Ancient Birth Mamma

And Postpartum Doula, Midwife Student, and Emah

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Birth Support

Hebrew Woman & Childbearing

Hebrew women gave birth in their own tents or houses. During labor they were surrounded by other women: a midwife, their relatives and friends, and female servants of the family. They would certainly have seen other women give birth, so they knew what to expect and what to do.
Hebrew women gave birth in a squatting position, above a hole hollowed out of the ground. On either side of the hole were bricks or stones for the woman to stand on. She was supported at her back and under her arms by other women, either midwives or family members. As soon as the baby was born, its umbilical cord was cut, it was washed and wrapped in long bands of cloth (swaddling bands), which held the limbs of the baby firmly, though not tightly.

It was obvious to the ancient Israelites that the central task of women, one that could not be taken over by anyone else, was childbirth. It was also obvious that women suffered in the process of giving birth. The explanation for this, according to Genesis, was that the original balance of creation had been disturbed: in an ideal world (that is, the Garden of Eden) birth would not bring suffering.

Types of Midwives

Direct entry (or lay midwife): A woman who entered midwifery through training by an experienced midwife, a self led study program, and/or attending a private midwifery school.

Certified Midwife (CM): A midwife who has been certified by a recognized program. It requires clinical experience and competency demonstration by oral and written exams.

Licensed Midwife (LM): A midwife licensed by the state. A licensed midwife can sometimes bill Medicaid and other insurance. You must learn if your state provides a state license exam.

Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): CPM Certification validates entry-level knowledge, skills and/or experience vital to responsible midwifery practice according to the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM).

Onnie Lee Logan, Grand Midwife

Author of “Mother Wit”

1910-1995

Continuous Labor Support Offers Big Benefits to Mothers & Babies,

Has No Known Downsides

– Support from Non-Hospital Caregivers Reduced Risk of Cesarean Birth by Impressive 26% –

New York, September 8, 2003 – A new comprehensive study describing the experiences of nearly 13,000 women has found that women who receive supportive care from a companion throughout labor are more likely than women without such care to avoid cesarean birth and other major medical interventions and to be satisfied with their birth experience. The study, "Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth," was carried out through the prestigious Cochrane Collaboration. This international organization prepares and keeps up to date rigorous

“systematic reviews” of the highest quality research in many areas of health and medicine. The researchers examined effects of continuous labor support by combining the weight of evidence from the best available studies. They limited their review to the gold standard study design known as a “randomized controlled trial” (RCT). The results of the new study are based on an impressive body of research, 15 high-quality RCTs.

Overall, women who received continuous labor support were less likely to experience:

Epidural or other regional analgesia
Any analgesia/anesthesia, including epidurals and opioids
Birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
Birth by cesarean
Dissatisfaction or a negative rating of their experience.

The authors concluded that all women should have support throughout labor and birth.

In addition to the importance of type of caregiver, the reviewers also found that continuous labor support was associated with greater benefits when it:

• began earlier in labor

• was used in settings in which epidural analgesia was not routinely available

• was used in settings in which women were not permitted to be accompanied by

companions of choice (such as a partner, friend, or family member).

Nonetheless, women experienced benefits from labor support even when begun later, used in settings with routine epidural, and used in settings where other companions were permitted.

Supportive care during labor and birth may include:

• helping women with physical comfort

• providing emotional support

• offering information

• helping women communicate their wishes to caregivers

• engaging women's husbands or partners, as desired by the couple.

“Continuous support during labor may enhance normal labor processes and thus reduce use of obstetric interventions,” said Dr. Sakala. “Continuous labor support is a remarkable element of maternity care that offers well-established benefits and has no known downsides,” she added. Leading options for continuous labor support in the U.S. include doulas, or trained labor support companions, and the assistance of a friend or family member who is invited to be present during

labor and birth.

Film: Consequences

Babywearing

The Pregnancy Files

A study from Queens University in Canada revealed that fathers-to-be actually DO experience shifts in their hormone levels during pregnancy: their testosterone production leveled off and increased again after the birth. What’s more their estrogen levels actually increase! There are also frequent reports of similar patterns in weight gain, nausea, constipation, and even hemorrhoids in dads-to-be!