I have great news to share! My new Ebook titled, “The Psychology of Natural Childbirth,” is now online and ready to be shared with everyone.

I wrote this book to share with other women how it is possible to give birth free of drugs or unnecessary medical intervention. I believe the information I share will be able to help any woman who may be pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. No matter how much knowledge you have about the labor process, you will learn something from this book.

So, to honor Pregnancy Awareness Month, visit my site at www.NaturalChildbirthTips.com.

Here is some great information about how Pregnancy Awareness Month was created…

(from www.PregnancyAwarenessMonth.com)

Declared and founded by author & holistic lifestyle expert Anna Getty, and co-founded by LCSW & mompreneur Alisa Donner, May 2010 marks the 3rd year of Pregnancy Awareness Month™ (PAM). Through PAM, Anna & Alisa aim to empower pregnant women and new parents with information, “how to” ideas and inspiration to incorporate PAM’s four key initiatives – education, exercise, nutrition & wellness and nurture – into their life routines and to show how easy it can be to make healthy changes in their lives, for themselves, and their children.

“My life was altered not only by the birth of my daughter, but by the experience and choices I made as I prepared my body, mind and spirit to become pregnant and the incredible inward journey of pregnancy itself. In PAM we have adopted the tagline: “Motherhood Begins Now,”™ and I really believe that. I took that message to heart before I actually became pregnant as a way to prepare my mind, body and household for this fabulous moment of creativity, and my life literally turned upside down, for the better.” (Anna Getty, March 2008)

I have totally avoided the blogosphere for more than a month!!

This summer, my husband Jeremy and I decided that it would be great if I wrote an eBook on my experience with Natural Childbirth. I learned SO MUCH while I was pregnant with my son Joel, so why not share all of that great information with other newly pregnant women who want options available with childbirth?

So, I spent about 6 weeks  this past summer writing 12 steps that I believe every woman can follow in order to have a beautiful, unmedicated birth (assuming the pregnancy is low-risk).

Well, I can say the book is done. My husband (my COACH) even added his own little “corner” of advice and motivation for women and coaches alike.

We are just finishing up some great bonuses and completing the website where it will be available VERY SOON!!

My goal is to reach as many women as possible who are searching for ways to have a natural childbirth. So many women are just uneducated and misinformed about the birthing process, and I am here to tell them that childbirth does not have to be difficult.

I will keep you updated as everything comes to completion. It is the beginning of a new month so it will be out by the end of November!!

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston

Do you know many women who have breastfed their babies from birth?

A British study researched the link between medication given to women to prevent hemorrhaging after childbirth and breastfeeding rates for those women.

The drug oxytocin is commonly given to women after childbirth to prevent severe blood loss (>500 mL in 24 hrs.) known as postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). This can lead to fainting or severe anemia.

After a vaginal birth, the mother’s body must expel the placenta which creates rapid blood loss. The doctor or midwife will apply firm pressure on the fundus, or top of the uterus. This promotes postpartum contractions of the uterus so the placenta will be expelled and blood vessels will constrict to prevent severe blood loss.

Many doctors routinely use oxytocin even if the woman is not at risk for PPH. Women who have had a poor pregnancy diet,  given birth to multiples,  had a rapid or prolonged labor, or have been given Pitocin for induction may be at risk for PPH.

There are many natural alternatives to preventing PPH:

• Manual nipple stimulation
• Baby suckling on the breast immediately after birth
• Homeopathic remedies such as Bellis Perennis (common daisy) or Arnica Montana
• Massage to fundus

Results from the study supported the fact that  drugs used to stop bleeding may impede milk production and that high dosages of painkillers used in labor may do the same.

There are many variables in this study, so we cannot scientifically say that one affects the other.

My opinion is that any drug given to a mom in labor or after childbirth can affect the body’s natural processes. Hundreds of years ago, women learned to inherently trust their bodies during childbirth. Many of them did suffer extreme blood loss that resulted in death, but we now have great medical technology that should be used on a case-by-case basis.

Here’s my story…

The midwife that delivered my son was not the midwife I had seen throughout my pregnancy. My preferred midwife was not on duty so I had no choice but to use the one midwife I had only met with once.  After my son was born, the midwife began applying firm pressure on my fundus while my son was suckling at my breast. As mentioned before, both of these methods are natural ways to expel the placenta and begin constriction of blood vessels to slow bleeding.

However, when I was told I had a “second-degree” tear to my perineum and I was losing a good bit of blood, the midwife started telling me that PPH can cause maternal death, blah, blah, blah… I had just had a beautiful birth experience and she starts telling me about maternal death!!

I was not cool with that. I told her “I am healthy and my bleeding will slow down on its own.”

Thanks to my many months of childbirth education through the Bradley Method, I knew that my body would naturally begin to heal and there was no need for any interventions because I was healthy and low-risk.

Unfortunately, many new moms are poorly educated on childbirth and they often succumb to doctor/midwife scare tactics like the one I was told. This is not to say that in  high-risk scenarios interventions may be needed.

I did not receive any labor/delivery  medications at the hospital and I had a successful breastfeeding experience from the start. My son began to learn to latch on at the hospital and I nursed him often. Nursing your child as much as possible will stimulate the nipple which then contracts the uterus to expel postpartum blood called lochia.

This is all thanks to beautiful chemicals called hormones! This is nature’s way of regulating bodily functions without the need for synthetic forms.

So…

1. If you are pregnant, I encourage you to start researching childbirth procedures on your own.
2. Believe in yourself and your body and envision a positive birth experience.
3. Have a BIRTH PLAN! This will lay out your wishes for anyone interacting with you and your baby during and after labor. Go over it with your doctor/midwife and discuss their beliefs on the use of oxytocin to prevent PPH.
4. Also, don’t give up when beginning to breastfeed. Every case is different but you and your baby will benefit so much from the breastfeeding experience once established!

Research from the study found on BBC News.

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston

Childbirth in the USA is often looked at as “torture” or “traumatizing,” and unfortunately many babies suffer due to the high rate of fear pregnant women suscept themselves to.

A study performed by Standley K, Soule AB in 1974, reviewed the correlation between local-regional anesthesia and newborn behaviors. The newborns behaviors were rated by the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale. The study found that three days after being born, the infants were more irritable and less motorically mature than the infants whose mothers had not been medicated.

In the late 70’s and early ’80s, the anesthesia dosages given were very close to the amount given to women in childbirth today. So, we can see this study as very relevant even though it was performed more than 30 years ago.

These results were taken from Gentlebirth.org

Studies like this are not occurring today. Why not? What is the medical community trying to hide? After 1985, these studies were put away not to be discussed.

And now many people are examining the unfortunate mental disorder known as Autism. Dr. Eric Hollander, director of the Mt. Sinai Medical Center Autism Clinic, has reported data showing a statistical link between the increase in autism and the increase in labors induced with the drug Pitocin.

William Emerson, Ph.D says:

Most parents and professionals consider it ordinary for infants to awaken during the night, cry for long periods, have gastrointestinal distress, or be irritable. Few parents or professionals have seen trauma-free babies, so few have experienced babies who are symptom-free. In addition, few have glimpsed the human potential that is possible when babies are freed from the bonds of early trauma.

In my case, my son is one of these “rare” and “trauma-free” babies. My labor with him was smooth and peaceful. You can see it in his temperament that he’s had it “easy.” He has always been very alert, cheerful, and energetic. Now I’ve met other babies who are the exact opposite of him. They fuss easily, appear tired all the time, and have weak motor skills. And these babies went through C-sections or induced labors.

Now think for yourself…

Have you ever met a baby born by an unmedicated birth?

I sure do hope you have.

The Epidural and C-section rate in America is just too high because so many mothers just blindly follow their doctor’s advice and do not research for themselves.

If you are pregnant I strongly urge you to educate yourself about labor.

Sign up for “The Pink Kit” or join Giving Birth Naturally’s “Online Childbirth Institute”

Remove the fear you may have about childbirth and enlighten yourself and prepare your child for an enriched, drug-free life!

To your well-being,

Olivia Johnston

These results were formed from an online survey performed by Our365.com. The results show what the average woman has experienced during pregnancy and childbirth and the results  are quite staggering!

Birth in the U.S.A.: The big picture

On balance, moms are having positive birthing experiences – even when they’re not exactly what you’d expected or close to what you’d dreamed of. Maybe that’s not surprising: Dreams aside, when you leave the hospital with your new baby-love, what do you have to complain about?

Before the Birth

This hospital, that hospital – how to choose Moms have many reasons for choosing the hospital where they’ll give birth; the biggest one (no surprise) is doctor affiliation. Recommendation from another mom, or the hospital’s reputation, is reason number two, and proximity to home or work is also important. But for some women, the choice is more emotional than practical: many moms chose the hospital where they gave birth because they were born there!

Childbirth education – what do moms learn? We were surprised to discover that slightly less than half of all moms receive childbirth education at their birthing hospital. Those who do end up feeling well prepared for the birth process and learn a lot about drugs and medications, along with medical procedures like episiotomy – but don’t get much info about the baby’s development in utero or how to manage labor pain without medication. Most important learning for the post-birth period: how to breastfeed. On the other hand, moms don’t think it’s important to learn about self- care postpartum.

Those scary feelings Every mom is troubled by some fears during pregnancy. Almost 75 percent worry – needlessly, for the most part – that something will be wrong with the baby or something will happen to the baby during birth. One third of the moms surveyed were concerned that they wouldn’t be able to make ends meet as new parents. Not surprisingly given the C-section rate (see below), quite a few moms worry that they’ll be rushed into the operating room for an emergency Caesarean. Others are filled with anxiety that they won’t know how to take care of their babies or be good enough moms.

The Birth Itself

C-section? In the 1960s, around 5% of babies were born by C-section. A decade ago, that number had risen to 15%. In 2006 (the last year for which official figures are available) the rate was 31%, and today, according to our survey, almost 35% of babies are born by Caesarian section – a planned procedure in some cases, most likely because of the perceived risk of giving birth vaginally after you’ve already had a Caesarian.

A “Natural” birth Less than half of all moms plan to try for an unmedicated birth; if you were hoping to “go natural” but ended up being medicated, you’re in the majority – a little more than a third of moms who want to avoid drugs end up doing so. (Some moms in our survey who expected to be medicated ended up with such speedy labors, they ended up having natural births!) How do the drug-free fare? Most learn and use Lamaze or some other type of patterned breathing to help them cope with pain (comes in handy at the dentist, too!) and many try controlled relaxation. A lucky few have a doula and/or hypnobirth therapist available to help.
Lots of moms dream of using a birthing tub, massage and relaxing music during labor – only a few get what they dream of.

Who “owns” the birthing experience? Overwhelmingly, moms say “yes,” despite dreams unfulfilled – and that the hospital staff respected their wishes as much as was possible.

Welcome to my site! I look forward to getting to know you and network with you.

Here is an article from “The Natural Family Site” on Natural Childbirth

Natural Childbirth

A natural birth (also known as an unmedicated birth) is just that – it is the delivery of a baby without using drugs or surgery during birth. A common phrase heard when talking with people about natural birthing practices is, “birth is a natural process, not a medical procedure.” In today’s society this is definitely a radical concept for most doctors, but it is true nonetheless. You really can have a beautiful, drug-free experience in childbirth even if you have your baby in a hospital. You simply need to know it is possible, you need to find a doctor (or midwife) who will support you in your point of view, and you need some training to help you prepare yourself so you can let nature take its course.

The advantages of a natural childbirth are huge. You learn about all of the advantages when you take a natural childbirth class such as those offered under the Bradley method. Here are the three big advantages:

1. Natural childbirth is much better for the mother. The mother has a completely different experience during birth if she is not drugged – a significantly more fulfilling and beautiful experience. She also feels much more in control of her body and the health of her baby.

2. Natural childbirth is much better for the baby. The baby arrives in an undrugged and therefore much more active and alert state. It is amazing to see videotapes showing the differences between drugged and undrugged babies immediately after birth. Undrugged babies are active and responsive. Drugged babies can barely move.

3. Natural childbirth is much better for the family. When an alert and active (undrugged) baby is placed on the abdomen of an alert and undrugged mother, an amazing thing happens: the baby and mother bond in a significant and real way. The baby will naturally find the breast and begin feeding. The baby will make significant eye contact with the mother and father and respond to them. This simply does not happen when mother and child are drugged, and as a result breastfeeding starts off on a much rockier road.

Make no mistake about it – you cannot have a natural childbirth in today’s society unless you take active steps to make it happen. You and your spouse must decide in your own minds that you want a natural birth. You must find a doctor or midwife who supports that decision. You and your spouse must train for the birth so you know what to expect, how to manage pain and what to do at different stages of the birth. You also need to prepare a birth plan so that you can state your desires about a host of variables including: drugs, fetal monitoring, episiotomies, IVs, birth positions, etc. The first time you look into birth plans, the number of options is bewildering. It is amazing how all of these options actually make sense once you have done the research into the type of birth you want.

There are a number of different ways for you to have a natural birth. Here are the five most common:

* With an “enlightened” doctor at a hospital
* With a midwife at a hospital
* With a midwife at a birthing center
* With a midwife at home
* Unassisted at home

You can look at these options, weigh the risks and benefits, and choose the style that works best for you.

If you are considering a natural childbirth, you should definitely start reading up on the subject, and you should consider taking a Bradley class or similar natural childbirth class.

Find a Bradley Class here