The Epicurl

Might sound like a funny name but we (us birthy chics at www.TranquilSeasons.com Doulas in San Antonio) made it up based on the position and the fact that we use it with moms to curl into a happy C shape and stabilize them while laboring with an epidural.

Now keep in mind, changing positions every 45 minutes a least is very important for progression. Side lying with top leg up and over (with hip and shoulder behind) is another great one to use as long as you have plenty of pillows *grin*

Show you that one another time!!

But obviously, using gravity is best. However it can be tricky!!  When you can't feel your legs or help balance yourself on a yoga ball (because of an epidural) this position, the Epicurl, might just save the day. 

Here's how you make the magic happen:

1. Move bed into throne position. 

Head of bed up, foot of bed down at least 6 inches, depending on how comfy mom is, lower for less flexible mommies. 

2. Have her sit with foot soles together so her legs make a diamond shape. 

3. Here's the most important part: get her bun-cheeks open and tailbone behind her and open those hips wide so she's sitting in a very wide open pelvic stance.

4. Putting a rolled blanket in the small of her back or lower can help wonders with maintaining this position comfortably. 

5. Place the yoga ball in the diamond of her legs. Put a sheet over the ball and maybe a pillow so she can rest comfortably leaning forward. She can hug the ball or just put her arms over the top. If you're finding the ball wants to roll away, roll up a towel and wedge it in front of ball to keep it where you want it.  I've even had moms fall asleep like this. (Nailed it!)

6. Bolster her in with extra pillows where needed, under knees/thighs, like Tasha has in the pic or more behind back, but try to keep her leaning forward. 

7. Don't forget to put the bed rails up. They can help wedge pillows or just give the staff a greater sense of safety - which can help them trust your crazy positioning techniques more ;-)

Labor here for 45 mins or so. Then change position. You can return to this position as often as you want, just remember to change it up. We haven't had to change too many times with moms cause they tend to dilate quickly like this. So keep an ear out for the "I feel pressure/pushy" cues. :)

For those of you like me, who need a visual, my client Tasha (who is all about education) was gracious and let me snap a pic to show others. She pushed out a gorgeous baby girl just a few hours after this was taken. 

Thanks, Mama!

Hope this helps some laboring mamas out there  :)

Don't forget to read some of our other posts, like the Sneaky Psychology of Birth.

Blessings,

Anne

www.TranquilSeasons.com 

Spinning Babies - Love that Gail Tully!

You just gotta love a woman who gives like this mother of birth movement education.  I had the privilege what seems like eons (a decade and a half) ago, to be trained as a doula by this remarkable lady.  She is still so near and dear to my heart - even though we've not spoken in months!

When you're in labor, especially if you're experiencing back labor, the last thing you want to be doing is trying to figure out what position you should be in for best fetal motion and tilt and angle and and and...

Gail makes it look so easy.  She's a natural teacher, and so gentle.  Her hands have magical love beams coming out of them.  OK, I might be exaggerating, but only slightly.  I promise.

If you're an expecting parent, get a load of these online classes.  You will be so glad you prepared yourself fully when the Big Day comes along.  If you're a doula/midwife, you cannot afford to practice another minute without these techniques.

http://muvi.es/w6753/330222

Trust me, you can take all the usual childbirth prep classes you want, but as a doula, the one thing I use the most in birth is OFP.

OFP = Optimal Foetal Positioning  or MFP = Maternal Foetal Positioning 
(Yeah, Canadian spelling, ey?)

That means we get the mama into her best position/pose/tilt to allow the baby to get into their best position/angle/tuck.  Because babies will.  They want to be born easy.  They do.  Our bad posture becomes an obstacle to baby's proper descent at times.  But you can correct the problem.

Doulas, midwives, partners...  You need to see this movie too.  Understanding these techniques by watching and listening to Gail yourself is like having a secret weapon in your arsenal of birth tools.  These concepts make me a super hero at complicated births.  They really do.  I feel fine to admit that. No shame.  Gail - the Spinning Babies lady turned me into a super hero almost 2 decades ago.  It's her fault that I have such an incredible low cesarean % rate.  Maybe if her techniques didn't work so good, I wouldn't have such an ego.  Thanks, Gail - you are the best!

Do you want your birth to go smoother, safer, easier?  Do you want to help your clients' births to go smoother, safer, easier?  Want to lower your practice's cesarean rate?  Learn these techniques.  Employ them.  Don't wait.  It's totally worth every penny and more.

http://muvi.es/w6753/330222

Imagine me looking at you with that weird eyebrow thing now, where my eyebrows are saying why haven't you clicked the link yet...?  Yeah, I feel quirky today.  Can you blame me?  It's like the weekend has almost started!  And Spinning Babies is accessible right on your computer anywhere in the world.  It's like Christmas!

Have a great weekend, People of the Birthing Planet!
Anne

How nice! Massage in Labor...

Did you know....?
Massage benefits laboring moms in a lot of ways!

When was the last time you had a massage? It may have been a professional massage at a spa or it could have just been a quick backrub from your honey, but didn’t it feel good?

According to research, massages can actually assist mothers to labor faster and more comfortably. Even a quick and simple massage can do wonders for decreasing a mother’s anxiety and pain. 
Just check out the findings from this study:
“Twenty-eight women were recruited from prenatal classes and randomly assigned to receive massage in addition to coaching in breathing during labor, or to receive coaching in breathing alone. The massaged mothers reported a decrease in depressed mood, anxiety and pain, and showed less agitated activity and anxiety and more positive affect following the first massage during labor. In addition the massaged mothers had shorter labors, a shorter hospital stay and less postpartum depression.” (1)

During labor, sometimes the focus can all be put on having the mother breath and push. Without a relaxed body, however, focusing all energy (emotional and physical) on these important tasks becomes difficult for mom. Having nurturing support she can trust and feel safe with is important.  Massage facilitates this.

That’s where a well-trained, certified, professional Doula comes in. Having a doula there who knows how to massage and comfort a mother with touch throughout the labor process means that mom can receive that much-needed massage any time she needs it! Find a doula who is certified and specifically trained in maternal-fetal positioning, and the best techniques for helping mom relax her muscles. A massage during labor (whether from Dad or Doula) also allows the mother to breathe easier and keep her rhythm. The results? A less-stressed, less-depressed mom and a shorter labor process and hospital stay. 

Who can say no to that? 


Resources:
(1) Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Taylor , S., Quintino, O., & Burman, I. (1997). 
Labor pain is reduced by massage therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and 
Gynecology, 18, 286-291.