This is very sad story to post. With hardly any warning, the Bellevue Birth Center has officially closed. It is important for me to post this to bring attention to the fact that our resources as women are dwindling in the New York City. A big rally cry and call to action is needed. Though Bellevue was known to accommodate lower economic bracket and those on Medicaid, the services and sacred support that Bellevue offered are the same services and support that every birthing mother should have.

If only the conscienceness of the mainstream was penetrated with the awareness and knowledge of the impact birthing centers have on the birthing mother as opposed to the hospital setting and linear western standards, then they would not be so quick to give a brief sympathetic look over that the “Poor Women’s Haven” (as titled in the NYT’s article) had to close its doors due to low funding and awareness.
Birthing rights and options for all women are in jeopardy. And overall women’s health & educational reform needs to take place. Not just for women from certain demographics, all women, and men who have or plan on having children. That’s basically everyone. How the children of this world are brought/birth into our reality realm is a sacred experience and journey and moment that needs to honored, encouraged and celebrated as opposed to jeopardized, standardized and dehumanized.

Now, there are three remaining natural-birth centers in New York City, The Birthing Center at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, Manhattan, The Brooklyn Birthing Center, Brooklyn, and the Morris Heights Women’s Health & Birthing Pavilion, Bronx. All of which are stretched in various boroughs with only a certain amount of birthing rooms.

Thankfully the Eli Manning Holistic Birthing Center at St. Vincent’s and the free-standing The New Space for Women’s Health are underway to be developed and build. Both free standing and in hospital Birthing Centers need to be adopted into America’s healthcare system. The idea of the C-section rate nearing 1 in 2 and more and more babies having drugs streamed into their not even day old blood systems as a normal commonality is disturbing.

What do you think are the best outlets for self awareness of the body’s design for birth?

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Usually, the common scenario goes that most women with prelabor rupture of membranes (their water breaking) go into labor naturally within 24 hours of the break. But twice in one week, I have heard several stories of women who have experienced a leak of a clear liquid substance but not having subsequent contractions. The obvious and valid concern tends to be that labor has begun but the absence of contractions accompanied by rupture membranes propose several risks such as possible bacterial infection. In both of these cases though, both women were told that their membranes weren’t ruptured (their water did not break)

Now, the end results for these women were different. In one case, the one mother was induced for her doctor was concerned that labor was not progressing and that the baby could be at risk for a bacterial infection. Though the medical staff did not believe it was her membranes leaking they wanted to take precaution. In the second scenario, the mother was told that her membranes were in tact, thus her baby was safe and that everything was fine. She could go home and let the labor begin on its own accord.

I had to investigate what could possibly be the clear liquid substance I had been hearing about. I came across an article posted by Circle of Life Midwifery in Salem, OR . I found it fascinating and thought it provided a possible explanation. Pamela Hines-Powell, CPM, LM, explains that there are two layers of the membranes, the amnion (the inner) and the chorion (outer) layers. According to her article:

Some membranes rupture high up in the uterus. This is called a “hind leak”. Typically, water will come out slowly, perhaps gush once and trickle here and there. Hind leaks may be caused from baby’s foot breaking the bag, or a positional change. As there are two layers of the membranes (the amnion and the chorion), sometimes leaking may be caused from the outer layer of the bag (the chorion) breaking. In both cases with a hind leak and a leak from the chorion breaking, there is a good chance of the bag “resealing” itself with cessation of any sort of leak.

ONLY YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER can determine if this is the case. Not myself, nor any doula, nor your partner or a hand mirror. There is no other way to know. There are definitely several precautions to take till you are able be checked out by your doctor or midwife. Here are a few recommendations from Pamela Hines-Powell, CPM, LM:
• Absolutely, positively, NOTHING in the vagina. No fingers, tampons, penis, oral-genital contact, etc.
• Drink plenty of water to help replenish amniotic fluid – at least 64oz of water a day
• Wear something loose-fitting with no panties when you can
• If you are leaking and need something for sitting, use clean towels fresh out of a hot dryer
• Take your temperature every 4 hours while you are awake (record on a sheet of paper).
• Take 250mg Vitamin C every 3-4 hours while you are awake
• Eat foods that are non-constipating and easy to digest

Check out more suggestions or read more of the article here or visit her website.

The Pregnant New Yorker has put together the best practitioners, products and services in one room for one day. Join in on November 14th!

It’s an opportunity to get expert advice and talk one on one to a variety of practitioners in all aspect relating to pregnancy and babies.

There will be demos, classes, mini consultations, samples, and more. Register today and be eligible to win some amazing raffles!

Hello everyone!!

How I have missed sharing posts with you. Life definitely rolls in ebbs and flows. The last 6 months have been a whirlwind but within these last months, several great events and experiences were had! On July 24/25, 2009, I attended my first homebirth. It was an incredible experience to watch a fierce woman, full of grace and focus, gently welcome her adorable son into the world with her loving support husband.  I will definitely share elements about my experience later.

Among several branding and design projects, I have been also been working on a very dear project under Verte the last several months, Be the Light Be the One. BTLBTO is an online emporium where you can find tools and resources for conscious change. It is the brand’s hope is to be a source of reflection and inspiration as we build community, support meaningful connections and create new possibilities for ourselves and the world. BLBTO also carries a collection of “Products with Purpose” for all ages and backgrounds.  Check out these adorable 100%  organic onezees. They come from fair-trade sources, have nickel-free snaps and are made with a non-toxic dying process.  Short sleeved onezees are $25 and long sleeved are $30. Check out the matching adult and youth tee’s as well.

 If you are also in need of a resource to purchase any of these birthing documentary gems, you can find them as well at the Be the Light Be the One website.

Again, I am glad to be back. Many new wonderful things are around the corner as I wait for the phone call for my next birth. Any day now!!!

Many blessings and joy to all you amazing parents and viewers.