Our Green House Blogs

First Moments with Baby and Mom

Posted by Lindsay Gibson on Sep 5th 2018

The moment you have been waiting and preparing for has arrived – your little bundle is born! Your newborn is in your arms for the first time. So many emotions flow through you that you cannot even identify them all. In those first moments with baby, the mixture of tears, laughter, and smiles as you look down at your miracle with your partner - is both magical and overwhelming! Love floods you, and while you may have some thoughts like “I am not sure if I will be a good mom for this sweet baby of mine,” you know one thing – you will do anything in your power to protect this baby! For some moms, in these first moments with baby, love immediately fills them. For others, it may take a while to feel that powerful connection. That is more than okay mama. Becoming a parent is the biggest job in the world. Some of us need extra support to settle into motherhood. For me personally, that connection was felt at a different pace with each of my girls. Let’s focus in on the first few moments after a baby is born and what is happening. First Moments With Baby A baby spends a long 9 months developing in a nice, cozy and warm womb. When he or she is born, their instincts for survival outside of the womb will kick in right away. However, there are some things that we can become conscious about and do to help your little one adjust. The moment of your baby's first breath is intense as this is what you have been waiting for! When the majority of babies are born, you will hear a cry, sputter or a cough as they take that first breath on their own, but some babies will need a little assistant to get going. This is big for the baby because this is the first time their lungs, digestion, and circulation are working independently of you. Now that your baby is breathing - how are they taking it all in? This where you come in to help! How they adjust varies from baby to baby. Some babies come out wide-eyed and quiet. They calmly look around (mostly at you mama!) – soaking it all in. Some babies may take a peek and then, goodnight! Don’t worry though, one of your baby's strong instincts is to feed within the first hour. They will want to find your breast or feed, even if they need a little snooze first. Finally, some babies will make themselves heard by the only way they know how – crying – often loudly at first! No matter how your baby reacts to their new world around them – once they are placed in their mother’s arms and on her chest, skin-to-skin for that magical golden first hour – your baby will feel extremely secure and loved. Skin-to-Skin Benefits: Regulate the baby’s temperature and keep glucose levels higher. Your breasts are able to stabilize your baby's temperature when he or she is placed on them. The contact keeps the baby’s vitals steady and temperature regulated. Keep the baby’s heartbeat stable by synchronizing it with Mom’s heartbeat. A mother’s heartbeat can coordinate with her baby’s heartbeat within seconds! Increase bonding. The hour after birth is the “Sacred” or “Golden” hour. It's during these first moments with baby that both mom and baby are primed to develop their chemical connection. Oxytocin or the “love hormone” is responsible for this connection. Reduce Postpartum Depression. During those first moments with baby, feeling the baby on her chest, smelling, kissing and snuggling rouses these intricate maternal hormones that stimulate mother behaviors and feelings. This can help reduce PPD symptoms of disconnect. A less crying baby! Holding a baby, skin-to-skin, for a few hours a day can help reduce crying in an infant. It keeps them calm and secure. This also lowers stress levels in a mom and helps her to feel more in control. Improve sleep for both baby and Mom. A baby held skin-to-skin sleeps better and stays asleep longer thus allowing a Mother to rest too. Happier tummy and a stronger immune system for baby! Yes – skin-to-skin can help the baby’s digestive system! Contact on Mom’s chest stimulates the vagal nerve which keeps digestion strong and nutrition absorbs better for stronger immunity. BREASTFEEDING! Skin-to-skin contact improves the breastfeeding relationship between Mom and baby very early on. A baby placed on Mom immediately after birth who continues with skin to skin at home is more likely to breastfeed with success and for longer. This helps Mom’s supply build and stay well established. Swaddling a baby away from Mom will hamper building her supply. Read about the power of skin-to-skin and how it helped me and my firstborn daughter tremendously after a traumatic birth. We can also help baby by dimming the lights after birth because their eyes are sensitive and still adjusting. Undisturbed, quiet time lying on mom's chest while breastfeeding is the best thing for baby. Many hospitals are now reserving this golden hour to do just that and holding off on any newborn screenings. Unless of course there are any complications, but your care team will immediately explain these and what they need to do. What about you mama? On top of all of the emotions that you feel as you hold your new baby, your body is rapidly adjusting to not being pregnant. You may shake, feel nauseated and just downright EXHAUSTED. Make sure to get fluids and a snack in as soon as you can to refuel. I've found it's super beneficial to drink 5-6 cups a day (hot or cold) of my post-partum tea blend in those first 48 hours after delivery. Depending on whether or not you had an epidural or a C-Section, you may be able to take a shower a few hours after birth. This will help you feel like a new woman! If you are breastfeeding, it is strongly recommended to wait until your baby has had their first latch and feed. This is because the smell you have to your baby is the same smell as the amniotic fluid that they floated around in for so long! This helps a baby to feel safe after they are born. Nature is amazing, isn't it? Magical Bonding The best tip that I was ever given was to wait as long as possible to welcome visitors (minus other children you have who will be absolutely dying to meet their new sibling!). This time lets you and your partner come down from the intensity of the birth – and ensures calm for your baby who is easily stimulated at this stage. Visitors will, of course, be so excited to hold and see your baby. All the baby really needs and wants at this time though is their parents. There will be plenty of bonding time with others to come! No matter which order you do things such as: taking a shower, eating and getting up to move – within those first moments with baby and hours after birth - having baby relax on your bare chest is the most beneficial thing for both of you because this truly helps both baby and mama to adjust, bond and have a gentle and magical start to their lives together.

What Does a Doula Do?

Posted by Lindsay Gibson on Aug 22nd 2018

Keep Calm and Call the Doula Let’s start with a little history of birth. For hundreds of years, women have been the main support through another woman’s birth. Experienced female birth workers, a.k.a doulas and midwives delivered babies (mostly at home) all around the world. Today – the number of midwives used has declined dramatically, with over 90% of births attended by physicians and in a hospital. The choice of where and whom you want handling your pregnancy and birth is, of course, a very personal decision and there is never a “right” or “wrong” choice – as long as the parents are secure with their care. Are Doula’s the same as Midwives? No – they are not the same, which is why many couples still hire a doula for their birth (and even after) alongside their midwives or physicians. While Obstetrician-gynecologists are medical doctors (MDs) who have completed medical school, midwives have not. They are trained with a different philosophy – focusing on whole-body health and prevention (although they are extremely medically knowledgeable in pregnancy, labor, and delivery). They are strong advocates in supporting the mother to make informed decisions with their pregnancy and birth. Three Types of Midwives: Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM): who is trained both as a nurse and has gone onto graduate-level training as a midwife. Midwife (CM) Certified: they do not hold a nursing degree, but some have had graduate level midwifery training and do take the same certification as CNMs. Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): they obtain their certification from a different governing body versus a CM and CNM. They may or may not hold a bachelor’s or graduate degree. You may find a lot of CPM’s attending births alongside a CNM or CM. A Doula This brings us to a doula – your birth room and postpartum angels on earth! Unlike a midwife – doulas are not medically trained like a CNM. Although – more and more nurses are retiring to do doula care. Regardless, they have a different training and job with mothers and provide non-medical care. Their main focus is providing relief for the mom through gentle physical support such as massages during labor and emotional and mental support – helping the mom to feel safe and secure. Fact is, moms who have a doula during birth and in the postpartum period, have far better positive outcomes. The most important thing is finding the right doula that will fit your needs – check out this questionnaire you can bring with you when interviewing doulas. There are two different kinds of doulas: birth doula and postpartum doula and each have had their own training. Affirmation: I trust my instincts. I trust the wisdom of my body. I believe I can, so I will. Birth Doula A birth doula has one main objective: to make sure mom and dad have a positive and safe birth experience – even if that means intervention or a C-section. They are there to help you through every minute of it and feel empowered as changes may occur. Your doula will usually meet with you twice before birth, if not more, to go over what you hope for, your fears and thoughts and create a birth plan. She will educate you on many parts of the labor experience, so by the time labor starts, you feel more in control, educated and supported. A birth doula’s main jobs during labor: Breathing techniques Relaxation techniques Laboring positions Massage for comfort Making sure you eat and drink enough Advocate for you Emotional and mental support for both mom and dad Postpartum Doula A postpartum doula is there to help a new family in those first days or weeks after bringing the baby home. Having a postpartum doula has shown through research that mom and dad have a much smoother and easier transition into parenthood with a doula there to ensure them, educate them and support them however they need in those early weeks. She is essentially there to “mother the mother”. A postpartum doula can either do daytime hours or overnight hours, whichever the parents decide they need. A postpartum doula’s main jobs: Infant care: Answering all basic care needs and breastfeeding Help you rest and recharge – often holding your newborn for you Practical Help: Laundry, dishes, housework, cooking, errands Emotional Support: Mother the new mother - nurturing her so she can nurture her precious new baby. Listening to her worries, fears and being there so she can express her frustrations. You can find your doula through searching online in your area through the certifying organizations such as: dona.org cappa.net childbirthinternational.com Also – check with your OB or midwife as they might have a referral list. Doula’s range in price and can be costly, however, the care they can provide is worth it! Visit Lindsay's blog for more info about Doulas, including special concerns for mamas with high-risk pregnancies. Join the Our Green Moms Facebook Group to connect with other women (moms-to-be, new moms, aunts, and grandmas). We'll share tips, discover organic products, and find support among other eco-conscious moms. - Click Below!!!

Pelvic Floor Strengthening for a More Positive Labor

Posted by Lindsay Gibson on Aug 8th 2018

Birth and Your Perineum Tearing during a vaginal birth is a fear many mothers have. As a mother myself who had two large babies over ten pounds each at birth – this is certainly something that has crossed my mind too! Whether you actually tear or not, all moms experience swelling and trauma to the perineum as the baby pushes against your pelvic floor in birth. The good news is that there are things we can do to prepare your pelvic floor. The Dance of Birth Between Mom and Baby You may not be thinking too much about it now while still pregnant, but think of it this way: every ounce of preventative care you put into to strengthening your pelvic floor is worth a pound of cure. Meaning – even little efforts go a long way! The care you put in now will dramatically help reduce the trauma that birth will put on your pelvic area. During labor, movement is critical. It helps the mom to dance in tune with her baby coming down the birth canal. It helps to ease the baby out without tearing and even fewer tears. Mom and baby become in sync and strengthening the pelvic floor is a tremendous help so the mom can choreograph this beautiful dance she will do with her baby while in labor! Ideal Position for Birth We all know that breech is not ideal at all and the majority will end up with a C-Section if their baby is breech. However, there are other positions that are not so great either. Does the baby’s position while head down really matter though? Yes! An occiput posterior or otherwise known as “sunny side up” when the baby is facing away from the spine – can cause many more complications such as back labor or cause prodromal labor in the weeks leading up to birth. Hands and knees is the best position if the baby is in this position during labor. The ideal position is called occiput anterior or with baby head down and facing spine. This position encourages your baby to tuck his or her chin to his chest, so the smallest part of his head pushes on the cervix for a quicker exit. Affirmation of the Week: - I see my baby in the perfect position for birthing. I am in complete control of my body and mind. Pelvic Floor Strengtheners and Positioning There are ways that you can get your baby to settle into a good position and strengthen your pelvic floor, hips, and thighs for labor. To encourage proper alignment, make sure to not recline too much in the third trimester (which is all a pregnant mom wants to do - sit back and snooze!). This compresses the pelvis whereas leaning forward helps the baby to rest his or her back against your spine. Leaning forward keeps you from getting dizzy from laying too much on your back too! Grab a birthing ball (large exercise ball) and while watching T.V. at night – spend ten minutes bouncing, rocking side to side and tilting your pelvis forward. Next, to keep things loose – exercise! Even just simple walking 20 to 30 minutes a day will keep things warm and loosened up rather than tight. After walking, sit on the floor in “butterfly” pose with knees open. This helps to open up your pelvis and keeps your lower back flexible. Pulse your legs up and down as you sit in this pose and stretch by gently leaning forward. Follow with getting on all fours, in the “cat and cow” pose and tuck your chin and hold – then release and look up. If exercise feels good – you can always add more a few days a week with lunges and squats to strengthen your thighs and legs. This area is heavily needed in birth! Doing these things will help to ensure a more positive experience during labor. Join Our Green Moms Facebook Group - click below!!!

Meet Lindsay Gibson, our Baby Registry & Maternal Health Specialist

Posted by Pam Davis on Aug 7th 2018

Though you may have seen her in one or two of our videos and as one of our blog post authors, we've yet to formally introduce Lindsay Gibson so I want to take a moment to do that today. I met Lindsay last year and was immediately drawn to this inspiring woman! Her first book, Just Be: How My Stillborn Son Taught Me to Surrender, is a beautiful memoir that shares how she pushes through a lot of pain. It is a lesson to us all not to let tragedy define our selves. She's such a positive role model! Lindsay is an author, motivational speaker, birth psychology and maternity health specialist. Beyond raising her daughters to be strong, independent women who know that they are well loved, her mission in life is helping to bring inner healing and joy for women everywhere. Her wealth of maternal health knowledge comes from 10+ years of experience as a birth and postpartum doula. She is also a maternal health practitioner & nutritionist. Her personal experience as a mother of two - soon to be three - daughters contributes as well. As we announced today on Facebook, Lindsay will be a big part of our new Baby Registry. We are so excited to have her sharing her expertise on our blog, with members of our baby registry and on our Facebook Group: Our Green Moms! You can also find Lindsay on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, & Instagram. In case you missed our live Facebook announcement, you can watch it below: