Using a birthing ball during pregnancy and childbirth

Welcome to my blog!

There was a full moon eclipse last wednesday (15th June 2011). Astrologers say this heralds a time of many changes and disruptions in our lives and I have certainly noticed changes occurring in my life! When I worked in the Far east the Chinese were very in tune with the cycles of the moon and its impact on labour and childbirth. During the week of the full moon women flooded in to the hospital with their 'waters' leaking and in labour. As we know the moon has a huge impact on the tides of the ocean and all things fluid. Bearing in mind that our constitution is mainly water, and our baby floats around in water for nine months it is hardly surprising that the full moon also impacts on us during this time. If you have been affected by the full moon with your experience of pregnancy or childbirth I would love to hear from with you with your story. With consent, I will publish the most interesting story on my blog and send the recipient a free gift of Mama2b organic baby products.

Moving on to my article for todays blog. I thought I would follow on from my last blog about the benefits of perineal massage to using the birthing ball for pregnancy and childbirth. Recent research has shown that the benefits of using the ball during pregnancy encourage the pelvic floor to relax and stretch during labour, as well as many other benefits.

USING THE BIRTHING BALL DURING PREGNANCY AND LABOUR

The ball was originally developed and used for physical therapy treatment, mainly by physiotherapists. The birthing ball is a fantastic comfort tool to use during your pregnancy, labour, birth and beyond. The ball is very versatile, light and portable, and easy to clean. The birthing ball has been chosen for its safety, with anti-burst up to 250kgs.

Using the birthing ball during the last months of pregnancy has many benefits such as encouraging the optimum position for baby prior to labour, and also strengthens the lower back and abdominal muscles. During labour the ball can be used to support different positions for comfort and support. Postnatally the ball can be used to help regain your figure.

BENEFITS OF USING THE BALL

In pregnancy:

1      Sitting upright on the ball with legs at a 90 degree angle from 34 weeks onwards enhances pelvic and perineal relaxation.

2      Rocking and swaying whilst sitting on the ball helps to encourage your baby into an optimum position for labour and birth, especially if carried out daily from 34 weeks gestation.

3      Using the ball in the last month of pregnancy helps to strengthen the lower back and abdominal muscles.

4      Squatting on the ball may increase the pelvic outlet by 1-2cms.

5      Leaning over the ball and swaying your hips helps your baby into an optimum position and also eases backache.

In labour:

1      In labour, the ball can be an invaluable tool and used in a variety of positions.

2      Sitting on the ball for monitoring or other procedures avoids being restricted to lying on the bed with restricted movement.

3      Sitting on the ball encourages a natural swaying movement of the hips. This not only encourages fetal descent, but helps to relieve some discomfort during contractions.

4      With the ball on the floor or the bed you can kneel and lean over the ball, which is great for relieving ‘back’ labour and aids rotation of a fetus in a posterior position.

5      Leaning over the ball can also be used for the ‘pushing’ stage of labour.

After birth:

1      Sitting on the ball with baby on your knees is very soothing to babies with its natural swaying motion.

2      Once you have been given the ‘all clear’ from your GP the ball is a great tool to help tone up those muscles and get you back in shape.

Directions for using the birth ball:

1      The birth ball should be large enough for you to sit on with legs bent at a 90 degree angle ( See size order guide).

2      Use the birth ball with a ‘spotter’ someone to help you on and off the ball and provide support for some positions.

3      The birth ball should be inflated using the pump provided and should roll easily, and feel firm to the touch.

Well, thats it for this week. I look forward to hearing from you soon with your own experience of a full moon birthing!

Take care,

Amanda 

For any further information don’t hesitate to contact Amanda on www.mama2b.com

The benefits of Perineal Massage

Hello again!

I thought I would talk about a topic I think is so important for women. Many women don't know what or where their perineum is located and how important it is to their physical and maybe indirectly to their emotional well-being. We start our lives wearing a nappy and I for one do not want to spend my latter years wearing them because of stress incontinence, not to mention the embarrassment and poor body image!

Luckily, we now know that spending a few minutes a day during the latter weeks of pregnancy massaging the perineum can help it to stretch during labour, reducing the incidence of tears and trauma with long term consequences. Don't forget even if you do not need stitches it is still important after delivery to strengthen the muscles again by doing your pelvic floor exercises, preventing prolapse of the uterus and the dreaded leakage!

Perineal Massage:

The perineum involves the skin and muscles between the vagina and anus. As your baby’s head is crowning, the pressure of the head on the perineum stretches and expands the perineaum enabling the baby to be born easily. On occasion the perineum is unable to stretch sufficiently and tearing may occur.

Several research studies have shown that perineal massage during the latter weeks of pregnancy is helpful in preventing the incidence of tearing, lacerations and the need for an episiotomy.

Directions:

Perineal massage should be started at about 34 weeks gestation either by you or your partner. You will need some vegetable oil such as organic sunflower oil or a blend such as Mama2b perineal oil. These oils contain nutrients which can be absorbed by the tissues, whereas mineral oil just coats the surface. Use a mirror initially to see what you are doing if practicing yourself. Find a comfortable, private place to perform the massage and don’t forget to time yourself too!

Positioning:

Massaging yourself may be easier if you stand with one foot raised and resting on a chair, or the bath, using your thumb to massage yourself. If your partner is going to assist you, you can relax in a semi-reclining position, propped up wih pillows, legs apart and supported with a pillow under each knee. Your partner can use the index and middle finger to perform the massage.

Technique:

Take a few deep breaths to relax and then dip two fingers in the oil and slowly and gently insert them 1 to 1.5 inches into the entrance of the vagina (maximum up to second knuckle). The fingers pull down gently and then sweep from side to side from 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock and back again. You should feel a slight tingling or burning sensation, but not pain. Ease off if it is painful and build up gradually. The movement replicates the way the perineum stretches during birth. You can also massage the outside area between forefinger and thumb. Start with 2 minutes the first week and increase slowly until you can massage for up to 5 minutes.

Benefits:

The ability to participate and enjoy a more comfortabel birthing and postnatal recovery. It can be particularly helpful if you have previous scar tissue or a rigid perineum from exercise such as horse riding.

Reference:

Shipman. MK. et al.  Antenatal perineal massage and subsequentperineal outcomes: a randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 104(7): 787-91, July, 1997.

Contact Amanda at amanda@mama2b.com or www.mama2b.com

Well thats it for this week. I will jump off my soap box now and do my pelvic floor exercises!

Take care until next time.

Amanda

Guiding your baby into an optimal position for childbirth

Hello folks, I am happy to announce that the sun is shining and I didn't need to wear my coat when I took the dog for a walk this morning! Hooray! Following my last blog, my website is now live and available for you to visit at www.mama2b.com


Welcome to my third blog, I hope you enjoy reading my blog today. I have written about a subject that is dear to my heart as both myself and my daughter experienced labour and birth with a baby in a posterior position. Therefore, I want to spread the word so that others may avoid a long and difficult birth with this knowledge. 

I am passionate about teaching pregnant women about optimal fetal positioning, and the side effects of a posterior position of the baby on their experience of labour and birth. Having experienced a posterior position (baby lying with his/her back to your back) during labour and childbirth myself, and how it impacted on the outcome of my delivery, has motivated me to spread the word. Sadly, when I had my daughter many years ago no one really knew about the effects of a posterior position and how to prevent or change your baby’s position prior to, and during labour.  Thankfully, times have changed and we have the knowledge to help ourselves now.

During the latter weeks of pregnancy most babies will adopt a position with their back towards the front of their mothers abdomen. However, our 21st century lifestyle has encouraged an increase in the number of babies lying in a posterior position.

You can tell if your baby is lying in a posterior position if:

·      You feel the baby kicking at the front of your tummy, rather than at the side

·      You notice a dip in your abdomen over your belly button when you lie on your back

·      You may have backache in the last few weeks and your baby’s head does not engage into the pelvis

However, all is not lost! From 34 weeks onward your own postural awareness and habits can encourage your baby to lie with his/her back to your left front side of your abdomen. This position encourages the baby’s head to engage in the pelvic brim with the baby’s head in a flexed position. This has the potential to increase the likelihood of a normal birth, due to a smaller diameter of baby’s head and nice even pressure on the cervix (opening to uterus) during labour.

There are many techniques you can employ to encourage your baby into an optimal position during the latter weeks of your pregnancy:

·      Spend time every day on all fours (the uterus forms into a hammock and the baby naturally swings round to an optimal position as the spine is heavier and follows gravity)

·      Use forward leaning upward postures e.g. Leaning over a bean bag or birthing ball

·      Always sit with your knees lower than your hips

·      Spending time sitting on a birthing ball with your legs at a 90degree angle, rocking and swaying intermittently.

·      Leaning over the ball and swaying your hips helps ease your baby into an optimal position and also helps to ease backache.

·      Lie on your left side to rest with a pillow between your knees.

·      Swimming with the abdomen forward, but avoid breast- stroke movements with your legs as it stretches the ligaments.

·      Use the Rebozo technique to help the baby rotate into an anterior position 

A baby lying the other way round with his/her spine against your spine and facing forward looking ahead (like a soldier at attention) is often described by health professionals as being in a posterior position or OP position. It’s a good idea to ask your midwife or obstetrician at your clinic visits what position your baby is lying in from about 34 weeks.

The side effects of having a posterior position prior to, and during labour and birth are:

·      Baby not engaging in the pelvis prior to labour

·      A larger diameter of his head to descend through your birth canal

·      Uneven pressure on the cervix due to positioning

·      This may lead to a longer more complicated labour and birth

·      Early rupture of membranes (breaking of waters spontaneously)

 Jean Sutton pioneer of optimal fetal positioning suggests tips in early labour to encourage the baby to rotate in to an optimal position:

·      Walking up some stairs sideways bringing her second leg up beside the first on each stair

·      Rocking from side to side also lifts the hips

·      March on the spot

·      Lift one foot (your preference) on to a stool

·      Try lying on your left side initially with a pillow under the uterus to lift it to the midline.

Studies have shown that just spending 10 minutes a day in the hands and knees position can encourage the baby to lie in an optimal position.

There have been many medical advances in childbirth since I had my daughter, but I think this simple technique has the potential to save many women from a long and painful labour with medical intervention and assisted delivery. It is simple and easy to implement these simple techniques into daily life, but the benefits are enormous!

References:

Sutton J. and Scott P. 1995. Understanding and Teaching Optimal Foetal Positioning.  Birth Concepts, New Zealand.

Robertson A. 2004. The Midwife Companion: The art of support during birth. Birth International, Australia.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Any comments much appreciated and if you would like to share your experience about a posterior baby, I would love to hear from you.

If you would like any further advice or to discuss optimal fetal positioning please don’t hesitate to contact me on: amanda@mama2b.com or alternatively call me on 0905 620 1241 (calls cost £1 a minute)