Archive for the ‘Post-partum’ Category
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Unassisted homebirth and cutting the umbilical cord
One of the most frequent questions about unassisted childbirth – as I noticed from UC forums, “real life” friends, and the search terms people use to get to Write About Birth – is how to cut the umbilical cord. To those of us who have done it, the question may seem slightly bizarre. There’s nothing easier than cutting the cord, right? Well, there are quite a few different aspects to consider. What do you cut the cord with? What do you clamp or tie it with? When do you sever the umbilical cord, and how about the length?
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Umbilical cord care basics
Every new mother will have to deal with an umbilical cord stump until it falls off, unless of course they are having a lotus birth, in which case they’ll have the entire cord and placenta to care for. If you are wondering how to care for your newborn’s umbilical cord stump, here are some dos and don’ts. For those who are planning an unassisted homebirth, we’ll discuss when, how and where to cut the umbilical cord as well.
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How will you feel during the postpartum period?
Women who are trying to conceive or currently pregnant for the first time might well wonder how they will physically feel after they give birth. Unfortunately, this is information that can be hard to come by. This is the uncensored version of what you can expect.
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Is eating your placenta a form of cannibalism?
Like many other mamas, I chose to consume my baby’s placenta after my unassisted homebirth. The placenta had done a great job helping my son grow into a healthy newborn, and when he no longer needed it I wanted to benefit from the many things a placenta has to offer. A placenta contains many hormones that can be beneficial, including the feel-good hormone oxytocin. It has the power to prevent or stop post-partum hemorrhage, a complication I would rather say no to. Many women also say that eating your placenta can combat post-partum depression. It certainly made me feel great – for many months after my son’s birth. But, is eating your placenta a form of cannibalism?
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Vegetarian and eating your placenta? What you need to know
The placenta is a wonderful organ that plays an essential part in nourishing a baby before birth. Can a placenta be just as useful to mothers, after the baby has finished using it? Placentophagy, as consuming ones own placenta is also called, has many benefits. It can stop post-partum hemorrhage, something which is particularly useful for those having an unassisted homebirth, and contains many hormones that replenish the mother’s body, increase her energy levels and make her feel great. But what if you are vegetarian, and the thought of consuming any kind of meat, even your own, grosses you out? Are there any ways to make eating your placenta more palatable?
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Trying out the Diva Cup – a reusable menstrual cup
I finally got my first post-partum menstrual period. My son is almost two years old and is still nursing quite a lot, so that is probably why my period stayed away for this long. Yay for extended nursing and not having any periods! Unfortunately, I find my monthly flow to be heavier and more unpleasant than I remembered it. I decided to give the Diva Cup, a reusable menstrual cup, a try to see if it would make that time of the month a little less torterous. *Warning*: This is about bodily fluids and probably not suitable for the squeamish. But if you were squeamish about the female body, you probably wouldn’t be on my blog :).
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Supplies for the post-partum period
Having the right supplies on hand after you give birth can make your “babymoon” a lot more enjoyable! This is true especially for unassisted homebirthers, but of course any new mother benefits from having access to those little things that make life a lot easier. I’m talking about those items that are less obvious. Forget baby clothes and diapers – we all know you need those. This is a list of things that are not strictly necessary, but you’ll be grateful to have.
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Umbilical cord care – dos and don’ts
Every new mother will have to deal with an umbilical cord stump until it falls off, unless of course they are having a lotus birth, in which case they’ll have the entire cord and placenta to care for. If you are wondering how to care for your newborn’s umbilical cord stump, here are some dos and don’ts. For those who are planning an unassisted homebirth, we’ll discuss when, how and where to cut the umbilical cord as well.
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Clamping the umbilical cord – is it necessary?
The third stage of labor, after your baby has been born, is an important part of the birth process. For women who birth in hospitals, the third stages usually begins with clamping and then cutting the umbilical cord that attaches your baby to its placenta. There is a lot of evidence that suggests this premature cord clamping is harmful, and that a delay in the clamping and severing of the cord has a range of benefits. But is clamping the cord a necessity at all?
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Eating your placenta
Many mammals eat their placentas, and with good reason. Eating your placenta helps your uterus shrink to its pre-pregnancy size. It contains oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone”, which reduces stress and makes you feel great. What’s more, placentophagy (the technical term for eating your placenta) can play a key role in preventing and stopping post-partum hemorrhage.
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