AlaskaBirth

Nutrition is the foundation for a healthy pregnancy. Without it, your pregnancy can be fraught with complications. Pre-Eclampsia, high blood pressure, excessive weight gain, weight loss, gestational diabetes…..etc.  All of these things can be affected by something as simple as choosing the right foods to eat every day.

If a woman is trying to conceive, she should also be thinking about how she plans to prepare her body for that new life.  She should start by keeping a daily food diary. What are you really eating?  Do you get 5-7 servings of vegetables and fruits a day?  Are you eating a lot of white carbohydrates?  Do you eat more than 1 serving of sweets per day?  Do you indulge in coffee or caffeinated sodas?

Our O.B.s usually spend about 5 minutes discussing nutrition with us. They might tell you that sushi and hot dogs are dangerous to eat.  They might tell you that you need to avoid tuna as well and to drink lots of water to stay hydrated.  But is 5 minutes and a few warnings really enough?

Did you know that when you are pregnant your blood volume increases by 50%, but the red blood cell count remains the same?  This is why many women need to take steps to avoid pregnancy induced anemia.  As a pregnancy continues, the placenta will take the iron it needs right from mom. Maintaining a diet rich in iron will help to ensure she remains healthy during this time when her body is using her own personal nutritional stores to grow a healthy baby.  It is recommended that pregnant women try to get as much of their iron through food instead of relying on supplements. To find out which foods are high in iron, please click this link

What about salt?  Women in pregnancy actually have increase cravings and need for salt in their diets.  If you avoid processed foods and salt to taste, you should get just the right amount.

A famous and well respected OB, Dr. Tom Brewer created a high protein and nutrient dense diet called the “Brewer’s Diet”.  He had a remarkable record of preventing pre-eclampsia, swelling and high blood pressure in his patients.  One of his tricks was to His research showed that women in pregnancy have cravings for salty food because they need more salt in their diets.  A complete breakdown of this diet can be found here at the Blue Ribbon Diet. Also please check out more information here.

Weight gain is a hot topic among both health practitioners and women. Years ago it was thought that maintaining a low weight gain of just 10 – 20 pounds would prevent complications like toxemia and overly large babies. However, it only made some pregnancies more dangerous and caused more low-birth weight babies and infants with neurological defects. This is not ancient history either. This was as recent as 1985 in the decade most of you were born.  Currently, maternity care providers are watching nutrition as opposed to watching the scales. Midwives are leading this movement with their interest in the physiology of normal and natural pregnancy.  A good diet will help you nourish yourself and your baby, as well as achieve a nice, steady weight gain quite painlessly.  In fact, you might enjoy your new healthy lifestyle and continue after baby is here!

I have only touched briefly on some of the benefits of why nutrition is so crucial to a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. Good nutrition really can help to prevent many pregnancy complications. I invite you to ask a care provider for more about this subject along with doing some research for yourself.

-Tammy

http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp001.cfm

http://www.midwiferyservices.org/pregnancy_nutrition.htm

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/nutrition.asp

Worried about H1N1? Many of us are because the CDC tells us that pregnant women and newborn babies are more susceptible to serious illness from H1N1.  Hopefully you are eating healthy foods, getting enough vitamin D,  avoiding exposure to the virus and getting plently of rest.  Many mothers to be are also choosing to get the vaccination.  What more can you do?  One thing you can do is make plans to protect your new baby. Did you know that babies cannot receive the H1N1 vaccine until they are 6 months of age? But there is something out there more powerful than the vaccine and it’s approved for newborns.  It’s called breast milk. Within hours of exposure to a virus, a breastfeeding mother’s body will start producing specific (H1N1) antibodies and deliver them directly to her baby through the milk.  In fact, breast milk has an array of immune components that are completely absent from formula.  Newborn immune systems are undeveloped and need this help from their mother’s milk. Without it they are very vulnerable. Studies have shown that formula fed babies are up to 15 times more likely to be hospitalized in their first year. So how to do make sure that you will be able to breastfeed?  We commonly hear from mothers share that “I didn’t have enough milk” or “My baby liked  the bottle better”, etc.   Lacation experts say the one reason women have troubles breastfeeding is lack of support. Follow these steps to make sure you reach your breastfeeding goals:

1. Get good information: Go to a breastfeeding class and bring your partner, family members and other care givers. It’s important they learn the basics so they can help you and won’t unintentionally sabotage your efforts. Read a breastfeeding book like “Breastfeeding Made Simple” or “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding”. Check out www.breastfeeding.com for great articles and advice.
2. Connect with nursing moms: Go to a La Leche League meeting before you give birth to meet women and watch them in action.  Spend time and befriend women who successfully breastfed. Don’t take advice from people who didn’t. (I know it sounds obvious, but I made that mistake!)
3. Choose your birth location carefully: Deliver at a “Baby Friendly” hospital, birthing center or at home. Ask the hospital if they have lactation consultants to help you. Some staff nurses don’t have much lactation training and/or have never breastfed themselves. We were told by a mom recently that when she asked for help  at an Anchorage hospital they gave her a bottle instead. Not good.  And don’t keep any formula samples you get in the mail or from the hospital.  It’s too tempting to have it in the house. 
4. Plan a drug free birth:  IVs, epidurals, c-sections and narcotic drugs in labor all make breastfeeding harder. The more drugs, fluids and painful incisions you have, the harder it will be for the baby to latch on and the longer it will take for you to produce milk. Choose midwife or obstetrician that supports natural birth. Learn about and practice mental and spiritual techniques like non-focused awareness, prayer, hypnobirthing, and visualization.  Take a childbirth education class that focuses on natural birth. Find out if you will have access to a birthing tub, shower, birthing ball, food during labor, etc.  Hire a doula.
5.  If you have concerns, get professional lactation support immediately: WIC offers free breastfeeding support for their clients. Some pediatric offices have lactation consultants on staff . You can call the hospital where you delivered and get phone help. Most home birth and birthing center midwives will visit you in your home. ANMC has a program where they will come to your house and help you as well. LLL leaders and members are another great resource. Don’t wait to get help if things aren’t going well. Pick up the phone instead of a bottle.
6. Pediatrician or nurse practitioner: Find a provider that not only supports breastfeeding but that can give you specific help and advice. Some medical schools offer ZERO lactation education. Other pediatricians have done extensive training and have breastfed themselves. Ask about their training, experience and philosophy.  Consider using a nurse practicioner or naturopath.
7. Plan for pumping at work: Delay returning to work as long as possible.  Try to arrange for job sharing, part-time, work from home or creative scheduling.  If you have to go back to work at 6 weeks, make sure to find a place to pump before you take maternity leave. This is a major stumbling block for many women. You might have to get creative, assert for yourself and educate your employer. Ask for help from women who have done it, or go online and find help there.  With enough support, you can do it!

Please join us this Friday night at 7 pm at One Family Birthing Center in Anchorage.  We are hosting free meetings to share up to date information, education & fellowship for expecting parents and birth professionals.  We discuss a wide variety of issues related to pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum.  Meetings are free and children are welcome!

Being an informed maternity care consumer this year goes beyond choosing an O.B. or a midwife.  This year pregnant women need to know their options regarding the H1N1 vaccine.  The CDC encourages all pregnant women to take the vaccine since hospitalization and mortality rate for pregnant women is much higher than that of the general public. But before you take action there are a few facts you should know:
1) Do not take the nasal vaccine. Even though it will be the first vaccine available, avoid it like the plague!  It contains the live virus which can infect your fetus and cause damage or miscarriage. If you are trying to conceive and there is any chance you might be pregnant, wait for the injectable version to become available. Please spread the word and advise anyone engaging in unprotected sex to avoid this form of the vaccine.
2) Be sure to ask for the single dose injection. The multidose vials contain the mercury based preservative thimerosol. The CDC is offering this single dose, mercury free version for pregnant women and small children. Breastfeeding women might also consider asking for the single dose injection to avoid contaminating her milk with mercury.
3) The only way for babies 6 months of age and younger to receive H1N1 antibodies is through a mother’s breast milk. Formula fed babies will have no protection from H1N1 since they are too young to receive the vaccine and artificial milks do not contain the cocktail of antibodies found in breast milk. Artificially fed babies are at much higher risk for becoming seriously ill with the H1N1 as well as other seasonal colds and flus.
3) Be aware that this vaccine is currently being tested on pregnant women, but there are no results showing its safety. Many physicians are concerned about the “fast tracking” of this vaccine. Be warned that no one knows how effective the vaccine might be nor what the long or short term effects on your growing fetus might be.

For more information on H1N1 and pregnancy visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/pregnant_qa.htm

When most women get pregnant they go to the first obstetrician that a friend recommends or the first “preferred provider” they can find.  But did you know that your choice of provider can be the most important factor in insuring a normal birth?  Did you know that if you choose an obstetrician or a hospital with a high c-section rate, you are much more  likely to end up with one?   One of our members attended a birth recently and heard the OB comment, “Gosh, it’s nice to do a vaginal delivery for a change.”   Hmmmm……   NOT a good choice if you want a normal birth. Okay, so how do you choose?

Ask questions.  Ask your prospective provider, “What is your c-section rate for low risk mothers?” and “How often do you induce labor?” (Labor induction in first time moms doubles her chances for c-section.) Don’t accept answers like “Only when necessary”. They should be willing to give you a number.  The World Health Organization recommends a c-section rate of no more than 15%.  The US National Health Service has a goal of 15% for first time mothers.  Don’t be afraid to change providers if they are not open and transparent about their practices, or if their c-section rates seem high.  If you have chosen a group practice, you will have to ask these questions of all of the providers. 

Hire a Doula. Women who hire doulas have half the c-section rate, faster labors, need less pain medications and are much less likely to have a forceps assisted delivery.  They can also point you in the direction of providers that promote normal birth.  They can help you avoid common pitfalls during labor, support you if things do not go as planned and help you ask the right questions.

Consider out-of-hospital birth with Certified Professional or Nurse Midwife.  A consistent and growing body of published scientific evidence shows that out of hospital birth with a trained midwife is equally safe as hospitals for low risk women.  Choosing a birthing center has been shown to decrease your odds of having a c-section by 40%.  Staying at home with a midwife has been shown to decrease your odds by over 65%.

 Finally, read as much evidenced based information as possible.  Attend an independent childbirth education class. (Hypnobirthing, Bradley, Tending to You)  Check out our links on the sidebar and the “10 Questions to Ask“. You can have a normal, healthy and beautiful birth.  Just do your homework and be an informed consumer!

Did you know that skin-to-skin contact during the first 60 minutes after birth is crucial for breastfeeding and bonding ?  The best way to insure a good start is by immediately placing the baby on mother’s bare chest after birth.  This is when baby is most alert and the latch reflex is strongest.  Many hospitals use this crucial bonding time to do routine exams.  Imagine after waiting 9 months to hold your baby, he or she is not in your arms but down the hall, alone on his back, arms flailing, disoriented and crying while a nurse does non-urgent procedures and paperwork.   One review of over 30 studies showed that skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby at birth reduces crying, improves mother-baby interaction, keeps the baby warmer, and helps women breastfeed successfully.  Health facilities that routinely separate newborns and mothers are simply out of date.  Make sure you get the best start with your baby.   Write a birth plan and talk to your provider about this crucial time for you and your baby.  Ask them about their policies and protocols and don’t be afraid to change providers if you don’t get the answers  you are looking for.  Pick a Mother-Friendly pediatrician ahead of time and get written orders from him or her as well.  Plan for this sacred time for you and your new one.  You won’t regret it!

Joyful birth is for everyone.   In fact, we would argue that everyone deserves a peaceful, empowering and beautiful birth.   We as women in the United States have been convinced that birth is a scary, excruciating crisis that requires highly specialized medicine and equipment.  But scientific evidence shows us that “high tech” birth is not better for low risk woman.  Many routine medical interventions are unnecessary and are often harmful for both baby and mother.   We are a non-profit dedicated to giving families information on healthy, safe and joyous birth choices in Southcentral Alaska.  Check out our list of Mother-Friendly providers.  They can support you and your labor through doula services, obstetrics, complementary care, labor preparation, lactation, midwifery and pediatrics.  Happy birthing!  Remember, you can do it, and you and your family deserve it!

Hoorah for Senator Begich for co-sponsoring the Birth Center Medicaid Reinbursement Act!   If passed, it will insure the option of  birthing centers for women in Alaska and across the country.   This bill is crucial because recently a judge in Texas ruled that it is illegal for Medicaid to reimburse birthing centers nationwide for their facility fee, the same fee that they pay without question to hospitals.   If this trend continues, birthing centers across the country will have to close their doors.  Many birthing centers serve 50-65% of medicaid clients…some up to 95%, often in areas with no other option for maternity care.   And despite birthing centers provide safe, effective maternity care at a fraction of the cost, medicaid will currently only reimburse the hosptials fee.  In 2007  the average birthing center fee was under $2000, while the average hospital fee was between $7800 to over $16,000.    If passed, this legislation will save us big money and increase access to birth choices for all women.   Please contact Senator Begich and thank him for his work at:   (907) 271 – 5915 or (877) 501 – 6275  http://begich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EmailSenator   You can also contact Senator Murkowski and encourage her vote to pass this bill or even co-sponsor!  http://murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactMe.EMailLisa