• for the mind...Pregnancy Forgetfulness and Welcoming Instinct
• for the body... Episiotomy: To cut or not to cut...that is NO LONGER the question. Featuring “Get Through Childbirth in One Piece” a new book by Birth Works Certified Educator, Elizabeth Bruce.
• for the spirit...Letting go of Fear

• Schedule of 2002 Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula, and Postpartum Doula Training Workshops!
• The Round House Center Retreat in Colrain, MA: Join us for a Birth Doula Training at this beautiful retreat center next October!
• Holiday Special! For a limited time only, purchase the video Birth Day and Optimal Fetal Positioning book and save! http://www.birthworks.org/store.phtml
• Announcement! We are pleased to announce that the Birth Works Educator Manual, 4^th edition, is going to print and will be available January! Our revised manual, with portions reviewed by Henci Goer and Michel Odent, is over 400 pages and includes updated research, expanded childbirth education concepts and many new teaching ideas and experiential exercises. Written and edited by Cathy Daub, President and Founder of Birth Works, the new manual is truly a blueprint for effective facilitation of Birth Works classes. For more information on the Birth Works curriculum and becoming a Birth Works Certified Childbirth Educator visit our web site or call 1-888-TO-BIRTH.

...for the mind

Pregnancy Forgetfulness and Welcoming Instinct We cheerfully accept that forgetfulness is just something that most pregnant women will experience particularly late in pregnancy. We chuckle when our pregnant friend cannot find her keys or she forgets that fourth item on her mental grocery store list. Studies show that "pregnancy forgetfulness" is a normal and healthy phenomenon that is not related to depression, anxiety, or sleep deprivation. Nor is it a sign of any abnormality or dysfunction. In fact, we can say that it is a postive sign that the the brain is functioning perfectly in preparation for labor. This harmless lapse of memory or decline in the ability to recall detail occurs most frequently in the latter part of pregnancy when the pituitary gland, located in the brain, is hard at work releasing hormones which serve as chemical messengers within the body.

As pregnancy progresses, higher and higher levels of oxytocin and other hormones are released eventually culminating in birth. Oxytocin is believed to have an amnestic effect, which could be contributing to these bouts of compromised memory. More importantly though, oxytocin is produced and released from the "old brain" or the primitive brain which a woman must access for giving birth. It is the "old brain" that should be most active in birth, while stimulation of the "new brain" or neo cortex should be avoided. We can feel confident that pregnancy forgetfulness is a positive sign that the new, thinking brain is becoming less important, while our primitive, or instinctive brain is increasing in importance and function.

The act of giving birth is instinctual. When a woman believes in herself and is allowed to labor and give birth in her own way, she is able to deeply connect with her "old brain" or instincts. She may go inside of herself as she seeks to reduce distractions around her that stimulate the neocortex. This instinctive process can be disturbed by questions, feeling observed, or bright lights. These interruptions cause the release of stress hormones that have the potential to impede labor progress. For women to give birth, they need to feel safe and loved. Their birth environment and labor positions must be of their chosing whenever possible. Privacy and a healthy respect for the "old brain" will do much in helping women to have better births.

...for the body

Episiotomy: To cut or not to cut...that is NO LONGER the question More and more women are taking responsibility for their births, becoming educated about obstetrical practices, and choosing careproviders that are aligned with their beliefs. Obstetricians in the United States perform more episiotomies than any other country with the intent to speed up the pushing phase of labor and because they have been taught that episiotomy is beneficial to the mother's pelvic floor. However, the routine practice of episiotomy, a surgical incision made into the perineum area, is in question and in the limelight more than ever. Even the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has recently concluded that episiotomy is still performed too frequently and should not be a routine part of birth. There is simply no validity to the claim that episiotomy will result in healthier moms or babies. A review of many studies show that women who have not had episiotomies do not have a higher incidence of urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, nor do their babies suffer from longer labors. In fact, women who received episiotomies are more likely to have increased blood loss at birth, higher infection rates, and more perineal pain after delivery. Once believed to be an important obstetrical intervention for the purpose of preserving muscle integrity, we instinctively know that the cutting of a muscle to preserve muscle simply defies common sense. In reality, we now recognize that even tearing is usually preferrable to having an episiotomy. Tearing carries less risk and has more potential for a healthy postpartum period than recovering from episiotomy.

Elizabeth Bruce, author and Birth Works educator has written a new book on the current state of episiotomy and how women can avoid the procedure. In her book, she discusses other variables that contribute to a high episiotomy rate; such as back lying in labor, outdated hospital protocols, "hurried" pushing and epidural anesthesia. Included are suggestions on how to develop confidence and trust in birth and ways to eliminate or minimize tearing. The benefits of water, hot compresses and gentle delivery are discussed. Interspersed with this information are stories from birthing women, midwives and doulas who help affirm that women are uniquely and wonderfully designed for birthing babies and that they can trust in their body wisdom.

Birth Works is pleased to offer Get Through Childbirth In One Piece! How to Prevent Episiotomies and Tearing by Elizabeth Bruce and other informative and inspirational childbirth books and videos for expectant couples and birth professionals. For a complete description of our products and to place an order, visit our online store at http://www.birthworks.org/store.phtml.

...for the spirit

Letting Go of Fear

As the holiday season commences many of us are reflecting on the state of our families, communities and world. The United States has experienced terrorism first hand, a small number of people created havoc and tragedy for a much larger number of innocents. In times like these it is hard to remember that the collective consciousness of mankind is basically good and that goodness prevails. Perhaps celebrating human goodness in all its forms, and our incredible and infinite capacity to love will help us let go of the fear or at least not allow fear to paralyze us. Mahatma Gandhi said, "When I despair - I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible - but in the end, they always fall - think of it - always".

When we give birth, if we believe that we can have a positive outcome, we are more likely to have one. Let us believe in a world that is good, where people are free of prejudice and hatred...a world that is peaceful and worthy of our children. Let us continue striving for peaceful births, where mothers have trust rather than fear and where they can experience unconditional love by all those present. In birth and life, when we let go of fear, we are able to do great things.

2002 Birth Works Training Workshops

Entry into our educator, doula, or postpartum doula certification programs is a prerequisite for attendance at the training workshop.

Go to http://www.birthworks.org/cecert.html for Educator Certification,
http://www.birthworks.org/doulacert.html for Birth Doula Certification,
http://www.birthworks.org/ppdcert.html for our Postpartum Certification program.

Sponsors-Midwifery Today is proud to introduce the Birth Market, our online Mother/Baby/Environment-Friendly Product and Services Directory. Check us out! Shop for wonderful birth-related products at the Birth Market or find a birth practitioner. Do you have a product or service to sell?  Are you a midwife, doula, or other birth practitioner? Become a part of the Birth Market today! http://www.birthmarket.com/