Apollos Birth

I love my Moby!

Moby^® Wrap was voted "Favorite Baby Carrier" by Baby and Children's Product News' readers survey. Moby^® Wrap was also recently named in Pregnancy Magazine as a "must have for colic," (April, p 48), as well as the "best value" baby carrier in Fit Pregnancy Magazine gear issue (April/May, p 14).

Add onto that: it saved my life and made my son stop crying each time I put it on. No exaggerating there.

Ok, well maybe it didn't really save my life, but I am pretty sure that it saved my sanity.

My son, who is 3 months now has definitely been outspoken about his wants and needs. This is totally fine with me, but sometimes I don't understand exactly what hes telling me.

My wonderful Midwife gave me my Moby as a birthing gift. I had seen it many times and encouraged moms to use them, but for me, it just looked too complicated. The first time my husband and I tried to use it was when my little guy was a week old. We put it on my husband without totally reading the instructions and it was an utter failure. I put it away for the next week or so and tried my other slings, but my son didn't like those. So, I decided I would try the Moby again and see if he enjoyed that. SUCCESS!

Now, my son is in his Moby once a day at least. He loves being worn (as most babies do!) and I love wearing him. It feels so empowering to be able to wrap him up on my chest and make him feel so safe and secure. We now start our mornings out with walks on the beach (him in his Moby of course) and I couldn't think of a better way to start our day.

I am a big advocate for baby wearing, babies need to be listened to and held close. Babywearing is known to help with digestion, communication, development, trust and of course less crying overall. Plus, it just feels good... so why wouldn't you do it?

The Birth Of Apollo Thomas Kurtyka

It was 12:30 on March 8th, the one day I knew Apollo wouldnt be coming since it was his due date and no babies are actually born on their due date! Steve and I were trying to decide what we were going to do with our lazy Sunday; Steve just got off the phone with his Uncle Steve, who told him that he saw something on National Geographic about a tribe of women who just start pushing down on a pregnant womans belly to get things going. I told him we would not be trying that, instead he gave me a great big hug. During the hug I felt like I wet myself after standing there for a second I told Steve what I felt and went to the bathroom. When I first sat down I heard something drain into the toilet, but when I waited for more and gently pushed, nothing more came out. So, I got on my hands and knees on the bathroom floor and did some pelvic rocking, hoping it would encourage a little more drainage, but nothing happened. I told Steve I was going to lay down for 10 minutes and then when I get up, there would be more water, so we would know it was for sure my bag of water that broke. After 10 minutes of anxiously lying down, I got up and felt nothing, so Steve and I got ready to take a walk. On the way out the door, I had a gush of fluid come out and I had no doubt anymore that my bag of water had broken.

I had a huge rush of excitement; I had secretly been asking that everything started with my bag of water breaking, so that way I would really know things were going to happen.

Steve and I decided to go for a walk still, it was at that time that I felt everything between us deepened a bit even though we had been on the path to parenthood for the past nine months, this was really it; we were going to work together to bring our child into the world now, its something that I cant really put into words, but I knew we were reaching a new level in our relationship, a very spiritual level and I couldnt wait for what was in store.

During our walk, I was starting to gush fluid, so I told Steve I wanted to go back home. We decided to watch a movie, since contractions hadnt started and we wanted to stay distracted. I alerted my sister that our little man would be coming sometime soon and she notified friends and family for me, so I wouldnt have to worry about people hounding me. Steve and I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening together in quiet excitement, knowing that finally we were going to meet this little man who was going to change our lives forever.

Ella came back from her Dads house around 8, I was so happy she was there, my family was all together now. She was so excited that she was going to meet her brother soon, she could hardly contain herself. We watched Madagascar 2 together and then took a nice walk outside; it was such a beautiful evening, with a slight chill in the air and the feeling that big things were coming soon!

Around 9pm Jen (my sister) and Amanda (my niece) came over to spend the night, and later my mom came up from San Diego. Steve and I went to sleep around 10, I was admittedly a little disappointed nothing had happened yet. I remained positive though, thankful that I would get some sleep before everything got going at least. We went to sleep listening to my Hypnobabies CD, relaxing me and putting me to sleep quickly.

I woke around 6:30 in the morning on March 9th, the first thing I said to myself was, I cant believe Im still pregnant! Sue, my midwife had told me to call her in the morning if I was still pregnant, but I didnt want to bother her yet, so I went out into the living room (leaving Steve and Ella snoring away in the bedroom) and woke my sister. We chatted a little bit, but my sister was pretty tired, so I let her be for a while. I waited until 7 and called Sue. She gave me my choices (hospital, wait and do nothing, or try to get things stimulated), I chose to stimulate things. First thing Sue told me to do was get a nice big breakfast in me, then start alternating between blue and black cohosh tinctures every hour. So I woke everyone up and we went to Mothers market to get the tinctures and then had a great breakfast at IHOP.

While at IHOP I noticed my contractions coming every 15 minutes or so. They werent too strong, I was able to talk through them no problem. I was really excited that my body was starting to get going on its own. Once home I did start the blue and black cohosh and just hung out with my family.

We all took a little walk down the street, it was so nice to be outside, feeling the ocean air on my face and having those I love with me, supporting me. This was the perfect day to bring my baby out to meet the world.

My Mom and Sister went and got some lunch for us around 1:30. My contractions were still coming every 10 minutes or so and not very strong. At 2 I was to start a castor oil smoothie, if things werent getting more intense, so we started making that after lunch was over.

Times and events are a bit blurry for me after this point, but I know my Midwives, Sue and Lindsey told me they were on their way to the hospital because another client of theirs had a retained placenta. I was fine with them being busy, I didnt feel like anything was going to happen soon anyway.

I was about 3-4 sips into my castor oil smoothie and my contractions were about 5 minutes apart. Lindsey called and told me to stop drinking it, because they didnt want me to go to fast and not have them there. They let me know that they called a back up Midwife (another Sue!) and she would be there in a bit.

One of my best images of my birthing is when I was in the backyard with Steve, Ella, Jen, Amanda, my mom and Sarah (my friend). We were all just enjoying the beautiful weather, every time I got a contraction, I would use my peace cue (from Hypnobabies) and rest on the table or on Steve. Many times, I would feel hands on my back or shoulder, hands of my loved ones, giving me their strength through every contraction. I loved this part of my labor.

I came inside after a while, my contractions were much closer now, probably about 2-3 minutes apart. I wanted my friend Casandra there, because shes assisted at many births and I knew if Apollo decided to come soon, she could at least help. After only being inside for about 10 minutes, Casandra and Lily (photographer) were there, I was very relieved. At that point, I think my body relaxed a little more and things got noticeably stronger.

Not long after that, Sue, the backup midwife got there. She immediately listened to Apollos heartbeat, that was the best sound to me. Once she was there and I heard my little man, I totally let go and let my body totally take over.

Things got intense FAST!

They soon filled up the birth pool and I got in. Steve got in with me and I remember how protected I felt when I sat back on him and felt like I just curled my entire body into him. He held me, protected me and loved me. He put my headphones on me and I listened to my birth guide script. This really focused me so much and I was glad he thought to use this now. Ella, Casandra and perhaps others (I never had my eyes open) were wiping me down with washcloths and it felt excellent. I was surrounded in love.

Soon, my midwives Sue and Lindsey arrived. I remember looking over at them and smiling, again, relieved that they were there. It wasnt long after that that I started to wonder if I could take much more of the intensity, I doubted myself. Sue checked me and said I was 4cm, this was unbelievable to me, I knew I had to be further, but I wasnt! I know it was soon after this I started vomiting with so much force it just shook my whole body. After discussing this with my midwife later I realized that this was helping my body fully dilate. My sister said she saw blood coming out each time (a sign I was dilating), so my body was just helping push things along for me. How amazing our bodies are! I was giving up on myself mentally, but my body was pushing along, dilating and effacing me quickly. Now I have learned that trust is essential, I know now to trust my body completely, it always knew what to do and how to do it.

Since I was losing my mental strength, Sue suggested Steve and I be alone. So we went into our bedroom. I found it very hard to get comfortable in there and was just on my knees with my face on the bed. As I got weaker mentally, Steve got stronger. He somehow knew all the right things to say, he got me through the hardest parts with just his words.

I have no idea who suggested it, but Steve and I were in the shower next. I honestly hated this, position-wise, I wanted to be on my hands and knees or closer to the ground, instead I was standing and leaning in the shower. This was my favorite part overall between Steve and I. Steve told me things while in the shower that I will keep with me forever, just thinking of the things he said now makes me want to cry. I fell in love with him a million times over in that moment. Even though I was saying I couldnt do it, at that point, I knew I wanted to do it and that I could do it, because of him.

When we got out of the shower, Steve encouraged me into the pool again, but I said no. I wanted to go back into the room, I have no clue why I chose this, but it was where my spirit pulled me. While in the room, on my hands and knees, I kept thinking that since the shower, I felt Apollo moving down. I wondered if I should push with this feeling. So, I tried it. I instantly wanted to get on the ground, so I remember looking down and seeing Tenaya, our dog, and just thinking, oh well! I plopped myself on the ground next to her and pushed. Sue was asking if I was pushing, but she didnt need an answer, she knew I was and quickly yelled out to the living room for the other midwife to get the birth supplies. Steve told me he remembered looking down and seeing Apollos head!

I really loved pushing, I wish I would have done it sooner, when I had felt him moving down. This was for sure my favorite part. I know I pushed a couple times and yelled (Ella said that scared her!) but it felt really good to be vocal. After just a few pushes he was out, born into his Daddys (and the midwifes) hands! I couldnt believe it!!! He was wrapped up awkwardly in his cord, so it took a minute before I saw him. He was brought up to my chest and I was overcome with emotion. I knew Ella was up at my head and soon Steve was too, Apollo was in my arms and I was, at that very moment, 100% complete.

Everyone had flooded into the room when they heard me pushing, so the room was filled with so much love when he entered it. I am so thankful for this. There were no cold, sterile rooms, no nurses or doctors to take him to the warming table; instead there was a room filled with happiness and love, our son was never taken from our arms.


Fast forward about 4 hours, the house was cleared of all our guests; Steve, Ella, Apollo and I were all laying in bed together. I looked at my family and tears came to my eyes, this is what it feels like to be complete, to feel whole

Apollos stats:
Born: 3/09/2009 at 7pm
7lbs10oz
21 in long

Just more reason not to smoke...

Its always disgusted me when I see pregnant women smoking, in fact, I've heard about pregnant women smoking just so they would have low birth weight babies.. Those women just shouldn't be allowed to have children, in my own humble opinion!

Here is more reason why smoking during or soon after pregnancy is not ok!

Children Whose Mothers Smoked During Pregnancy And Early Childhood More Likely To Smoke As Adults

ScienceDaily (May 21, 2009) — Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy and their early childhood years may be predisposed to take up smoking as teens and young adults, compounding the physical damage they sustained from the smoke exposure.

"It is well-known that maternal smoking influences a developing fetus in myriad ways, contributing to low birth weight, premature birth and a host of other health problems after birth," said Roni Grad, M.D., associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. "Previous studies have suggested that maternal smoking during pregnancy may increase the risk of the offspring becoming regular smokers as adults, but the impact of postnatal cigarette smoke exposure was hard to differentiate from prenatal exposure."

The study results will be presented on May 19, at the American Thoracic Society's 105th International Conference in San Diego.

To determine the impact of maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood, the on the smoking behavior of the offspring as young adults, the researchers used data from the Tucson Children's Respiratory Study. Maternal smoking during pregnancy, at nine days, 1.5 months and 1.5 years was used to assess smoke exposure during pregnancy and the early life of the child. Maternal smoking was further assessed at ages six, nine and eleven years to evaluate smoke exposure during the school age years of the child. The smoking behavior of the offspring was then assessed at ages 16 and 22 years.

The researchers found that maternal smoking during pregnancy and the early childhood years was associated with the offspring being regular smokers at the age of 22, independent of whether the mother smoked during the school age years of the child. Furthermore, of all of the offspring who had ever smoked, offspring of mothers who smoked during pregnancy and early life were less likely to quit than those of mothers who had never smoked or who had taken up the habit only when the child reaches the school age years. Finally, the impact of early maternal smoking was independent of the effect of paternal smoking and also the effect of exposure to peer smoking during the offspring's adolescence. The greatest impact on the smoking behavior of the offspring as young adults was linked to .

"Smoking during pregnancy by mothers who stopped smoking by the time the child reached the school age years is a risk factor for smoking in their offspring during early adulthood," said Dr. Grad. "The data suggest that a biological effect is in play, and that eliminating maternal smoking during pregnancy and the preschool years of the child will reduce the risk of her children becoming regular smokers in adulthood. In children of mothers who did smoke during this critical period, it is important to prevent experimentation with tobacco during the adolescent years."

OC Register Article about birth

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

How do you want to deliver?

Women need to do their homework on birthing options available today.

By CARINE NADEL

For The Orange County Register

So, you're pregnant. Congratulations! Now comes the interesting part: How do you want to deliver?

Denise Spatafora, a life coach in New York, has written "Better Birth, The Ultimate Guide to Childbirth from Home Births to Hospitals" to help moms-to-be make the best choice for themselves.

Local professionals also have advice to offer about the options women have.

We spoke with Dr. David Lagrew, medical director of Women's Hospital at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills; Lorri Walker, a midwife at South Coast Midwifery and Women's Health Care in Irvine; and BJ Snell of the Community Alliance for Birth Options in Laguna Hills.

All agree that for starters, women should thoroughly educate themselves about what pregnancy is and what kind of birth would give them the best possible emotional, mental, physical and spiritually rich experience – even if something out of the ordinary happens and they have to change delivery types at the last moment.

"Too much of the time the unknown of the birth process creates fear for women," Spatafora said. "That was my main goal, to give women the tools to educate themselves and give them all they needed to make choices that would give them the ultimate birthing experience."

She's had clients who intended to have a home birth with a midwife, but had to change their focus to a hospital-based delivery because something during their pregnancy made home delivery an unsafe option.

"This doesn't mean that they can't have the same wonderfully memorable, fear-free experience," Spatafora said. "This just means that they have to become OK with the new and needed option, learn all they can about the procedure and realize that it will still be an intimate event."

Spatafora gave birth to her two children at home in water, with a midwife.

"That was my way and it worked out. For someone else, the best way might be in a hospital setting, or a birthing suite at a birthing center."

Lagrew says the family birthing suites at Women's Hospital at Saddleback Memorial can offer the best of both possible worlds.

"While many are encouraging home births, we feel that the center can give the mom and partner the same experience, but in a safe setting," he said. "Should the need arise, immediate intervention is available."

The hospital encourages the use of a Jacuzzi, but not water births, he said.

"We have education classes for the basics, for high-risk pregnancies, VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section), post-partum and daddy boot camp. We also have birthing beds, rocking chairs and music. Our policy is that if the request is safe and a comfort to the mom, we will provide it."

Both Lorri Walker and BJ Snell said that options in Orange County – and at hospitals in particular – are limited. Most hospitals don't allow midwives access, they said. Walker and Snell both see a sharp rise in the county for out-of-hospital births.

Giving birth, Walker said, is "a natural function that women need to gain control of by making it a more 'green' experience, educating themselves in a way that fits their lifestyle, gives them control and makes the event quite intimate."

Birthing centers give women lots of freedom, Snell added: "They can have family and friends in if they wish. We don't use IV's – the moms are able to walk, eat, drink. We don't readily use episiotomies."

Walker and Snell both agreed that birthing centers are not for all women. If a woman is having a high-risk pregnancy for any reason, she needs to use the traditional hospital setting, they said.

Women do need someone to be their guide, and for most that means a doctor.

A new way to battle the blues

What are the “baby blues?”
Over 80% of new mothers suffer from mood instability starting in the first week after giving birth. Dubbed the "baby blues", it is considered a normal part of birth recovery. Symptoms of the baby blues include weepiness, sadness and anxiety, and these negative emotions can last for the first several weeks of the new baby's life. Since the hormonal fluctuations at the root of the issue eventually regulate themselves, no treatment is given. Women are left to cope on their own, losing the first precious weeks with their newborn baby to an emotional rollercoaster and exhaustion.

A different postpartum experience
Birth recovery does not have to be so difficult. Nature has provided you with all you need to restore what is lost during pregnancy and birth. Your placenta! The placenta contains a woman's own natural hormones, as well as iron, protein and other nutrients, providing the means to replenish and nourish her body.

This may sound like a new concept; however the placenta has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to treat lactation and fatigue. Other cultures also honor the placenta and recognize it as being something sacred. Many Native American tribes bury the placenta to bind the child with its native land. The Ibo of Nigeria and Ghana consider the placenta to be the baby's twin. Aymara and Quecha peoples of Bolivia say that the placenta has its own spirit. Malaysians consider the placenta to be the older sibling to the child. When the baby smiles unexpectedly, it is said that he is playing with his brother.

I know what you are thinking though,
“That’s great for them, but how is it going to help me beat the after baby blues?”
First, try not to get stuck on the “ew factor” that a lot of people have; there is a way of receiving all of the placentas many benefits, without ever having to see or touch the placenta itself, through placenta capsules (prepared by an encapsulation specialist).

I am a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist (trained through PlacentaBenefits.info), which means I am trained to put your placenta in capsule form for you, in the privacy of your own home. The encapsulation process closely follows the Traditional Chinese Medicine method of draining (taking out most of the blood), steaming and dehydrating the placenta in preparation for the encapsulation process. Once the capsules are ready, mom is presented with a beautiful blue bottle full of capsules that can help make her transition to motherhood a smoother one.

For those that are still getting stuck on the “ew factor”, let me assure you again that you never have to see anything during the encapsulation process and your home is left just as clean, if not cleaner, than when I got there. Every mother that I have helped has said the benefits they have experienced through ingesting the placenta capsules far outweigh any uneasiness they may have felt about the process beforehand.

Placenta encapsulation is a universal option that resonates with women all over the world. Since launching PlacentaBenefits.info, Jodi Selander has been contacted by women from the United States, Canada, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Germany, China, Singapore and elsewhere, enthusiastic about the wellness provided within the placenta. There are already around 40 Placenta Encapsulation Specialists in the US and several more in training, so women everywhere can reap the rewards their placenta provides.

Women undergo a huge transition after having a baby, and the massive hormonal and emotional fluctuations are just the tip of the iceberg. They are looking for a natural, healthy and practical way to have the best postpartum experience possible. Nature has provided a simple means to make the transition to motherhood easier for women and more peaceful for the entire family. The old adage holds true – if Mama’s not happy, nobody’s happy.

Introduction

My name is April, I am Momma to Ella who is 9 and Apollo who is 2 1/2 months. I have a company, Confident Beginnings which specializes in making the transition to parenthood as smooth as possible.

I teach childbirth, breastfeeding and baby care classes, provide lactation consultant services, placenta encapsulation, and pregnancy concierge services.

I'm new to the blogging world, (a bit late, I know), but hope to share insights and articles to empower women and their families!