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Volume 1, Issue 2 |
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| Welcome! Well this past month has brought me some interesting
info, which I share with you below, and it has also got me thinking about the role of pain in labor and birth.
I corresponded with a woman by email who wanted to explore my ideas about birth without pain. Before I could really
get her some good info, she gave birth! She did say that what I had told her made a difference in how she coped
with the pain she did feel. I am going to be working on an article about my philosophy about all this and will
let you all know when it is done. Until I get there, here are some links to other people's ideas about painless
birth: http://www.mama2mama.org/birth.html http://unassistedchildbirth.com/believe.htm http://www.compleatmother.com/birth_pain.htm http://unassistedchildbirth.com/faith.htm Below is a cut and paste from a Medscape article. You need to be registered to access the information there, but it is well worth it if you are inclined to seek out the medical research : Medscape No Benefit Seen With Suctioning During Birth of Meconium-Stained Neonates By Roberta Friedman, PhD SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters Health) Feb 11 - Suctioning during delivery of infants who present with meconium staining apparently does not prevent meconium aspiration syndrome. These findings, presented at the meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, contradict current practice guidelines. Lead study author Dr. Edgardo Szyld, of the Hospital Diego Paroissien in Buenos Aires, Argentina, believes that "we should consider revising the current recommendations" of suctioning these infants during delivery. A total of 2514 infants with meconium-stained amniotic fluid were randomized to oro- and nasopharynx suctioning or to no suctioning just before delivery of the shoulders. Of those infants suctioned, 3.5% developed meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), as did 3.6% of those not suctioned. Five newborns died in the suctioned group, and three in the group not suctioned. No differences between the two groups were observed in the frequency of thick meconium, C-sections or need for resuscitation. A single study back in the 1970s was the foundation for the recommendation of suctioning when meconium staining is evident, Dr. Szyld said. Recommendations to suction, set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) makes the practice "widespread--and it's done around the world." However, he said, the current study shows that suctioning before the shoulders are delivered does not prevent meconium aspiration or its complications. "The data presented by Dr. Szyld's team provides convincing evidence that suctioning probably does not" alter outcomes, Dr. Laura E. Riley, chair of ACOG's Committee on Obstetric Practice, told Reuters Health. "Because suctioning has been beaten into clinicians for so many years, I'm not sure the current findings are really going to change clinical practice," Dr. Riley said. "Still, I think the findings may provide some reassurance to clinicians that when meconium aspiration syndrome occurs it probably didn't have anything to do with how adequately the infant was suctioned." While Dr. Riley believes that the researchers succeeded in showing that suctioning is probably unnecessary, she said they didn't address "whether suctioning may actually have harmful effects, such as causing facial trauma." This is a link to an article about the potential dangers of ultrasound, written by a woman doctor from Australia: http://www.mercola.com/2003/feb/19/ultrasound_scans.htm You can read about the wonderful birth of her fourth baby here: http://unassistedchildbirth.com/maia.htm Have you heard of the concept of taking a Babymoon after the birth of your child? Just like when you were married and you took some time secluded away from the rest of the world to solidify the bond that marriage created, so should a new family take some time to strengthen the bonds between the family and the new baby. Below are some links to articles about babymoons: http://www.unhinderedliving.com/babymoon.html http://myriamedia.com/press/chicagotribune-babymoon.htm http://thebirthsource.homestead.com/babymoon.html Ok, that is all for now! Do you know anyone who might like to recieve Birthing Basics News? Let them know about us! See you next issue! |
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