Lesson 1: Why Study Normal, Natural Birth??? Won't It Just Happen?
"I think one of the best things we could do would be to help women/parents/families discover their own birth power, from within themselves. And to let them know it's always been there, they just needed to tap into it." ~ John H. Kennell, MD
Introduction
Perhaps you, a loved one, or a friend have wondered - if birth is so natural, why the need to study it??? Won't it just happen? And they would be correct in the majority of healthy, low-risk pregnancies...that is, if the woman were giving birth in an isolated hut in the middle of nowhere! As lucky as we are to have access to the best medical training and technology in the world, the reality is that sometimes technology can cause many of the problems it is trying to prevent. That is, when it is applied to the wrong audience - healthy, normal pregnancies rather than the high risk situations for which most were originally designed.
It can be extremely difficult for a woman to trust herself and follow her instincts when surrounded by a society and maternity care system that fears and sensationalizes childbirth. Unlike historical models, in our culture the only exposure to childbirth that most people have involves movies and TV shows that dramatize childbirth and focus on rare complications - or worse, horror stories of birth from well-meaning friends detailing all of the interventions they used in their own births that, (knowingly or unknowingly), caused a snowball effect of other unwanted procedures. Very few of us have had the honor of actively participating in assisting other women in our communities as they have normal, healthy births. This lack of exposure to the norm has led to fear of the unknown and misunderstandings about what normal, healthy childbirth looks like. How long should it really take? What noises does a woman make? What emotional shifts will the mother experience throughout her labor? How are newborns designed to bond with their parents?
In the end, this course seeks to prepare you for a satisfying, fulfilling birth experience that leaves you feeling confident that you have made the best decisions possible for you and your family. For many of you, those decisions WILL result in a natural childbirth; but for those of you that might be thrown unexpected curve balls during your birth experience, the ultimate goal from this course is that you feel equipped to deal with confidence and that you feel good about your choices.
So let's begin!!!
It can be extremely difficult for a woman to trust herself and follow her instincts when surrounded by a society and maternity care system that fears and sensationalizes childbirth. Unlike historical models, in our culture the only exposure to childbirth that most people have involves movies and TV shows that dramatize childbirth and focus on rare complications - or worse, horror stories of birth from well-meaning friends detailing all of the interventions they used in their own births that, (knowingly or unknowingly), caused a snowball effect of other unwanted procedures. Very few of us have had the honor of actively participating in assisting other women in our communities as they have normal, healthy births. This lack of exposure to the norm has led to fear of the unknown and misunderstandings about what normal, healthy childbirth looks like. How long should it really take? What noises does a woman make? What emotional shifts will the mother experience throughout her labor? How are newborns designed to bond with their parents?
In the end, this course seeks to prepare you for a satisfying, fulfilling birth experience that leaves you feeling confident that you have made the best decisions possible for you and your family. For many of you, those decisions WILL result in a natural childbirth; but for those of you that might be thrown unexpected curve balls during your birth experience, the ultimate goal from this course is that you feel equipped to deal with confidence and that you feel good about your choices.
So let's begin!!!
Learning goals & focus guide
Right click to download, print and fill in this Focus Guide as you complete the lesson!
After viewing and completing Lesson 1 - "Why Study Normal Birth?", students will be able to:
- Analyze some of the various definitions or meanings of "natural" childbirth.
- Explain why there seems to be a general cultural perception that childbirth is somehow dangerous, (students will recall from the video discussion what led to higher infant and maternal mortality rates pre-1900).
- Identify 2 high-tech interventions that should be reserved for higher-risk pregnancies, mentioned in the "Back to Basics for Safer Childbirth" article.
- Quote 3 reasons mentioned in the "Back to Basics for Safer Childbirth" article for the overuse of high-tech and invasive interventions.
- After reading "How Parents Can Become Savvy Consumers of Health Care Information", students will be able to explain the difference between evidence-based information versus "consensus and expert opinion", (sometimes used by professional organizations in the absence of good quality studies).
- After reading "How Parents Can Become Savvy Consumers of Health Care Information", students will be able to identify 2 high quality, free sources for evidence-based pregnancy and birth related information.
- After reviewing the "Average Facility Labor and Birth Charge By Method of Birth" chart from Childbirth Connection, students will be able to explain the relationship between method of birth and fees charged.
- Recite 2 benefits of natural birth, as well as 2 benefits of medicated birth.
- Analyze some of the various definitions or meanings of "natural" childbirth.
- Explain why there seems to be a general cultural perception that childbirth is somehow dangerous, (students will recall from the video discussion what led to higher infant and maternal mortality rates pre-1900).
- Identify 2 high-tech interventions that should be reserved for higher-risk pregnancies, mentioned in the "Back to Basics for Safer Childbirth" article.
- Quote 3 reasons mentioned in the "Back to Basics for Safer Childbirth" article for the overuse of high-tech and invasive interventions.
- After reading "How Parents Can Become Savvy Consumers of Health Care Information", students will be able to explain the difference between evidence-based information versus "consensus and expert opinion", (sometimes used by professional organizations in the absence of good quality studies).
- After reading "How Parents Can Become Savvy Consumers of Health Care Information", students will be able to identify 2 high quality, free sources for evidence-based pregnancy and birth related information.
- After reviewing the "Average Facility Labor and Birth Charge By Method of Birth" chart from Childbirth Connection, students will be able to explain the relationship between method of birth and fees charged.
- Recite 2 benefits of natural birth, as well as 2 benefits of medicated birth.
video lesson
Back To Basics For Safer Childbirth
In this video we discuss a few of the benefits of natural childbirth, varying perspectives on what constitutes a "natural" birth, and how we can become savvy consumers of healthcare information. We also consider the legal and financial motivations that influence our maternity care system in the U.S.
(In this lesson we will watch the chapter entitled "Business Takes Over" from the famous birth documentary The Business of Being Born™. Please consider viewing this entire documentary! We will be discussing and referring to it throughout this course.)
(In this lesson we will watch the chapter entitled "Business Takes Over" from the famous birth documentary The Business of Being Born™. Please consider viewing this entire documentary! We will be discussing and referring to it throughout this course.)
Audio Only:
| a_cheatsheet_for_finding_and_reviewing_evidence_based_research.pdf |
resources
Click Here to Purchase "The Business of Being Born" on Amazon!
~ "A Better Way to Give Birth", By Krystina Friedlander, May 11, 2015, Cnn.com
~ "THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATURAL BIRTH AND VAGINAL BIRTH PEOPLE!!!" - An interesting forum post regarding the strong feelings some women have regarding what "natural childbirth" means. (Please keep in mind these are individual's views, not necessarily those of Powerful Mamas)
~ "Natural Birth Vs. Medicated Birth - Weighing the Benefits of Natural Childbirth versus Using Pain Medication. How Do You Decide Whether Natural Childbirth Is Best for You?" By Brenda Lane, Sept. 22, 2006
~ "When Childbirth Was Natural, But Deadly"~ A fascinating blog post written by Druin Burch, a medical resident and a tutor at the University of Oxford
~ "In 1850, Ignaz Semmelweis saved lives with three words: wash your hands" - BY DR. HOWARD MARKEL May 15, 2015
~ "Back To Basics For Safer Childbirth" - From Consumer Reports
~ Average Facility Labor and Birth Charge By Site and Method Of Birth - 2008-2010, Individual State Listings from ChildbirthConnection.org
~ "How Parents Can Become Savvy Consumers of Healthcare Information" - From "Preparing for Childbirth: The Family Way"
- "The Business of Being Born™ - Birth Documentary Particularly the Clip: "Business Takes Over" ~ (Recall that for legal purposes, all videos must be purchased directly by the viewer.)
- "Are women in the United States getting evidence based maternity care?" See for yourself - the answers may surprise you! © 2012 Evidence Based Birth®, Blog Post By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN. Linked with permission.
- "What is evidence based care, and why is the Cochrane Collaboration a valuable tool in accessing it?" - From the Cochrane Community.
More Tools to Access the Evidence!
- "Users’ guides to the medical literature : A manual for evidence-based clinical practice." - Guyatt G, Rennie D, Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group, American Medical Association. Chicago, IL: AMA Press; 2002
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
- http://www.cdc.gov/
~ "THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATURAL BIRTH AND VAGINAL BIRTH PEOPLE!!!" - An interesting forum post regarding the strong feelings some women have regarding what "natural childbirth" means. (Please keep in mind these are individual's views, not necessarily those of Powerful Mamas)
~ "Natural Birth Vs. Medicated Birth - Weighing the Benefits of Natural Childbirth versus Using Pain Medication. How Do You Decide Whether Natural Childbirth Is Best for You?" By Brenda Lane, Sept. 22, 2006
~ "When Childbirth Was Natural, But Deadly"~ A fascinating blog post written by Druin Burch, a medical resident and a tutor at the University of Oxford
~ "In 1850, Ignaz Semmelweis saved lives with three words: wash your hands" - BY DR. HOWARD MARKEL May 15, 2015
~ "Back To Basics For Safer Childbirth" - From Consumer Reports
~ Average Facility Labor and Birth Charge By Site and Method Of Birth - 2008-2010, Individual State Listings from ChildbirthConnection.org
~ "How Parents Can Become Savvy Consumers of Healthcare Information" - From "Preparing for Childbirth: The Family Way"
- "The Business of Being Born™ - Birth Documentary Particularly the Clip: "Business Takes Over" ~ (Recall that for legal purposes, all videos must be purchased directly by the viewer.)
- "Are women in the United States getting evidence based maternity care?" See for yourself - the answers may surprise you! © 2012 Evidence Based Birth®, Blog Post By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN. Linked with permission.
- "What is evidence based care, and why is the Cochrane Collaboration a valuable tool in accessing it?" - From the Cochrane Community.
More Tools to Access the Evidence!
- "Users’ guides to the medical literature : A manual for evidence-based clinical practice." - Guyatt G, Rennie D, Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group, American Medical Association. Chicago, IL: AMA Press; 2002
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
- http://www.cdc.gov/
Diving deeper
Want to Dive Deeper? Let's Go!
Courtesy Andrea Engh Photography, Used with Permission.
~ You might enjoy using some of these popular pregnancy apps! "The 16 Best Pregnancy iPhone & Android Apps of 2015"
~ "Prenatal Care Is Important to Healthy Pregnancies" - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) letter to presidential candidates
~ "Updated Table on the State of Maternity Care in the U.S." ~ ©2012 Evidence Based Birth®, Blog Post By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN. Linked with permission.
~ In this class we discussed how we can become savvy consumers of healthcare information. Here is an excellent YouTube video from Evidence Based Birth® on "How to Find Birth Evidence":
~ "Prenatal Care Is Important to Healthy Pregnancies" - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) letter to presidential candidates
~ "Updated Table on the State of Maternity Care in the U.S." ~ ©2012 Evidence Based Birth®, Blog Post By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN. Linked with permission.
~ In this class we discussed how we can become savvy consumers of healthcare information. Here is an excellent YouTube video from Evidence Based Birth® on "How to Find Birth Evidence":
~ In this YouTube video Ryan McAllister, PhD gives a thought provoking presentation, "UnBreaking Birth", detailing the current state of the U.S. maternity care system and what can be done to improve birth outcomes:
Web It! Resources from The Family Way®:
reflection opportunities
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Student Poll: |
Journal Entry:
Please visit the forum below under "Unit 1: Preparing the Foundation - Why Study Normal Childbirth?" to reflect on the following journal question:
- Why does there seem to be a general cultural perception that childbirth is somehow dangerous? (You may wish to refer to the video discussion regarding what led to higher infant and maternal mortality rates pre-1900)
- Why does there seem to be a general cultural perception that childbirth is somehow dangerous? (You may wish to refer to the video discussion regarding what led to higher infant and maternal mortality rates pre-1900)
Please note you must log in to the forum at the beginning of each online session, even after you have already logged into the Class Portal. Click below on "Powerful Mamas Online Student Forums" to access this feature:
Inspiring Birth stories!
"It was two days after Thanksgiving, and my friend had just got home from the hospital from having her child. We laughed about how funny it would be if her baby would tell my baby that it was time to come, and sure enough, two hours later I bent over to pick up a sock, and I thought I peed myself a little. After cleaning myself up, I realized I was still leaking, well it was go time after that. I didn't know what I was doing because I was so excited. Our bags weren't packed and I had to pick my son up from school. I was rushing around with a towel between my legs, gathering up my things, letting the dogs out, cleaning up the floor, and driving to pick up my son from school. I was patiently waiting for my husband to get home so we could go, (okay, so not so patiently), but I waited.
It was time to go to the hospital! With my towel between my legs we walked into Methodist and got checked in to triage. They had to make sure my waters were ruptured, I laughed as I pulled the towel from between my legs, yes those are my waters. Things were slow going, and I knew that we were on a clock because of the rupture. So I started getting nervous that we might not get to have a natural childbirth like I wanted. We checked in around 4:00 pm, and I was having some contractions, but I wasn't dilating like the midwife wanted, so at 9:00 they talked to me about Pitocin. I knew I didn't want it, but with the clock ticking I would rather have the pit than a c-section so we agreed it was the right thing to do. I asked her to start me off at the very lowest dosage, and not go above level 10. As soon as the Pitocin hit my veins, the contractions were much stronger, it worked fast, and all I needed was a little bump.
Breathing through the contractions got harder, but I started to really focus on this primal energy that kept rising within me. I knew I had it. There were a couple of contractions that I thought I wanted the pain meds, but when it was over I was fine. It was only temporary pain, it wasn't going to last forever and soon I would have a baby. I kept telling that to myself over and over again, and that got me through the tough ones.
I was ready to push about 1:30 am. But I wasn't quite dilated so they had me change positions, and that made all the difference. I got on all fours and undulated and moved my hips in circles and it took the pressure off immediately, until they made me move again, and I could no longer resist. Things moved so quickly after that. I was knees up and pushing with all of my might! Primal Roars came out of me and I had this urgent feeling to push, and I did! Breathing made me faint but I kept pushing and pushing! Then he crowned, and his shoulder was stuck, so the nurses rushed over and did fundal pressure, and out flew my baby. Thank goodness my midwife was a catcher in softball! I had this overwhelming feeling of ecstasy and relief. I no longer felt any pain, only pure excitement and joy.
I had the exact experience I wanted because we had educated ourselves. My husband was so supportive and only a little scared. I was so amazed at the strength that I found, and I became very empowered. My baby boy had arrived. Hayden Sawyer P., 8 pounds 6 oz, 20 1/2 inches long!" ~ Melodie P.
It was time to go to the hospital! With my towel between my legs we walked into Methodist and got checked in to triage. They had to make sure my waters were ruptured, I laughed as I pulled the towel from between my legs, yes those are my waters. Things were slow going, and I knew that we were on a clock because of the rupture. So I started getting nervous that we might not get to have a natural childbirth like I wanted. We checked in around 4:00 pm, and I was having some contractions, but I wasn't dilating like the midwife wanted, so at 9:00 they talked to me about Pitocin. I knew I didn't want it, but with the clock ticking I would rather have the pit than a c-section so we agreed it was the right thing to do. I asked her to start me off at the very lowest dosage, and not go above level 10. As soon as the Pitocin hit my veins, the contractions were much stronger, it worked fast, and all I needed was a little bump.
Breathing through the contractions got harder, but I started to really focus on this primal energy that kept rising within me. I knew I had it. There were a couple of contractions that I thought I wanted the pain meds, but when it was over I was fine. It was only temporary pain, it wasn't going to last forever and soon I would have a baby. I kept telling that to myself over and over again, and that got me through the tough ones.
I was ready to push about 1:30 am. But I wasn't quite dilated so they had me change positions, and that made all the difference. I got on all fours and undulated and moved my hips in circles and it took the pressure off immediately, until they made me move again, and I could no longer resist. Things moved so quickly after that. I was knees up and pushing with all of my might! Primal Roars came out of me and I had this urgent feeling to push, and I did! Breathing made me faint but I kept pushing and pushing! Then he crowned, and his shoulder was stuck, so the nurses rushed over and did fundal pressure, and out flew my baby. Thank goodness my midwife was a catcher in softball! I had this overwhelming feeling of ecstasy and relief. I no longer felt any pain, only pure excitement and joy.
I had the exact experience I wanted because we had educated ourselves. My husband was so supportive and only a little scared. I was so amazed at the strength that I found, and I became very empowered. My baby boy had arrived. Hayden Sawyer P., 8 pounds 6 oz, 20 1/2 inches long!" ~ Melodie P.