That’s because in South Africa’s private healthcare arena, the decision to ‘go natural’ is often one that moms have to rigorously defend. Based on the experiences of moms who come to us at Genesis Clinic after being discouraged by their doctor against natural birth, there are three clues to alert you to the fact that you’re dealing with a potential medical bully.

The first is a doctor who warns you that your baby is too big or that you’re too small to deliver naturally. They’ll start hinting about this early on, preparing moms for a change of game plan. “Just start getting your mind around the possibility that you might need a Caesarean,” they’ll say. But the doctor who tells you early in your pregnancy that your baby is going to get stuck is flat-out lying to you.

There is no way to tell, even from an x-ray, that a woman’s pelvis won’t distend and disengage sufficiently for her baby, and ultrasounds can be off by as much as 400 grams. In my practice, I’ve seen tiny women giving birth without trouble to babies over 3.5 kg, while bigger moms needed help delivering babies just over two kilos.

Another common sign of medical bullying happens quite late in the pregnancy, at about 36 weeks. The doctor will start priming you that your baby hasn’t engaged or dropped down, which will unfortunately necessitate a Caesarean. A large percentage of babies however, will only engage once labour starts, particularly in second pregnancies; in fact, most second or third babies will only engage the day before or even once labour has started.

The third clue you have a medical bully on your hands is when your doctor tells you halfway through your pregnancy that your amniotic fluid is drying up or calcifying; this typically only starts to happen though, once mom is two to three weeks overdue.

We’re being deceived

To put it bluntly, women in South Africa are being deceived. They’re being given one-sided information aimed at pushing them into making decisions that suit the medical fraternity, which, in the case of private healthcare in South Africa, is significantly skewed towards performing C-sections.

The World Health Organisation says that a Caesarean rate above 15% is unjustifiable, yet private hospitals in South Africa have rates as high as 68% (National Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity Committee Triennial Report, 2008-2010).

Disregarding elective C-sections, why is the rate so high? People joke and say that doctors in South Africa do Caesareans so that they’re not interrupted on the golf course. Convenience does, of course, come into it, but it’s more complex than that.

Did you know that gynaes and obstetricians pay upwards of R40 000 a month on medical insurance, a premium that goes up significantly should insurance have to pay out for malpractice.

It’s understandable therefore, why some doctors would rather do a hundred unnecessary Caesareans than risk losing one baby or mom in a real emergency. For these doctors, C-sections seem like the safest obstetric procedure from a legal standpoint.

Currently, government is working on capping medical malpractice payouts, which might well have a significant impact on the number of C-sections pushed onto unwilling women in years to come. Until then though, what can moms do to get the best chance of having the safe, natural birth they want, without the bullying?

 Getting the birth you want

If you want to give birth naturally, the most important thing you can do is start off with the right caregiver. From the very beginning, have an in-depth discussion with your doctor. Find out what his or her C-section rate is, and what his or her philosophy about natural birth is. Arm yourself with information about the pros and cons of both routes; don’t just rely on what you’re told.

If your doctor is clearly not on the same page as you, then you should consider finding a new caregiver. I’m always amazed how moms will swop hairdressers and nail technicians and insurance companies if they’re not getting the service they want, but they’re terrified of changing doctors.

This is a very special time in your life; it’s your right to find a caregiver who will help you to enter motherhood in the way you choose, while safeguarding both your and your baby’s life.

You should also consider finding a midwife or doula, even if you are planning to give birth in a hospital. They will come to your appointments with you, support you and stand up for you, while ensuring you get a safe experience.

Currently, private hospitals don’t allow midwives to come into the labour room with moms, and only a handful allow doulas; with consistent pressure from moms however, this will change. Women need to put pressure on hospitals and doctors to start offering them the birthing experience they want. There is no reason why all hospitals shouldn’t have active birthing units, giving moms the beautiful experience they so want, with the safety net for the 10-15% of moms who’ll experience complications.

I always remind women that this isn’t just the day that a baby will be born … it’s also the day that a mom is born. This is a huge rite of passage for a woman; she should be allowed to make this journey in the way she chooses, and with a caregiver who is mindful not only of mom’s and baby’s safety, but also of her hopes for how she wants to bring her child into the world.

For more information on Genesis Clinic, visit: www.genesisclinic.co.za

The post Get the birth you want! appeared first on All4Baby.

Curious, I started to research it and found only positive information…

A calm experience

The most positive piece of information  that I could find, was that birth for the infant was a traumatizing experience but when a child is brought into this world through a water birth, the experience is less traumatizing. This is because the infant goes from water in the amniotic sac, through the birth canal, into water again.

The water that the infant is birthed into has a calm and soothing effect. The researched I did also suggested that this will also make for a calmer child.

Pain management

Another huge plus is that waterbirth assists in pain management. I wanted to go natural as I am scared of hospitals and injections. I would rather experience the pain of an active birth than have an epidural or a c-section.

An individual, rather than a patient

I wanted to be an individual, not a patient with a medical condition which nurses treat as it’s their job. I wanted someone who is passionate about birth and babies to take care of me.

The more I researched water birth, the more I knew in my heart that this was the route I wanted to go.

The best of both worlds

Once I had decided on a clinic, I chose a gynaecologist and a midwife I felt comfortable with. They were both affiliated with the clinic that I had chosen.

I got to have the best of both worlds, as I saw the gynaecologist regularly and had my midwife on standby at all hours of the day. I messaged her on a regular basis and she always responded to all my silly questions and worries.

By the time I was ready to give birth, I knew my midwife personally and we had a great relationship. She knew what kind of experience I was looking to have and made it her mission to give it to me.

My birth story

The morning my water broke, I phoned my midwife immediately. She was calm and shared my excitement.

Researched suggested that labour for a first time mom who has chosen active labour could be anything from eight to 24 hours. So we had plenty of time. Or so we thought.

My midwife told me that I could wait at home, where I was comfortable, until my contractions were three minutes apart for at least an hour.Only at that point, would I need to make my way to the clinic where she would be waiting for me.

I downloaded an application to time the contractions. It started slowly, and could be timed at 15 minutes apart for a few seconds each. After about an hour it escalated to six minutes apart, lasting for about 30 seconds each.

Suddenly, I couldn’t determine where one contraction started and were one ended. It was just one big pain, which confused both my husband and I.

My mother kept advising us that we would need to make our way to the clinic. But, they had taught us at prenatal classes, that the  husband should wait until the wife is ready to go to the hospital, as she will tell him – there is no need for the husband to force it. So, not knowing any better, my husband stalled our trip to the hospital, waiting for me to give him the go-ahead.

In the meantime, my pain continued to increase. I couldn’t talk nor could I comprehend how I was going to make it to the clinic which was about 20 to 30 minutes away. So, I kept quiet and dealt with the pain.

Suddenly, my pain changed. The intensity dissipated and I jumped up exclaiming that we had to leave.

I couldn’t sit normally in the car, as I was in too much pain. I pushed the back of the seat down and kneeled down on the front seat. I could tell that my husband was speeding but it still felt like we took forever to reach the clinic.

On our way to the clinic, my body felt the urge to push and I did. I couldn’t resist it or stop it. I thought this was the norm as I was so early in the labour process. When we stopped at the clinic, the staff was ready for us and my midwife led me to the room that they had reserved for me.

Nicole’s water birth was a positive experience from start to end.

The midwife examined me and uttered to my husband and her staff that I was fully dilated. She looked at me, smiled and said: “Your baby will be here in a few minutes. It’s time to get into the water.”

The staff was so efficient and knew exactly what needed to be done. One of the midwives on duty stood behind me and massaged my back. It took all the pain away.

Within a few minutes I was in the water and pushing. The warmth of the water calmed my pain. My midwife guided me as to when I should push and when I should stop. This assisted in a gradual birth and thus I did not experience any degree of perineal tearing.

My husband assisted the midwife in pulling our son, Vincent out and he was also given the opportunity to cut the umbilical cord once it had stopped pulsating.

Dad, with his son shortly after birth.

When I took him out of the water, he did not cry. He was perfect and so happy. He laid on my chest and I couldn’t stop kissing him. He only cried when they took him away from me to weigh him. The moment they brought him back to me, he stopped crying again.

Breastfeeding assistance

My birthing clinic encourages moms to breastfeed and spent hours with me until I was comfortable and Vincent had latched properly.

It was the most amazing feeling to know that my body supplied Vincent with nourishment.

A love for water

At home, when Vincent is unsettled for some reason and I can’t settle him, I put him in a nice warm bath, keeping only his nose outside of the water. He falls asleep like this or becomes extremely calm and settled. He loves to bath and he loves water. Because of his birth experience, I believe water is now his comfort.

An experience I would go through again

My birthing experience was so positive, I will not hesitate to do the exact same thing again. I would also recommend a physiological birth (100% natural without any medical intervention, including pain medication) to any mom-to-be.

It’s well worth the experience.

Mom and baby, shortly after birth.

For more information on natural and water birth, visit Genesis Clinic www.genesisclinic.co.za

The post Water birth: My real life story appeared first on All4Baby.

About four million babies die each year in the first week of life, according to The Lancet; replicating the protective and nourishing environment of a Kangaroo pouch, through Kangaroo Mother Care, could help 25% survive, says Dr Nils Bergman, a public health physician specialising in Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in South Africa.

“The very best environment for a baby to grow and thrive, is the mother’s body,” says Dr Bergman. “When placed skin-to-skin on her mother’s chest, a baby receives warmth, protection and food, and its brain can develop optimally.”

Three components to Kangaroo Mother Care

“Skin-to-skin contact should ideally start at birth, but is helpful at any time. It should be continuous day and night, but must be at least one hour to give benefit,” says Dr Bergman.

The next part of Kangaroo Mother Care is exclusive breastfeeding. That means that for an average mother, direct suckling by the baby from the breasts is all that is needed.  For very premature babies, expressing milk and addition of some essential nutrients may be necessary.

Thirdly: support to the mother-child dyad means that whatever is needed for the medical, emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing of mother and baby is provided to them, without separating them. This might mean adding ultramodern equipment if available, or intense psychological support in contexts with no resources. It can even mean going home very early.

The power of touch

In the past, parents of premature babies were excluded from care directly after birth, including the neonatal ICU. Now, it’s known that separation causes harm to all babies – especially preterm infants.

Recent science shows that parents’ presence has a positive influence on brain development, says Jill Bergman, who has promoted Kangaroo Mother Care for 24 years. “We are realising more and more from neuroscience that the parent as central to the healthcare team is not just essential for survival, it ensures a good start to life,” she says.

Processes optimised when baby stays in contact with mother

1. Regulation

The baby at birth is wide-awake for the first 60-90 minutes and experiencing certain sensations. He hears mom’s familiar voice, feels her heartbeat, smells the familiar scent of her and her breast milk. The baby feels safe and comforted by these sensory signs and so his body calms.

Heart rate, breathing and oxygen saturation, blood pressure and temperature all stabilise far faster on mom than when they are separated. Baby has his basic needs for warmth, food and protection met.

2. Bonding and attachment

Baby’s brain also calms, and all of the expected sensations are collected and fire pathways in the brain. The baby will feel safe and open his eyes to make contact with his mother. This is the start of early bonding, and emotional and social intelligence. As continued contact and breastfeeding continues, a secure attachment is formed, which is the basis of all future physical and psychological health.

3. Breastfeeding

“A baby in the right place is very competent!” says Jill Bergman. A proper latch ensures adequate nutrition, and stimulation of all of the essential hormones. The mother’s chest will warm automatically if her baby is cold, and even cool baby if too warm.

4. Sleep

During quiet sleep, all of these sensations collected will fire and wire circuits to the emotional brain (amygdala), be organised and sent back to the cortex when he wakes again, thus completing the brain circuits for healthy development. Sleep should not be disturbed.

Don’t cry for me

If a baby is separated from her mother early on, all those essential processes are disturbed and a stress response is created. When the baby cries, his heart rate and blood pressure goes up, and oxygen levels go down. The baby crying uses up more calories so is more likely to become hypoglycaemic; these calories are better used for growth.

“High levels of stress hormones for long periods of time are toxic to the neurons that make the brain work. The stress hormone cortisol makes more neurons die off at a faster rate. This disrupts and disturbs developing pathways and circuits. With prolonged stress after birth, the brain is measurably smaller one year later. The only difference between toxic and tolerable stress is the absence or presence of mother or father,” says Jill.

Kangaroo Mother Care babies benefit from better brain and emotional development, less stress, less crying, fewer brain bleeds, more settled sleep. They are more alert when awake and feel less pain from injections, the heart rate stabilises, more breast milk is produced and babies gain weight faster.

Ultimately babies can go home earlier when they have done Kangaroo Mother Care and have better brain and emotional development.

How to do Kangaroo Mother Care

Your baby only needs a nappy and cap. Put her on your bare skin – starting at birth – facing you, inside your shirt. Sit in a chair with cushions so you can be at a 30-40 degree angle to help baby’s breathing. Tuck her legs up in the foetal position. Put her hands near her face for self-soothing. Cover her and yourself. Your body will automatically warm up if your baby is cold or will cool down if your baby is hot. Relax, knowing that your body is the best place for her.

To do this for long periods with a small or premature baby, safe technique requires that the airway is secured, and the baby firmly wrapped against parent’s chest. In this way baby and parents can both sleep. When awake and feeding, the wrapper is loosened, allowing eye contact, and access to the breast.

For more details see the book Hold Your Prem by the Bergmans and www.kangaroomothercare.com

The post The power of a mother’s touch – Kangaroo Mother Care appeared first on All4Baby.

The collection and storage of cord blood and cord tissue taken from the umbilical cord of a baby at birth is becoming increasingly common. The reason for this is that the cells contained in the blood and tissue, have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of blood disorders, immune diseases and the emerging field of regenerative medicine.

Should you consider stem cell storage for your baby, Netcells have put together this parent’s guide to stem cell storage…

The difference that stored cord blood stem cells can make

Cord blood is collected from the baby’s umbilical cord at birth and contains haematopoietic (blood) stem cells.These stem cells are used to regenerate bone marrow and are routinely used to treat blood related diseases such as;

• Leukaemia
• Lymphoma
• Thalassemia
• Fanconi’s anaemia
• Sickle cell anaemia

New therapies are also being researched for cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss and type one diabetes.

Cord tissue stem cells and conditions

The umbilical cord tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells that are being employed in both research and clinical environments for a variety of aesthetic and medical conditions, that include;

• skin regeneration
• neurology (neurodegenerative diseases)
• orthopaedics (cartilage and bone repair)
• sports injury (tendon and ligament repair)
• cardiology (heart muscle regeneration) and many other areas

Why should I store my baby’s stem cells?

Apart from it being a valuable medical investment, there are other compelling reasons to consider storing your baby’s stem cells, such as:

• Having a family history of certain diseases
• Having a sibling who suffers from a disease treatable with stem cell therapy
• People of African descent and mixed marriages, who are less likely to find a matching bone marrow sample in existing tissue banks

What will it cost?

At Netcells, the storage of umbilical cord blood and tissue (for ten years) as well as maternal blood testing will cost you approximately R19 900. Although hefty, the insurance it can give your baby means it’s probably worth it. Fortunately, payment plans are also available.

What to look for when choosing your storage bank

• All-inclusive price with no additional charges that you have not budgeted for (for example annual storage fees and maternal blood tests).
• A laboratory that holds accreditation for the processing of cord blood and tissue stem cells. This is important because it gives you the assurance that the cells will be processed and stored according to international quality standards and that the laboratory will be inspected regularly by the accrediting body to ensure the safe storage of your baby’s stem cells.Also, if the stem cells are ever needed, that they will be accepted by transplant centres across the world.

For more information on Netcells, visit www.netcells.co.za.

The post Insure your baby against life threatening diseases appeared first on All4Baby.

Healthcare insurance during pregnancy and afterwards helps to give you peace of mind that, in the event of a medical emergency, you and baby are covered, and that your baby will have the best chance at life.

Your health matters

As soon as you find out that you are pregnant, schedule your first pre-natal appointment. You should go for your first pregnancy checkup as early as seven to eight weeks for a risk assessment, and continue to go regularly throughout your pregnancy.

These checkups are important, as an initial risk assessment allows your gynaecologist to provide you with a personalised care approach and identify any potential problems early to allow for the best care possible for both you and your baby.

These checkups include routine tests such as blood tests and ultrasound scans.

Your doctor will also provide you with dietary guidelines, as good nutrition is critical during pregnancy. It is important to note that you should be eating twice as well during your pregnancy, and not for two people.

Protect your growing baby’s health

To protect your baby’s developing health; you should stop smoking, and avoid alcohol to prevent your baby from being born with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Exercise regularly and ensure you get enough rest for your body and mind.

You should also ensure that the food you eat is hygienic and well prepared and cooked to prevent any illnesses caused by food from affecting your baby.

Healthcare cover for you and your baby

The type of cover you will receive depends on what kind of health plan you have. It is important to check that your preferred doctor and hospital are included within your healthcare’s network to avoid co-payments.

Decide where your baby will be born

Deciding where your baby will be born is an important part of your pregnancy. While natural birth is generally covered in full, a caesarean is generally only covered if it is a medical necessity. You would also need to check if your healthcare covers a home or water birth.

For more information on Discovery, visit www.discovery.co.za

The post Why healthcare cover is important in pregnancy appeared first on All4Baby.

Here, we go back to basics and re-examine natural birth, getting answers from Jude Polack of the active birthing hospital, Genesis Clinic, Gauteng’s only private hospital to be designated a Mother-and-Baby-Friendly maternity facility by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF.

What is natural birth?

“It might sound obvious, but I don’t think many moms-to-be understand what a natural birth really is,” says Jude Polack, natural birth activist and the founder and director of Genesis Clinic.

“If you’re confined to your bed and strapped up to monitors for your entire labour, that’s not ‘natural’.

”Many hospitals also won’t let you eat or drink during labour, they restrict your movement, don’t let you adopt the position that feels right for you, and limit the number of friends and family you can have in the room for support. This kind of environment breeds fear and feelings of isolation, which tends to make labour slower and more painful, with more medical intervention needed.

“The best natural birth, however, is an active one, where the mom follows her own instinctive responses and works with her body. She needs a secure, relaxing environment with good support and the freedom to move around. In an active birth, moms are encouraged to remain mobile and upright and to adopt whichever position they choose. They also eat and drink to strengthen themselves through labour.

“An active birth also lets mom labour at her own pace. Remember that the one centimetre-per-hour dilation average is exactly that – an average; at least half of all women may progress more slowly.”

Who can opt for natural birth?

Polack points out that the World Health Organisation estimates that only 20 per cent of women require C-sections to ensure the safe delivery of their babies. “If you’re healthy and are having an uncomplicated pregnancy, you are most likely a candidate for successful natural labour,” she says.

Reasons to choose a natural birth

Pros for moms:

• No surgical recovery time, immediate mobility after the birth, and a shorter hospital stay.
• No risk of wound infection, injury to internal organs, or complications from the anaesthetic or epidural.
• A lower incidence of postnatal depression.
• Labour in future pregnancies may be shorter.
• Moms feel capable and empowered.

Pros for babes:

• Four to six times less likely to suffer from respiratory distress syndrome or fluid in the lungs.
• Better and quicker control of body temperature, breathing and heart rate, so there is less call for incubators and oxygen.
• Quicker and more effective latching and feeding. Breastfeeding has a 75per cent higher success rate among babies born naturally than among those delivered by C-section.
• Oxytocin released during a natural birth facilitates bonding.
• Less colic in the early months.

The flip side of natural birth

Cons for moms:

• Possible perineal damage or tearing, which could require a stitch, or in severe cases, surgical repair. Daily perineal massaging from week 34 can help prevent this.
• Loss of vaginal and pelvic floor muscle tone can lead to urine leaks. Regular Kegel exercises after birth help restore these muscles.

Cons for babes:

• Risk of oxygen deprivation if the umbilical cord is constricted, or if there are other problems during labour and delivery. It is essential that someone trained in delivering babies is on hand during a natural birth, to ensure that nothing goes wrong.
• Possibility of physical trauma, such as bruising, from passing through the birth canal.

For more information, visit www.genesisclinic.co.za.

The post Naturally does it when it comes to giving birth appeared first on All4Baby.