This is Labor Without Fear.

I wish every pregnant woman out there could watch this video. I wish they could all realize that this is what labor has the potential to be like: without fear, without intervention. Just pure heart and soul.



This woman is about to give birth to her ten pound son. She is having contractions while she is singing. Amazing.

I found this video through another birthing blog, but for the life of me I can't remember which one. I haven't been sleeping much.

This is Labor Without Fear.

Delurking Week: Better Late Than Never

I know I'm late with this, but I am insanely curious. Make me feel loved, people, and leave a comment! :o)

p.s the great graphic is from here.

Delurking Week: Better Late Than Never

Prenatal Workshop

My favorite part of being a Doula? Having the ability to reach out the community.

Remember how I mentioned that a dear friend of mine and I were planning a prenatal workshop? Well, it's all set up. Now we just have to get women to sign up. So, feel free to spread the word ;o)

Presenting the Buddhaful Movements for Pregnancy and Birth Workshop Join us for a day of relaxation and movement!

· Explore techniques for deep breathing and relaxation tailored towards pregnancy.

· Experience yoga techniques proven to help you relax and relieve muscle soreness and common discomforts during your pregnancy.

· Learn positions and movements to help make your labor a shorter and smoother process.

No matter what type of birth you are planning, these techniques will help keep you relaxed, flexible, and toned throughout your pregnancy and focused during your labor. The cost for this workshop is $35.00. Light refreshments will be served.

Childbirth experts and recent research agree that positioning and movement can result in a more comfortable pregnancy. Research also agrees that positioning and movement can result in a smoother and more comfortable labor, and can even help to shorten the labor process.

For more information, feel free to email me or contact me through my website.

Prenatal Workshop

Unassisted Childbirth on Good Morning America

Good Morning America recently did a story on Unassisted Childbirth.

You can read the article here. I'll keep my opinion of the "expert doctor" to myself, but I'm wondering what you think of his statement. The article also states:

The baby could be born in a breach position, or with the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. The mother could suffer from significant tearing or from a maternal hemorrhage and bleed to death in as little as five minutes.

As for the baby being born in a breech position, the fact is that doctors nowadays are not really taught how to vaginally deliver breech babies. Only in certain situations is it not possible to vaginally deliver a breech baby. Many women give birth to breech babies at home, without any complications. As for having the cord wrapped around the baby's neck, in some situations that can present a problem. But in most....just unwrap it.

Rixa wrote a great post with a response from Gloria Lemay concerning the doctor's concern that women "could bleed to death in as little as five minutes".

There's also a video available to watch.

I believe I've stated my own personal opinion concerning Unassisted Childbirth before, but I'll state it again. Unassisted Childbirth is not for me, however I understand why a woman would choose to go that route. When I was planning my homebirth with the Guppy, the Knight and I very briefly considered doing a UC before deciding that we felt more comfortable with a midwife present. Personally, I love having a midwife, an experienced woman, at my side. I am definitely not a lone birther, I love to be surrounded by loving and supportive people. While I do feel that it is a little more "risky" giving birth without at least a midwife there, I do acknowledge and respect the fact that most women who choose Unassisted Childbirth are not taking their decision lightly: they are serious about educating themselves about the risks and how to act if an emergency does come up.

I'm interested in hearing what your views on Unassisted Childbirth are.

Unassisted Childbirth on Good Morning America

Belly Dancing During Pregnancy

Good Morning America recently did a great story on the benefits of belly dancing during pregnancy.

I think belly dancing is a great way to stay fit while you are pregnant. Not only does it work the core muscles and prepare muscles that you will be using during labor, but it is fun! And like the article says, many of the dance moves can help to make labor a smoother and shorter process.

The article states:

According to one anthropologist, belly dancing actually originated as a ritual of childbirth as well as seduction.
One doctor said the sway of belly dancing actually can aid during childbirth by helping to position the baby.

You can watch the video for the story here.

So, if you are carrying a belly bean, look into taking a local belly dancing class.

Belly Dancing During Pregnancy

Soundbites From Our Life

My goal was to start posting to this blog more often, at least once a day. Unfortunately the Guppy has been teething like mad and a teething baby = a very clingy and cranky baby! I am still going to strive for posting once a day. I love this blog, getting all my thoughts and opinions written out in such a way is very therapeutic to me.

So, quickly before the Guppy wakes up, some little soundbites from our life:

~ I'm on week two of my diet. I'm doing a combo of Arbonne Figure 8 products and Weight Watchers. Last week I lost 3 lbs, my official weigh in is on Mondays. Woot woot!

~ My dear and lovely Sister-in-law is getting married this spring. I am a bridesmaid and the Mermaid is going to be the flower girl! We're going to get her dress today and while I know she is going to be an adorable flower girl, all I can picture in my head and her screeching and running down the aisle throwing her petals everywhere!

~ The Knight and his family run a Fantasy Football every year. The members take it all very seriously and put a lot of time and effort into it. This year the Knight did not win the Super Bowl, and so he is upset that the lovely trophy will not be gracing our living room this year (me, I'm more relieved than anything. I personally can't stand the damn thing).

~ In the past two weeks I have taken big steps to get my Doula business and my Direct Marketing business going strong. I am planning a prenatal yoga/positioning for labor workshop with a dear friend of mine who teaches yoga. I'm very excited and will keep you updated.

~ The Mermaid has been thriving through homeschooling and each day I am more and more sure that we made the right decision. We are trying hard to keep her on a consistent routine and to give her lots of productive attention. She is becoming much calmer as a result and much more willing to listen when we ask her to do something.

That's all I have for now, as I can hear the Guppy stirring in the other room. Hopefully I will be able to post again tomorrow.

Soundbites From Our Life

A Heartfelt Cry for Help

Most of you know that the Guppy was born at home, in a birthing tub in my living room.

During my labor, the birthing tub and the water it held was a godsend. While in transition, sliding into the warm water, I felt relieved of much of the pressure and intensity of the contractions. It truly was Nature's Epidural.

The water held me buoyant, helping my mind as well as my body float through each contraction and relax between pushes. After only thirty minutes of soft, gently pushing, the Guppy emerged softly and sweetly into the water and into our hearts. For me, choosing to give birth in the water was the best decision I ever made. I loved it. She is forever my water baby.

During my pregnancy, there was one wonderful website that I kept referring to time and time again for some birth inspiration. I would spend hours reading peaceful birth stories and studying the facts surrounding waterbirth. I was amazed at what such a wonderful resource this organization was, not only for pregnant mothers but for the entire birth community as a whole.

I am, of course, speaking about Waterbirth International. What an inspirational and badly needed organization. Unfortunately, Waterbirth International is now in trouble, and needs a miracle.

I was forwarded this email today:

Barbara Harper wrote:.

I cannot yet imagine a world without the voice and work of
Waterbirth International - we get calls and emails every day from women who need help convincing one hospital or another to let them labor or birth in water. If we die - a big part of the movement dies. Waterbirth has shown us all that women know how to give birth and babies know how to be born. Waterbirth gave us "hands-off", sit back and let the baby out. I see waterbirth mentioned on Blogs every single day, not to mention Baby Story on the TV. I took Waterbirth International to ACOG two years in a row - and was the ONLY booth showing birth
films to obstetricians and especially to student physicians. There were tears, laughter and outrage - just the thing to stir up those young crop of doctors.

I am finally realizing a life's dream.But now I am faced with letting this dream go.

Perhaps I have done enough.Perhaps it is time to quit.

About 18 years ago, maybe it was longer, when Mothering Magazine was facing bankruptcy Peggy did a heartfelt plea asking their readers to consider ordering a Life-time subscription. I think the subscriptions were $1000 or$1200, I can't remember now. I do remember that I couldn't imagine not reading my Mothering. So, I bought two and gave one to my obstetrician's office.

How can you help us stay open to take the next phone call? - to convince the next obstetrician to incorporate waterbirth into his/her practice - to work with the nurse midwives to install
pools in their facilities? To educate an entire hospital on the benefits of allowing women freedom of movement in the water. How much is it worth to see waterbirth become the norm in the US, like it is in the UK? I think we only need a few more years to make that happen. Do women really want waterbirth to be an
available choice in every hospital? I think so.

Can you help us by getting the word out on blogs and lists? I had to let goof all of the staff except one person to process orders. Miraculously, we made payroll today, but we can't hang on much longer. We need a miracle.

If I need to call every single waterbirth parent personally, I will. I don't want 25 years of work to end over a measly $200,000.

The work that we have done the last few years has been phenomenal. How God arranged for me to teach in hospitals and medical schools around the planet- Taiwan, Venezuela, Turkey, Mexico, Canada, Holland, Portugal, China, Trinidad, Croatia - I'll never figure that out. I laugh out loud sometimes when I get up in front of an audience of physicians in a medical school overseas - who all want to hear about waterbirth and the incorporation of Gentle Birth practices and principles into their routines.

Think about what you can do and call me if you want to chat or if you have some great ideas on how we can quickly move into the
black and keep waterbirth alive and thriving.

We need your help. Barbara Harper needs your help. The waterbirth/gentlebirth movement needs your help.

Blessings,

Barbara

Barbara Harper, RN, CLD, CCEFounder/Director Waterbirth
Internationalwww.waterbirth.org

503-673-0026 -office (out of US or in Portland)

Please, get the word out. Let's keep the waterbirth movement going strong. Let's give them their miracle.

A Heartfelt Cry for Help