Continuous Labour and Delivery Support
(Having a Doula for your birth within Cheryl's Practice is a non negotiable, the team consists of only experienced doulas with medical (Nursing or Midwifery) background.
Whilst reading: "The Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery"
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Number 1 - March 2014 (Reaffirmed 2016), one of my study texts for an exam I needed to sit this year, I came across a section of this paper that looks at what having a Doula for your birth could do;
"Published data indicate that one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula."
This conclusion was based on a meta analysis of 26 studies with over 15,000 participants, published in the Cochrane Review. https://www.cochrane.org/CD003766/PREG_continuous-support-women-during-childbirth Considering that the ACOG paper is trying to figure out what can be done to reduce the ridiculously high c section rate in many American Hospitals, and South African Private sector is actually far worse, ie. much higher rates of C section even than the hospitals in the America, I feel that doulas could be a valuable resource to help reduce the c section rate here in South Africa.
Within Cheryl's Practice, doulas are an essential part of the team and have always been recognised as providing the essential care required for a successful birth experience.
Suzanne Martin - Doula - Cheryl's Gentle Births
Whilst reading: "The Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery"
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Number 1 - March 2014 (Reaffirmed 2016), one of my study texts for an exam I needed to sit this year, I came across a section of this paper that looks at what having a Doula for your birth could do;
"Published data indicate that one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula."
This conclusion was based on a meta analysis of 26 studies with over 15,000 participants, published in the Cochrane Review. https://www.cochrane.org/CD003766/PREG_continuous-support-women-during-childbirth Considering that the ACOG paper is trying to figure out what can be done to reduce the ridiculously high c section rate in many American Hospitals, and South African Private sector is actually far worse, ie. much higher rates of C section even than the hospitals in the America, I feel that doulas could be a valuable resource to help reduce the c section rate here in South Africa.
Within Cheryl's Practice, doulas are an essential part of the team and have always been recognised as providing the essential care required for a successful birth experience.
Suzanne Martin - Doula - Cheryl's Gentle Births
"6 is the new 4"
This is our new philosophy, bang up to date us usual, we at Cheryl's Gentle Births are in full agreement with the American Association of Obstetricians. ACOG now believe, based on their research, that Friedman's curve, that for so long has guided the way we expect labour to progress, is actually outdated, and the active phase of labour only begins at around 6cm dilatation.
Only from 6cm can we expect labour to progress more quickly, and the latent, slow dilation, stage of labour to be left behind, the cervix then dilates more quickly up to the birth of the baby. This is so important, because we then don't put unrealistic pressure on our labouring moms to progress at the prescribed 1cm per hour (or 2 hours for first time moms) all the way from 4cm dilatation. In fact there is plenty of time to play with, without putting our moms or babies at risk.
These new guidelines are important as we know there is no need to be rushing in to intervene if labour is going slowly in the 4-6cm phase.
This is our new philosophy, bang up to date us usual, we at Cheryl's Gentle Births are in full agreement with the American Association of Obstetricians. ACOG now believe, based on their research, that Friedman's curve, that for so long has guided the way we expect labour to progress, is actually outdated, and the active phase of labour only begins at around 6cm dilatation.
Only from 6cm can we expect labour to progress more quickly, and the latent, slow dilation, stage of labour to be left behind, the cervix then dilates more quickly up to the birth of the baby. This is so important, because we then don't put unrealistic pressure on our labouring moms to progress at the prescribed 1cm per hour (or 2 hours for first time moms) all the way from 4cm dilatation. In fact there is plenty of time to play with, without putting our moms or babies at risk.
These new guidelines are important as we know there is no need to be rushing in to intervene if labour is going slowly in the 4-6cm phase.
Mother Led Pushing
For some time now we have been of the opinion that coached pushing in that final stage of birth is not necessary. So at Cheryls Gentle Births we usually don't even mention "pushing". Odd since this is a very important part of the birth process and it is very definitely pushing when you are the mom giving birth! So why do we avoid talking about it?
Well, we realised pushing can be a voluntary thing, so if the mom feels an expectation that she should now push, possibly she feels a slight urge and there is an anticipation that she is about to birth her baby, she can push, but the question is...Can she absolutely do nothing else? Can she breath through the contraction and NOT push? If she can, then in most cases, this is what she should do. Only when there is absolutely NOTHING ELSE that she can do, that is when she should be pushing.
This is the best way to achieve the holy grail of natural birth... no stitches!
For some time now we have been of the opinion that coached pushing in that final stage of birth is not necessary. So at Cheryls Gentle Births we usually don't even mention "pushing". Odd since this is a very important part of the birth process and it is very definitely pushing when you are the mom giving birth! So why do we avoid talking about it?
Well, we realised pushing can be a voluntary thing, so if the mom feels an expectation that she should now push, possibly she feels a slight urge and there is an anticipation that she is about to birth her baby, she can push, but the question is...Can she absolutely do nothing else? Can she breath through the contraction and NOT push? If she can, then in most cases, this is what she should do. Only when there is absolutely NOTHING ELSE that she can do, that is when she should be pushing.
This is the best way to achieve the holy grail of natural birth... no stitches!