Holding Space Birth

08/05/2022

Some new research out yesterday by Stoliar et al 2022 called ‘a national survey of Australian midwives’ birth choices and outcomes’ (its open access so anyone can read it for free) shows that 25% of midwives (1 in 4) want to have a homebirth and that 11.2% actually did. Which is significantly higher than the national average of women who were able to access homebirth services which is 0.4%.

What else did this research find:
- 16.8% of midwives had Caesarean, compared to the national average of 37%
- 45% of midwives accessed continuity of midwifery care compared to the national access to midwifery continuity of care at 17.1%
- 95.8% of midwives had a preference for normal vaginal birth and 66% achieved this

Of the midwives who chose to give birth at home, their reasons for doing so included:
- being able to choose their care provider
- access to continuity of midwifery care
- to limit birth intervention
- they wanted to avoid time pressures, Induction of labour, coercion and the risk agenda of the hospital

98% of these midwives stated that they ‘think there is a higher chance of obstetric emergencies occurring within a hospital setting’

The researchers commented that insider knowledge influenced midwives choices…

*National average stats taken from Australian mothers and babies report

07/22/2022

Why doesn't the baby drown?

It's a good question. With a cool answer.

Obviously the baby has been 'breathing' water in the womb. Going down the birth canal squashes the baby and squeezes the amniotic fluid out of their lungs.

We know from watching birth on TV that babies breathe after birth, so why don't babies born in water?

First a word of reassurance: the baby is continues to get oxygen from the blood coming from the placenta, just as it has done throughout pregnancy. This continues for a number of minutes after the baby is born, whether by on land or underwater, as long as the cord is not cut. This helps the baby's system to transition.

The baby's dive reflex stops them breathing in the water.
The lungs remain deflated until the first air breath.

What triggers the first breath?
There are a number of biological triggers that make the baby take their first lung full of air.
~ Temperature change. Which is why it's important the water temperature is body temperature as the baby is born.
~ Gravity. In the water they still have the same buoyancy.
~ Sounds and smells. Which are muted in the water.
~ Touch. Which is why midwives are largely hands off as the baby is born and just gentle glide the baby to you. The birthing person's touch doesn't seem to have an effect, if they are supporting the baby's head to be born.

I have seen birth videos from the USA where the baby has remained underwater for about a minute before being brought to the surface. In the UK generally the woman/birthing person or her birth partner would lift the baby out of the water.

Many studies have shown water birth to be safe, and babies born in water are no more likely to need help with breathing or transfer to neonatal care than land born babies. A recent mega-review of studies confirmed this.

In fact babies born in the water seem to be calmer, and have a slower transition into the world. My mother-in-law witnessed my son being born in the pool and she was amazed by how calm he was. She said she wished she could back and give birth to her sons again, and do it in a birth pool.

07/09/2022

Amazing waterbirth view

06/13/2022

This is amazing!!

06/05/2022

This is so wonderful! Mke area peeps that need lactation support check this out!! Maizie and I may have to check it out

We are so excited to announce that the Breastfeeding Resource Group at Authentic Birth Center • Wellness Collective is back! Join us every other Tuesday starting June 14th to connect with other moms in the same season of motherhood. We can’t wait to see you then!

05/24/2022

Ever wonder what a Florida home birth midwife brings to your birth?

〰︎

Well Being/Vital Sign Monitoring:

Sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff)
Stethoscopes for both adult and newborn
Dopplers (hand held to hear fetal heartbeat and doppler gel)
Fetoscope
Tape measure (for prenatal belly growth and to measure newborns)
Pulse oximeter for CCHD (critical congenital heart disease screening) or to be used during resuscitation
Laboratory set up for blood draws, cultures, amniotic fluid detection, PAP smears, PH paper, urinary dip-sticks, pregnancy tests, newborn screen tests, etc.
Intravenous fluids (IV) set-up
Urinary catheters
Newborn resuscitation tray including: oxygen source, Ambu-bag (bag, mask, valve), laryngeal mask airway (LMA), bulb syringe, oximeter and suction tubes
Oxygen cylinders and adult masks
Instruments to cut cord and suture
Disposable supplies (sterile gloves, underpads, sterile gel, peri-bottle, 'granny' un**es, pads, baby diapers, suture material, syringes, hazardous waste bags, non-sterile gloves, etc.)
​
Herb List:

We carry various homeopathy and herbal tinctures.
Cotton Root Bark
Angelica
Black & Blue Cohosh
Arnica
Pulsatilla
And many more.
​
Medication List:

Vitamin K (for newborn if requested)
Erythromycin eye ointment (for newborn if requested)
Pitocin (not to be used in labor, only to prevent or treat a hemorrhage)
Methergine (postpartum only)
Misoprostol (postpartum only)
Antibiotics for prophylactic use (only for GBS positive people)
Hydroxyzine (rest, Mama)
Lidocaine (for use while suturing)
RhoGam injection (for RH negative women)
I.V. Fluids
​
Birth Support Tools:

Birth tub
Birth ball
Birth stool
Rice socks, heating pads, hot water bottles
Herbal (arnica) massage oils
Love (oxytocin), gravity, patience, privacy and time.

05/21/2022

https://www.facebook.com/58304074/posts/10100965897201644/?d=n

05/03/2022

I’m currently in Fennimore testing out of my 2nd year of Midwifery skills to be able to support safe, autonomous home birth come December 2023!

Truth!