No Fear Birth

Birth’s nastiest four-letter word.

Jennifer — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:07:51 +0000

The nastiest four-letter word surrounding childbirth? Tell me more. It’s spelled p.a.i.n. Don’t use it, and don’t allow it around you. The term “labor pains” is a misnomer. They are contractions. Think of them as your body exercising. They’re good things. As soon as you fear them, that’s when you feel pain. Your body knows what it’s doing. Really. Believe it, let it, and welcome the contractions as what they are: positive, good exercises your body is doing to prepare your muscles to push out your baby into waiting arms. A contraction is simply a muscle contraction, similar to flexing your biceps, or any other muscle for that matter. Think about it. If you squeeze your bicep, for example, hard enough, you can “feel the burn” but it shouldn’t hurt. In the same way, your uteran muscles don’t need to hurt.

“Wait a minute here,” you may be thinking. Even the Bible states, “…in pain the woman shall give birth…” Some women fight for their right to have pain. In that case, I say sadly, “knock yourself out,” but it doesn’t have to be that way. I actually looked deeper into this scripture in Genesis, the first chapter of the Bible. This word “pain” actually translates in the Greek as also meaning “suffering” or “sadness”. In several other occurrences of the same Greek word in Scripture, it is translated as these other words in the English. I’m not saying that the Bible is wrong or even mistranslated, just misinterpreted in most cases in our modern language.

The “suffering” or “sadness” is written in this particular Scripture because it’s after Eve and Adam bit into the forbidden fruit, and sin entered the world. From that unfortunate bite until today, according to Scripture, it could be said that women are “saddened” because our children are born into a world of sin. Who can deny that after watching the evening news? Call it a stretch, if you will. But I choose to look to the positive as far as birth is concerned. Also, I can attest firsthand to not experiencing that writhing pain as most seem to assume in childbirth. Why? Because I prepared my mind and body to look at birth positively and painlessly. I focused on it. I meditated on that fact. And it worked – twice. And countless other women I’ve met and who have responded to this site say the same thing.

Bottom line: Fear creates tension, which creates pain. The unfortunately named Dr. Grantly Dick-Reid, an OB in the 50’s, wrote much on this topic.

Side note: I included in my birth plan: Do not use the word “pain” as in “labor pains”. I prefer “contraction”. And my husband was on-board with me. He kindly extracted the word from his vocabulary for the entire nine months.

Cheers and Blessings,
Jennifer

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Birth wisdom a la Nicole Richie?

Jennifer — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:12:19 +0000

Now, I don’t like to promote tabloids nor celebs, but I couldn’t help but pick up the latest issue of People while standing in line at Gelson’s check out. As a birthing blog writer and mother, I can’t resist reading a birth story, celeb or not. When I saw Nicole Richie with her new babe, I was admittedly curious. Thankfully, I was not disappointed - for several reasons (in no particular order).

1. Nicole was quoted as saying, “I feel like a superhero. I have such a newfound respect for my body.” I’m so glad that she not only realizes this, but said it for the world to hear. It grates at my nerves when people say, “You don’t have to be a superhero.” Because, as women, that’s what we were made to be.

2. She’s breastfeeding - and we all know by now how beneficial that is.

3. When asked how long she was in labor, she said she didn’t know. I love that. I don’t like when people ask me how long I was in labor because I don’t exactly know either. I just know how long I pushed, because that’s the important part. Nicole was quoted as saying, “I don’t what time I actually went into labor, but I pushed for 10 minutes. Three pushes and she was out.”

Everyone’s labor progresses differently. Some women wear their badges of honor by how long they were in labor. It’s assumed that they were writhing and gnashing their teeth for all those hours. And if you don’t know me by now, I’m all about focusing on the positive – it’s more powerful.

For me and those whom I coach and others who know how to control and overcome fear, we can’t really mark a time when labor actually begins. We can notice when the contractions coming on more regularly. But it’s not an exact science, for anyone I’ve ever met anyway. Contractions may come every ten minutes, then five, then three, then you might have a seven minute span, then three, then five, then three again. It’s all relative. And while we’re talking about contractions… They shouldn’t hurt, unless you’re resisting them in fear. (Read more on this topic in the Prepare Your Mind section.)

4. Little Harlow Winter Kate Madden, baby girl of Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, is adorable - and I personally love the name. It’s classic, but unique.

Cheers and Blessings,
Jennifer

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Upcoming film: The Business of Being Born

Jennifer — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:48:27 +0000

Over the holidays, my husband went with a friend to the movies. He came back so excited to tell me, not so much about the movie he saw, but about the trailer for a new film executive produced by Ricki Lake, the former talk-show host, who made a documentary about the business of hospitals and doctors in delivering babies. “It’s right up your alley, Jen,” he said. So, I checked out the film’s website for myself and it seems interesting. I’d like to see it. In a nutshell, it’s Michael Moore meets the delivery room. But thank the Good Lord, it doesn’t include Michael Moore. Check out The Business of Being Born and let me know what you think in the comments area. It’s theatrical opening is January 13 in NYC.

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Best ways to prevent tearing in birth – Part 1

Jennifer — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 06:09:10 +0000

Just so you know, pregnancy hormones cause the tissues of your cervix and perineum become extremely thick and elastic. This is a good thing. To prevent tearing or an episiotomy during birth, you’ve got to encourage that elasticity as much as you can. Of course, as you near birth, your cervix will efface (thin) but it will retain the elasticity you worked on during the pregnancy.

One: Good nutrition and hydration are vital. Make sure you get plenty of protein and Vitamins E (at least 1,000 mg per day) and C. Nuts and seeds, cold-pressed oils, and all types of beans are good to keep your skin healthy and elastic. Food sources of Vitamin E are: Wheat germ, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, safflower oil, peanuts, corn oil, soybean oil, and lobster. Blueberries, cherries, citrus fruits, pears, grapes, cabbage, legumes, plums, and onions are good, too.

Two: Prenatal exercise including yoga and Kegels. It is great for circulation, which keeps tissues elastic. A Kegel is the name of a pelvic floor exercise, named after Dr. Kegel who laid claim to the benefits of the exercise. These muscles, attached to the pelvic bone, act like a hammock, supporting your pelvic organs. Studies suggest that we shoud do about 200 Kegels a day. There are many variations of the exercise. An alternative is the

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Pregnancy and cosmetics. What’s safe?

Jennifer — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:47:20 +0000

We know we should be careful about what we eat and drink, but did you ever wonder about what you put on your face and body? Be it a dab or a slather, what is safe for you and your baby? Your skin, of course, is the largest organ. It is porous and efficiently absorbs what we put on it into our bloodstream.

While we’re taking about blood, did you know what your breast milk really is? Blood. Blood is miraculously transformed into milk by the glands in your breasts. I stopped drinking cows milk for a while after learning this. It just grossed me out: a good reason to buy organic milk. So, remember, whatever gets into your bloodstream can pass to your baby in utero or nursing.

Freaked out now? Grab all of your lotions, soaps and make-up, and check out the online Cosmetics Database that rates cosmetics for safety. It used to be called Skin Deep. Anyway, it’s “a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products brought to you by researchers at the Environmental Working Group… and it pairs ingredients in nearly 25,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind. Why did a small nonprofit take on such a big project? Because the FDA doesn’t require companies to test their own products for safety.”

Quick note: Acne is a common problem in pregnancy and even afterwards, so I was surprised to learn that retinoids and salicylic acid are no-nos for preggers. High doses of salicylic acid in oral form has shown in studies to cause birth defects and various pregnancy complications.

And sign-up today for No Fear Birth email updates. This way, you’ll get all of our great information sent fresh off the keyboard into your in-box.

Cheers and Blessings,
Jennifer

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Danger of medications in pregnancy.

Jennifer — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:34:52 +0000

Got a prescription and concerned about its safety? You’re not alone. Millions of women will be prescribed some kind of drug while pregnant or breastfeeding. But how can you know if it is safe? I found a site that gives a lickity-split letter grade, from A (safest) to X (do not take), to thousands of prescription drugs. Just enter the trade name or generic name, and in a click, you’ll learn the potential risk according to the FDA. You are also given the risk of the drug on the fetus, if used during pregnancy; and its effect on breast milk, if taken during lactation. For example, a common antibiotic prescribed for urinary tract infections is Macrobid. It gets a B, which is the best grade I’ve seen for preggers or breastfeeders. I highly suggest bookmarking the site on your computer for easy access if you need it in the future. It’s www.SafeFetus.com.

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Birth stations made clear in 3D animation.

Jennifer — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 07:04:55 +0000

There are many terms that medical folks throw around like they are common knowledge. I usually felt stupid to ask, “Will you explain that again, please?” And since most of us are visual learners, here we go. Let’s see what “Childbirth Stations of Presentation” are exactly. Watch it all and you’ll see the stations in two different views. It’s just under two minutes.

Note: Click directly on the arrow below to view the animation within this page. Otherwise it will open a seperate window and load YouTube.

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Cool 3D animation of vaginal birth.

Jennifer — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 06:20:29 +0000

I am a big believer in getting educated about birth. Knowledge of the process can help dispel fear. I especially like this animation, with delicate Yo-Yo Ma cello accompaniment, because it’s simply an animation - not some 70’s-looking, cheese-ball, sappy video with breathy voice-over or tear-jerking Bryan Adams music. This particular animation also has a bonus side screen that shows an alternative pelvic outlook view. Ooh! Only the best at NoFearBirth.com.

Note: Click directly on the arrow below to view the animation within this page. Otherwise it will open a seperate window and load YouTube.

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Birth’s better when you just hit “play”.

Jennifer — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 04:06:04 +0000

To bring you calm at the end of the day and even during actual labor and delivery, create a playlist of all your favorite, most relaxing music. Kick your feet up on the sofa or soak in a tub and listen to it in the weeks before delivery, so your baby can relax with you.

I brought my iPod and sound dock to the hospital and had it going the whole time as I delivered my daughter. At one point in the final pushes, my contractions started to slow, my husband asked me if I wanted the music off. I don’t remember answering him, but I clearly remember the nurse, sweet Paulette, as she held up one of my legs, say, “No, I like it. It’s so relaxing.”

Weird as it may be, to this day, whenever I hear Norah Jones, or Yo-Yo Ma, or any other artist’s song on my playlist, I have calm, happy thoughts of Vivienne’s delivery. Also, whenever she needed calming after she was born, I played the songs for her and they worked like a charm.

Note: A lot of hospitals won’t allow you to bring anything that plugs in. So get a docking station/speakers or CD player that runs on batteries.

And sign up for No Fear Birth updates now. They will be sent to your inbox fresh off my keyboard. Got a comment? Let me know what you think in the Comments area. Got friends? Let them know about this site. We want everyone to experience an incredible, no fear birth. It can be done. And you can add your name to the list of women who attest to it. This is just the beginning… Stay tuned for the forum coming in the next week.

Cheers and Blessings,
Jennifer

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Celeb secrets to a smokin’ post birth bod.

Jennifer — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:15:52 +0000

Women across the nation scowl at svelte Hollywood celebrities who have just birthed their glitzy little bundles and wonder, “Seriously! How did she get that body so soon?” Well, trainers are great, but so is the knowledge you’ll get right here at No Fear Birth. We’re from LA, too, so what do you expect?

Step 1 – Get your granny on. What? That’s right. Get a big ol’ girdle and wear it with pride. It’s called “shapewear” now. But whatever it’s called, I call it the great re-shaper. My mom recommended it to me (that was the big secret back in the day) and I can fully attest to its greatness. It pulls all our stuff in and reminds it where it belongs. I wore mine for the first three or four months. Get one that’s made especially for post preggers. Mine was a genuine granny panty made with comfortable yet strong fabric. Your friends will glare at you with loving disdain. And you can just smile and say simply, “Thanks!”

Step 2 – Breastfeed. You know it was coming. Yes, breastfeeding releases oxytocin in your body that causes your uterus to contact back to its original size and place. And it burns a lot of calories to boot.

Step 3 – Eat healthily and drink plenty of water. Yes, you do need more calories if you’re breastfeeding but they shouldn’t come from saturated fats or sugars. Even if you’re not breastfeeding, you should avoid these. And do not eat high fructose corn syrup or trans fat (hydrogenated oils). Some people think they need to consume more fat or drink…

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