January 2015 Newsletter

12/29/2014

New Year, New Location and New Events!

A Letter From Natalia

JANUARY 29

For the last 10 years I have repeated an annual new years day ritual that was to set me up for the upcoming year. I would spend the entire first day of the year hunkered down, surrounded by books and calendars, a large post it note or notebooks and begin to write out goals for every important area of my life starting from the most important to the least important. I would create a list of books to read that would help me grow in each of those areas and then I would look for classes that would help solidify what I was trying to learn or change. And then by the end of the long productive day with my goals displayed, my book list and registrations I would tell someone, because a goal is not a goal unless you share it with someone, right?

It took me a few years to realize that while this practice did move me forward from year to year it also numbed me to trusting in my own intuition about life (because I was *always* seeking outside of myself)

I see this with most of my families that I work with (which means we're all normal-ish). They are surrounded by every book in regards to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, sleeping, etc. and I think when the time comes for them to trust their instincts it can be a bit of a challenge. There is absolutely a time and a place for being strategic, focused and goal oriented when it comes to accomplishing those things that we set out to do. Especially in regards to bringing a new person into this world and parenting them. (Says the doula and childbirth educator)

However, it is not about being THE best mom or dad, or perfecting the art of swaddling or how early can you get your little one to sleep through the night. It is about being THE best mom or dad for *your* little one who quite frankly thinks you're pretty awesome from day one. You may not believe it now when they are tiny but as they get older you will have an "ah ha" moment when you realize that you were given this particular child for a reason and vice versa.

So, keep reading books if you know how to take what you need and toss the rest, join the online mom groups if you know when to bow out (mommy wars are real unfortunately), but also continue to remember your best intentions and trust that you are the perfect parent for your little one and that when it is all said and done you have everything within you to meet your parenting goals.

You are beautifully and wonderfully made,

Natalia

HAPPENINGS IN THE BIRTH WORLD

**Midwives Safer Than Doctors for Healthy Women with Uncomplicated Pregnancies**

New guidelines from the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has concluded that it is safer for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies to give birth with the supervision of a midwife than in a hospital ward run by doctors. The guidelines suggest the reason is that doctors are more likely to use interventions like forceps deliveries, spinal anesthesia, and caesarean section that are linked with an increased risk of infections and surgical accidents. They also suggest that healthy women who are considered at low risk for complications with no previous complicated birth that are expected to deliver a single baby at full term presenting head first be entrusted to the care of a midwife. Such mothers and their babies fared better with midwives than doctors in all settings, save for first-time mothers delivering at home.

Despite differences between the health care systems in the two countries, there is no reason to believe that the British findings would not also apply to the U.S. In addition to improved outcomes, giving more authority to midwives could lead to significant savings, as currently 90 percent of U.S. births are attended by physicians. Increasing the use of midwives could also help to bridge one of the major health care gaps in the U.S., where half the counties in the country lack any maternity care professionals. One popular solution is to give greater autonomy to midwives within the hospital, as is done by the Mayo Clinic, which allows midwives to handle low-risk pregnancies independently, and hand off to a doctor if complications arise.

From "Midwives Safer Than Doctors for Healthy Women with Uncomplicated Pregnancies"

New York Times (12/14/14)

**Delayed Cord Clamping Results in Better Immediate Newborn Outcomes*

A new study published in Pediatrics suggests delayed clamping of the umbilical cord by two minutes can benefit the development of newborns in the first days of life. Adding credibility to this hypothesis is the World Health Organization (WHO) advocate for late cord clamping's assertion that late clamping allows the continued flow of blood between the placenta and neonate, which may improve iron status in the infant for up to six months after delivery.

The new study evaluated newborn outcomes for infants born to 64 healthy pregnant women to ascertain the effect of clamping timing on oxidative stress and the inflammatory signal produced during birth. All women in the study had a normal pregnancy and spontaneous vaginal delivery, but 50 percent of the newborns had their umbilical cord cut 10 seconds after delivery and the other 50 percent had it cut after two minutes. Outcomes showed an increase in antioxidant capacity and moderation of inflammatory effects in the newborns with late cord clamping.

Although the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says the usual separation of newborns from placenta within 15 to 20 seconds after delivery is done out of concerns that delayed clamping could jeopardize timely resuscitation efforts, it acknowledges delayed clamping could likely benefit sick and preterm infants. WHO recommends late cord clamping for all births, and says the higher iron status associated with it may be especially pertinent for newborns in low-resource settings with less access to iron-rich foods.

From "Delayed Cord Clamping Results in Better Immediate Newborn Outcomes"

Medical News Today (12/16/14) Ellis, Marie

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Laura Carr provides holistic nutrition services for women's health. She can address a broad spectrum of women's health topics, including problems with food, fertility, hormones, weight, energy and more with gentle, naturally healing protocols and therapies. Laura is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) also trained in natural family planning and wellness yoga. Helping women reclaim their optimal health, fertility, and life vitality is Laura's deep passion and life mission.

Follow her free health posts and learn more about how Laura can help at www.greenerFarmacy.com and www.facebook.com/greenerfarmacy or contact her at laura@greenerFarmacy.com.

Laura is one of the great service providers that has teamed up with A Woman's Design and has an office at The Nesting Place. She will also participate in First Fridays and our April Shower- both great opportunities to meet her.

CLASSES AND EVENTS

YOU'RE INVITED

Saturday, April 18 (10am-1pm)
See our new space and meet our doula team and providers!
Stay tuned. Details to follow

5-WEEK DISCOVERING CHILDBIRTH SERIES

Sunday, March - April 5, 2015
(Perfect for April-May due dates)

Sunday, April 19 - May 24, 2015
(Perfect for June- July due dates)

For more information or to register