In an earlier post, I talked about caring for your pelvic floor using exercises like kegels and squats.  Today I want to talk a little bit about how to care for your pelvic floor after birth, or any other event that may leave it in need of soothing such as infection, hemorrhoids, or surgery.

If you are using any of these techniques after surgery or to care for infections, it is a good idea to get clearance from your doctor just to make sure it is okay, especially if you are using any of the herbal remedies.

In a previous blog post, I talked about medical inductions.  As a follow up, I would like to talk a little about natural induction methods.  It is very common for care providers to give a mother a date and say if she hasn't gone into labor by then they will induce.  This is a great time to start some natural induction techniques.  The majority of natural techniques will not cause harm to mom or baby even if they don't work.

The thing about any induction is this; whether natural or medical, if that baby isn't ready to be born, it won't work.  Babies come when they are ready.  If you and your baby are almost ready, an induction can be a great way to kickstart a labor.  If baby and mom aren't ready, an induction won't take.  Many people think that being induced in a hospital puts you into labor.  This just isn't true.  Every day Cesareans are performed for failed inductions.  

So, what are some natural methods that you can use to try and kickstart your labor?  The first thing you should do before trying any of these methods is to get the all clear from your primary care provider.  If they have a medical reason why you should not try any or all of these techniques, don't do it.    

Almost anyone who has ever been pregnant will tell you that at a certain point you get tired of being pregnant, and just want the baby out.  If you go to your appointment and your doctor or midwife says something along the lines of "You know, we can induce and get the baby out today..." or "How would you like to meet your baby today?" it is so tempting to agree just to stop being pregnant, and the incentive of getting to hold your new baby for the first time is very enticing.

Legally, hospitals are required to talk about the risks along with the benefits of any medical procedure, this includes inductions.  Unfortunately, there are far to many moms who aren't given a break-down of what to expect, or are made to focus only on the good things.  It is important to go into any medical procedure knowing what to expect, both good and bad.

So, what exactly is an induction?  There are a couple of things that hospitals may try to induce your labor.  

What is a Birth Doula?

Although doulas are becoming more mainstream in our society, there are still many people who are unsure as to what a doula is.  So what exactly is a doula and what does she do?

Basically, a birth doula is a trained birth assistant.  We receive training about how to help moms through the labor and childbirth process.  The role of a doula is really up to the mother.  We are at her beck and call for anything that she needs while in labor, excluding anything medical.  This may mean giving her a massage, helping her change positions, assisting her with relaxation, going to get food, entertaining older children, advocating with her to the medical staff in a hospital birth, or communicating with her about any interventions that may be necessary.  We also provide physical and emotional support for mom and her partner.  

What is Placenta Encapsulation?

When you first hear about placenta encapsulation, your reaction may be one of disgust.  Some people may look at it as consuming a waste product, or diseased organ like the appendix or tonsils, but that is just not true.  The placenta is an organ not a waste product, and it certainly isn't diseased.  Unlike other organs that come out of our body, the placenta is still healthy and able to provide benefits.  The only reason it is expelled is that it can no longer do any good in your uterus.  Without the baby there, it can cause infection if left in.

During pregnancy, the placenta provides immune support and hormones to your baby.  Many women receive those same benefits by ingesting their placentas, and babies may receive them through breast milk.