You're Birth Binder
All the things you need to prepare for a confident birth
FEAR – TENSION – PAIN
What is Wrong with Birth?
Fear is the beginning of the fear – tension – pain cycle. Just imagine an animal giving birth in the woods. They have found a safe place to give birth and labor has begun. Just then they hear the noise of a predator nearby. Instinctually, knowing they do not want to give birth and put their newborn in danger, labor stops. The muscles used for birth tense up and blood flow is redirected to their limbs, so they can run away and find a safe place before continuing the process.
The problem with humans, is that we are giving birth as if we are in danger. Our brain is not able to differentiate real danger (like a predator) from perceived danger. We try to give birth with tension in our muscles causing more painful contractions and an exhausted body. This pain then creates more fear and the cycle continues.
We can look to the autonomic nervous system to dive deeper into why this cycle occurs. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is included in the peripheral nervous system and is largely unconscious. This part of our nervous system works beyond our control. Examples of this are: blinking, breathing, digesting, anything that happens without us telling our body to do so. Can you believe it? There are 2 major components of the ANS, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
Sympathetic Nervous System
How do you feel when you are stressed?
When a woman gives birth in the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), she is giving birth in the fight-flight-or-freeze response. Her mind is telling her body that there is danger and the best thing for her body to do is stop the process and find a safe place. This is typically why we see labor slow or labeled as ‘failure to progress’ when changing environments.
The SNS is designed to activate only during times of life-threatening situations. When we give birth in this system, the body is flooded with hormones that begin the fear-tension-pain cycle. THIS IS WHERE MOST WOMEN GIVE BIRTH, yet it is clearly not where we want them to.
Adrenaline:
- Blood/oxygen to limbs & away from uterus
- Lactic Acid buildup
Catecholamines:
- Contracts muscles – including cervix
The PNS
How do you feel when you are relaxed?
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), also known as the rest and digest system, is responsible for controlling homeostasis, or the balance and maintenance of the body’s systems. It allows the body to conserve energy as well as relax and repair.
When a woman gives birth in the PNS, hormones are able to flow as designed. Birth is easier and safer for both mom and baby. Blood goes directly to birthing muscles and with the delivery of blood, comes oxygen (O2) delivery. The more O2 that gets to the uterus and baby = a healthier baby.
THIS IS WHERE WE WANT WOMEN TO GIVE BIRTH!
Oxytocin:
- Known as the feel-good hormone
- Creates a euphoric feeling at birth
- Good for bonding
Endorphins:
- Body’s own pain relievers & natural relaxants
- 200x more effective a than morphine
How can we stop the cycle?
My goal as your doula is to eliminate as much of the fear as possible, so we can stop (and more preferably, prevent) this cycle. I want my clients to birth in the parasympathetic nervous system with relaxed muscles and birthing hormones flowing free. We can do this by:
– Building your confidence in your birthing ability during pregnancy
– Practicing relaxation techniques leading up to the birth
– Creating a ‘birth safe’ environment, that is quiet with low lighting
– Having a supportive team – doula, partner (if there is one), and healthcare providers that are all on the same page
– Being mindful of language especially during labor
– Being undisturbed during birth – letting the thinking mind rest
– Having my voice (your doula’s) never be the loudest in the room. My voice will be nurturing and echoing back your needs, wishes, and vibes.
Sympathetic Nervous System
Should be in SNS 5% of the time
Fight | Flight | Freeze
Freeze = failure to progress
Where the average woman gives birth☹
Catecholamines are released
– Muscles contract
– Cervix is a muscle
Adrenaline is released
– Blood flow to limbs
– Removal of oxygen from the uterus
– Build-up of Lactic Acid
*Body doesn’t know the difference between real & imagined fear
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Should be in PNS 95% of the time
Rest & digest
Maintains homeostasis
Where we want women to birth😊
Endorphins are released
– Painkilling & relaxing
– 200x stronger than morphine
Oxytocin is released
– Feel good hormone
– Causes contractions
– Aids in bonding after birth
*More oxygen gets to birthing muscles & baby = healthier baby!!
THE THREE SISTERS OF BALANCE
Forward-Leaning Inversion (FLI)
Why? The FLI potentially untwists the ligaments supporting the lower uterine segment and cervix (uterosacral, cervical, round ligament). When you rise upright again these ligaments relax. Repeating the stretch many times helps to release a possible spasm or asymmetry and allow the baby’s head to fit more easily during labor.
Who does this? All pregnant people without a contraindication. Head down babies included if done properly. Use a reliable surface, like a bed or couch or stairs. Knees are close to the firm and secure edge. Use a spotter for the first few tries. Have a helper each time if you don’t have good balance or if you don’t feel secure doing it on your own. Don’t go fast. Protect yourself from falling.
How long? 30 seconds. That’s three breaths long.
How frequent? Once daily!
How to do it during pregnancy:
- Gently! Don’t drop into place! Move slow and be controlled to protect the placenta. Kneel on the edge of a couch (or the top of the stairs)
- Carefully lower yourself to your hands on the floor and then lower yourself to your forearms. Elbows out, hands close. Use a stool or step, if you like, to help you walk your hands down.
- Let your head hang freely. Your chin is tucked. Don’t rest your head on the floor. Your neck may need a little movement.
- Your knees are close to the edge, your bottom is highest. You can tilt or sway your hips if you like.
- You can flatten your lower back (posterior pelvic tilt) to give more room to free your ligaments.
- Take 3 breaths. Belly loose, shoulders strong. Chin tucked and neck long.
- Come back up on your hands, then lift yourself up to a high kneeling position again (see picture). Take two breaths and then sit on your heels for one more breath. That way you let your ligaments settle into a more symmetrical location while you catch your breath. It is in coming back up to kneeling that makes this technique work!
Note: When we first get upside-down our body signals us (in case we didn’t notice) by a throbbing head. After 3-6 times your body will realize you mean to be upside-down and your head won’t pound. Just get up early if this happens and try again, one time each day. Then it will go away.
Don’t do this if…
– If you just ate or have heartburn.
– If you have very high (or very, very low) blood pressure, or are otherwise at risk for a stroke (or fall).
– There is so much amniotic fluid around your baby that your doctor monitors you weekly (no data, being conservative here).
– In pregnancy, if there is a suspected or known problem with the placenta, including pain of an undetermined origin. Get assessed immediately. Do not do an inversion if you have or unsure if you have pain due to placental separation.
– If the baby is having or has had frantic vigorous movements. Have the baby assessed immediately. Don’t wait.
– The inversion causes pain (remember, your head may pound a bit for the first few times, that’s actually OK if mild), but abdominal pain other than round ligament stretching is not right. Severe headache must be evaluated by a physician immediately. (I don’t know of this ever happening, but let’s be aware that sudden headache needs physician evaluation.)
– You don’t feel that this is right for you (always trust the mother’s intuition and respect her choice to do or do not).
Gentle Sifting with use of the Rebozo
Rebozo Manteada:
“Manteada” is the Spanish name of the technique used by Mexican Midwives with the Rebozo. Manteada is done for pregnancy, birth, postpartum… even for fertility by Mexican Midwives. This description was shared with Spinning Babies by Midwife Ximena Rojas García. It is a gentle sifting, like a rhythmic jiggle. This way of using of The Rebozo aims to:
- Relax tight uterine ligaments and abdominal muscles
- Help a baby rotate in pregnancy or labor more easily
- Help a birthing woman relax into her labor
The Rebozo is a very long, woven scarf created by women for women. The beautiful traditions of using the Rebozo are handed down from mother to daughter and midwife to midwife. The many uses of the Rebozo include carrying a baby, relaxing and repositioning mothers in childbirth, carrying groceries, and most especially, ceremonies for important passages of women’s lives.
Muscle relaxants and narcotics are common pharmaceuticals offered at the hospital when a birthing person is tense or in pain or in a prolonged labor. Such drugs may have unwanted side effects on baby and birth giver.
The Rebozo technique from Mexico helps relax mothers with no drugs at all. Try Rebozo sifting in pregnancy for comfort. Use the two techniques below during early or active labor for comfort, and to enhance techniques that may then be used to “make space for the baby” to get into their best position for labor.
Before using the Rebozo:
The helper breaths deeply to slow themselves down. Get calm and “tune into” the mother. Be in the calm mood desired to help the mother take in the calm given by this rhythmic technique.
Ask the mother if she is having frequent round ligament pain, in the abdomen above the pubic bone off to the sides, either side. Right where the midwife or doctor reaches to check for a head in a head-down baby. If she hasn’t had pain or “zinging” there in the last two weeks, she is not currently having round ligament pain.
Rebozo Sifting Instructions:
- Have your helper wrap the Rebozo around your abdomen like a hammock around the baby.
- Kneel in front of a chair, couch, or birth ball. Use pillows as needed under knees and chest for comfort. Drape your arms over the ball, chair or couch rather than resting your weight on your hands. Relax the upper body without collapsing the back. Now the mother is in position to start. Here’s what the helper does:
- While standing behind/over mother, hold the ends of the material like reigns of a horse (sorry, just trying to help you picture this). Lift the weight of mother’s belly off her back, snug but not uncomfortable. Mothers sigh in relief at this point. Keeping the wrists straight helps the helper avoid wrist strain. It’s a variation. The thighs engage to help lift the belly.
- The helper lifts the belly enough to lift the weight of the womb from the mother’s back. Short movements are made slowly at first, and then with increasing speed. Not larger or wilder movements, just faster. The wrists of the helper should be moving like they are peddling a bike.
- Helpful tip: The helper’s slightly bent (soft) knees and shoe-less feet help the helper perceive the connection between the Rebozo and the mother’s body more sensitively than if the helper’s knees are straight, (Soft knees help proprio-perception. -Carol Phillips, Liz Koch, from class trainings)
- With a gradual increase in speed (but not vigor), your belly is being vibrated. Breathe freely, slowly and let your belly hang into it. It’s enjoyable. If it’s not enjoyable, tell the helper to adjust the speed or pressure of the Rebozo. This is absolute relaxation!
- Give your friend feedback so that they are not too broad with their movements or too mild, don’t lift too high or too little. The cloth doesn’t rub the tummy, it takes the tummy with it.
- After 2-5 minutes your friend’s arms may be tired, and they should slow down gradually for several seconds before stopping. Then the weight of the belly is released.
When? Daily or during each prenatal or pregnancy appointment with your helper, doula, bodyworker, friend, or midwife. Even in early labor, between contractions
Why so often? Modern pregnant parents experience stress on a scale that effects society as a whole. The gentle sifting of the Rebozo helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system where calm and trust abide. The overall effect of a successful Rebozo session is more peace and love. Hey! That’s a great hormonal environment to grow a baby in!
Fetal malposition? Begin any series of Spinning Babies recommended techniques with Rebozo sifting for 2-5 minutes (until your arms are tired, longer is fine).
When NOT to do the Rebozo:
- When there is a threat of miscarriage, such as signs of bleeding or low cramping in early pregnancy, history of multiple mid to late pregnancy miscarriages or losses in past pregnancies. Use a myofascial diaphragmatic release instead.
- When the round ligaments are tight or cramping in mid or late pregnancy, the Rebozo wouldn’t be dangerous to the baby, but could make the mother’s round ligament spasm. So, do only a lift and very gentle and slight rocking. Otherwise you might “set off” a round ligament spasm which hurts. If the mother isn’t getting these spasms, you are not likely to set them off with the Rebozo.
- Do not perform vigorous or even moderate sifting with the Rebozo or a Rebozo substitute (bed sheet, etc.) against an anterior placenta. I believe Rebozo use would be ok if done gently without jerking the cloth. I want to be careful and mindful with an anterior placenta.
BELLY MAPPING
FLUID INTAKE
Jodi Guererri LMT
BASED IN WATERLOO, NY
SERVICING THE FINGER LAKES, ROCHESTER, SYRACUSE & ITHACA AREAS OF NEW YORK.
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