Mother Me Midwifery

09/01/2025

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💠 THE RHOMBUS OF MICHAELIS 💠
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This area of the pelvis is formed by the lower lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum, and a ligament that extends from the skull to the sacrum. It’s often described as taking the shape of a kite.
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When the cervix is fully dilated in an undisturbed, physiological birth, the body often shows signs that the baby is moving down:
❤️ Reaching up to hold on.
❤️ The back arching.
❤️ The head tipping back.
❤️ Hands pressing against the back of the pelvis.
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These movements happen as the “kite” shifts backward, widening the pelvis and allowing the muscles to open. This adjustment creates crucial extra space for the baby’s shoulders to rotate and descend.
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Experienced traditional midwives may not feel compelled to check the cervix at this stage. They recognize these behaviors as natural signs of descent and know birth is close when the mother begins to “open her back.”
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Recognizing these instinctive patterns means we can trust the process, protect the mother’s space, and avoid unnecessary interventions.
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Sometimes, simply seeing is more powerful than touching. Unwanted hands can interrupt, intrude, and slow the flow of labor.
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-Love,
Flor Cruz

08/31/2025

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𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬, 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐧.

During a C-section, after the baby and placenta are delivered, the uterus must be carefully examined and repaired:

🔹 Step 1: Clearing and inspection.
The uterus can be exteriorized (brought outside of the abdominal cavity) so the surgeon has a clear view to check for bleeding and ensure the placenta has fully detached.

🔹 Step 2: Closing the incision
The cut in the uterus (usually in the lower segment) is closed with sutures. This is often done in two layers:
• The first layer stitches the muscle edges back together.
• The second layer reinforces and reduces bleeding, helping the scar heal stronger.

🔹 Step 3: Returning the uterus
Once the incision is secured and bleeding is controlled, the uterus is placed back into the abdominal cavity. The surgeon then closes the abdominal layers — peritoneum (sometimes), muscle, fascia, fat, and skin.

The uterus is an organ of pure muscle, designed to stretch and contract on a scale no other human organ can match.

And even after being cut, it has an incredible ability to heal and carry future pregnancies.

-Love,
Flor Cruz
/ .like.a.badass

08/30/2025

Read it again 🤰🏻

"Polar bears live in the arctic.

Koalas climb trees.

Orcas live in the ocean.

Human babies sleep with their mothers.

None of these statements are judgments.

None of these statements are arbitrary.

They’re simply statements of facts.

And although I concede that polar bears can survive in zoos in the tropics, they can’t thrive …because they’re polar bears.

And so too, human babies can survive sleeping separately from their mothers, but they can’t thrive…because they’re human babies.

The fact that stating a biological truth like this is controversial serves to highlight the extent to which our subconscious has become molded by western cultural expectations.

Expectations that were created by men who didn’t base their recommendations on the needs of babies (or mothers), but rather the wants of a 19th century adult-centric society.

Expectations that lead to profits for a multibillion dollar baby industry that thrives by making mothers feel inadequate…and then sells her a gadget to replace…her.

Expectations that propagate the idea that the success of a mother can be measured by the distance she is willing to put between herself and her baby.

Why do babies sleep with their mothers? Because it’s in our DNA. By design, we are breastsleepers.

Professor James McKenna reports that breastfeeding and mother-infant cosleeping have co-evolved, are inextricably linked and that breastfeeding acts as a “hidden regulator” to keep mothers and infants within close proximity to one another at night time.

Babies are born expecting to be close to their mothers most of the time.

Human infants are born 9 months prematurely compared to other mammals - they complete their gestation externally, which leads to terms like exterogestation and fourth trimester.

Birth is merely a point on the journey shared between mother and baby – it is not a beginning nor an end.

We continue to share our immune system with our baby. We continue to regulate their breathing, heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and their emotions. As far as our babies are concerned, all that has changed is location. Mother is still home, day and night." 📷: 💕

Raised Good

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08/25/2025

Liquid gold!

Scientists have discovered breastmilk isn’t just food.
It’s alive.

It holds living cells. Stem cells. Tiny exosomes that carry healing instructions through the body.
It can regulate the immune system. Reduce inflammation.
Some studies even suggest it may help fight cancer.

And if you need proof, look at the science. In labs, breastmilk literally stops bacteria from growing.

Your body makes something no lab can fully recreate.
Something that shifts and adapts to your child’s needs in real time.
Something so powerful, it’s reshaping what we know about medicine.

Share this if you’ve ever been in awe of what your body can do. You’re allowed to be proud ❤️ The Breastmilk Queen - Amy McGlade

08/21/2025

STOP with the 3D/4D ultrasounds! Just STOP! There, that's my rant today!

08/20/2025

Rare complication, but devastating when it occurs! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CH338AtgA/

Understanding placenta accreta spectrum is vital in obstetrics! This image clearly illustrates the different degrees of placental invasion into the uterine wall.

The top left panel shows a Normal placental implantation, where the placenta attaches to the decidua basalis but does not invade the myometrium (the muscular layer of the uterus). You can see the clear separation between the placenta and the uterine muscle.

Moving to the top right, we see Placenta Accreta. In this condition, the placenta implants and abnormally adheres to the myometrium. There is no intervening decidua basalis, leading to direct contact. The image also indicates a potential prior Cesarean scar, which is a known risk factor.

The bottom left panel illustrates Placenta Increta. Here, the placental villi invade even deeper into the myometrium.

Finally, the bottom right panel depicts Placenta Percreta, the most severe form, where the placental villi pe*****te through the entire thickness of the myometrium and may invade adjacent organs, such as the bladder.

These conditions pose significant risks during delivery, primarily due to the potential for severe hemorrhage during placental separation. Early diagnosis through ultrasound and careful planning for delivery are crucial in managing placenta accreta spectrum and ensuring the best possible outcomes for both mother and baby. Increased awareness and understanding of these conditions among healthcare professionals and expectant parents are essential.

08/15/2025

During pregnancy, fetal cells migrate out of the womb and into a mother’s heart, liver, lung, kidney, brain, and more. They could shape moms’ health for a lifetime, Katherine J. Wu reported in 2024:⁠ https://theatln.tc/W8aBhPp2
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The presence of these cells, known as microchimerism, is thought to affect every person who has carried an embryo, even if briefly, and anyone who has ever inhabited a womb. The cross-generational transfers are bidirectional—as fetal cells cross the placenta into maternal tissues, a small number of maternal cells migrate into fetal tissues, where they can persist into adulthood. ⁠
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Genetic swaps, then, might occur several times throughout a life. Some researchers believe that people may be miniature mosaics of many of their relatives, via chains of pregnancy: their older siblings, perhaps, or their maternal grandmother, or any aunts and uncles their grandmother might have conceived before their mother was born. “It’s like you carry your entire family inside of you,” Francisco Úbeda de Torres, an evolutionary biologist at the Royal Holloway University of London, told Wu.⁠
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Some scientists have argued that cells so sparse and inconsistent couldn’t possibly have meaningful effects. Even among microchimerism researchers, hypotheses about what these cells do—if anything at all—remain “highly controversial,” Sing Sing Way, an immunologist and a pediatrician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, told Wu. But many experts contend that microchimeric cells aren’t just passive passengers. They are genetically distinct entities. And they might hold sway over many aspects of health: our susceptibility to infectious or autoimmune disease, the success of pregnancies, maybe even behavior. ⁠
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If these cells turn out to be as important as some scientists believe they are, they might be one of the most underappreciated architects of human life, Wu writes.

08/15/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1ZqcAaaHsQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Let's talk about Rh incompatibility during pregnancy, a condition that can occur when the mother's blood type is Rh-negative and her baby's blood type is Rh-positive. 🩸 This image illustrates how this incompatibility can pose a risk and how medical interventions help protect the baby.

In the top panel, we see a simplified view of a pregnant woman with an Rh-negative blood type carrying an Rh-positive fetus. During pregnancy, a small amount of the baby's blood can sometimes mix with the mother's blood, especially during delivery.

The bottom left panel shows the mother's body being exposed to the baby's Rh-positive blood cells. The mother's immune system recognizes the Rh-positive antigens as foreign and starts producing antibodies (represented by blue triangles) against them. This process is called Rh sensitization.

The bottom right panel depicts a subsequent pregnancy where the mother has already developed Rh antibodies. If this new baby is also Rh-positive, these antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the baby's red blood cells, leading to a condition called hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).

Fortunately, medical advancements have made it possible to prevent HDFN. Rh-negative mothers receive an injection of Rh immunoglobulin (often called RhoGAM), which contains Rh antibodies.

These injected antibodies destroy any fetal Rh-positive blood cells in the mother's circulation before her immune system can produce its own antibodies, thus protecting future Rh-positive babies. Regular prenatal care and blood tests are crucial for identifying and managing Rh incompatibility.

08/14/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BHwaZiGhA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Have you ever wondered about the science behind how a single pregnancy, or a twin pregnancy, begins? This fascinating diagram provides an incredible look into the earliest stages of human development, showing the different pathways that lead to life.

It all starts with a zygote, the single cell formed after fertilization. The final outcome—a single baby, identical twins, or fraternal twins—depends on the number of zygotes and, in the case of identicals, the timing of a key split.
Let's break down the different paths:

* Path A: The most common journey. A single zygote divides and develops into a single baby.

* Paths B & C: These illustrate the development of identical twins, which originate from one single zygote. The key difference is when the split happens. In Path C, a very early split leads to twins with completely separate sacs and placentas, similar to fraternal twins. In Path B, a later split results in twins who share a single placenta and amniotic sac, which is a higher-risk pregnancy.

* Paths D & E: These represent fraternal twins, which begin with two separate zygotes from two different eggs and s***m. In most cases (Path E), each twin develops completely separately with its own placenta and sac. In some instances (Path D), the two separate placentas can fuse, making it appear as one.

This visual is a powerful reminder of the remarkable complexity and precision of human reproduction. Every pregnancy journey is a unique and wonderful process!

08/12/2025

Soapbox! 🤰🏽🤰🏼🤰🏻🤰🏾🤰Yep, you’ve herd this before 🤷🏻‍♀️

The physiological benefits of a baby’s head being squeezed through the birth canal are significant and multifaceted. This process, known as molding, helps shape the baby’s head to facilitate a safer and more manageable delivery. The compression aids in expelling amniotic fluid from the baby’s lungs, clearing the airways for the first breath. Additionally, the pressure stimulates the release of stress hormones, which help the baby transition from the intrauterine environment to the external world, enhancing alertness and adaptation to new surroundings.

The molding of the skull during birth also encourages the alignment and overlapping of the cranial bones, allowing the head to conform to the shape of the birth canal. This ability to compress and then gradually return to a more rounded shape is critical for protecting the brain during delivery. Their heads typically reshape themselves within a few days to weeks after delivery.

Tips to round out baby’s head:
* Alternate the direction in which you place baby down to sleep as well as on the changing table so that they’re not always looking in the same direction.
* If baby’s bottle feeding, you may have a preferred side to feed on, depending on if you’re right- or left-handed. But changing sides regularly may encourage baby to turn their head in both directions. Make sure to switch breastfeeding positions occasionally as well
* Avoid leaving your baby for extended periods of time in a container like the car seat, stroller, infant seat, baby swing, baby carrier, or any other place where their head is likely to rest on the same spot for long periods of time
* Have baby spend time in tummy time and side lying, not just on their back
* Baby wearing also promotes a round head
* Alternate where you place baby to play. It’s ok to occasionally put baby in a baby container, but keep it fresh. A baby bouncer will hold their head in a different way than being on the floor. Changing positions will give them new things to look at and ways to explore