Ma Mi Amor Birth

08/30/2020

D U E • D A T E S
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This week September begins which means I’m entering baby’s birth month! 🎉
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The intended parents recently asked me “so X more days to go?” to which I responded, “It can be any time. Counting the days may drive us crazy, I’m choosing to just go with the flow and let my body and the baby tell us when it’s time.”
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If you love and/or support a pregnant person, it’s easy to get excited over a “due date” because it’s a celebratory date you can look forward to and plan around. The truth is due dates are estimated guesses based on the pregnant person’s first day of their last period before they became pregnant. If your menstrual cycle is outside of the 28/29 day cycle average, the margin of error increases in the estimated due date formula. In my case, my due date is an estimated guess based on adding a week after the date of the embryo transfer. That said, it’s best not to get attached to the date.
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Getting attached to due dates can create unnecessary fear, anxiety, and pressure for the pregnant person and their support team. Instead, focus on helping the pregnant person stay as comfortable as possible during the last few weeks of pregnancy as they await any signs of labor.
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**An important note for the pregnant person:
Give yourself two weeks before and after your guess date as your guess month. When people ask you when you’re due (which they will!), get into the habit of responding with a general answer like “Around September” or “in the Fall”. I noticed it drives some people crazy because they want a firm date, but that’s when I choose to tell them, “I trust that my body and baby will tell me when it’s time.” 🤷🏽‍♀️
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Here are some DOs and DON’Ts for loved ones of pregnant folks when it comes to due dates. Please share far and wide so we can start to prioritize maternal health and wellness as a community.

08/29/2020

Happy Black Breastfeeding Week!

08/07/2020

What is it?
is colostrum (the first milk) in the final weeks of and storing for use after .
This gets replaced, so there's no concerns about using it up before the arrives. It also doesn't cause the next stage of (milk coming in), as the needs to be delivered for this to happen.

Why do it?
This used to only be suggested for families who knew their baby might have challenges with blood sugar or feeding after birth, for example gestational diabetes, or cleft lip. But now, it's generally accepted that anyone that wishes to can store colostrum.
But why is it worth doing? Firstly, it's a great way of familiarising yourself with your anatomy, and how to .
It can be hard to predict which babies might need extra support with feeding and blood sugar after birth, so it's great to know you have some stored in case you need it.

When should I do it?
Usually suggested from , though there is some thought this could be sooner in a healthy, low risk pregnancy. Speak to your about your own individual circumstances, especially if you know you're more likely to give birth early, e.g. twins.
You can do it 2 or 3 times a day for a few minutes at a time. Stop immediately if you have any discomfort or experience tummy pain.

Where?
Wherever you like, but the key is finding somewhere you feel relaxed and comfortable.
A private space is often useful. You'll also need to have access to somewhere you can wash your hands, and have a freezer for storage.

How?
First you'll need to get hold of some syringes with caps so that they can be sealed, and some labels to put on them once used.
Wash your hands.
Do some breast massage, anything you like really, but whatever you do should be comfortable and warm. This is more about getting relaxed and comfortable than moving the colostrum.
Now make a C shape with your thumb and first two fingers. Feel back from your ni**le until you feel a change; a firmer, lumpy texture. This is the spot you'll be compressing.
Using the C shape you've created, compress for a couple of seconds in a firm but comfortable way and then release for a couple of seconds. Repeat. Build up this slow, steady rhythm without dragging the skin or causing discomfort. It can take a bit of time for the colostrum to come, or you may need to move your C shape back or forward ever so slightly until you 'hit the spot'.
Some people find a gentle roll forward with your fingers can be useful. Others may find pushing back a little toward the chest wall before compressing helpful.
There are ducts all the way around the breast so once you've finished the first spot you can move your C shape around to a different place.

Colostrum is often a yellowy/golden colour, but may be clear too. You may get no colostrum at all, or just get a glistening of it on the ni**le, or you may get drops coming out. Anything is normal! If you don't get any or much colostrum at this point it does NOT mean you will have a low milk supply.

Any syringes with colostrum in need to be labelled with your name and the date, capped and put into a clean box in the freezer. Make sure the box is deep in the freezer. They can be stored for 6 months, so even if you don't use them in the first few days, you can use them later down the line. (Some people like to think of it as a little immune booster!)

The more you practise the more likely you are to get some colostrum to store.
Remember, any discomfort at any time please stop x

07/26/2020

The purple line is our body’s natural indicator that baby is emerging soon.

💜 🅣🅗🅔 🅟🅤🅡🅟🅛🅔 🅛🅘🅝🅔 💜
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Vaginal exams are not the only way to assess how far along a birther is in a labor and even where the baby is stationed in the pelvis.
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More often than not, there’s a purple line that may start to appear above the a**s in early labor and it will continue to get darker in color and move higher up the birthers natal cleft(butt crack) the further labor progresses.
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This purple line can be various shades of pink, red, dark purple or even silver, and it depends on the birthers skin tone.
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This purple line can be used as a way to minimize unnecessary vaginal exams and be less invasive.
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The World Health Organization says:
🗣 “the number of vaginal examinations should be limited where it is necessary.”🗣

Link to study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4329935/
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PhotoCred: Mckaila Shiloh Photography
FoundOn: Home Sweet Homebirth