Power in Birth - Athens, Alabama's Resource for Pregnancy, Birth, and Breastfeeding
Regina Woodley- Lactation Consultant, Educator, Doula, and Herbalist in Huntsville, AL and surrounding areas
  • Power in Birth
  • Birth Classes
  • Doula Services
  • Lactation Consultant
  • Blog
  • Contact

Kegels and the Pelvic Floor

12/17/2016

0 Comments

 
This video explains what the pelvic floor muscles are and why they're important to exercise in pregnancy.  For more info about Kegels and other important exercises for pregnancy and postpartum, take my 10-week Birth Boot Camp!
0 Comments

Interference with Newborn Instincts-New Study

8/6/2016

0 Comments

 
A new study shows how some very common labor medications affect newborn behavior in the first hour.  As the video below explains, there are 9 stages newborns go through after birth.  Perhaps you've seen videos of the "breast crawl", which show babies finding their mother's nipple with minimal help.  Keep in mind that these are unmedicated babies.  If a mother has an epidural or gets Pitocin to speed up labor (and very often she gets both), it goes to her baby and depresses either the instinct to breast crawl or the ability to do so.  The exposure to Pitocin and fentanyl was dose-dependent, meaning that the longer the mother had the epidural and/or the Pitocin the less likely it was for her baby to latch within the first hour. 
It is very clear from other studies that breastfeeding sooner leads to better breastfeeding outcomes and less cases of dangerous jaundice.  These relationships should be clearly explained and understood before labor, so that mothers know what they might be dealing with as a consequence of an intervention. 
0 Comments

Hand Expression and Pumping

11/5/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Today, most breastfeeding women own a breast pump to get milk for their baby when they are away or in order to increase the amount they make.  If you're looking into pumps, here is a comprehensive guide to help you out. 

If I told you there was a FREE way to get milk that's even better than a pump, would you be interested?  Hand expression is using your own hands to get milk out, and it really works!  In our technology-dependent culture it seems as if most of us are more comfortable with a machine, but breasts often don't respond to plastic as well as we'd like.


Here's a video that shows why hand expression is so important, followed by exactly how to do it.  This one also gives instructions.

A study shows that of women who practiced hand expression, 96% were still breastfeeding at 2 months, while only 73% of mothers who pumped were still nursing.

Why would that be?  Probably more women stayed with nursing because hand expression helps them get more, thereby making it more worthwhile.  Women who hand expressed after a premature birth got 48% more milk than those who only pumped! 

If you need more help with breastfeeding, hand expression, or pumping hopefully you have a doula who can help you with your individual situation and goals.  If you need more help, a lactation consultant has expertise to help you keep breastfeeding going.

Picture
0 Comments

Cool Birth Boot Camp Videos

10/9/2015

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

Birth Ball Video

6/8/2015

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

Upright Birth Video

6/4/2015

0 Comments

 
Most pictures in childbirth prep books and videos show mom lying flat on her back.  The problem is, birth works better during the pushing stage when mom is in a more upright position.  Think about it.  When her  weight is off her tailbone it can flex backwards and allow more room for the baby.  Here's a short animated video showing birth in an upright position. 
0 Comments

Birth in the News

4/8/2015

0 Comments

 
There seems to be lots of good birthy stuff online today.  Here's a good read from the Washington Post, I Had a Home Birth and I'm Not Stupid or Brave.

I've never seen a birth of triplets, especially not a natural, vaginal one!

The giraffe, Katie, is also due soon at the Dallas Zoo and they have set up a live birth cam.
0 Comments

Why I loved Nicole's birth

2/14/2015

0 Comments

 
For Valentine's Day Birth Boot Camp hosted a "Why I Loved My Natural Birth" contest.  Here's my video talking about Nicole's birth (my youngest). 
0 Comments

Pain vs. Suffering

1/25/2015

0 Comments

 
The wonderful doula, Tammy Van Stockum, spoke to my class and mentioned this video by Penny Simkin, a well-known natural childbirth advocate and author.  It's spot-on!
0 Comments

Birth Boot Camp Review

11/21/2014

0 Comments

 
Here's a really good objective opinion of the Birth Boot Camp curriculum.  It's pretty much everything I would say, too!  Send it to someone who's pregnant and wondering if natural is the way to go!
0 Comments

    Archives

    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014


    I'm a natural childbirth educator, lactation consultant (IBCLC), and doula in Athens, AL.  Here is where I put healthy recipes, current research, and helpful articles for pregnancy, postpartum, and life in general.  Check back often!

    Nothing on this page should be construed as medical advice.  I aim to give you information that you can research further on your own.  It's not a good idea to get your health care from the internet!

    Categories

    All
    Affirmations
    Antibiotics
    Bacteria
    Birth Boot Camp
    Birth Myths
    Breastfeeding
    Circumcision
    Cord Clamping
    C Section
    Detox
    Doula
    Engorgement
    Epidurals
    Essential Oils
    Exercise
    Gestational Diabetes
    Group B Strep
    Hemorrhage
    Herbs
    Homebirth
    Induction
    Jaundice
    Labor
    Mastitis
    Microbiome
    Musings
    Newborns
    Nutrition
    Pain Relief
    Parenting
    Pitocin
    Positioning
    Postpartum
    Preeclampsia
    Pregnancy
    Pumping
    Pushing
    Quotes
    Recipes
    Reviews
    Rupture Of Membranes
    Skin To Skin
    Sleep
    Supplements
    Umbilical Cord
    Vaginal Exams
    Videos
    Vitamin D
    Waterbirth

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Yachichurova, donnierayjones, marcus.buchwald, osseous, wikioticsIan, andrechinn, Smabs Sputzer, Lucía López, fred_v, sustainablejill, m.melendez1461, zoyachubby, Raphael Goetter, Tabitha Blue / Fresh Mommy, USDAgov, Yachichurova, George M. Groutas, Schristia, VernScissorsTW, Mr Moss, Kasia/flickr, mrsdkrebs, AJC1, mikecogh, Daddy-David, StarsApart, ThoroughlyReviewed, PersonalCreations.com, donnierayjones, sgilsdorf, Endre Majoros, danielmoyle, Dakiny, Tammra McCauley, Jason M Parrish, MabyCakes, Jeffrey Beall, NIAID, sarahstierch, malmesjo, Thad Zajdowicz, Iqbal Osman1, U.S. Fotografie, A J Thackway, Inspired Photography CT