A Twitter Homebirth After Cesarean

I got to be part of a #TwitterBirth! Well, not just me, anyone following this beautiful mama. This link takes you to a recent post with photos of her gorgeous maternity photo shoot. If you’re not on Twitter and wondering what in the world a #twitterbirth is, let me explain. Erykah Badu was the first ever. The # symbol and word behind it lets whoever is on Twitter follow that topic. Very cool.

The laboring mama, or someone from her birth team tweets what’s happening to those of us who want to follow along. The rest of us usually stalk the laboring mama’s timeline sending her our positive energy and laboring vibes.

People say that online relationships are fake and what’s the point. We always put down what we don’t understand, don’t we? What I saw last night were real people connecting online, cheering this mama on. Her birth team talked of how humbled and honored they were to be part of the experience. You could feel the excitement coming from her birth team.

I would do screen captures if I could figure it out on this tab, but you’ll have to settle for quotes for now.

One of the last tweets read momma sol exclaimed “I had a vaginal birth!” There were congratulations, women thanking her for being an inspiration for their upcoming VBAC’s – and Sol Mama herself said“thanks for all of the well wishes. my birth team was sharing replies to me during the birth. really helped during transition.

She birthed a baby boy into the water. He weighed 7lbs 12oz, 21 inches and will be named later. Mama and baby are doing well, she last tweeted about an hour ago “I am holding my newborn. He smells so sweet. And has a perfect latch…”

If you’re on Twitter and want to follow she is @1beautifulsol

I was smiling like I had just given birth. Thank you Sol Mama for sharing the birth of moonbeam with us!

Welcome earthside little one.

move your body during labor

With my first baby, I walked the halls for about an hour before being confined to the bed. I was confined to the bed because I was being induced.

Movement during labor is great for you and the baby. With my last two babies being able to move around freely made me feel more in control. Looking back to my first birth, I wish I would’ve had a birth ball. That way I would be upright off and on.

I never understood why they tell you not to sleep on your back during pregnancy, but keep you on your back during labor.

When your bouncing on the birth ball, squatting, walking, all of that works with gravity to aid your body in bringing the baby down.

It’s important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to move during labor. Hopefully you’ll feel free to move however you your body wants in the moment. There are videos of women singing and dancing in labor.

I found this website on the art and history of belly dancing. Belly Dancing as the Dance of Childbirth.

You’ll get to a point during labor where moving around may not feel as comfortable. You could try a hot shower, or a birth pool, lying on your left side, hands and knees. Did you know that the hands and knees position helps to open the pelvis an extra 30%?

I also found this informative website on positions for the easiest labor.

What about you? What positions felt most comfortable for you?

How You Can Help Ensure Safe Birth in Haiti During Unsafe Times

Maternal Health isn’t just something we need to only be concerned about in the United States, but internationally as well.

I’m honored to be working with BirthSwell and Circle of Health International{COHI} to help send Certified Nurse Midwife, Karen Feltham to Haiti. If you remember, Haiti was hit with a massive earthquake back in January of 2010.

Each Year, one-third of the world’s population will be affected by natural disaster.
13 million will become refugees and 20 million will be displaced within their own countries.
Women and children make up 80% of the world’s refugees and displaced people.
The need for quality and accessible reproductive health care in crisis settings is urgent.

Nearly 400,000 women will die each year from pregnancy-related causes. Nurses and Midwives are the primary reproductive health care providers. They provide up to 80% of patient care everyday around the world.

Karen is a former board member of COHI and has volunteered her clinical services in Nicaragua and on a previous trip to Haiti.

COHI has also worked with Midwives in Tibet, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Sudan, Palestine, and Israel, Post- Katrina in Louisiana,  and Japan. They focus on safe motherhood, gender based violence, and HIV/AIDS.

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Karen has four goals for her time in Haiti.

1.Review existing protocols for managing emergencies.

2.Run emergency drills for using improved protocol for complications to help reduce chaos during emergency situations.

3. Make improvements based on evidence.

4. Improving outcomes for mothers and babies by providing peer to peer skill building and support through the two local midwives that staff the birth center.

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Karen is traveling to Haiti at the end of this month. The $1000 goal has already been raised. We still need your help to ensure that COHI is able to continue helping women and children.
Every additional dollar raised beyond our goal will go towards getting Karen – or another skilled midwife – to the next disaster or crisis. COHI volunteers give their time freely to ensure that women can have safe births – even in unsafe times.

Will you help by giving to a cause that affects us all?

Birth Video of The Week: Journey to a VBAC

The look of joy on this mother’s face after her VBAC is amazing! This video brought tears to my eyes. I hope you find it inspirational as well.

How you can have the ‘Goddess Treatment’ aka ‘The Beyonce Treatment’ too

Beyonce gave birth to a baby girl, Blue Ivy Carter this past weekend. The world had been waiting on this arrival since she rubbed her belly on stage several months ago.
People were wondering, will she have a natural childbirth? Will she breastfeed?

Once the news came out, the nasty comments, tweets, and blog posts started. I posted this link on my FB page.
I haven’t found anything saying this did not happen. For that, I am sad that the hospital kept parents from seeing their children.

Still, why can’t women support each other instead of tearing each other down? We say such mean, hateful, and hurtful things to and about each other. It’s quite sad, really.

I’m thankful for these posts here….

This post from Sistah Midwife on Bey Bashing. My Brown Baby talks about Glory the song J wrote for his little girl. And Crunchy VT Mommy talks about all the judgey ladies. I highly suggest you read these posts, they’re pretty powerful.

Every pregnant and laboring mom is a goddess in my book. Pregnancy is beautiful, and so is giving birth!
So to truly feel like the star you are try some of these.

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Do you wear makeup? Take a makeup kit to the hospital/birth center with you. If I have another kid I am totally putting on some makeup for a few pics. It makes me feel extra pretty.

Ask if you can have candles, low lights, and soft music in your room.

Buy yourself a new gown to wear during or after the birth.

Bring your favorite jewelry.

Hire a doula if you can, can’t afford one? Maybe you have a close friend, or family member you trust to be by your side. You can also find a doula who isn’t certified yet, but has been through training at a lower cost.

Thinking about homebirth? Then you can make your home exactly the way you want!

With my first, and second births, I had candles and music, and with the last Charles had played the sound of the waves during the last stage of labor for me.

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These are just a few suggestions, but think of things that make you feel good, and see how you can incorporate them into your birthing experience.

You are beautiful, you are a Goddess, and you deserve to be treated like one! Especially during one of the most sacred times of your life.

What are your suggestions for feeling like a Goddess during birth?

Birth Video of The Week: A Beautiful Waterbirth

Love the song playing. The video is a little dark, but you can see mom push the baby out into the water.