Lynda Roberts CHBPP. LAPHP. CNHC Registered (Hypnotherapy). MFHT.
Registered Easibirthing® Practitioner
Tel: 01206 860167 / 07779 649153
2) easibirthing® receives nhs funding in parts of the country due to the evidence-base of this tried and tested model.
3) easibirthing® is a registered trademark (the only one in the UK hypnosis for birthing world!) and therefore any practitioner using this trademark has been fully trained and qualified-a reassurance for the general public.
4) The CHBPP qualification is the only hypnosis for childbirth qualification in the UK which is independently accredited (ie. by the nchp).
APGAR TEST
Your baby’s first exam in life that he/she needs to pass with flying colors is the Apgar Test. Developed by Virginia Apgar, an anesthesiologist, it is performed one minute after birth and then repeated after five minutes. Dr. Apgar has identified certain critical signs that are measured and rated immediately after birth. The results reflect the baby’s general condition and help the doctors to determine the nature of the baby’s post-delivery care.
The Rating Scale
The baby is rated on a scale of zero to two on the following five signs:
How Babies Are Rated
Appearance
If the baby is pink all over, she will get the maximum score of 2. If the body is pink with the exception of the arms and legs, which are blue, the baby will score 1. She will get a minimum score of 0, if her body is blue all over.
Heart Rate
The baby scores 2 if her pulse rate is above 100 beats a minute. If her pulse rate is below 100, she will score 1 and if it not detectable, she will score 0.
Grimace (Reflex Irritability)
The doctor will slap the baby on the soles of her feet. If she cries lustily in response, she will score 2. A grimace or slight cry will get her a score of 1. If she does not respond at all, she will score 0.
Activity
A baby that flails its arms and legs or otherwise displays a lot of activity at birth scores a two in this category. If the baby moves her limbs slightly, she will receive a score of 1. If the baby is limp and flaccid, and shows no activity, she will score 0.
Respiration
Strong efforts to breathe, accompanied by crying are a sign that the baby’s lungs are in good working order. She will receive a score of 2. Slow, irregular breathing rates a 1. No respiration gets the lowest score of 0.
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THE APGAR SCORING CHART |
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Sign |
Score 0 |
Score 1 |
Score 2 |
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1. Heart Rate (Pulse) |
Absent |
Below 100 beats/minute |
Over 100 beats/minute |
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2. Respiration |
Absent |
Slow, irregular |
Good, crying lustily |
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3. Activity (Muscle Tone) |
Limp |
Some bending of arms, legs |
Active motion |
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4. Grimace (Reflex Irritability) |
No response |
Cries, some motion |
Vigorous cry |
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5. Appearance (Color) |
Blue, pale |
Pink body; blue hands and feet |
Completely pink |
What the Scores Mean
The baby’s scores in these five categories are added up to give the Apgar score. (The maximum score is 10). It has been observed that most babies score between 7 and 10 points one minute after birth, indicating that the baby is generally in good health and will require only routine post-deliver care. Babies who score between 4 and 6 are in fair condition, though they may require medical intervention. They may be put on oxygen or if there is mucus in the throat it will have to be removed to prevent any obstruction in the baby’s breathing. A score below 4 indicates a need for resuscitation and/or artificial ventilation.
ARTICLE ON HYPNOTHERAPY AND NATURAL CHILDBIRTH
Women were brought up with the fear of pain in childbirth. Testimonials from family members who did not have much choice in the earlier times prove this to be a fact. Television shows and movies constantly show us that giving birth is a moment of indescribable pain. This leaves us expecting to be in pain, and more than willing to get hooked on pain relieving medications.
Medical interventions are known to have side effects on the mother and the child. Anything that affects the mother during childbirth also affects the child. Other medical interventions are invasive. They also pose a threat to the mother during and after the delivery of the baby.
Drugs such as Demerol can cause respiratory depression. This will make it hard for the mother and the child to acquire oxygen which can also impair circulation of blood to vital organs. The baby will have foetal distress which can lead to more complications. Nubain causes the mother and the child to become sedated. It will both take them awhile to recover.
Epidural, which serve as an anesthesia, can cause hypotension. Hypotension is the drop of blood pressure. When the mother has hypotension it slows down the baby's heart rate. This will cause impaired circulation which will result into foetal distress. It can also prolong the delivery which will lead to invasive procedures such as cesarean section, forceps delivery or ventouse.
Cesarean sections cause complications for the mother on her succeeding pregnancies. Forceps delivery can leave marks on your child's head. Ventouse extraction can cause hemorrhage which can be fatal.
Natural childbirth coupled with hypnosis offers a safer delivery of the baby and less complications for the mother. Self-hypnosis can be utilised to give birth naturally.
Mothers can utilise self-hypnosis to reduce pain, and induce a sense of calm control. The main factor while mothers undergo extreme pain during childbirth is because of fear and tension. If we expect pain to come in waves that will leave us helpless that's what may happen.
Sometimes it's all in the state mind. If the mother can successfully induce self-hypnosis she can convert the pain into a feeling of pressure when pushing the baby out. Self-hypnosis also relaxes your mind and your body. This is essential to help the muscles in your uterus to push the baby out. Believe it or not contractions and gravity alone can deliver your child.
People always talk of going green or opting for more natural methods in living. Why not use a natural way in giving birth? It's not just about the planet we should be taking care of but also future generations.
With self-hypnosis, there are no drugs, no invasive procedures and no stitches. It's not just about delivering the baby out but also ensuring that s/he will be taken care of by a healthy mother afterwards.
Hypnosis can be taught by hypnotherapists in classes. Audio CDs are also available. No, it's not a magic trick. The mother is not going to be controlled to push the baby out. No one can be hypnotised against their own will.
The mother is the one to go in and out of the hypnotic state as she sees fit. This gives her more control over the delivery of her baby. She won't be forced to push during the delivery. She won't also be too groggy after to take care of her child. The mother and the child will go through the delivery healthier without the influence of drugs. Research shows that a baby delivered by natural means with the mother using self hypnosis will have higher Apgar test results.
If you're a low risk mother who wants a safer and more comfortable childbirth you can use self-hypnosis. It's a comfortable and natural way to give birth.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_Fiset |
Whilst every woman has a completely different experience of childbirth, she will still go through the three stages of labour, unless she has an elective caesarean before labour begins. It can also be helpful to view them in stages, so that once you reach the end of one stage, you know you have achieved a lot and you are getting closer to meeting your baby.
What are the stages of labour?
Your cervix lies at the top of your vagina, and must open, or fully dilate in order for your baby to come out. In the first stage your uterus will tense and relax and cause a contraction, which is rhythmical and will get more intense with fewer gaps in between as labour progresses. When the cervix widens and thins enough for the baby to pass through, the second stage begins and your baby in born. The third stage is the delivery of the placenta, your baby’s life support system in your womb. These make up the three stages of labour.
Stage 1 of labour
Stage 1 begins when you have regular contractions, until the cervix has got gradually softer and thinner and has dilated to 10cm or 4 inches.
Even though this stage is the longest stage, do not be disheartened. One misconception about labour is that you spend hours and hours in pain, but between contractions, especially in the first stages of labour, you will probably be able to read a magazine, eat some lunch or chat happily to your birth partner. There will also be time to rest and gather your strength for the second stage of labour which is a bit more challenging. It is easier to see stage one further divided into three sections:
The latent stage
Many women will have regular contractions as the cervix gets softer, and these can vary between mild contractions where you can carry on chatting or having lunch, or they can be strong and painful. The latent stage can last for around eight hours for first labours. Most women describe early labour pains as being like heavy menstrual cramps that get stronger and more intense as labour progresses. It’s important to note the length and strength of your contractions, rather than the time between them. If they last 30-40 seconds and you are able to have a cup of tea in between, you are unlikely to be in established labour.
Most women are told to stay at home during the early part of labour, until their irregular contractions are replaced by more consistent ones, which get stronger, come every five minutes, and last roughly 45-60 seconds. This is when you are in established labour, or the active stage.
The active stage
This stage is shorter and lasts about three to five hours on average. Here your contractions get longer, with a shorter gap in between. They can be painful, and it is at this stage that you may require pain relief. By the end of this stage, your cervix will be either fully dilated or almost fully dilated.
See our pain relief article for more details on what your options might be at this stage of labour.
Transitional stage
The transitional stage is almost the bridge between stages one and two. You will now be fully dilated and are entering the ‘pushing’ stage. For some women the transitional stage is a period of rest, and the contractions can ease whilst your body prepares for your baby to come out. For others, this stage makes them behave irrationally, and they lose heart. With encouragement this stage will pass and your baby will be born very soon. The midwives will recognise the signs if you are in the transitional stage, and will probably tell you how close you are to meeting your baby. You may feel a very strong urge to bear down or push, but if your cervix hasn’t fully dilated, you will be encouraged to breathe through the contraction and wait until your cervix has completely dilated.
Stage 2
Contractions
Stage two begins when you are fully dilated and ends with the birth of your baby. It roughly lasts an hour for first pregnancies but can take longer. The contractions you feel in stage 2 are different to those experienced in stage 1, as they cause an overwhelming feeling to bear down and push out your baby. Sometimes the cervix has not dilated fully and if you push it will swell and take longer to dilate. This is why your midwife will only allow you to push once you are fully dilated. If you breathe slowly through each contraction and use gas and air it can help to open up the cervix. See our video on breathing techniques in labour for more advice.
At this stage most women do not need to be guided, and they will go with what their body is telling them to do. Some women worry about the sounds they will make during this stage, but if grunting and groaning (or screaming at your partner) help you to deal with each contraction, they are helping to make the birth easier, and again you should go with them.
Pushing
If you can, try to keep your pushing smooth, and make your muscular effort slow and steady to avoid putting pressure on the perineum. Most women prefer to be in a more upright position at this stage as gravity helps the baby move downwards and you don’t have to do as much work. It is also helpful to relax your pelvic floor muscle and anal muscles as much as possible as you are pushing. This may make you urinate or pass a stool, but this is nothing to be embarrassed about. It happens to lots of women and those around you will have seen it happen plenty of times, in fact, you probably won’t even notice.
Crowning
When your baby is about to be born, your anal area and perineum may bulge a little, and your baby’s head will be visible at your vaginal opening and this is called crowning. Your baby's head may slip back up the birth canal between contractions. It can take a couple of contractions after it has crowned for the head to emerge, usually pointing downwards, and the baby will twist so that the shoulders are in a better position to come out. The rest of the body should slip out easily once the head and shoulders are out, but some women may need forceps or a ventouse to help them. An episiotomy may also be necessary to widen the vaginal opening and help the baby to come out, but there are pre-labour steps you can take to try to avoid this happening.
Once your baby is born
Your baby will be delivered onto your chest and will be covered in blood and vernix, which has protected your baby’s skin while she was inside you. She will be covered in towels to keep her warm, whilst the mucus is wiped from her nose and mouth, and her airways checked. If everything is straightforward and your baby is doing well, you can relax, cuddle and introduce yourself to your newborn baby. If you are planning to breastfeed your baby, with a little help from your midwife, now is a good time to try.
Stage 3
Stage 3 is from the birth of your baby to the delivery of the placenta, which is expelled by the uterus once the baby has been delivered. Some women prefer to wait for the placenta to deliver naturally, which can take slightly longer than if drugs are used. If you put your baby to your breast or you empty your bladder it can help to speed things along. Blood loss can be a little heavier if you are having a natural stage 3, but this should not be a problem if you have had a straightforward delivery and are healthy.
You can also choose to be injected with a drug called Syntometrine, which contains oxytocin and ergometrine and is a synthetic hormone that encourages the uterus to contract and expel the placenta. You will feel a contraction and the midwife will gently tug on the cord until the placenta comes out. If you had an induction, an epidural or a forceps or ventouse delivery it may be advised that you manage the third stage with drugs. If you definitely do not want a managed third stage, remember to include this in your birth plan and let the midwives know.
What do contractions feel like?
Labour pains, or contractions can feel different from women to women, but they are mostly described as a tightening sensation that spreads around your lower abdomen. You might also feel a hardening of the uterine muscle at the peak of the contraction, and they can be accompanied by backache. Most women describe contractions as being like very intense period pains. If you imagine them to be a bit like walking up a very steep set of hills, which are hardest to climb at the very top, but when you reach the peak you can walk back down the other side easily (till you reach the next hill).
Part of Article from The National Childbirth Trust 2002
Wherever you have your baby:
"Normal birth", sometimes also described as "natural birth", "physiological birth" or "straightforward vaginal birth" can be defined as a birth where there has been no technological intervention. (Interventions may include inducing labour, and accelerating labour using drugs or by breaking the waters. It also includes using epidural anaesthesia, having an assisted delivery or a Caesarean operation.)
The importance of having a normal birth is a personal preference and will vary between women. Some women who wish to have a normal birth may find that it is not possible. Clearly the safety of the baby and woman are of paramount importance, and medical interventions are vital for some women during the birth process. The use of the term "normal birth" is not meant to imply any judgment about women's personal experience of birth.
Birth without medical intervention may have many benefits. The following are some that have been suggested by writers on the subject:
Ways to increase the likelihood of having a normal birth include:
For low risk women, giving birth at home or in a birth centre may help them achieve a normal birth. Monitoring the baby's heart beat intermittently instead of continuously can also help women avoid interventions.