I just attended the Trust Birth Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, (I am a doula).It was an amazing, mind-blowing and Oxytocin-filled adventure. I got to meet some of my heroines and I learned so much!

STOP HATTING
Something new that I learned from Carla Hartley at the closing of the conference, was why we should stop putting little hats on new borns. What? Seems like a necessary thing no? Let’s keep that widdle head warm no? NO! A Mother’s body is all that healthy baby needs. According to Boba’s site;

“A mother has actual “thermal synchrony” with her infant. When a baby is placed in the kangaroo position, skin to skin with his mother, the temperature of the mother’s breasts actually change so that her baby can better maintain his own temperature. If the baby gets too cold the mother’s body temperature will actually warm up one degree to help warm the baby. If the baby gets too hot, the mother’s body temperature will decrease one degree to cool the baby. This even works when twins are kangarooed (Ludington-Hoe, 2004). Furthermore, the flexed position that the baby assumes on his mother’s chest as opposed to lying on his back in an incubator is a more efficient position for conserving heat.”

The Brain Limbic System (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Okay, okay, so maybe the baby doesn’t NEED a little hat, what’s wrong with putting it on anyway? A mothers limbic system is set up to receive the smell of her baby.

“Research has demonstrated that the changes to the olfactory bulb and main olfactory system following birth are extremely important and influential for maternal behavior. Mammalian olfactory cues play an important role in the coordination of the mother infant bond, and the following normal development of the offspring. Maternal breast odors are individually distinctive, and provide a basis for recognition of the mother by her offspring”.

This can be disturbed by the very presence of this seemingly innocent cap. Human emotions are needed for a baby’s survival since needy infants are completely helpless and dependent on their parents for protecting, caring for and feeding them. Dr. Arthur Janov says:

What transpires between mother and child is a conversation between their right-side limbic systems.

When the mother is attuned to the baby’s feelings, her right limbic system is in tune, and she can feel what the baby is feeling and respond appropriately.

The more parental love there is, the more dopamine neurons in the right brain activate, giving the child a feeling of wellbeing.

The better the baby feels about its environment, the more optimum the dopamine activation in the right brain.

What happens when we receive mother’s love is that we feel good physiologically.

So you say, alright, no hatting. What else?

STOP chatting. The “Huh” you say? Yep. I learned that this time of bonding belongs to the parents. Baby has been hearing their voices almost exclusively. Baby is waiting to hear THOSE voices, not yours. Now is not the time to start processing, this moment belongs to the family. You will have plenty of time to talk about the birth or your feelings about the event that just transpired. When I thought about my role as a doula it seemed right that I smile and beam and wait to talk till I was invited to do so and even then keep a respectful distance.
STOP patting. What? Not touch the baby? Um, no. That baby does not need to be touched by anyone but mama and her partner. The immune system of a newborn is not as strong as an older infant or child. The antibodies that it is born with comes from the mother. The mother can only pass along antibodies against germs which she has built up and immunity to. So hands off, I know that newborn skin is SO TEMPTING! But you must RESIST!

So, yeah. Like Carla says; “STOP HATTING STOP CHATTING STOP PATTING. I read this today and I think it pertains to this topic of not pushing your self on this miraculous event: ”

The Revelation for the ego is to recognize that others are equally important, that their point of view matters, their needs count, and their states of mind, body and soul are entirely valid. 

Let’s respect this family that has just been born. Let us be reminded that their bodies knew how to birth/be born with little assistance (if any) why would they now suddenly need us? Give it a thought and let me know what you think…

Related articles

• Can Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Be Prevented?(mummycoupons.com)

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• The Limbic Imprint(drewstarr.wordpress.com)

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Three Things We Need To Stop Doing to Newborns! Progressive Parenting - Being a Parent is the Hardest Job You'll Ever Have, We Want You to Know You are Not Alone!

We are so excited to add yet another channel to our station of help and support. This particular show is all about supporting the woman that supports families! This show is for doulas only. Tune in every week and speak with seasoned professionals, share stories and ask questions. As doulas our job can be exciting, draining and exquisite. We need support to do what we do and that’s what Doula Mentor TV is here to do! Join us!

My guest this morning was Elizabeth Bachner.

Doula Mentor TV Progressive Parenting - Being a Parent is the Hardest Job You'll Ever Have, We Want You to Know You are Not Alone!

Photo by Anna Verwal © 2005 Click on picture for a gorgeous midwifery site!

In a recently published White Paper by the California Maternal QualityCare Collaborative researchers in California confirmed that the high number of cesarean sections performed in the United States and in California put mothers and babies at increased risks and add significantly to healthcare costs with little evidence of health benefits.

The report also confirmed that there are psychological costs that are often overlooked. Postpartum anxiety, depression,  and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cesareans affect maternal-infant attachment and breastfeeding as well.  The cesarean rate in California and the United States increased by 50 percent between 1998 and 2008. It rose from 22 percent to 33 percent in ten years. Researchers found no data to document any population-level benefit to mothers or newborns associated with the  increased rate of cesareans.

The authors state, “Today providers seem to see no ‘downside’ to a high cesarean rate; and women seem increasingly accepting of the prospect of a cesarean.”

California healthcare payers pay hospital charges of $24,700 for a cesarean compared to $14,500 for a vaginal birth. The authors state physicians, healthcare payers, employers who pay for childbirth costs, and public health officials are not aware of the “disconnect” between the amount of dollars spent and the health outcomes in U.S. maternity care.

This is how the show started on Monday night (2-6-2012). The quote comes from VBAC.COM an excellent resource for information on VBAC. My guest on the show was Dr. Stuart Fischbein. He IS definitely aware of the “disconnect” . He discussed women’s rights and what women can do to ensure they are heard by their care provider.  CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE TRUTH ABOUT VBACS

After the show Dr. Fischbein joined us again on our live “TV” show Watch the AFTER THE SHOW, SHOW on The Truth About VBACS

The Truth About VBACS Progressive Parenting - Being a Parent is the Hardest Job You'll Ever Have, We Want You to Know You are Not Alone!

Catching Babies Director Barni Axmed Qaasim, will be joining us Monday night November 21st at 10pm CST. Join us live by calling in or join us in the live chat room.

Call in number to speak with the host

(917) 889-2491

My guest will be sharing information on her new film Catching Babies. Barni Axmed Qaasim is a filmmaker and writer focused on sharing the stories and experiences of people who are left out of dominant Western media. Her work spans documentary to music videos and is dedicated to documenting resistance from the refugee camp to the streets. Barni works closely with the Somali community in the States and won a Somali Association of Arizona award of recognition for “giving Somali refugees a voice” with her documentary, A Little Rebirth. Barni works closely with grassroots migrants’ right organizations in Arizona and in Oakland. Barni holds a BA in a Political Science with a minor in Video Production and a Masters of Arts in Broadcasting.
We will also be joined by
: Jennifer Lucero, Producer
Jennifer Lucero is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso where she received her degree in Electronic Media, focusing on documentary film work and a minor in Women’s Studies. Lucero believes that communication is the fire starter of every social change and seeks to give people a voice through film making. In her work, Lucero’s artistic vision is to capture the stories of the people that are not heard through mainstream media. Currently, Lucero resides in Cleveland Ohio where she works at a grass roots non-profit resource center where she uses media to raise awareness about HIV/STDS and reproductive issues.

in addition we will be joined by
Jessica Kirkwood Weaver, Midwife
Jessica Kirkwood Weaver graduated from Maternidad La Luz in 2009 and stayed on as staff midwife. This summer she ended her time there and moved to Wisconsin where she has been networking with other midwives and plans to start attending homebirths next spring.

The following is directly from the site Iftiin Productions

Shot in cinema verité style, Catching Babies takes viewers are taken into an intimate space with the midwives and families by using close-ups and the background sounds of bustling households. In the vibrant colors of this border town, slow-paced and reflective moments will be contrasted with the fast pace of the Birthing Center. The midwives will narrate the unpredictable shifts in the Birth Center on-camera as they perform the meaningful work of supporting women through the most important moments of their life.

While to some the idea of midwifery conjures up images of primitive healthcare practices, to others it is reminiscent of the ways of their homeland. This field synthesizes advanced medical technology with traditional skills into a healing women’s space. Learn about midwifery through the journey of women who are dedicated to empowering mothers and welcoming healthy babies.

 

I am thrilled to be able to speak to this amazing woman. I hope you will be able to catch a screening or host one in your home town.

Catching Babies, the Documentary and the Birth of Midwives Progressive Parenting - Being a Parent is the Hardest Job You'll Ever Have, We Want You to Know You are Not Alone!