childbirth Archives - Hormones Matter

Childbirth in America

Published on September 20, 2022

4250 views

I recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on February 14, 2020. He is my second child, but this pregnancy and delivery were nothing like the first. Both my son and I almost died during the delivery, and physician negligence during the pregnancy could have left me paralyzed and without bladder and bowel control. We both survived, thanks in part to a nurse who happened to walk in just as my child fell out of me with his cord tangled around his neck, and a spinal surgeon who took my pain seriously and rushed me into emergency surgery a few days later.

Childbirth with Herniated Discs and Physician Negligence

Over the course of my pregnancy, I developed severe back pain. It had become so bad that by week 39, I could no longer walk on my own, needed assistance bathing, and couldn’t even I couldn’t reach my own bum to wipe anymore. After months of being ignored by my OBGYN and leaving her office sobbing because she wouldn’t take me seriously, I finally called her and made her induce me on Thursday, February 13th. I thought once my son was delivered, the back pain would be resolved. It did not. In fact, it got worse and I required emergency surgery to fix two herniated discs just days after I delivered my child, but I am getting ahead of myself.

I grabbed my bags and headed to the emergency room where they took me up to labor and delivery to get checked in. During this long process, it was difficult to even lay on my own bed without moaning in pain. They wouldn’t supply me with a walker because the hospital doesn’t supply them to patients without prescribing physical therapy even though they knew my back was bad and I was at risk for falling (I had started falling for two weeks because my back couldn’t support my own weight) and as a result, I had my father and brother bring me my walker from home so I could go to the bathroom on my own. The nurses up until that point just pushed me around on a stool with wheels. The doctor never really checked on me but the nurses were really sweet.

All day my son was kicking my belly so hard the monitors would move and the nurses would come back into the room and find his heartbeat again then would leave. They kept calling my son the perfect textbook baby because of his vitals and activity. I started on a pill that slowly induced me and then put on Pitocin when the pill wasn’t working quickly enough. Most of my first day was a blur filled with tons of pain and being moved from room to room. I saw my doctor maybe a total of twice and had no idea the crap show that was about to go down.

My best friend and my auntie showed up sometime during the day on February 14th, 2020, and gave me company and support. My son’s father wasn’t in the picture my entire pregnancy. He ran when he found out I was pregnant – kinda like Forrest Gump. I had family and friends take over loving me unconditionally through my hard times. My mother was right by my side the entire time; every single doctor appointment and every contraction. My mother was always there.

Throughout the day, my son would kick the monitors off because he was strong and active. The nurses would come in and find the heartbeat and leave. Like usual. After a while, the Pitocin started doing its job. The contractions became more and more intense. At this point, I had only seen my doctor twice and would see her only four times in over 24 hours. Most of the updates came from the nurses over the phone to my OBGYN. It seemed like when the OBGYN checked on me it was a burden to her because she had to induce me, and didn’t stick around to talk to me or really see how I was feeling. It was a wham bam thank you ma’am scenario.

By late afternoon the contractions were terrible and they moved me to my final room for delivery. They made me walk. I could barely get to my room using my walker. A grumpy nurse rolled her eyes at me. I know she was thinking I was being dramatic. By the time I got to my room I was in some of the worst pain I had felt in years. I could barely stand and it felt like breathing was a chore. The nurse told me to take a shower because I stunk and needed to clean up. I remember just standing in the shower praying. Hoping that my pain would stop in my spine sometime soon. My contractions shot through my spine, down my left leg, and into my foot. I was just thinking about how every contraction I go through would just be that much closer to seeing my sweet son’s face for the first time.

Something Was Wrong

After hours of breathing through my contractions and holding my composure, I started to panic. The pain became unbearable. I demanded an epidural, which took hours to get. I remember screaming how it felt like the baby was going to fall out. My friend and my aunt kept trying to tell the nurses. Nurses would tell me that since I didn’t feel like I had to poop or push I was just fine. I was finally given my epidural two hours later. The entire time I was repeating myself, “I’m serious it feels like he’s going to fall out!!” The doctor came in and checked me. I was dilated to 7, and then right after the OBGYN decided since it was Valentine’s Day she would go have dinner with her husband. The nurses had to tell her to stay. I could tell she was irritated.

Not too much longer after I received my epidural and the pain had almost completely subsided and they drained my bladder. I rolled to my side, a nurse slid a giant peanut-looking pillow/ball filled with air between my legs and I started to close my eyes. I didn’t sleep the entire time I was there. Not even thirty minutes go by and one of the residents that was learning comes in to find my son’s heart on the monitor. She couldn’t find it. Minutes passed and another nurse of 35 years came in and asked the resident if she needed help. She said yes. After minutes go by and both of them couldn’t find the heartbeat I started to sense their panic. I remember the nurse said, “That’s weird. I wonder if…”

Then she threw back the blanket that was covering me, I also just then felt something brush against my thigh very lightly. I heard a gasp from both of them. My mother and best friend stood up and I watched in horror. The nurse hit the button for code blue. My son had fallen out of me with the cord wrapped around his neck twice. I don’t know how long he had been there because they hadn’t checked me in some time and I couldn’t really feel anything since the epidural. The nurse didn’t even have time to put on gloves and immediately was yanking at the cord to get it loosened from around his neck.

My son was completely blue. He wasn’t responding or breathing. The nurse then yanked my placenta out with force, which then caused me to start bleeding to death. I remember watching a river of blood cover the bed and was flowing onto the floor. I looked up and saw my mother and best friend just holding each other, terror on both of their faces. I remember my body going cold like I stepped into a freezer. My body tingling all over, and I was seeing black dots almost like fireflies that buzzed around the room. I went into shock and I couldn’t stop saying how my son was blue. I couldn’t stop repeating myself. “My son is blue. He is blue. Why is he blue?” I was eerily calm and it was hard to think. I vaguely remember blinking hard a few times to try and wake up. I thought this was just a nightmare.

A bunch of nurses poured into my room and as they were trying their best to bring my son back, they were also weighing my blood loss. My doctor had come into the room and was upset because I didn’t tell anyone I felt the need to push. We had told them for two hours how it felt like my son was “falling out” when in fact that is just what he did. No pushing at all. They stopped my bleeding eventually. I was so tired and woozy, but I finally heard my son cry. He was alive. Purple, red, and face bruised, but he was alive and I was alive.

Another Rough Night

After things had settled down my best friend headed home and my mom was by the baby and my side all night. The nurses decided with my past issues with seizures, they would put padded bumpers around my bed making it impossible for me to get out, especially with my excruciating back pain. By then, I could barely move and my adrenaline was still going. I was freaking out. My son had swallowed fluid before falling out and so his lungs had suffocated him throughout the night multiple times. All night, nurses would rush in to clear his airways. I was worried he would have brain damage through everything he had gone through. I had issues getting out of bed to help my son and had to rely on the nurse’s button and my mom to pretty much run in the room to assist my son. I couldn’t sleep. I felt like if I closed my eyes for one second my son would die. It was a constant issue throughout the night and kept praying that my son would be okay and healthy.

They kept my son an extra day to monitor him and get his jaundice under control. It was weird watching my son turn yellow before my eyes. Even his tiny nose was yellow. I just wanted to take my son home and lay down next to him. Both my mother and my friend said that not only did they think they were witnessing the worst day of my life, they thought I was going to die too. My mom thought she was going to lose us both. If that nurse didn’t walk in when she did, the chances of my son surviving was very slim to none. She saved my son’s life and for that, I am blessed. The Lord was watching over us.

Emergency Back Surgery Just 3 Days After Delivery

After my son was checked by his pediatrician for his jaundice that Monday and he had given us the thumbs up for recovery, I gimped into the hospital to find out that I had two herniated discs and I was to have emergency surgery. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital to have surgery the very next day. My spinal doctor had informed me the damage was so bad he believes I was almost paralyzed. He was surprised that I hadn’t lost bladder and bowel control already. All through the pregnancy, I complained to my OBGYN about my back and she ignored me, even when I could no longer walk by myself.

Recovering From a Traumatic Delivery

After the surgery, I am doing much better. Although my back is sore, I still achieved my goal to go back to breastfeeding my baby and I am able to walk on my own again with no assistance. I wouldn’t wish what I have gone through on my worst enemy. I thought I carried my son to full term just for him to die in front of me. Now I just stare at his sweet little face feeling undying love. I have two healthy boys and God is so good.

Due to the complications and trauma, I have experienced, I have issues still today sleeping. My brain doesn’t want to shut off and when my son sleeps I make sure he is breathing all night, waiting for one of my family members to take watch so I can get rest. It has been a difficult few months and the delivery was especially scary. I am grateful that both of us made it, but what I went through shouldn’t happen to anyone else.

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More people than ever are reading Hormones Matter, a testament to the need for independent voices in health and medicine. We are not funded and accept limited advertising. Unlike many health sites, we don’t force you to purchase a subscription. We believe health information should be open to all. If you read Hormones Matter, like it, please help support it. Contribute now.

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This story was published originally on March 6, 2020.

Maternity Care: US Versus Malaysia

by Valerie Lynn McDonough

Published on February 23, 2015

4091 views

Undoubtedly, one of the happiest times of family life may also be one of the most stressful if a pregnant woman, in the United States, finds herself without health insurance, or with health insurance that doesn’t cover maternity care. Between, 1993-2007, the average cost of an uncomplicated cesarean section more than doubled; and the cost of an uncomplicated vaginal delivery tripled. “Looking at a sample of 9 states, researchers found that 17% to 41% of childbearing women lacked insurance before coming pregnant,” says Carol Sakala, director of programs at Childbirth Connection, a nonprofit organization that works on behalf of mothers and babies to improve the quality of maternity care in the U.S. “While 13% to 35% of the pregnant women qualified for Medicaid coverage, many either didn’t qualify or didn’t apply, finding private insurance or paying out of pocket,” Sakala says.

Let’s examine the costs, of what is considered essential care, associated with having a baby in the United States today. The average cost of prenatal care is roughly $2,000, which covers about fourteen doctors’ visits. High risk pregnancies normally incur more tests and monitoring, which significantly increases prenatal expenditures. Add an additional $0-$300 per test, should blood work, or any other test, be deemed necessary by an OBGYN. The cost of an ultrasound or sonogram costs $100 – $1,000, with an average number of 1-3 during a low-risk pregnancy. An amniocentesis test ranges between $1,100 and $2,000, depending on the facility. The average hospital charge for an uncomplicated cesarean section is $15,800; while an uncomplicated vaginal birth runs about $9,600. A hospital stay afterward can easily increase bills to anywhere from $10,000-25,000. The price range varies widely from area to area and will depend greatly on where a mother lives.

“It’s important to be aware that these numbers reflect the amount a hospital will charge for these services, rather than the actual cost,” says Anne Elixhauser, PhD, senior research scientist at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. “The actual amount of what it costs the hospital to perform the service is about 30% of what’s charged.” Add up these costs and it’s no wonder the average family in the United States has only 1.5 children. The U.S. population growth rate has stagnated for years with a large percentage of its growth stemming from immigration.

Now let’s compare the cost of modern maternity care in the US, with a country that is considered to have a more a traditional culture, such as Malaysia, Southeast Asia; a country I’ve lived in for the last 12 years. In Malaysia, it’s common for maternity care, pre- and post-, not to be covered by insurance. However, maternity costs are very affordable for the typical Malaysian family. Actually, it can be downright cheap to have a baby in Malaysia depending where a family decides to deliver. It must be affordable because Malaysia is a developing economy that is categorized as second world by the World Trade Organization, with a middle income level economy. A typical family earns $15,100 annually; compared with a typical family in the US earning $48,000 per annum. The average number of children per family is 2.6; however this seems low to me. I know many families with at least three or more children.

Nowadays, most births take place in a hospital setting; there are no freestanding birthing clinics, and midwives only practice in hospitals. Malaysia has many public, or government sponsored hospitals. If a family decides to give birth at a public hospital most of the costs are covered by the government; and if you are a government employee, it’s even better, as all the maternity costs are free. At this time the Malaysian government employs one million civil servant with about half being women. Therefore the average government employee normally has more children than those employed by the private sector.

However, the costs for a non-government employee, who chooses to give birth in a government sponsored hospital, are very low. An uncomplicated vaginal birth is $160, a cesarean is $300, and twins are $250. If forceps or vacuum are used, or a breech birth is encountered, an additional $200 is added onto the bill. Daily ward charges range from $1 for a shared room, to $25 for a private room.

Due to the fact that most insurance policies don’t include maternity care, costs vary widely in Malaysia with most hospitals offering competitive “maternity care” packages. Then there is what is called specialist, and semi-private, hospitals that specialize in maternity care. The rates at these types of hospitals are mid-range, with pricing falling between that of public and private hospitals. If a women chooses to have a private OBGYN, at a private hospital, this family would certainly fall into a wealthy income level as the fees are much higher and not be affordable for a typical Malaysian family. For example the cost of each prenatal visit may range between, $30-$100. An uncomplicated vaginal birth is, $1,300–1,600, and an uncomplicated cesarean, $4,000; plus a three to five day hospital stay, costs on average $3,000. A hospital that I know offers the following Maternity Care packages, for a normal delivery with three days and two nights stay for $5,000; and for a cesarean $13,000. Again, this is the high end of the spectrum.

In traditional cultures, like Malaysia, it is considered every woman’s natural right to bear children if they are able to, which is why giving birth is affordable. It is expected that a woman will give birth in her lifetime, and if there is no medical reason not to, it is viewed as unusual if she doesn’t. Pregnant women are largely supported by the community they are part of, both in the work place and by their family at home. Pregnancy and child birth is an auspicious period, and both the mother and her baby are honored and celebrated in a variety of ceremonies. Birth is slowly becoming medicalized in Malaysia, but it is nowhere near to the degree it is in the US. I don’t think it ever will be like it is in the US, as the strong cultural beliefs and traditions that are firmly in place balance out the pace of the modernization of maternity care.

Photo by Stephen Andrews on Unsplash.

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Photo by kike vega on Unsplash.

Navigating Health – A Video Talk about Endocrine Disruptors, Epigenetics and Energetics

by Chandler Marrs, PhD

Published on January 28, 2015

3097 views

Last summer I was privileged to give a talk at a midwifery conference in Wisconsin, hosted by the wonderful people at Southwest Technical College and organized by my good friend Cynthia Caillagh.

The title of the talk was Endocrine Disruptors, Epigenetics and Energetics: Navigating Health in a Toxic World. It was weighty and depressing topic to be sure, but one that merits far more consideration than is recognized. The sheer number of environmental insults facing modern humans makes navigating health difficult at best and impossible for many.

The current generation is plagued with more chronic and complex health issues than any other in history. Why is that? The reasons for chronic illness are many, but the common pathway begins with pervasive toxicant exposures, poor nutrition, and limited exercise and ends with mitochondrial damage; damage that compounds generationally.

At some point, we have to break the pattern, for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. Those in the birthing community are on the front lines of health and disease. Their influence and guidance can affect change for generations, and so, even though this topic is not one that would be typically presented at a childbirth conference, I thought it was important to provide a new framework through which to view the influence of midwifery.

Below is the video. It’s a little rough the first 8-10 minutes when I am pinned to podium mic, unable to see the computer and unable to move around, but after that, it’s pretty good. Enjoy.

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More people than ever are reading Hormones Matter, a testament to the need for independent voices in health and medicine. We are not funded and accept limited advertising. Unlike many health sites, we don’t force you to purchase a subscription. We believe health information should be open to all. If you read Hormones Matter, like it, please help support it. Contribute now.

Yes, I would like to support Hormones Matter.

Leaving the Hospital After Childbirth: The Ultimate Roll of Shame

by Lana Hanson

Published on March 30, 2013

1728 views

Childbirth. It seems unreal. Like only a hot minute ago you were in some run-down club with all your best buddies, shaking your size-4 bod while tossing back drinks with hilarious names like “Sex on a Beach” and “The Slippery Nipple.”

Now you’re plopped like a saggy, baggy rag doll in a wheelchair, holding a wilting bouquet of flowers from your mom, blinking in the relentless sunshine blaring down on the local hospital.

What…the…hell?!?

It’s called “The Roll of Shame” and you’re on it, Girl. You’ve just had your delightful childbirth marathon session—a one-night stand chock full of humiliating medical intervention and synthetic drug after synthetic drug to induce-then-subside a woman’s natural body function. Your door prizes apparently seem to be a few maxi-pads (semi truck-length), a squirt bottle, extreme despisement of your idiotic husband, who’ll now wrestle with the infant car seat like the worst WWF match-up ever, while your hair falls from your head in cute little clumps, hormones wage a Stalinesque war on your life, and two porn star-sized tits full of milk ache for a baby who just wants to lay comatose in your lap—a baby who’ll then wake up with a horror movie scream due to the built-in radar he or she innately possesses, which will sense the very second your balding head hits the heavenly pillow.

Right now you just can’t wait to simply get home, return to the comfort of your own bed, scarf down a bowl of Lucky Charms (even dog food would suffice after you’ve eaten hospital food for days on end) and then quietly and efficiently murder your husband—not because your hormones are out of control, but because he’s just so damn useless! You could use that weird breast pump contraption to clock him over the head with… or scald his sleeping face with that expensive baby wipes warmer… or bludgeon him with those new porn star-sized tits.

The options are limitless, really. But your time isn’t.

After all, you have your first postpartum BM to eagerly look forward to. Move aside, Frankenstein episiotomy stitches! Get your finger on the trigger of that squirt bottle, say your prayers and PUSH!!!

Mazel Tov.

The Rise in Pitocin Induced Childbirth

by Denise McKee PhD

Published on March 25, 2013

3252 views

Labor is an exceptional, natural occurrence that a women’s body is perfectly designed for. And so is her brain. All day, every day the brain and body communicate with each other through hormones, pregnant or not. When pregnant, there is one hormone that talks a lot louder than the others called oxytocin. Oxytocin is typically referred to as the bonding, trusting or loving hormone. It’s synthesized in the brain and creates the life-long bond between mom and baby. Outside of pregnancy, it helps create bonds between lovers and helps us trust and connect with others in general. Simply put, it is THE LOVE HORMONE.

Oxytocin and Labor

A combination of complex mechanisms occurs prior to labor, which science isn’t close to completely understanding. But it is very clear a women’s body somehow knows exactly what to do on its own. It’s all about the timing. Together, a woman’s brain, body, and unborn baby decide when the time is right, and then bursts of oxytocin are released from mom’s brain. The oxytocin travels down to the uterus and induces contractions. Over time, baby can slide through the vaginal canal and into the world. When this special timing is disrupted, either artificially or by medical emergency, that’s when problems arise.

Pitocin and Induction

Pitocin, an artificial oxytocin, is a drug used to induce labor. In fact, it is used in over 50% of deliveries in the U.S. In some cases, it is used due to significant risks such as placental abruption, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia or chorioamnionitis. However, too frequently, a woman is pressured to induce her labor for reasons that are not health-related. A recent study found that for many inductions, physicians are medically unjustified in giving women oxytocin to induce their labors.

Inducing a woman’s labor that has not naturally began is not a matter that should be taken lightly. It is a medical intervention that poses a risk to women and their babies. When induced, a woman is given ptiocin, at a time when her body is not ready to deliver. Pitocin increases her chances of having excessive and painful contractions. The painful contractions may necessitate an epidural because her cervix doesn’t open properly. This can lead to a cesarean. Sometimes the mom and/or baby react harshly react to pitocin. The side effects for pitocin include: irregular fetal heartbeat, excessive contractions and postpartum hemorrhaging. These too can lead to a cesarean. One study found that induction of labor is associated with an increased risk of a cesarean section and hospitals with higher induction rates also have higher cesarean section rates. Another study shows that labor induction may increase chances of cesarean section by twofold.

The Brain to Body Connection

Rushing a woman’s labor along may not be the best option for her body either. A common scenario includes a woman first going into early labor at home. Once admitted to the hospital, her labor ceases. Why? Her instinctual brain is simply trying to process whether it is safe to give birth in this new environment or should she run for hills to save her newborn. In time, a woman’s brain can determine that it’s safe to have the baby and her labor will continue. But, hospital care givers may not be so patient. Instead, they hurry the process along with pitocin. In the end, mom and baby suffer.

Pitocin and the FDA

Like many medications given to pregnant women, appropriate studies have not been conducted to determine the proper dosing, safety or even efficacy. Among many criteria, different stages of labor must be tested and women with different pregnancy and health histories must be taken into consideration. This has not been done. In fact, oxytocin (pitocin) currently holds a black box warning from the FDA:

…not indicated for elective labor induction since inadequate data to evaluate benefit vs risk; elective induction defined as labor initiation without medical indications

This means that physicians are currently using women and their unborn babies as clinical study participants without their consent. Worse yet, most are not collecting any data to evaluate the safety or efficacy of this drug.

In a Nut Shell

Many women are given pitocin are unaware that they have the option to wait for their bodies to take their natural courses. Labor is a delicate process that consists of a balance between a woman’s hormone levels and her babies’. This process takes time. Unfortunately, once admitted to the hospital, too often women are not given this time and the intelligence of our bodies is dismissed.

Learn about labor and delivery. Once informed, you decide.

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Fear of Childbirth Prolongs Labor

by Elena Perez

Published on August 6, 2012

3191 views

When I was little, I would constantly ask my mom about childbirth: Is it really as painful as they make it seem on TV? My mom confirmed that it was the most painful thing she ever experienced. Of course, she said, I’d do it all over again because my babies are so special. My eyes were wide in disbelief – I don’t think my siblings and I were ever that special.

The idea of giving birth to a child has always been incredibly scary to me, and now, with more knowledge on the subject, the idea is scarier still. Just thinking about contractions, tearing, and a head coming out of my vagina is enough to make me pass out.

Unfortunately for me, researchers recently found that such fears only draw out the labor process.

Fear of Childbirth Only Prolongs Childbirth

Norwegian researchers published a study in BJOG, An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, that found women with a fear of childbirth spend an hour and 32 minutes longer in labor than women without fears of childbirth.

Even after researchers adjusted for other factors that could contribute to the duration of labor, such as having given birth before and instrumental vaginal delivery, women who feared childbirth were still in labor 47 minutes longer than those with no fear.

In addition, labor-fearing patients tended to be more likely to deliver by instrumental vaginal delivery or emergency cesarean delivery than women who were more comfortable with labor.

Stress Hormone May Prolong Labor

Researchers from Akershus University Hospital, The Health Services Research Center, and the University of Oslo, Norway are not exactly sure why women who fear childbirth get to experience the joys of labor for a longer period of time, but some point to stress hormones.

Samantha Salvesen Adams, co-author of the research, shared two theories:

“First, stressed women have higher stress hormones during pregnancy, and high stress hormones may weaken the power of the uterus to contract. And second, we think that women who fear childbirth may communicate in different ways with health care professionals during pregnancy,” which could impede proper assistance for a shorter labor.

Oxytocin and Catecholamines

The hormone oxytocin is released in large amounts during labor, causing the uterus to contract regularly, which is why the name was derived from the Greek word for “quick birth.” Oxytocin has also been shown to increase trust and reduce fear, a happy result for fearful mothers-to-be.

The secretion of oxytocin, however, is repressed by catecholamines, or the fight-or-flight hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Catecholamine levels can rise when a woman feels frightened, and labor can be suppressed.

This is fine at the beginning of the delivery – no need to start contractions too early, catecholamines are even important for the fetal-ejection reflex; but these adrenal-gland hormones can make for a long labor if they continue to inhibit oxytocin from kicking in.

How to Handle the Fear of Childbirth

Studies seem to indicate that fear begets fear, so it seems the best way to handle any anxiety is by coming to the delivery room with as little fear as possible, and that takes preparation.

If I was expecting a baby, I would take advantage of the following methods to reduce anxiety, fear, and excessive amounts of catecholamines:

Massage
Finally, an excuse to get a really good massage. Massages can help keep your head clear and your anxieties at bay. Of course, if you didn’t get your fill of massages prior to delivery, the Traditional Chinese Medicine University claims that massage during labor can significantly shorten the labor process.

If all else fails, massaging the nipples can increase oxytocin production and induce labor. You should consult your doctor prior to using these massage techniques.

Prenatal Yoga
Om.ygod. Prenatal yoga helps to reduce the stress and anxiety that can make delivery last longer than necessary. By focusing on breathing techniques, stretching, strengthening, and mental concentration, you are preparing yourself for labor.

Some studies even suggest that prenatal yoga shortens the overall time of labor, particularly the first stage of labor.

Meditation
I’m not thinking about the pain. I’m not thinking about the pain. I’m not thinking about the pain. With enough practice, you’ll learn to control these thoughts. Like prenatal yoga, meditation focuses on breathing and mental exercises, which minimize the adrenaline and cortisol levels that trigger stress.

In fact, one study found that women who practiced meditation during pregnancy reported a decline in stress and anxiety.

Communication
As Samantha Salvesen Adams stated, fear may prolong labor because of poor communication between doctor and patient. In order to mitigate delayed treatment and assistance, start building a relationship with your doctor by communicating any fears or anxieties you have prior to delivery.

Open communication can give your doctor an idea of how you may handle delivery, and the doctor may, in turn, give you advice to prepare for the upcoming delivery. Communicating early on will also allow you to feel more comfortable discussing fears and pain when you’re in the delivery room.

What Worked for You?

I’ve already made it clear that I have not been in labor, but I would be interested to learn what techniques worked to reduce your fear of childbirth.

C-Sections Impact Vaginal Microorganisms

by Elena Perez

Published on July 16, 2012

2653 views

Microorganisms Important to Our Health

Humans have trillions of microorganisms, which only make up 1 to 3% of our body’s mass, but play a large role in maintaining the health and well-being of the human body. We rely on the microbes in our body for a number of biological processes that are necessary for our survival.

Microorganisms produce vitamins and anti-inflammatories that the human body cannot produce alone. The microbes in our gastrointestinal tract (GI) also help with digesting food and absorbing nutrients; processes that rely on enzymes that the human body does not have.

Though microorganisms can cause illness, they usually live in harmony with the body. In fact, the National Institute of Health reported that most humans carry microorganisms that are known to cause disease, but these microorganisms do not make healthy individuals ill. Rather, they coexist with the other microbes in the body. Researchers still need to determine what triggers these disease-causing pathogens to negatively impact our health.

Reduced Exposure to Microbes Poses Health Risks

Now, Americans are bombarded with anti-bacterial products and triple-washed spinach that reduces our exposure to the bacteria that does the body good. The increased number of autoimmune disorders, a large majority of which are reported by women, may be partly due to society’s decreased exposure to bacteria, according to the New York Times.

Philosopher of Science at Oregon State University, Sharyn Clough, explained that emphasizing cleanliness to young girls may result in increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases when they get older, since they are exposed to less bacteria than boys.

The New York Times explains that eating from our local farmers’ markets can reintroduce these microorganisms back into our systems, which may improve our microbial well-being, and therefore improve our own health.

Does C-Section Impact Microbial Makeup?

Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine compared the changes in the vaginal microbiome of pregnant women to the vaginal microorganisms in women that were not pregnant, and discovered that the diversity of microbial species decreases significantly during pregnancy.

Babies are first exposed to bacteria while passing through the birth canal and absorb a significant amount of microbes from the vaginal microbiome. Researchers speculate that the reduction in vaginal bacterial species during pregnancy may be a means of creating a healthy bacterial environment for the baby when it begins to develop its own population of microbes.

If babies do not pass through the birth canal, however, the type and amount of bacteria they are exposed to changes dramatically and may possibly impact the baby’s health. In the United States, the rate of C-sections have risen from 4.5% in 1962 to 31.8% in 2009. This dramatic increase in cesarean sections means that there are a number of babies that are exposed to different bacteria at birth than those that pass through the birthing canal.

Researchers at Stanford University found that babies that passed through the birthing canal acquired bacteria that resemble their mothers’ vaginal microbiome, whereas babies delivered through C-section established a microbiome that is similar to the bacterial communities found on the skin’s surface.

Scientists have only just begun to research how differences in microbial makeup may impact an individual’s health, but reduced exposure to bacteria is tied to autoimmune disorders and allergies. In Germany, researchers have found that cesarean delivery is connected to celiac disease, a result of the lack of exposure to specific bacterial species.

We must be patient as researchers begin to sort through the trillions of microbes that live on our bodies, but in the meantime, fear not the bacteria that lurks all around; more often than not, it is our friend, not foe.

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