Birthing Barakat

02/02/2022

Did you have IV fluids during your birth? Something to consider. I included some studies on this at the end.

From Freya Birth

EARLY INFANT WEIGHT LOSS
Until now, weight loss during the first 3 to 4 days after birth has been considered one indicator of how early breastfeeding is going. If on Day 4 a newborn’s weight loss is in the average range of 5% to 7%, this usually means breastfeeding is going well. Nearly all babies lose some weight after birth.
But when babies lose more than 7% of birth weight during these early days, does this automatically mean they are not getting enough milk? Nope! Not according to recent studies.
A greater weight loss may be completely unrelated to breastfeeding and due instead to excess IV fluids mothers receive within the final 2 hours before delivery. These excess IV fluids inflate babies’ birth weight in utero and act as a diuretic after birth. Babies whose mothers received more IV fluids before birth urinated more during their first 24 hours and as a result lost more weight.
This was true whether the babies were born vaginally or by c-section.
This weight loss has nothing whatsoever to do with breastfeeding and milk intake. If you want a more accurate measurement, you should use the babys birth weight at 24 hours as the starting point instead of directly after birth.
📷: Salt City Birth and Newborn Photography

https://internationalbreastfeedingjournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/1746-4358-6-9

https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-2663

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1948093/

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/iv-fluids-during-labor/

https://sci-hub.se/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2011.01321.x

http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/articles/2011/10/31/newborn-weight-loss-and-iv-fluids-in-labor.html

10/31/2021

10/30/2021

The last in our mini-series: Hormones in Labor

What do we need to know about Adrenaline in labor??

Adrenaline is our 'fight' or 'flight' hormone that is released in stressful or threatening situations. With the exception of right before baby is born, releasing adrenaline has a negative impact on birth. This release right before birth can be normal and is part of why mom and baby are typically alert right after birth.

Adrenaline's Role In Labor:
-blocks release of oxytocin
-can stall labor (or in severe cases cause a precipitous birth)
-Increases heart rate
-Is released with stress and fear
-Can be triggered by bright lights, unfamiliar faces, stressful questions, startling during contractions.

10/28/2021

With all of the changing hormones, shifts in responsibility and existing in an entirely new reality after birth, postpartum anxiety is very common. If you are experiencing any of these signs, you don't have to suffer in silence. Talking to your care provider or hiring a postpartum doula can be two great ways to work towards a solution.

10/26/2021

The next in our mini-series: Hormones in Labor

Let's learn about Melatonin's role in birth! Many are familiar with this in relation to sleep. It works synergistically with oxytocin.

Melatonin's role in labor:
-boosts the release of oxytocin
-is released in dark & quiet settings
-is inhibited by bright lights and noise

Melatonin is crucial in labor to keep us relaxed and ready for birth!

10/24/2021

Beautiful photo reposted from .bridgewater

Are you ready for some twin facts that will blow your mind??

✨According to a recent CDC report, the birth rate for twins has increased 76 percent since 1980!

✨There is a gene that causes women to release more than one egg (hyper-ovulation), which increases her chances of having fraternal twins. This gene can be passed down!

✨According to research published in the journal Institute of General Linguistics, about 40 percent of twins invent their own languages

✨When the fetuses were just 14 weeks old, researchers have noticed that the pairs seemed to be reaching out for each other, touching head to head and arm to head. At 18 weeks, they were stroking each other more often and were in physical contact about 30 percent of the time.

✨University of Utah researchers found that moms of twins tend to live longer than moms without twins.

✨There are more than just fraternal and identical twosomes; other rare twin types include “half identical twins” (when the egg splits and then each half is fertilized) and mirror image twins (identical twins who develop asymmetrically).

10/22/2021

The first of a mini-series of posts: Hormones in Labor. Let's talk about oxytocin!

Oxytocin is the "feel good" hormone, and is released when someone feels safe, cared about, loved, with sexual touch and massage. Fear and adrenaline interfere with oxytocin's release.

Oxytocin's Role in Labor:
-causes uterine contractions
-aids in bonding
-provides natural euphoria
-in postpartum period, it triggers let-down reflex for breastfeeding

10/20/2021

Reminder: Trust that your body knows how to safely guide your baby out of your womb and into your arms. Millions of women from all around the world have done it, and so can you. Your body knows what to do, now all you have to do is trust it.

10/18/2021

You may know this from personal experience, or you may have seen it in movies: pregnant women are often categorized as an emotional wreck. Well guess what, it's because your hormones *are* going a little crazy. Here are some very normal emotional changes to expect with each trimester

10/16/2021

"The experience of giving birth changes us; it changes what we value in birth and in life. It teaches us about ambivalence and uncertainty. It is a lesson in control and its limits"
-Anne Lyerly