Class 2. Pregnancy Nutrition

What is one thing that mom has control over in her pregnancy that can help keep her healthy, provide for her unborn baby, keep her low-risk and in turn provide her with options in her pregnancy, labor and birth? Her eating habits! Our dietary choices have a significant impact on our health and our baby's health.

In week two we talk about a pregnancy diet that has been proven to keep mom healthy and reduce her risk of preeclampsia and toxemia. You will discover ways to incorporate healthier choices into your diet and ways to make it fit your budget a bit easier.

The bottom line with nutrition is its impact on your pregnant health is far more important than many realize. The mom who is healthy is labled low-risk and that mom has choices, the mom who is high-risk, has far less.

Nutrition . Kitchen Tools

Exercise . Athletes in Pregnancy

Relaxation . Palpation and Auscultation

Homework . Research Assignment:
Gestational Diabetes

Class 3. Gestation and Pre/Perinatal Psychology

Ask any mother who has carried a baby in her womb if she felt a connection between herself and her unborn baby and you will likely get a resounding yes! Mother have known, since the beginning of time, an intimate relationship with their unborn child. For some, it's an active relationship. For others, it's a quiet, subtle one. Science is starting to catch up with what mothers already know. Babies are aware of us. They react to our emotions, energy and very beings.

In week three, we will explore this connetion, this relationship with mom and baby. We will also look at the monthly growth and development that baby, mom and dad go through as they travel along the path of pregnancy.

Nutrition . Meat and Eggs

Exercise . Walking

Relaxation . Belly Mapping

Homework . Birth Philosophy

Class 4. First Stage and Transition of Labor

Labor pains, they are highly feared, talked about in stories of great intensity, and most women are encouraged to go out of their way to avoid them or run from them. But what if, just what if, they were given to us for a reason, that we experience them for a reason, being part of our design?

When a woman learns to understand the mecahnics of labor, when she learns to surrender to the intensity of the contractions, when she discovers that the birth of her child is is far greater than herself, she becomes a mother whose bond with her child is unbreakable. Labor, while it can be intense beyond any intensity ever experienced elsewhere, it is given to us for a reason. When mom embraces it, she grows from it!

Nutrition . Dairy

Exercise . Tailor Sitting

Relaxation . Rebozo

Homework . Research Assignment:
Group B Strep

Class 5. Second and Third Stage Labor

The second and third stages of labor are the stages truly of birth. This is the time when the baby and the placenta are pushed out. For many women, the act of pushing is like a reward for all the hours of labor when they wanted to "do" something, but could only hold on during the contractions. For other women, these stages are
a time of challenge as they allow their body to open up to it's ultimate expanse to release a child. While the labor contractions are intense and require much relaxation, pushing is the ultimate of submission to something quite large. The way a woman's body allows the release of a child is truly a miracle! Equally amazing is the third stage and the release of the placenta, an organ that seemingly appears out of no where to bring life to
your child! This is BIRTH, real and raw!

Nutrition . Carbohydrates

Exercise . Pelvic Rocking

Relaxation . Warmth Relaxation

Homework . Research Assignment:
Continuous Fetal Monitoring

Class 6. Coaches Role
Dad's can be a vital component to the birth of their children. When a child is born, not only does mom's life flip over, so does Dad's. The more prepared Dad is, the better he can help in labor and more importantly, throughout their children's life. It's very common to see the bond that Dad creates with his child in birth cement their
relationship for the many days and years to come!

Many moms who prepared actively with their partners in pregnancy speak of dad's role after the birth as being vital. They say words like "I couldn't have done it without him!" "He was the greatest coach!" "I 'could' have done it without him, but I am so glad I didn't!"

Dad's often feel lost or confused at birth, but with a little preparation and communication prior to the "big day", Dad will feel much more prepared and excited to play an important role in the birth of his child!

Nutrition . Carbohydrates

Exercise . Pelvic Rocking

Relaxation . Warmth Relaxation

Homework . Research Assignment:
Continuous Fetal Monitoring

Class 7. Interventions Part 1

Induction, medications, extraction and ultrasound.
These things, while very common in the obstetric
world, are often very misunderstood. Moms and
families often consent to medications and treat-
ments they have only the most superficial know-
ledge of. If families had more of the facts concerning the risk of these things, the occurence and usage of these elments would likely decrease
significantly. There is a use for all these tools and
when used appropriately they can be of utmost
value. But...do most moms and families have all
the tools and education necessary to make these
decisions safely? I challenge you to learn more
first before doing something you can not reverse.

Nutrition . Complex carbs

Exercise . Kegels

Relaxation . Muscle Observation

Homework . Visit with a mom

Class 8. Interventions Part 2

Cesareans, VBACs, breech babies, multiples, genetic screenings, cord around the neck and gestational diabetes. It seems like the list never ends. Once again the question must be asked, how much does mom and her family know before having to make serious decisions about these common variations.

Cesareans, did you know the World Health Organization recommends a national rate of 10-15 percent? Less than 10% implies that there are moms and babies hurt or dying because of lack of technology. While more than 15% shows that moms and babies are hurt or dying because of an overuse of technology. Do you know where the US stands on cesarean rates? A big, whopp-
ing 32%! My goodness, that means one in three? Will it be you?

Nutrition . Simple carbs

Exercise . Swimming

Relaxation . Finding the Area of Tension

Homework . Research Assignment:
Circumcision

Class 9. Postpartum for the Baby

As newborns, humans go through probably the most complex transition of their life. Changing from a being living in water, to an air-breather, talk about a serious transition, and that's just the start of things! When your baby is born, there are many things you will need to consider, things like the antibiotics placed in your newborn's eyes, the heel prick test, the vitamin K inject-
ion, and circumcision are just a few of the many considerations. Moms are so excited to meet their babies, many eagerly accept an induction just to meet baby a tad sooner then if they had been patient and yet caring for your baby is never easier than it was while they were in the womb. The postpartum period is a time of great joy and interesting transitions.

Nutrition . Vitamins and Minerals

Exercise . Yoga

Relaxation . Foot Massage

Homework . Birth place scavenger hunt

Class 10. Postpartum for the Mom

When a baby is born, so is a mother! Transitioning from a single person to being two, the mother-baby is a huge adjustment, to say the very least! As mom enters the postpartum period, even if it isn't her first child, she is entering a time significant transition. This period can be so beautiful and yet it can be so painful. When a mom can surround herself with family and friends who are able to lift her up, support her, and help her along the way, this interesting time in her life, can be a wonderful one! As women these days, we try to "do all" and "be all" for those in our lives. We hadve troubles slowing down and even more importantly, we have troubles asking and
accepting help. This may be one of the biggest reasons moms have troubles transitioning in the postpartum period. It is okay to ask for help and it is ok to accept it. By allowing others to aid us as we transition, we teach our children that it's ok to seek help...a very valuable lesson for all of us!

Nutrition . Fruits and Vegetables

Exercise . Pilates

Relaxation . Ice Relaxation Technique

Homework . Research Eye Ointment

Class 11. Creating Your Birth Plan

Benjamin Franklin once said "failing to plan is planning to fail". Now using the words "fail" in regard to birth is not necessarily the best of words, but I hope the message is clear. When you take the time to learn all you can learn
prior to a big event, an important event, a life changing event, you are planning. With birth you can not plan, to: A, go into labor on such-and-such day. B, have a particular gender. C, dictate the length of the labor process, and yet by learning all you can learn ahead of time, taking that knowledge to your care provider and discussing your options, you discover the realm of possibilities as you move closer and closer to the day of your baby's birth. You should never refer to a birth as a failure, but there is failure to take responsibility for your birth, there is failure
to communicate your desires with your care providers there is even failure to prepare yourself for the changes in store for you. Thankfully educating yourself prior to your birth is planning for success!

Nutrition . Fats, Salts and Water

Exercise . Dancing

Relaxation . Breathing together and opposite

Homework . Birth Plan

Class 12. Nursing

Mommas milk, the most perfect food for our babies! Why then do we see so many babies drinking formula out a bottle? We know that breastmilk is perfect in every way. Breastmilk is a live substance, changing from feeding-to-feeding depending upon the needs of the baby. It helps
with future dental issues for baby, it allows them to experience their full IQ potential, babies breastfed have fewer illnesses including ear-aches and colic. The benefits don't end there, either. They benefit mom as well. Mom has a lower chance of breast cancer if she has nursed her baby, she loses weight easier and generally
delays the return of both her period and her fertility. With proper support from educated lactation counserlors, supportive La Leche League meetings, and friends and family, nursing the baby could be the easiest, most precious gift a mother could ever give herself and her baby!

Nutrition . Baby's first foods

Exercise . Belly Dancing

Relaxation . Progressive Relaxation

Homework . Writing your birth philosophy