"Black Women Do Breastfeed": Tandem Nursing!f

Five pictures of a black mama nursing her two black babies (a toddler and an infant)
are spliced together to make a square. The center picture is in a diamond shape.
Mama is smiling and making silly faces.

"Hey, just wanted to share an update picture. I was the mom that was nursing during labor in the kiddie pool in my house. Well, I'm still nursing my 1.5 year old. We are gonna self wean. And the baby I was in labor with is now 6 months old. We are silly at meal times lol."

"Black Women Do Breastfeed": Tandem Nursing!

"Texas Abortion Provider Launches Program to ‘Shift’ Abortion Stigma: A Q&A With Amy Hagstrom Miller and Amanda Williams"

photo portraits of Amy Hagstrom Miller (white) and Amanda Williams (brown)

This group, Shift, is SOOOO cool. They bought a space that used to be an abortion clinic. One of the ways they use it now is to walk people through the process of an abortion, and see where it actually happens and with which pieces of equipment (that are all still in the space).

Staff members get up on to the table. They play a patient. So when a guy gets on the table and puts his feet in the stirrups, it’s profound. I turn on the suction machine so people can hear what it sounds like... 

And this is my whole life’s work of turning lemons into lemonade. I have, as it turns out, a bunch of suction machines I don’t know what to do with. So if they can become used for show and tell? Awesome. I have all these nitrous oxide mixers. Are we going to throw them away? Or I can use them. So that’s part of this space. It’s part of a reclaiming.

"Texas Abortion Provider Launches Program to ‘Shift’ Abortion Stigma: A Q&A With Amy Hagstrom Miller and Amanda Williams"

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Nigeria’s Outgoing President Signs Off On Banning Female Genital Mutilation"

A black person holds a sign saying "STOP FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)".
Many other black people appear in the background. Everyone wears white tee shirts.

The new law seeks to protect women on a range of fronts. It also sets out punishments for offenses such as throwing a spouse out of their home and traditional rituals that discriminate against widows, according to local media reports this week.

"Nigeria’s Outgoing President Signs Off On Banning Female Genital Mutilation"

In cahoots,

~Sasha

"The case for starting sex education in kindergarten"

A young-looking white woman (wearing a tee-shirt that says 'Paris')
leads several kindergarten-age children in a group conversation.
Three children are visible: one is black, and two are white.

By law, all primary school students in the Netherlands must receive some form of sexuality education. The system allows for flexibility in how it’s taught. But it must address certain core principles — among them, sexual diversity and sexual assertiveness. That means encouraging respect for all sexual preferences and helping students develop skills to protect against sexual coercion, intimidation and abuse. The underlying principle is straightforward: Sexual development is a normal process that all young people experience, and they have the right to frank, trustworthy information on the subject.

"The case for starting sex education in kindergarten"

Before I got started as a doula, I was a teacher of young children, and now I'm a mama. How can I help you talk to the kids in your life?

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Denied: How an abortion bill in Texas affected the birth, and death, of my son"

"Silver Medallion made by my mother, Semaphore Alphabet character “W”"
The author's son was named William.

We are denied the opportunity to even make a humane and doctor sanctioned medical decision by a bill that we never thought would affect us. I was there at the capitol, fighting for the rights of others. It never crossed my mind I would be fighting for my own.

"Denied: How an abortion bill in Texas affected the birth, and death, of my son"


I support all families and all pregnancy outcomes.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Exposing the Silence Project": Stories of birth trauma

A young-looking white woman with brown hair looks at the camera, grimacing slightly.
She is wearing a white baby in a soft carrier; the baby is facing away from the camera.

Trigger warning: references to birth trauma and callous behavior from a medical professional

"Poignant picture series captures the 'incredible healing power of a mother's touch' with images of women cradling their newborn babies in an intensive care unit"

A tiny black baby lies chest-to-chest atop their smiling black mama.
The baby is keeping warm under a couple of blankets and a crocheted hat.
There are tubes taped to baby's cheek and a band around one wrist.

'Some preemies are so fragile they can’t be held for weeks or months,' explained Myra Rolfes, the NICU Nurse Leader at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, in a post on the Dedicated to All Better blog. 'When those babies grow strong enough to snuggle, it takes a team of nurses to navigate wires and help baby safely nestle against Mom.' 

But though it's not easy to physically reunite mom with her baby, she said, the incredible payoff is always worth the effort: 'Once there, babies experience a kind of healing technology can’t provide: the power of a mother’s touch.'

"Poignant picture series captures the 'incredible healing power of a mother's touch' with images of women cradling their newborn babies in an intensive care unit"

It's my job as a doula to support all families. How can I support yours?

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"How One Hospital Brought Its C-Section Rate Down Fast"

A white newborn stares earnestly over their blonde, white mama's shoulder.
Baby is looking just below the camera, while mama looks off to the left.

Faced with the possible loss of an important insurer, one California hospital rapidly reduced excessive cesarean section rates in part by sharing each physician’s rate with everyone in the obstetrics department.

There's a conversation occurring all over the world about what constitutes a medically necessary cesarean delivery. There's a consensus that's only growing stronger around the hypothesis that the c-section rate in the US (and many other industrialized nations) is too high. What is still emerging is how to improve best practices in hospitals and birth centers in order to get that rate down. Here is the story of one hospital in California figuring it out:

"How One Hospital Brought Its C-Section Rate Down Fast"

What other best practices have you heard about for safely improving rates of vaginal delivery?

In cahoots,
~Sasha

A Local Conference: "Menstrual Health and Reproductive Justice: Human Rights Across the Lifespan"

a poster for the SMCR 2015 conference, using a map
of the MBTA transit system to show "feminism", "menstrual health",
"human rights", and "reproductive justice" as interconnected ideas

This super-cool conference on menstrual health and reproductive justice will be happening in Boston, June 4-6! Click the link below for more information and to register.

"Menstrual Health and Reproductive Justice: Human Rights Across the Lifespan"

If you're able to attend, tell me all about it!

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Home Birth Guidelines for Safety"

a stack of blue signs that all read "SAFETY FIRST" are piled up next to a wooden wall

This doula has compiled a thorough, evidence-based list of criteria that she recommends for deciding whether or not a home birth is advisable in the US, based on criteria in other countries where home birth "has been shown to be a safe option".
"Home Birth Guidelines for Safety"

I'd like to add a suggestion, for pregnant folks considering an out-of-hospital birth. There's a phenomenal book that's been recently published by Courtney Jarecki, Homebirth Cesarean, that interviews new parents and providers who have experienced an unplanned transfer and c-section. She offers a great deal to think about, and strategies for rolling with unpredictable births.

Are you considering locations for an upcoming birth? It'd be an honor to sit with you and be a sounding board while you figure things out.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Genitals aren't Voldemort!"

Blue chalky handwriting-style text covers a black background.
Transcript below.

GENITALS AREN'T VOLDEMORT. 

TEACH YOUR KIDS THE REAL NAMES OF ALL THEIR BODY PARTS!

 @InstaMessageApp

I picked this adorable meme up at Nadine Thornhill - Sexuality Educator's FB page. I'm sharing it here for two reasons. First, it's hilariously apt. Second, naming our body parts anatomically is an important part of early sex ed and body positivity. Knowing which parts are where is also an important part of being able to speak up for a child who has been a victim of sexual abuse. Here's a phenomenal article on talking with children about sexual abuse from Everyday Feminism.

What words did you learn for body parts growing up? What words do you use in your family?

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Amber Waves of Woo"

a spiral of amber beads on a knotted cord

"Amber Waves of Woo"

A big part of my doula toolkit is helping pregnant folks think about interventions. Sometimes we're discussing an allopathic practice (epidural anesthesia, for example), and sometimes it's a naturopathic one (like the amber teething necklace discussed here). Whatever the origin of an intervention, I do my best to bring critical thinking and relevant knowledge to the table.

Let's use our BRAIN to think this one through:

• Benefits: According to this article, the purported benefits are scientifically impossible in multiple ways. The most this can do is be a placebo.
  
• Risks: Choking and strangulation. Eep!
  
• Alternatives: There's plenty of other teething remedies out there: a cold washcloth, a frozen bagel or fruit, Orajel, and so on... all of which should get their own BRAIN protocol time!
  
• Intuition: This one's up to you. What does your gut say about this practice? Let's call it out specifically so you can take it into account when you make a decision.
  
• Nothing: If you do nothing to treat teething pain, the child will almost certainly be fine in a few days. There's not much risk to inaction here.

So now, with all this information on the table, the decision is up to you!

What's your thinking?

In cahoots,

~Sasha

"Five Ways You Can Save Your Baby's Life"

Click to enlarge!
This chart shows how to treat a baby who is choking, unconscious,
has stopped breathing, or is seizing. Transcript below.

Five Ways You Can Save Your Baby's Life 

What to do if your baby is choking:1. Check their mouth
2. Slap it out:
2a. Lay your baby face-down on your thigh and support their head
2b. Up to five blows between their shoulderblades
3. Squeeze it out:
3a. Using two fingers, give up to five chest thrusts
3b. Check the mouth. If the obstruction hasn't cleared, call an ambulance 

 What to do if your baby is unconscious:1. Check for a response: Tap their foot and all their name
2. Open their airway: Gently tilt their head back
3. Check for breathing
4. If they are breathing, hold them in the recovery position (see below)
4a. If they are not breathing, begin CPR (see below) 

What to do if your baby has stopped breathing:If your baby is unconscious and not breathing, follow these steps to perform CPR.1. Call for an ambulance.
2. Breathe:
2a. Put your lips around their nose and mouth and breathe steadily for up to one second
2b. Give five initial rescue breaths.
3. Pump: Using two fingers in the centre of the chest, give 30 compressions at the rate of 100-120 per minute [Sasha note: to the beat of "Staying Alive"!]
4. Repeat: 
4a. Give two rescue breaths, followed by 30 chest compressions
4b. Continue CPR until help arrives. 

What to do if your baby has a seizure (fit):Make it safe1. Clear objects that may cause injury
2. Don't try to restrain them: put pillows or soft padding around them
3. Cool them: Take away bedding and remove a layer of clothing.
4. Call for an ambulance: When the seizure has stopped, put them in the recovery position while you wait. 

How to hold a baby in the recovery position:1. Cradle them in your arms, with their head tilted downwards
2. Call for an ambulance
3. Monitor their breathing, pulse, and level of response 

More life-saving techniques can be found on our website.
Learn first aid.
Help save lives.
Be a difference.

"Purvi Patel’s conviction is a travesty against women; The traumatic miscarriage of an unwanted child is not murder"

a pencil drawing from Patel's trial, showing a brown-skinned
woman in a hoodie sitting beside a white man in a suit

Patel was convicted for attempting to protect her own privacy clumsily and inadequately. She was convicted for not knowing her rights. She was convicted for failing to seek medical care for a pregnancy she did not know whether she wanted. She was convicted for expressing doubts about her desire or ability to birth and raise a child outside of marriage. She was convicted for not knowing that she could have a legal abortion and for contemplating an illegal one. She was convicted for living in a country that makes access to legal abortion nearly impossible in certain areas. 

Patel is not being convicted for killing — or intending to kill — a baby. She is being convicted for being his mother.

"Purvi Patel’s conviction is a travesty against women; The traumatic miscarriage of an unwanted child is not murder"

"A polyamorous quad welcomes their first child"

A black and white photograph show four white people seated together on a couch.
Two bearded, long haired men with glasses are on the left. Two long-haired
women are on the right. The man sitting on the inside holds a newborn,
who is being touched by both people next to him. Everyone looks peaceful.

Our son entered into this world, caught safely in the hands of his father and his little mother together, while his Dad-E held his mother safe and strong. Afterward her three partners milled about in stunned pleasure, alternating between taking pictures and stares of pleased bewilderment. And lots of hugs and tears. We started making phone calls to far-flung family and loved ones, letting them know that the baby had finally arrived.

"A polyamorous quad welcomes their first child"

This is a wonderful, detailed picture of the labor and delivery that brought this "munchkin" into the world. What a lucky baby, to have so much love and support.

I support all types of families. Yes, yours too! It would be an honor to help you through your next transition.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

Larry Wilmore on Gynoticians

Larry Wilmore, a black male comedian, smirks and waves his hands.
He's wearing a suit and sitting in front of an upside down world map.
Text transcribed below.

"I firmly believe that you should probably know how a vagina works before you can make laws that deal with vaginas." - Larry Wilmore

I got nothing, folks.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Life is fragile; Pregnancy is NOT a joke"

The words "Life is fragile; pregnancy is NOT a joke" appear on the left side of the banner.
On the right is a white woman's pregnant belly, held in her hands, with a blue ribbon tied around it in a bow.
The image is credited to the group, "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep".

The Facebook Group Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS) shared this image and text today:

April Fool’s Day tends to see MANY posts claiming’ I’m PREGNANT!” to be followed by “APRIL FOOLS!!!” 

We know that pregnancy isn't a joke. For families who have lost a baby, for families struggling with infertility, pregnancy is REALLY not a joke. Finding positive ways to respond can be difficult especially when you just want to unload on someone that just posted that to their Facebook page. But just remember; they post this out of innocence and ignorance, something you no longer possess. For many of us there was a time when we too possessed that innocence and ignorance about all the things that could happen in pregnancy. We believed that pregnancy was a time of nothing but morning sickness and joy and little, tiny baby shoes, and cupcakes and flowers at a baby shower. That innocence goes out the door when a baby dies. 

So, how to respond? There are a couple of ways: 

1) DON’T! Just ignore it. That person posting that ‘joke’ didn’t do it to spite anyone. They have the beautiful bliss of innocence. YOU don’t belong to THAT club anymore, but remember when you did? 

2) Respond positively. Don’t lash out in anger. Use what YOU KNOW to gently remind others that pregnancy, for many isn't a joke. Your power is in knowing better and sharing in a positive way is educational and will allow others to open their eyes to infant death. Lashing out only makes people feel defense and shut down to learning more about you, about your loss, about the pain and the journey. How YOU respond makes a difference in how others will react. By educating kindly it spreads awareness in a positive way. 

Share here with us other ways to respond. Let’s use our incredibly strong base of families of loss to help educate and open conversations.

NILMDTS is a wonderful resource for families grieving miscarriages and stillbirths. Many doulas are also trained to help.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

Everyday Feminism: "3 Radical Reasons to Be Okay with Not Being Okay (And 4 Ways to Manage the Feelings)"

A smiling, brown-skinned woman leans against a wall with fading paint.

1. Sadness Is Not the Opposite of Self-Love
2. Naming Our Emotions Can Offer Access to Personal Power
3. Sometimes Encouragement Is More About (Their) Discomfort Than (Your) Healing 

1. Use the Word Processing
2. Make Space for Shared Discomfort
3. Have a ‘Sucky Feelings’ Ritual
4. Recognize a Tendency for Toxic Self-Talk

"3 Radical Reasons to Be Okay with Not Being Okay (And 4 Ways to Manage the Feelings)"

I am a huge believer in self-care as a radical act:

A black and white photograph of Audre Lorde, a black woman with an afro and glasses.
A quote of hers in red text dominates the upper left of the image, transcribed below.

"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare." - Audre Lorde

In cahoots,

~Sasha

KellyMom: "Co-sleeping and Bed-sharing"

Bed-sharing is just one of the ways that a family might co-sleep, but it is frequently practiced by breastfeeding mothers. One of the biggest issues when it comes to bed-sharing is safety. Some sources publicize bed-sharing as an unsafe practice, no matter how it’s done, but there are ways to sleep safely while bed-sharing if you follow guidelines for safe sleep surfaces and safe sleep sharing.

"Co-sleeping and Bed-sharing"

This article is The Go-To Source on cosleeping information. KellyMom is an amazing resource! Check it out!

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Parents Misled by Cry-It-Out Sleep Training Reports"

Here, we outline parenting media’s top factual and logical failures when reporting on this developmentally risky practice...

1. Research does not support what sleep training reports assume:

• That sleep training “is fine” for baby —it’s NOT, even when the baby stops protesting.
• That cry-it-out (extinction of crying) works at home—it does NOT.
• Age and development level of the child does not matter for sleep training. WRONG.
• Research shows no harm for babies—NOT: it doesn’t even examine harm to babies!
• Sleep training research is well done—NOT: poor designs, fidelity, analysis show it is UNRELIABLE.

2. Sleep training reports gloss over the trauma and toxic stress that is done to babies during sleep training, when the brain and body are developing rapidly. Reports overlook how ignoring a baby at night is a form of NEGLECT. 

3. Most parents are not comfortable with cry-it-out (extinction of crying) and they should not be. Babies are meant to be with caregivers all the time. Their wellbeing is undermined otherwise.

"Parents Misled by Cry-It-Out Sleep Training Reports"

I trust families to collaborate and figure out what works best for them. How could I help you with that process?

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Animals in the Womb: Gorgeous Images."

A fetal elephant in the womb.

These photographs are just stunning. I encourage you to click the link and go check out the whole series.

"Animals in the Womb: Gorgeous Images."

In cahoots,
~Sasha

Refuting "Sleep Training at 8 Weeks: ‘Do You Have the Guts?’"

A terrifying drawing of a white woman, wearing a sleep mask
(alluding to the blindfold of justice) with only one eye covered.
She holds up a scale, with a crying, red-faced baby in the higher cup
and a white, bald, male doctor in the lower cup. The background is a
blue sky-- dark with stars on the baby's side, and light with clouds on the doctor's.

If this was from a less reputably source than NYT, I wouldn't repost it just to refute it, but, in my professional opinion, these pediatricians are awful.

"Sleep Training at 8 Weeks: ‘Do You Have the Guts?’"

Let's talk about basic development: newborns are learning whether or not the world is a good place: are they safe? are their needs being met? are they loved?

This is a quote from the author of the article, paraphrasing her family pediatrician's words:

She would cry — for hours, possibly — but in about three nights she’d get the picture that nobody was coming to her rescue and would begin to sleep through the night.

A preverbal baby who is crying is trying to communicate:

• "I am scared."
• "I am hungry."
• "My diaper is wet."
• "Why is it so dark?"
• "Where is everybody?"

Ignoring attempts to communicate doesn't tell a newborn that they are loved or safe, that their needs will be met. It simply is not developmentally appropriate.

But, Sasha, what alternatives are there? Co-sleeping safely. Checking on a baby who cries-- and getting help from a pro if the crying seems out of the ordinary. Asking friends or family for assistance in the "fourth trimester" so that everyone can still get enough sleep.

Hiring a post-partum doula (like myself) is also an option. It would be an honor to help your family.

In cahoots,

~Sasha

An amazing video of a newborn crawling to mama's breast

I'll be honest: I have no idea how to persuade Blogger to include this amazing video directly. Instead, I'll share with you the link to see the video yourself on FB, courtesy of Lactancia Materna Sur de Córdoba:

Agarre espontáneo al pecho inmediatamente tras el nacimiento
La lactancia materna es la elección del bebé 

Grip spontaneous to the chest and immediately after the birth
Breastfeeding is the choice of the baby

"La lactancia materna es la elección del bebé"

Did your newborn crawl on you this way immediately after birth?

In cahoots,

~Sasha

"15 Ways To Help A Friend Who Has A Baby In The NICU"

This photo of a premature white baby was taken from the posterior
end of the incubator, so only a wrinkly baby foot is in focus.

Having a baby in the NICU is tough, whether they are there for a few days or a few months. Being separated from your newborn baby is hard, and being there for them in the hospital so many hours a day can be draining. Parents of babies in the NICU are often exhausted, terrified, hopeful,, running on empty, and falling deeply in love with their new baby. It is an incredibly difficult time, and one you really cannot understand unless you have experienced it yourself. 

As a friend or family member, you have the power to make things a little easier for the new parents, and here’s how...

"15 Ways To Help A Friend Who Has A Baby In The NICU"

These suggestions are actually great advice for supporting any family with a new baby. That advice becomes even more necessary for a family grappling with the special rights of a premature kiddo.

A postpartum doula can be a great support for a family. Do you know a family who needs physical, emotional, logistical, and informational support right now? I'd be honored to help out.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

The #BreakTheSilence Project by Improving Birth

First, a note on photographic representation:
I am keenly aware that most of the babies, parents, and providers shown in the photographs of articles are white. Part of my intention in including the subjects' apparent races in captions is to call attention to this lack of stock photo diversity.

I apologize that one of the first moments in this blog when a bevy of images is available, from which I can choose to represent a person of color rather than a white person, is in a post on trauma. This situation deeply reflects the prejudices of the United States. It also reflects a lack of POC-centered source material on my part, and I am working to correct that moving forward.


Now, for the content itself...
TRIGGER WARNING: written description of obstetric violence against a woman in labor.

"10 Reasons To Hire a Postpartum Doula"

A white baby sleeps, nestled in a white arm tattooed with flowers.

This article is short and sweet, so I'm happy to share it here in its entirety:

10 - So you don’t feel judged while you learn to care for your newborn. A doula offers judgment free support allowing you to develop your “inner-momma” peacefully, smoothly and at your own pace. 

9 - So you can let your guard down and explore your parenting options. Your doula will discuss various parenting philosophies and options with you and support you in every decision YOU make. 

8 - Because early breastfeeding can pose its challenges, having a doula by your side during frustrating or exhausted feedings can be extremely beneficial. 

7 - So you can be nurtured while you nurture your newborn. 

6 - So you can be reminded to eat well and stay hydrated. Simple things like eating and drinking are easily overlooked while focusing on a newborn, however, they are extremely important to your recovery. 

5 - So you can be free of day-to-day household tasks in order to focus on bonding with your baby and your partner. 

4 - For the most up to date information on products relating to babies. Your doula is an expert on all things “baby”, in spite of the ever-changing recommendations and product recalls. 

3 - Doulas are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of the postpartum baby blues and postpartum depression. Your doula can advise you of what is a “normal” part of your emotional recovery and what you might need some help with. 

2 - So that you can allow yourself “real” sleep, knowing that a trained professional is caring for your baby while you rest and recover. 

And the #1 reason you should hire a postpartum doula is… BECAUSE YOU DESERVE ONE!

"10 Reasons To Hire a Postpartum Doula"

What support did you need more of in "the fourth trimester", immediately after the baby was born? Did you need more physical, emotional, logistical, or informational support?

Are you looking for an extra set of hands and heart and brain for your family? That's what a doula is for! I would be honored to help you out.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

A "Breastfeeding Latch Trick"

"Breastfeeding Latch Trick from DrMomma.org"
A white breast is shown, with the nipple being pinned upward by a finger.

1) Pinch the areola right next to your nipple so the nipple can be moved (it may take a second for the nipple to evert if it was otherwise flat). You can use your thumb and first finger, or 2 fingers - whichever is easier for that side and the shape of your breasts. If you have 'puffy' breasts, you can also position the rest of your hand under your breast to lift it up slightly and away from your chest.

2) Turn the nipple up so it is pointing at your face. Do not be shocked if some milk exits. This is normal as you are putting very slight pressure on the milk ducts. There is no need to wipe off the milk as the scent will only help to encourage baby to nurse.

3) Position baby's mouth at the bottom of your upturned nipple, so baby's mouth is open over your nipple/finger and onto the above areola.

4) When you let go, the nipple will land deep into baby's mouth - where it is meant to be for comfortable latch and sucking.

This article includes a few videos, demonstrating this maneuver for folks who want to see it in action.

"Breastfeeding Latch Trick"

I'm not a lactation consultant, but I am happy to help trouble-shoot any part of pregnancy, birth, and parenting with you as needed, and help you find resources who know more than me if I'm stumped!

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Prisons Are Illegally Shackling Pregnant Women While In Labor"

This article is being written about practices in the state of New York, but shackling in labor is a problem nationwide.

The American Medical Association considers the use of shackling during labor both "medically hazardous" and out of line with the "ethics of the medical profession." According to the Women in Prison Project, shackling "heightens the risk of blood clots, limits the mobility needed for a safe pregnancy and delivery, and increases the risk of falling, which can cause serious injury and even death to the fetus." The report also states that shackles can get in the way of administering medical care in emergencies.

"Prisons Are Illegally Shackling Pregnant Women While In Labor"

If you're looking for a local-to-Boston resource that's engaging in this kind of work, check out The Prison Birth Project!!!

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Exercise Balls Reduce Labor Time and Cesarean Sections"

A white woman with a pregnant belly and relaxed face sits on an exercise ball.
There is a bed in front of her with a big pillow on it, perhaps in a birth center.

The present nurse-led randomized, controlled trial conducted at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, a Phoenix hospital part of nonprofit Banner Health, examined the differences between women who used a peanut ball during labor and women who did not. 

The study found that the use of exercise balls during labor can help women who use an epidural, and who are subsequently are usually limited in the number and capacity to try different position changes, offers multiple benefits including decreased labor time, increased circulation, fetal descent, and improved quality of contractions. Ultimately, using a peanut ball resulted in decreased length of labor and increased rate of vaginal birth.

"Exercise Balls Reduce Labor Time and Cesarean Sections"

I would love to see this research repeated on a larger scale. I suspect the magnitude of their claims would be reduced a bit with increased data-- halving cesarean rates with a single intervention seems like a small sample size inflating its significance.

Have you tried an exercise ball in labor? How was it for you?

Does your intended birth place have birth balls available?

In cahoots,

~Sasha

"The Anthropology of sharing a bed with your baby."

"Baby sleep research at the parent infant sleep lab at Durham University."
A white baby, a few months old, mouths a fist while lying down and ogling the camera.
Two blue straps circle their torso, with attached wires trailing offscreen.

Professor Ball explains that many parents do find they will be "accidently" bed sharing with their breast fed baby because it's easier to care for the baby in bed during the intensive night feeding phrase. Parents are not however admitting it publicly. "Parents are frightened to talk to health professionals in some instances and this is one of the things that shuts down he transmission of information on how to do it safely." 

Many of us will admit they slept with the baby in the bed at least once and I am hoping all of us know what makes it safe. 

• No drugs, alcohol or cigarettes to be consumed (or have been consumed) by anyone in the bed.
• Do not swaddle the baby, it must be free to move so it doesn't get stuck anywhere in the bed.
• The bed must be a proper firm mattress, not a couch or a folding bed.
• If your baby was small at birth or born early (before 37 weeks) bed sharing is not recommended.

"The Anthropology of sharing a bed with your baby."

What professional recommendations have you received on baby sleep? Have your providers been supportive of your choices?

In cahoots,
~Sasha

NPR: "Doctors Urge Patience, And Longer Labor, To Reduce C-Sections"

A surgical spotlight falls artfully on a white newborn,
apparently being lifted out of their mother during a cesarean
birth by two providers in blue scrubs. Mama's body is obscured.

The new guidelines on reducing cesarean deliveries are aimed at first-time mothers, according to the American College of Obstetricians and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, which released the guidelines Wednesday online and in Obstetrics and Gynecology...

Women giving birth for the first time should be allowed to push for at least three hours, the guidelines say. And if epidural anesthesia is used, they can push even longer. Techniques such as forceps are also recommended to help with vaginal delivery. 

Early labor should also be given more time, the doctors say, with the start of active labor redefined to cervical dilation of 6 centimeters, rather than 4.

"Doctors Urge Patience, And Longer Labor, To Reduce C-Sections"

This interview is fascinating, and not just because it includes updated recommendations for labor! It also talks about the process of medical science, and how we learn to do better. This paragraph might actually be my favorite:

You know, before 1955 there was essentially no quantitative data on the length of labor. Then Emanuel Friedman said we should study this. He studied 500 women, and, of those, he said here are the 200 women who have idealized labors. We then managed 4 million a women a year for the next 50 years based on 200 women. It's not that the wrong approach was taken; it's that we started science and then didn't continue to do the science.

The allopathic, biomedical model isn't ever perfect. What's amazing about it is its ability to improve as we gain new information. Midwives have been making recommendations like these for awhile now, and researchers are investigating those claims, and giving better advice to OBs on that basis.

What should researchers be looking into next to make birth healthier and happier and safer for pregnant folks? Have you seen OBs taking these recommendations into account?

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Parenting Advice: Don't Kill Them"

The face of a white toddler in a carseat,
eyes closed (asleep or faking it?), with a stained mouth.

We try to pretend that other times don’t exist. We try to pretend that good parents (especially mothers) enjoy every minute of parenthood. This, I firmly believe, is a misogynistic tool used to oppress women...  

There will be days where you will find yourself amazed that you have made it through the day without actually giving your child away to the nearest stranger, no matter how clear he’s made it that he hates you and wants to destroy your happiness. You deserve an award for this. There isn’t one, but just know that you do deserve it.

"Parenting Advice: Don't Kill Them"

If you ever need advice on this sort of day, let me know.

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"The awkward playdate question that could save your child's life"

A child is more likely to be accidentally shot and killed by a firearm than die of an allergic reaction to a peanut. And yet, the conversation about guns among friends, neighbors and relatives has yet to become as routine.

"The awkward playdate question that could save your child's life"

Have you ever asked other families if they keep guns in their home, and how they are stored, before a playdate?

In cahoots,

~Sasha

"Henci Goer – Fact Checking the New York Times Home Birth Debate"

A white mama and newborn pair cuddle nude. © HoboMama

There's both an overabundance of data and not enough wholly relevant data when trying to decide where to give birth. Goer has made understanding birth research her life's work.

The one critique I have of her points here is that the Dutch homebirth study she mentions in her second paragraph is less relevant in the US than I'd like it to be. Worldwide, the certification of midwives more closely resembles what we call a nurse midwife than a certified professional midwife or lay midwife. Unfortunately, NMs rarely perform homebirths in this country; they usually remain in hospitals and birth centers, while CPMs and LMs are more likely to practice in homes but their certifications are not sufficient for them to be employed by hospitals or birth centers! One could argue this is purely discrimination against alternative/holistic/feminist practices on the part of hospitals, but there is a difference in the rigor of training required for each designation.

"Henci Goer – Fact Checking the New York Times Home Birth Debate"

My first principle as a doula (and in life) is risk-aware consent: know the numbers and make the best choice for you. How can I help you with that process?

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Pricing American Women Out Of Abortion, One Restriction At A Time"

a receipt for "the full price of an abortion"

What people don't often realize about restrictions on abortion is that they create real hurdles for people trying to access them. Demanding a pregnant person take 24hrs to "think it over" (as if they haven't thought it over already?!) means two days missing work. Add in the scarcity of clinics in areas that aren't densely populated, and you suddenly have real travel time to worry about...

This article provides a phenomenal survey of the issues involved; I highly encourage a read-through.

A ThinkProgress examination of the potential fees that could be accrued by two archetypal Wisconsin women found that the process of obtaining an abortion could total up to $1,380 for a low-income single mother saddled with charges related to gas, a hotel stay, childcare, and taking time off work. For a middle-income woman living comfortably in a city with no children and public transit options to the clinic, meanwhile, those fees dropped to $593.

"Pricing American Women Out Of Abortion, One Restriction At A Time"

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Idaho Lawmaker Wonders If Women Could Have A Gyno Exam By Swallowing A Tiny Camera"

A diagram of the female anatomy, side view. Notice the lack of connection
between the reproductive organs and the excretory ones.

I tried to choose a favorite paragraph from this news article to share, but every tidbit is both relevant and horrifying. A summary of salient points:

• This particular politician, Rep. Vito Barbieri, is on the board of a "crisis pregnancy center" and is legislating abortion without a clue how the female body works.
• Telemedicine (practicing medicine by video-chat) is a great invention of the modern age, enabling people who live far from their caregiver to still receive quality treatment. Local research shows this process to be just as safe and effective as in-person treatment, but the GOP is opposed anyway.
• This legislation to ban tele-abortion is on track to pass in Idaho. Ugh.

"Idaho Lawmaker Wonders If Women Could Have A Gyno Exam By Swallowing A Tiny Camera"

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"10 things hospitals won’t tell you"

Many people bustling around a hospital room.

“C-section rates by hospitals vary ten-fold, between 7% and 70% of deliveries in the United States,” says Shah, citing a March 2013 Health Affairs study of nearly 600 hospitals in 2009.

"10 things hospitals won’t tell you"

It's the job of a doula to provide three kinds of support: physical, emotional, and informational. One of the ways I can help you with upcoming decisions is by being your private investigator: what's the cesarean delivery rate at the birthplace you're considering? How about their VBAC rate?

What big questions could I help you figure out?

In cahoots,
~Sasha Sagan

"Post-Pregnancy Photo Series Shows How Mothers' Bodies Look After Giving Birth"

A black-and-white photograph show two elementary-age
white children hugging their mother's beautiful, wrinkled white belly.

Photos of women in the mass media don’t seem to leave much room for women who don’t match its heavily Photoshopped concept of beauty, but photographer Jade Beall provides a healthy counterweight, using her photography to highlight just how beautiful the bodies of mothers truly are.

"Post-Pregnancy Photo Series Shows How Mothers' Bodies Look After Giving Birth"

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"After 'much prayer', doctor refuses to see 6-day-old baby because she has two moms"

parents Jami and Krista Contreras, seated with their baby

What appalls me about this incident, beyond the fact that it happened at all, is that the doctor so rudely waited until the baby was born to refuse care. Why not simply tell the parents no during the prenatal interview, so that they would have enough time to find a doctor who wasn't homophobic?

"After 'much prayer', doctor refuses to see 6-day-old baby because she has two moms"

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"Kate Winslet on NOT Losing the Baby Weight: ‘I Want to Keep My Sanity’"

Kate Winslet on the red carpet in a black dress

“I want to keep my health and my sanity and be well fed and happy,” Winslet said. “My body will never go back to what it was and I wouldn’t expect it to after three babies.”

"Kate Winslet on NOT Losing the Baby Weight: ‘I Want to Keep My Sanity’"

In cahoots,
~Sasha

ImprovingBirth.org: "What is Evidence-based Maternity Care?"

Maternity Practices in the United States:
"Routine" vs. Evidence Based Care

This is the gap between best birth practices and the reality for American parents.

Part of the role of the doula is to support pregnant people as they research their care options, communicate with their providers, and navigate labor.

How could I help you?

"What is Evidence-based Maternity Care?"

In cahoots,
~Sasha

"El Salvador's Las 17: the women jailed for 30 years for losing their babies by miscarriage"

"Demonstrators demand a pardon for 17 women sentenced to 40 years of

imprisonment after after losing their babies in medical emergencies."

In El Salvador, home to the some of the world's strictest abortion laws, women are jailed for murder after losing their babies in medical emergencies. But a historic pardon has given them hope amid growing international condemnation.

"El Salvador's Las 17: the women jailed for 30 years for losing their babies by miscarriage"

In cahoots,
~Sasha