I didn't expect much when I was pregnant the first time. My mother doesn't remember her 1960's births. She was whacked out on druges, feet in stirrups and numb from the waist down. She doesn't remember a thing and she's proud of it. She spent the next ten days flat on her back, though, woozy with a spinal headache. She was only allowed to see her new baby (me) every four hours or so, for a quick bottle feed. She remembers that part, but she doesn't feel bad about it. It's just how things were. She didn't expect anything different. She was puzzled that the quality of my birth experience would even be an issue. "Just lay back and let the professionals do their job!", she admonished me.
When I was pregnant the first time, my friends pretty unanimously recommended the "Cadillac of pain relief": The Epidural. I wasn't opposed to an epidural, but I found it unsettling. How could such a huge event in my life be confronted in such a cold, medical manner? What if it didn't work? What if I couldn't get one in time? What if I didn't want one?? Epidurals were introduced in the 1960's and are now the most common form of pain relief for childbirth in North America. Physicians prescribe epidurals at twice the rate of Midwives. About 85% of women giving birth in hospitals receive an epidural in the United States. About 90% of those women will receive good pain control. Epidurals carry risks and side effects. The medication used can effect the baby. Epidurals will have an impact on the birth experience in myriad ways, not all of them positive. I decided to explore the phenomenon of the epidural at Small Talk. We will look at the risks and benefits and examine how the epidural impacts the birth experience in all facets. I hope this session will be interesting to those who intend to request an epidural as well as those who haven't considered one.
Balinese Coffee Scrub (Don't eat this one! From "Whole Living" Magazine, March 2006.)
1 C. raw turbinado sugar 1/2 C. used coffee grounds from fresh brewed pot 1/4 C. light olive oil 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 15 drops peppermint essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl with a fork. Pour into a wide-mouthed jar and store in a cool place until ready to use. Scrub will keep for one to two weeks, longer if refridgerated.
While showering apply a handful to wet skin and rub in circular motion. After scrubbing, cleanse skin with mild soap or body wash.
Banana peel can be used as a natural first aid for splinters. Enzymes in the banana peel help draw the splinter to the skin's surface, making removal with tweezers easier. Apply a small piece, pulp side down and affix with a bandage overnight.
Fit Pregnancy Magazine (Feb/March, 2006), ranked the 50 largest cities in the U.S. according to how "childbirth friendly" they are. The top five: Portland, Ore, Boston, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Denver. The bottom five: Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Memphis, and Las Vegas. Some of the criteria used to rank cities were: access to birthing centers, access to midwives and doulas, breastfeeding rights, stroller friendly areas, affordability, and infant day care options.
Huang, Wang, and Chen, 2004, found that women who chose breastfeeding had a more positive pre-pregnancy body image than women who chose bottle feeding. This indicates that women who view their body more positively are more comfortable with the decision to breastfeed.
"For the Amish, time is full and generous. The women move through the day unhurried. There is no rushing to finish, to get on to the important things. All work is important."
- Sue Bender, Plain and Simple Wisdom, Harper Collins, 1995.
