Dads/Partners at birth
Bradley® Natural Childbirth classes were traditionally known as Husband Coached Childbirth®, a term coined by Dr. Robert Bradley. He was one of the first obstetricians to bring fathers into the birthing room. He realized that women needed the support of a loving partner, and who better than the father of her child. These days not all women have a husband or male partner, but it is still important for her to have the support of someone who loves her, and is there just for her. Such emotional and physical support can make a huge difference in a woman’s sense of security. So, most families who...
Read MoreThere is a better way!
I recently read an incredibly sad story of a woman who was grieving her birth experience. Her gut told her that birth was a normal experience for the human body, and there should not be any reason to have to do much of anything to prepare for it. She didn’t necessarily desire a natural birth, and trusted her careprovider and hospital to do only what was medically necessary. And there in lies the rub. Birth in the US is not evidenced based. The ways in which laboring and birthing women are treated and cared for are not the ways that will produce the healthiest outcomes. We have been...
Read MoreGlucose Tolerance test
(This is an excerpt from an upcoming book: Haas, AV; Healthy Babies! Healthy Moms! A Practical Guide to Preventing Problems during Pregnancy, Labor, and Birth , 2024) “This is a blood test done around the 24th week of pregnancy to determine if the woman has glucose intolerance. A fasting woman is given a glucose preparation to drink, and then her blood sugar levels are tested at various times. One of the major problems with glucose tolerance testing is that it does not necessarily tell us if a woman has gestational diabetes. What it can tell us is if her body does not handle excess...
Read MoreHomebirth Conversation on Public Radio
Connections: Understanding the New Study on the Safety of Home Births with Evan Dawson of WRUR Rochester, and members of Rochester Area Birth Network http://wxxinews.org/post/connections-understanding-new-study-safety-home-births For more information check out an excellent analysis by Researcher Henci Goer: http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/homebirth-safety/ And from Researcher Dr. Eugene DeClerq of Boston University: http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/18/opinions/declercq-home-births/index.html
Read MoreThe Sociology of Birth
How our cultural socialization effects how we birth – Socialization about birth in the United States is a pervasive thing. We are, from the time we are born, receiving messages about our roles in life, and subsequently our ability to birth or be a parent. Both males and females go through this. How we are socialized by our culture and our families dictates our personal beliefs about ourselves and our respective roles. The United States is somewhat unique in this, as a great deal of disassociation from the body and cultural ritual has taken place. Mass consumerism and affluence have shifted...
Read MoreThe Importance of Childbirth Education
The Educated Parent: The Importance of Childbirth Education By Amy V. Haas, BCCE Congratulations! You and your partner are expecting a baby! What next? Well, if you have already chosen your care-provider, your next step will be to find a Childbirth Education class that fits your family’s needs. The best childbirth classes are going to ones that are the most thorough & comprehensive. Short hospital classes are offered in most communities, but remember, hospitals are in the business of making money. Hospital classes sell hospital services to the attendees of those classes. Add to that the...
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