This is Aelfgifu and Andrea, my primary doula client(s) right now.
She is pregnant with twins, and due in August,

I found this on a blog I was reading called "at your cervix"
written by a labor and delivery nurse and wanted to repost it.
Very good advice.


How to have a natural birth in a hospital setting

Natural births are my favorite "type" of birth. However, giving birth in a hospital and giving birth naturally seem to not co-exist on the same plane sometimes. As an L&D nurse, I can give you some handy hints and tips on how to achieve a natural birth in a hospital setting, if that is what you desire.

1. Find a good practice that has midwives. Ask for referrals from pregnant friends for natural birth promoting midwife and/or obstetrician practices. Yes, there are some awesome doctors out there who promote natural birth.
2. Do not allow your doctor or midwife to talk you into a medically unnecessary induction. Most inductions are medically unnecessary (post dates, baby is too big, baby is too small, blood pressure starting to rise but you're not preeclamptic, advanced maternal age, maternal exhaustion, convenience, elective inductions, social inductions, diabetic mother, hypothyroidism, etc....I could list more).
3. Educate yourself on pregnancy. Read books about pregnancy. Join a support group online.
4. Take childbirth education classes that focus on preparing you for natural childbirth.
5. Practice breathing techniques.
6. Learn how to preform self-hypnosis (also known as Hypnobirthing).
7. Learn about focal points and visualization. Pick some focal points or have some images handy to focus on during your labor. (My personal favorite was imagining a rose slowly opening with each contraction, the rose symbolized my cervix.)
8. Although you have pain with contractions, the contraction are over in about 60 seconds. You can do anything for 60 seconds.
9. Each contraction brings you closer to seeing and holding your newborn.
10. Plan to labor at home as long as you possibly can. The sooner you arrive at the hospital, the greater chance you have of medical interventions.
11. Formulate a birth preference list that is sensible, and reasonably thought out. Do not just cut and paste a cookie cutter birth plan from the internet. Be open to changes as deemed reasonable. Your birth preference list should be no more than a half page of paper.
12. Let your provider know of your intentions for a natural birth as soon as possible. If they make you feel uncomfortable in any way of your choices, find a different care provider.
13. Learn ahead of time what the "standard protocol" is on your labor and delivery unit for laboring patients. Usually, they require a minimum of a reactive non-stress test on external fetal monitoring, which can be done in as little as 15-20 minutes.
14. You can refuse anything offered to you, but be reasonable - periodic fetal monitoring is for your baby's well-being. Continuous fetal monitoring is more for your care provider's ease in doing their job (because your nurse is usually caring for more than 1 laboring woman at a time).
15. An IV is not needed to give birth naturally, provided that you do not need IV antibiotics for being group B strep positive. Even with antibiotic treatment, make sure you are unhooked from the IV fluids and left with only a "hep well" or "saline lock" left in place.
16. Ambulation in labor is important. Keep moving in early labor, with periods of rest. Stay upright as much as you can in active labor.
17. Use of hydrotherapy helps with labor pains, and can also help make your labor progress. Use the shower or tub (if available). Stay hydrated with oral fluids (water, juice, etc).
18. Believe in yourself and the power of your body!
19. Make sure that your partner supports you emotionally, as well as physically for your plans of a natural birth.
20. The birth process is a very empowering time period in a woman's life, and it can and will leave lasting impressions in your mind.
21. Speak up for what you believe in. Don't be afraid to say no if you don't agree with something. Ask questions.
22. Hire a doula, if so desired, to help you achieve your natural birth.

this is a grateful dead song, but i reminds me of the time leading up to becoming a Christian and, the time after, at the Land.


There were days, and there were days
And there were days between
Summer flies and August dies
The world grows dark and mean
Comes the shimmer of the moon
On black infested trees
The singing man is at his song
The holy on their knees
The reckless are out wrecking
The timid plead their pleas
No one knows much more of this
Than anyone can see
Anyone can see

There were days, and there were days
And there were days besides
When phantom ships with phantom sails
Set to sea on phantom tides
Comes the lightning of the sun
On bright unfocused eyes
The blue of yet another day
A springtime wet with sighs
A hopeful candle lingers
In the land of lullabies
Where headless horsemen vanish
With wild and lonely cries
Lonely cries

There were days, and there were days
And there were days I know
When all we ever wanted
Was to learn and love and grow
Once we grew into our shoes
We told them where to go
Walked halfway around the world
On promise of the glow
Stood upon a mountain top
Walked barefoot in the snow
Gave the best we had to give
How much we'll never know
We'll never know

There were days, and there were days
And there were days between
Polished like a golden bowl
The finest ever seen
Hearts of Summer held in trust
Still tender young and green
Left on shelves collecting dust
Not knowing what they mean
Valentines of flesh and blood
As soft as velveteen
Hoping love would not forsake
The days that lie between
Lie between