Interventions & Complications - The Birthing Site

The Pros and Cons of the Artificial Rupture of the Membranes Procedure

Written by Jessica

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The Pros and Cons of the Artificial Rupture of the Membranes Procedure

When I was in labor with my first child I was frightened when a midwife and her student came in with a big crochet hook saying “we have to break your waters to get things moving”. Suddenly the pain of contractions became super intense. I begged for the epidural but…

Preeclampsia in Pregnancy

Written by Ashley Reinhold Snyder

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Preeclampsia is a serious disease that can occur in pregnancy and the post-partum period. It can range from being very mild to life threatening. The Preeclampsia Foundation reports that 76,000 women die annually as a result of preeclampsia or preeclampsia related conditions. The development of preeclampsia can be very sudden,…

Possible Side Effects Of The Epidural

Written by Jessica

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Hospital doctors and nurses claim to not understand how a woman would not want the best of both worlds - being an active part of their baby’s birth without all the pain. They boast that it is the greatest invention ever. However, the epidural is a drug and an intervention…

How long to keep the cord attached and pulsing

Written by Muscat Midwife

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“Another thing very injurious to the child is the tying and cutting of the navel string too soon, which should always be left till the child has not only repeatedly breathed but till all pulsation in the cord ceases. As otherwise the child is much weaker than it ought to…

Cord around the neck – what parents & practitioners should know

Written by Kate Emerson

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Cord around the neck – what parents & practitioners should know

This article shares information about the common practice of checking for a nuchal cord during the second stage of labour, and unlooping or cutting the cord – interventions that are not evidence-based and can cause birth trauma. It is important women are informed about nuchal cord ‘management’ and how it…

The Rise in Cesarean Births

Written by Nicole Thomas

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Most women want to birth their babies vaginally, with only a small portion of women electively choosing to have a cesarean. Many elective cesareans are a result of fear mongering on behalf of caregivers to women who have had previous cesarean births. It wasn't until last year in 2010 that…

The Realities of Birth Trauma and How to Cope With It

Written by Rhonda Young-Pilon, RN BScN, CAPPA Trained Labour Doula

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The Realities of Birth Trauma and How to Cope With It

Bright lights! People shouting out instructions to move your legs! The sights and smells of the hospital! Your baby cries - and, suddenly, it’s over. The reality of your birth sets in. Within a few hours the beauty of your new baby (if you’ve been able to enjoy it) has…

Breech Birth Babies Can Be Delivered Vaginally

Written by Amanda Schewaga

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Many women are told that they cannot deliver a breech birth baby and c-section is their only option. This may be true is some cases but this is a great video of a woman delivering her breech baby vaginally in a water birth. As you can see the baby came…

Variations of Breech Birth

Written by Amanda Schewaga

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Breech birth occurs in about 1 in 25 births and can cause anxiety and stress on the mother. There are many ways of dealing with breech and sometimes the baby will realign to go head down. The few weeks leading up to the birth are important and often the baby…

Is Failure to Progress a Reason for C-Section?

Written by Nicole Thomas

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Is Failure to Progress a Reason for C-Section?

Upon hearing this one may ask themselves this question "failure to progress...or failure to wait?", understandably so when approximately 1/3 of women will have a cesarean and a number of emergency cesareans happen for this reason. Understandably there are times when a cesarean is warranted and baby is in distress.…