{my precious first born, Bishop}
Sorry I haven't been great about updating you all on my Hypnobabies home study. I know several of you were really interested in hearing about it and let me tell you friends I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole study....the calmness I get from the CDs and the great information I've learned from the workbook. I'm so glad to have chosen this birthing method.
Here are a couple of things that I hadn't thought of until I read about them in the workbook but they have since been added to my birth plan....
{breathing baby out}
This means that when it comes time to push you instead relax, open your mouth and say "Ahhh" as the pressure waves (contractions) begin. When you open your mouth you open up all the way down and allow a relaxed path for your baby to naturally come down. Your facial expression mimics what your bottom does. I loved this idea. With my son I pushed like a champ! So hard in fact that my contacts got lodged back in my eyeballs and I couldn't see him after he was born until I fished them out and regained my vision. It is also suggested to get into positions like squatting or lying on your side instead of laying flat on your back. That only makes sense because of gravity but for some reason it is not practiced routinely during deliveries.
{delayed cord clamping}
For several minutes after baby is born they continue to get oxygen, lots white blood cells, antibodies and even his or her own stem cells through the umbilical cord. Delayed clamping can also help with iron and prevention of infant anemia. The World Health Organization recommends waiting 3 minutes or until pulsating stops to clamp.
{delayed bathing}
Did you know the white stuff called vernix that your baby comes out with on their skin actually serves a purpose? It's super moisturizing and antimicrobial. It can protect against E. coli and group B. strep. Interestingly the less time your baby spends in the womb the more vernix they will have to help them stay healthy when they are more vulnerable to infection. It's really quite genius and amazing when you think about how every little detail of their existence and survival was thought out and planned. Skin care companies have even researched and tried to mimic this natural cold cream. To ensure that your baby gets all the benefits of the vernix first dry them off and then simply rub it into their skin. Save their first bath for several days or even a week or two after their birth. You be the judge of when you think they need it!
{Bishop prior to a bath, one of my favorite pictures}
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