Friday 31 August 2012

The Princess and the Poo by Lara Fairy Love in epub and print now!

'The Princess and the Poo' by me, Lara Fairy Love, illustrated by Jenna Andreotti, is now available in epub format for your ipad, nook etc and in perfect-bound paperback!
Inspired by the wise words of Ina May Gaskin CPM "If the world was more comfortable with its 'pooping' then we would all be much more able to be comfortable with giving birth", 'The Princess and the Poo' is a book about natural childbirth, and how even perfect princesses need to poo!
It's a lighthearted book for pregnant women, children, midwives, doulas and childbirth helpers, to support and encourage them to feel the light, love and joy of the natural birth we are meant to experience!

The Princess and the Poo ebook - epub format

The Princess and the Poo paperback

The Princess and the Poo by Lara Fairy Love
 Lara Fairy Love - my author spotlight

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Fairy Doula is now online!


I've got a new website! 
It's to promote my doula services and as a place to share infomation for pregnant women... remedies, recipes, exercises etc for pregnancy, birthing and postnatal care.
Please please come along, visit me, leave some comments, stay for tea! Love you!!!
You can find me at Fairy Doula - Lara Fairy Love ♥ 
and and also here at the Fairy Doula Blog

Lara
xxx

Sunday 13 May 2012

How will you carry out your dream? - Jan Tritten

* Dont share your dreams with negative people
* Put encouraging people around  you!
* Take the first step then the next!
* Draw strength from those pioneers around you in the world that have carried out their dreams
* Never never never never never give up! Mothers and babies are counting on you!
* Dare to dream! dare to do!
* if you need encouragement e-mail jan@midwiferytoday.com or jan trittens midwifery page on facebook
* LOVE, HONOR, CHERISH AND RESPECT OURSELVES! CREATE REAL MIDWIFERY!

Uncommon Complications - Diane Gosling, Elizabeth Davis

*After the babies heart has stopped beating in the womb and the baby is dead up to 5 weeks after is a safe time to deliver the body.
*DIC- A blood clotting disease- resulting in massive blood loss and death
angelica Root
Don Qui
Penny Royal
Black cohash                                   All are herbs used to bring on miscarriage
Ladys Mantle                                     A stimulant combined with an active
Golden Seal
Shepherds Purse
* Always check after the miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies that the uterus is empty- Twins sometimes survive
Amneotic Fluid Embolism (AFE)
* induction and c-section have created many more AFE than natural birth
* due to abdominal scarring, hyper stimulation of uterus and extra oxytocic drugs , also sloppy repairing of uterus after c section
* To avoid AFE at VBAC( vaginal birth after C section) ask woman how she healed after operation, if it was badly then advise a hospital birth
* Fever, pain , dischage, slow healing are all symptoms of AFE
* Blackcurrent Oil
   Vitamin E Oil                     All healing to scar tissue
   Comfry Oil 
*Excercise helps the inside heal as well as keeping the outside fit.
*AFE is related to any tauma during labor eg - rupture of membranes, induction, c-section
* There is NO good rationale for early rupture of membranes!
Labial Hematoma ( varicose veins on vagina)
* Hot and cold stimulates circulations and moves the blood around
* change positions and switch about because all movement gives mama and baby a chance to re-evaluate
* Get mums to practice vaginal exercises squeezing each level starting at the sub basement and moving up to level 5, then go back down again. Breathe in and out with each squeeze and hold for 5 seconds.
  5
  4
  3
  2
  1
  Basement     - This is where giving birth occurs!
  Sub basement
* Use arnica tincture internally and externally
Retained Placenta
* increased DNC or internals put her at risk
* Check uterus tone- gently place hand on fundus ( top of womb)
*Large loss of blood is detremental to recovery.
* Get the mama to check herself
  cervical tear
  vaginal tear              cause blood loss
  partial seperation
* If the mum has been given pitocin  ( Synthetic oxytocin) she will not make her own oxytocin to close the uterus for at least 30 minutes.
* Angelica Root or Shepherds Purse tincture directly under the tongue held there for one minute will help the placenta release.
* If the placenta is not coming and the mother is not pushing, put two fingers in , follow cord up past the cervix, if there is no placenta there, it is still attached.
*Give herbs or pitocin to seperate placenta
* Pitocin does not close the cervix it contracts the long muscles of uterus.
* Put hand inside the uterus follow the line of the placenta to the connected piece, use hand as a spatula and gently smooth placenta away from the uterus wall
* SOMETIMES CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IS A WAY TO CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER!
* Just leaving the new family to bond and relax is the best way to assist the birth of the placenta.
* If the placenta will not be removed by hand , peel the lumps off the uterus wall so there is less bulk and then the uterus can close easier - then call an ambulance.
* Drinking water assists amnotic fluid production
Compound Presentation
* Arms , transverse lie, all that can be done is tore insert limb then attempt to turn the baby to breech and get hold of the feet to deliver- either internal or external version or both
Bleeding Labor
Just get the baby out ASAP! Either push or get an ambulance!
 Shoulder Dystocia
* signs- babys neck is like a turtle or its head is purple
actions- get mama on all fours, put hand in to get the posterior shoulder,
 or strong super pubic pressure, or strong fundal pressure, then go for the posterior shoulder
* If there is a woman with a VBAC there will always be more bleeding
Cord Prolapse
* get mum in knees chest position
* put hand in cervix, push babies head off the cord
* get cord warm and into the vagina
* check that the cord is still pulsing Transfer to hospital ASAP
* If there is no hospital- push baby out ASAP and be prepared to resusitate
* cotton root bark - regulates hormones and the whole system
* Herbs and oxytocics will not work if the bladder is full or if the uterus is full of clots.
*  REMAIN CALM- ACT IN LOVE AND RESPECT


*



























Breech- Betty ann Davis, Diane Goslin Marcos Leite

* Breech twins - When the mother is on hands and knees the babies seem to just turn and come out.
* If you feel a hip and a foot this is probably not a footling and more likely a full breech
* If the head does not flex , use 'Franks Nudge'- hold babies body in both hands and press inwards with thumbs just under the shoulder, this flexes head.
* Or put fingers below eye sockets and pull chin towards the neck.
* Or 'Chrysteller' - Get behind woman, clasp hands together above baby, rotate hands towards spine and push down , then use super pubic pressure
* Arms not coming out-  mother on hands and knees and turn her head to the left- turn baby to face mothers spine then to right, this releases the arms.
* ALWAYS WEIGH IN THE BALANCE!  Unless you know what to do  if the baby gets stuck then the breech birth process is dangerous for you, baby and mother.
* SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS!
* When a baby malpresents- always check the other factors in the motherbaby  physiology and psychology.
* PROTACT THE MOTHERBABY!
* PROTECT YOURSELF!
* PROTECT THE MOVEMENT!
* When the mama births on hands and knees there is less chance of the cord being squashed! This will give the birth more time.
* Sometimes babies die!
* Death is part of life!
* The apgars at vaginal breech birth are lower than at a cesarian birth- babies are more shocked
* Babies take more time to wake up! They need time and space to work out where and what they are!
* Low apgars do not mean unhealthy babies
* Baby injuries from breech birth according to the term breech trial study - 1% c-section, 1.9% on hands and knees, 16% on her back
* Touch the baby as little as possible, maybe put hands on its feet, talk to the baby, let them know that they are not alone.
* Leave the mama to move naturally as much as possible - most move into hands and knees.
*  TRUST IN EACH OTHER AND THE PROCESS!
* THE WOMAN , BABY, BIRTH PROCESS IS A PERFECT MECHANISM
* MOST BREECHES DO FALL OUT!
* Some moves are strong interventions but hey are less interventionalist than c-sections!
* BABIES NEED TIME TO GET INTO THEIR BODIES!
* GIVE THEM TIME!
                                                                   LOVE
www.coalitionforbreechbirth

Thursday 3 May 2012

Tricks of The Trade - midwifery today conference , harrisberg pennsylvania 2012

* For hemorrage take a piece of placenta, put it in the mums mouth - she will stop bleeding!
* Also you can use the membrane the same way if the placenta is not out
* To keep perinium intact - olive oil & geranium and ' Young living' gentle baby oil
* If the mother is needing to push but not complete - then massage her in the all fours positon feeling for the lump of the head, then strongly massage the head away from the pelvis following the line of the back.
* To ease blood clots and varicosities- use warm cider vineger on a rag, wrap around clotted vein and alevate
* Also quersitin - pectin of apples or vitamin E
* For hemmoroids - use a piece of potato inserted up the bottom
*To help with pregnancy nausea - suck lemons
*To cure upper resperatory tract infections - chop garlic finely and leave in honey overnight, use resulting syrup as medicine 1 tsp 3 x a day
* Breastmilk cures - sinus problems, earaches, nappy rash, in fact everything
* garlic cures- breastmilk infections, mastitis, worms, thrush, ear infections
* If you have recurring blocked milk ducts use sya lecithin
*Pinard skills- place pinard where you believe babies back to be, face the mother, ear to pinard, pinard to belly, let go with hand and lsten
* When babies are stuck- the emotons are stuck, the emotions of the mother and the emotions of the baby are very important. To assist communication assists birth.

Implimenting ideas for change in Midwifery and Birth - Midwifery Today

* Every Birth is Amazing
* Each time a Woman gives Birth it is Amazing
* She Evolves , Grows and Transforms!
* We must Celebrate! Respect this time and create ceremony for this amazing part of life
* To impliment change we must-

* Be aware what needs to change
*.Be confident about our power to change.
* Be active about change
* Be open minded
* Be creative
* Be hopefull
* NEVER GIVE UP!

* Every place we walk , every place we stand, we can impliment change for birth
* go to colleges and schools and offer to teach
* Go to radio stations and offer stories
* put birth stories out there
* Teach men and boys about natural birth
* run classes, meet ups and gatherings
* Connect people - talk and listen more.

Amish and Menonite Midwifery - Mary Hosteler and Lydia Byler

* It doesnt matter what creed , religion , color, you are Birth is an extreme physical sensation!
* It can be overwhelming
* It can take our breath away
* Our faith in the Process of Birth and the power of God assists in Positive Birth Stories
* Birth Stories assist in all generations to know the story of Birth, so everyone in the family knows what happens at a Birth so then there is less chance of anyone being afraid.
*The extended family supports and loves the new addition to the family
* The faith gave the first menonite women the courage to birth their babies at home with no-one but god with them.
* Love is a many splendored thing - Babies are made in Love
                                                           Babies are born in Love
                                                           Midwives support Births in Love
*Love is Honored Cherished and Respected
* Birth is painful but beautiful.
* We check , massage and talk with the mother every 6 weeks for the 1st trimester, every 3 weeks 2nd trimester, every2 weeks 3rd trimester
* Nutrition is the best medicine! - Fresh foods , low suger, low fat, low salt
*Shepherds Purse - for stopping excessive  bleeding
* Blue Cohash, red raspberry leaves, blessed thistle, black cohash - all are use as gentle assistants to birth.
                     LOVE  LOVE AND MORE LOVE IS ALL A BIRTHING MAMA NEEDS







MASSAGE FOR MATERNITY- ELAINE STILLERMAN

MASSAGE FOR BIRTH - ELAINE STILLERMAN

* Safe , Nurturing , Non-Judgemental, Well- Informed , Loving, Stress- Reducing.

* THIS IS THE ENVIROMENT TO CREATE FOR MASSAGE AND BIRTH
* The Quadratus Lumborum is the primary muscle involved in back pain during pregnancy, it can be relieved with counter strain eg:-

* STRAIN, COUNTER STRAIN

* Assist mother to lie on her side, keep knees together as much as possible when getting into position to support and protect the symphisis pubis ( the cartilage join in the middlle of the pelvis , above the pubic bone.)

* Support the belly, raise the knees with pillows

* Find the place where there is the most strain in the muscle, by feeling and asking the client

* When you have found the exact spot, press spot with your thumb, whilst holding other hand on the hip and pushing with a medium force forward ( this gently rotates the pelvis while you are relaxing and recallibrating the muscle with your other hand)

* Repeat on the other side so the body is balanced!

* HOLD THESE POSITIONS FOR 90SECS WITH EQUAL FORCE THROUGHOUT. This resets the neurons and the receptors in the body, brain and muscles and relieves the pain.

*THE PSOAS - This is the muscle that reaches from the back of the hip downto the side of the knee pains here can be treated with muscle relaxation and strain counter strain.

* MUSCLE RELAXATION

* With the woman lying on her side supported bt cushions, get her to bend her leg up towards her stomach and lift it towarsd the sky.

* practitioner stand facing the womans belly , assisting the lift of the leg with R hand and giving something to push against with the L hand

* Have woman push her leg forward like she is bending her knee upwards for 5secs, then release.

* This assists the hip to release and the leg will extend further, when she straightens it out along and back from her body.

* Repeat this 3 to 5 times until the desired extention and pain relief has occourred.

* repeat on the other side so the body is balanced1

* STRAIN COUNTER STRAIN

* Have the client lie on her back with one leg straight one leg bent at right angles outwards.

* Feel the top of her pelvis in towards the pubis until you find a sore spot.

* press the point with your top hand thumb, support the knee and lift gently to rotate the hip with the other hand.

* Hold this position for 90 secs the muscle will release and reset its neurons and receptors

* Repeat on both sides so the body is balanced!

* PERIFORMIS - This is a muscle that reaches from the hip bone to bottom cheek!

* Pain can be relieved with STRAIN COUNTER STRAIN

* Have the woman lie on her side supported by pillows

* Face her belly and lift her top thigh a little upwards with your forearm

* With your other hand feel for a sore point from top hip bone to bottom of bottom cheek

* When you have the place , apply thumb pressure and rotate hip for 90secs

* The muscle will release and reset its neurons and receptors

* Repeat on both sides so the body is balanced!

Elaine Stillerman is a brilliant massage therapist, designer of the amazing massage balls( smelly balls) and a great karaoke singer! With these techniques she totally helps create a calm pain relieving massage that uses the least amount of effort whilst creating the most amount of relief.

 

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Respectful Maternity Care- Debra pascale- Bonero

http://childbirth connection.org
thewhiteribbonalliance.org/respectfulcare
* Both these site have many resources andinformation  about respectful maternaty care : Tackling disrespect and abuse during facility base childbirth
* What does respectful maternity care look like?
* takeaction@whiteribbonalliance.org
*  GET CREATIVE, SHARE YOUR VISION WITHART , SONG, STORY ,DANCE
* check out the film ' No woman no cry' by christie brinkley
* also ' Deadly delivery' by amnesty intrenational
* www. womendeliver.org
* check out ' Half the sky ' kristof & wudunn
 * 'The Princess and The Poo' by Lara Fairy Love
                              
                                      GET CONNECTED GET ACTIVE!

Autonomous Midwifery- Jan Tritten

* Are we Midwives or Medwives?
* Midwives are creators of ceremony from womb to tomb
* BIRTH - MENSTRUATION-MENOPAUSE - DEATH
* We have the ability to  create positive experiences for our fellow women
* It is our responsibility to be brave and speak our truth- to empower our fellow women towards
                                                  POSITIVE LIFE EXPERIENCES
* When you doubt yourselves remember that you are part of the Global Community
                                                    TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG!

                                                           LOVE WILL PREVAIL!
*                                INTENTION AND INTEGRITY CREATES POSITIVITY!
* Stepping up to the huge skill body of midwifery is the way to create a furure full of Autonomous Midwives!
*   MIDWIVES SUPPORT WOMEN WHO DELIVER BABIES!
* THE RIGHT TO HUMANE AND LOVING CARE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT
*  check www.un.org/milleniumgoals/
* Lets imagine a world where all women recieved humaine and loving care, nutrition and welfare
* Midwives are needed and need to be treated with respect
* The world needs 300,000 more midwives
* MAKE IT HAPPEN
* INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF AUTONOMOUS MIDWIVES ( IAAM0
* Women and their babies have their right to birth in a hospital or at home without fear of mistreatment or industrialized medicalization
* Cutting 1, 2 or 3 women is a buman rights violation and is literally stealing their miricle!
* read articles 2, 3, 4, 25,( 1&2) of the human rights act
* Every woman has the right to an optimal birth
                               BIRTH IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE!











Trust yourself to trust birth - Gail Hart , Tine Grieve

* You can trust birth to work
* Intervention is risky
*When women are confident it is a normal healthy birth - fear creates problems

*                                                      TRUST YOURSELF!

                                                     TRUST EACH OTHER!

                                                          BELIEVE IN BIRTH!

                                                     CREATE POSITIVITY!

                                                          CREATE LOVE!

Alternative to suturing , also tear prevention - Gail Hart

* There is alot of preparation before birth- excrecise , massage, deep breathing, squats, streatching
* Stratagies for second ( pushing ) stage- aviod coached pushing- encourage her to listen to her body and to stop pushing and breathe as her baby is on the perinium
* A compress of hot water, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil or arnica oil is very helpfull
* Most stuff we all know is because someone told us from their personal experience NOT thru research
* Standing and squatting positions create less tearing of perinium
* Ginger increases circulation to tissues so it can stretch - it also minimises swelling and smells good
* Comfry activates cell rejuvination and reduces swelling
* 96 degrees is ideal heat for a birthing pool
* Compression will always stem bleeding
*Spray adrenaline onto a gauze put this on the tear to stop bleeding
* yunan payao seaweed helps too
* sugar collagulates wounds also salt and honey
* honey is great for wound healing
*  IF TWO PIECES OF VAGINA ARE IN THE ROOM THEY WILL MOVE TOGETHER!

Fourth Stage Transition - Tine Grieve

* What should we do at birth and after to facilitate breastfeding?
* Pitocin( synthetic oxytocin) reduces mothers oxytocin levels- the drip creates a stable levelof oxytocin so that the brain does not secrete a proper level of oxytocin- sometimes as much as 2 days later.
* natural oxytocin stays in the blood for 45 seconds and is then replaced
* A mother who is medicated in labor does not secrete oxytocin properly so she does not bond with her baby easily- so she is more prone to post partum depression and breastfeeding problems
* Eastrogen builds oxytocin receptors in the brain
* Oxytocin is contageous- even if a woman has no natural oxytocin at birth she can still feel love and therefore have the let down reflex and naturally breastfeed.
* Loving care and respect for nurturing bonding is the best way to create good breastfeeding practices for mother and baby
* Birth assistants primary goal in the fourth stage- is to support the creation and respect for a sacred bonding space for ' motherbaby'
*PROPER BONDING TAKES TIME!
*  Babies need to release all reflexes before it can breastfeed   www.biologicalnurturing.com
*   THE MIDWIFE IS THE PROTECTOR OF THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESS

Basic newborn complicatations and emergencies - Tine Grieve

* Ther should never be a surprise low apgar score all observations should tell you how the baby is.
* There should only ever be fatal illnesses causing low apgar e.g. heart defects and lung defects
* To use our intuition, eyes, ears, hands, smell and ears , this is what gives us clues to what is happening in the womb .
* To fully rely on machines is to rely on a totally fallible information source
* A pinard tells us - the beat of the heartbeat and the quality of the heartbeat
* A heartbeat is so much more than a frequency it is much more of a feeling
* The pinard gives the feeling of an irregular heartbeat and also shows the changes when you move the baby- you must listen before , during and after the rushes
* We do not want to hear late decelerations
* We want accellerations at the same time as rush and then decellerations as the rush ends.
* To listen after rush shows how the baby is recovering from lack of oxygen. If the rate decellerates later than the end of the rush then the baby is not recovering properly and needs attention.
* If the baby comes out flat then we need wait to let the baby recover from the rush and lack of oxy gen.
* keep the cord intact because this is the babies life support system
 * BABIES NEED TIME TO RECOVER FROM BEING BORN!
* The first 60 seconds we need to remember to let the baby recover from being born - especially if the babies heart pattern is healthy right up until the birth.
* If the babies heart rate is low during labor and birth and comes out flat and starved  of oxygen- these babies can crash at the breast 5 minutes later
* If the heartrate sounds muffled then be aware that there may be after birth difficulties
* If you know how to use the pinard correctly it is safer than the doppler
* At the beginning of labor- listen for 15mins at 5 min intervals
* In the middle of labor- listen for 5mins before during and after rushes
* At the end of labor listen when you feel that you need to
*                             LISTEN ATTENTIVELY - FEEL THE HEARTBEAT

*       BE WELL INFORMED SO YOU ARE READY TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY!
*

Hemorrage and 3rd stage difficulties - Gail Hart

* 1/3 of women  die in childbirth A LIE! -  women at full term die of - septic miscarriage
                                                                                                                 - blood loss
*Fainting
  Sickness
  Mothers face pale
  Lips blue                                                       ALL SYMPTOMS OF HEAMORRAGE
  Low blood pressure
  Rapid pulse (100, 110)
  Convulsions

* Average blood loss is 435 cc ( 4 cups ) to 800cc (6 cups) - 1 full pad = 1/2 a cup
* Women can lose up to a litre of blood ( 8 cups) and still survive ! - however we should be vigelant about blood loss and keep it to a minimum
* 500cc of blood loss = 1g heamoglobin loss
* In waterbirth if you can see the bottom of the tub then the blood loss is normal.
* If a woman is bleeding too much her uterus needs to be closed - if the placenta is still in it has to be removed.
* To keep the cord intact helps the placenta trigger the seperation - the whole system remains oxygenated
* Routine use of pitocin ( synthetic oxytocin) or oxytocic herbs to over stimulate labor can be cause of bleeding
* Normal birth= normal placenta delivery
* Let the uterus expel the baby- assist the baby and mother to skin to skin contact
* to watch the physiological stages of seperation means to assist the true way of expulsion
 * placental expulsion can take from 30 mins to 6 hrs!
* To pull on the cord when the womb is not contracting will only cause problems
* Hold the cord, fel the womb , feel the slack - DO NOT TUG!
* Watch, Wait, Allow physiology to progress - be like the animal and  let nature take its course
* Shepherds purse herb can stop bleeding and contract the uterus
* You can also use your hands to contract the uterus- rub the mamas belly flat handed, support under the uterus and push from above - you are trapping those blood cells and stopping the bleeding.
* Also nipple stimulation and breastfeeding can help
* A thumbnail piece of placenta in the mothers mouth activates uterus contractions in 20 seconds!
* Getting upright and  blowing in a bottle bothe help the placenta to seperate
* Get the mama to cough or sneeze this can also help
* The best way is to not disturb the natural bonding space of mother and baby- leave the room for 20 mins or make yourself invisible - leave the woman to birth her placenta herself with no fuss!


hi lara, you take great notes, but I need to post a correction there. I probably mispoke something in the class. "I" was not the midwife who said to leave the room for 20 minutes to give the mother privacy to birth her own placenta. I said I know of this teaching and assisted a midwife once who followed this. "I don't personally do this or advocate it; I just know of some who do, but I'm personally not comfortable with leaving her. I always stay with the woman, nearby but as much out of her way as possible, so I can observe her and her baby and help if needed. But I try to stay quiet and pretty invisible and unintrusive. I could be on a chair nearby, or perhaps just by the door, but I don't leave About using your hands to stop bleeding: The hands are the best and most effective tool. Faster than medications. About placenta -- it is a very effective emergency treatment, and the knowledge should be reclaimed. It used to be known throughout the world but has been forgotten in many on Hemorrage and 3rd stage difficulties - Gail Hart







A Midwives Healty relationship to Fear - Elizibeth Davis

* To work with fear is a way to be active and alert in a situation where most are frozen and inactive .
* Womans healthcare providers' Midwives' have always been here
* It is an honorable position , respected and powerful.
* However our fear is grounded in a history of persicution since ' The Burning Times'
* To repress and attack midwives is to deny the power of women
* In any patreachal society midwives will always be seen as trouble makers because they care for the health and rights of women
  " At this time noone is more dangerous to the state and church than the midwives." The spanish inquisition for the catholic church  - six million women died!
* These 'Burning times' created a pain body for all the women who came after - the line of story was broken- now we are beginning to reweave  the story lines
* FEEL YOUR FEAR - It keeps you alert and  assists you to be aware and watch your back , it helps to keep you safe!
* TO MEET FEAR OPENLY INSTEAD OF CLENCHING AND FREEZING MEANS WE CAN OPENLY RECOGNIZE IT  AND OPEN OURSELVES TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF OVERCOMING IT!
* To cleanse yourself of the fear that is felt is a very important tool , then you do not bring every fearfull event to each moment of fear.
* To cleanse and heal gives us the opportunity to work with our fears and grow past them.
* Fear, anger, jealousy - are all from the primal part of the brain ,
  DANGER! - creates adrenaline - enables us to respond - as concious beings we can choose how we respond.
                                    ADRENALINE - frozen, closedness , hate, fear
                                                                    or
                                    OXYTOCIN - Love , Compassion, caring, openness

* A woman giving birth runs a 100 times more Oxytocin than at any other time
* when we run oxytocin at a birth we entrain to the birthing woman and we learn how to be in LOVE   - our brain waves drop thru ALPHA- BETA - THETA - Theta waves being the place where time becomes elastic and brainwaves open so that experiences can be rewritten.
*                                     

                                                       BE IN LOVE!











 

Saturday 28 April 2012

Second Stage Difficulties - The Pushing part . Ina May Gaskin

* Once the inner mouth opens - the cervix is dilated
* Tired - take a nap -  TO REST IS NOT DANGEROUS!
* Hot - drink cool water - rest
* Cold - use a blanket, do some execise
* Nipple stimulation can always be benieficial to birth progression
* A womans instincts are the primary answer to what is needed during the 2nd stage
           *  ASSIST HER TO LISTEN TO HERSELF BY LISTENING TO HER *
*  Food can be instantly benificial to the womans laboring capabilities
* when the birthing womans experience is longer than the midwives endurance , HAVE A PARTNER!
*  ITS GOOD TO HAVE SUPPORT AND FRIENDS! NEVER BE TOO PROUDTO STEP ASIDE!
* Toilet seats, birth stools, showers- all these assist in the progress of labor
* Facial expressions are important during labor
    scrunched up face = clenched uterus
 h   relaxed face = relaxed uterus
* Make the sphincter happy! - quiet , relaxing, dim light, gentle music, sexual attention, sweet smells , warm water
* Release all tension in the body and brain
* Sometimes the dimensions of the pelvis need to change to assist the downward movement of the OP ( Occiput- back of babies head- Posterior - facing mothers bottom), high position baby
get the mother to stand upright , a person on each side of he mother places hand s on the top of the hip bones and together they push inwards thus creating a scissor movement in the pelvis making the bottom bones open wider.
or in the words of my 9 year olds son jake " If the baby is stuck push on the top sides of the mummies bottom and the baby will come out of the bottom of the mummies bottom! "

* To birth easily*

* Watch the partners! if they need to wee and are holding on they will be influencing their womans ability to let go.
* tell stories -' How I learned to enjoy pooping in labor' , ' The princess and the poo' , ' The mole who knew it was none of his buisness'
* Make the room smell nice
* Most fears are just social inhibitions we need to be practical to overcome them
* ASSIST MOTHERS TO REWIRE THEIR MINDS TO CELEBRATE POOPING AND FARTING TO CREATE POSITIVE BIRTH STORIES!
* We need to laugh more in labor- it gives us neuro endorphins and oxytocin ( the birthing love hormone) it also softens the pelvis and allows the baby to come down
* Miconium is not poo! It is intestine packing ! It is not nasty!
* If there is miconium and the heart tones are good there is no need to worry
** Heart decellerations are common panic moments but if the baby recovers immediately then it has enough oxygen and there is no need to fear.
* Dad is good as furniture and bad as cameraman

                                                LAUGH MORE LOVE MORE!

Ina may Gaskin is an amazing woman'  a midwife , author and international birth activist, her books 'Spiritual Midwifery , Ina mays gide to childbirth ' and , A midwives manifesto' are compelling enlightening reading . if you havent alreadt read them I advise you to do so!
In this session she also advised that ' The court Midwife' by Justine Siegermunden was an interesting read.








First Stage Difficulties( the opening phase) - Gail Hart

PROLONGED LABOR RISKS

*Infection, maternal exhaustion, post partum hemorrage, fetal distress, fetal injury or asphixia, low apgar scores, seperation of motherbaby, difficult recovery, post partum depression, caregiver exhaustion leading to poor descisions.

* To reduce the risk of infection*

* preserve membranes
*Limit internal exams
* Avoid intrernal devices
* Keep mother hydrated and rested
 * maintain a clean enviroment

* Risk of distress created by*

* Stimulated labor
* Artificial rupture of membranes( water bag)
* Maternal low blood suger                                          FEAR > TENSION > PAIN!
* Maternal supine ( laying down) position
* coached pushing acidocis
* Manual extraction ( forceps, suction cup)

* Reduce the risks by*

* Monitor carefully and unobtrousively,  Listen to baby> You can hear with your ear from the back as well as the front.
* Augment labor conservtively, assist all involved to be patient
* Encourage intact membranes
* Avoid maternal supine position ( lying down)
* Encourage active upright positions and sidelying ( simms or left lateral)
* detect and correct malpositions early
* Maintain maternal blood suger witth food , liquid or suger
                                               LOVE > RELAXATION > JOY!

* Assess mother and baby*

* monitor closely for signs or symptoms of infection
* Elevated maternal temperature
* Rising pulse
* Increased uterine or abdominal tenderness
*  DONT DO AN INTERNAL EXAM FOR NO REASON - IF YOU DO ONE , DO A GOOD ONE!

* Exhaustion*
* signs of true maternal exhaustion
* rising pulse and temperature

* Is there progress?*

* There must be progress even if there is slow progress
* mother and baby must remain in a good position
* Detect heart decelerations

* Know when to quit*

* Signs of disproportion btwn head and pelvis
* high head - head not engaged and cant be made to engage
* Asynclitism ( head off to the side not aligned to the bone of the pelvis) - especially increasing degrees
* Strong contractions ( rushes , surges) without progress or dilitation( cervix opening)
* Failure of head to flex and decend wirh strong cotractions and good pushing
* Large and growing caput ( swelling  formed on the babys head by pressure from the dilating cervix) but with no descent when measured above the pubic bone

*Signs of potential Uterine ( womb) rupture

* A thinning lower uterine segment( may feel like a balloon)
* Full bladder
* Rising contraction ring
* Formation of Bandls Ring ( exteme thickening of the ring of normal labor when labor is obstructed It is able to be felt with the hands as a hard ridge across the tummy)

* DONT EVER LET THINGS GET THIS FAR!
* BE PRUDENT, GET HELP
* RULE OUT OBSTRUCTED LABOR!










Thursday 26 April 2012

Observations in the Medical centre

Firstly its not lost on me how honored and privilaged I ( naughty fairy, hippie me) am to be allowed to assist in this kind of place.
I walk around shadowing this diminutive purple swirling midwife, rubbing shoulders with nurses, doctors and medical secretaries, all manner of people who on paper and in the eyes of many are more qualifyed than me to be here. I know that I am always where I am supposed to be!
 Already today I have assisted with dietary advice, baby holding, IUD (coil) insertion , and vaginal growth removal ( a little purple pearl) I have cleaned up , re-stocked , remembered , observed and assisted.
 My abilities of calm quiet speach to relax tense people and my hands full of universal Reiki have been apprieciated and have made me feel at home and of use in these pretty alien medicalized surroundings.
 I find myself observing to gleen what is really neccessarry, which questions to ask , what dietary advice to give, the way that Love and cuddles create a bridge along which communication and compassion and Oxytocin can flow.
 I see herbal and industrial medicine used wisely hand in hand. I see clinical and artistic models merged in a way that creates calm in the easily concerned and confused.
 The path of the post-modern midwife is one of the artist and healer , artfully she mixes the pallette of medicines to create optimum health and happiness for all she serves.
 I like this reflection I see and wholeheartedly accept my role to be the successor of this woman and the many like her who have and will support women towards happy healthy natural births instead of leading women like lambs to the slaughter of industrialized birth.
  "Never doubt that a small group of people working together , can change the world. Indeed its the only thing that ever has" Margaret Mead
This patha nd calling is long and wide with many wolves and dark places. The joys will far outweigh the sadnesses but I will remember that all experience is just that, just another rich colour that creates the wonderful vibrant tapestry of our amazing lives.
 Sometimes I feel small and stupid, that there is too much to learn, too much to do , then I remember to hold my own hand and believe in the vibration of the Universe that guides us all. This life is for living and being and a place to really experience all that our phisical beings can experience. So to be called to the office of Midwife with all of the colours of experience that it holds is one I welcome ,always with eyes wide with awe and with a heart open and full of love .  Fairy love and kisses Laraxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Pre Natal Care create a positive birth- the Midwives role , Gail Hart

* Humans believe what what they see, they also see what they believe
* Whatever you do the baby will grow and progress
* Get women to log the babies movements, time , duration, then they will begin to know thier own normal and will be able to gauge when things change. " call me if things change"
* keep your ego in check! The woman , the hospital, the midwife, the doula all work together as a team to create a poitive birth
* Let women know that routine ultra sounds have not been proven benieficial to birth outcomes
*Prevantion is better than cure, DIET, EXERCISE, HEALTHFULL LIVING all create positive birth experiences

* Bacterial Vaginosis ( BV) and Group B Strep (GBS) are both considered causes of pre term birth
* BV overgrowth is allowed by lack of lactovilli
* BV and GBS prefer an alkaline enviroment
* Nurture the good guys to reduce the bad guys- a good cup of lactobaccili can protect against BV and GBS , yeast, e.coli, and anerobes
* Prepare the soil- raise acidity- vineger rinse- 2tbsp to 1 pint water
* Plant the seeds- probiotic yogert- use directly as a cream
* Slow down the weeds- practice good hygene- wash your partner! sex can spread BV and GBS

                 BE ACTIVELY AWARE SUPPORT CONCIOUS PREGNANCY!

The Initial Interview- Carol Gauchi

Before the first interview

*Make sure that the woman knows who you are and how you work- you need to be sure that you are a good match.
* having a website can help with this, some details on your website could be-
* How I became a midwife
* Birth classes I teach
*How and when I conduct interviews
* Apprenticeships
* Herbal birth aids
*Disclosure- what I offer
*Reccommendations- herbal and dietary
* ask women who call you to visit your website and note down any questions that they have to bring to their initial interview
* Its good to work on your perceptive skills, look in their eyes, read their body language.
* We assist women to own their births- Midwifery is deeply spiritual and the ultimate feminine experience, women together are a tribe.
* TRUTH , HONESTY AND REALITY CREATE RESPECT!
* Pregnancy is a path of discovery and we are there to assist and support women on their journey.
* If you have no confidence in the woman to birth then get over yourself and pass her on to someone else
* Assist her to be able to refuse your care - give her the option to finish your relationship
* take all women to a 'Designer Birth' level of her care - MIDWIFERY IS AN ARTFORM!
*Do your best to not speak in absolutes-' Never' is not as good as 'seldom'
* continuity of care is rally important, it allows the midwife to build a unique relationship with the mother that is filled with LOVE and the more love there is the more oxytocin there is so the better the birth experience will be.
* Questions to ask during the interview
* How is your nutrition?
* Do you have a homebirth consent form and is it signed?
*Do you know the risks and beniefits of homebirth?
*What is your and your families birth history
* How do you deal with pain?
*Why do you want to have a homebirth?

* Help the woman and the family to become self empowered
* Assist the family to create their own birth experience
* Be ATTENTIVE, OBSERVENT AND SUPPORTIVE ,
* Become invisible but still assist
* Give reccommendatins but release them to make their own choices

* Carols Birth Infusion
take a handfull of organic herbs
2parts raspberry leaves
2 parts nettle leaves
1 part alfalfa
1 part oatstraw
*get a litre jug and put the herbs into the bottom of the jug
* pour boiling water over the herbs
* cover tightly and let stand overnight
* strain the mixture and press the juice from the herbs
* drink freely throughout the day
* repeat at night

                       MIDWIFERY IS MORE SPIRITUAL THAN MONETARY!
Carol Gauchi is a midwife who speaks so passionately about her art and craft of midwifery that she makes me cry and goosepimples rise on my skin! if you want to know more about her check out her website gentlebirths.net
 big fairy love laraxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Councelling for positive Outcomes. Gail Hart Midwifery Today conference , Harrisberg , Pennsylvania 2012

Ok so I believed that after every day at the conference I would writ up my notes on my new shiny box! Not true! I totally forgot how much concentration and writing I would be doing every day not to mention running, smiling , sorting stuff and generally giving loads of energy to all of my favorite midwives and birth activists! So obviously I lunched out my homework! So now I am about to start transporting my conference nots to blog world, I hope they are as exciting and imformative to you all as they are to me!

COUNCELLING FOR POSITIVE OUTCOMES- GAIL HART
*Every pregnant woman should be supported with all she needs when she becomes pregnant.
*stress changes positive outcomes- life can be stressfull U.S. women are expected to do everything with minimal support
* NUTRITIONAL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL -  These are all kinds of stress- which lead to high blood pressure and then other complications.
* Nutrition- council for positive outcomes
*assist women to value themselves and respect themselves and their babies by eating well.
*sit and talk, "what did you eat yesterday?"
*you have to know where a woman is dietarily before you can positively affect her diet
cook for people- bring gluten free cookies to work,
introduce people to new foods- sprouts, houmous, stevia , seaweed
* sometimes people know how to eat properly but cant afford it. Assist by organising get togethers and food shares
* The value of pre-natal care is the time spent with the woman, which gives more confidence and connection between you both, raising levels of oxytocin thereby creating better birth experiences
*" This is an exciting time for you?" use leading questions to discover where she is with her pregnancy experience.
* Risks and fears need to be planned forbut they do not need to be stated as problems to terrify women!
* Try to keep our fears ( and adrenalin) low and the fears of our women low too!
*All women are unique ! No matter how you have been educated you need to remember that each women experiences life differently
* Always ask permission before touching- this creates body respect.
* see the whole woman , use your eyes and ears, heart and hands
* When birth experiences are bad women seem to talk of it less with less details
* Pick up the clues - get the whole story
* Women rarely repeat their birth experience physically- most women put their experiences into perpective
* Each birth is different- each time they change because they grow and change with the birth experience
** Always talk calmly and remind women of the dangers of unfounded fear mongering thru the internet and gossip.
* High blood pressure is not a symptom of Eclampsia or pre-eclampsia, it is a symptom that something is wrong and needs attention!
* Only 1 out of 100 people diagnosed with pre-eclampsia actually has a seizure at birth.
possibly calcium reguation is a factor in pre eclampsia - also kidney functions are a factor.
*  MODERATION IN ALL THINGS EXCEPT COMPASSION AND LOVE
Gail Hart is a majestic midwife, her book ' Research updates for midwives, some thoughts on the best evidence.' is a brilliant resource book for anyone who needs to back up their decisions and actions at a medical level. Loads of doctor speak and names to quote, makes even doctors listen and question hospital protocol!

Monday 2 April 2012

The birth of a Goddess

So here we go! Im Lara, Mother, professional fire performer, Traditional Midwife, Traveller.
14 years ago I was blessed with the experience of giving birth to my first son the brilliant and amazing Blue! Because I have a distrust of big institutions and I am unable to be disrespectfully told what to do and because the party is my favorite place in the world I decided to give birth in my home a mark 2 transit van on a hill in Totnes Devon, whilst my nearest and dearest friends raved to all my favorite tunes on out wicked rig! My theory being that , the walls were thin and i rekoned that i would make a noise so i wanted some music so i wouldnt worry the neighbours!
 Blue was born to the sounds of madonna singing ray of light! and he is that!
I read only one book Juliette de bairicli Levy s 'Natures Children' a brilliant herbal, diary, instruction manual for healthy women who wish to give birth to healthy natural nature children. It was brilliant , filled with positivity and guidence , it totally made me believe that i was naturally able to give birth and that i was capable of doing so , so i did!
 We ate the placenta for breakfast and I felt rocket powered! My milk came in and we all travelled off to a big celebration party in cornwall overlooking the sea! All was well full of joy and positivity. Me and Blues Dad Geoff were totally competant able and ready to be parents and we had had the birth experience that facilitated us to be so . We were in charge and we gave birth! Life is beautiful birth is beautiful is what this experience taught us.
 Fast forward 3 and a half years and once again im giving birth , this time to Jake in a vally in spain in my beautiful renault saviem 7 and a half ton truck! The party was brilliant, I span my fire and was supported by my ginga ninjas and Jake was  born to the strains of low fidelity all stars in ibiza! ' Theres no reason for you to cry , we ll always be around.....' Total joy!
 Somewhere after the first birth I ended up supporting a seventeen year old giving birth, I was hitch hiking and went to visit for a cup of tea! Saphora was born into her parents joyous arms and we skipped out of the hospital singing!
By the time the second baby had settled into feeding and general life I was beginning to be asked to assist other travelling women as they gave birth. I did and there were many joyous births in trucks, caravans, buses, trees, benders, yurts and tipis. There were other women helping too , inspiring wise and wonderful , Vanessa, Sue, Tallulah, all brilliant! We started a group that met once a week to talk about pregnancy birth and all the questions people had. We called it the' Pregnant Posse'
 One day someone introduced me as 'Lara the midwife', granted I had been with this woman as she gave birth and had massaged her and made tea , given comforting hugs and words and had held her hand, but midwife! Suddenly I was filled with an urge to learn more! I was convinced that if I was to be seen as a midwife I would have to learn more to be worthy of the title and responsibility and respect it creates.
 Vanessa had a programme for a midwife conference in paris run by a group called 'Midwifery Today' it was filled with loads of knowledg that we all wanted to know and best of all our total hero and guiding light Ina may Gaskin was going to be a speaker!" Oh I wish I could go and meet her and learn all she wants to teach me " , i said !
 Fast forward again past making the money and getting there, fire spinning with a purpose had raised the cash for the flights to germany this time, hotel and conference. I was in a room filled with midwives! I fastidiously took notes to send back to my friends so they too could learn more. I learnt so much! Not least that the way we had been assisting our fellow wild women was the traditional midwife path and was respected all over the world. Someone called me' the next Ina May' when I told my called to midwifery story and I knew that I really really had to meet her! Unfortunately her husband was sick and even though she was supposed to be speaking she was not there . I felt the urge to write a letter to the organizer Jan Tritten , telling her my story so far, and thanking her for the brilliant experience. I wrote because I didnt feel confident enough to speak ! I was so shy, not really believing that I was on equal terms with such amazing women!
 The next dat Jan gathered me up in her loving arms and told me that she wanted me to come to all of the conferences. I told her i couldnt afford another thousand pounds! She said that what she meant was that she wanted to become my midwifery mentor, assisting me to a total global midwifery education. She asked me to monitor at the conferences , checking badges and moving chairs, getting water and helping out, in return i would attend the conference for free and she would make sure that the classes i attended would create a fully rounded and grounded traditional midwifery education.
 Fast forward another 5 years i have attended conferences in France, Germany, Norway and Denmark ! Learning so much!

 I have brought my profession and passion for fire to the conferences and have span fireshows and made many midwives fire proof ! When I was in Christiania in Copenhagen I span a fireshow for many international midwives some Saami midwives from Finmark. When I finished the show the oldest of these women came to me and took my hand. " I want to tell you a story . I want to give you a presant" she said. I listened.
 " In our religion for a baby to be born first the father God Paderakkaa must think of the child, then he gives the thought to the mother Goddess Madderakkaa , she gives form and body to the child and carries it to the birthing woman in the birthing yurt. Her first daughter Ukksakkaa takes care of the door, her second daughter Jukksaakkaa looks after the floor, and her third daughter Saarrukaa looks after the fire and the birthing woman. YOU are Saarrukaa! " she said gazing deeply into my ' naughty fire fairy' eyes with her dark wise ones!
 I felt a chill fire all over me and did my best to be brave! from naughty fairy to goddess in one move ! My self belief worked hard to keep up!
 In 2005 I got to see Ina May Gaskin talk about Sphincter Law and juggle with fake poo! She told us a story about ,'The mole who knew it was none of his buisness' Telling us that if the world was more comfortable with its 'pooping' then we would all be much more able to be comfortable with giving birth ! I agreed and decided to write an inspirational childbirth story for children and pregnant people. I called it ' The Princess and the Poo'.
 The first time I actually met Ina May the first thing she said to me was " Lovely to meet you Lara , I really love your book!" Can you imagine! Thats what I was going to say to her!
The past 7 years have been a blur of babies and birth knowledge and now I am about to commence on the manifestation of my wish. On saturday Jake and I are travelling to America. First we are going to Philidelphia to the Midwifery Today Conference, to learn more and to show the newly published version of 'The Princess and the Poo' then we are going on a road trip with Debra Pascale Bonero the woman who created the movie 'Orgasmic Birth' to New York then we are travelling down to Tennassee to 'The Farm ' the commune created by Ina may and Steven Gaskin and their amazing friends. Here I hope to learn more about my calling to spiritual, traditional midwifery and more skills to support all the healthy wild women who know that it is their birthrite to give birth supported humainly joyously and competantly.
 I have created this blog so that I will be able to share all that I learn with as many people as possible and also as a log for myself so later on I can write a clear consise book detailing all I have learnt to assist the next generation to be born in gentleness joy and Love. May you enjoy reading it as much as I plan to enjoy learning it! Fairy Love and kisses Laraxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx