Choosing Waterbirth: Reclaiming the Sacred Power of Birth (24 page)
Read Choosing Waterbirth: Reclaiming the Sacred Power of Birth Online
Authors: Lakshmi Bertram,Sandra Amrita McLanahan,Michel Odent
bed habits, 149151
beginning, 4647
birth centers
advantages of, 121
waterbirth in, 30, 94, 120131
birth stories, 9495
a birth center waterbirth, 120131
birth of an Englishman, 103107
a hospital stay, then a home birth, 112119
my first waterbaby, 96102
my sister's waterbirth, 132136
Thanksgiving surprise, 108111
Birth Without Violence
, 24
birthing.
See
childbirth; waterbirth
birthing energy, working with, 37
birthing tubs, xixi
cleaning, 105106
draining, 32
entering, 2627, 37
filling, 26, 32
having other persons in, 27
positioning, 32, 105
selecting, 15
sources of, 31
body
connection with mind, xiv
developing awareness of, 47
BraxtonHicks contractions, 87, 9697, 103
breastfeeding, 143148
soreness during, 146
breathing techniques, xiv, 49, 51, 7577
belly breathing, 7677, 9899
threepart breath, 7576
unburden mode, 8283
C
candles, 90
Carmichael, Mary, 14, 94
castor oil, for massage, 152
the celebration and afterwards, 138158
babies don't keep, 140142
bed habits, 149151
congratulations and welcome, 138139
the lifelong challenge, 155158
mama juice, 143148
massage message, 152154
cervix, dilation of, 3637
Page 168
cesarean section, 6
reducing numbers of, xvi
Charkovsky, Igor, 18
childbirth.
See also
birth stories; waterbirth
basics of, 3340
a challenging reality, 1216
consciousness shift in, 4
creating the perfect environment for, 8891
depression after, 146147
endorphins released during, 19
experience from baby's viewpoint, 2223
fear of, 3, 8283, 158
a gift, 158
in horses, 911
magazines about, 163164
making more rewarding, 40
naturalness of, 34, 3334, 7879
nausea during, 100
a rite of passage, 16
stages of, 34, 3440
stories about, 96118, 122131, 133135
unpredictability of, 112
Chopra, Deepak, 44
circumcisions, reducing numbers of, xvi
cleaning
birthing tubs, 105106
keeping your balance over, 142
cleansing breaths, 52, 58
colostrum, importance of, 144
communicating with your baby, 69, 98
complications, 30
confidence, 85, 94
congratulations, 138139
connecting with your baby, 6869
consciousness shift, in birthing, 4
contractions.
See also
dilation stage; labor;
pushing stage
BraxtonHicks, 87, 9697, 103
stimulating, 108109, 116
cool compresses, 88
cord, cutting the umbilical, 40
Csection.
See
cesarean section
D
dance, free movement, 8687
Daniels, Karil, 15
resources available from, 2930
deep relaxation, 4344, 7074, 141142
choosing a place for, 7071
tremendous value of, 7374
depression, after giving birth, 146147
dilation stage, 3437
active labor, 3637
early labor, 3536
prelabor, 3435
transition, 37
ducts.
See
milk ducts
E
early labor, 3536
edema, relieving through yoga, 53
"effacing" process, 3536
endorphin release
during childbirth, 19
facilitated by warm water, 20
inhibited by adrenaline, 19
engorgement, 145146
environment, creating the perfect, 8891
epidural injections
delaying birth, 38
risks from, 20
episiotomies, 38
reducing numbers of, xvi
essential oils, 90
exercises, 4869
F
"false" labor, 97, 108, 120
"The Farm," 14
fear of childbirth, 3, 8283, 158
feeding.
See
breastfeeding
first impressions
impact on later life, 2324
your baby's, 2225
first milk, not discarding, 144
floor, getting up off of, 59
following your instincts, 7880
free movement dancing, 8687, 89
friends, supportive, 90
G
Gaskin, Ina May, 13
geranium scent, 90
giving birth.
See
childbirth; waterbirth
Gross, Stephanie, 123, 165
Page 169
H
hemorrhoids, cautions regarding, 62
hip circles and hip rocks, 6061
tremendous value of, 61
home birth, xivxv, 29, 112119
choosing, 1112
misgivings about, 84
risks of, 31
horse stories, 911
hospital births, 112119
advantages of, 31, 118119
choices during, 30, 39, 135136
disadvantages of, 47
hospitals, water labor in, 30
hydrotherapy, 17
I
inducing labor, 120
inspiration, surrounding yourself with, xiii
instincts
dropping back into, xii
following, 7880, 86
intuition, enhanced during pregnancy, 79
K
kegels, 6364
strengthening the pelvic floor through, 64
knowledge, authentic, xii
L
La Leche League, 148
labor.
See also
dilation stage; pushing stage
contractions caused by oxytocin release, 19
eating during, 91
"false," 97, 108, 120
inducing, 120
length of, 6
squatting during, 63
Lamaze method, 12
lavender scent, 90
Leboyer, Frederick, 24
Leboyer bathing method, xiv
the lifelong challenge, 155158
lighting, 90
lower back pain, relieving through yoga, 67
M
magazines, about childbirth, 163164
mama juice, 143148
massage
for babies, 152154
for mothers, 8889
oil for, 152
mastitis, 146
McLanahan, Sandra Amrita, xiiixvi
meconium, expulsion of, 153
midwives
methods of, 18
contacting, 2930, 161162
milk
first, 144
regular, 144145
milk ducts, blocked, 146
mind
calming, 7273
connection with body, xiv
miscarriage, avoiding risk of, 44
moon sequence, 6467
"morning sickness," relieving through yoga, 53
motherhood
being gentle with yourself, 140
enlisting help, 140141
responsibilities of, 138142, 155158
surviving, 147
mothering
naturalness of, 149150
stories about, 155157
mothers
benefits for, xvi
soul searching by, 37
mucus plug, losing, 109, 133
music, 89
to dance by, 86
of the heart, xiii
N
natural birth, resources for, 2930, 159161
naturalness
of childbirth, 34, 811, 3334, 7879
of mothering, 149150
nausea, during childbirth, 100
neocortical control, reducing, xii
neroli scent, 90
nipple soreness, 147148
"nurser's syndrome," 5051
O
obstetricians, xiv
Page 170
Odent, Michel, 14, 18
Ornish, Dean, 44
oxytocin release
causing uterine contractions, 19, 116
facilitated by warm water, 20
inhibited by adrenaline, 19
P
patience, xiii
pelvic floor
relaxing, 74
strengthening through kegels, 64
perceptivity, enhanced during pregnancy, 79
the perfect place, 8891
perineum, 3839.
See also
episiotomies
stretching through yoga, 5758, 63
place
choosing for deep relaxation, 7071, 8182
finding the perfect, 8891
placental stage, 2728, 34, 3940
ponds.
See
birthing tubs
posture correction, 5960
the practice of waterbirth, 94136
birth center waterbirth, 120131
birth of an Englishman, 103107
birth stories, 9495
a hospital stay, and then a home birth, 112119
my first waterbaby, 96102
my sister's waterbirth, 13136
Thanksgiving surprise, 108111
practitioners, qualified, 30.
See also
midwives
pregnancy
loving, 13
phenomena accompanying, 79
yoga for, 4369
prelabor, 3435
prenatal yoga classes, 4869
preparation for waterbirth, 4391
breathing techniques, 7577
deep relaxation, 7074
following your instincts, 7880
free movement dance, 8687
how to begin, 4647
the perfect place, 8891
prenatal yoga classes, 4869
timeout, 8185
yoga for pregnancy, 4345
pushing stage, 34, 3840
squatting in, 63
Q
the quiet voice, 79
R
relaxation
deep, 4344, 7074, 141142
learning, 3334
resources available, 2930, 148, 152, 159164
rose scent, 89
Rosenthal, Michael, 14
S
safety issues, xv
Schoonover, Chandra, 115116
sciatica, relieving through yoga, 67
showering, 88
sleep, getting enough, 141142
soaking in water, 15, 17, 22, 88
song of the heart, xiii
soul searching, 37
Spiritual Midwifery,
13
squatting, 6263
during labor, 27, 63
during waterbirth, 63
stories
about childbirth, 96118, 122131, 133135, 155157
about horses, 911
about mothering, 155157
strength, 85
stress relief
through yoga, 43, 4950, 55, 58
water associated with, xiv
suctioning newborn babies, 102
swollen ankles, relieving through yoga, 69
T
techniques.
See also
yoga poses
breathing, xiv, 7577
relaxation, 7074
tension.
See
stress relief
the theory of waterbirth, 340
birth basics, 3340
a challenging reality, 1216
Page 171
a challenging reality, 1216
first impressions, 2225
the great appeal, 1921
making it happen, 2932
nature's lesson, 811
soul searching, 37
waterbirth explained, 2628
why water, 1718
timeout exercise, 8185
tolerance, xiii
touch, longing for, 154
tranquility, 43
power resting in, xiii
transition from dilation to pushing, 37, 111
true labor, 3536
tubs.
See
birthing tubs
U
umbilical cord
cutting, 40
wrapped around the neck, 40, 117118
unburdening yourself, 8283
uterus, 3536
V
varicose veins, relieving through yoga, 69
visualization practices, 14
W
walking, during labor, 27
water
benefits of warm, xiv, 20, 99
reason for using, 1718
relieving stress, xiv, 17, 100
Water Baby: Experiences of Water Birth,
1415
water labor, 20, 26
in hospitals, 30
water retention, relieving through yoga, 53
waterbabies, my first, 96102
waterbirth.
See also
birth stories
benefits of, xvi, 2425, 38
in birth centers, 120131
contraindications, 29
explained, 2628
the great appeal of, 1921, 132
growing popularity of, 2021
making it happen, 2932
resources for, 2930, 159161
squatting during, 63
welcoming babies, 25, 138139
Wordsworth, William, xv
Y
yoga
how to begin, 4647
for pregnancy, 4345
prenatal classes in, 4869
when to begin, 4445
yoga poses, 4869
butterfly, 5657
cat/cow, 5455
cleansing breath, 52
corpse, 82
diamond pose, 53
folded pose, 5556
forward stretch in "V" position, 58
getting up off the floor, 59
halfspinal twist, 51
hip circles, 61
hip rocks, forward and back, 60
inverted pose, 6869
kegels, 6364
modified squat, 6263
moon sequence, 6467
neck rolls, 4950
neck stretches, 49
posture correction, 5960
shoulder rolls, 5051
side stretch in "V" position, 5758
sitting, 4849
squat, 6263
stretch and roll, 52
supported triangle, 67
Page 174
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
. . . for the evolving human spirit
Hampton Roads Publishing Company publishes books on a variety of subjects, including metaphysics, health, integrative medicine, visionary fiction, and other related topics.
For a copy of our latest catalog, call tollfree (800) 7668009, or send your name and address to: Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.
1125 Stoney Ridge Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902
email: [email protected]
Website: www.hrpub.com