Re: [ozmidwifery] belly dancing midwives:)
Hi Julie, I have been doing Pilates for a couple of years now and really find it makes a difference in my abilities to sustain midwifery work. I had lots of SI problems resulting from having kids and carrying them around on my hip (they were little fatties). I have far fewer problems now and most of all I just love doing a healthy activity that is for ME. Once you hit intermediate level you will find it to be a workout that gets you sweating. I have done a little bit of belly dancing previously and now have the opportunity to do it the same night as Pilates class. It will be my Monday Hard Core night! I find the Pilates work relates very well to childbearing as well. You will strengthen your pelvic floor and be able to encourage Mums to learn and do simple exercises to help them in pregnancy and after. Pilates is worth it I think. Meaghan At 05:58 PM 1/3/06, you wrote: Hi all, I've just started work as a midwife and I think I need some exercise to strengthen my back, feeling a bit stiff after catching babies in the shower, bath, floor, birth stool ect. I think it is a sustainability issue of practice, a good strong back. I don't ever want my physical ability to dictate how a woman wants to birth. Anyone tried pilates or belly dancing? Any other good suggestions? Ta Julie:) -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] 3rd degree tears
Funny you should ask that right now. We have two mum's in care with previous 4th degree tears. ( One of these happened a couple of years ago while under my care - as prime with large baby but no other concerns, just happened. I had two in one week and am hoping I will never see another. She also broke her coccyx during that birth. What a loud crack it made!!!) Anyway, both mum's in care now are having some fecal incontinence, which has started during third trimester : (. The one that happened under my care was referred for physio after the birth which she went to for 6 weeks but has not been religious about doing exercises since. Physio says she has some muscle strength there. Mum is working hard at her diet to reduce excess sugars/carbs to keep babe handleable size, which seems to be working. We (midwives) have had some hemming and hawing about the possibility of episiotomies with repairs at the time of birth, but seem to have decided against this. The midwives would like to see them both attempt vaginal birth without epis (haven't seen any evidence that epis would be beneficial), see how they recover after birth and refer to an appropriate surgeon (not obs/gyne) in a larger centre for assessment and subsequent repair if necessary. Of course, if a 4th happens again they will need to be repaired on site and then referred later. Discussions with mums about this as potential plan is to occur yet. Both have requested consult to obs (different docs) and we are waiting for responses - mums and midwives will be unhappy if cesarean is suggested. In the research I have done so far, it seems it is not just previously torn muscles that contribute to incontinence. Pudendal nerve damage could be the etiology. This would require different treatment than surgical reconstruction, so assuming that one could cut and then fix at next birth does not seem logical or humane. I am hoping both mums will have faith in their bodies abilities to have healed well and that they will have less trouble this time. Any other ideas out there? Meaghan, in Canada At 06:18 PM 8/29/05, you wrote: Out of curiosity.. does anyone have any experiences of vaginal birth following previous 4th degree tear? I've just recently met a woman who wants to give vaginal birth a go - has new partner (says old one was huge!). She is smallish person - 60kg, last babe 10lbs (1st baby). What do you think. She will be birthing in hospital. I've asked her to get a copy of her obstetric records from previous hospital. Still in early pregnancy so can't gauge size yet. Is a later ultrasound a good idea for a gestimate on the weight? I know they can be so inaccurate. Kiwi Kim, ---Original Message--- From: mailto:ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.auozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Date: 29/08/2005 11:10:23 a.m. To: mailto:ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.auozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: [ozmidwifery] 3rd degree tears Hi, I've just returned from a clinical placement in SA where I spent a mindblowing three hours in an incontinence clinic in an outpatients unit at a major hospital. The mindblowing element was the following statistics (copied from one of the handouts): * 39-49% women tear or have an episiotomy needing sutures * 0.5 - 2.5% have a 3rd or 4th degree tear after vaginal childbirth that is visible * 25-35% after first vaginal delivery have a concealed or closed 3rd degree tear, not visible Listed as contributing factors were: * 1st vaginal birth * forceps/instrumental delivery * long second stage 1 hour * big baby4kgs * tissue type, short perineum, epidural, uncontrolled pushing, rapid delivery, midline tear or episiotomy The nurse practitioner stated this was all evidence-based information and recommended c/sections to women who had had previous 3rd degree repairs - these were the ones who knew about their tears obviously. The handouts do not give references and as yet I have not had time to begin researching. Are you all as mindblown as I am?? What do you think - are 1/4 - 1/3 of us walking around with damaged anal sphincters and not aware of it?? Where does this sort of information lead us - if our bodies are so inept at giving birth then all first babies and subsequently all babies should be born by c/section. Sue http://www.incredimail.com/index.asp?id=54475 Add FUN to your email - CLICK HERE! -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] pelvic floor / incontinence
Pilates is great for ab/back and pelvic floor strengthening! Have any of you been to a Feldenkrais Pelvic Power workshop? I highly recommend it. You may be able to find more info by searching the internet for either Pelvic Power or Feldenkrais. I have a friend in Brisbane who teaches it. It should be compulsory for all women!!! Meaghan At 07:24 AM 8/29/05, you wrote: Hi - I have recently returned to the list after several years absence. I am interested in the discussion sparked by Sue following her visit to the incontinence clinic. I have had some conversations recently with a physio who specialises in pilates and has a specific interest in pelvic floor function. I had assumed that the increase in incontinence pad advertising was aimed at an older or elderly age group but apparently she is seeing a significant portion of her practice being young (seemingly) fit women after their first babies who are suffering from incontinence. She feels that this is a problem that has been hidden or taken as normal by women and perhaps as a normal consequence of childbirth. I bought a booklet called Women's Waterworks by Dr Pauline Chiarelli which quotes that36% of women over 45 suffer incontinence and apparently 60%of all nursing home admissions are due to incontinence. This little booklet is aimed at teaching women how to regain bladder control and goes into detail about the role of hormones and various muscle groups in the contraction of the bladder and pelvic floor. I found it well written and informative. Anyway my take on the whole issue is that the majority of people are now very sedentary compared to our previous history and also use furniture and sitting toilets. I don't think these things can be good for your pelvic floor. I don't believe forceps or epidurals or instructed pushing can be good either. I think it probably takes much more effort to keep this part of our body healthy in this age of TV and couches than most of us realise and so the consequence is that it becomes weak following the physical, hormonal and neurological changes following childbirth. I am thinking now that perhaps are you doing your pelvic floor exercises? needs to be an issue that I spend a lot more time on in education and follow-up. Maxine -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] sounds during labour/birth
I am very late in on this thread and haven't read all of the e-mails on the topic. I like mooing. In Canada, I talk to mums about bellowing like a moose. Roaring is also good. Had a mum recently who was a real roarer, and in fact explained to her 5 year old that she was having a good time roaring just like a lion, so it was all O.K. He seemed to be reassured by this, even though we had heard him fall out of bed when he was woken by her belly roars! Meaghan At 10:21 PM 8/13/05, you wrote: Dear Andrea and Miriam I love your emails and am mooing myself happily Again it shows the wonderfull instintcs women have I have not been with women who have mooed but from my time with homebirth midwives and then clients and also in my singing for non singers course I learnt that deep noises rather than high pitch ones (screams0 are the ones to encourage as they send the energy down into your abdomen and then to the uterus and baby whereas the high pitched looses energy out of the body through the head Mooing is a low pitch noise!! Where I did my mid in the UK the maternity unit was out the back of the hospital and overlooked pastures with cows and I remember saying to the women we humans need to reconnenct with nature to nurture and now birth our young!! Denise Hynd Let us support one another, not just in philosophy but in action, for the sake of freedom for all women to choose exactly how and by whom, if by anyone, our bodies will be handled. - Linda Hes - Original Message - From: Tania Smallwood [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 3:03 PM Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] sounds during labour/birth Sorry for the late input on this, have been cruising the South Pacific with my family, but am catching up on many emails now...don't feel too sorry for me! Ah Miriam, you have such a way with words! I too was beckoned as a student midwife only a few years ago to join in and feel the love with a woman who could only be described as mooing, and it was a very connecting experience for us both. It also meant that the supervising midwife, who was obviously not at all comfortable with birthing noises (funny that, how she was very comfortable with cleaning noises, people barging in to look at charts noises...) kept her distance and just let 'us'go for it! I myself moaned and groaned and then growled my way through 18 hours of labour first time around, and there are shadows of the school kids walking past the bathroom window on the video just before Sam is born! I still wonder why no-one knocked on the front door to see what was going on in there! A friend who has recently had her first homebirth after several hospital births has commented on how she thought she was a quiet birther, but then after birthing at home, realized that she did indeed feel restricted in the hospital, and that she now thinks that she was aware of feeling like her midwives would judge her if she was too vocal in the hospital. Interesting stuff. Tania x -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.8/71 - Release Date: 12/08/2005 -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
RE: [ozmidwifery] Problems With new Models
I agree with Mary that 60 women per month is not feasible as a caseload. I am also experienced working in this model. Here in Manitoba we are expected to carry at least 30 women per year. This lower number was set to compensate for the fact that we are to target women who might most benefit from care. These women often have higher psychosocial needs. I too much prefer knowing women and feel less stressed about being called out for known women who I expect to follow through the whole childbearing experience. However, in our situation as primary care providers, we may be called out more than just for births. We are often paged to respond to decreased fetal movement, bleeding, abdominal pain - the list goes on and on. So it is important to remember that you may not just be called for births but for a myriad of other issues that need to be triaged or dealt with right away. Meaghan in Canada At 04:07 AM 6/14/05, you wrote: 60 women is not feasible at all! As an experienced caseloader that would take an enormous effort and would not be sustainable. A midwife on another list who has also been discussing this theme wrote: Part of the reason for burn out however, is due to hospital managements putting undue institutional requirements on the midwives - making them come in to do shift work when they do not have a birth due, etc. Because of the nature of the work midwives need to be able to schedule their own appointments and take care of their own work in their own time if caseload is to be effective and successful. Therefore it requires full cooperation and support of administration and management. This freedom to work at ones own pace and to schedule work when it suits the midwife is imperative to the success of the model. If one has 4 women per month, then one can only be called out 4 times/month. If one month has 5, then the other month will only have 3. Caroline Flints work is brilliant in explaining this. She advises to schedule all ones own important dates in and then work around that. It works for many of us. Cheers, MM I am wondering how feasible a caseload is 60 women? This seems like a large number and may be one of the reasons why staff are not feeling up to the task. Would 40 primary women and 40 shared women not be a more doable workload? I know this has financial implications but down-sizing the model may increase its longevity. Additionally UK literature states that greater autonomy leads to greater job satisfaction. So I agree with Andrea's posting - which basically translates to midwives having greater control over their practice and time allocation. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] VBAC and todays thought
Great thought, Mary. I just helped a mum through birth with a VBAC. She is 4'11'', very increased BMI (225lbs). First baby 6lb 5oz, cesarean for FTP as babe posterior with head deflexed. She was rehospitalized postpartum for infection at the incision site which I felt was likely superficial due to her size. I consulted as required by our hospital admitting privileges, and she was advised not to attempt TOL. Another physician actually laughed at her when she to her of her plan to birth vaginally with the physician asking who is the brave soul that is going to let you do that? She spent many visits in my ofice in tears. Even my midwifery colleagues were doubtful about the wisdom of letting her try. I lost my temper with them over it in the week before her birth, accusing them of being fatphobic. She went into labour spontaneously, walking into the clinic at 7 cms asking if she was really in labour. Went on to birth a 7lb 1oz baby 5 hours later with only about 40 mins of pushing. No problems, great recovery. I am going to pass on this quote to her, although we have discussed the concept already. Meaghan (in Canada) At 02:49 AM 2/15/05, you wrote: Thought for the Day: Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again. James R. Cook -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] helpful tip
The position sounds a lot like exaggerated Sims, with some pressure/manipulation used to exaggerate it even more. I have used this and had a 10 and half pound persistant direct posterior born almost immediately after using it. with the same look of surprise (on everyone's faces!) described in the tip. Meaghan Moon At 06:38 PM 1/7/05, you wrote: I read this too in the Midwifery Today forum. For the life of me, I can't get a picture in my head of what this manipulation might look like! Have any of you tried this or somethingsimilar before? Jen --- Mary Murphy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The Art of Midwifery To turn a posterior baby: Have the woman lie on her left side with her left leg straight down and in line with her body and her right leg raised and brought up toward her face, head curled down toward knee. [I am short so having her place her knee on my shoulder is the right height and position.] During a contraction, push down and back on bottom leg and up and abducted with top leg. That seems to open pelvis and allows baby to turn with the contraction. I usually see a funny look on mom's face, and baby is on perineum immediately. - Claudia Toms Midwifery Today Forums www.midwiferytoday.com/forums/ Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies. http://au.movies.yahoo.com -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] thanks
Hi Sheena, I am a midwife practicing in Canada. I always chart cord around the neck as nuchal cord. Nuchal means pertaining to the neck. I had an interesting tight nuchal cord the other day. I used the somersault maneuver to get the baby out without cutting the cord. This is described in Varney's Midwifery. I have used it a few times and find that it works great. Babies don't seem to be so stunned or need resuscitation, the way they do if the cord is cut on the perineum. Here is how to do it. If you have checked for cord and you asses that it is tight and impeding the birth, wait for restitution then flex baby's head tightly toward the (mum's) thigh that it is facing (think tucking chin/head to do somersault). Babe will generally come with next push and literally somersault out so that head stays at perineum with body flipping over. Unravel cord from neck and stimulate babe if needed. I find they often do need added (gentl) stimulation with a tight cord, and maybe a bit more encouragement to cry well. When the cord is tight the natural expulsion of fluid that usually occurs as the head is born is restricted because of the tight cord. They tend to be a bit more gurgly and may need a good cry to clear the lungs well. The babe I somersaulted the other day (Apgars 7 and 9), had the cord tight around the neck under the arms and around the body. He never did really cry and pinked up well in mum's arms. He still doesn't cry much and slept through the Guthrie heel poke today. He is feeding well, gaining weight and just mellow. Meaghan Moon At 08:00 AM 5/28/04, you wrote: Thank you to all who replied about the cord around the neck query of mine. Now I have another question, why is it sometimes called the nuchal cord? I have heard of the nuchal fold, but only very occasionally is the term nuchal cord used. Sheena Johnson -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] blood glucose testing
Hi Jo, Have you seen the WHO paper Hypoglycemia of the Newborn ? (I think that is the name of it and I think can be found on the WHO website). Very helpful for establishing guidelines around blood glucose testing and treatment. Meaghan Moon Brandon, Manitoba, Canada At 11:54 AM 9/18/02 +1000, you wrote: I'm sure you guys will be sick of me by now, but bad stuff just keeps happening when I'm around... A large baby was born: 4.590kg. Policy says the baby should have a BSL done because he was 'at risk' due to his size. BSL came back at 1.7mmol. Anything under 2.5 is unacceptable, and must be follwed by a TBG (True Blood Glucose) which is sent to the pathology lab for an accurate result. This often requires the baby to be pricked twice, as the BSL machine is just the same as those adult finger prick ones, and not enough blood for a TBG can usually be extracted. So if the BSL result comes back too low, a larger lancet (same as for a NST) is used to get a small vial of blood. Policy also says that you are not to wait for the TBG result before acting on the BSL result. So, this exclusively breast fed baby was given formula. Mum was consulted (after I told the midwife from SCN that of course you have to ask her first!) and reluctantly said, If he has to then I guess he has to... but can I still breast feed him? So the baby was given formula. (NO idea why not breast... I think because 'he is such a big boy and colostrum isn't enough for him'.) A little while after the formula was given, the result of the TBG came back as 3.6mmol. I couldn't believe it... this baby was given formula FOR NOTHING. The BSL is known to be inaccurate, especially when results come back under 3.0, which is why the TBGs are done. What I didn't get is why the TBG isn't done in the first place, skipping the BSL all together? My answer was that the TBG result takes too long to come back from the lab, and if the sugar is too low and the baby needs feeding now, there could be a bad outcome (brain damage, etc). I understand this, but this baby was showing NO sign of hypoglycaemia (and he wasn't hypo... he had a TBG of 3.6) and he could have quite safely waited for the TBG result... So, I put this to the manager of the SCN... She agrees that too many babies recieve formula unnecessarily, and agrees that a TBG should be the first line of glucose testing (especially for these once-off 'at risk' baby testing), but the response time for results need to be looked at. So that is what she is working out now, finding out if the TBG results, when marked URGENT can be returned sooner, so that there is not a too long waiting time. Hopefully this can happen and a known inaccurate peice of machinery can be removed! I hope this works out :) Jo Babies are Born... Pizzas are Delivered. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] Vaginal ultrasounds and dating
Hi Jo, I agree that professionals (often docs) don't listen to mothers enough about dates of conception, instead relying on u/s dates. And this is the beginning of negating the mother's experience and knowledge of her pregancy as far as I'm concerned. Where I work an LMP date almost seems superfluous to the docs. However, I always feel like my job is easier when mothers are certain about their LMP dates and when they had intercourse. Just a reminder though that the date of intercourse in not necessarily the date of conception. Remember sperm can live up to seven days in the reproductive tract so there is still window of seven days where conception could occur. That said, if a mother is certain of dates that is what I use for dating pregnancy over u/s. Just had to get in my .02 cents worth of biological info... Meaghan Moon Manitoba, Canada At 11:57 AM 9/8/02 +0930, you wrote: With my last child the doctor whom I was seeing to get into the bc for a vbac (yeah right!) asked me when my LNMP was and I was able to tell him the date we conceived. He questioned that and said I think you are a couple of weeks out there. Now my hubby had gone to Sydney for a few weeks and we only has sex once before he left and due the limited opportunity allowed by our other children, the time before was a long and distant memory(imposed celibacy or sibling contraception don't you love it! I am sure it is just a survival technique to ensure no more rivals!) ANYWAY..this doctor would not take the fact that I knew when I conceived so I ended up asking him if he was hiding under the bed when Dean and I had sex? He went red and promptly went on to tell me that I didn't look good on paper to be in the birth centre WHAT IS IT WITH PROFESSIONALS NOT ACCEPTING THAT SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE WRONG? on the topic of Vag US, there is a private OB here who has an astronomical cs rate and surprise surprise she gives vag US every visit... Jo Bainbridge founding member CARES SA email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED][EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: 08 8388 6918 birth with trust, faith love... - Original Message - From: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]Justine Caines To: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]OzMid List Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2002 11:17 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Vaginal ultrasounds They are routine where I work too... the obs use them to get more accurate dating. Eventhough most women know pretty much exactly the date of their LNMP... he still does it, to make sure. Ack. Jo Hi Jo and all Another furphy I suggest, as a vaginal US would be able to estimate the size of the foetus better I assume but still only place it against the averages of gestational sizes that US is based on, hence the +/- 2 weeks stuff. The routine totally unnecessary use of US is the catalyst to the induction craze. Women must be told their due date, hang knowing their own body, just throw it into the computer of averages!! As a consumer I get so sick of women needing to be told everything, totally discounting their role as the maker and birther of a baby!! At the same time I m branded as a lunatic for taking responsibility of my body and baby. Funny thing is that after this total abdication of responsibility in pregnancy and birth women are meant to fit back into society as normal citizens taking responsibility for themselves and baby (is this why we have so many post natal problems, women are lulled into a false sense of security and then on Day 6 postnatally whammo!). The notion of personal responsibility totally consistent with health policy for the last 10 years, but policy makers and governments refuse to hold obstetrics to account. I sincerely hope we are at the edge with the current PI crisis and NMAP helping to transform maternity services in this country. A little rattled this morning Justine Mum and responsible for Ruby nearly 3, Clancy 18 months and Will 2 months -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: FHM
Anne, Regarding frequency of auscultation of FH: I have read (I think in the in the AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetrical and Neonatal Nursing guidelines)) that the optimal frequency of auscultation during labour has not been established by research. In normal labour, once every 15-30 minutes in active labour and every 5-15 minutes or after every contraction in second stage are the commonly accepted frequencies (community standard) of auscultation, with extra auscultation with things like ROM, change in maternal status etc. There are ethical problems with conducting research to see if this frequency could be reduced which is kind of a bummer as I do find that sometimes it is disruptive to the flow of labour to be bugging the mum to listen when babe has been fine all along Regards, Meaghan Moon At 02:33 PM 5/25/02 +1000, you wrote: Dear All, Two things, 1. does anyone have the homepage address for Michel Odent? and 2. I cannot find any references for fetal heart monitoring (non electronic) and the frequency i.e. how often one should listen to the fetal heart. The WHO 'Care in Normal Birth: a practical guide' recommends 15min to half hourly during first stage then after every contraction during 2nd stage. However, it gives no reference that I can find 'why' that this time is recommended or how they came by this recommendation. I have searched Cochrane etc and of no use. I would appreciate anyone who can give me some references. With thanks, Anne Clarke -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: viruses
Sally, Yes, I understand most people don't do it knowingly (except for those who create them.) If people are using virus checkers they are less likely to spread them. We are having a disproportional number of them coming from the oz mid list, over a dozen since January. We are on several other lists in this household and we have never had a problem with viruses from them. I'm sorry if you took my request the wrong way. I didn't mean to sound attacking to anyone. It is just a plea. Just as it is a responsibility of those sexually active to practice safe sex, it is the responsibility of the computer user to practice safe computer use and regularly update their virus software. May be the list administrators can monitor the number of viruses passing through? Wanting to stay connected, Meaghan It isAt 03:26 PM 5/3/02 +1000, you wrote: I don't think anybody knowingly spreads viruses, more often they spread silently and unbeknownst to the 'sender'. Sorry that you feel this way. Sally - Original Message - From: Meaghan Moon [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 12:00 AM Subject: viruses Hello, Is any one else having problems with frequent viruses coming from this list? We have Norton antivirus but have still had problems with the occasional one getting through and causing serious (and costly) damage. I am feeling like I will have to uns*bscribe soon if this doesn't change. I will be sorry to lose my connection to Australian midwives. This is a plea to be careful about spreading things around ... Thank You, Meaghan Moon -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
moxibustion
Hello Oz midders, I have been following the thread of turning breeches with moxibustion with interest. Recently we had a woman in our practice with a frank breech at 33 weeks. I tried moxibustion at 36 weeks. Baby didn't turn and she had a c-section. This was the first time I had tried moxibustion. I was not prepared for how much smoke these sticks gave off. I gave the first treatment our clinic and it stunk the place up for days. It was a strange one to explain to clients coming in after the event. One client became very ill shortly after her exposure to the smoke. The parents took the moxa home with them and did it in the bathroom with the exhaust fan on but it was so smokey that it discouraged them from using it. Anyway, in Canada where we cannot open doors and windows at any time of year or expose bare toes in the outdoors this presents a problem. Anyone got a creative solution? Meaghan -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: prenatal group
Joy, How do you pronounce this word? I want to make sure I say it correctly. It also looks like a good one to use when you have one of those awful all vowel scrabble hands! Meaghan, This is the sense of the word 'maieutic', which means 'pertaining to the midwife'. It's a word we all need to learn and use frequently. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: scoliosis VBAC v/s vaginal birth
Hi Jan, I have helped a woman with severe scoliosis. Her curvature was in the upper back. She underwent surgery for it when she was young but she still has a very obvious curvature. She doesn't have a rod in her back as far as I know. In our discussions around her history she did not verbalize this to me. She came to me after having had two babies (in another province) so I did not anticipate any problems with her. She had all her babies vaginally. Her first baby was in hospital with the familiar chain of intervention, second at home with midwives, third at home with me. It would seem to me that what is relevent here is where in the back the curvature is. Does it affect the pelvis at all? The other relevent thing is what you have already stated regarding her lack of candidacy for an epidural. (Sometimes I wish I had more clients who fell into this category!!) Too bad in this case now she has the added black mark of two previous sections. It is so unfair how women get labelled like this when they weren't given an honest fair shake in the beginning. For us caregivers, it really underscores how important it is to facilitate normal birth for that first baby. It may be hard work, but it is not as difficult as witnessing and assisting with the grief that comes when women realize they have been misled and wounded unnecessarily. Meaghan At 07:00 PM 2/1/02 +1100, you wrote: Dear list, Does anyone out there have any experience in caring for women who have had scoliosis in childhood, which has led to surgery (involving insertion of a rod down the length of the spine to correct/stabilise the situation). I ask, as I have a friend who has experienced the above, having had surgery at the age of 14 due to severe scoliosis. She has since had two children, both born my caesarean under GA (now aged 5 and 8 years). On both occasions, she ruptured her membranes at 38 weeks, and was wisked into theatre there and then. She tells me she did experience some contractions after rupturing her membranes, and whilst in transit to hospital and waiting to go to theatre. She is planning to have another baby in the future, and has recently verbalised her concern, that maybe the caesareans were performed more out of ignorance or convenience in her situation. She accepts that an epidural may certainly have been out of the question given the rod in her back, however, she was never given an opportunity to discuss this further with doctors/anaesthetists during either pregnancy. She was never really told why she wasn't allowed to labour on both occasions, and now wonders if this was done out of fear or ignorance on the subject. She asked me as her friend and a midwife, what knowledge and experience I have regarding this sort of situation. I thought I would share this with the list to get other's views in the hope that maybe someone else out there has had a similar experience. I I presume the rod has some degree of flexibility, as this friend of mine has played netball over many years, and has also attended gyms in the past. She can sit, lie, knee, stretch, etc. She experienced absolutely no back problems during or following the previous pregnancies and births. I welcome your comments, thoughts, experiences! Jan -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
exercise in pregnancy
Hi Judy, Although exercise in pregnancy means way more than pelvic floor exercises I felt I had to let you know about a great workshop I went to last weekend. It is highly likely you Ozzies know about it already as it was developed in Brisbane. It was taught by a friend of mine who now lives in Brisbane. We have been very lucky in Canada to have her here to teach it. The workshop was called Pelvic Power. The Feldenkrais method is used to increase awareness of, and ability to use, the muscles of the pelvic floor. Emphasis is on integration of these movements into other every day movements of the body. I highly recommend this workshop for child bearing women and any woman who wants/needs to strengthen and have a new awareness of her pelvic floor. I just wish I had access to a Feldy here in the middle of the prairies who could teach all my mums this fantastic method. Apparently it is popular in Australia so maybe you are aware of it already. Meaghan At 09:01 AM 1/10/02 +1000, you wrote: Hi All, I am interested in running a women's info session on exercise in pregnancy and would appreciate any references/ resources you can help me with. Judy Chapman Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com.
Re: moving to Oz
Hi Marilyn, Great that you are off to Sydney soon. I am so longing to do the same. Do you have midwifery work lined up there? I am interested to hear how things unfold for you when you arrive. Is this a return to home for you or an adventure in a new land? To all you oz midders... I am wanting to move back down under sooner rather than later - possibly in October 2002 but if not then it will be July 2003 (which seems so far away). I have been on the list for a year now but still don't feel like I have any more sense of how or where I might be able to work in Oz. Your insurance troubles confound the issue. I have worked as a home birth midwife for eighteen years in Canada with a small but committted mostly rural practice. I have been registered in Manitoba for a year and a half which is how long we have had legal status here. Now I have hospital admitting privileges and some prescribing rights. As well I have been working as the first midwife registrar of the College of Midwives of Manitoba for the past year. With this job I have been involved in regulatory duties - registering midwives, interpreting legislation and standards, supporting midwives as they integrate as a new profession, organizing and facilitating committees, developing policy etc. I am registered with a job search agency which keeps me informed of midwifery postings in Australia and New Zealand but I know that word from ground level is what will get me truly connected into the scene. Any tips? Anybody looking for a midwife who loves home birth practice? I am worried about finances as your cities seem very expensive to live in but that is where I'd like to be. I will be leaving a good salary here... Meaghan -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
