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Forward leaning inversion
The uterus is anchored to the pelvis by the round ligaments uterosacral ligaments, and broad ligaments. The round ligaments can be found on the anterolateral side of the uterus, and attaches to the labia majora. In a term uterus, the round ligament reaches the height of the umbilicus. The uterosacral ligaments attach posteriorly, fixing the uterus to the sacrum. The broad ligament is two layers of peritoneum blanketing the female reproductive organs, like a fitted sheet covering your mattress pad and mattress and holding everything in place. As the uterus grows during pregnancy, these ligaments can become pinched, tight, or torqued in one or more areas. Performing forward leaning inversions…
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Informed consent during pregnancy and birth
Pregnancy can be uncharted territory for first time moms, or even moms who have had traumatic births. How is this going to go? What will happen at my appointments? There is a whole human being growing inside your body. But, the important part to remember is… That baby is growing inside YOUR body. People still need to ask permission to touch you. Every. Single. Time. They need to clearly explain procedures, tests, and treatments so that you may make an informed decision and give them a confident yes OR no answer. Informed Consent Informed consent is enthusiastic and ongoing. And if any provider pulls the ‘dead baby’ card if you…
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Postpartum Care Checklist
While your pregnancy may seem like it’s over after the birth of your baby, you still have the ever important yet most forgotten trimester to navigate – the fourth trimester! Here is a list of my all time favorite postpartum items – labor and delivery nurse approved! This list is not meant to be exclusive – you can pick and choose which items best suit your needs. We will go through each category in more detail below. Bathroom Having a stocked basket in each bathroom is ideal so you don’t have to move items around, or just keep the bathroom you use most stocked for ease. Disposable briefs are a…
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Can eating dates help induce labor?
Can eating dates help induce labor? Not exactly, but it can help prepare your body for birth! There have been several studies showing that eating 4-6 dates daily after 36 weeks can help soften and thin the cervix, and also shorten each stage of labor. This article is a small study that shows the benefits of consuming dates the last four weeks of pregnancy, and its effects on cervical dilation and effacement as well as a shorter 1st stage of labor. I love dates, so eating them plain is just fine for me! You can also serve them topped with a small amount of nut butter and dark chocolate chips…
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In the beginning
As a labor and delivery nurse, I am absolutely honored to witness my patient’s most intimate moments of beginning (or continuing) their journey to motherhood. As a mom of six, I’ve been in their shoes several times, with completely different labor experiences each time. I’ve had unmedicated and medicated births, an emergency cesarean, and two successful VBAC’s (vaginal birth after cesarean). Every birth matters. And every birth is valid. Some labors are quick, while others are slow. Some transition from beginning to middle to end effortlessly while others need little nudges and still others require quickly changing paths for the safety of mother and baby. And what stands out to…