The first time that I ever heard of home birth was when Cindy Crawford had one. I read an article she had written about it, and it obviously had a big impact on me! Fast forward eleven years later, and Cindy is still telling her wonderful birth story. In partnership with My Best Birth, Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein’s post-Business of Being Born venture, Cindy recounts her story in a 4-part video series. To watch parts 1 & 2 click here, or the pic above. Parts 3 & 4 can be found here. Thank you to Cindy and all the mamas who share their stories and show us what’s possible!

Comedian and actor Rachel Dratch said she's going to use Bethenny Frankel's reality TV birth episode as her childbirth education class. Read below for why I hope she's just being funny. Photo from Bravotv.com.

Guilty pleasure admission: I am a big Bethenny Frankel fan. I fell for her sass on the Real Housewives of New York, and am falling for her vulnerability and cuteness in her new show, Bethenny Getting Married. So last week when the Bethenny Getting Married birth episode was about to air, I wanted the best for her and new hubby Jason Hoppy, of course, but also for the vast and impressionable viewing public. In addition to working as a birth support doula, I teach private childbirth education classes, and hear week after week from parents saying that what they know about birth has come mostly from TV and movies. Unfortunately it’s also mostly wrong. If you are a regular reader of this blog you probably remember last spring when Pam and Jim on The Office had their baby, that I “live blogged” the fictional event offering my 2 cents as a former labor and delivery nurse here in New York City about what the writers got right, and what could have been better (my full analysis is here). All in all, The Office did a pretty good job, and I was hopeful for Bethenny’s birth as Bethenny is a natural foods chef, a yogini, and someone who I thought might very well have a great holistically minded birth team on board.

I have to say that from what I saw on TV, Bethenny could have benefitted from a little more help, particularly in the form of a quality childbirth education class and a skilled labor support doula. There were so many things I watched in that episode that just looked so much harder than they needed to be. I wanted to crawl through the screen and offer my services, but alas, it doesn’t work that way. I was going to keep my commentary to myself because unlike the birth on The Office, Bethenny is a real person and this is her real story–albeit packaged and edited for television entertainment. My decision to stay mum on the matter changed tonight when Bethenny and Rachel Dratch (who is expecting baby #1) were on Bravo TV’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, and Rachel said that she was just going to use the Bethenny Getting Married birth episode in lieu of a childbirth education class.

Oh, nooooooooooo. No, no, no, no, no Rachel.

Bethenny was amazing and strong during her birth, no question. And she is a great source of information for many things–like margaritas and Skinny Girl living–but Rachel, please let me {or any one of this city’s other amazing birth resources} be your go to girl for the birth stuff. You’ll be better off for it, I promise. {No offense Bethenny. Love you.} To give some examples of the things from Bethenny’s birth episode that could have been helped by more information or an experienced birth support person, I’ll start with the anxious rushing out of the house the minute her water broke. (You can watch the video here.) Totally. Unnecessary. Panic.* Bethenny wasn’t even in labor yet. Jason didn’t need to be calling people. Bethenny didn’t need to be in a hurry. The assistants didn’t need to be jacked-up on adrenaline. As you saw, Bethenny didn’t have the baby until over 24 hours later. She definitely could have taken her time, eaten a good breakfast, and packed what she needed. If only she would have known or had someone to call who could remind her. This kind of scenario is exactly why childbirth education and doula support is so important for first time mamas and papas–there is simply no other way to know what the heck the real deal is when you’re in a situation you’ve never been in before.

Oh mama, ouch! Want to know why it helps to get up out of that bed? Click the pic for information about Lamaze International's Healthy Birth Practice #2: Walk, Move Around, and Change Positions Throughout Labor. Photo from Bravotv.com.

Another thing that had me talking to the TV was seeing Bethenny in her bed during contractions (pre-epidural) and shaking the handrails (watch it here). Oh sweetie pie! Why didn’t anyone show you good positions to use out of the bed? And how to use motion and gravity to encourage the opening of the cervix and good fetal position? Two things, by the way, that can absolutely make a difference in whether or not a birth ends up a Caesarean section. A lot of times when people are told they have hips that are too narrow, or a baby that is too big, the real issue is that the baby wasn’t able to get in an optimal position (via mama’s movement and gravity) because mama was in bed on her back, effectively making her pelvic outlet as tiny as possible (check out this great video for more info on how this works). Often these same mamas, with the same hips, go on to give vaginal birth to much bigger babies in subsequent births. Anywho, Bethenny’s birth story will end this week (in TV time) with the birth of her perfect, beautiful daughter Bryn Hoppy, and that is wonderful. I just hope that other mamas-to-be out there (that means you Rachel!) know that they can have that same thing, and maybe even a little easier, and with a little more confidence, by getting the best possible resources and support for the big day.

So in conclusion, Rachel–and Bethenny, should you decide to go for baby #2–feel free to email me at hello@holisticdoulanyc.com to set up private childbirth education classes and maybe even some doula support so that you can be the rock star mamas you were born to be. I offer my services to mamas to be throughout NYC (I’ll even travel if need be, email for details). Here are a couple of other good resources for mamas getting ready for their own birth episode:

• To hear about what it’s like to have continuous support and information before and during labor and birth, check out what Emily, Aubrey, and Marci were generous enough to share about their birth stories.
• If you want some tips on decreasing the risk of premature rupture of membranes like Bethenny experienced, be sure to check Tips for a Holistic Pregnancy and Birth on the Holistic Doula NYC website.

Here’s to happy, healthy, peaceful births for all of the mamas-to-be out there, including Rachel Dratch (who I really really really hope takes a childbirth education class). And to Bethenny and Jason, congratulations on your beautiful new baby!

*I read on Bethenny’s blog after writing this post that she wasn’t panicked about heading to the hospital, and that’s great. It sure did look that way on TV though, so for anyone in a similar situation, please note that unless your provider is asking you to call 911 and get to the hospital immediately, you don’t have to be in a frenzy to get out the house if it’s recommended that you report to the hospital. Also, it’s always a good idea to ask why the provider wants you to come to the hospital, and if it’s absolutely necessary. A lot of times it’s perfectly acceptable (and often preferable) to continue to labor at home once your water has broken.

**One more little clarification before I close about who to hire to help you with your new little one. If you saw last week’s Bethenny Getting Married, you know that Bethenny hired a “baby nurse” (often baby nurses are not actually licensed nurses, you’ll want to double check this when you talk to an agency or do your interviews). For some people, baby nurses are a good choice, but there are many mamas who would actually be better served by a postpartum doula, but haven’t heard of them or don’t know the difference. To put it in the most simple terms, baby nurses are there to take care of the baby. Postpartum doulas are there to support the mother (and the rest of the family as well) so that she can be more capable as she takes care of her baby. Postpartum doulas offer breastfeeding support, education about baby care, problem solving help with baby sleep and soothing, and help with anything else that is gets in the way of mama being able to take care of her baby (laundry, picking up, helping with other little ones). A lot of women and families don’t want to outsource mommy-duty, they just need some assistance as they learn their way around their new role and their new family unit. Postpartum doulas are great for this. For more information on postpartum doulas check out the DONA (Doulas of North America) Postpartum Doula FAQ.

I am very thankful to have been chosen by Emily and her husband Alex to support them in their childbirth education preparation and during the birth of their son Logan as their labor support doula. Emily knew from the beginning that she wanted a natural delivery and she did all the work necessary to make that a reality. She was amazing, as was her whole team of supporters–Alex and her sister Meggie. More and more clients are hiring Holistic Doula NYC for both childbirth education and labor doula services and the pairing works really well. Emily recently blogged about her experience and was gracious enough to grant permission for me to share it here. If you are looking for childbirth education, doula services, or both like Emily was, feel free to send me an email at hello@holisticdoulanyc.com. Here’s Emily’s birth story, thank you Emily, you were AMAZING!

Logan is here! Here is how he got here:

First off Alex was amazingly supportive throughout my pregnancy. He listened over and over again while I talked about my cervix and my uterus and used words like cervical mucous and bloody show and hemorrhoids and all sorts of other unpleasant things. He learned just about as much about childbirth as I did and was committed to being an incredible birth partner. I could not have asked for more from him.

Second, I had an amazing doula named Andrea Crossman. Here’s her website: http://www.holisticdoulanyc.com

Alex and I opted to do childbirth education classes with her because 1) she came to our apt, 2) she tailored the class towards the unmedicated birth I was aiming for and 3) we got to know her better during the classes. I think every tidbit of information Andrea gave us during the classes was useful in labor. She told me about some of the gorier things TV and other women don’t tell you to expect (bloody show, vomiting) so that when they happened I wasn’t scared. She also taught us about how fear inhibits labor. Knowing that helped me to get into a mindset of accepting the various stages of labor and all the things that come with it instead of allowing fear to creep in.

I also read just about every book there is about childbirth.

Here’s a taste of my pregnancy library:

Ina Mae’s Guide to Childbirth

The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

The Pregnancy Bible

Your Best Birth

Don’t forget the DVDs:

Orgasmic Birth

The Business of Being Born

None of these books or DVDs are perfect, and as with everything there is some work in sorting out opinion from fact, but all of them were useful in satisfying my unquenchable need to understand all the crazy things going on with my pregnant body.

So, labor begins!

I had been having Braxton-Hicks contractions on and off for a few days, but by Sunday evening on May 23rd they started picking up, getting stronger and more regular. I was very eager to get this baby out so instead of taking Andrea’s evening advice and taking a bath and getting some rest I went for almost a 2 mile walk, which really got the contractions going. By around 11pm we were pretty much sure this was the real thing. I called Andrea who advised that I try to get some rest, especially because labor for first time moms can be very long, and early labor is a time of manageable pain. I did my best but I couldn’t sleep. At least the Lost series finale was on so I was distracted for a good while. Around 2am Andrea came over and she did her best to get me to sleep but it just wasn’t happening. I was too excited and I couldn’t calm down to sleep between contractions. She sat up with me talking while Alex got some rest. At 5am my equally restless sister came over and we continued chatting and hanging out until 6:30 when, with a particularly strong contraction, my water popped. I know the term is broke, but really this was a strong pop. When it happened I imagined a little leprecon popping a balloon inside me. I have no idea where that image came from.

Once my water broke I was really, really in labor. I hustled into the bathroom and woke Alex up along the way. I immediately wanted to be in the shower. At this point all modesty went out the window, as well. I stripped off my clothes and got into the shower, where I directed the hot water at my lower back. I moaned and swayed and cried for Alex, who allowed me to practically pull him in with me, clothes and all. I hung my arms around his shoulders and moaned and swayed some more. I barely turned my head away from him when I started vomiting. He was an unflinching trooper. I also got into the bath for a few contractions. Once I got out of the bath I wouldn’t sit or lie still. I could feel Logan moving lower and lower and the mere idea of sitting was excruciating. I shut off my brain and allowed Andrea to time the contractions. There were a couple conversations with the doctor but mainly I trusted Alex and Andrea to make decisions about when to call and when to leave for the hospital. Meggie provided amazing emotional support.

I had been walking around moaning and swaying, trying to make the deep, accepting moans Ina Mae recommends, visualizing my cervix opening for Logan. Andrea told me that when I started to feel rectal pressure we needed to go to the hospital. In my mind it was with the next contraction that I felt rectal pressure. It is clear to me now that I was entering into transition. Andrea had told me during our childbirth classes that during transition the contractions are no longer escalating. “If you can do your first contraction in transition, you can do them all,” she had said. I told Andrea that I was feeling pressure and was ready to go.

At that point the hardest thing became not pushing. I could feel my body starting to bear down and I became anxious to get to the hospital. Our cab driver was amazing. I think he was as eager to get to the hospital as I was. By the grace of God there was no traffic in the Midtown Tunnel at 8:30 in the morning. I know He’s God, but I’m not quite sure how He pulled that one off. In the tunnel I cried out, “I don’t want to have my baby in the tunnel!” Andrea, Meggie and Alex assured me that that wouldn’t happen.

At the hospital I hopped into a wheelchair because I felt like I couldn’t walk fast enough to get upstairs. In the car Andrea had instructed Alex to tell my doctor that I was having rectal pressure and to ask if we could be a direct admit. This was a genius move and part of the benefit of having an experienced and capable doula. The doctor said yes so I bypassed triage and went straight into a delivery room. It couldn’t have hurt that at the nurse’s station I said/screamed “Tell her I’m going to push!!!”

Once in the delivery room I stripped off all my clothes and submitted (sort of) to the hospital policies of checking my blood pressure, strapping on a fetal heartbeat monitor and putting in a hep lock. The nurses and the doctor on call (my doctors weren’t there yet) could tell by the state I was in (truly in active labor, screaming, naked, with doula, husband, and sister in tow) that I was going for an unmedicated birth. No one said the word epidural. The doctor checked my cervix and said I was 6-7 centimeters dilated. Andrea said “Oh 6-7 cm that’s great! We’ll have a baby by lunch time!” I growled back at her not to tell me what time it was. “I wouldn’t dream of it!” she assured me. I thought at that point that Logan was very low and I couldn’t believe I had to wait until 10 cm to push. My body had already begun to push for me. The spectacular nurses worked with me without my having to ask. One of them swayed and rocked and squatted with me as she held the fetal monitor to me so that I didn’t have to lie down. They both were so kind, supportive and hard working. I loved having Andrea there. I wasn’t listening very well to what was going around me but I could tell that Andrea was gelling with them and that they had a mutual understanding as colleagues.

I continued laboring standing up, leaning against the bed. I was hyperventilating a bit during contractions so everyone coached me to breathe more deeply because Logan’s heart rate dipped while I breathed so hard. Each contraction was causing me to push a little more, and finally one came so strongly that I both pooped and peed on the floor. No, I was not the slightest bit embarrassed. It did not occur to me to be embarrassed. Of all the things women are afraid of doing in labor, fear of pooping is not one I had. So the nurses cleaned it up right away and one of them checked my cervix while I was standing. Instead of feeling my cervix she felt Logan’s head. “So I can push?!” I screamed with relief. They replied that I should probably wait for the doctor.

The doctor came rushing in (still the doctor on call, my doctors weren’t there yet). If he hadn’t encouraged me to get into the bed, I would have followed my natural urge to push in a squatting position. The nurses lowered the bed and my body kept baring down as I climbed into the bed. I paused on all fours to push once. The nurses and Andrea asked if I could deliver in that position, and the doctor somewhat sheepishly said no so all hands went to turning me over.

The relief! I could finally push with abandon! I roared and screamed and pushed and roared and roared and pushed. As soon as I was lying on my back everyone was exclaiming that they could see his head. “Get him out of me!!” I screamed, to which everyone replied that I already was getting him out of me. Within 6 pushes his head was out. And strangely enough, pushing did not hurt at all. I did not experience any “ring of fire” or any pain when he came out. I was just elated.

The doctor said that the cord was around Logan’s neck so I stopped pushing and he asked Alex to come over and cut the cord. Andrea had told us during our classes that having the cord around his neck was not uncommon and not as dangerous as it seems, and she was there by my side reassuring me of the same. Logan came out the rest of the way and they handed him to me. I cried and held and rubbed him and told him to breathe. He was born at 9:29 am and we had only left Brooklyn at 8:30. My labor was faster than anyone could have predicted. The nurses swept him away and the pediatrician worked on getting the fluid out of his lungs and getting him breathing better. Alex and my sister went to stand with Logan and the pediatrician but Andrea stayed by my side reassuring me.

At this, the end of labor, I cried and shook and asked repeatedly about Logan as everyone reassured me that he was fine. The doctor was just working on him a little. Andrea continued to reassure me and she coached me through the process of my doctor stitching me up (he had arrived at that point), encouraging me to ask for more lidocaine when I needed it. I needed her for every part of the labor, but especially when Alex and my sister were (understandably) distracted by Logan she stayed with me and kept me as calm as I could possibly be in that moment.

Logan was, as everyone told me, completely fine and wonderful. The doctor suctioned some fluid out of his lungs and he did wonderfully. I rejoiced when they handed him to me, and my husband rejoined me at my bedside.

I feel so blessed to have had Alex, Andrea and Meggie by my side supporting me during labor and delivery. I needed all three of them so much. God gave me an amazing gift with the support, strength and submission to the process that I needed in order to have an unmedicated delivery at the hospital, and I wouldn’t change a moment of it.

Want to read more awesome birth stories? {Who wouldn’t?!} Click here.

All photos from NBC.com

Note: If you missed The Office birth episode (The Delivery Parts 1 and 2) you can watch the whole thing on NBC by clicking here.

I’m a huge fan of The Office, and have always been enamored with the Pam and Jim love story. I was, nonetheless, trepidatious of tonight’s hour-long episode, “The Delivery Part 1 and 2.” Television and film portrayals of labor and delivery are notoriously inaccurate and often play into our society’s fear of birth. Every pregnant mama I work with has mentioned the need to get media images of birth out of her psyche to trust in the process. I do understand that the goal of TV and film is to entertain, but I also know that accurate portrayals of the birth process can be just as entertaining, and probably even more so. With all of that in mind, as I sat down to tonight’s very-special-episode of The Office I decided to blog and watch, providing my doula/L and D RN two cents in terms of what they’re getting right, and what is for fictional portrayals only. Here we go…

#1) Pam and Jim need a doula! They would be able to call her up and get reassurance that with contractions that are irregular and even 7 minutes apart, there is still plenty of time to labor at home (or at the office in this case) before heading to the hospital. Early labor is best done where a mama can move around free from IVs and monitors, and eat and drink as she pleases.

#2) Pam: “I’m not really in labor, I’m near labor.” Excellent description of early labor! When contractions are irregular they can come and go. A+

Pam "contrapting."

#3) Michael: “Contraptions! She’s contrapting!” No. But really funny.

#4) This get-to-the-hospital-at-midnight-for-the-extra-day-in-the-hospital plan is not necessarily a great idea. Hospitals are best for acute injury and life-threatening illness. For most other situations being in the hospital increases risk of infection and illness or injury caused by being in the hospital in the first place. I say get out of there as soon as you are safely able.

#5) Along those lines, a lot of people make critical decisions based on insurance. If you are able to avoid this please do. You will be happiest if you deliver with whomever’s practice and philosophy best matches yours, and in the venue (home or hospital) that will support the birth experience you seek.

#6) Kelly: “Did you know that labor can last weeks, and then they take your insides out and just plop them on a table, and sometimes epidurals don’t work and you can poop yourself?” My response in order: Not exactly but kind of (early labor warm up contractions can be felt for weeks by some), the uterus is placed on mamas belly during a c-section–but not plopped on a table, and true, and true. All of which would be well supported by a doula who would do her best to provide you with the informational, emotional, and physical support to help you feel a-ok about whatever your labor may bring. (Even the pooping, which sounds horrible but I promise you, it isn’t. Your excellent nurse will whisk it away and you won’t even know it happened.)

#7) To pick up with the point of when to leave for the hospital if you choose a hospital birth, leaving when contractions are every 5 minutes is generally better than when they are every 7, and many practitioners even recommend 3 minutes. The general recommendations go something like this: “Leave when the contractions are 4 minutes apart, and last for one minute, for one hour.” They call this “411″ and some midwives and docs recommend 511, some 411, and others 311. As a doula, I support my client in leaving whenever she wants, however, for my mamas who want to stay home as long as possible, I work with them to stay home until we see signs that mama’s entering transition territory.

#8) Jim: “Why don’t I just run you down to the hospital and we’ll get you a quick check.” I totally understand Jim’s reaction here as this is all unknown to him. At this risk of sounding like a broken record, this is where a trained birth professional can really help keep everything calm, cool, and collected. And although this may be different around the country, in most NYC hospitals there is little to no chance of a “quick check.” Priority is given to women in active labor or in emergent situations, and Pam would likely spend a lot of time in the waiting room in triage, where she would be less comfortable and perhaps progress more slowly. Also, in many situations once you’re in the hospital they will try to keep you there and then begin “active management” of labor, which means interventions to try to speed it along. Staying home as long as possible (or having a homebirth) is your best shot at being on the time table that is best for you and your baby, not the time table preferred by the hospital.

Curious about the Early Labor Baking Project? Click the pic for the scoop.

#9) In her early labor Jim is trying to give Pam room to “listen to her body’s signals,” which is right on (good job Jim!), but just not quite yet. In early labor, distraction is the name of the game just like Pam says. If Pam and Jim were my doula clients I would have helped them create an appropriate Early Labor Plan which helps with the distraction factor early on. I may even recommend they consider an Early Labor Baking Project which can be both distracting and delicious. Of course, none of that would make for Must See TV…

#10) Kelly: “Oh my god Pam, you are a warrior.” Yep, all laboring mamas are. More impressive than Olympic athletes and marathon runners. Hands. Down.

#11) Michael’s labor induction tips:

• Stimulate the nipples: True–releases oxytocin, causing uterine contractions.
• Walk around: Yes! I recommend a good 3 – 4 mile walk to my mamas who want to get things going.
• Eat spicy food: Maybe, can’t hurt. Some say eggplant parmesan is a good food for labor too (I’ve heard it’s actually the basil and oregano that do the trick).

#12) Jim: “Let’s go to the hospital…let’s go now.” Oh Jim…I will say that I’m not sure who I am of more use to in early labor, the mamas or the papas. 99.9% of men have never seen a woman give birth before, let alone witnessed a number of births with myriad variations on normal. It is totally natural that they would feel better being someplace with people around who did know about birth. The thing is, that is not what is best for mama most of the time. The cervix needs an environment of safety, privacy, and calm to properly dilate, and hospitals rarely offer much of that particular combo. A doula and/or a midwife who will join the couple in their home during this time allows papa to be a wonderful supportive partner, and know that there are other people with the experience to judge if everything is as it should be.

#13) Pam held her ground even though Jim wanted to leave. Not all mamas are able to do this, and in part because they’re scared too. This is an important thing to discuss as a couple ahead of time. Birth should be about supporting mama in what she needs, and anything that may get in the way of that (including a birth partner’s own nerves or fear) needs to be figured out in advance.

Jim and Pam before baby made three.

#14) Pam: “There’s no rush to get to the hospital. I’m fine. I’ll get there. And if I don’t get there, I don’t get there.” Wow. Pam’s composure is amazing, but rare in a first time mama, so don’t feel bad if you’re not quite so confident. I love this portrayal though, it is so different than the typical terrified and frantic mother-in-labor image. I hope the tone stays like this!

#15) Not being able to walk or talk through a contraction is indeed a sign that Pam has moved from early labor to active labor.

#16) Ummm…oops. To go directly from active labor (can’t talk during contraction) into signs of transition (Pam’s expression that she can’t do it) is not particularly realistic. Though the timing is off, a woman’s sense of overwhelm is virtually universal, and I believe that emotional state gives way to the surrender necessary to fully open up and eventually push the baby out. The best thing to say to a mama in this moment? “You are doing it! You’re doing so good!” (Because she is!)

#17) Contractions are now 2 minutes apart, keep breathing everyone. A lot of my clients like to keep track of their contractions with this iPhone app called Contraption Contraction Master.

#18) You should not attempt to measure dilation with a metal tape measure. Just so you know.

#19) Jim: “Pam’s ten inches dilated now. Sorry, sorry meters. Centimeters. And she’s fully effaced. Which, ah, I don’t know what that is.” Perhaps Jim and Pam didn’t take childbirth education classes, because those are certainly terms that we cover. Taking childbirth education classes with your partner is incredibly important in terms of gaining the knowledge needed to be empowered in a the brand new situation. You will learn cool things like this: Cervix Lingo: Effacement What? Dilation Who?

#20) RN: “Daddy, she’s ready to push.” How do you know you ask? Rectal pressure. It feels like you have to have a bowel movement, but in fact what you’re feeling is the baby’s head. If you have an epidural you may not feel this, although you very well may. With an unmedicated birth you will absolutely know when you’re ready to push.

Babies come in their own time Michael!

#21) Michael during Pam’s pushing, “Can we have an ETA?” Not really. The average is from a few minutes to 3 hours of pushing. First time mamas like Pam usually take on the longer side. This is a-ok as it is important that mama and baby have time to work together for optimal fetal positioning and so that mama has time to open up and stretch.

#22) And finally, a beautiful baby girl was born and Pam looks fresh and pretty in a gown and robe. The fresh and pretty part is absolutely true. Every woman I have seen give birth looks unbelievably beautiful right after, it is amazing. None of them have a robe on however. A gown maybe, or a tank, or a belly band worn as a tube top. This is all preferable as you want lots of skin-to-skin contact for bonding and breast feeding.

****Postpartum

#23) When Pam is unsure if the baby is latching or getting anything (what she would be getting is colostrum by the way) and the nurse offers to take her away to the nursery that was just not very helpful. A doula or RN would ideally help ensure that the baby is latching correctly. When mom and baby need a break, it is best to stay close and enjoy skin-to-skin contact and just getting used to each other, and then try again in a bit. Here’s a good video about getting started with breastfeeding, and here’s one specifically about latching.

My conclusions? Not bad! I am pleasantly surprised by how well the writers finessed this episode. Pam was quite empowered, and there were no “emergency” twists and turns. There was also no hint that she couldn’t handle the intensity, or scenes of her screaming for an epidural, which TV shows often portray. All in all I have to say nicely done NBC and The Office, and congratulations fictional Pam and Jim!

Choices in Childbirth Mission: Choices in Childbirth is a non-profit organization that strives to improve maternity care and birth experiences by providing access to information about the range of choices available regarding where and with whom to birth. So often we hear from the women we work with that the decisions they made about their birth environment and the people that they invited to share in their birth experience all fundamentally affected the outcome of their birth and their level of satisfaction.

Update: Tonight’s (February 10th) Choices in Childbirth Inspiring Birth Stories Event has been cancelled due to the blizzard in NYC, but they will be back in March.

I just found out from one of my doula clients that she posted a review of my doula services on the BoCoCa Parent’s Listserv (BoCoCa = Boerum Hll, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens Brooklyn), and that as a result, she was asked to share her whole birth story at an upcoming Choices in Childbirth Inspiring Birth Stories Event. I’m so happy for her, and believe that telling her birth story is a wonderful and important ritual for mothers. The Inspiring Birth Stories Events are free and I highly recommend them for any mama-to-be. From the Choices in Childbirth Site:

Inspiring Birth Stories

Our highly popular Inspiring Birth Stories evenings offer expectant parents a night out in which to draw strength and inspiration from women and men who have recent experiences of birth in New York. The evening features inspiring ? not necessarily easy! – stories from three to four new parent storytellers and expert commentary from mother-friendly birth professionals. The stories tell of a range of births (stunningly short, impressively long, unexpectedly challenging, remarkably straightforward, twisty-turney, painless, orgasmic, painful, cesarean. VBAC, twins, etc.) and reflect a range of choices (home, birth center, hospital, midwife, Obstetrician, family practitioner, doula, family support, etc.). We hope you can join us for an upcoming night inspiring birth stories.

Aubrey & Hendrix

Aubrey’s Story

Gisele Bundchen had a water birth at home and is breastfeeding her 4-month old son Benjamin.

Super model Gisele Bundchen has gone public about her midwife supported home water birth in Boston 4-months ago. Below is an excerpt from People magazine.

Bündchen, 29, calls her newborn son “a little angel,” and says becoming a parent has changed her. “To be a mother is a magical experience. The whole body is transformed by this,” she says. “It really is the miracle of life. I am really happy!”

She shared more details with the UK’s Daily Mail:

“My delivery was in a bath tub, in water,” said the 29-year-old “I wanted to have a home birth. I wanted to be very aware and present during the birth… I didn’t want to be drugged up. So I did a lot of preparation, I did yoga and meditation, so I managed to have a very tranquil birth at home.”

Gisele says that her labor was 8 hours and that it “didn’t hurt in the slightest.” Positive birth stories like this are so important in terms of realizing the myriad choices available in childbirth and seeing them all as possible. I’m appreciative Gisele decided to share her birth story!

Want to know more about water birth? Check out the video in this post.

Last week I shared some tips for a holistic pregnancy and birth in this post. I introduced the post by talking about a birth I had attended the night before—the mama was my doula client Marci. This evening was my postpartum visit with Marci, her husband Matt, and their gorgeous baby William.

During our visit I held the baby (is there anything better?), and we talked about the birth, including some of Marci and Matt’s birth memories. Marci shared that she wrote her birth story to share with her prenatal yoga class. Knowing that her story would be interesting and inspiring to other mamas, I asked Marci if I could share it with you. She generously said yes, so a copy of the letter she wrote her Monday night yoga class is below. I know you’ll enjoy her story as much as I did, and I hope you’ll consider writing your own birth story when the time comes. It can be a healing practice for the new mama, and creates a memento for your child like no other.

By the way, Marci took her prenatal yoga classes at the Prenatal Yoga Center with yoga teacher Lisa, and absolutely loved them. I think any mama-to-be can benefit from a prenatal yoga practice. In addition to strengthening the core, and increasing flexibility, prenatal yoga can help build confidence, nurture community with other mamas-to-be, and provide an opportunity to practice finding the breath. All of this helps contribute to a happy, healthy, holistic pregnancy and birth.

Matt, Marci, and baby William

Marci’s Story, as emailed to her Monday night prenatal yoga class

Dear Monday night yoga class,

On Monday, 12/14/09, I was t-minus two days to my due date and still feeling good, albeit experiencing the discomforts of being ginormously preggers. And more importantly I was so ready to meet my bundle of joy, I was full of anticipation as to everything that I was about to experience. Was I going to have the holistic childbirth I planned and wanted for my peanut and me?

Throughout the day I experienced menstrual type cramps, but nothing crazy. At 3:30 pm I decided to indulge in a nap. An hour later I woke up really hungry and ate a big bowl of turkey chili. I spoke with Elyssa about attending yoga at 6:30 and to be honest I had some hesitation throughout the day about going, but I knew it would feel good to get out of the house and focus on my breath and relaxing. I was in.

At 6pm, Elyssa and I walk from Brooklyn Heights, and I’m experiencing heavier menstrual like cramps. I was in contraction denial, but it felt good to walk.

From 6:30-8pm, I practice with all of the Monday night mamas-to-be. Throughout class, I begin to notice that my “menstrual like cramp” contractions are taking shape. I actually have to rest during some poses because the obvious contractions are uncomfortable. I laughed when Lisa asked if I was in active labor and she mentioned Deb having to turn some ladies away from class. Little did I know!

At 8pm, Elyssa and I head back to Brooklyn Heights. As we walk, I have to stop a few times along the way during the contractions to get my breath. At this point I decide to call my husband, it was time to fully come out of the denial that I’m in labor!

Around 8:30 pm, Elyssa helps me get home, God bless her! We say our goodbyes and I take to the bathroom.  It felt comfortable to sit on the toilet during contractions, find my breath and remain as calm and relaxed as possible. I bathe, I vomit.

At 9:00 pm, I tell my husband to call our amazing doula, Andrea Crossman. I’m now at a point where I’m struggling with the contractions and we need extra support. My contractions were about 3 minutes apart, lasting for a minute. Go birth team!

Andrea arrives around 9:45, and for the next hour or so I practice different positions. By 10:45, using my voice and breath are trumped. It’s go time, and we get a car service. God bless the driver Utah, because I was in full on transition while that man got us all to the hospital like a champ.

Baby William, Sleeping Buddha

Around 11pm, we arrive at NYU delivery triage 9 cm dilated, 100% effaced, and +2 station. I am admitted to a labor and delivery room and feel the urge to urinate, with everyone telling me whatever I do, do not bear down. As soon as I sit on the toilet a contraction comes on and I have to stand.  As I stand up, my bag of waters break, or burst with a gush more like it. I feel ready to push, but my OB hasn’t yet arrived so I’m holding off. Minutes later she comes in ready to go, and I was able to begin to push through the contractions.  Our OB allowed me to labor and push at my own pace, and at 12:15 a.m. on December 15, 2009 my son, William was born! It was amazing, I did it! Open throat, open vagina.

Will, Mama and Daddy are now comfortably at home and I look forward to Mommy-and-Me classes in a few weeks.

Thanks Monday night yoga!

Marci