Engage in Birth | Pearently

How to use a birthing ball for natural labor

pearentlycare — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:35:28 +0000

You want to know how to use a birthing ball for natural labor and birth. These ways will help labor naturally progress!

These moves will not necessarily induce labor if your body is not ready, but they can help keep you on track so you don’t “get stuck” in labor or go over your due date.

The whole purpose is to open up your pelvis, make room for baby, and help your baby get in the right position.

Don’t stress about this PLEASE! These movements help some women in pregnancy, but some mamas don’t experience baby dropping until active labor. Don’t stress because stress can push labor away.

What can the birth ball do for labor? The birth ball can…

Build your confidence in your body during pregnancy and birth
Help decrease the pain of labor and increase Mom’s satisfaction in the birthing process
Naturally induce labor when Mom’s body/baby are ready and help labor progress at a good rate

Do these positions in pregnancy and in labor

Ball bouncing
Ball hip circles: clockwise, counterclockwise, and the figure eight
Ball pelvic tilts (like cat – cow on the birth ball)
Rocking ball hug on the floor

Now is the time to get ready for your birth journey. Take your next step by downloading the FREE workbook below to get Annabelle’s 4 Step Process to a birth you will love to remember.

Visit our Website – http://Pearently.com

Disclaimer: This is for educational purposes only. This should not be taken as medical advice or take the place of what your healthcare provider recommends. Please discuss any healthcare information found on this channel with your healthcare provider. Pearently exists as a source of information and knowledge and in no way can we determine whether or not any of the information is specifically best for your individual case. With that in mind, we are grateful to share this information with you and we hope that you find success in your journey to achieve a happy and healthy pregnancy, labor, and birth.

– Sincerely, Team Pearently

All links Keep in mind this video/post contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

The post How to use a birthing ball for natural labor first appeared on Pearently.

How to cope for natural birth

pearentlycare — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 19:49:32 +0000

Getting in tune with your breath is so important in getting ready for labor and birth.

Breathing is a form of relaxation in labor, and we all want to be as relaxed as possible in the midst of labor.

Now is the time to get ready for your birth journey. Take your next step by downloading the FREE workbook below to get Annabelle’s 4 Step Process to a birth you will love to remember.

Practice these breathing techniques while you exercise (walking, prenatal pilates, prenatal yoga), wait in traffic, or sit on the toilet.

Always be calm in your breath, focus on the out-breath, and relax (especially jaw, shoulders, and arms).

Here are three different types of breathing for each phase of labor:

Deep breath

This is for the active phase of labor. This breath begins with a deep inhale and long exhale.

Breathe deep in the diaphragm as it expands to fill your belly with air and space for baby.

Breathe in through your nose, and breathe out through your mouth.

Transition breath

This is for the transition phase of labor. This breath has a “hee-hee-hoo” sound with a periodic long exhale (after 5 hee-hee-hoo’s say huhhhhh). Lift your chin to keep from holding your breath and to prevent pushing in this phase. When the contraction ends, take a big deep cleansing breath and rest until the next contraction.

Birthing Breath

This is for the pushing stage of labor.

This breath is similar to the abdominal breath, but we add a couple of things. Open up space for baby as you inhale, and exhale with a squeeze in your belly like your belly is hugging on baby. Imagine, as you breathe out, that you are helping your contractions move baby out into this world. Breathe deeply in, and breath out with a groan in the back of throat. Tuck your chin, curl forward, and push with the out-breath.

Now let’s take the next step together towards your birth experience! Download my FREE workbook below.

Visit our Website – http://Pearently.com

Disclaimer: This is for educational purposes only. This should not be taken as medical advice or take the place of what your healthcare provider recommends. This is educational information not medical advice. Please discuss any healthcare information found on this channel with your healthcare provider. Pearently exists as a source of information and knowledge and in no way can we determine whether or not any of the information is specifically best for your individual case without conducting an in-person assessment. With that in mind, we are grateful to share this information with you and we hope that you find success in your journey to achieve a happy and healthy pregnancy, labor, and birth.

– Sincerely, Team Pearently

The post How to cope for natural birth first appeared on Pearently.

How to help labor progress naturally

pearentlycare — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:46:12 +0000

We’ve talked about the role of prostaglandins in getting your labor going naturally at home. I mentioned that sexual intercourse and nipple stimulation work to help your cervix ripen.

What else can you do to get your body into the labor groove once you notice that contractions are beginning?

You can help oxytocin release into your body and help your baby press evenly on your cervix.

Now is the time to get ready for your birth journey. Take your next step by downloading the FREE workbook below to get Annabelle’s 4 Step Process to a birth you will love to remember.

What do you need?

Mental strength – feeling of safety, mantra, meditation exercise
Birth ball
Rebozo
Birth coach
Dark, quiet environment

What do you need to do?

*Breathing is foundational

*Good positioning with forward leaning posture

*Movement through the process with rest as needed

Breathing exercises for each stage of labor
Good Positioning
- Listen to your body, which will tell you how to move your pelvis to help baby engage

- Good posture changes the space for baby and the position of the pelvis
- Indian style
- Stretching: squats, butterfly, Indian style, all-fours
- Forward leaning over birth ball or on the floor
- Pelvic tilt (cat-cow but keep back neutral)

3. Movement which makes space – adjusts the pelvis shape by moving the bones slightly

- Walking
  - Subtle movements of swaying and moving pelvis
  - Curb or tilted walking can tilt the pelvis enough to help baby maneuver around bony prominences
- Birth ball with huge hip circles, hip tilts, and bouncing fast or slow
- Tucking or scooping hips forward
  - On birth ball
  - Rebozo – gentle sifting

Now is the time to get ready for your birth journey. Take your next step by downloading the FREE workbook below to get Annabelle’s 4 Step Process to a birth you will love to remember.

—–

Visit our Website – http://Pearently.com

Disclaimer: Please discuss any healthcare information found on this channel with your healthcare provider. Pearently exists as a source of information and knowledge and in no way can we determine whether or not any of the information is specifically best for your individual case without conducting an in-person assessment. With that in mind, we are grateful to share this information with you and we hope that you find success in your journey to achieve a happy and healthy pregnancy, labor, and birth.

– Sincerely, Team Pearently.

The post How to help labor progress naturally first appeared on Pearently.

Natural induction of labor | Is my doctor going to induce labor

pearentlycare — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 16:05:38 +0000

Now is the time to encourage the little chemical messengers that help you get into your labor groove.

Your baby is going to release some chemicals that tell your body that he or she is ready to be born. So, overall baby is somewhat the captain of this ship. BUT Mom can still do some things to encourage her body to push labor along.

Mom can encourage prostaglandins, these are hormone-like chemicals are released from mom’s tissue to help her cervix soften, open, and thin out.

Now is the time to get ready for your birth journey. Take your next step by downloading the FREE workbook below to get Annabelle’s 4 Step Process to a birth you will love to remember.

Who needs to be medically induced? Mom or baby has a medical concern (prelabor rupture of membranes, preeclampsia, poor fetal growth) or baby is over his or her due-date by 7 to 14 days.

How does induction of labor work?

Is the cervix ready to soften & open?

Based on the Bishop’s Score: dilation and effacement of cervix, station of baby, position of cervix, and consistency of cervix.
< 6: cervix is not very inducible
> 8: cervix is very inducible

Mechanical Induction of Labor

Stripping membranes: causes the release of prostaglandins and cervical dilation
Rupture membranes: causes the release of prostaglandins
Laminaria (seaweed): causes the cervix to dilate
Foley catheter bulb: causes the cervix to dilate

Medical Induction of Labor:

Prostaglandin E2 (Cervidil):
- Medication used to soften the cervix
- For women with low Bishop’s score
Prostaglandin E1 (Cytotec):
- Medication given in 3 different routes: oral, vaginal, or rectal
- Increased risk of causing frequent uterine contractions and distress to baby
- Shortens labor time and has higher success rate for vaginal delivery
Oxytocin / Pitocin (used when cervix is >6)
- Medication is given intravenously (IV)
- Easy to control and safe

Natural Induction of Labor:

Herbs and castor oil (not recommended)

- Herbal compounds such as evening primrose oil, black haw, black and blue cohosh, and red raspberry leaves, castor oil
- Side effects: dehydration, nausea, vomiting
- I do recommend that moms eat 7 dates per day starting at 36 weeks gestation to ripen the cervix (if mom does not have gestational diabetes)
Nipple stimulation:
- The release of oxytocin can initiate labor
- Massage nipples with fingers or your partner can kiss your nipples
- Heat with the use of warm wet wash cloths (1 hour 3x per day)
- Warm bath or shower
Sexual intercourse:
- Mom’s orgasm releases prostaglandins
- Dad’s ejaculation (semen) contains prostaglandins
Acupuncture, acupressure, transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS)
- May stimulate the release of prostaglandins and oxytocin

These natural ways should be taken with caution, and don’t get your hopes up. Your baby will decide. Talk to your doctor about your options.

Now is the time to get ready for your birth journey. Take your next step by downloading the FREE workbook below to get Annabelle’s 4 Step Process to a birth you will love to remember.

The post Natural induction of labor | Is my doctor going to induce labor first appeared on Pearently.

How to Engage Baby for Birth

pearentlycare — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 01:04:34 +0000

Hey Mom, I am talking about how to engage your baby for birth. This means getting your baby into the right position for a smooth labor and successful vaginal birth.

If you are interested in a natural birth, or you want to know more about it, then download my free workbook below that will walk you through my 4 simple steps to a natural birth.

Watch video above for more details

Have you heard that baby is not in the right position for birth?

“Not low enough.”
“Hasn’t dropped.”
“Isn’t engaged.”
“Isn’t in the right position” (head down, face towards spine).

Please don’t stress. I am going to explain what this means and how to get your baby into the right position for birth.

I’m giving you these tips to help you start preparing your pelvis for childbirth. But if your baby hasn’t engaged yet, and if your cervix is still closed, DON”T STRESS!

This matters in labor and it can happen fast. Even if your baby is in the “wrong” position during labor, you can do these things to help your baby get into the right position during labor and deliver vaginally.

In labor, you want your baby to be low…head low and back to your belly. This will help labor move forward more smoothly because baby can put pressure on your cervix and move down your birth canal.

Even pressure on your cervix from baby’s head causes chemicals to travel to your brain and signal oxytocin to release.

Oxytocin travels down to your uterus and causes contractions! Yay!

Contractions push baby down into your pelvis to put more pressure on your cervix. This pressure causes the cervix to open and thin out (dilate and efface). This is what will lead to a smooth and successful vaginal birth, and you holding your precious joy in your arms!

Some moms experience “irregular labor contractions” or a “slowing of labor”, which can lead to slowing of cervical dilation and slowing of birth of baby. This might mean that baby is not engaged in the pelvis and putting good even pressure on Mom’s cervix.

So, again don’t stress! Mom can do these things to help baby maneuver down the bony pelvis and put even pressure on the cervix to come down the birth canal and into Mom’s arms.

How to get baby to drop and engage before or during labor (at home or at the hospital)

1. Good positioning for mom changes the space for baby and the position of the pelvis for baby.

Straight posture – No more slouching, Mama
Stretching
- Prenatal yoga – use caution
- Squats/lunges
- Butterfly
- Indian sitting
- Hands-and-knees
Forward leaning over birth ball or resting on the floor with butt in the air
Pelvic tilt – like cat-cow but keep your back neutral

2. Movement makes space and adjusts the pelvis shape by moving the bones slightly

Walking
- Subtle movements of swaying and moving pelvis
- Curb or tilted walking to tilt the pelvis enough to help baby maneuver around bony prominences of pelvis
Birth ball
- Huge hip circles
- Hip tilts
- Bouncing fast or slow
Tucking or scooping hips forward
- On birth ball
- On hands-and-knees
- Rebozo on belly helps with pubis symphysis pain as it lifts pressure of baby off of pelvis and helps baby maneuver bony prominences of pelvis

3. Prenatal chiropractic care if you have misalignment of spine and pelvis

You can do this, Mama!

Do you still have questions or concerns about your birth experience? I would love to give you my strategic yet simple 4 step process to a natural birth. Download my free workbook to get started. Click the button below.

The post How to Engage Baby for Birth first appeared on Pearently.

How to breathe for birth

pearentlycare — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 16:42:22 +0000

I am talking about breathing techniques for birth so that you can be fully in control of your breath in the labor and birth process.

I’m Annabelle with Pearently, helping you give birth naturally. We bring you weekly videos to build your confidence in birth.

Getting in tune with your breath is so important in getting ready for labor and birth.

Breathing is a form of relaxation in labor, and we all want to be as relaxed as possible in the midst of labor.

We are not usually conscious of our breath in the day to day, and if we don’t practice, then we tend to do the wrong kind of breathing in labor (hyperventilate or hold our breath).

That is why I am going to teach you about the best kinds of breathing in labor so that you can practice these breathing techniques NOW to make them a part of your muscle memory. Then you won’t even have to think about it in labor.

Practice these breathing techniques while you exercise (walking, prenatal pilates, prenatal yoga), wait in traffic in your car, or on the toilet. Let’s get started!!

Before I go any further, I want to mention my FREE Natural Birth Workbook! This 4 Step Process is a great start if you are considering a med-free birth. Click the button below to download the workbook…

I have a few tips to breathing that need to be applied to every kind of breath. Be calm in your breath, focus on the out-breath, relax (especially jaw and shoulders), breathe your tension away, and close your eyes to imagine a safe, calm, special place while you stroke your baby in your belly. Always take a deep cleansing breath before each contraction and after each contraction.

Here are three different types of breathing for each phase of labor:

Deep Breath

This is for the active phase of labor. This breath begins with a deep inhale and long exhale.

Breathe deep in the diaphragm as it expands to fill your belly with air and space for baby.

Breathe in for about 4 seconds (in through your nose), and breathe out for about 6 seconds (out through your mouth).

Add some muscles while you practice. This will help you have a faster healing process after birth. Expand your ribcage with each inhale. Feel the corset around your abdomen with your exhale. Add a pelvic floor lift by squeezing your vagina and lifting up towards your chest with the exhale. Tuck your hips.

Transition Breath

This is for the transition phase of labor. This breath has a hee-hee-hoo sound with a periodic long exhale (after 5 hee-hee-hoo’s say huhhhhh). Lift your chin to keep from holding your breath and to prevent pushing. When the contraction ends, take a big deep cleansing breath and rest until the next contraction.

Birthing Breath

This is for the pushing stage of labor.

The post How to breathe for birth first appeared on Pearently.

How to Have a Faster Labor

pearentlycare — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 15:00:10 +0000

Be sure to follow these natural ways to a faster labor process.

I am about to dive into speeding up the labor process. However, I want to say that these tips are to help your labor progress successfully. Most women desire a SUPER fast labor and birth, but that is not necessarily desirable. Labor needs to be a steady process. *Think about your baby (approximately the size of a bowling ball) blowing through a very small hole. What imagery does that paint in your mind? Disaster. If your baby delivers too quickly, he or she will probably leave behind a lot of damage. So, when your girlfriend makes you jealous because she had a very fast birth, think again.

THAT SAID…Lets dive into another visual.

Some mamas go into labor saying they are going “natural”.

Labor starts, they go to the hospital and hear their doctor say, “let’s augment her labor…let’s start the Pitocin drip…let’s break her bag of waters…”

These are all ways to say they want to help the labor process along. The next thing they know, they are asking for an epidural, and the natural birth they had hoped for doesn’t happen.

This doesn’t have to happen to you!

There are ways to avoid this same experience, and I am here to help.

The FIRST way to avoid these interventions is to STAY HOME AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. Your C-Section rate and your risk for unnecessary hospital interventions goes up when you go into the hospital before your cervix has dilated to 5 cm. This means that you should be in (HELLO) active labor when you start heading to the hospital.

I have two proven ways to a faster labor process.

You just need a few tools (click for links to purchase the tools I recommend):

1. Birthing ball (exercise ball)

2. Relaxing playlist

3. Essential oils

Lavender

Frankincense

Clary Sage

4. Husband

5. Pair of legs

Now let’s get into how to have a faster labor process…

Movement

Movement and labor are great friends. Your cervix, uterus, and baby don’t want you to sit down and wait for delivery to happen.

Movement stimulates contractions, helps the cervix to open, relaxes your pelvis, and decrease your risk for C-Section.

On top of all that, gravity can be help too. Your baby needs to exit, and that door is facing the ground. When you walk, your body is straightened vertically, and thus the door can open more easily for baby to work his or her way through that passageway.

Whenever you think to sit down, well, that is your queue to walk…around the neighborhood, up the stairs, from the parking lot…just walk.

I understand that sitting will have to happen. When that does happen, you can use your birthing ball to keep labor going.

The birthing ball will help relax and open up your hips so that your baby can get into a good position and have a nice pliable doorway. Again, gravity is your friend here.

Continue to try different positions like lunging, squatting, hands-and-knees, swaying, and laying over the birthing ball.

Just keep moving, Mama.

Ambiance

Ambiance is so important in the progression of labor.

You are a woman with a lot of hormones, and those hormones are useful for more than just intimacy with your husband. Those hormones are instrumental in the progression of labor. You need oxytocin (natural form of Pitocin) released into your body for a faster labor, and this can happen in many different ways.

You can sit in a dark room with candles (I recommend electric), aromatherapy, and relaxing music. Ask your husband to massage your back, hands, ankles, and feet at specific pressure points with essential oils such as lavender and frankincense for relaxation and clary sage to stimulate contractions.

Relaxation such an important part to the progression of labor. Take a hot shower, place hot washcloths on your breasts, or ask your husband to kiss or massage your nipples. Sexual intimacy during labor (when you can still bear the pain) can help labor progress, however, I recommend talking to your healthcare provider about his/her thoughts on this matter. It is not safe if your bag of waters has broken.

Make sure to follow these steps as soon as you start to feel labor start.

Don’t even go to the hospital until you KNOW that you are in active labor (5 cm dilated or more).

Make sure your husband knows your birth plan, and that he sets up these labor steps at the hospital as soon as you arrive.

Keep moving, set the ambiance with dimmed lighting, relaxing music (or quiet), and ask your nurses to not disturb you unless absolutely necessary.

If you follow these steps, you will be on your way to a faster labor, pushing process, and birth!

Labor on!

Do you want some help making a plan? I have created my FREE Natural Birth Workbook just for you. This 4 Step Process is a great start if you are considering a med-free birth. Download below…

The post How to Have a Faster Labor first appeared on Pearently.