Wednesday 25 February 2015

The Purple Line and Dilation

Avoiding interventions, such as vaginal checks can help decrease your chances of getting a c-section. Being hands-off can help a women in labor. However, many doctors want to know how far a woman has dilated. There are other things that are important too, the cervix moves forward, the cervix effaces (thins), the cervix softens, the baby rotates, and the baby descends (moves down the stations).

Check the Purple Line
Vaginal checks aren't without error and they can inhibit labor. Midwives have found that the purple or red line can also accurately predict how far a woman has dilated. Here is some more information about checking dilation via the purple line.
Measure the Space Between the Fundus and Zyphoid Bone 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.




Tuesday 17 February 2015

Recommended C-Section and VBAC Books

There are so many books out there that it's easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some books that consistently get good reviews. The Book Depository has free shipping to Korea. What the Book in Itaewon can get most books for you. Amazon might be a good option if you have someone coming to visit or can buy the Kindle version of the book. The descriptions are based off of Amazon's descriptions.

If you're trying to have a VBAC in Korea, you should read this post for more information. 


The Caesarean
Written by Michel Odent

A leader among the birthing community, Michel Odent has written an eye-opening book about c-sections. Once used in real life-or-death situations, c-sections are now the most common surgery performed in the USA. Odent discusses issues such as why forceps are still used, microbes during a c-section, how to breastfeed, and if mother and baby miss out by not having a vaginal birth.  You can buy it off Amazon or the Book Depository.



Cut, Stapled, and Mended: When One Woman Reclaimed Her Body and Gave Birth on Her Own Terms After a Cesarean
Written by Roxanna Rosewood

"It doesn't matter how the baby is born as long as you're both healthy," is what many woman are told. This memoir is a must-read for any woman who has had a c-section. You can buy it from Amazon or the Book Depository.



Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

Written by Ina May Gaskin

Ina May is the nation's leading midwife. Known for her work on The Farm, a natural birthing community, Ina May tells you everything you need to know about birthing, such as what happens during labor, how to induce labor, episiotomies, anesthesia, c-sections, postpartum depression, how to choose a place to birth, and more. This book was written to empower women and allow them to birth easily with less pain and little interventions. You can buy it off Amazon or the Book Depository.



Silent Knife: Cesarean Prevention and Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC)
Written by Lois J. Estner and Nancy Wainer Cohen

Referred to as the bible of cesarean prevention by the Wall Street Journal, this book will help parents make an informed decision if they are weighing the pros and cons of a VBAC. You can buy it off Amazon or the Book Depository.



The VBAC Companion: The Expectant Mother's Guide to a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. 
Written by Diane Korte

Although the c-section rate is dropping in the USA, it's still high. About 1 in 3 women will end up with a c-section and more often than not it's not necessary. This book details the risks and benefits of a VBAC and helps you go about finding a VBAC-friendly doctor to help you get the birth you want. You can buy it off Amazon or the Book Depository.



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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.




Tuesday 3 February 2015

Visual Guide to Cervical Dilation

Most people know that at 10 cm a woman is usually told to start pushing. You can actually push before that, whenever you feel like it. Most people don't know exactly how big 10 cm is. Here are two charts I found showing you what dilation looks like.  


From Facebook

From Baby Center


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.



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