Archive for the ‘Physical Support’ Category

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Cupcake Inductions

Friday, April 8th, 2011


I watched this Youtube video of a news report about a bakery that is doing a booming induction business. This bakery makes a lemon drop cupcake that has had 19 women past their due dates go into labor. I find that fascinating. The bakery isn’t in Pittsburgh, I think it is in Fayetteville Arkansas, but it is an interesting phenomenon. OBs in the area are recommending the cupcakes to start labor. Most women who are past their due date will try almost anything (especially something as tasty as cupcake) to get their labor started without pitocin.

But does a cupcake have magic induction powers? Is it the lemon zest? Or is it the power of belief that keeps working the more success there is with the cupcakes? Either way, it sounds like a tasty way to start labor.

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Get your bumper sticker

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

Get your own bumper sticker and start supporting your local (in some cases very local) perineum. And in turn, support your local midwives and family practice doctors. You can now get your bumper stickers at Zazzle.com. Get yours today and let’s support laboring moms where they really need it.

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Support Your Local Perineum

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Here is a bumper sticker I would love to have. I just spoke to a doctor today who teaches residents who are becoming family practice doctors. I asked him if he taught his residents about supporting the perineum during crowning. He said he did! He agreed that support of the perineum can be beautiful. Now I need to get this made into a real bumper sticker.

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On Being Numb

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

The epidural rate in American hospitals is very high. All birthing women need to  figure out their own feelings about epidurals. Moms need to decide the parameters for whether they are willing to accept an epidural or not. My book, Doulas’ Guide to Birthing Your Way, goes into great detail about how an epidural changes labor. It can help a mom decide the epidural question for herself. Moms have reviewed the book and called it fair and understanding about epidurals. There is no single answer to this question that is right for every mother and every labor.

Keep in mind that sometimes an epidural does not do exactly what the mom is hoping it will do. Sometimes she can be so numb that she can’t feel the urge to push strongly enough to birth her baby. In those cases, she will need an instrument (vacuum or forceps) delivery or cesarean birth. Sometimes, being numb is the last thing you want during your labor.

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Happy Labor Day and Happy Laboring!

Monday, September 6th, 2010

I have been to all-day-long births during labor day in previous years. This year I am on-call for a birth. Today is her due date. It reminds me that while many people celebrate labor unions and how important the labor movement is for this country, I always celebrate the movement to allow mothers to labor how they like. It hasn’t always been so in this country. We used to disregard a mother’s wishes about how she wanted to give birth. We have made big strides since then. So a toast to labor day! And to women who can labor as they please! I call that happy laboring!

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