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Delayed Cord Clamping and How It Helps - Shyami Sathiaseelan

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Image Source When a mother on the verge of labor asks us for a last minute checklist of things to do the first thing I remind them of is delayed cord clamping. What is Delayed Cord Clamping? WHO states clamping the cord at least one minute after the birth as delayed cord clamping for all births. But the general belief by some practitioners is that we should wait for 3 to 5 minutes or wait till the cord stops pulsating. Some of them even think it is better not to clamp or cut the cord till the placenta is delivered. But all of them agree on one thing, that delaying the cord clamping to some extent is definitely beneficial to the baby. So why delay the clamping? We have seen that everyone agrees on waiting for somewhere between one minute and till the cord stops pulsating or even the placenta is delivered. But why delay? What are the advantages? 1. Decreased risk of Anemia . According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, research shows

Using Birth Affirmations - Divya Hegde

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Affirmations, visualisations are immensely helpful in connecting deeply and in creating the positive experience that you want. What we believe in definitely affects how we experience birth. Words are very powerful – affirmations help use that power to ‘tune in’ with our partner and baby on this parenting journey. You can use them at any point to address an underlying fear and take positive action. You can use the affirmation, ‘A c-sec can be my positive bridge to motherhood’ if you have a fear of surgery. Affirmations are very helpful in dealing with pain too. ‘Each surge brings my baby closer to me’ Write down affirmations that resonate and connect with you personally. They should be in the present tense, positive, precise and powerful. Saying, writing, reading, recording and listening to them helps immensely in your pregnancy journey. Here are a few suggestions that can help you through your pregnancy and during birth. In addition, you can write your own in words you b

From Fear To Love - Book Review

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Image Source Title: From Fear To Love Author: Red Miller Pages: 288 Rating : 5/5 If you are pregnant and wish to read a book on pregnancy and labour, this is one book that you shouldn't miss! As the blurb in the back of the book says, this book is for pregnant mothers who wish to experience the healthiest, most joyful and nurturing birth experience possible. It helps you to identify your fears and discover the secrets they hold to empower and transform your birth experience, develop a self nurturing plan that will enhance your body’s ability to nourish and grow a healthy baby, work with your pain guides and increase your capacity to cope with the intensity of labour, minimise birth interventions, ins pire your birth partner to step up and play an active role, and understand your unborn baby’s wishes to create the ultimate birth team. The book is divided into three sections - Blossoming (Pregnancy), Opening (Labour), and A Whole New World (The Fourth Tr

Questions To Ask Your Doctor To Ensure A Positive Birth Experience (I) - Shyami Gomu Sathiaseelan

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    Image Source   Every woman that has ever been pregnant can write a book on all the advice she has been given while pregnant. But when it comes to actual labor, nobody seems to have anything to say. Maybe, because like me, they too were in a lot of pain and hardly remember anything from that afterward.    After having two babies, I realised, if I were to have one more I would know the exact questions to ask. My second birth was so different from my first because I had learnt a few things. I remember having a million and one questions to ask during my first pregnancy and while some were answered, I got more added to it. Thankfully, even though I did not ask all the right questions, my doctors and midwives, being the wonderful people that they were, worked out for me. I would suggest not being quiet and ask questions without fail.   Like they say, you have to start preparing your body before you get pregnant, same way start asking your questions before you get pre