Birth is just so amazing! After supporting two births this week I am in love with our bodies, our babies and the beauty of it all again! These two births could not have been more different while essentially they were identical.
Both couples trusted that birth is a natural process. Both women understood that their own body was capable and strong. Both couples planned for birth by going far beyond the tradition childbirth classes and truly became informed and confident particpants in all the decisions surrounding birth. ANd both couples were surprised when the journey began a little bit differently then they had envisioned.
Their births began, 5 days apart in much the same manner, before their paths took some different twists and turns...
Birth Rhythms Complete Pregnancy Support Services
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
New Study: Epidurals may hamper breastfeeding
[New study from Australia, is generating lots of media stories, here's a couple, and the links to the actual research is at the bottom]
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20905801-23289,00.html
Epidural babies can't get grip on what's breast
David King
December 11, 2006
WOMEN who give birth with the aid of pain-relieving epidurals find it harder to breastfeed than those who give birth naturally, an Australian study has found.
The research suggests some of the drugs used in epidurals make their way into babies' bloodstreams, subtly affecting their brains and development for weeks afterwards -- including making them less willing to breastfeed. The study by University of Sydney epidemiologist Siranda Torvaldsen adds to a growing body of knowledge that makes a link between the use of the pain-killing drug fentanyl in epidurals and problems with breastfeeding. During an epidural a catheter is inserted into the spine to allow the infusion of pain-killing drugs. These deaden the nerves that relay sensations of pain from the lower body.
(see link for full article)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6161727.stm
Epidurals 'hamper breastfeeding'
Having an epidural to relieve labour pains is associated with problems breastfeeding, a study suggests.
Researchers said those who have the anaesthetic are more likely to have problems in the first week after birth and to stop breastfeeding early.
(see link for full article)
The research article on which the news articles are based can be found at:http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/content/pdf/1746-4358-1-24.pdf
Commentary on the research is at:http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/content/pdf/1746-4358-1-25.pdf
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20905801-23289,00.html
Epidural babies can't get grip on what's breast
David King
December 11, 2006
WOMEN who give birth with the aid of pain-relieving epidurals find it harder to breastfeed than those who give birth naturally, an Australian study has found.
The research suggests some of the drugs used in epidurals make their way into babies' bloodstreams, subtly affecting their brains and development for weeks afterwards -- including making them less willing to breastfeed. The study by University of Sydney epidemiologist Siranda Torvaldsen adds to a growing body of knowledge that makes a link between the use of the pain-killing drug fentanyl in epidurals and problems with breastfeeding. During an epidural a catheter is inserted into the spine to allow the infusion of pain-killing drugs. These deaden the nerves that relay sensations of pain from the lower body.
(see link for full article)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6161727.stm
Epidurals 'hamper breastfeeding'
Having an epidural to relieve labour pains is associated with problems breastfeeding, a study suggests.
Researchers said those who have the anaesthetic are more likely to have problems in the first week after birth and to stop breastfeeding early.
(see link for full article)
The research article on which the news articles are based can be found at:http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/content/pdf/1746-4358-1-24.pdf
Commentary on the research is at:http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/content/pdf/1746-4358-1-25.pdf
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Voluntary C-sections result in more baby deaths
The c-section rate in Saskatoon is currently hovering at about 24%. While I do not have the statistics to say how many if any of these are planned and voluntary, I can say that this is well above the World Health Organization standards of c-section rates for developed countries, which is 12-15%. Please consider the following if you are thinking about your c-section birth options.
September 5, 2006 New York Times
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
**A recent study of nearly six million births has found that the risk of death to newborns delivered by voluntary Caesarean section is much higher than previously believed.
**Researchers have found that the neonatal mortality rate for Caesareandelivery among low-risk women is 1.77 deaths per 1,000 live births, whilethe rate for vaginal delivery is 0.62 deaths per 1,000. Their findings were published in this month's issue of Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care.
**The percentage of Caesarean births in the United States increased to29.1percent in 2004 from20.7 percent in 1996, according to background information in the report.
**Mortality in Caesarean deliveries has consistently been about 1½ times thatof vaginal delivery, but it had been assumed that the difference was due tothe higher risk profile of mothers who undergo the operation.
**This study, according to the authors, is the first to examine the risk of Caesarean delivery among low-risk mothers who have no known medical reasonfor the operation.
**Congenital malformations were the leading cause of neonatal death regardless of the type of delivery. But the risk in first Caesarean deliveries persisted even when deaths from congenital malformation were excluded from the calculation.
**Intrauterine hypoxia - lack of oxygen - can be both a reason for performinga Caesarean section and a cause of death, but even eliminating those deathsleft a neonatal mortality rate for Caesarean deliveries in the cases studied at more than twice that for vaginal births.
**"Neonatal deaths are rare for low-risk women - on the order of about onedeath per 1,000 live births - but even after we adjusted for socioeconomic and medical risk factors, the difference persisted," said Marian F.MacDorman, a statistician with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the lead author of the study.
**"This is nothing to get people really alarmed, but it is of concern giventhat we're seeing a rapid increase in Caesarean births to women with norisks," Dr. MacDorman said.
**Part of the reason for the increased mortality may be that labor,unpleasant as it sometimes is for the mother, is beneficial to the baby inreleasing hormones that promote healthy lung function. The physical compression of the baby during labor is also useful in removing fluid fromthe lungs and helping the baby prepare to breathe air.
**The researchers suggest that other risks of Caesarean delivery, like possible cuts to the baby during the operation or delayed establishment of breast-feeding, may also contribute to the increased death rate.
**The study included 5,762,037 live births and 11,897 infant deaths inthe UnitedStates from 1998 through 2001, a sample large enough to draw statistically significant conclusions even though neonatal death is a rare event.
**There were 311,927 Caesarean deliveries among low-risk women in the analysis.
**The authors acknowledge that the study has certain limitations, including concerns about the accuracy of medical information reported on birth certificates.
**That data is highly reliable for information like method of delivery andbirth weight, but may under report individual medical risk factors.
**It is possible, though unlikely, that the Caesarean birth group was inherently at higher risk, the authors said.
*Dr. Michael H. Malloy, a co-author of the article and a professor ofpediatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, said that doctors might want to consider these findings in advising their patients.
*"Despite attempts to control for a number of factors that might have accounted for a greater risk in mortality associated with C-sections, we continued to observe enough risk to prompt concern," he said.
**"When obstetricians review this information, perhaps it will promote greater discussion within the obstetrical community about the pros and cons of offering C-sections for convenience and promote more research into understanding why this increased risk persists."*
September 5, 2006 New York Times
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
**A recent study of nearly six million births has found that the risk of death to newborns delivered by voluntary Caesarean section is much higher than previously believed.
**Researchers have found that the neonatal mortality rate for Caesareandelivery among low-risk women is 1.77 deaths per 1,000 live births, whilethe rate for vaginal delivery is 0.62 deaths per 1,000. Their findings were published in this month's issue of Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care.
**The percentage of Caesarean births in the United States increased to29.1percent in 2004 from20.7 percent in 1996, according to background information in the report.
**Mortality in Caesarean deliveries has consistently been about 1½ times thatof vaginal delivery, but it had been assumed that the difference was due tothe higher risk profile of mothers who undergo the operation.
**This study, according to the authors, is the first to examine the risk of Caesarean delivery among low-risk mothers who have no known medical reasonfor the operation.
**Congenital malformations were the leading cause of neonatal death regardless of the type of delivery. But the risk in first Caesarean deliveries persisted even when deaths from congenital malformation were excluded from the calculation.
**Intrauterine hypoxia - lack of oxygen - can be both a reason for performinga Caesarean section and a cause of death, but even eliminating those deathsleft a neonatal mortality rate for Caesarean deliveries in the cases studied at more than twice that for vaginal births.
**"Neonatal deaths are rare for low-risk women - on the order of about onedeath per 1,000 live births - but even after we adjusted for socioeconomic and medical risk factors, the difference persisted," said Marian F.MacDorman, a statistician with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the lead author of the study.
**"This is nothing to get people really alarmed, but it is of concern giventhat we're seeing a rapid increase in Caesarean births to women with norisks," Dr. MacDorman said.
**Part of the reason for the increased mortality may be that labor,unpleasant as it sometimes is for the mother, is beneficial to the baby inreleasing hormones that promote healthy lung function. The physical compression of the baby during labor is also useful in removing fluid fromthe lungs and helping the baby prepare to breathe air.
**The researchers suggest that other risks of Caesarean delivery, like possible cuts to the baby during the operation or delayed establishment of breast-feeding, may also contribute to the increased death rate.
**The study included 5,762,037 live births and 11,897 infant deaths inthe UnitedStates from 1998 through 2001, a sample large enough to draw statistically significant conclusions even though neonatal death is a rare event.
**There were 311,927 Caesarean deliveries among low-risk women in the analysis.
**The authors acknowledge that the study has certain limitations, including concerns about the accuracy of medical information reported on birth certificates.
**That data is highly reliable for information like method of delivery andbirth weight, but may under report individual medical risk factors.
**It is possible, though unlikely, that the Caesarean birth group was inherently at higher risk, the authors said.
*Dr. Michael H. Malloy, a co-author of the article and a professor ofpediatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, said that doctors might want to consider these findings in advising their patients.
*"Despite attempts to control for a number of factors that might have accounted for a greater risk in mortality associated with C-sections, we continued to observe enough risk to prompt concern," he said.
**"When obstetricians review this information, perhaps it will promote greater discussion within the obstetrical community about the pros and cons of offering C-sections for convenience and promote more research into understanding why this increased risk persists."*
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