Tag Archives: pregnancy

Pregnancy, Childbirth & Parenting: What to Expect When No One Tells You What’s REALLY Going to Happen

Posted on by
1

(Mother’s Day is just around the corner so here’s a funny, yet informative piece for expecting and parenting mommies everywhere.)

This is the stack of books that towered on my nightstand during my first pregnancy. Each night I would read something like “this week your baby is growing eyelashes,” or “your baby is the size of a grapefruit,” or “watch out for swollen ankles!” Informative, but the real warnings started rolling in from my girlfriends, “don’t take nice pajamas to the hospital, you’ll bleed all over them,” and “the billing department at the hospital has no shame,” and “take your own pads, the hospital ones are the thickness of a mattress.” But even my girlfriends didn’t share some things (until I brought them up) so I’m going to share them with you with hopes that you’ll appreciate the information, even if it doesn’t happen to you.

Orgasm = Response from Baby – Soon after you can feel the baby moving, you may experience the craziest mind zinger you could imagine. One minute you’re on top of the most mind-blowing, satisfying, fulfilling orgasm ever, and the next you’re feeling the baby do a somersault. Nothing like your mind zipping from a place of selfish pleasure back to the reality that you’re about to be a mother! This can happen as a result of an orgasm achieved by masturbation or sex. Why, you ask? Well, the rhythmic contractions of an orgasm are similar to the rhythmic contractions of labor so the uterus could be tightening down on baby, causing it to move to adjust to the change. Also, in the refractory period (after orgasm), lots of a hormone called oxytocin is released, which can also cause the baby to respond. Oxytocin is the “love hormone” or bonding hormone that makes some of us want to cuddle after sex. It is also the hormone responsible for bonding between mother and just-born baby and, in part, why kangaroo care is often promoted in hospitals. There’s a scientific reason why orgasms can make babies respond, but it doesn’t make it any less surprising when it happens.

Orgasm = Major Leakage (if you’re nursing) – Oxytocin is released during orgasm, but so is prolactin. The release of prolactin after orgasm is meant to counteract the effects of dopamine, which is responsible for sexual arousal. Prolactin is also what stimulates milk production and “let down.” So seconds after an orgasm, you may feel that tell-tale tingly feeling of let down and, if you do, be prepared for major milk leakage.

My Knees Are in My Ears and You’re Talking About What? – My husband loved our midwives as much as I did. My midwife stayed in the room through every last minute of the 3.5 hours I was pushing. As the contractions fizzled out, I’d take a rest. At one point, I woke up to my husband joking about “vajazzaling” with the midwife. Seriously?

Holy Blood Clots, Batman! – Expect big and small blood clots, discharges of various kinds, and a war scene in your toilet for at least a week after delivery. If you pushed for any significant amount of time, expect your vagina and/or vulva to be swollen. You might be so swollen, in fact, that sitting and scooting across the bed or couch are simply not possible. Tip: roll over onto your hip and slide out of bed on your hip, not butt. Trust me.

What the Hell, Uterus?!? – Just when you thought your uterus was done being on center stage, she reappears for an encore performance. If you nurse, expect some pretty significant uterine cramping in the beginning. Despite the discomfort, you actually want this to happen. These contractions help the uterus to shrink back down, helping you get your abdomen back after its squishy phase immediately following delivery. And by squishy, I mean like a bowl of rising dough in both appearance and texture.

Baby is Here, Check Your Selfishness at the Door – I knew that I wouldn’t be able to go to the movies as often and that the time spent on my hair and makeup would be substantially less, but I did not expect to fall apart the first time I couldn’t do something fun because I’m now a mother. Let me set the stage: It’s two or three weeks after delivery, I’m still sore, and I’m nursing. I can’t go anywhere, and I really don’t want to go anywhere, but everyone else, husband and family in town, want to go to the Rays home opener. If you knew my husband, you’d know this day is more fun to him than his own birthday. I was trying to be a big girl so I told them to go on and have fun. As they donned their lucky jerseys, I started crying. A lot. My husband was great; he just let me cry and said that he’d stay home with me if it would help. It wouldn’t help; it would just make me feel guilty. This hot mess moment was my realization that my life had forever changed. I would make sacrifices, much more meaningful than missing a baseball game, and have to deal with the fact that I asked for this. It is VERY hard sometimes to be selfless in order to meet the needs of your children. And dare I say it? Ok, yes I will, since we are being honest here: sometimes your own selfishness will turn to resentment of your partner or children. That isn’t a pretty thing to say out loud or feel, but it is the truth. Don’t worry – you’re still a great mom.

Your Husband/Partner Isn’t Made of Steel – I never expected to come home from an evening meeting to find my baby AND husband with bloodshot, tearful eyes, set in faces that looked of pure exhaustion. Our little one was about three months old and had received vaccinations that day. They made her so irritable and feverish that she screamed one of those high-pitched, endless, blood-curdling screams for the entire 2-3 hours I was gone. He didn’t know what to do but he didn’t reach out to me for help because he wanted me to have “me time” without worrying about what was going on at home. I took one look at them, gave my husband a hug, and took the baby from him. He had to go sit alone in a room for a while to collect himself. If the above-mentioned moment was my “a-ha!” moment, this was his. We now have an agreement that we will not leave one another alone on the evening of a vaccination.

Speaking of Vaccinations – If you don’t like vaccinating your kids, so be it. Just do your research. Don’t persist on some ideology not supported by science. But on the other hand, trust your gut and stick up for yourself. And here’s a real tough lesson we learned: opt out of the Band-Aids. Getting them off your little one’s tender skin is almost as traumatizing as the shot itself.

Hunting for Day Care SUCKS – If you actually care how and with whom your child is spending his/her day, you already know that finding a day care that you can feel good about just plain sucks. Do not settle for less than a perfect fit. In fact, start searching months before your kid arrives. Not to make you feel any more guilty, but ages 0-5 are the most important years of a person’s life. Show me a psychopath and I’ll show you a person who didn’t get his/her developmental/psychosocial/physical/nutritional/attachment needs met when they were ages 0-5.

The Hardest Job in the World – Contrary to popular belief, being a stay-at-home mom is NOT the hardest job in the world: being a working mom is. Not only do you have all the same responsibilities of a SAHM, you also have to balance that with your career. One of my friends shared this tidbit with me and it still resonates with me today: A working mom always feels inadequate at one thing or the other. She meant that no matter how hard you try or how good your situation is, there will always be times when you feel inadequate at work or at home. Case in point: a really important deadline at work versus a sick child at home – which do you choose? Sure, you find a way to stay with the sick kid since your partner is out of town and your nearest family member is eight states away, but that feeling of inadequacy at work creeps in and makes you feel like sh*t. I was a Peace Corps volunteer and those two years were WAY easier than parenting. “Peace Corps: the toughest job you’ll ever love” … my ass!

#2 – I don’t mean pooping here. Although I do recommend you keep a stool softener on hand for just after birth. You don’t want a hard poop ruining your day. What I mean by #2 is that I’m expecting #2 in a couple months (another girl). Even though parenting is tough and stretches me beyond the person I ever knew I could be, or would have to be, I’ve willingly signed up for a second round. In my opinion, being good parent is the greatest contribution that I can make to this world. The world needs more good people and that’s something I know I can deliver on. I’ve always been very driven and never quite known why. It all makes sense now: all of the education, experiences, and life lessons – they weren’t for me, they were for her, and they were pieced together strategically so she could be raised by exactly the mother she needs. Somehow, that stately Master’s degree on my wall pales in comparison to when my daughter shows concern for another human being. This is how I measure my success now and I love it.

So with all that said … Happy Mother’s Day! (Now would someone please send me a survival guide for raising girls who are 2.5 years apart, particularly between the ages of 11-18?)

Mirena, the Intrauterine Contraceptive: A Testimonial

Posted on by
Reply

There was a time when I had a pregnancy scare. In fact, there were many times that I’ve had pregnancy scares though, in reality, they were all made up in my head.  Though I took my oral contraceptive pill every single day for seven years straight (perhaps missing only two tablets in all of those years), the thought of pregnancy absolutely terrified me. I was so uptight about preventing an unplanned pregnancy that, at random, I’d decide to be momentarily abstinent or use condoms with my long-term partner “just to be safe.” These episodes of unwarranted paranoia usually stemmed from learning that someone had “become pregnant on the pill,” and it would send me pacing into the pregnancy test aisle at my local pharmacy, sweaty-palmed and heart throbbing.

One thing was for sure: I did not want to become pregnant. Another thing that was for sure was that I wanted to continue having sex with my committed long-term male partner, as it was an important part of our relationship – and frankly, I enjoyed it. It would, however, create an unsettling environment for my partner and me, as he tried to understand – logically – my illogical fear (I was taking the pill as directed, I was protected), while still supporting my superstitious demands (no sex this week, I don’t know why, it’s just a “feeling”). Yes, I will admit it, I was neurotically afraid of an unplanned pregnancy.

So when I began working for Planned Parenthood, I learned the ins and outs of birth control: what was most effective, what most people use, and what the failure rates actually look like. I realized that the majority of pill-pregnancies are due to user error (not taking the pills), not failure of the method itself. Though facts subdued my irrational fears, I realized that there was another method available that could replace my daily pill-taking and better cure my unplanned pregnancy fears!

Folks, I present to you: the Mirena IUD/IUC (Intrauterine device or intrauterine contraceptive). Mirena is a small “T” shaped contraceptive device that is inserted by a clinician into the uterus, where it remains for up to five years (it can be removed at any time before). It is made of plastic and includes the hormone progestin, which works to cut down on menstrual bleeding. What’s the best part? It’s 99.3% effective in preventing pregnancy for FIVE WHOLE YEARS! No more daily pill routine! No more paranoid trips to pregnancy test aisle! For me: no more pregnancy scares!   

 I am a Planned Parenthood employee, supporter, advocate, donor and yes: patient. I have first-hand knowledge of the cutting-edge quality care that our organization provides, so I asked a Nurse Practitioner that I work with if she would insert my Mirena. Excitedly she agreed, and I booked an appointment for a couple of weeks ahead, when I would be menstruating (FYI: we recommend inserting IUD/IUCs while on one’s menstrual flow).

The morning of, I was consumed with adrenaline-shaped butterflies, nervous that the procedure would hurt or that the dreaded “XYZ” of my imagination would go wrong.  Luckily, my dear friend and colleague E.G.Hannah was there to assist the clinician and calm my nerves. I took 800mg of ibuprofen before I arrived. I put a maxi pad in my underwear in case of any post-insertion bleeding. I also took a medication to prepare my cervix beforehand since it had never been dilated before.  Heart pumping, hands sweaty, I undressed from the waist down, dragged the crumply paper drape over my quivering thighs, and prepared for five years of security.

The insertion process itself was uncomfortable, but to be truthful, the worst part was my anxiety. I was intimidated by having anything inserted into my uterus, as I’d never encountered that sensation before, and I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be a cakewalk. However, I’d seen them inserted many times prior and the vast majority of women did totally fine, with minimal complaints. I remember looking down and seeing my legs wobbling, shaking so hard with anxiety, I felt really ridiculous. Lucky for me I was surrounded by supportive and understanding people who talked me through it and I was done within five minutes. Yes, it was uncomfortable. It felt like pressure and menstrual cramping for about three minutes. I’m pretty sure I uttered some profanity and then, within a matter of minutes, it was over. I had five minutes of discomfort for five years of freedom. In my book, it was a remarkable trade-off.

I went home and took some more ibuprofen throughout the day, as I had menstrual type cramping that lasted through the afternoon and into the night. The next morning I woke up feeling completely fine and no – I didn’t have any bleeding.

I waited about a week before I had sex. My partner was able to feel my strings a couple of times but I had them trimmed a month later and he hasn’t complained since. I haven’t had any menstrual bleeding since the day it was inserted three years ago. Better yet, I haven’t had any pregnancy scares!

This method, for me, has absolutely changed my life. Mirena has given me freedom and confidence. I now have the luxury of separating intercourse from pregnancy in my mind because I know I’m covered. Once a month I feel inside myself to confirm the soft tiny strings are still accessible (they curl up around the cervix and are needed for eventual removal by a clinician). Three years ago I “set it” and now I can “forget it.”

In two years my Mirena will need to be removed, and at that time I plan to have another one put in its place. For me, Mirena was an absolute dream come true: no periods, no pills and no unplanned pregnancies!

As a reminder, the Mirena is not for everyone and there are certain health conditions that are contraindicated for its use. Speak with your trusted health care professional to see if you’re a candidate for this method. Also, you can check out more information about this long-acting reversible contraceptive method below:

● IUD info you can trust from Planned Parenthood’s website

● Mirena’s official website

● Mirena info on Bedsider (includes user testimonials)

Readers, have you ever used an IUD/IUC? What’s your favorite birth control method?

 

When You Are Trying To Conceive: Baby-Making Tips

Posted on by
Reply

Many of us have spent most of our adult life trying not to become pregnant, so when the day come that we decide we are ready it can’t come fast enough. I am at the age where everyone is getting married or having babies and for those of us creeping up on the 35 mark, it is difficult to ignore the very loud sound of our biological clocks. I want to first start out by acknowledging that not all families are made in the “traditional” manner and many families use surrogates, artificial insemination, adoption, etc. However, I will be focusing on the ways a women can boost her chances of conceiving through the “old school” method.

Hopefully, if you are planning a pregnancy you have looked into preconception health advice. These tips usually include taking a good prenatal vitamin approximately 3-12 months before you try to conceive. Women are also encouraged to cut back on their consumption of alcohol, quit smoking and use of harmful substances, check with their doctors if they are taking a prescription medication, lose weight if they are overweight or obese, make sure they are checked for STI’s, have vaccines updated, have any current medical problems under control, and finally stopping their BC method about a month to three months before ready to conceive to have a better gauge on when they ovulate.

Now that all of the basics are covered you are ready for the fun part. I want to reiterate: the fun part. Please do not make sex into a chore or get frustrated if you don’t get pregnant right away. If you are trying to have a little help in speeding up the process, here are a few tips that may increase your chances.

Tip #1 - Have a lot of sex and make it hot sex! According to Dr. Joanna Ellington, an American expert in reproductive physiology, the better the sex, the better the chances of conception. She states that the more excited they are, the further back in the testicles they are going to draw on their reserve sperm. This would then produce more sperm and increase the likelihood of the male releasing healthier sperm that are of a higher quality. For women, more orgasms not only make sex a more pleasurable experience but also increase the chances of conception. Many studies have documented the muscular contractions women have during orgasm and believe that their bodies helps suck the sperm through the cervix and then into her uterus. Check out a short clip on how this occurs from the Discovery Channel’s documentary on Why Sex Is Fun.

Tip #2 - The Pillow Method. After sex, you should put a pillow underneath you to elevate your hips and give his swimmers some extra help with the beginning of their journey. Some say a few minutes and others up to 45 minutes. I have been told by a few friends that the pillow thing has sealed the deal.

Tip #3 - Avoid lubricants. If you can, do not use lubricants during sex because they can affect the sperm’s motility.

Tip #4 - Track your ovulation. You can use a calendar, an application on your phone, an ovulation kit, or the Fertility Awareness Method.

Tip#5 - Improve partner’s sperm quality. Your partner can do his part to increase your chances of conceiving by: taking a multivitamin, reducing stress, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing alcohol consumption, avoiding tobacco or illegal drugs, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, regular exercise, avoiding masturbation around the time of ovulation, avoiding hot tubs and steam baths, and let “the boys” breathe by wearing boxers instead of briefs and placing something between himself and his laptop.

Remember, these are just tips, not a sure-fire way to get pregnant. It is a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor before you try to conceive just to make sure your health is where it should be. If you are having trouble conceiving after a year or more of diligent trying, you may want to consult an infertility specialist. Best of luck in your baby-making endeavors! Plan those Parenthoods!

Breastfeeding in the Workplace

Posted on by
Reply

Good morning! Today on The Feronia Project, we’re featuring a guest post from Kevin Sanderson, an employment attorney, talking about discrimination against breastfeeding in the workplace – and the efforts that the federal government is making to make it stop.

There has been an angry reaction to news of a recent U.S. southern Texas federal judge’s decision to dismiss a discrimination case brought by the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission A mother balancing baby bottle and briefcase.(EEOC) on behalf of Donnicia Venters, who was not allowed to return to her job after giving birth, after she asked her employer about accommodations for breastfeeding in the workplace.

Ms. Venters left work December 1, 2009.  She gave birth on the 10th.  She suffered an infection from her caesarian birth that delayed her return to work and was not cleared until February 16 to return to work by her doctor. She told her employer that day she wanted to come back. She was fired February 10. The letter informing her of the termination was not sent until February 20.  The judge did note that Ms. Venters spoke with co-workers for a total of 115 minutes during a 30 day period while she was recovering from complication, She had not yet been cleared by her doctor to return to work but consistently told co-workers she wanted to and would return to work.

Pregnancy discrimination is rampant. So is family responsibility discrimination, which is what I believe this ultimately was.  This can happen to anyone: a spouse, parent, child, etc. who needs to care for an immediate loved one but also needs to be able to stay employed over the long term.  I think the “mistake” this 6 year employee made was informing her employer she was going to continue to be a “problem” after already taking medical leave for the pregnancy. (This is worth highlighting as any complication before or after a pregnancy or any other health related issue can easily cause a person to miss more than the twelve weeks a company may be mandated to hold the job open for the employee.)

The EEOC should be applauded for filing this case in the first place.  It appears they were trying to use this as a test case to establish precedence for the right to breastfeed in the workplace and the results backfired.  EEOC attempts to do good work with what resources they have, but they are notoriously and intentionally underfunded.  (Remember, this is the agency Ronald Regan appointed Clarence Thomas to prior to his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court by George H.W. Bush – and it’s also where he worked with Anita Hill.)

Many people probably don’t realize the EEOC brings very few court cases compared to the large number of charges of discrimination they receive from employees every year.  They use their limited resources to go after the largest employers (such as Walmart) and rarely take cases on behalf of only one employee.  They must have felt this case was important enough to do so.

There is reason to believe that the EEOC wanted to highlight this topic. They recently held a public hearing with a panel of experts in D.C. on Unlawful Discrimination Against Pregnant Workers and Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities. The EEOC stated in its related press release that “Despite Laws, Guidance and Willingness to Work, Many Pregnant Women and Caregivers are Denied Job Opportunities, Workplace Modifications, Leave, and Equal Treatment.”

Kevin Sanderson is an employment attorney representing employees alleging discrimination in the workplace. He can be reached at (941) 244-0468 or at http://www.srqattorney.com.

Happy Mom = Happy Baby? Antidepressants and Pregnancy

Posted on by
Reply

Antidepressants and PregnancyPregnancy and medicine is always a controversial subject. One of the numerous controversies that’s been brewing over the past several years is over the use of antidepressants in pregnancy and whether or not it’s important for a mother, who is already taking antidepressants, to continue her medicine during pregnancy. Obviously, the important question is – does it harm the fetus?

Studies are mixed and so are doctors’ opinions. Many in the medical community are coming out now and saying that it’s more important to have a happy mother throughout the pregnancy and if antidepressants are a way of reaching that goal, then it’s OK for the mother to continue her treatment throughout pregnancy. (The important caveat is that breastfeeding while on antidepressant therapy is not encouraged.) However, recent studies say that there may be a higher risk of premature births, smaller birth weights, and even autism if treatment is continued.

It may be important which antidepressant is taken during pregnancy as well. Generally, tricyclic antidepressants, certain SSRIs including Zoloft, and Wellbutrin are probably safe to take throughout pregnancy, but other tricyclic antidepressants may have a link to limb malformations if taken in the later months of pregnancy. As you can see, the literature and studies are mixed.

So, if you’re concerned, what can you do? Think about your happiness, because a happy mother equals a happy baby. If talk therapy works for you, you may be able to make it through without medication. If your pregnancy hormones are throwing your moods all out of whack and you’re not happy? It may be more important for you – and your baby – to maintain your medications throughout the entirety of pregnancy. (The famous internet celebrity, Dooce (Heather Armstrong) maintained her medication throughout her pregnancy and her daughter was fine.) As always, it’s important to work with your doctor to make the right choice for you.

But remember, if you’re happy, your baby is happy. Make the decision that’s right for you.

Having a Homebirth – Fosgood’s Story

Posted on by
1
Fosgood, Ana, and Midwives

Fosgood, Ana, and Midwives

The most empowering, humanizing experience of my life happened on a steamy Florida July afternoon when I gave birth to my daughter, Ana. She was born in our home with me squatting, holding onto our bedpost, pushing with every ounce of strength left in me after ten-and-a-half hours of labor. She was swooped up by the very capable hands of one of our two midwives, wiped off and placed on my chest. She soon began her first tentative attempts to nurse and I fell in love in a way I had not experienced before. I felt like I grew a second heart to hold all the love that swelled to overflowing in just a moment’s time with the first look into her face where I saw my father’s and my own face reflected back at me. It wasn’t until much later that I realized I hadn’t even thought about the need for pain medications or medical intervention.

I knew I wanted to be a mom from a young age. I’ve always been, and still am, drawn to

Midwives, Fosgood, Ana & Laura

Fosgood, her daughters Ana & Laura, and Midwives

children and animals. The idea of a home birth evolved over time. Fresh out of college, unable to get a job teaching, I started work as a nurse’s aid. Some of the things I saw and heard made me very afraid of a hospital stay. I met a friend whose partner was planning a home birth and the idea began to sprout. I read everything I could find about the history of natural childbirth, which was limited to the library and the few people I could find to talk to that didn’t think I was being extremely reckless and crazy.

Since I can remember, I’ve been a strong-willed, independent thinker who could care less about convention. My dear mother was often aghast at what would come out of my mouth. I became a vegetarian before it was fashionable and learned to ask my body what it needed. I began to look at my body as something designed to carry and deliver a child. I trained my body like an Olympic athlete. I trained my mind to turn fear of pain or negative consequences to thoughts of my body doing what it was designed to do. I saw an obstetrician during my first and last trimester and was regularly monitored by a team of highly experienced lay midwives. If there were any indications of potential problems, I knew I would deliver in a hospital. My husband was a first generation Italian who, along with much of his neighborhood growing up, had been born at home. I knew the risks and responsibilities.

I’ve had many amazing experiences in my life that have moved me to tears of joy or

Ana & Laura

Fosgood's Daughters, Ana & Laura

wonder, but nothing remotely compared to the euphoria I felt when giving birth to Ana. I grew a third heart to hold all the love I have for her sister, Laura, born at home 3 years later. I still have room to grow several more if I’m fortunate enough to have grandchildren.

Although I didn’t experience an orgasmic birth, it was painful and intense, but nearly 30 years later I still feel like Wonder Woman.

(Watch this video if you want to learn more about orgasmic births and the power of positive thinking during childbirth.)

Pregnancy: Factoring in the Rh Factor

Posted on by
2

Need a reason why science is amazing? I’ve got one for you. In 1940, the blood from Rhesus monkeys helped find a factor in the blood that plays a critical role in maternal and fetal health, greatly increasing the chances of a healthy pregnancy.

It’s called the Rh factor (Rh after rhesus, get it?).

What Is It?
The Rh factor is one of many antigens that protect your blood cells from foreign or internal substances. However, the Rh factor can be a complication in pregnancy.

How Does It Work?
You can either be Rh negative or Rh positive (antigen is not present in your blood vs. antigen present in your blood). You’re tested for this blood factor between 24-28 weeks or if you decide to have an abortion. If you’re Rh positive? You don’t have to worry about it. However, if you’re Rh negative, it’s a problem.

Your Rh negative factor is usually not a problem in your first pregnancy as very little blood between the mother and the fetus is exchanged during the pregnancy. But maternal and fetal blood can be exchanged during the delivery or during an abortion procedure – and that’s where the Rh problems come in.

If you’re Rh negative and your partner is Rh positive, there’s a 50% chance that your fetus is Rh positive. (Scroll down on this link from the Mayo Clinic to see a helpful chart for how this all works.) So, when your Rh negative blood mingles with the fetus’ Rh positive blood, your own blood can produce antibodies that will attempt to repel your next Rh positive pregnancy by treating it as something that will harm you, sometimes resulting in miscarriage or by giving the baby a life-threatening illness, HDN (hemolytic disease of the newborn).

Luckily, we’ve got great medical remedies to solve the Rh problem.

What Can Be Done?
If you’re Rh negative, an injection called RhoGAM is given to you so that your Rh negative blood does not produce antibodies against your potentially Rh positive fetus. You’ll also receive another shot of RhoGAM within 72 hours of delivery if the baby is found to be Rh positive. You will also receive shots of RhoGAM in all of your subsequent pregnancies to make sure the problem is solved.

The Rh factor was once a leading cause of infant mortality, and today the problem’s virtually been eliminated from the developed world.

Isn’t science great?

To Cut or Not to Cut: The Dreaded Episiotomy

Posted on by
3

An episiotomy is a surgical procedure done during a vaginal delivery that consists of cutting the perineum (the tissue between the vaginal opening and anus) to assist the birthing process. Once a common practice, the overall rates for the procedure have fallen drastically within the United States over the past 30 years. One study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that in 1979, episiotomies were performed during 60.9% of vaginal deliveries, while in 2004 the rate had dropped to just 24.5%. Another found declining episiotomy rates were due to local peer pressure among health care providers and responses to significant research that came out against the routine use of the surgery. Interestingly, nurse midwives are less likely to use episiotomy to assist during labor than physicians.

Risks/complications from the surgery include:

  • tearing of the anus
  • blood loss
  • infection
  • pain
  • swelling
  • sexual dysfunction

Moreover, in the book Misconceptions: Truth, Lies, and the Unexpected on the Journey to Motherhood, author Naomi Wolf asserts:

“What anxious women are not usually advised is that an episiotomy is a serious cut right into the muscle; many women remember it as the most painful and traumatic part of a medicated hospital birth. Nor are women generally informed that, since women’s sexual responsiveness derives largely from the rich network of nerves and blood vessels in just that area, an episiotomy can cause pain during sex, and loss of sexual responsiveness, for up to seven years.”

Alternatives to episiotomy include:
○ Natural tearing: Many experts argue a natural tear is less likely to lead to further medical complications and has a speedier recovery time than episiotomy.
○ Wait it out: Episiotomies can make delivery happen faster, and can be used to expedite the process. If not medically contraindicated, you might avoid the incision by waiting it out.
○ Massage: prepare your perineum ahead of time by massaging it with vegetable oil or personal lubricant.
○ Water birth: studies have indicated that water births are less likely to create tearing or warrant episiotomy.

If you decided against an episiotomy, here are some ways to prepare for your delivery:

● Ask your physician or midwife their thoughts on episiotomy, and how often they perform them. If they’re proponents, you might consider finding another provider.
● Make a plan ahead of time. Tell your doctor, nurse, and/or support person your feelings about the procedure ahead of time. Ask them to do whatever is necessary to avoid the surgical incision before you feel yourself receiving one.
● Get an advocate: get a birthing coach or doula to be your advocate during delivery. If your doctor wants to clock out early by inducing an episiotomy, your advocate can step in and remind the medical staff of your established no-cutting policy.

“Uterus: it’s not a clown car”

Posted on by
Reply

Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar are expecting baby #20.  When I posted those words to my Facebook page, I got responses like “wow,” and “holy cow,” and “geez.”  The funniest response was, “Uterus: it’s not a clown car.”

Mrs. Duggar is 45 years old and her last pregnancy ended with complications that resulted in a sick preemie and a sick mommy.  They relied on God and medical interventions to save them both.  A woman is considered “advanced maternal age” at the age of 35, which means that the risks posed to mother and baby grow with each year that passes.  At 45, a woman has a 1 in 30 chance of giving birth to a Down syndrome baby.  The Duggars are willing to take the risk.

When people hear that a woman is pregnant with her 20th child, their initial responses are usually of disbelief and then disdain.  Here’s the thing though: if you are pro-choice, should you support the Duggars’ decision to have 20 children?  It’s their right.  It’s their choice.  Pro-choice is not just the belief that a woman should be able to terminate her pregnancy or not, it’s also about her right to have as many children as she wants, when she wants them.  The Duggars do not live in debt, do not rely on social services for help, can afford all of their children, and want and love every single one of them.  They are also religious extremists who follow the Quiverfull Movement.

I’m not saying that it’s eco-friendly to have 20 kids, or that it’s fair to the older kids who have so much responsibility caring for the younger ones, or that having reality TV cameras in your house is good for your kids, or that I dig the Quiverfull Movement. What I am saying is that if you are pro-choice, I challenge you to let your attitudes about the Duggar Family reflect that, difficult as it may be.  You may not like many other things the Duggar Family says/does/believes, but let’s take away all that and just focus on their right to have the family they want.

Even though Mrs. Duggar is ready to lay down her life to grow her family, I do hope that she and baby come out of this healthy – I’d hate to see her ideology be the thing that leaves her children motherless.