We heard the baby's heart beat again (150bpms; what a little worker she/he/it is!) and I was able to ask questions I'd written down about natural pain relief. I was pretty sure that, being in a hospital setting, I wouldn't be 'allowed' to bring in herbal pain relief, but I wanted to ask just to be sure. Sharon was really helpful; she said she personally would rather stay away from it herself as she doesn't know enough about herbal medicine. I liked that she was honest, but didn't take the power away from me. It is a little upsetting since I've been reading Susan Weed's Wise Woman for the Childbearing Year (if you haven't read her Wise Woman Herbal, please do immediately!!) and have seen some great herbal adjuncts to visualization, relaxation, and breathing. And I have no doubt if I wanted to I could smuggle it in, but towards the end, I wouldn't be able to hide that I was taking it, and quite frankly, I don't want to have to worry about it.
I did ask about homeopathy, which she was in support of, although she said certain nursing staff at the hospital may be not so supportive. In this way, I don't really care, as most folks who aren't in support of homeopathy aren't in support of it for 2 reasons: 1) They don't understand it/haven't researched what it is or 2) They aren't opposed to it, but just don't think it works.
I have no interest in arguing with the first group, since they are most likely in an allopathic paradigm and aren't even interested in becoming educated (remember the zinc/Zycam issue?).
The great thing about homeopathy is it doesn't interfere with herbal or synthetic medicine. It doesn't interfere with anything, and unless I'm taking a constitutional dose, only good things will happen or nothing at all. There are no side-effects. Either it has a good effect, or no effect. Win-win, I think.
The subject of homeopathy got me back into my homeopathic studies, especially for some of my pregnancy-related issues, or regular issues I must be careful in treating while I'm pregnant. Homeopathy is perfect for pregnancy because of the above issues. It will have no effect on the baby, no side-effects, and no drug/nutrient interactions.
Apparently vaginitis (both BV/gardnerella and yeast) are very common during pregnancy, especially if (like me) you've been treated with an antibiotic. Luckily, my midwife (this is why we love this place) has a policy of not preventatively or perpetually treating vaginitis with antibiotics unless the client is actively showing symptoms. This means they won't automatically swab you and run tests to 'make sure' it's gone if you've been treated. They believe these things are normal, usually resolve themselves, and aren't a challenge unless they're presenting symptoms. So this brings me back to homeopathy! Rather than relying on course after course of antibiotics or/and antifungals, I remembered that I can use homeopathic remedies (either pulsatilla or sepia) to treat this.
In treating something chronic (which BV often is, and nobody knows why) homeopathy is often a great place to start, especially if conventional or other alternative methods haven't worked. This, in combination of affirmations, should give me positive results. It's what I'm hoping for.
Lastly, I'd like to share a related Unity affirmation that will help me throughout my life, and I hope it will help you:
I release Illness. Anything less than complete wholeness is powerless over me.
No matter what course may be pursued or how the healing law is employed, the goal is to establish wholeness, to evoke the perfect activity of the life force which renews, rebuilds and sustains the body.~Connie Fillmore, The Unity Guide to Healing
I'd be interested in hearing what homeopathic remedies can be used for yeast and such. Since you are right, they are very prevalent in pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I dislike about hospital births is that you can have nurses that aren't so great. But a friend of mine that works in the birthing center said you can ask for another nurse. So if one is giving you a bad time, ask for another one. Or have Brant ask for another one. I had 3 different nurses since I was in labor for a while and I only felt like one of them was really on my side.
I used the Bradley Method for my labor. It worked really really well until transition when I totally lost it. I lost all composure and there was no getting it back. They sell a really good Bradley Method book at any book store. It basically has you emulate sleep. Eyes closed, lights off, totally relaxed body, jaw, face, etc.... It worked well for me and my sis who has had 3 children with midwives. But like I said.....it didn't last the whole labor.
I am proud of you for being so prepared and looking at all your options. You would not believe the amount of everyday women that you and I know that go into the hospital knowing nothing, and don't even ask the nurse if she can get up and walk around. (someone I knew..I was appalled). Being prepared is the best way to go and having a plan. Things don't always go to plan, but at least you are knowledgeable and prepared.
I do know that the hospital only lets you eat or drink clear things. (i.e. suckers, hard candy, etc....) But people have been known to smuggle a thing in or two. It'd be hard to do with the nursing staff around the end though like you said. I was really bothered by this, but when the time came I don't even think I wanted to take a sip of water.
Again, very proud of you!! I wish all women were this prepared and took hold of their birthing experiences!!! They are OURS after all!
Was going to suggest as Anna Lisa did on switching nurses if need be. She's very right.. there are some tremendous, open minded nurses [I thankfully got a great nurse right away] - and as far as herbs/homeopathy.. we had a whole array of things available to us that we brought in personally, so I could choose in the moment what I wanted to try... and the nurse I had wasn't necessarily knowledgeable in much depth on using them, but we had everything laid out on the counter and no one said anything to us.
ReplyDeleteKeep following your beliefs & your heart.Glad the appointment when well.. Sharon has such a sweet personality & good heart.
xoxo
Brooklyn
As a side note, Sue was sharing that a heartbeat of over 150bpm has been said to be more likely to be a girl.
ReplyDeleteOn subject, I would love to hear more about these methods and any book you recommend to read more. I have an appointment with Around the Circle Midwifery tonight and I'm really considering the birthing center. I'm uncertain about whether or not I will manage without pain medication. I just know I have high anxiety about hospitals and not sure I can trust the institution.
If you have time I would also love to just hang out and talk more about your thoughts. You seem to be well educated about a lot of this and obviously have people that know a lot as well.
Anna Lisa, THANK YOU for all of your encouragement. It really helps. I can email you more information about the homeopathic remedies if you'd like; with homeopathy the indications are very specific, so for vaginitis there are probably about 6 remedies you could take, depending on what your specific symptoms are. Sepia is indicated for thick, yellow discharge with irritability and a 'bearing down' sensation, I think Pulsatilla is indicated more for a thick, but watery white to yellow discharge. Other remedies are indicated when there's pain or burning or swelling involved.
ReplyDeleteAs for the food thing, I'm a little nervous about that too, but I'll smuggle in what I need, and I'm sure, as you said, toward the end I won't even want it.
Brooklyn, you birthed at Providence St Peters, right?
Vanessa, I'm happy that you're pleased with Around the Circle. Those ladies are absolutely wonderful (they are often in Radiance and we love them). I hope the birthing center option works well for you. You'll have to let me know if they have pain medication for back-up; that was one of my concerns as the other ones in the area don't.
Just a side note: My reasons for a hospital birth: 1) our insurance won't cover a home birth, and not much of birthing centers 2) I was a very sick child, with asthma that put me in and out the hospital, and in oxygen tanks as an infant. When I was older, my mother was, and has been, in hospitals often. Although I don't have much to do with the allopathic paradigm, I've come to recognize that hospitals have signified safety to me since I was little, so I'm not as upset as you'd think being there. 3)I am not taking out the option of synthetic pain medication. As I said earlier, the birthing centers I'd looked into don't have pain medication as an option.
And for recommended books, the top on my list is Birthing From Within. We sell it at Radiance, and there is also a link to the official website in the links portiion of this blog. Let me know what else you have questions about, though Carolee and Constance will give you TONS of info, I'm sure.