Posts Tagged ‘breastfeeding’

Childbirth Preparation Classes Should Be Mandatory

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Prenatal Classes should really be a prerequisite for every expecting woman, without charge. The information that is divulged in these classes is essential in preparing the expecting woman for the most amazing experience ever. Meanwhile, right after the rollercoaster of bringing a child into the world you’re supposed to instantly become something you’ve never been before – a mother?

Make no mistake, it is the Prenatal Class that helps make the experience less scary.

An effective Prenatal Class delivers the following:

- provides an opportunity to create your own little birthing group which will be an invaluable support system before and after the baby is born. Besides, you’ll probably hit it off with one or two couples, who will become long-time friends.

- empowers you to see and believe that you and your body are made for this. Women have been bringing children into this world for eons – and so will you.

- lets you know the process you’ll be going through, from feeling your first contraction through to the birth itself – demystifying what is sure to be an overwhelming experience.

- because you are the one that is pregnant and therefore the center of attention, a Prenatal Class clarifies your partner’s significant role.

- explains your pain relief options and what it might mean for the overall experience to take medication.

- discusses other medical interventions, including Caesarean Section.

- primes first-time moms on how to care for this little person who will be totally dependent on you (ie) how to carry them, breastfeed, clean them, etc.

- reveals what happens to your body after the birth and what you should look out for afterwards.

- breaks down post-partum depression – what it is and some of what can be attempted to handle it.

This list is comprised of just the key topics. So much other important information is dealt with in a Prenatal Class. Don’t miss it.

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Breastfeeding Preparation And Prenatal Classes

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Prenatal Classes are essential for many reasons, including preparing women for breastfeeding. Not so long ago most women breastfed their babies. The last few decades has seen an alarming drop in breastfeeding rates, especially in the western world. A good prenatal class will deal with the ins and outs of breastfeeding, while giving women the encouragement to persevere.

Most mothers-to-be deep down know the importance of breastfeeding for the foundation of their babies. Unfortunately, that is often not enough to make it so. Why?

(1) Cultural reasons. Regardless of nationality there are potent cultural influences that can stall breastfeeding. In many less developed countries, those with means often look upon breastfeeding as being a lower class activity.  Meanwhile, whether they are in their home country or they move to a western country, they will automatically reach for formula.

(2) Familial reasons. Regardless of culture, in many families breastfeeding has been non-existent. Therefore, there is often minimal backing for a young mother who seeks to breastfeed.

(3) Vanity reasons. Arguably, the worst reason for not breastfeeding is that the boobs will cease to be as full. This drawback is [rarely revealed and sometimes unconscious.

(4) Societal reasons. Depending on where you live, once you head out into public the general populace who are upset can make it really unpleasant for the breastfeeding woman.

(5) Hospital. A lot of hospitals not only do not encourage breastfeeding, but make it doubly likely of occurring by offering free formula provided by the companies.

(6) Latching Issues. This obstacle is often related to one or some of the above reasons. It can be very frustrating and painful when the child won’t latch well. Fortunately, for women determined to do everything possible a Lactation Consultant will in the vast majority of cases do the trick.

As we can see, breastfeeding is not always automatic. Conversely the payback, physically and emotionally, of breastfeeding, both for baby and mother, are incalculable. Make sure your Prenatal Class will properly address this important subject matter.

 

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Childbirth And Associated Issues

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Childbirth is also known as labor, birth which is the completion of human pregnancy period which results in the delivery of one or more babies from a woman womb. The procedure of childbirth is divided in o three broad categories. Sometimes it is also achieved by caesarian section.

Stages of Normal Human Birth
First stage: contractions
This stage of labor starts when the cervix is 3 cm enlarged. The oncoming of actual labor is specified when the cervix starts to increasingly dilate. Breach of the tissue layer, or a blood stained ‘appearance’ may or may not happen at around this stage.
During self-effacement, the cervix gets integrated into the lower section of the uterus. This muscle contraction causes reducing of the upper section and dragging up of the lower section, in a gradual movement. This attracts the cervix up over the baby’s head. Full distension is attained when the cervix is the sizing of the baby’s head; about 10 cm dilation.
The time period of childbirth changes widely, but active phase averages 8 hours for women giving birth to their first baby and 4 hours for those who have already given birth.
Second stage: delivery
In this stage, the head is fully locked in the pelvis. It has also passed below the interspinous diam. After this all that will continue is for the fetal head to move below the pubis arch and out through the introitus. The fetus head is seen to ‘crown’ as the labia part. At this time the woman may have a sense of burning or stinging.
Obstetrical delivery of the fetus head indicates the successful finish of the fourth mechanism of labor, and is observed by the fifth and sixth mechanisms. A neonate with umbilical cord ready to be clamped
Third stage: placenta
At this stage, the uterus ejects the placenta (afterbirth). The placenta is usually delivered within a period of fifteen to thirty minutes of the child being born. Paternal blood loss is confined by contraction of the womb following delivery of the placenta. Nursing soon after birth and kneading of the top of the uterus causes uterus compressions that encourage delivery of the placenta. This is the natural childbirth process

After The Childbirth
Doctors typically recommend breastfeeding of the first milk, colostrums, to assist with uterine compression to reduce postnatal bleeding in the mother, and to pass proteins, resistances and other welfare to the baby. Ceremonies like naming ceremony, sacrament , thread ceremony etc., just after child birth is quite common in many cultures.

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