Getting with the program

I’ve always said that my Healthy Parents, Healthy Baby preconception program is about exactly that ... truly healthy parents and truly healthy babies! In other words it’s about a great deal more than fertility. Sadly, when there’s so much publicity given to those increasing numbers TTC (trying to conceive) in vain, when marketing of ART (assisted reproductive technology) as the answer to the baby prayers of anyone over thirty floods the media, it’s a wonderful endorsement of my work when the preconception workup works, just like it’s supposed to.

There’s nothing to beat the wonderful excitement of an easy conception and a first trimester free of morning sickness! Add to that a GP who advises no scan until post 16 weeks (of course I’d ask why scan at all if everything is proceeding normally, but hooray for a medical voice of caution) and I like the chances of a normal, unmedicated birth and successful breastfeeding.  Just as exciting are the words and actions of a young mum in my local wholefood market this morning, endorsing baby-wearing and co-sleeping as the reasons for her secure, confident, adventurous toddler! Hooray for another sane voice and may there be more of you...

Normal birth at home? Key experts say "Yes!"

I attended a lecture at University Technology Sydney (UTSpeaks) a couple of weeks ago. Professor Caroline Homer, Director of the UTS Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, leads research in innovative models of midwifery care, midwifery practice and education. Her topic was “Home or Hospital - is there a best birthing option.” She was speaking almost entirely to the converted, to those consumers, midwives and other health professionals who feel very strongly that women in Australian society are currently disadvantaged when they express a desire to birth normally at home. So it was gratifying to hear that Professor Homer actually sees a future for more enlightened birthing practices in this country. She believes that strong consumer desire, the cost of birth in hospitals and more to the point, studies of large cohorts of women showing no difference in safety or outcomes, will drive the changes. She also questions whether medical professionals, regulators, politicians and journalists have a right to narrow the choices available to women. I came aware feeling a lot more optimistic about the future of women’s birthing choices in this country where currently only 0.3% of women give birth in the comfort of their own home. Maybe you could feel confident to swell those numbers after watching her lecture! Also good to see Associate Professor Michael Nicholl, obstetrician and gynaecologist and Director of Women’s and Children’s Health at Northern Sydney Local Health District give her such a resounding welcome and endorsement!

Familiar environment, less birth stress

Latest research from University of Technology, Sydney indicates a connection between the design of rooms where mothers give birth, their stress levels and the potential risk of such stress to newborns. In fact, those UTS researchers have received almost $250 million in Australian Research Council funds to explore how the features of a birthplace including design, objects, materials and colours could influence the outcome of a woman's labour.

Dohhhh, does anybody stop to review and ponder what has gone before? For 30 years I’ve been seeing studies showing that the place in which a woman feels most comfortable is the place where she is most likely to labour efficiently and effectively! Michel Odent and others have written extensively about the adverse effects of adrenaline (potential result of a move to hospital, admission and examination procedures and strange environment and attendants) on the efficiency of a woman’s contractions. Adrenaline directly counteracts the effects of oxytocin which makes the uterus contract, so my question is...  

Why oh why do we need another study? Surely to goodness the money would be better spent providing these wonderful environments - surely we need birth centres not more studies! Anyway, intuition or good old common sense should probably tell you the same thing - if you ever stopped to think about it! But here we go again, trying to prove the benefits of a natural, non-interventionist approach when the non-natural, interventionist approach gets put forward as the gold-standard that must be bettered! Flea wagging the dog I reckon! Anyway if you want a really sympathetic birthing environment, try your home turf - can’t be beaten!