Thursday, November 29, 2007

Birth Is Not an Illness- 16 Recommendations From the WHO

Birth is Not an Illness!
16 Recommendations from the World Health Organization

These 16 recommendations are based on the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to receive proper prenatal care: that the woman has a central role in all aspects of this care, including participation in the planning, carrying out and evaluation of the care: and that social, emotional and psychological factors are decisive in the understanding and implementation of proper prenatal care.

1. The whole community should be informed about the various procedures in birth care, to enable each woman to choose the type of birth care she prefers.

2. The training of professional midwives or birth attendants should be promoted. Care during normal pregnancy and birth and following birth should be the duty of this profession.

3. Information about birth practices in hospitals (rates of cesarean sections, etc.) should be given to the public served by the hospitals.

4. There is no justification in any specific geographic region to have more than 10-15% cesarean section births (the current US c-section rate is estimated to be about 30.2% in 2005- Virginia's 2005 rate was 31.4%).

5. There is no evidence that a cesarean section is required after a previous transverse low segment cesarean section birth. Vaginal deliveries after a cesarean should normally be encouraged wherever emergency surgical capacity is available.

6. There is no evidence that routine electronic fetal monitoring during labor has a positive effect on the outcome of pregnancy.

7. There is no indication for pubic shaving or a pre-delivery enema.

8. Pregnant women should not be put in a lithotomy (flat on the back)position during labor or delivery. They should be encouraged to walk during labor and each woman must freely decide which position to adopt during delivery.

9. The systematic use of episiotomy (incision to enlarge the vaginal opening) is not justified.

10. Birth should not be induced(started artificially) for convenience and the induction of labor should be reserved for specific medical indications. No geographic region should have rates of induced labor over 10%.

11. During delivery, the routine administration of analgesic or anesthetic drugs, that are not specifically required to correct or prevent a complication in delivery, should be avoided.

12. Artificial early rupture of the membranes, as a routine process, is not scientifically justified.

13. The healthy newborn must remain with the mother whenever both their conditions permit it. No process of observation of the healthy newborn justifies a separation from the mother.

14. The immediate beginning of breastfeeding should be promoted, even before the mother leaves the delivery room.

15. Obstetric care services that have critical attitudes towards technology and that have adopted an attitude of respect for the emotional, psychological and social aspects of birth should be identified. Such services should be encouraged and the processes that have led them to their position must be studied so that they can be used as models to foster similar attitudes in other centers and to influence obstetrical views nationwide.

16. Governments should consider developing regulations to permit the use of new birth technology only after adequate evaluation.


Compiled from Care in Normal Birth: report of a technical working group
1997 - WHO/FRH/MSM/96.24

Lending Library

As a birth education or doula client you will have access to the Eden's Garden Lending Library.

Up to 3 books may be checked out for 2 weeks at a time per client.
Please bring back books on time as other students may be waiting for the same book!
Late fees will be charged as follows:
$1/week for the first 4 weeks.
Full replacement cost of the book if 5 weeks late (and the book must be returned).

Library catalog:

A Child is Born by Lennart Nilsson

The Baby Book by William Sears, MD

Birthing From Within by Pam England

The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger

The Discipline Book by William Sears, MD and Martha Sears

How to Raise a Healthy Child... In Site of Your Doctor by Robert Mendelsohn, MD
How Weaning Happens by Diane Bengson

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

Natural Family Living by Peggy O'Mara
The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins
Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gale Pryor
Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy by Elizabeth Somer

Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin

Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler

Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide by Aviva Jill Romm 

Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed
The Woman's Book of Yoga and Health by Linda Sparrowe

You are Your Child's First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin
Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Glade Curtis, MD

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Contact Information

Eden's Garden Birth Education and Labor Support
Amy Blake Rollogas
5255 Old Columbia Rd
Goochland, VA 23063

804-869-1225


Required Reading

The book that we will be using as our main text for the An Informed Childbirth class is The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger You will have weekly reading assignments from this book. Coming to class prepared will allow you to join in during our discussions.

The Kitzinger book is available locally at Barnes and Noble and can also be acquired from favorite online bookseller.

Sample Class Syllabus

An Informed Childbirth

I strive to meet your needs by tailoring each class to suit the individuals I am serving. We will engage in a lot of discussion. I want to meet you where you are! I recognize that this is a big event in a couple's life!

This is a sample 6 week class, covering a full selection of topics. If you need a more streamlined version, you may choose the topics most important to you from this list. I will put together a custom, 3-6 week class from your chosen topics (and any others I feel are foundational).

Class One- Birth Today
Birth in the media and cross-cultural influences
Technocratic and Holistic models of birth
Safety of birth
Consumerism (what can we, as health care consumers, do?)
The current state of birth in North America/ the rising cesarean rate and cesarean birth prevention

Class Two- Pregnancy: Growth and Decision-Making
Birth options and decision-making (place of birth, care provider, labor support, natural birth vs. medicated)
Nurturing yourself and your baby (fetal development, nutrition, prenatal care, comfort exercises)
Nurturing each other (increasing communication with your partner, enriching your relationship, emotional changes, sexuality)

Class Three- The Process of Birthing
Understanding the process of normal labor and birth
Practice using “tools” for labor and birth (relaxation, visualization, breathing, vocalization, communication and support)

Class Four- Creating Your Birth
Routine birth procedures and interventions
The “Domino Theory” of interventions
Medication options
Barriers to birth
Active birth
Communication and effective advocacy- Writing a Birth Plan

Class Five- When Birth Does Not Go the Way You Planned
Dealing with the unexpected
Addressing fears about birth and developing tools for dealing with them

Class Six- The Newborn, Postpartum and the Family
Welcoming the newborn (bonding)
Newborn exam
Concerns of the first week
Breastfeeding
Nurturing yourself (nutrition, exercise, emotions, getting help)
Nurturing each other (sexuality, psychological needs)
Parenting resources

Final wrap up/ Q&A



Labor and birth are intense, hard work and each is unique. Through these classes you will acquire the tools to work with your body and the process of giving birth, and you will leave class with the knowledge to make your own best choices at each point along the way.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Class Schedule 2013- 2014

An Informed Childbirth is now being offered through private classes!

Private instruction affords you the opportunity to customize instruction, get to know your instructor, explore fears, and dive deeper into topics that are pertinent to your unique situation.

I can work with your tricky work schedule, meet you at your home and customize a class that meets your needs exactly! See the Tuition Rates and Registration page for more information.

I would love to be a part of your childbirth experience! You can register on the sidebar, or by contacting me directly at (804)869-1225 or myedensgarden@gmail.com.





Tuition Rates and Registration 2013- 2014

Labor Support Services are available beginning in January 2014!  
I will offer all the services found HERE at a rate of $500.  Scholarships may be available so don't let cost be a factor in contacting me. 

Private childbirth instruction is currently being offered for students in Richmond, VA and surrounding areas.

An Informed Childbirth classes are offered at the rate of $35 per 2 hour session, when at least 2 sessions are booked (4 - 6 sessions are usually required for a full and complete childbirth class). Your non-refundable $35 registration fee retains my services for instruction and is applicable toward your first week of class.

If you are interested in the topics covered in An Informed Childbirth, see the Sample Class Syllabus. We can cover all or some of those topics in your class!

If you have given birth before and are looking for a Labor Refresher class, I offer a one-time 2 1/2 hour refresher for $75.
I also offer a one-time, 2 1/2 hour Labor Basics class for $75.

Registration can be done through Paypal on the sidebar (see the Buy Now button) or by cash or check.

If you have any questions, call me!
Amy Blake Rollogas 804-869-1225

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Doulas?