Intravenous fluid can be a common medical tool used during labor. The most common reason for it is to prevent dehydration. IVs can also be placed as a way to administer medicine when needed.
Did you know you have options?
First off every birth place is different, and every provider is different. One way to know what IV policies are for where you plan on giving birth is to ask! Start by asking your doctor or midwife, and you can also call down to the labor and delivery department of the hospital you are planning to birth at. You can simply ask “what does it look like to receive IV fluids?” Follow up with “what are my options?” This may even lead to a further conversation with your care provider that really paints a picture of what you may expect when it comes to IV fluids at your birth.
What are your options?
There are usually a few different choices surrounding IV fluids. Due to medical necessity you may be limited. You also may realize when examining your options that you already know what you feel most comfortable with or what makes the most sense for you.
Standard IV- In this circumstance as you get settled into your birth room, or sometimes in triage, a standard IV will be placed and fluids will be dripped. This involves a little poke with a needle to place the tubing into your hand or arm, and you will be connected to the fluid bags throughout the entirety of your labor.
DOULA TIP: Ask that the IV or saline lock to be placed on the forearm instead of the wrist or hand when possible. This helps from anything interfering with your range of motion or any bother when you are using your hands throughout labor and after birth.
Saline Lock (also sometimes known as a Hep-lock) – Tubing is placed just like in an IV but it is sealed off and serving as a place to quickly connect fluid or medicines. When fluids or medicine are not needed you have freedom from being connected to anything.
Request for neither an IV or Saline Lock- In this instance the choice would be the request for nothing to be placed.
With all these options there are of course pros and cons. And depending on the medical needs of your pregnancy and situation your choices may be limited. Walk through BRAIN with your doctor or midwife as you decide what makes the most sense for your situation.
It is common at hospital births for some sort of IV to be placed. Saline locks may be a good choice if you find yourself hoping to not be connected to bags of fluid your entire labor, but if at anytime anything is needed the port is already there. Also as labor progresses some people would rather not have to mess with a nurse placing an IV if it is deemed medically necessary later in the labor process. So by having a saline lock it is already there just in case.
You know yourself and your veins too.
If drawing blood or getting an IV placed has been troublesome for you in the past, getting the saline lock upon arrival to the hospital may be a good choice as well. Placing it early on can get that piece of the way. As it may not be fun to be coping through intense labor and having someone spend a lot of time placing an IV.
Free standing birthing centers and homebirths may have different availability of these options. It will be determined by the midwife’s certification and what is deemed appropriate for them to do medically.
Don’t forget hydration can come from drinking water and other fluids too. Some providers rely on that, and some birthing people may still need more than what they are able to drink by mouth.
Times an IV is absolutely needed:
-Intravenous medical pain relief is requested
-Intravenous medicine is needed
-The care provider deems fluids are medically necessary
Take some time to explore with your care provider what options are a good fit for you! It is good to know what choices you might have as you plan and prepare for your birthing experience.
We all want to be happy. Happiness is something we all strive for. I mean I’m super into it. I also feel like lately we are all understanding more that caring for ourselves matters. Especially for our happiness. The phrase “self-care” certainly is thrown around a bunch lately. It is not just bubble baths and manicures though. (While I do love a nice deep soak.) Self-care is many things. Recently I learned something. Being kind to others actually increases our happiness. Kindness is really the best self-care.
Let me begin with my personal journey to happiness and being kind.
So no big deal but I am a Yale grad. Well a one course grad. Well I took a free online course from a Yale Professor, Laurie Santos, on Coursea called The Science of Well Being. So now my alma mater is the same as Rory Gilmore’s and I use the phrase Yale grad liberally. 😉 But it seriously is an amazing course.
At the beginning of quarantine time Coursea began offering this course at no cost! I was intrigued because a) I dig happiness and b) I love science! I’m not one to read too many self-helpy things (Because ain’t no one gonna tell me what to do lol) but this attracted me. Also I figured it was a good time to work on improving my life’s happiness. I highly recommend this course. I learned the reasoning behind why our brains function the way they do and also what to do to cultivate happiness on a daily basis.
Simply learning why our brains think they way they do will not make us happy. It’s the doing. There are many things we can do to help us be happier folk. Course spoiler alert! From gratitude, to meditation, sleep, and simply being kind.
Being kind to others and doing kind things literally makes us happier!
This one really struck a cord for me. Self help actually doesn’t have to be about you! HELP SOMEONE ELSE! In return you will be rewarded with your own increase in happiness.
There is research to back this up so you don’t have to take it from me.
Elizabeth Dunn, from the University of British Columbia studied this and published her work. She specifically looked at spending money on others and the happiness we receive. I’ll simplify one of her experiments to explain. So in one of her research studies subjects were given envelopes of money that ranged from $5 to $20. Some participants were instructed to spend the money on themselves and the other participants were to spend the entire amount on other people all by 5pm. After 5 they were called and their happiness was rated. The group that spent that money on others was HAPPIER!!! If you dig that you can check out her book too.
That is just one example of kindness and how it creates happiness. You can take this course yourself and learn even more how our brains react to being kind and how this correlates to increasing our happiness.
When it comes to giving money away I have also learned we appreciate it more if we know exactly where our dollars are going and how it will be used. So while donating to a big non-profit feels good…. we may get a bigger burst of happiness if we know exactly the way our money is being used. For instance if we know our dollars are going towards new equipment for research we may get a bigger uptick in feeling good than simply donating. Picturing our dollars in action helps our brains feel better about the donation.
Donating money isn’t the only way to be kind of course!
Set aside 10 minutes of your day and call an old friend. Or maybe your mother! Moms love hearing from their children! Do something genuine without expecting anything in return. Send a note or a letter to someone. Give extra compliments today! Take a moment and brainstorm where you can be intentionally kind to someone else.
So yes, while you are absolutely amazing and deserve “me time,” you may find that happiness boost you are longing for simply by helping someone else today.
If you want more guidance and information on happiness you can also check out Yale Professor, Laurie Santos, on her podcast appropriately named The Happiness Lab.
In a world that can feel awfully heavy currently, I hope you are inspired to be kind today! Not only for the ones you help but for yourself.
3-21! 3-21 is special. It is a special day to bring awareness to Down Syndrome! Down syndrome is a congenital disorder. Why 3-21 is relevant is those with down syndrome have an extra 21st chromosome. So they have 3 of that chromosome instead of 2. What better day to bring public awareness and honor those near and dear to us? You can learn more about the day and ways to honor the day here. Our favorite is wearing fun socks, mismatching, or even 3 socks! #lotsofsocks
In the last year someone close to me discovered their baby in fact has down syndrome. The wave of emotions new parents feel upon learning this can be vast and challenging. As a doula and friend I am always available to listen as whatever feelings they have are valid, and real. And I am also so thrilled for this baby to have such awesome parents. They are going to be the type of parents all the other kids view as the “cool” ones. Seriously!
I felt I had an idea what of kiddos with down syndrome and their parents may face as I have another friend who has been teaching, and an administrator in a public school district for special education. She and her students have unique, beautiful bonds. The way she speaks of them and the stories of her time spent with these little ones oozes with warmth and love.
When I received it the book cover was tattered and well loved. Little tears and folds, creases and markings. A little yellow post-it said, “Please read this. As you can see I share it with many families.”
I pushed my other books off to the side and dove in. OK so I am a crier. My emotions are easily tapped ok! I dove in while sitting on the bleachers at my daughter’s volleyball class. Instantly I was immersed and emotionally attached. I found myself tearing up rather quickly at the author’s tale of her life. It dawned on me, well crud, now I am crying in the bleachers! Honestly though I didn’t care, I kept reading.
Here is why I think this book is an excellent read. (Well aside that she is originally from Michigan) Kelle Hampton bears her soul on every emotion she felt from pregnancy, birth and parenthood. She’s honest and raw. She shared her thoughts and she did so because she’s not alone in them. By being honest about her path she brings others in to truly understand her emotional ride.
This book isn’t just for those wanting to learn more about down syndrome and a peek into what parents may grapple with. It’s also a beautiful story of love. And blossoming in a new way you would have never imagined. It is a wonderful book for so many. But especially in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Day it’s a wonderful book to pick up!
So grab 2 or 3 of your funnest socks you have, order Bloom, and take some time to learn a bit more about down syndrome.
The media often likes to have scenes of birth in shows and movies. They are usually rather dramatic. Enter the scenes of screaming and waters breaking and someone telling their spouse, “YOU DID THIS TO ME!!” But some documentaries seek out truth and explore birth in other ways. Recently on Netflix a new docu-series explores sex and childbirth. And it is excellent!
The Netflix series, “Sex Explained” has several episodes. The episode on childbirth is a very relatable, to the point, well rounded, piece. Janelle Monáe’s soothing voice narrates all the information and it’s easy to digest in its just under 30 minute run time.
What is unique about it?
For one it doesn’t highlight one way to birth as the best way to birth. It also gives a pretty good and not too long history of birth in humans. A personal favorite is how it compares human pelvises to other animals. I mean it is just so interesting!
The episode opens diving into the way the cervix stretches! The visuals are gripping and instantly keeps you wanting to learn more. The creators did excellent work making the bio-mechanics of it all amazing to watch and it intrigues the viewer right away with how bad ass the female reproductive parts really are!
Even though it isn’t hours long this documentary episode packs loads of information and topics in. It touches on maternal morbidity and race. The history of how people of color have been treated in childbirth plays a role in today’s care.
Sex Explained also discusses midwives and doctors. You will see female experts talking about birth throughout the piece. Also personal stories and feelings around birth are included as well.
The coolest part…..
It shows a doula in action! This episode even explains what a doula is and the birth they show clips of has a doula present. You can see the doula being calm and supportive. I love it! High five Netflix!!
So wherever you are on your journey of learning about birth, whether you can’t get enough and want to know more, or you are just starting to dive in, this episode is a fantastic place to start!
From the moment you pee on a stick and get a positive indication staring back at you, you are filled with options and decisions ahead. One major decision is, who will be your care provider for this time? Will it be an OB or a midwife? What the heck is a doula? What is the difference between them all?
I will begin by saying that I am a doula. As a doula I am used to people not 100% grasping what I actually do. Often people *think* they know what a doula does and I get the response, “oh yeah, you catch babies in bathtubs in homes right?” So if I am getting that response from family and friends, that tells me a large amount of the public probably doesn’t know what all of these roles actually do. (By the way, doulas absolutely do not catch any babies, let alone ones in the tub, we will get to that!)
Let’s break this down. First with definitions:
Obstectrician (OBs):
OBs are specialized physicians and surgeons that care for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people. They are in charge of prenatal care, attend births, and care for the early postpartum time of their patients. They can work with low risk or high risk patients. OBs are the only providers that can care for high risk patients, can make use of medical tools (forceps/vacuum) applicable to the patient, and perform surgery (cesareans/extensive repair). Many times they are gynecologists as well, and may do women reproductive health care services. OBs practice in the hospital setting.
Midwife:
There are different certifications of expertise with midwives. They will be broken down further in just a moment. Overall the commonality is midwives care for pregnant, birthing, and early postpartum people. They work with low risk patients. Some midwives will also do reproductive health care for women as well. They may practice in or out of the hospital setting. Often times midwives in the hospital also work with OBs. Should a patient cross over to high-risk, they will transfer care and usually still follow along in supporting these families. Also, should surgery become necessary during delivery, the midwife is very likely to accompany the family in the OR and after.
Now for the break down of two of the types…
Certified Nurse Midwife:
These midwives have a nursing degree, and they complete graduate level midwifery education. They then must pass a national certification exam. Certified nurse midwives typically work in the hospital setting and may be a part of a practice with obstetricians as well.
Certified Professional Midwife:
This designation is given to midwives who complete the accredited certification process and pass an exam through NARM. Their studies include out of hospital care. They typically are practicing at home-birth or birth center settings. Please note changes are coming to Michigan for CPMs as licensure is on the horizon.
Doula:
Doulas are a non-medical support person for a family during pregnancy, birth, and in the early parenthood times. They bring support and comfort physically, emotionally, and educationally. They do not provide medical health care for families. Doulas work with low-risk and high-risk families. They can support completely un-medicated births to surgical births (and everything in between), and usually support in hospital. There are currently no national regulations of doulas. Different certifying organizations exist for doulas. Metro Detroit Doula Services aligns with ProDoula and the standards they set. All of our doulas are current with certification.
As you are doing your research and navigating what matters most to you in your experience you may want to learn a little bit more about what the models of care look like!
Models of care:
OBs and midwives all have their personal philosophies and also their model of care can vary. They all have the same goal of helping parents have a healthy, safe, and positive experience. Although how their practice functions, and their perspectives may vary greatly.
It doesn’t hurt to think about where you would like to give birth and the type of surroundings you want to birth in. Whether in a hospital, at home, birth center, or free-standing birth center, you can then move on to which provider may serve that type of birthing place.
OB model of care:
OBs’ philosophies are different practice to practice and doctor to doctor. OBs can be generalized to view birth more medically. But, some OBs may be willing to be hands off and let things go more naturally or some may practice a more expectant management type of care. Many OBs have very short windows of time for their patient visits as they may take on large client loads. It is not common to find a practice where there is only one doctor. Many times there is a minimum of two but often larger groups that rotate on-call time for attending births.
When meeting with them throughout pregnancy typically the appointments are shorter with the actual OB. Keep in mind everyone practices a little different as well and bedside manner will vary per individual. Finding out how the potential OB feels about birth and how they like to function as a practice is helpful knowledge before beginning care.
Midwifery model of care:
The midwifery model of care can often be viewed as having more patience & confidence in the birthing process. While also being more open to allowing/supporting things to unfold as naturally as possible. Midwife means “with woman” and their care strives to really make the birthing person the center of their care. Midwives may have longer appointment times with you and may be able to engage in longer conversations. Bedside manner, just like OBs, varies by individual. Midwives serve the lower risk pregnancy population which the CDC says accounts for approximately 85% of all birthing people. These days midwives are easier to find than before!
Midwives in the hospital setting tend to work in groups of 2 or more and rotate on-call time as well for attending births. CNMs typically have OBs they turn to, or may be part of an OB practice, for if their patient needs additional care. CPMs may have a partner, group, or may serve as individuals. Their client load may be smaller which allows more time to tend to patients and be available for their births. They may or may not have a referral source for care that is beyond their scope.
Now after defining all the the different roles and learning a little bit of how they function, how can you decipher which profession is a right choice for you and your care?
Midwife or OB?
In my experience I believe aligning with your health care provider can set you up for a more positive experience. So figuring out what your birth philosophies are and what matters to you most is a good place to start.
You then want to ask your potential or current care provider questions about their philosophies and approaches to birth. If there seems to be a lot of overlap of your thoughts or your provider understands your goals and encourages them, you probably have a good fit! If you don’t align, it doesn’t always mean it’s a bad fit, it may just mean someone will be compromising along the way. Will it be you or your care provider? How important is that compromise to you?
So where does a doula fit into all this?
Doula support would be something in addition to your medical care. Remember, they are non-medical. Doulas are the ones who are there to listen, process, and offer information when questions arise through pregnancy, during labor, and during those postpartum days, weeks, or months.
Labor doulas join families in pregnancy. They field phone calls, and help their clients process feelings and thoughts supporting them emotionally. They are always available to answer questions, promote understanding, and listen to what is going on in the pregnant person’s life.
Pre-natally doulas meet together with their client to form a birth plan and discuss anything and everything to help them feel more confident in the birth that lies ahead. They have loads of resources. Once in labor the doula joins the family and is a positive person there to support the laboring person and their partner moment by moment, contraction by contraction. Sometimes it’s emotional encouragement like reminding the birthing person that everything is normal and they are doing a fantastic job! There’s also lots of massage, counter pressure, positions, and whatever hands-on comfort the doula can provide. Educationally doulas can walk clients through the B.R.A.I.N. acronym providing information to help the client make their own decisions. They are an awesome addition to the birth team!
Postpartum & Infant Care Doulas join families as soon as the baby/babies are born if the families wish to begin care then. The doula attunes to the families’ needs and helps ease that transition of early parenthood. Just like Labor Doulas, Postpartum & Infant Care Doulas build confidence and provide guidance & comfort.
The first focus is the newly postpartum parent and partner if there is one. Making sure all their needs are met. This can look like discussing feelings regarding the birth and transition into parenthood. Or going over the how-to’s of newborn care. Even making sure the mother’s water glass is always full!
Then the new baby is the next focus. Sometimes care can look like tending to the newborn so the parents can rest. Sometimes it looks like we are all in it together with the doula supporting the set-up of systems, guiding on infant care tasks, and infant feeding. Postpartum & Infant Care Doulas can offer their care on a live-in basis, in the daytime, or perhaps the most popular – over the night! Sleep deprivation is real and often feared! The doula can assist in sleep shaping, help parents maintain normalcy at night and get more rest – a win-win for everyone!
Tips for selecting your care and support:
Envision your pregnancy and birth and what may be most important to you – if you are not sure your doula knows the questions to ask to help you figure this out.
Decide on where you desire to birth.
Discuss what matters to you most with your care provider or potential care provider that can catch babies at your birth place of choice.
Want help finding a provider and with all things pregnancy and baby?- A certified doula is the best place to start!
If a listening ear, comfort, and knowledge by your side the whole way sounds right, additional support from a doula is a great fit.
So now you can take a moment and sort out what makes sense for your family’s care. Use the tips mentioned for a little extra guidance on what to do next! If you know you want a doula already contact us today!
I will admit I watch a lot of TV. I watch it to unwind and relax, but I also use it to learn and discover new things. Recently I stumbled upon a PBS series called “9 Months That Made You.” I am one episode in and hooked!
Now I know by being a doula and childbirth educator that this show is right up my alley. I mean it is kind of like continuing education for my work! But if you are growing a human in your body currently, or did grow one, or know someone who grew one, or if you grew in someone’s body, then this show is a perfect fit!
So in the first episode they break down what it is like for a baby to grow beginning with the moment of conception. It then goes on to describe what happens in hours! And then days and weeks. The detailed things they discuss is amazing. How much of our lives that is determined by the processes in the first few weeks is astonishing!
Within the program different families from around the globe are highlighted to show their genetic differences. These differences are due to developmental things that can happen during the time period of growth that they are focused in on in the episode. The first episode even features a scientist studying living a long life and how it may be determined while you are still in the womb!
So yes I am a geek when it comes to science and babies. I can’t wait to finish the series. It really celebrates the variances in humanity. So if you are looking to add something to your queue and you are into learning check out this PBS series on Netflix. You can find out more about it here: https://www.pbs.org/show/9-months-made-you/
I can’t wait to see what new information I learn next!
Birth plans, birth wishes, birth preferences, or whatever you prefer to call it can be a useful tool. The work of going through what is important to you and your partner in your birth is likely the best part of creating a birth plan, no matter if you actually print it out.
Birth wishlists can be a great way to give the care team you are working with an idea of the ideal birth you hoped for. This way if paths stray from what you envisioned the staff can help keep it as close to your ideal as possible.
What you can include in your plan:
Basic information: your name, partner’s name or support person’s name, doula’s name, important phone numbers, your care provider’s name
Important items to know about the birthing person: allergies, or medical conditions the staff should be reminded of
Ideas for copingand what is important to you in early and active labor: After going through options in birth include those that really stand out to you as what you hope for in this birth.
Pushing preferences
Placenta plans: If choosing placenta encapsulation services it is a good idea to have this on your birth preferences sheet as a reminder. Also mentioning if you intend to use a cord blood banking service.
Cesarean birth preferences: items like clear drapes used, support people you want present, skin to skin if possible after birth.
Feeding preferences: it is nice to note if you are planning on breastfeeding, or formula feeding, or some combination
A smart idea is to write a long detailed plan for yourself that goes through all the options and ideals you have. Then that plan is for you. Trim and omit the unnecessary items to create a simpler plan to hand in to your birth staff. Creature comforts like dim lighting, do not need to be on your staff’s plan.
Pro-tips for birth plans
Keep it simple! Bullet points and simple statements to convey your wants is ideal. Also birth plans should not be so detailed you are telling your provider and staff how to do their job. Some plans simply state one item, for example “We would prefer open communication throughout the entire process.”
Be positive! Use phrases like “we prefer x,y,z” instead of “NO X,Y,Z!”
Thank the staff! Your care providers and nurses want you to have a lovely experience. They work hard and long shifts. Tell them how excited you are to be at that facility with the wonderful staff you have selected.
Make it fun! Say what?! If you can find a way to make it funny, or light, or cute in some way, the staff will enjoy reading it. Some clients in the past have made it sports themed, or added a funny comic. One couple made it look like a movie poster!
When making your birth wishes list explore all the things you envision or hope for. It is a great activity to get you thinking about the experience you’d like. A place you can learn about your birthing options is through a childbirth education course. Check out Metro Detroit Doula Service’s offerings today!
It doesn’t matter how far along you are or how many kids you have. There is always new information coming out regarding pregnancy, labor help, birth prep – however you want to address it. If you have found yourself wondering, what do I need to know about labor and delivery?… or what is happening to my body in labor? There is a resource for you.
Tell your friends about these great birth book finds!
Pregnancy help can be found in all types of media. You have choices with so many outlets in our digital world like podcasts, websites, etc… but some of you may want to simply hold a book in your hands while you soak in the experiences and knowledge to help you along this far-out journey!
Keep reading for our list of helpful books for birth:
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
This is a great book for support partners giving guidance on the ins and outs of labor.
With it’s objective, factual approach it sheds light on all sides of birth, examining the risks, benefits, and alternatives – our B.R.A.I.N blog explains this more in depth – and presenting both sides of options including natural and medicinal alike.
It finishes off with sections regarding the postpartum period.
Birthing From Within by Pam England
If you like art and lean a bit more toward the holistic or “crunchy” side of life, this book may be just the one for you.
You will find positive birth stories galore!
This book’s approach is about finding strength in birth, viewing birth as a self-discovery, and acceptance of your birth outcome however it needs to unfold.
There is also highlight help for new parent and marriage adjustments after baby arrives.
Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth by Genevieve Howland
It’s great to see what is happening inward as you grow outward! As it says in it’s title this is a weekly reference guide with ideas for To-Do Lists as you move along in pregnancy.
Genevieve also touches on how to form your birth-team, giving a shout-out to our certifying and training organization ProDoula!
She also dives into nourishment, your environment, and a number of newborn topics.
If you haven’t visited her resourceful website, check it out.
Birth Wisdom Yoga Remedies & Journal by Julia Piazza
Who doesn’t want to feel as comfortable they can in pregnancy?! Prenatal yoga is a wonderful way to create some peaceful space for you and baby.
This book is introduced by both a midwife and an obstetrician, is broken into trimesters (including ailments & solutions), and provides you with 30- & 60-minute flows that you can do at home, when you can’t make it out to a class at Earthside Prenatal Yoga with our friend & fellow boss babe, Lori.
We were also delighted to find pelvic health floor information highlighted, a great bonus one of our very own team members, Ashley Gammon would much appreciate.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
With 30+ years of experience, Ina May is extremely well known throughout the natural birth community and is a treasure chest of information with her focus on unmedicated birth.
You will find absolute confidence in the physiological process of birth, a variety of topics including the best ways to work with your doctor, and a collection of positive birth stories throughout.
Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel
Many families prefer to be as natural as possible in delivery with an open mind to medical options when necessary.
That means being in a hospital for delivery with all options available while having the support of a provider who views birth the same as you. We can not stress the importance of this enough – it is more important than the distance to the hospital and the types of tiles on the walls.
This book helps you to be proactive in pregnancy so that you don’t have to be reactive in labor, giving you the best of both worlds.
Dive into some of the best books on birth around!
It’s easy to pick one of these titles up, just throw it in your cart – a little holiday gift for yourself – while you are cruising on Amazon. Go on! You deserve it. There may even be an audio version you can download to listen to while you are driving or getting things done around the house. However, you do it – enjoy this adventure of growing your family.
Of course, there is a collection of other childbirth books out there. If you have a favorite that wasn’t listed, we’d love hearing about it – please share it with us in the comments below or reach out to us for more information.
