Nurtured Birth Services

10/31/2020

Postpartum mood disorders are more than just depression. Moms can also experience anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar, and psychosis. All these issues are treatable if they’re properly identified and appropriate support is given. Partners can also develop issues. If someone you care about has recently had a baby, ask how they’re doing (and really listen, don’t dismiss what they share). There are resources for help: Postpartum Support International has help lines and online support groups. I provide support through counseling. Sometimes medication can also be a good option.

People say having a baby changes everything. And for Emily Phelps, it certainly did. Her unexpected struggle with multiple postpartum mood disorders forced h...

09/24/2020

❗New Blog Alert❗: how to be gentle with yourself when experiencing mom guilt

"Parenthood has the potential to sabotage your mental health with feelings of guilt. Instead of succumbing to these feelings, reflect on what helps you best care for your children and determine what fosters their sense of love and safety in your home."

Read the full blog on PSI's website here: https://www.postpartum.net/psi-blog/mom-guilt/

04/20/2020

I love everything about this interview and Sterling Brown. His story about the home birth of his first child and their preparation for it, and how dads can step up and be supportive. Definitely worth the watch.

04/18/2020

This Sunday.
Support from The Postpartum Stress Center for parenting during the pandemic and for new postpartum moms. Free groups. Email ppscgroups@gmail.com for link to groups

04/14/2020

Compulsory separation of mothers and infants due to COVID-19.

We are getting daily reports of this happening in the US.
It is not evidence-based.
It is not in alignment with expert guidelines.
It is causing harm.

It is an example of fear-based thinking. We assum it's better because (in panic) we don't think it through. Please, encourage policy makers and providers to read this info.



If you want the (free) printable to share, go to www.bit.ly/pdffreebie or to our website.

Please SHARE

04/08/2020

I've been corresponding with quite a few people about the practice in the U.S. of separating newborns from parents with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The practice guidelines from the CDC and AAP conflict with practice guidelines from the WHO, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries.

Because of the guidelines in the U.S., it is possible that a birthing parent with symptoms such as a fever or cough may be separated from their newborn, even if the parent tests negative for COVID-19. This can be problematic when you consider the fact that fever in labor can also occur due to chorioamnionitis (inflammation of the membranes) or a side effect of an epidural.

In light of this situation, we drafted a sample "Informed consent form for refusal to separate birthing parent and infant." We've had many requests for this form, both from hospital professionals and parents, and it can be downloaded for free on our COVID-19 resource page.

- Rebecca

➡️ evidencebasedbirth.com/covid19

03/27/2020

“Kissing your baby changes your breast milk. Did you know that the undeniable urge to cover your baby in kisses serves a biological purpose? When a mother kisses her baby, she samples the pathogens on baby’s face, which then travel to mom’s lymphatic system. Mom’s body then creates antibodies to fight those pathogens, which baby receives through breast milk. What?! Amazing, right?”

http://www.mothering.com/articles/10-things-might-not-know-breastfeeding/ 📸: Dusktildawnphotography

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03/24/2020

"You either commit to having the most comprehensive skill set you can, to provide the best care you can, or you get out of the birth room."
"When a practitioner, or an entire maternity service even, makes the statement “we don’t do vaginal breech birth”, what they are really saying is that at some point they decided to not invest in developing a set of skills required by a competent clinician who provides intrapartum care. Because birthing women can’t opt out of vaginal breech birth 100% of the time, neither can clinicians. “I don’t do vaginal breech birth” is equivalent to saying, “evidence shows you are likely to have a better outcome if I had learned and practiced this skill, but that would take me outside my comfort zone, and so I decided instead that I felt that it was OK for you to face the consequences of my lack of skill”. Ethical care provision doesn’t look like that."

Commit to having the most comprehensive skill set you can, to provide the best care you can, or get out of the birth room.

03/15/2020

Mothers and/or babies found to be infected with COVID-19 shouldn't be separated, per the WHO recommendations. Worth checking out if you'll be giving birth soon.