by Alisha Tamburri | Oct 11, 2022 | Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy
**This is a repost of a classic Informed Pregnancy article
“Of course, many mothers-to-be also have strong feelings upon learning their baby is breech – some feel angry, disappointed, depressed, nervous or scared. Some are terrified contemplating the possibility that they may have a surgical birth. Quite often mothers-to-be confide in me that they feel they must have done something ‘wrong,’ and I quickly assure them that this is NOT the truth. While the primary goal of a breech session is encouraging the baby to turn, I also work to help mothers feel more relaxed and peaceful about their upcoming birth, no matter how they eventually deliver, so they can focus on the joy of meeting and holding their newborn.”
It’s late in your third trimester. You’ve been hoping and planning for a vaginal birth and never thought much about delivering via cesarean – until your OB or midwife does a scan and tells you your baby is breech.
Now what? Suddenly your plans to ‘rest and nest’ in preparation for your newborn’s arrival are pushed aside. You read everything you can find about chiropractic techniques, acupuncture, moxibustion, external cephalic version (ECV) and even standing on your head in a swimming pool (Who comes up with these ideas?), desperately searching for a way to get your baby to turn.
You might not read about a method for encouraging babies to turn that I’ve used successfully in my practice for more than 30 years – hypnotherapy. Hypnosis can help loosen tight muscles in your uterus, release stress, and calm your body and your baby. An integral part of the breech turn session is fear release therapy, where moms learn to let go of their fears concerning their pregnancy, labor, parenting, and even the stress of dealing with in-laws.
Of course, many mothers-to-be also have strong feelings upon learning their baby is breech – some feel angry, disappointed, depressed, nervous or scared. Some are terrified contemplating the possibility that they may have a surgical birth. Quite often mothers-to-be confide in me that they feel they must have done something ‘wrong,’ and I quickly assure them that this is NOT the truth. While the primary goal of a breech session is encouraging the baby to turn, I also work to help mothers feel more relaxed and peaceful about their upcoming birth, no matter how they eventually deliver, so they can focus on the joy of meeting and holding their newborn.
The use of hypnosis to help turn breech babies was supported in a groundbreaking 1994 study presented by Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona. The study included 200 women who were carrying their babies in a breech position at 36 weeks gestation or more. The experimental group of 100 women received hypnotherapy from a trained practitioner. The comparison group of 100 did not receive hypnotherapy, although some did ECV, a procedure where the baby is manually manipulated from outside the abdomen to bring about the downward turn.
Looking for more on breech pregnancy and labor? Listen to this popular episode of The Informed Pregnancy Podcast!
While in hypnosis, the mothers in the experimental group were led through guided imagery to bring about deep relaxation. They were helped to imagine their uterus becoming pliable and relaxed in order to allow their babies sufficient room to make a move. Suggestions were then given to visualize their babies effortlessly turning into the proper vertex position for birthing. Each mother was asked to talk to her baby. The hypnotherapist verbally encouraged the baby to release from the breech position, turning downward for a gentle birth.
The result? 81 of the 100 breech babies in the experimental group turned spontaneously. In the group that did not receive hypnotherapy, only 26 babies turned, and an additional 20 turned after ECV.
Hypnosis is a natural state of focused awareness that we all have within ourselves. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis; the hypnotherapist serves as a guide. The power is truly yours! It is inspiring to witness a mother become at peace with herself, her body and baby using only the incredible power of her own mind – a power they often don’t know they possess until they come into my office.
I give moms a recording of their session to listen to every day. This repetition helps mothers maintain the calm state they achieved in hypnotherapy, and encourages a baby who does turn to stay head-down until birth.
Whether or not your baby is breech, hypnotherapy during pregnancy can help to relax your body, mind, muscles and baby. It can also help make you feel more confident and empowered about birthing and becoming a parent – no standing on your head required!
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Alisha Tamburri is a clinical hypnotherapist, birth doula, HypnoFertility therapist, and childbirth educator. She has more than 30 years of experience working with expecting parents, alleviating anxieties and resolving personal and physical challenges through hypnotherapy. Alisha is a pioneer of HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education in California. She is also the proud mother of two daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandsons.
www.clearmindhypnotherapy.com
by Ana Paula Markel | Sep 13, 2022 | Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy
**This is a repost of a classic Informed Pregnancy Project article.
“Doulas are not only for mothers planning an all-natural birth, but for mothers planning or investigating all kinds of birth choices. The doula movement is all about options, information and nonjudgmental support. Doulas are hired for all scenarios, including scheduled cesareans.”
In the days before modern medicine and hospitals, laboring women would often be supported by other ‘wise women’ in their communities, who held and passed along the knowledge needed for the next generation to assist women during the process of labor and birth. These women were among the earliest ‘doulas’ – women whose sole role was to provide comfort, encouragement and wisdom during a woman’s labor and birth. The idea of the modern doula began to gain popularity from the studies of Dr. Marshall Klaus and John Kennel during the 1980s, which clearly showed the benefits of the presence of a doula during the labor process. DONA International was founded in 1992, and the role of the doula became a legitimate profession, with prospective doulas required to complete extensive training and assist in multiple births before becoming certified. In the past 20 years, one birth at a time, doulas have secured their role as an instrumental component in the birth team. People commonly think of doulas and midwives as having similar tasks, when in reality the midwife is a licensed care provider in charge of the mother and baby’s health while the doula’s focus is on supporting and promoting an environment of calmness and confidence in the mother.
As reported in many studies, the presence of a doula has many health benefits (less medical interventions, faster labors, easier breastfeeding) and the presence of a doula also highly increases birth satisfaction for the new mother. Doulas are not only for mothers planning an all-natural birth, but for mothers planning or investigating all kinds of birth choices. The doula movement is all about options, information and nonjudgmental support. Doulas are hired for all scenarios, including scheduled cesareans. In current maternity care, women often feel rushed during OB visits and sometimes are too self-conscious to share concerns, questions or fears with medical personnel. This is one of the gaps that doulas can fill.
One of the greatest benefits of hiring a doula is that doulas are well-read, informed and trained in medical terms, and understand routine hospital protocols along with the risks and benefits of various medical interventions. Doulas do NOT make medical decisions for their clients, but they do help clients to make informed decisions. In all up-to-date facilities across the country, doctors and nurses welcome the presence of a calming and professional doula. There is no role confusion; doulas are not there to take over the care of the woman, but to add to it. Doulas and nurses complement each other. During the process of hiring a doula, mothers should not feel shy to interview as many doulas as they feel they need to find their ‘match.’ An interview should be free of charge and commitment and usually last around one hour.
Some of the important points for a family to consider in hiring a doula are:
- How much experience does she have?
- How many births has she attended?
- Is she a mother herself?
- How many births does the doula take a month?
The answers to these questions may mean different things to different mothers-to-be. A mother may feel comfortable with a newer doula based on a personality match, and hiring the most experienced doula is not always the best fit for all families. The last question in the list is a very important one. Obviously, a doula willing to “book” 8 births in a typical month is much more likely to need to send a back-up doula to your birth than a doula who only schedules 3 births. A busy schedule may also affect when the doula joins a laboring woman, or how tired your doula is when she joins you for your birth.
- Is the doula certified?
- If so, by what organization?
DONA International is not the largest, but is by far the most respected doula organization worldwide. DONA has been training and certifying doulas for the past 22 years in 23 countries. If a doula is not certified, ask her to read and practice according to the DONA code of ethics and scope of practice, easily found at www.dona.org.
• How many prenatal visits will the doula provide prior to the birth? And after the birth? Not all doulas have a set schedule of visits, but the majority will do two prenatal meetings that last around 2 hours each, and one postpartum visit that lasts around 1 hour. The prenatal meetings can often substitute for a public birthing class.
Need more Informed Pregnancy? Click to listen to a popular podcast episode!
• When does the doula join the labor? Some doulas come when mothers first call; others come when labor is more established. Mothers should think about what they want and the doula should be willing to adjust to that, not the other way around.
• How much does a doula charge? This is a difficult question, as prices vary a lot. A more experienced doula will usually charge more, as will a doula with more services to provide (for example, prenatal yoga, nutrition help, or postpartum doula services – like doing laundry, watching the baby while you nap, or helping you and your newborn perfect your ‘latch’ for nursing.) In Los Angeles, doulas can charge anywhere between $500 and $3000. Some doulas work on a sliding scale, and most of the national organizations will help women to find doulas at no cost or low cost. The idea is that every woman that wants a doula should have one. Insurance companies are also starting to reimburse for doula services, so ask your insurance provider if a doula’s services are covered by your plan.
To find a doula in your area, please go to www.binibirth.com.
Need more guidance? Check out these workshops available through Berlin Wellness!
Ana Paula Markel is a childbirth educator, doula trainer, practicing doula and volunteer in international birth organizations. She is also the mother of four children. In 2008 Ana founded BINI Birth, a center in Los Angeles dedicated to the childbirth education field, doula training, parenting classes and green pregnancy retail.
by Natalie Pulvino | Jul 28, 2022 | Fitness & Nutrition, Pregnancy
“Yoga is beneficial at every age and stage of life, but can be especially grounding during seasons of change. The practice helps us slow down, listen to our bodies, shift our gaze inwards, and take good care. It generates compassion and connection and can support the release of stuck energy and emotions.”
Big Changes
The process of growing and birthing new life into this world can be transformational and deeply meaningful for many folks. The months spent preparing for a baby’s arrival are often filled with celebration, family, glowing skin, new products, tiny clothes, and special moments. But while all this is wonderful and tempting to focus on, the reality is that becoming pregnant is a major medical change for a woman, one which involves significant physical, social, mental and emotional transformations. And such changes in one’s body, environment, and lifestyle can be the source of stress, anxiety, and the provocation of new or existing mental health conditions.
Unfortunately, one in five women experience increased stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental health conditions during the perinatal period, and 75% of women experiencing symptoms go untreated (Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance). It’s important to note that 40% of Black mothers experience mental health conditions and are twice as likely as white mothers to suffer (MMHLA). Adverse mental wellbeing not only impacts maternal health, but can significantly affect fetal health. Increased anxiety, stress, and depression are linked to neurodevelopmental delays, low birth weight, and even premature birth (Corrigan, L., Moran, P., McGrath, N.). This is why comprehensive and preventive care is extremely important. Expecting mothers need tools, resources, and support to navigate their changing bodies and mental landscape.
Yoga Can Help
Although I am not certified in prenatal yoga specifically, my years of teaching experience and research have taught me that yoga is a fantastic tool for both physical and mental prenatal support and is safe to do, or try for the first time, during pregnancy. Yoga is beneficial at every age and stage of life, but can be especially grounding during seasons of change. The practice helps us slow down, listen to our bodies, shift our gaze inwards, and take good care. It generates compassion and connection and can support the release of stuck energy and emotions. The physical and mental practice incorporates breathing techniques, somatic movements, and body awareness to generate equilibrium. Many experience the “yoga high” after completing a session, and interestingly, there is science to explain this.
Check out this related episode of The Informed Pregnancy Podcast: https://bit.ly/3Su4w9z
Mind-body exercises like yoga can significantly reduce cortisol levels and quiet one’s mind, leaving them more connected to themselves, their body (and baby), and the present moment. Consistent practice reportedly results in improved stress levels, sleep, quality of life, and autonomic nervous system functioning, all of which can help relieve physical pain, emotional turmoil, and support a shorter, less painful labor or birth experience. This can increase the likelihood of a healthy baby and a healthy mom (Corrigan, L., Moran, P., McGrath, N.).
Mental and Emotional Benefits
Many expecting mothers come to me for yoga hoping to prepare their bodies for labor; they’re experiencing tight hips, shoulders, low back pain, general fatigue and discomfort, and want to feel they’ve done all they can do to prepare for childbirth. But what I typically notice during my sessions is that while women are benefiting physically from yoga, they’re experiencing the mental and emotional shifts just as much. Planning for a baby can be overwhelming, and beyond that, hormones are fluctuating at an all time high. Expecting moms may feel unusually tender, emotional, and uncentered. Having time to get quiet, slow down, tune in, and connect can offer women an essential reprieve from the list of to do’s and what if’s running through their minds. Our physical health is closely connected to our mental health; building mental resilience through a practice like yoga can help sustain you during physically challenging moments.
In order to ensure this connection happens, I like to start prenatal yoga sessions with a short meditation. A few minutes to consciously arrive in the practice can help one land in their body. From there, I typically guide clients through a brief breathing exercise. Box-breathing, where you inhale, hold, and exhale for the same amount of time (I usually cue 4 seconds), regulates the autonomic nervous system, creating a sense of calm (healthline). Once connected to their breath, I begin incorporating small movements before getting into the heart of the practice.
Starting pregnancy yoga
For women who have developed a consistent practice prior to becoming pregnant, it’s safe to continue (under doctor’s guidelines) a mostly regular practice, with a few exceptions. But if you’re trying yoga for the first time while pregnant, take it slow and easy. Yin Yoga or a slow-flow style class will give you all the benefits I’ve described above, without putting too much stress on your body. It’s also important to be aware of how you’re feeling each day you step onto your mat – if you’re slightly dehydrated you may become light headed with a lot of movement, so it’s best to stick to seated postures. You’ll likely find a range of do’s and don’ts when it comes to prenatal yoga. In general, avoid twists in the first trimester and anything that compresses or strains your lower abdomen throughout pregnancy. Take time to find an instructor that you trust and vibe with, and always check in with your body to honor your needs for that day.
Remember, a yoga instructor is just that – a yoga instructor. You know your body best and may even have heightened intuition while pregnant. Give yourself trust and grace, and always check with your healthcare provider before trying new exercise.
For more help with preparing for baby before baby comes, check out The AfterBirth Plan by Dr. Alyssa Berlin, an online course you can take at your own pace: https://informedpregnancy.teachable.com
Natalie is a certified vinyasa yoga instructor and integrative nutrition health coach living in Los Angeles, CA. Interested in bridging the current medical system with the holistic health world, Natalie is pursuing a Master’s in Public Health where she will focus her studies in community health, mental health, and maternal and reproductive health.
Alongside her love of yoga and mindfulness, she enjoys running, swimming, reading on the beach, and cooking meals with friends and family. Learn more about her work by visiting her website: nataliepulvino.com.
Citations:
Corrigan, L., Moran, P., McGrath, N. et al. The characteristics and effectiveness of pregnancy yoga interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 22, 250 (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04474-9
https://www.healthline.com/health/box-breathing#benefits
https://www.mmhla.org/factsheets/
