Welcome
Some of us have traveled far in our lives as women.
Birthing was simpler when we were not dictated to as much as now – but still
in this first one (1977 – Byron Bay hospital) – had to stay on the bed. And wear all sorts of garments
BUT there were extras – my husband, the photographer (local herbalist), a friend and her 2 year old, and a doctor who had just come into the practice.
A bit crowded – and although it was to be a le Boyer birth.
The healing of mum seemed to be incidental.
THINGS I WISH THAT I HAD KNOWN
ALL that was in WDCD (written 20 years ago in this room of this house).
Healing After Birth
WISH I HAD KNOWN?
1 – Getting OUT of the bed, and leaning forwards – likely all that was needed for baby to pop out – instead I had a massive cut.
2 – Steaming – to allow easy healing afterwards 9and likely easy exit to birth well)
3 – Castor oi packs – essential to assist the healing
4 – Rest, rest, rest – same.
Healing After Episiotomy (1977)
PREPARATION IS THE KEY – and why I developed the ‘What Dads Can Do’ package in 2005. I added the charts to it in 2018, and now am on the C section project, as who seems to be ‘allowed;’ to have the support needed to be easily birthing – as nature intended?
Having had the massive cut back to my anus that took over 3 years to not be noticeable in sexual congress
WHAT I WISH I HAD KNOWN?
1 – To be well nourished in pregnancy so the body can heal well
2 – Have a doula/woman with me who can advocate – non of what happened was necessary, but we were playing men’s and hospital rules.
3 – To lean forwards when peeing, so it drained away from the wound
After Tricky Breastfeeding (baby born 1986) /(baby born 1994)
Seems that I signed up for learning through my body . .and thus I can report what to not do
But I suspect some of us signed up for this. From baby nearly dying, in isolation, in ICU and comatose – and STILL making milk? Yes
My job .. . to help – so I knew what I would till others to do – and did it all.
WISH I HAD KNOWN? – I seem to have signed up for trouble – to be able to show others how to avoid what I had, and/or heal afterwards
1 – Baby sitting OP, and the importance of baby being in the left lying position internally – for most of us.
2 – That taking excess Vit C would have saved us all of this bother. (Toxoplasmosis in utero could have been possibly avoided.
3 – Panty liners could have been invaluable for the cracked nipples, with candida.
Healing After C Section (1994)
If we respected mothers, their bonding with their newborns, they could go forwards intact, though mum was cut open to extract junior.
Some of us need a C section. (I was one l with a subchoronic hematoma and a transverse lying 8 pounder. Not likely to be birthed, as I also had had yet another fall to create a sacral break. I was not home water birth material, as I had intended).
circulation perfect as the pelvis has been
What I wish that I had known
1 – Get a birth advocate – not friends – as the near death experience was medical inattention/negligence. Why was I in there for a section? Would have bled out, had I been in labour. PLUS baby was in very tricky lie. Instead – I was hit hard twice at the diaphragm, baby stayed put, but clot exploded. Not good for either of us.
2 – Breastfeeding is almost impossible if baby is affected by the drugs used. He could not do it – even though champion lactation had happened with his sister (and two older brothers).
Where Next?
Listening to women who have been there and done that.
Be that fierce mammalian mother
Pregnancy packages
What if Something Goes Right? – free taster
* Home help – hubby/partner/mum.friend
* Find one of my Gentling Way or Easy Birthing practitioners, or someone who is interested to learn – it can all be done online – self paced courses.
I have done up all of this work – as I needed it, and went out of my way to find it – so others did not get to go through what I had to.
2005 – WDCD book and videos came out
2018 – The charts and in between m the eBooks .. .
If I have not covered subject you feel I could have, please ask
Course page here
