doula is the slave of the laboring mother. Doulas are not held in bondage and forced to experience the beauty of birth. We choose this work because we are called to it. We simply cannot imagine ever not being a part of birth. Doulas, in my opinion, should act as trained background. Drinks magically appear between every uterine surge. The vomit basin makes it to mom just in time. Cool washcloths are in ample supply and always fresh and nobody has to ask. If she's uncomfortable, position changes are offered and facilitated. When interventions are suggested, the birthing parents can make an informed decision because they have a Doula on their side. My point is that while we, as Labor Companions, are handling the details of a positive birthing experience, a partner can simply be a partner.
Our society took Dads from the waiting room where they had no part of the birth and put them in the labor room with the entire weight of the birth experience on their shoulders. A Doula can remove that weight and simply allow a husband to experience the beauty and intimacy of his birth into fatherhood.
It is amazing to me how much information a laboring father can absorb. This year, I have taken to instructing dads during the birth on how to support his wife, rather than doing it myself. It's so easy to say "rub her right here" and to step away into the shadows to preserve the birth of the family. I can keep the cool washcloths in his hands so that Dad is the person placing them on his wife's forehead. When her husband saves the day by helping mom get into a squatting position after I've whispered in his ear that she might be more comfortable that way, my satisfaction is their gentle embrace. If you watch closely during labor and birth, you will see mother and father, husband and wife, man and woman, fall in love in a way entirely new to them. In this intensely emotional time, a woman sees her partner exhibit a kind of quiet tenderness that she has in all likelihood never before seen. In that same instant, she shows her partner a graceful strength and steely courage that he never knew she possessed.
When we step over the line and assume the role of the birth partner, that moment is missed. It is not merely the moment when a slippery baby emerges from his mother, but it lasts throughout the birthing process. I remember these moments vividly from my most recent birth, which was our third child but our first birth with a Doula. My husband lay next to me in bed for hours, rocking on his hands and knees with me during the surges and collapsing with me in between. My Doula was there but I never saw her. I always had a fresh drink and my back was always rubbed and my needs were met, but I never had the overwhelming presence of anyone but my husband and I am forever thankful for the preservation of our intimate moments.
In conclusion, I feel that as Doulas our jobs are not merely to assist the birthing mother. We must protect the sanctity and intimacy of the experience of the birthing family, while not taking on the event as our own. The new parents should come away from their experience with a sense of confidence and empowerment that they worked perfectly together to bring a peaceful baby into the world. They should never be left feeling that they couldn't have done it without their Doula. We all know they could have, and we're ever so lucky to be allowed to participate. We simply provide the direction and quiet support to breathe courage into the labor room.
By Heather Hilton
HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator & Birth Doula since 2001
Student Midwife (now a Licensed Homebirth Midwife)
Mommy
Austin, Texas USA
Thanks for letting me share this, Heather!
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
(This article came across my desk. It was written a few years ago by a HypnoBirthing Doula, who has become a Licensed Midwife. I think it gives a wonderful overview of what a doula's role can be in a woman's birth experience.)
Birth is the most quintessentially feminine an experience that has ever been. The power of the body meets the power of the mind in a spectacular explosion of the perfection of nature. These are the moments when a woman is only who she is. There is no pretending and there is no running. There is only being. The person that most women choose to share this experience with is her husband or partner. Although he cannot fully feel the internal workings of the harmony of his partner's body, a birthing father moves through his own kind of awakening and rebirth. Woman becomes mother and man becomes father and for just a moment the realization is made that this child is a product of their work together.
As a Labor Companion, or Doula, I have often been privy to this renaissance moment. It has caused me to silently cry for the beauty of it all and to look away to preserve the peace of this sacred time between a mother and father who have just come to be so. As witnesses to such a special occasion, we as Doulas must realize that a birth experience is the complete and total property of the birthing parents. Whether or not we agree with where or with whom our clients are birthing is not an issue. Our job, much like parents ourselves, is to educate, guide,and support the laboring family.
My only birth experiences were bearing my own children. The births I attend are someone else's experience that I am invited to assist in. In the initial interview with a prospective couple, it should be explained first and foremost that as a Doula, we should not be holding the mother's hand or stroking her hair. A Doula is not the person she wants to stare at for hours. Her husband should be that person, and if he chooses not to involve himself in the birth he will do his partner and his child a grave disservice, not to mention his own personal regret for having missed such an incredible opportunity.
It is widely understood that the word "Doula" is a Greek word for "slave." Personally, I reject the notion that a Doula is the slave of the laboring mother. Doulas are not held in bondage and forced to experience the beauty of birth. We choose this work because we are called to it. We simply cannot imagine ever not being a part of birth. Doulas, in my opinion, should act as trained background. Drinks magically appear between every uterine surge. The vomit basin makes it to mom just in time. Cool washcloths are in ample supply and always fresh and nobody has to ask. If she's uncomfortable, position changes are offered and facilitated. When interventions are suggested, the birthing parents can make an informed decision because they have a Doula on their side. My point is that while we, as Labor Companions, are handling the details of a positive birthing experience, a partner can simply be a partner.
Our society took Dads from the waiting room where they had no part of the birth and put them in the labor room with the entire weight of the birth experience on their shoulders. A Doula can remove that weight and simply allow a husband to experience the beauty and intimacy of his birth into fatherhood.
It is amazing to me how much information a laboring father can absorb. This year, I have taken to instructing dads during the birth on how to support his wife, rather than doing it myself. It's so easy to say "rub her right here" and to step away into the shadows to preserve the birth of the family. I can keep the cool washcloths in his hands so that Dad is the person placing them on his wife's forehead. When her husband saves the day by helping mom get into a squatting position after I've whispered in his ear that she might be more comfortable that way, my satisfaction is their gentle embrace. If you watch closely during labor and birth, you will see mother and father, husband and wife, man and woman, fall in love in a way entirely new to them. In this intensely emotional time, a woman sees her partner exhibit a kind of quiet tenderness that she has in all likelihood never before seen. In that same instant, she shows her partner a graceful strength and steely courage that he never knew she possessed.
When we step over the line and assume the role of the birth partner, that moment is missed. It is not merely the moment when a slippery baby emerges from his mother, but it lasts throughout the birthing process. I remember these moments vividly from my most recent birth, which was our third child but our first birth with a Doula. My husband lay next to me in bed for hours, rocking on his hands and knees with me during the surges and collapsing with me in between. My Doula was there but I never saw her. I always had a fresh drink and my back was always rubbed and my needs were met, but I never had the overwhelming presence of anyone but my husband and I am forever thankful for the preservation of our intimate moments.
In conclusion, I feel that as Doulas our jobs are not merely to assist the birthing mother. We must protect the sanctity and intimacy of the experience of the birthing family, while not taking on the event as our own. The new parents should come away from their experience with a sense of confidence and empowerment that they worked perfectly together to bring a peaceful baby into the world. They should never be left feeling that they couldn't have done it without their Doula. We all know they could have, and we're ever so lucky to be allowed to participate. We simply provide the direction and quiet support to breathe courage into the labor room.
By Heather Hilton
HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator & Birth Doula since 2001
Student Midwife (now a Licensed Homebirth Midwife)
Mommy
Austin, Texas USA
Thanks for letting me share this, Heather!
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
Jumat, 13 Maret 2009
Carcinogens found in baby toiletries
These not added ingredients to be found on the label, rather they're coming from the processing & are hidden dangers. Of note--Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo/Wash is what most hospitals are bathing babies with, so if you are concerned, you can opt not to bathe your baby (it's not dirty!), just have your baby rinsed off or bring your own baby products.
I highly recommend Miessence Certified Organic products because they are certified organic to food grade levels by the USDA & because they are cold-pressed & cold-extracted, which means they don't need chemicals to get the ingredient out of the source. One way to make Miessence products more affordable is to buy foaming soap dispensers (ebay is a good source) & then use the Sunflower Body Wash or shampoos for your family...you'll save a lot of money that way. Go to my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net to learn more about Miessence products.
Probable Carcinogens Found in Baby Toiletries
By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post
Staff Writer
Friday, March 13, 2009
More than half the baby shampoo, lotion and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer, the organization said yesterday. Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion, tested positive for 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, the nonprofit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.
The chemicals, which the Environmental Protection Agency has characterized as probable carcinogens, are not intentionally added to the products and are not listed among ingredients on labels. Instead, they appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is created when other chemicals in the product break down over time, while 1,4-dioxane is formed when foaming agents are combined with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals. The organization tested 48 baby bath products such as bubble bath and shampoo. Of those, 32 contained trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane and 23 contained small amounts of formaldehyde. Seventeen tested positive for both chemicals.
"Our intention is not to alarm parents, but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary," said Stacy Malkan, a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is calling for the government to more strictly regulate personal care products such as shampoo, lotion and makeup. Companies that manufacture and sell the products tested by the group stressed that they comply with government standards. "The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold," Johnson & Johnson said in a statement. "We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents."
The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane as an ingredient in personal care products, but the Food and Drug Administration has not established a safe limit for the chemical in shampoo, lotion and other toiletries. It maintains that the trace amounts found in those products are not harmful. A 1982 study by the FDA showed that 1,4-dioxane can penetrate human skin when used in lotion. Health advocates argue, however, that federal regulators have not considered the cumulative effect of chemicals in personal care products.
"The levels we've found are relatively low, and the industry often says there's just a little bit of carcinogen in my product," Malkan said. "The problem is, we're finding a little bit of carcinogen in many products. Many of these products are used every day, so we've got repeated and frequent exposure to these low levels of chemicals. They're not the safest and purest products, and parents ought to know that."
In addition, government studies have not examined the effect of chemical exposure on the particular vulnerabilities of infants and children, whose bodies are still developing, the advocates said. Several Democratic lawmakers said the report is evidence that the nation's chemical regulation system needs to be changed.
"The fact that we are bathing our kids in products contaminated with carcinogens shows how woefully out of date our cosmetics laws are and how urgently they need to be updated," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.). "The science has moved forward; now the FDA needs to catch up and be given the authority to protect the health of Americans." Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) called the findings "horrifying" and said she intends to introduce legislation that would require stronger oversight of the cosmetics industry.
The report can be found at http://www.safecosmetics.org/toxictub.
I highly recommend Miessence Certified Organic products because they are certified organic to food grade levels by the USDA & because they are cold-pressed & cold-extracted, which means they don't need chemicals to get the ingredient out of the source. One way to make Miessence products more affordable is to buy foaming soap dispensers (ebay is a good source) & then use the Sunflower Body Wash or shampoos for your family...you'll save a lot of money that way. Go to my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net to learn more about Miessence products.
Probable Carcinogens Found in Baby Toiletries
By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post
Staff Writer
Friday, March 13, 2009
More than half the baby shampoo, lotion and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer, the organization said yesterday. Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion, tested positive for 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, the nonprofit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.
The chemicals, which the Environmental Protection Agency has characterized as probable carcinogens, are not intentionally added to the products and are not listed among ingredients on labels. Instead, they appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is created when other chemicals in the product break down over time, while 1,4-dioxane is formed when foaming agents are combined with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals. The organization tested 48 baby bath products such as bubble bath and shampoo. Of those, 32 contained trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane and 23 contained small amounts of formaldehyde. Seventeen tested positive for both chemicals.
"Our intention is not to alarm parents, but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary," said Stacy Malkan, a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is calling for the government to more strictly regulate personal care products such as shampoo, lotion and makeup. Companies that manufacture and sell the products tested by the group stressed that they comply with government standards. "The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold," Johnson & Johnson said in a statement. "We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents."
The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane as an ingredient in personal care products, but the Food and Drug Administration has not established a safe limit for the chemical in shampoo, lotion and other toiletries. It maintains that the trace amounts found in those products are not harmful. A 1982 study by the FDA showed that 1,4-dioxane can penetrate human skin when used in lotion. Health advocates argue, however, that federal regulators have not considered the cumulative effect of chemicals in personal care products.
"The levels we've found are relatively low, and the industry often says there's just a little bit of carcinogen in my product," Malkan said. "The problem is, we're finding a little bit of carcinogen in many products. Many of these products are used every day, so we've got repeated and frequent exposure to these low levels of chemicals. They're not the safest and purest products, and parents ought to know that."
In addition, government studies have not examined the effect of chemical exposure on the particular vulnerabilities of infants and children, whose bodies are still developing, the advocates said. Several Democratic lawmakers said the report is evidence that the nation's chemical regulation system needs to be changed.
"The fact that we are bathing our kids in products contaminated with carcinogens shows how woefully out of date our cosmetics laws are and how urgently they need to be updated," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.). "The science has moved forward; now the FDA needs to catch up and be given the authority to protect the health of Americans." Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) called the findings "horrifying" and said she intends to introduce legislation that would require stronger oversight of the cosmetics industry.
The report can be found at http://www.safecosmetics.org/toxictub.
Selasa, 10 Maret 2009
Another class testimonial & birth story
Tina & Robert took my class as a refresher course. They had done HypnoBirthing (with another local practitioner) for their 1st child & had a wonderful experience but wanted to retake the class with a different practitioner to ensure birth #2 would be even better. Here is their story:
Aili Linnea decided it was time to come into the world while I was playing cards with my family. I was sitting on a birth ball playing a card game and at 8:45 pm I noticed a surge with more umpf to it than my normal Braxton Hick’s/practice surges. I made a mental note of it and kept playing. During the time sitting on the ball the surges were about 10 minutes apart and very manageable with breathing. I felt some pressure in my cervix, because my bag of water was bulging (coming out in front of her head) but that was the only discomfort I felt. I kept thinking, maybe this is it, but since they were only 10 minutes apart, I figured we had a while.
At 10:19 pm I went into the bedroom to lie down. I had a surge, vomited, had several more surges, then I started to feel shaky, so I went into the bathtub to warm up. While in the bathtub I felt urges to push, so my husband Robert called my midwife Jude to make sure she could be there by the time we arrived. We only live 4 minutes from the Best Start Birth Center, so that was important! We relaxed at the house a little longer and put all of our stuff to take into the car. My family was staying with us, so they were a little nervous, but when I came out of the room, everyone was wondering if I was really in labor or not. The whole time at home it felt very surreal. I didn’t feel like I was in labor, but my body was telling me different. I had no pain and my mind was relaxed. I felt very confident.
We arrived at the Birth Center sometime around 11:15 pm. I was examined and was dilated to 7 cm. They admitted me and we relaxed in the room while Jude prepared to deliver the baby. We planned to release my water if my bag was bulging, so at 11:50 pm, we did that. Immediately I was prepared to give birth. The pressure was gone, and I felt like I could do anything. Surges were unimportant then. I went into the bathtub to prepare for a water birth and felt urges to push.
I started to breathe the baby down (HypnoBirthing pushing), but felt there was something wrong. Since this was my second natural birth, I knew what was supposed to happen. (With my first birth, once my water was broken, it took 20 minutes to progress from a 6cm-birth.) I was at 10 cm for 10-15 minutes and decided to get out of the tub and try different positions to get the baby to move down. I still felt very calm, but a little irritated that it wasn’t going just so.
After about 20 minutes of trying different positions her head finally came out. While her head was out, my midwife Jude had me do several other positions. The baby had a compounded nucal hand—which means her left arm was above her face reaching to her right side. This made it almost impossible to get her out. I had to do some hard pushing, but I still felt controlled and calm. After almost 2 minutes with her head out Jude tried to pull her hand out manually, but we had used castor oil to lubricate my perineum, so she couldn’t get a good grip.
Finally it worked, and as soon as her arm was out of the way, she popped right out. 4 hours from start to finish. She was a little purple, and her capillaries burst on her face, but she was pretty much perfect. We had to give her a little oxygen to make sure she was ok, but in hindsight I don’t think she needed it. She just doesn’t cry when she is awake! She was born 1 week and 1 day late at 12:50 am on December 23rd. She was 8 lbs 9 oz and 21 inches long. Her head was 14 inches around.
It was a fantastic birth without fear or pain. The entire time I was wide awake. We even laughed because in between surges I was wondering what everyone at home was doing. I know that my HypnoBirthing class with Carol Yeh-Garner was essential in my awesome birth. We have taken Hypnobirthing from 2 different practitioners in San Diego and Carol Yeh-Garner is by far superior. Her class gave us the tools necessary for our 2nd birth and also how and when to use them properly during labor. We left her class so ready to have a baby--as long as we do our part and practice! The techniques taught were not different, but the emphasis put on each one and the practical usage of it really made a difference in Carol's class! We recommend Carol to all mothers and fathers who want to have an educated natural birth. Also, my midwife Jude, I couldn’t have asked for a better midwife. She trusted me and helped me to do what I need to do to not have interventions. Best Start Birth Center is the only place I want to have my babies. Both of my children were born there, and even in the same room!
Aili is now 11 weeks old, and still an angel. She sleeps well, eats well and is the happiest baby ever when she is awake.
Thanks to Tina, Robert & baby Aili for sharing your story! Continue to enjoy your babymoon!
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
Aili Linnea decided it was time to come into the world while I was playing cards with my family. I was sitting on a birth ball playing a card game and at 8:45 pm I noticed a surge with more umpf to it than my normal Braxton Hick’s/practice surges. I made a mental note of it and kept playing. During the time sitting on the ball the surges were about 10 minutes apart and very manageable with breathing. I felt some pressure in my cervix, because my bag of water was bulging (coming out in front of her head) but that was the only discomfort I felt. I kept thinking, maybe this is it, but since they were only 10 minutes apart, I figured we had a while.
At 10:19 pm I went into the bedroom to lie down. I had a surge, vomited, had several more surges, then I started to feel shaky, so I went into the bathtub to warm up. While in the bathtub I felt urges to push, so my husband Robert called my midwife Jude to make sure she could be there by the time we arrived. We only live 4 minutes from the Best Start Birth Center, so that was important! We relaxed at the house a little longer and put all of our stuff to take into the car. My family was staying with us, so they were a little nervous, but when I came out of the room, everyone was wondering if I was really in labor or not. The whole time at home it felt very surreal. I didn’t feel like I was in labor, but my body was telling me different. I had no pain and my mind was relaxed. I felt very confident.
We arrived at the Birth Center sometime around 11:15 pm. I was examined and was dilated to 7 cm. They admitted me and we relaxed in the room while Jude prepared to deliver the baby. We planned to release my water if my bag was bulging, so at 11:50 pm, we did that. Immediately I was prepared to give birth. The pressure was gone, and I felt like I could do anything. Surges were unimportant then. I went into the bathtub to prepare for a water birth and felt urges to push.
I started to breathe the baby down (HypnoBirthing pushing), but felt there was something wrong. Since this was my second natural birth, I knew what was supposed to happen. (With my first birth, once my water was broken, it took 20 minutes to progress from a 6cm-birth.) I was at 10 cm for 10-15 minutes and decided to get out of the tub and try different positions to get the baby to move down. I still felt very calm, but a little irritated that it wasn’t going just so.
After about 20 minutes of trying different positions her head finally came out. While her head was out, my midwife Jude had me do several other positions. The baby had a compounded nucal hand—which means her left arm was above her face reaching to her right side. This made it almost impossible to get her out. I had to do some hard pushing, but I still felt controlled and calm. After almost 2 minutes with her head out Jude tried to pull her hand out manually, but we had used castor oil to lubricate my perineum, so she couldn’t get a good grip.
Finally it worked, and as soon as her arm was out of the way, she popped right out. 4 hours from start to finish. She was a little purple, and her capillaries burst on her face, but she was pretty much perfect. We had to give her a little oxygen to make sure she was ok, but in hindsight I don’t think she needed it. She just doesn’t cry when she is awake! She was born 1 week and 1 day late at 12:50 am on December 23rd. She was 8 lbs 9 oz and 21 inches long. Her head was 14 inches around.
It was a fantastic birth without fear or pain. The entire time I was wide awake. We even laughed because in between surges I was wondering what everyone at home was doing. I know that my HypnoBirthing class with Carol Yeh-Garner was essential in my awesome birth. We have taken Hypnobirthing from 2 different practitioners in San Diego and Carol Yeh-Garner is by far superior. Her class gave us the tools necessary for our 2nd birth and also how and when to use them properly during labor. We left her class so ready to have a baby--as long as we do our part and practice! The techniques taught were not different, but the emphasis put on each one and the practical usage of it really made a difference in Carol's class! We recommend Carol to all mothers and fathers who want to have an educated natural birth. Also, my midwife Jude, I couldn’t have asked for a better midwife. She trusted me and helped me to do what I need to do to not have interventions. Best Start Birth Center is the only place I want to have my babies. Both of my children were born there, and even in the same room!
Aili is now 11 weeks old, and still an angel. She sleeps well, eats well and is the happiest baby ever when she is awake.
Thanks to Tina, Robert & baby Aili for sharing your story! Continue to enjoy your babymoon!
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
Minggu, 01 Maret 2009
An 11 lb baby's HypnoBirthing story
This is another birth story from a former class member. She had an 11 lb 4 oz baby completely naturally without any medical interventions! It really pays to have the knowledge of HypnoBirthing combined with an excellent team.
Here's Sean's birth story:
The birth of my son Sean was the most amazing and empowering experience. I went into labor at about 8:30pm on Friday night (I was probably in labor before that but just so calm about it that I didn't notice). I believe our doula arrived at our house around 10pm that evening, and I arrived at the UCSD Hospital (specifically their Birth Center) at 11:30pm that evening and was 4cm dilated. I immediately wanted to use the tub when I arrived at the Birth Center. While the tub was being filled, I found an amazing amount ofc omfort in using their shower - my husband operated the shower head spraying my back and stomach. I thought we were in there for about 20 minutes, but my husband and doula recall being in the shower for at least 1 1/2 hours - amazing how time slips while in labor.
We discovered that my son was also behind my pelvic bone which created a lot of discomfort in my back, so I was instructed to do some lunge-like exercises during the "surges. I used the tub when it was ready, and found that I was able to easily relax in the tub between surges. During surges I would kneel in the tub and hold onto my husband for comfort. I was surprised by the amount of pressure I felt during the surges.
I felt the need to push at about 3:30am on Saturday morning which was four hours after we arrived at the Birth Center. I tried various positions, including standing, squatting and side lying. I was resistant to pushing on my back, but found that was actually the most comfortable and effective.
I "purple pushed" to get him through the birth canal, but when it came time to get his head out, I used birth breathing. I was told that I exhibited a great amount of control during that time. It was of course important to be in control to protect my perineum. Although I had a second degree laceration, I believe had I not done the birth breathing, it could have been a lot worse.
Looking back I can say it is ideal to be surrounded by supportive people. I feel very fortunate to have had the support of my husband, doula, nurse and midwife. Their continued encouragement was amazing.
Following the delivery, Sean was immediately taken to the NICU due to fluid in his lungs. Prior to being taken to the NICU, my doula insisted that I have the opportunity to see and hold him. He was placed next to me already swaddled (which is not what I had envisioned since I wanted skin-to-skin contact right away). Although he was crying when he was placed next to me, he stopped crying when I started talking to him - I am sure it was due to hearing a familiar sound among the chaos. That was probably the most incredible moment of my life. He was so beautiful.
It wasn't until Sean was in the NICU that I learned he weighed 11 pounds 4 ounces. They initially measured him as 21.5 inches, but my husband asked that he be re-measured since he seemed a lot longer. His true measurement was 23 inches.
I was so amazed that I gave birth to an 11 pound baby without intervention. We were the talk of the hospital! From the moment Sean was born, he has been incredibly calm and interactive. A true joy and pleasure to have in our lives.
I think the best lesson I learned is that it is important to have a vision of the labor and to surround yourself with people who support that vision. I was met with a lot of skepticism when I decided I wanted to have a drug free birth. My OB at the time also seemed skeptical of this decision. Because of that, I decided to go on a search for a new OB/midwife at 30 weeks of pregnancy, which was extremely stressful. I truly believe had I stayed with my original OB, I would have been pressured to give birth by c-section since he was a larger baby and he was initially behind my pelvic bone. Additionally, I think it is important to also be flexible because the labor, delivery and/or postpartum period may take some unexpected turns.
Please feel free to share this as it will hopefully give those people who want to have a drug free birth the knowledge that it is a great experience, even if others question the decision.
More background info:
When we first went to your class we were at Scripps La Jolla and in search of a new OB. We met with an OB, but she induced with Cytotec, so I wasn’t the biggest fan), another two doctors who I can’t remember, and then Rebecca Lesser (CNM) at UCSD. I definitely appreciated the approach in the birth center there. I can say they were so incredibly supportive, not only during the birth, but afterwards as well.
My doula was Leigh Fenly (link to her website: http://www.tranquilityinbirth.com/About/About.html). I would highly recommend her. She didn’t have experience with hypnobirthing, but went out and bought the book. She was very, very comforting and reassuring through the entire labor and postpartum period.
Please feel free to post in your yahoo group and on your blog. I want people to know that even a large baby can be delivered without intervention.
Thank you for all of your knowledge and support as well!
~Lauren
Congratulations Lauren & Jesse! Enjoy your babymoon!
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
Here's Sean's birth story:
The birth of my son Sean was the most amazing and empowering experience. I went into labor at about 8:30pm on Friday night (I was probably in labor before that but just so calm about it that I didn't notice). I believe our doula arrived at our house around 10pm that evening, and I arrived at the UCSD Hospital (specifically their Birth Center) at 11:30pm that evening and was 4cm dilated. I immediately wanted to use the tub when I arrived at the Birth Center. While the tub was being filled, I found an amazing amount ofc omfort in using their shower - my husband operated the shower head spraying my back and stomach. I thought we were in there for about 20 minutes, but my husband and doula recall being in the shower for at least 1 1/2 hours - amazing how time slips while in labor.
We discovered that my son was also behind my pelvic bone which created a lot of discomfort in my back, so I was instructed to do some lunge-like exercises during the "surges. I used the tub when it was ready, and found that I was able to easily relax in the tub between surges. During surges I would kneel in the tub and hold onto my husband for comfort. I was surprised by the amount of pressure I felt during the surges.
I felt the need to push at about 3:30am on Saturday morning which was four hours after we arrived at the Birth Center. I tried various positions, including standing, squatting and side lying. I was resistant to pushing on my back, but found that was actually the most comfortable and effective.
I "purple pushed" to get him through the birth canal, but when it came time to get his head out, I used birth breathing. I was told that I exhibited a great amount of control during that time. It was of course important to be in control to protect my perineum. Although I had a second degree laceration, I believe had I not done the birth breathing, it could have been a lot worse.
Looking back I can say it is ideal to be surrounded by supportive people. I feel very fortunate to have had the support of my husband, doula, nurse and midwife. Their continued encouragement was amazing.
Following the delivery, Sean was immediately taken to the NICU due to fluid in his lungs. Prior to being taken to the NICU, my doula insisted that I have the opportunity to see and hold him. He was placed next to me already swaddled (which is not what I had envisioned since I wanted skin-to-skin contact right away). Although he was crying when he was placed next to me, he stopped crying when I started talking to him - I am sure it was due to hearing a familiar sound among the chaos. That was probably the most incredible moment of my life. He was so beautiful.
It wasn't until Sean was in the NICU that I learned he weighed 11 pounds 4 ounces. They initially measured him as 21.5 inches, but my husband asked that he be re-measured since he seemed a lot longer. His true measurement was 23 inches.
I was so amazed that I gave birth to an 11 pound baby without intervention. We were the talk of the hospital! From the moment Sean was born, he has been incredibly calm and interactive. A true joy and pleasure to have in our lives.
I think the best lesson I learned is that it is important to have a vision of the labor and to surround yourself with people who support that vision. I was met with a lot of skepticism when I decided I wanted to have a drug free birth. My OB at the time also seemed skeptical of this decision. Because of that, I decided to go on a search for a new OB/midwife at 30 weeks of pregnancy, which was extremely stressful. I truly believe had I stayed with my original OB, I would have been pressured to give birth by c-section since he was a larger baby and he was initially behind my pelvic bone. Additionally, I think it is important to also be flexible because the labor, delivery and/or postpartum period may take some unexpected turns.
Please feel free to share this as it will hopefully give those people who want to have a drug free birth the knowledge that it is a great experience, even if others question the decision.
More background info:
When we first went to your class we were at Scripps La Jolla and in search of a new OB. We met with an OB, but she induced with Cytotec, so I wasn’t the biggest fan), another two doctors who I can’t remember, and then Rebecca Lesser (CNM) at UCSD. I definitely appreciated the approach in the birth center there. I can say they were so incredibly supportive, not only during the birth, but afterwards as well.
My doula was Leigh Fenly (link to her website: http://www.tranquilityinbirth.com/About/About.html). I would highly recommend her. She didn’t have experience with hypnobirthing, but went out and bought the book. She was very, very comforting and reassuring through the entire labor and postpartum period.
Please feel free to post in your yahoo group and on your blog. I want people to know that even a large baby can be delivered without intervention.
Thank you for all of your knowledge and support as well!
~Lauren
Congratulations Lauren & Jesse! Enjoy your babymoon!
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
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