Midwife Monday

Can we just talk about how cool the cervix is for a hot second? Smart parts of our body are just magical. The cervix is a lady that knows what she wants and does not want, and then takes an active role in that biological desire and functionality.  Let us all find our "inner cervix" (no pun intented) and be a BOSS!

If you plan on getting a good "weinering"...perhaps think about how beneficial it could be.  We don't mean the sensations, although that matters.  We want to dive into the rise and downfall of seminal fluid (see what we did there).  We have been fed a diet of all the scary ways unprotected sex can get us, but have you ever considered the wins. Let's go! Winner Weiners and their fluids.

People call it false labor...BARF. There is zero falsity about what you are feeling. The issue lies in the confusion.  So let's talk about making it a bit clearer and come up with some possible solutions to the 'precursor".

As people, we desire shared decision making and autonomy.  Research shows that both lead to better health outcomes, saved resources and nicer experiences overall. We have to look at the whole picture when we consider it . Where the responsibility falls currently? Where should it fall? It is about information and accountability.  

Building a birth team is pivotal in the outcome and experience .   Choose the invitation list wisely and with consideration.  Here is a couple ideas on what to think through...

How can we pass up two of our favorite topics. Science and sex.  Cue the porn music and the nerd jingle.  Postcoital (dorky word for after sex) Neurochemistry.  Arousal and orgasms have been well researched and overly discussed.  Those tend to be everyone's bestie. But, there is a more mysterious and less-considered part of the cycle. Let's discuss. 

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy could be related to a big bucket of things.  Ranging from no big deal to quite serious.  Bleeding in early pregnancy is pretty common. Most of the time, it does not signal a major problem. Bleeding later in pregnancy can be more serious. No matter when it happens we understand that it feel very scary.  Let's talk about it all.

When we examine a baby we are looking head to toe. Listening and observing. We start doing this from the moment they enter the world. Sometimes even before! Yes, we have been assessing little ones right away but on this epidsode we are going to go through the fancy nancy full assessment. What are we doing and what are we looking at.

We believe pregnancy is beautiful. You are holding hands with creation.  You are literally making life unfold.  Along with that glorious miracle, you have a host of other interesting happenings.  Changes are happenings so it makes sense for your body to go fruit loops a bit. 

Chemical messengers.  Body Signalers.  "Influencers".  Call them what you want, hormones are a big deal.  We will talk through some of the important hormones floating around and what happens when they don't play nice (imbalance).

Each and every intervention may seem benign, but we have to remember thateach shift in the natural process holds a distinct power to be the first of the cascade. Additionally we have to acknowledge that labor and birth is more than physical. Its mental. It is arguably possible that the mental component is more influential than the physical.  We also can't over look the need for consent here! So lets talk membrane sweeps. The pros, the cons and we may just show our Bias-Asses

There are stark differences in the definition set by ACOG and the community standard/policy driving practice for labor.  Your provider should follow the evidence.  Its a map that leads us to better outcomes.   Listen is as we open up that bag of "stuff".  

Midwifery has a strong but shaky history.  Every turn has gotten us to this point.  Why is it that maternal outcomes in America suck? Why is it that maternal care continues to be so litigation based? Why does all that matter?  How, as midwives, do we feel about it? We will tell ya...

Transfers are okay! Honestly.  The hardest part of a transfer is typically the disappointment that goes with a change of plan. We get it.  Sometimes when we know what to expect it makes the shift easier.  We like when birth is boring and beautiful, but birth can also veer and be BEAUTIFUL!  Here we go....

There is a history there. There is sometimes a purpose there. There is also a lot of who gives a flying heap of biscuits.  Let's walk through all of that and more...

Emergencies are rare.  Emergencies can feel scary. Sometimes knowing what could happen and what your midwife might do about it, can help relieve those fears. We will go over what emergencies may pop up in the home environment and how we handle them. Trigger warning: birth emergencies (nuchal cord, shoulder dystocia, postpartum hemorrhage, and resuscitation)

Health disparities are a plague. Wake up and see the sexual discrimination. It is present and we all have experienced it in some fashion. Let's face it head on, talk about it and start changing the way near half of the world is treated.

What are your risks? What does it look like? Did you know that you can help prevent preeclampsia? Grab that sucker by the blood pressure horns and tell it NO SIR.  

High or Low Body Mass Index is classified as a high risk category during pregnancy.  Is simply being on the high or low end make you high risk? or can there be increased risks associated with it? Big difference in those two ideas.  Join us as we break BMI apart. 

Birth is normal, until it isn't.  Birth is low risk, until it isn't.  We so desire a seamless stream lined courteous and pleasant system for transfers. It is a work in progress. Until then, this is what it looks like. 

In a world full of drama, lets strip away some of it.  The topic of Gestational Diabetes can be complicated and scary.  It does not have to be either.   Boring is beautiful. Lend us an ear for a few minutes and we will help break down the information and dissolve the scary label of high risk. 

Cheerleaders and Eeyores, they walk amongst us.  Want to know what I'm talking about? Listen in.  What is thyroid disease? What's a thyroid even do? Why do we automatically get labeled high risk if we have dysfunction? We would love to explain and debunk the high risk category. 

We are told being over the age of 35 is high risk! They call us geriatric and elderly. What does the evidence show us?  How do we mitigate those risks?  Come on in and dip your toe in the information pool. The water is lovely. 

Saying no is hard in your normal every day to day life. If you add  in the stress of not feeling well or being vulnerable and its a recipe for a YES FEST.  Yes fests can be fun, unless you really wanted to say no. Let's learn the shortest and hardest word to say all together. 1, 2, 3  NO

Who decided to tell everyone breastfeeding was a breeze? It can be for some, but let's face it...nursing a baby is hard and can get uncomfortable.  Sometimes knowing what is going on  can help managing a bit easier.  Also, next time someone talks about how eezy breezy lemon squeezy this journey is, imagine Jaelin and I throat punching them for you. (It the same way we do not hear your nightmare stories. Leave that mess to Freddy Kruegar. 

Look at the research.  A glance at low risk home births compared to low risk hospital birth.

Anemia is a big deal. It can make us feel all sorts of ways.  We are learning so much about how anemia can be treated and what the threshold of normal is. Take a ride with us in the iron bus and unpack some of the mystery.

Who was the ding-a-ling that tried to convince the world that breastfeeding was easy breezy mac-n-cheesy? It can be, but not for all and not with every baby. You are not alone if you've struggled.

Do we bite the cord? Is it a mess? Do we hug trees and beat drums? Well maybe...but why don't we talk about homebirth and questions we get all the time so we  can let go of the misinformation and absorb the truth.

Your provider may ask you questions on repeat at your prenatal visits. We do.  Each visit should be unique, but should also dig into a few important pregnancy related topics. Want to know what that is all about? Lean your ear...

Open mouth, insert foot, leg, butt, and all your nonsense. Sometimes hushing it up is the best policy.  Listen in for some common sense ways to talk and NOT talk to pregnant folks.

When did we learn to fear variations in normal? Like Breech...We know...come listen and find out how the art of breech birth is slowly vanishing.  

Our culture frowns at aging. Everyone ages. EVERYONE! So let's unpack that a bit. What might aging look like for you and why.

The glorious Pelvic Floor. May we know it and love it.

Saying no is hard in your normal day to day life. Add in the stress of not feeling well and it's a recipe for a YES FEST.

The way we feel about the Placenta is culturally based.  It's time for a change.

Lots of options:  do you know them?

Let's get a little nerdy!  Epigenetics and Sperm.....How can they both affect your pregnancy and baby?

We live in a culture that fails women and families  when we look at mental health.  We don't understand it.  We aren't listened to.  We don't know what to do.  Let's unpack that. 

Menstruation and PP bleeding products are not readily available for all.  WHY???

When providers do what they do are they following research and what the evidence points to? OR their own preference? Hmmmm

There is a recipe for “good and appropriate” behavior when in the birthing space...a code of conduct. 

The phenomenon of cryptic pregnancy has become sensationalized on media, but for some it is a real occurrence. What is it?

Exploring the world of unassisted birth can be polarizing.  Perhaps a friendly conversation could help?

What does the partner experience? Why don't we focus on that as well? Birth is about growing a family and it should revolve around the partnership when appropriate.  

Sometimes operative birth is needed, but not always.  Join us as we discuss the whys and why not to c-sections.

Moon Parties?  Blessingways? It is time to celebrate beautiful milestones in your life, but first what are those?