Read this great blog this afternoon. It seems that women going to prenatal visits in groups tend to have more positive pregnancies and even fewer premature births. They were even more likely to initiate breastfeeding!
This doesn't really surprise me given that women, in general, tend to be social creatures who find security in the friendships and relationships that a group can bring about. Having a shared bond sure doesn't hurt, either. Brings a whole new dimension to the saying that "it takes a village to raise a child!"
Read the whole article by clicking on the link below!
Pregnant mothers see benefits from group prenatal visits
Showing posts with label birth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birth. Show all posts
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Planning Your Birth Day
Recently, I celebrated another birthday and, on my special day, I thought about how others may not think I actually did much "celebrating". For me, it was a bit of a lazy day. I did my "jobs" early in the day and then spent most of the rest of the morning and afternoon camped out in my bedroom. I had just put up new curtains the day before and had a renewed sense of relaxation in there, so that's where I parked myself. I watched a bit of TV, read a bit and even took an accidental nap (OK, I accidentally took TWO). It was a great day, and it turned out just as I wanted it to.
Like I said, though, others may not think so. There are others, I know, who would find my day wasteful and boring. No, I didn't have all my friends and family around. There were no cameras to memorialize the day. I didn't have a special outfit that I had to wear or have the place all decorated with balloons and manner of party gear. I didn't even have a strict plan for the day. My only "plan" was to just "be" and see where it took me.
Having a baby is rather similar. There are those women that plan on having their best friends, their mom, their sisters, aunts, mother-in-law, etc. all hanging out with them at the birth. There are others that approach their birth by picking out specific clothing, music, focal objects, etc. Some have extremely detailed birth plans and others have extremely flexible ones.
When it comes down to it, though, there really is no wrong way. We're all different, and what works for one may not work for another. What's important to remember is that it is perfectly OK if your approach to this momentous day is different than that of the people around you. No matter what your friends, family or a book may tell you that your birth day should be like, what you need, and how to prepare, the person who you really need to listen to is you!
Looking back at my three birth days, I see a definite trend. Sure, I had a grand plan for how my first birth would be. That all went out the window with the first real contraction, though. The common threads that I found were these...(1) I wanted only the one or two people that were closest to me to be with me (other than medical staff of course); (2) I wanted the room to be rather relaxed and quiet; and (3) I really went into each day with a "let's see what happens and go from there" attitude. Seems funny yet almost predictable then that, when recently celebrating my own birth, the same common themes were present.
So, how will you celebrate your birth day? However you do, remember that it's about you - not your friends, family, or the latest pregnancy book - and what your choices are. Whatever they may be, everyone at Eternal Maternal wishes you a very happy day!
Like I said, though, others may not think so. There are others, I know, who would find my day wasteful and boring. No, I didn't have all my friends and family around. There were no cameras to memorialize the day. I didn't have a special outfit that I had to wear or have the place all decorated with balloons and manner of party gear. I didn't even have a strict plan for the day. My only "plan" was to just "be" and see where it took me.
Having a baby is rather similar. There are those women that plan on having their best friends, their mom, their sisters, aunts, mother-in-law, etc. all hanging out with them at the birth. There are others that approach their birth by picking out specific clothing, music, focal objects, etc. Some have extremely detailed birth plans and others have extremely flexible ones.
When it comes down to it, though, there really is no wrong way. We're all different, and what works for one may not work for another. What's important to remember is that it is perfectly OK if your approach to this momentous day is different than that of the people around you. No matter what your friends, family or a book may tell you that your birth day should be like, what you need, and how to prepare, the person who you really need to listen to is you!
Looking back at my three birth days, I see a definite trend. Sure, I had a grand plan for how my first birth would be. That all went out the window with the first real contraction, though. The common threads that I found were these...(1) I wanted only the one or two people that were closest to me to be with me (other than medical staff of course); (2) I wanted the room to be rather relaxed and quiet; and (3) I really went into each day with a "let's see what happens and go from there" attitude. Seems funny yet almost predictable then that, when recently celebrating my own birth, the same common themes were present.
So, how will you celebrate your birth day? However you do, remember that it's about you - not your friends, family, or the latest pregnancy book - and what your choices are. Whatever they may be, everyone at Eternal Maternal wishes you a very happy day!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Birth Day - The Journey of Childbirth
It seems like I'm doing a lot of book recommendations lately; but, seriously, there's some really great new books out there for expecting mommies! This morning on my metro area's local morning show, Dr. Mark Sloan appeared to talk about his new book Birth Day: A Pediatrician Explores the Science, the History, and the Wonder of Childbirth.
Sloan has delivered nearly 3,000 babies over the last 30+ years and draws on that experience to further deliver, with humor and wonder, the science, history and culture of this very fundamental journey that all of us have taken.
Birth Day is put out by Random Press and, being book publishers, they have written a spectacular summary of topics covered in the book. I'm not even going to attempt to outwrite Random House, so the following is directly from their website...
Some of Birth Day’s many topics include
• The evolution of human childbirth—or, why do gorillas have it so easy?
• The first five minutes of life—scuba divers, astronauts, and the amazing adaptations that transform a fetus into an air-breathing, out-in-the-world baby
• Cesarean section—a look at its origins, its future, and how it came to be the most frequently performed operation in American hospitals
• Pain and politics—the age-old quest for painless childbirth, starring Adam and Eve, Queen Victoria, a nineteenth-century medical brawl, and the rise of today’s “epidural monoculture”
• Daddies—raging paternal hormones, hidden anxieties, and the emotional evolution of men (including the author, his father, and grandfather) as they approach fatherhood
• The five senses at birth—does light enter the womb? how loud is it in there? what is a newborn baby searching for with those first anxious glances?
• A tour of the newborn body—springy skulls, hairy ears, innies and outies, the advantages (and disadvantages) of looking like your father, and why the United States is one of the world’s most circumcised nations
So, if you're expecting or know someone who is, pick up a copy of this fabulous book. It's entertaining while still being instructive and would be a great gift for Mother's Day!
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