Conceiving A Baby | TwoMommys.com

Childbirth and the Athletic Woman

Author: Wintergreen

Athletic women come in all sizes and enjoy different sports or fitness programs. Athletic women enjoy being toned and fit. Through personal fitness, many women have developed determination, commitment to their task, and an ability to hit the wall and go beyond. Often they consider themselves tough and rigorous. Women who enjoy fitness as a way of Life rather than being ‘athletic’ also admire their shape, sense of being in ‘tone’, flexibility and strength. So why would an athletic woman (including women who just stay fit) need to know anything about childbirth? Isn’t the goal of preparing for childbirth about ‘getting in shape?’

One famous woman athlete made a public comment that if she had gone through labor before her competitive event she would have done better in the competitions. Obviously, childbirth gave her insights that would have improved her performance. Many athletic women may not know that you are more likely to have a caesarean than most women. We’ve all heard stories that dancers and horsewomen are more likely to have a caesarean; however, it’s true for many athletic women. Yet, somehow this seems paradoxical. How can being in shape lead to more medically assisted births?

Childbirth at it’s simplest is an exercise in plumbing.

An object (baby) has to come out of a container (woman). In order to do that the object must come through a tube (pelvis), open a diaphragm (cervix) and aperture (vagina). The container has a Mind and if the process of the object coming through is perceived of as painful, then the Mind can respond to those sensations by tensing up the body. Tension in the body can interfere with the need of the container to relax and open in order for the object to come out. Being ‘toned’ is a form of tension. This means that there is entirely different preparation for giving birth than staying in shape or being in training. One husband of an athletic woman said after her caesarean: ‘I thought childbirth was about muscles pushing a baby out. Now I understand it’s about creating space so the baby can move through her body.’

Each sport or fitness program uses different muscles, yet it is not just the muscles that can produce tension. Connective tissue or fascia can hold tension as well. In our plumbing analogy, the tube (pelvis) is surrounded by connective tissue which is part of our body’s soft tissue. Soft tissue is anything other than bone. For example, tension in the connections between the bones in the pelvic girdle (tube) can prevent the bones from being mobile. Our baby’s bones in their head are designed to mold and over lap; however, we can create more space inside this tube when we know how to keep our pelvis mobile. In childbirth, the sacrum is the bone that needs the most mobility. It’s also the bone that is used to stabilize our bodies as we weight bear and tends to being immobile. We can also reduce ‘back labor’ by learning how to create sacral mobility. One ice skater said after 3 caesareans: ‘Once I learned to mobilize my sacrum in labor, I had no trouble giving birth to my fourth child naturally. No one told me I had to do that. No one told me I had to do the Internal Work (birth canal or aperture) either.

The soft tissue in our birth canal may also be quite tight. Many women are told to do ‘pelvic floor’ exercises. These certainly are good to strengthen our insides; however, they are not appropriate birth preparation exercises. Instead pregnant women need to learn how to relax inside the pelvis and the muscles of the birth canal.

For many athletic, relaxing is not in alignment with their personal self perception.

One competitive cyclist said: ‘I considered myself very, very tough and I was. I had developed skills and management skills for my chosen event; however, without a whole new set of skills for the event of giving birth I didn’t have a clue and ended up with a caesarean and sense of personal failure. When I discovered The Pink Kit Method for birthing better, I learned the necessary birthing skills and my husband learned how to coach me.’

The Pelvic Clock exercise from The Pink Kit is one of the many you can teach yourself at home to prepare for childbirth. When used in labor, the Pelvic Clock technique helps you to focus on relaxing where your cervix attaches inside the pelvis. This assists in dilating the cervix. You can use the same concept to mentally relax around the cervix directly which also assists cervical dilation. NOTE: If you are pregnant now, you can do the Pelvic Clock exercise below, but only do the cervical relaxation the last two weeks of your pregnancy as specific preparation for birth and then feel free to do it throughout labor.

1)    Do this exercise in a number of positions: standing, sitting, lying down or partially kneeling. As you know, different postures engage different muscles and aspects of the connective tissue.

2)    Draw a line around your body, starting midway down your pubic bone, around to the top of where your legs meet your hips and then to your sacrum. This will be about 1-2 inches above where the little bumps are, at the beginning of your bottom crack. You have drawn a circle around your pelvis. Inside this circle, inside the pelvis is approximately where the top of your vagina (the soft tissue around the cervix) meets the inside of your pelvis. In labor the contractions draw this tissue into the pelvis, opening the cervix which is in the middle of the tissue. Where the tissue meets the pelvis is like the rim of a clock face and the cervix is like the area where the hands of the clock join. Uterine contractions open the cervix so that there is no longer a clock face, rather a large opening for your baby to come down and into your birth canal. The tugging open of the cervix is what is ‘painful’ in labor.

3)    Give your clock face names. Name the pubic bone 12:00, one hip 3:00, the sacrum 6:00 and the other hip 9:00. Now go around the clock and soften (inside) at each o’clock (you can always include 1:30 etc). It’s helpful to say to yourself while you lightly touch that place: ‘Soften inside my pubic bone.’ Pause before you go on to the next place in order to let your mind find that place in your body and for your body to respond. This is yoking your mind to your body.

4)    After you have gone around the outside of the Pelvic Clock and if you are two weeks away from your due date, then you can do the same softening around the cervix which is in closed and in the center. The cervix is made up of 50% muscle cells and the rest connective tissue, so it does respond to intentional relaxation.

5)    Doing both of these things in labor between contractions and even during contractions has been one of the great focus tools that women who have prepared with The Pink Kit have used. It’s an ideal tool for husbands/partners to know. They can feel it in their own bodies and can remind us to ‘relax at 6:00′ if we have back labor, for example.

Notice this difference, just tense up inside, hold the tension while you go around the clock again. You can feel the difference.

Over the past 30 years, The Pink Kit Method for birthing better, has helped many women athletes to have a positive birth. The information originated in the United States in the 1970s and came to New Zealand with the founder of the Trust, Common Knowledge, in 1995. Since then the multi-media kit The Pink Kit: Essential Preparations for your birthing body through the website.

A number of New Zealand athletic women have used The Pink Kit and found it incredibly helpful. They have been body builders, aerobic competitors, rowers, horsewomen, dancers etc. Each has a different experience and different story of their birth. Some found that their sport had prepared them for the challenge of labor while others were surprised at how challenged they were by labour.

Often athletic women have athletic partners.

When both expectant parents have prepared for birth using The Pink Kit, having a skilled partner as birth coach has been wonderful for the woman. Men do have the same bodies and can feel inner tension in the same manner than women can. When these women found labor challenging, they relied on their partners to help them work through each contractions with the common knowledge skills they had taught themselves. One woman athlete said: ‘when labor got intense, my husband reminded me that I had put in the effort to my sport and that I could do this. He inspired me to keep going instead of using pain relief and he was there every contraction, doing the work with me.’

With the new skills, you can find in The Pink Kit, athletic women and their partners can meet the challenge, achieving a positive birth experience in all situations. Learning new skills become fascinating rather than conflicting. In fact, you’ll get back into shape sooner after birth when you have learned to relax to give birth. There will be less trauma for you and your baby.

About the Author:

Wintergreen is trustee and founder of the Common Knowledge Trust based in Nelson, New Zealand. The trust promotes the Pink Kit Method which gives private childbirth lessons for use in ones own home. For more information visit the Birthing Better website

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_47322_61.html

About the Author:

http://www.birthingbetter.com

It’s common to sense more exhausted than usual when you are pregnant, particularly throughout the very first and third trimesters, when your human body is producing new hormones and preparing for birth. Physical and psychological adjustments while in pregnancy might be stressful mentally and emotionally as well, adding to all your feelings of exhaustion.

Throughout early pregnancy, your human body makes far more of a hormone called progesterone, which can make you experience sluggish and sleepy. In addition, your physique produces a lot more blood to carry nutrients towards baby, causing additional function for your heart and other organs. Your entire body also changes the way it processes foods and nutrients. All of this change is stressful towards the entire body and may perhaps lead to exhaustion.

In the course of later pregnancy, the additional weight on the child further taxes your body’s strength. Various adjustments might occur later in pregnancy that make you sense tired:

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• Difficulty sleeping
• The need to have to urinate often throughout the night time
• Late-night cramps in your legs
• Heartburn

Are You Anemic?

Low energy can also be a symptom of anemia, specially iron-deficiency anemia, which affects about half of all pregnant women. Your system wants iron to make hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen for your tissues and for a baby. Your need for iron increases in the course of pregnancy due to the fact from the demands on the baby, the enhance in blood produced by your physique, and the blood loss that occurs while in delivery.

Tiredness might be a symptom of anemia, especially if you ever also have:

• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Weakness
• Pale skin
• Dizziness

Speak in your health-care provider if you have weariness and also other symptoms of anemia.

What You are able to Do

The following tips might guide you feel less exhausted in the course of pregnancy:

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Take naps and breaks. Rest when you are able to while in the day, through your lunch hour or just before dinner. At work, take frequent breaks to pace your self and renew your energy.

Go to bed early. You might need to have to adjust your schedule and go to bed earlier than typical, in particular should you discover yourself waking up several times through the night time. Go to bed when you sense tired. Don’t push your self to stay awake until your common bedtime.

Avoid obtaining up repeatedly throughout the night. Drink adequate fluids earlier inside the day. Do not drink anything for two or three hours ahead of bedtime so you won’t have to obtain up typically during the night time to urinate. If you ever usually suffer from heartburn, be certain to consume your last meal in the day several hours ahead of lying down or going to sleep. Gently stretch your leg muscles ahead of bedtime to help prevent the nighttime leg cramps that are widespread in pregnancy.

Exercise. Unless your health-care supplier has advised against it, try to exercise for at least 30 minutes per day. Even moderate workout, for example walking, can lift your spirits and boost your energy level. (Be positive to locate out from your health-care supplier what exercises are safe for you and how long you can maintain your work out program.)

Drink plenty of fluids. Lack of fluids can contribute to low energy.

Relax. Stay away from stressful situations. Cut back on social events as well as other activities that wear you out. Instead, spend this time on points which you find soothing and relaxing. Use relaxation methods, for example deep breathing, when you experience which you have to have a break.

Ask for aid. Let your partner, children, or close friends guide out around the house as much as achievable. If you are feeling overstressed, talk to buddies and relatives who can assist you experience better. Talk to your health-care provider about finding support groups along with resources.

Consume appropriate. Consume a balanced diet, including a lot of iron and protein. It’s specifically important to consume iron-containing foods throughout pregnancy: red meat, seafood, poultry, whole-grain or iron-fortified cereals and pastas, dark-green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds. Drinking citrus juice once you eat iron-rich foods can guide your system greater absorb this mineral. And take a prenatal vitamin and an iron supplement if suggested by your health-care provider.

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When pregnant for the first time you may not be in the best position to understand about all of the changes that your body will go through and all of the problems that you might face through the different stages of pregnancy. If you have become pregnant for the first time then you should consider some of these tips for getting through the first stage of your pregnancy. This first pregnancy stage is called the first trimester, and along with this you will be going through two more trimesters as well. Each one that will be difficult to get through, and each will present different problems for you. When you find out about your pregnancy first you should make sure that you conduct plenty of research into your pregnancy so that you understand exactly what you are likely to go through. Understanding all of these issues will put you in a much better position to handle them in a far more effective way and this will make the entire process a lot more enjoyable. Of course, one of the more serious problems that any woman suffers from during pregnancy will be that of morning sickness. You will have a few options when looking to prevent this from being too much of an issue, one of which is through making sure that you eat regular small meals and not large ones. It is also a good idea to keep crackers close to your bed so that these can be eaten immediately when you wake up in the morning. Another issue that is usually faced will be fatigue and it is a good idea to ensure you are getting plenty of sleep throughout the day and also that you are going to bed early. If you are someone who is generally quite busy this might be quite tricky for you but you have to try to slow down and relax as much as possible. When it comes to exercise, there are a couple of things to note. Doctors say that if you are someone who regularly exercises then you should continue your program, while adapting it to your current situation. However, it is important that if you are not someone who gets any exercise you do not suddenly start exercising when you become pregnant. Of course, you may also wonder exactly how you will be telling your friends and family about your pregnancy. How you tell everyone will be down to personal preference and your personal situation.

During pregnancy first consider yourself. This should always be the first priority that you will have, but on top of this there will be a number of other considerations you will have as well. One of the ones that might sit quite highly on a lot of people’s lists will be exactly how they are going to tell their family and their friends.

When it comes to doing this you will certainly have a lot of things to think about. One of the main things to consider will be how they may react. Will they react well or not so well? Of course, their reaction will depend upon your own situation such as whether you have been planning to get pregant or not.

By considering exactly how they will react if you can brace yourself for how you can actually handle their reaction. This is certainly something that will only apply to a reaction that will be bad. If you know that the pregnancy was planned and that they will be very happy for you, then this is not going to be a problem.

You need to also consider when to tell them. Do you want to tell them as soon as you know yourself or will you wait a little longer so you can get your head around it? If it is an early period pregnant stage then perhaps you would want to wait a little bit until the chances of miscarriage have gone down. Certainly you will not want to let people know I need to have some problem occur.

Of course, another consideration you may have will be in who you will tell first of all. You should write down a list of all of the people who are important to you and then figure out exactly how you will tell them and in what order. Of course, predominantly people will start with their families and mainly their mothers.

Or maybe you might want to tell everyone together. Depending on your personality you might prefer to have a large party and then announce that you are pregnant during this. Certainly by doing this you will be able to sit back and enjoy everyone’s combined happiness when you give them this wonderful news.

All in all, certainly you will have to consider many different things. The most important thing will be in the reaction and the situation of your pregnancy when it comes to how they will be told.

Every girl will experience some pain during pregnancy and most of the time, it is quite normal. Nonetheless there are occasions when discomfort can signal a rather more serious complication which could endanger not only you but also the life of your developing baby. Therefore, it is important to recognize what would be considered abnormal pain during pregnancy so that you can seek proper medical treatment quickly.

Minor back pain during pregnancy is quite normal and is often the result of the progesterone hormone and the discs and ligaments softening in anticipation of the extra weight you will be carrying. In addition, as the baby grows in the womb, this may put some pressure on the backbone because your centre of balance is changing to house the new life.

Intestinal pain during pregnancy can be quite ordinary in several cases and can be due simply to your diet, growing uterus applying pressure inside the body and even gas or bloating. As your baby grows, many of your bodily functions from digestion to elimination of body waste is influenced so it is obvious that your body will rebel a bit.

Cramping and even sharp pain during pregnancy can happen and be quite standard but it is important that these be somewhat isolated incidents. The cramping can occur very early in pregnancy and be the result of the fertilized egg implanting itself in the uterus while cramping late in the pregnancy might be the body readying itself for contractions and work. A sharp pain on the sides of your growing abdomen is usually the result of your ligaments stretching to accommodate your growth and can worsen during coughing or sudden movements.

Unnatural pain during pregnancy can be the result of a variety of things from premature labor to high blood pressure to preeclampsia. Pre-existing health conditions like obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes can also complicate matters. Bleeding when pregnant is one of those times which warrant an instant trip to the doctor or hospital. This bleeding can be an indicator to an entire crop of health issues from miscarriage to placenta previa to even an ectopic pregnancy.

Back trouble with contractions, woozy spells, bleeding, fever, headaches or any other symptoms can signal conditions like placental abruption where the placenta tears away from the uterine wall. Urinary tract illnesses aren’t uncommon in pregnant girls and may result in pain during pregnancy. Pain while urinating, blood in the urine or even foul smelling discharge can be a sign of an infection that requires treatment before your kidneys shut down.

The final analysis is if you have pain during pregnancy, enough so that it scares you, go to the doctor. Don’t wait and hope that it’ll go as it if is really something significant, acting fast can save not just your life but that of your developing baby.

According to recent medical surveys, approximately 5.5 million women in the United States are diagnosed with endometriosis every single year, making it one of the most common reproductive disorders among females of child-bearing age. Although the causes of the condition are not exactly clear, there are steps you can take to considerably reduce your chances of developing this illness.

An endometriosis natural treatment can help you to maintain a healthy endometrium balance. In a perfectly healthy woman, the endometrium or uterine lining thickens each month just before ovulation, to prepare for potential fertilization. If the egg remains unfertilized, it is released along with the endometrial tissue as menstrual blood.

If you have endometriosis, this isn’t what happens, instead, your uterine lining will grow outside of the uterus. When the time comes for it to be eliminated, instead of passing out of the body like it should, it instead travels to other parts of the pelvic region, seeking a way to get out. Over time, the endometrial tissue will begin to form buildup which will attach to the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes and in extreme cases, even the bowels can be affected. Over time, these deposits can form into cysts which can cause you pain or even rupture; causing internal problems. Endovin is one supplement that can help you with the endometrial pain that this causes.

An Endovin review can enlighten you as to the benefits of using a natural endometrial formula. Also regular exercise is a highly recommended natural treatment to reduce the risks of endometriosis. As of now, there is no sure way of preventing endometriosis from occuring but by taking natural supplements and following your doctor’s recommendations, you can greatly reduce your chances of suffering from the disorder.

Cysts and Endometriosis

There are also a number of theories why endometriosis leads to cyst implantation. First of all, as the endometrium lining looks for a way to get out of the body, it instead comes across these organs where it invariably attaches itself. Second, endometriosis causes a drop in immunity, making the body unable to recognize these misplaced endometrial tissues.

It might also be possible that endometrial cysts grow on organs such as the lungs or skin might be from surgery. When a women undergoes any invasive surgical procedure in the uterine region like a Cesarian section, the endometrial tissues may be dislodged, triggering their journey to other parts of the body.

One of the first steps you need to take in preventing endometriosis is to determine if you are among the women who are at a higher risk for this condition. You might be at risk if you have longer and heavier menstrual periods than other women, or if your cycle lasts less than 27 days, or if you started to menstruate at a very early age. At this time, the most commonly recommended treatment for endometriosis is the use of hormones. These pills will stop the brain from sending ovulation signals, thus preventing the uterine lining from thickening each month.

Many mothers prefer giving birth in water because of the benefits and comfortable methods involved. As water birth continues to become more popular, there are many women who choose to welcome their newborn babies in this kind of delivery. Read on to find out the benefits that a water birth can bring. Water birthing can be done anywhere. Having your water birth at the hospital will ensure that you will be taken good care of by the professional medical staff. The treatment they will give you is similar to the common birth delivery method used. The only thing that is different is that there is no medical intervention done with water birthing. Water birthing done at home must have thorough preparation since you will need to hire a midwife months before your delivery. Water birth is a natural way of delivering a baby into this world. There is little or no medical intervention with water birthing. That is very true because you will be only using a water pool. In the process of birthing in a pool, you are guided by your healthcare practitioner or midwife to stay calm as possible. During the labor you will likely feel confident and more comfortable because you are staying in a tub with water. The warmth of the water helps you feel good. Water birthing is very safe. The water will be a safe place for the baby to land when delivered. The baby is delivered safely once he or she is submerged into the water. The baby will not drown since babies normally start breathing only when exposed to air. As soon as the baby is out of your womb you have to let the midwife do her job. Try not to hassle the midwife when doing her tasks with the baby. This is to avoid complications. The article just discussed many aspects of water birthing. To make it short, giving birth in water is definitely safe. So when you want to have a water birth be sure to check out the midwives with this midwives San Diego service. You will be able to find the right midwife for you with this home birth midwife San Diego. This includes finding the right midwife for you with thisSan Diego midwifery service.

If you are pregnant, you should be able to continue your usual exercise routine as long as you get the go-ahead from the doctor. You may have to adapt your routine to accommodate your growth. This article will highlight some exercises that have been endorsed by the American Pregnancy Association.

The most important thing about exercising while pregnant is to never let your heart rate exceed 140 beats a second. This is especially vital during the first trimester. Walking is good for you and very safe. Unlike running, it does not put a lot of pressure on the knees. Before you go for a walk, be sure to do some stretching exercises.

However, if running is part of your exercise routine, you may continue as long as your doctor approves. When you run, do not get too hot, wear appropriate shoes and make sure you are hydrated. If you did not run before you became pregnant, avoid starting this activity until your baby has been born.

Cycling is also good for pregnant women. You must use a stationary bike to minimize the risk of falling. There are some excellent Diamondback bikes which are perfect. One model worth mentioning is the Apex R8 Recumbent exercise bike. Its extra wide seat provides comfort and stability. The handle grips contain pulse sensors so you can check your heart rate.

Both you and your baby can benefit from yoga if you avoid rigorous exercises. For best results, sign up with a class for pregnant women. If you prefer aerobics, most instructors and health clubs also offer special classes for pregnant women.

Exercises to avoid while pregnant are snow skiing due to the risk of falling, and water skiing. Water skiing puts a lot of strain on the stomach. Also, do not ride a horse as it involves jolting movements which can harm you and the baby. And, of course, there is a big risk of falling.

When exercising, wear comfortable, loose clothes. Wear well-fitting, solid shoes and a sports bra for extra support. Be sure that your shoes have non-slip soles. Always breathe deeply and drink lots of water.

Exercising in the pregnant months will be good for you and the baby as long as you are both healthy. Always be careful and cautious. Don’t do anything that is jerky, and avoid lying on your back for extended periods. If you feel nauseous, faint or dizzy, stop immediately. If vaginal bleeding or contractions occur, get emergency medical help.

Having a baby is one of the most exciting times for a family. There are many ways to deliver your baby that are safe. You can opt to deliver your baby at home. This delivery is called home birth. You need to do some great amount of preparation when you decide that you want a home birth. So in this article we are going to go over the most important things to prepare yourself for a home birth delivery.

First things first, make ready the room where you are going to give birth. The midwife will also need some space for the stuff that she will need to assist you. So make sure you provide adequate space for her equipment. Prepare the pool or tub if you wish to have a water birth. Also you want to designate any of the things you will use for cleanup. Obviously having a baby anywhere will be a little messy so being prepared for the cleanup is a nice thing to do.

The next thing you will want to do is prepare a hospital bag in case of emergency. Obviously if you are having a home birth you are probably one of those pregnancies that are considered low risk. Always prepare for any emergency nevertheless.

Make sure you have all phone numbers of people that has to do with the home birth. You will want to have phone numbers for the midwife. Make sure you have the contact numbers of your family members. Get the phone numbers of your doctor, emergency room of the hospital and others you may think of.

You have just read how to prepare for a home birth. Doing these things will have you feel more prepared and comfortable for delivery.

So if you decide delivering at home is what you want be sure to see us at our home birth midwife San Diego service. You can learn a lot from talking with us at San Diego midwifery service. This will help you get comfortable with the process of home birth and usingmidwives San Diego.