Are you pregnant and or had an orgasmic birth?

Posted in Latest News on 01/26/2010 09:36 am by admin

Discovery Health Channel is looking to include a segment about Orgasmic Birth in their six part series that explores the puzzling and sometimes shocking world of sex.

Ideally,they are looking for someone who has already experienced an orgasmic birth and is pregnant again. The shoot would take three days including a pre-birth shoot with how the couple is preparing for the orgasmic birth; as well as filming the birth and the day after.

If you are interested participating, live in the United States and would like to find out more please email mspinak@sirensmedia.com or call 301-920-9860. Thanks!

Please cc dpascali@optonline.net as Debra looks forward to being a part of the segment too and working together to share all that is possible in birth.thank you for your time and consideration,

 

The right to choose how you birth.

Posted in Birth Advocacy, Latest News on 08/24/2009 11:32 pm by Annie

Hi All,

I am forwarding this message, written by Genevieve Searle - an incredible Brisbane woman who is passionate about birthing and the right for women to choose their path.

For some of you - homebirthing may be the furthermost away from your first choice in having a baby. However - put this on the other foot.. what if the government suddenly announced that whatever choice you have made ( or about to make) in your birth plan - was suddenly threatened to be taken away - made illegal.

This is not just about homebirthing - its about choice - Allowing women to choose how they want to birth REGARDLESS to what it is - Cesarean, hospital based, birth centre or homebirth.

Its time We women stop bikkering about what or how is best and pull together on this issue.. Its OUR BODIES - we need the right to choose…. not a politician.

my rant now off….. take it away Genevieve…..

You are most likely aware of the choice to birth at home with a privately practicing midwife is currently under threat.
A lot of people have been working really hard to prevent this from happening and all sides of politics have been taking a very keen interest.  However we’re not there yet.

On September the 7th I will be travelling to Canberra to take pert in a “The mother of all Rallies” outside parliament house.  My partner, Matthew, will take a day of annual leave to look after our children to support this cause too.

I recognise a trip to Canberra for a day is a big ask, however there are a couple of easy things you can do to help keep options open for all birthing women.  After all it should be women and their families making decisions that are appropriate for them rather than others making them on their behalf.

1. Purchase a  $25 “Virtual Rally Ticket”

Simply fill out the form, upload your headshot and you will be there supporting the cause.

“Your pledge of $25 goes towards the printing and assembling of your head shot and message, as well as towards our continuing campaign to keep homebirth with a midwife a viable option for Australian families”

Lisa J.
Homebirth Image via Wikipedia

Saturday the 29th of August (midnight) will be the last chance to buy a virtual rally ticket.  Be quick and buy one now before it is too late.
RALLY TICKET HERE

2. Call or write to your MP, particularly if they are Labour, within the next two weeks.

It’s vital that we continue to remind them how important this is.  Even if you’ve met with them before or sent them a letter and call to keep it on their agenda is powerful.  You don’t need to win a literary prize for your letter or given an award for your speech, you just need to simply tell them that choices need to be increased not taken away and that removing the choice to birth at home with a privately practising midwife is not an option and it needs to be fixed.

Check to see if you live in an ALP electorate by entering your postcode in the search field on this page . If you do, we need your help. Please contact savebirthchoices@gmail.com urgently, with the name of your electorate and MP and we will guide you through what you need to do.

Your support is greatly appreciated and as Margaret Mead said “Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”

thanks everyone

Hugs Annie

 

Benefits of Breastfeeding Kids over the age of One

Posted in Breastfeeding Advice on 07/30/2009 12:30 pm by RichardWiner

The benefits of breastfeeding a baby over formula milk are abundant and undeniable; breast milk contains nutrition in the form of foremilk, the watery milk important for hydration and hind milk, the rich milk important for growth. It also has anti-bodies which prevent diseases like ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory tract infections and also from different types of allergies and allergy related diseases such as eczema, asthma, rhinitis and food allergies.

Psychologically, after the baby has become used to the feel of the breast, it becomes dependent on it for comfort and security, associating its feel and odor with the identity of its mother. For the mother, breastfeeding also has benefits including quick weight loss, delay of ovulation and menstruation, preventing pregnancy and prevention of ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer and osteoporosis. Hormones like prolactin and oxytocin are released during the skin contact between mother and baby, giving a feeling of relaxation and elevation and keeping the stress level in check. These crucial benefits of breastfeeding continue throughout infancy and toddlerhood until the baby is weaned. During toddlerhood, babies nurse more for the comfort than for milk; they enjoy being closely in touch with their mother and like to stay connected while they are busy exploring their own worlds.
In countries like the United States, breastfeeding children after the age of one is considered unorthodox, while many other cultures find it normal to naturally wean the babies, however long it might take. According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, children should be exclusively fed on breast milk until the first 6 months after which they can be fed other nutritious food in addition to breastfeeding which should continue at least till 2 years. This is because breastfeeding provides the toddler with 31% of daily energy needs, 38% protein requirements, 45% vitamin A requirements and 95% of vitamin C requirements.
Many parents believe that breastfeeding for long, after the first year will make weaning difficult and the children overly dependent and clingy. Some mothers also force their babies to wean when they start teething in fear of getting bitten by them especially when the babies are not ready to be weaned. Teething children hardly ever bite because when the nipple is in their mouth, a kind of suction is formed with the nipple far back in the mouth making it impossible for the baby to bite. The only way to bite is if the baby is not properly latched on. Also in reality, naturally weaned children develop maturity and independence quickly; when solid food is introduced at the right time, they welcome it happily and breastfeeding becomes secondary.

Mother's Day Special / Innocenti Declaration
Image by LuisVallecillo via Flickr

With time the kids stop depending on breast milk and substitute it with other types of food. Most importantly, naturally weaned children develop confident and positive personalities, developing oral and mental capabilities sooner than forcefully weaned children. With time, weaning actually gets easier as children discover changing interest and developing ability to reason. Most of the time, mothers don’t even need to interfere in weaning because with changing interests, breastfeeding remains merely a comforting need which the child may substitute with a toy or a blanket. Some mothers also wish to wean their children sooner because of the fatigue of breastfeeding. However, due to the release of oxytocin and prolactin hormones, they can actually get ample opportunities to relax and spend quality time with their toddlers.
Weaning time should be properly discussed with the doctor or a lactation expert who can also provide guides on identifying cues in the child’s behavior which signal a readiness to wean. Some doctors may suggest weaning earlier for medical reasons in which case it is better to obtain second opinions and if absolutely necessary, transfer the baby onto pumped breast milk using manual or electric breast pumps like Medela pump in style.

In situations where criticism is faced by people about the lengthening breastfeeding period, adopt a neutral and non-aggressive attitude. Be discreet about your decision if possible, offer a nice explanation of continuing breastfeeding by highlighting the benefits and appear confident so that people cannot take advantages. Ignore people’s harsh criticism and don’t let them waver your reasons about breastfeeding your toddler and naturally weaning it because these decisions lead to the healthy mental and physical growth of your kid.

Richard Winer is an independent writer and editor of a Breastfeeding Newsletter. Find more of his articles here.

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Orgasmic Birth gone Mainstream

Posted in Latest News on 06/15/2009 11:37 pm by Annie

My goodness, Marie Claire - the bastion of all that is proper and mainstream is running an article on…. women who orgasm during birth.  heavens!!!

What is a little sad though is the amount of comments underneath poo pooing the concept with some being downright rude about it all.

Women are conditioned into believing that childbirth and labour are traumatic and painful experiences, and granted, it is for some, but not for all of us. Everyone experiences the same situation differently. Who is to say that one orgasm MUSt be the same as another persons?

The purpose of bringing a film like Orgasmic Birth to the public does just that - challenges peoples perceptions.

Please check out and make a comment on the site here.

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Media Alert: Unleashed - Lessons from Labour

Posted in Latest News on 04/21/2009 04:29 pm by Jodi

Lessons of Labour, written by Dr Hannah Dahlen, Associate Professor of Midwivefery at the University of Western Sydney, appeared yesterday on the ABC’s online Unleashed pages ”. Dr  Dahlen makes many important clarifying points, in what has been a media storm over homebirth in recent weeks, marked by misinformation, inappropriately quoted studies, bias and narrow minded conjecture.

Mortality

  • According to the perinatal statistics for 2006 (the most recent ones available) 711 babies were born in planned homebirths in Australia with no deaths reported.
  • In the same year 2730 babies died in hospitals settings (representing 1% of all live births). For more information see Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s report Australian Mothers and Babies 2006.
  • The four deaths attributed to homebirths, as reported in the Daily Telegraph are yet to be confirmed – but were reported as fact.

Not all Homebirths are the Same

  • There has been a lack of acknowledgement in media reports and opinion pieces of the difference between planned homebirths for women with low risk pregnancies attended by a competent midwife who is well networked into mainstream services AND births at home where there is no professional care or where the woman has risk factors in her pregnancy.
  • There is definite differences in each option with low risk midwife attended birth at home supported by research as safe, compared with other birth at home options.

Rising Intervention Rates

  • Intervention rates during childbirth have sky-rocketed over the past ten years in Australia.
  • Women are now more likely to have intervention than not have intervention.
  • These interventions cause women to feel traumatised and fearful.

Limited Options

  • Options of care for childbearing women remain limited.
  • Around three per cent of women able to access continuity of midwifery care (aprox 2% in birthing centre and less than 1% at home.)

Closure of Maternity Units

  • In the last 10 years, 130 maternity units have shut down in Australia.
  • This has given rise to the growing incidence of ‘roadside births.’
  • It also means increasing numbers of women are birthing a great distance away from family and friends.

No Insurance

  • Privately practicing midwives have not been able to obtain affordable insurance since 2000.
  • Many midwives have stopped practising because of their inability to be insured.

Appropriate Management Complicated

  • Privately practicing midwives cannot order routine blood tests or ultrasounds.
  • Pricately practicing midwives often find it difficult to obtain the results for the women they care for, causing delays in appropriate management.

Financial Restrictions

  • Few financial rebates are available for homebirth
  • Families pay out of pocket $3000-5000 dollars for a privately practising medwife.
  • Some women simply cannot afford to pay that.

Dr Dahlen states that the ramification of these issues are:

  • more traumatised women due to interventions during birth
  • fewer options of care - especially continuity of midwifery care
  • fewer experienced, networked midwives available to attend women privately
  • and no access for women to a hospital birth under a private midwife.

These issues have contributed to the rise in unattended homebirth and more woman with high-risk pregnancies are seeking private midwifery care at home.

You can read Lessons of Labour at the ABC’s Unleased Pages.

Jodi Cleghorn is a homebirth Mum, natural birth and breastfeeding advocate, activist and writer.  For three years Jodi was the editor of the quarterly magazine “Down to Birth” and spent four years involved with the Home Midwifery Association in Brisbane.

 
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