Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Yale Researchers Pinpoint Reasons for Dramatic Rise in C-Sections

Published: June 21, 2011

New Haven, Conn. — In one of the first studies to examine the reasons for the rising number of women delivering their babies by cesarean section, Yale School of Medicine researchers found that while half of the increase was attributable to a rise in repeat cesarean delivery in women with a prior cesarean birth, an equal proportion was due to a rise in first time cesarean delivery. Among these deliveries, factors such as slowly progressing labor and fetal heart rate concerns were the largest contributors.

The U.S. cesarean delivery rate has increased dramatically over the past decade, with some of the highest increases noted in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Much of the previous research on the reasons for this increase is limited to birth certificate data, which does not record the specific indication or reason for cesarean delivery.

Pre-released online and published in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the study was led by Yale researcher Jessica Illuzzi, M.D., of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences. Illuzzi and her co-authors analyzed indications for cesarean delivery on prospectively collected data from over 30,000 births at Yale-New Haven Hospital from 2003 to 2009.

"We found that more objective reasons, such as the baby being in a breech position and placenta previa, remained stable over time, while less objective reasons, such as slow progress in labor and concerns about fetal heart tracings contributed large proportions (>50%) to the increasing primary cesarean delivery rate," said Illuzzi.

In addition, suspected large infants, twin pregnancies, and preeclampsia contributed to the increase despite relatively stable rates of these conditions in the population during the seven-year study. "This suggests that the use of cesarean for these indications is increasing," said Illuzzi.

To read the rest of this article click here.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Mothers Deserve Options

By Ricki Lake

I made my 2008 documentary The Business of Being Born to educate women about choices in childbirth, and raise questions about maternity care in the U.S. For example, why were C-section rates skyrocketing? Why were options such as birth centers and home birth disappearing? And why does a country supposedly committed to health care reform seem opposed to safe, cost-effective options that include midwifery and well-woman care?

To read the rest of this wonderful article please click here.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Giving Birth In Peace



By Omeshnie Naidoo

When Patti Good began practising hypnobirthing in the UK it was the “alternative”, but by the time she left for South Africa it had become fairly mainstream, she says.

To read the rest of this article click here.

Friday, June 17, 2011

311's Nick Hexum Delivers Daughter Maxine

A note from Carri: WOW! What an amazing story! It was amazing how he was able to stay calm and think clearly, and have a healthy baby and wife. Way to go Nick Hexum!



He’s a star on stage as the frontman of 311, but Nick Hexum has proven his talent out of the spotlight as well.

Despite having planned a midwife-assisted homebirth to deliver their second child — daughter Maxine — the singer was forced to step in himself when wife Nikki suddenly went into labor.

However, things took a turn for the worse when the baby girl became lodged in the birth canal.

“After Max’s head popped out, the delivery stalled for the next couple of contractions. The baby’s head was blue and the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck,” he tells PEOPLE of the May 1 birth. ”I was worried the cord was choking her, keeping blood from getting to her brain.”

To read the rest of this awesome birth story click here.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The birth junkies: Why women can become addicted to giving birth

A note from Carri: I am a birth addict and is why I'm a doula and not the mother of 25 kids ;) Nicole covers so many wonderful points in this article, please read the entire article!



An agonising ordeal? No, says maternity expert NICOLE CROFT, giving birth is a natural high so powerful it can leave mothers wanting more.

By Nicole Croft

The offer of a Caesarean section might seem heaven sent to any pregnant woman approaching delivery day with rising anxiety.

Please read the rest of this article here. You will LOVE it!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

C-section not best option for breech birth


Physicians should no longer automatically opt to perform a cesarean section in the case of a breech birth, according to new guidelines by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.

Released yesterday, the guidelines are a response to new evidence that shows many women are safely able to vaginally deliver babies who enter the birth canal with the buttocks or feet first. Normally, the infant descends head first.

To read the rest of this article click here.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

More Business of Being Born

So exciting!!!

What the trailer here:

Monday, June 13, 2011

Whatever Happened to Natural Childbirth?

By Dr. Meg Jordan

SAN FRANCISCO---) In the past decade, the U.S. the obstetrical field appears to be doing all it can to scare pregnant women into unnecessary interventions--a slick pathway leading to the astronomical number of Cesarean sections in this country. We outstrip every other developed nation at a rate that rose by 53% from 1996 to 2007, reaching 32%.

To read the rest of this wonderful article click here.

Friday, June 10, 2011

My Daughter's 2nd Birthday


A Note from Carri:

It's hard to believe that my daughter is 2. It has gone by quickly, and there is something really emotional about my last child turning 2. I feel both happy and sad that she is growing up. I'm happy that she is becoming more selfsufficient, but also sad that I will no longer have a baby to care for and snuggle with. There is also something about remembering my last birth that touches me deeply. I love giving birth. I don't like being pregnant, and the newborn phase is often a blur, but birth - that is where my heart is. I love that the last birth was my daughter, who will hopefully one day give birth herself. Her birth was absoultely perfect and I hope that she will have a similar experience. So today I am celebrating my daughter and her wonderful vibrant personality, remembering the wonderful way she came into the world, and am feeling incredibly greatful for the numerous ways I am blssed.

To read her birth story click here.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

New Risk for ADHD Identified - Use of Pitocin During Labor Read more at Suite101: New Risk for ADHD Identified - Use of Pitocin During Labor

According to experts, attention deficit hyperactitivity disorder (ADHD) currently affects between 3-5% of children today. Scientists would agree that there is no known method of preventing ADHD in children, yet there is new research that may shed light on the relationship between this disorder and what the mother is exposed to during childbirth.

Link Between ADHD and Pitocin
Researchers from the Department of Psychiatry at Colorado State University examined the medical records from 172 women from diverse regions across the country who had given birth between three and 25 years ago.

To read the rest of this article click here.

Monday, June 6, 2011

The TEARS Foundation

I know this is a subject that most people do not want to talk about, but I wanted to bring to attention a beautiful and amazingly powerful foundation. The TEARS Foundation is a non-profit organization that seeks to compassionately assist bereaved parents with the financial expenses they face in making final arrangements for their precious baby who has died. This is the greatest loss a woman can experience and having someone come in and help you both financially and emotionally through this process is priceless. I encourage you to donate to this wonderful foundation, and BINSI will donate a portion of your purchase this month to them as well. Please view thier site at www.thetearsfoundation.org.

Friday, June 3, 2011

April's Birth Story

I just found this site and think it is wonderful! I' always a fan of reading birth stories to encourage and empower you before labor. Please visit this site www.birthstoriesondemand.com.

April's Birth of Twins

I found out we were expecting twins at 24 weeks pregnant! My due date was November 21, but as the month of August approached, I couldn't imagine staying pregnant until that day.

To read the rest of this lovely birth story click here.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Wrap Skirt!


I came across this picture yesterday and it is exactly the same wrap that we sell on our site. It is a great demonstration of using this skirt for more than your birth! Get one as your birth skirt and/or your swimsuit cover today!