Feb 18 2012

Why Baby Friendly Hospitals?

Baby-Friendly hospitals make special efforts to support mothers to breastfeed.
The World Health Organization/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, endorsed by the
American Academy of Pediatrics, recognizes hospitals that follow the Ten Steps to Successful
Breastfeeding.

www.julieclarke.com.au

Baby Friendly Breastfeeding, Mothers Helping Mothers

Baby Friendly Breastfeeding, Mothers Helping Mothers

When hospitals have more of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in place, mothers
breastfeed longer.

http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org

The Baby-Friendly Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding

Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.

Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth.

Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated
from their infants.

Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.

Practice “rooming in”— allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.

Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.

Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge
from the hospital or clinic.

Hospitals can:

Partner with Baby-Friendly hospitals to learn how to improve maternity care.
Use CDC’ s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey data to
prioritize changes to improve maternity care practices.
Stop distributing formula samples and give-aways to breastfeeding mothers.
Work with community organizations, doctors, and nurses to create networks that provide
at-home or clinic-based breastfeeding support for every newborn.
Become Baby-Friendly.

Doctors and nurses can:

Help write hospital policies that help every mother be able to breastfeed.
Learn how to counsel mothers on breastfeeding during prenatal visits, and support
breastfeeding in the hospital and at each pediatric doctor’s visit until breastfeeding stops.
Include lactation consultants and other breastfeeding experts on patient care teams.
Coordinate lactation care between the hospital and outpatient clinic.

Mothers and their families can:

Talk to doctors and nurses about breastfeeding plans, and ask how to get help with breastfeeding.
Ask about breastfeeding support practices when choosing a hospital.
Join with other community members to encourage local hospitals to become
Baby-Friendly.

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov
/topics/breastfeeding/index.html)
Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in the U.S (http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/eng/index.html)
MedlinePlus – Breastfeeding (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastfeeding.html)
MedlinePlus – Obesity ( http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/obesity.html)
MedlinePlus – Obesity in Children (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/obesityinchildren.html)
MedlinePlus – Body Weight ( http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bodyweight.html)
MedlinePlus – Weight Control ( http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/weightcontrol.html)
The Community Guide – Obesity Prevention and Control ( http://www.thecommunityguide.org
/obesity/index.html)

Feb 17 2012

Did you know you have Choices in Childbirth?

Childbirth Choices in Australia

Childbirth Choices in Australia

Choices for Childbirth is a not-for-profit community organisation established to provide information and resources to women and their families so they can make informed choices about pregnancy, birth and parenting.

Approaching pregnancy and finding the right information can be very difficult for women and their families despite the plethora of books, websites and ‘experts’ available. It’s difficult for women to know where to start. Choices for Childbirth aims to simplify the process and prides itself on providing women and their families with a healthy balance of up to date, evidence-based information as well as the wisdom and knowledge of mothers, birth workers and health professionals. It is our aim to provide women with comprehensive, accessible information that allows them to make the best choices for themselves and their families..

Choices for Childbirth believes an informed birth is essential to a woman’s experience. By providing women with the tools to navigate the maternity system and make decisions based on the evidence-base, we hope that women will feel empowered, and perhaps even transformed, by their experience of pregnancy and birth. A positive birth experience has a direct impact on women’s enjoyment and confidence in early parenting and can markedly reduce post birth challenges including breastfeeding difficulties and postnatal depression. Thus, it is the aim of Choices for Childbirth to provide women with a tool box of information and access to local community support networks to help them stay healthy and supported from pre-conception through to the crucial postnatal period..

Choices made for childbirth may affect the post-natal experience for the mother

Choices made for childbirth may affect the post-natal experience for the mother

Choices for Childbirth uses independent sources to collate the most reputable and relevant information available, into sessions that cover every aspect of pregnancy:

• Early Pregnancy and Conception
• Pregnancy, Labour and Natural Pain Management
• Newborns and Early Parenting

For more information, please visit our website www.choicesforchildbirth.org.au

Vision

For all woman and their families to have access to objective information about the choices and support available regarding models of care available for pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Mission

• Raise women’s awareness about the choices in childbirth that can support a preventative model of care, which increases their health and decreases the associated side effects of intervention.
• Provides access to up-to-date research and support about the different approaches to pregnancy and childbirth that help achieve the best outcome possible for mother and baby.
• Builds community by creating a place where woman, families and local services can connect and provide ongoing support networks.

Maternity Coalition Goals

To establish a national campaign that includes both printed material, online media and information programs. These programs are designed and developed to simplify the vast amount of available information on pregnancy and to address issues such as, models of care, rights in childbirth, best outcomes, remote areas and realistic planning with the resources available within the local community.

Pre-conception and early pregnancy is a time of important decision making

Pre-conception and early pregnancy is a time of important decision making

Maternity Coalition Aims

• To provide information, education and support regarding pregnancy, birth,
breastfeeding and parenting to women and their families.
• To encourage a woman-centred approach to the birth process.
• To regard pregnancy and childbirth as normal physiological processes, not
illnesses.
• To acknowledge the social, cultural & psychological factors influencing
childbirth.
• To advocate midwives as the primary caregivers of women in normal birth.
• To emphasise women’s rights to make informed choices, and to give informed
consent and informed refusal.
• To promote continuous assessment & critical evaluation of technologies and
practices used in maternity care.

Statement of Purpose of Maternity Coalition.
(MC Constitution Section 2.1)
• To advocate for women’s rights as mothers and consumers of maternity services.
• To support the role of the midwife in providing primary care in maternity
services.
• To protect pregnancy and childbirth as a natural process.
• To promote dialogue between a woman and her carer, based on trust, reciprocity
and respect for the expertise of birth.
• To promote consumer awareness of the options relating to issues during
pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period.
• To promote and facilitate the participation of consumers and midwives at all
levels of policy planning and decision making in the delivery of maternity
services.
• To provide a forum for consumer groups and individuals in the maternity area so
they may gain support and share information, skills and resources.

www.julieclarke.com.au

Pre-conception and early pregnancy is a time of important decision making

Pre-conception and early pregnancy is a time of important decision making

Choices for Childbirth - Preconception and Early Pregnancy Free information Evening Session
Feb 14 2012

Happy Valentines Baby!

Happy Valentines Day to you…

Oh by the way… Just a casual little suggestion here…. to those who might possibly become pregnant today… just in case you are wondering… you’ll be due around late October/early November… it’s a nice time of the year to have a newborn baby don’t you think?

In that case you’d do courses to prepare wisely in August www.julieclarke.com.au

What a lovely romantic day to make a baby!

Happy Valentines Day Baby!

Happy Valentines Day Baby!

FREE Doula! Film Screening

“Doula! The Ultimate Birth Companion” is a 60 minute documentary following three doulas as they support parents before, during and after giving birth. The film is aimed at anyone interested in seeing what a doula actually does and is also suitable for expectant parents.

It is a highly emotional personal film that tells the stories of 3 different doula-supported births (2 home water births and video diary footage of a home birth that turns into a hospital c- section).To view a trailer of the film, click here.

Birth in Balance and Transition into Parenthood would like to invite you to a free screening of the Doula! documentary to celebrate “World Doula Week, March 22-28″. Let’s celebrate the beauty of birth and the wonderful world of doulas. We hope to see you there!

When: Friday 30th March, 6:30 – 8:30pm

Where: Sylvania (Transition into Parenthood)

Cost: FREE

RSVP IS ESSENTIAL: briony@birthinbalance.com.au or click here for the event link on Facebook.

* Babes in arms welcome (but please no older children)

Choices for Childbirth – Preconception & Early Pregnancy Information Session

Choices for Childbirth is a not-for-profit community organisation established to provide information and resources to women and their families so they can make informed choices about pregnancy, birth and parenting.

Choices for Childbirth uses independent sources to collate the most reputable and relevant information available, into sessions that cover every aspect of pregnancy:
• pre-conception and early pregnancy
• labour and birth
• early parenting

Here are the details of the March ‘Preconception and Early Pregnancy’ information session that will be presented by Briony Howland (Birth in Balance) and Julie Clarke (Transition into Parenthood):

When: Thursday 29th March, 6:30 – 9:30pm

Where: Sylvania

Cost: $35 per person or $60 per couple

Please visit the website for further information on this and other sessions and to book your tickets – places are limited.

Bookings are essential

www.julieclarke.com.au

Choices for Childbirth - Preconception and Early Pregnancy Free information Evening Session

Choices for Childbirth - Preconception and Early Pregnancy Free information Evening Session

Measuring Up? What New Parents have to say about Julie Clarke's Courses
Feb 8 2012

Measuring Up? What is being said about Julie’s Courses on the web?

There is a chance you are reading this blog to figure out whether or not doing Julie’s courses… the Transition into Parenthood or the Calmbirth Course or even both courses… will be suitable for you…Read on…

It does sound a bit indulgent doesn’t it to do two courses during your pregnancy?

After all there are so many other things for pregnant couples to do and fitting it in around work and social engagements etc why bother right?

Maybe the reasons are you have listened to some friends stories of “becoming new parents” and realised they are not at all happy with their birth experience…
or maybe they describe their first few weeks with their baby as “all just a blur”

Hmmm…did you ask them if they prepared for their new baby’s arrival?

and did they prepare…?
LOL no I don’t mean did they attend some superficial hospital class/tour… I mean did they really prepare?

Those who know the courses by attending them have quite a few things to say… and it’s very interesting to read these comments…

Want to check the comments out?

take a look here:

http://www.womo.com.au/reviews/Transition-into-Parenthood-Sylvania/

Feel welcome to check out www.julieclarke.com.au

Would you like to be prepared, empowered, feeling excited and looking forward to welcoming your baby in a positive way with your partner?
Need some help and guidance from a trusted, caring, experienced educator.
Julie will teach you all about active birth, how to respond to your labour, positions for birth, your maternity options, waterbirth, (yes it’s allowed in all public hospitals in New South Wales, Australia)
Further Julie Clarke, Sydney will teach you about newborn baby care, breastfeeding, bathing, sleep and settling strategies, bonding, new parents teamwork… and the calmbirth techniques.

Measuring Up? What New Parents have to say about Julie Clarke's Courses

Measuring Up? What New Parents have to say about Julie Clarke's Courses

http://www.womo.com.au/reviews/Transition-into-Parenthood-Sylvania/

and feel welcome to ring her on her direct land line for answers to your questions 9544 6441 (Sydney)
or her personal mobile 0401265530 (Sydney)
otherwise visit Contact Julie to send her an email via her website

One in ten pregnant women will be diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes
Feb 1 2012

Gestational Diabetes Recipes | Eat your way through a healthy pregnancy

Lisa Taylor, has recently launched a website & blog called

http://www.facebook.com/l/2c4e609OxQkamGfnWQOhbr7IrTw/gestationaldiabetesrecipes.com/

She had GDM herself & found that there wasn’t anywhere like this to support women going through what she was going through. It has recipe ideas & stories of support from other women who have walked this road.

At the very least, check it out! Lisa might be someone you want to meet or talk to – I’d be happy to introduce you.

Gestational Diabetes Recipes | Eat your way through a healthy pregnancy
gestationaldiabetesrecipes.com

There are two things that bump up a recipe rating for me. One is if it freezes well and the other is if it tastes even better after a day or so in the fridge. This recipe, care of my … Continue reading

One in ten pregnant women will be diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes

One in ten pregnant women will be diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes

Jan 31 2012

Welcome to the world Julie Clarke…Happy Birthing Day 31st January,1961

My chosen career has always been as a strong calling for me, even as a little girl I would be intrigued with my mother’s friends who were pregnant and sit right by them and listen to the conversation.

My mother is a beautiful gentle soul and was always kind, reassuring and supportive as she would chatter with others about birth and babies.

Jacqueline, my mother, is an artist, handy with every craft, totally into fashion designing, sewing and creating so most of her conversation would be around fabrics and fashion, however when she would describe my birth she would always tell the same beautiful story…

“I was at home having contractions and doing housework for many hours until in the afternoon when I felt very heavy I decided to run the bath, to rest and relax in the lovely warm water, soon I started making noises and Dulcie, (my grandmother) ran next door to call the midwife to check on me, she said it was time to go to the hospital.

My father-in-law was called as he was the only one with a vehicle available and he came and collected me in his truck and dropped me off at the hospital as my husband was at work and couldn’t return quickly enough.

Once at the hospital I had a feeling of bearing down and was told not to push but to climb two flights of stairs, it was difficult but I did as I was told and was greatly relieved to be able to lay down and rest when I made it to the delivery room.

Fortunately the doctor was already in the hospital and rushed in, in time to deliver as the head was starting to come out.

Then I saw you with all your beautiful dark hair, and was told it was a girl and I was so delighted to have a beautiful little girl.

I was very happy and held you in my arms…”

My mother has told me the story of my birth many times when I was little and it felt wonderful to feel wanted, loved and welcomed in such a beautiful warm way.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my birth story… how was your birth described to you as you were growing up?

What is the calmbirth® course about?
Jan 20 2012

What is the calmbirth® course about?

What is the calmbirth® course about?

What is the calmbirth® course about?

What is the calmbirth® course about?

Helping people reverse the negative cycle of previous learning’s, experiences, thoughts and to create a special and positive birth experience.

If a woman is terrified and tense she will most likely have triggered the flight/fight adrenaline response in her system which we know will either prevent her from going into labor, or slows her labor down.

Nowra Zoo on the NSW South Coast had a very good educational display about Kangaroos, explaining that if a female Kangaroo is in labor out in the bush and she smells a predator, she will get frightened, stop her labor, bounce off to thicker bush to hide, then when the scent clears and the predator is no longer near, she will feels safe again and relax and recommence her labor. Apparently Kangaroos are capable of stopping their labors many times for safety.

I have discovered that much of my work with calmbirth® is about clearing the “scent from the air” and enabling the woman and partner to reduce the adrenaline and maintain the oxytocin by visualization, calm breathing, knowledge of how the body functions or dysfunctions, the use of inner resources such as the imagination, the structure and function of the uterus, and releasing muscle tension with relaxation.

Perhaps the unspoken feedback or the observations I have of many of the couples in my groups is what I find the most exciting; from the first time they enter the room as anxious couples, who leave obviously energized, focused and working together as a team, many of whom will birth naturally, and some time later let me know by a phone call or email, gives me the most wonderful feeling of job satisfaction!

What is the calmbirth® course about?

What is the calmbirth® course about?

Welcome to the Calmbirth Childbirth Education Course
Jan 13 2012

The Importance of Birth Breathing by Julie Clarke

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Fortunately when I had my first baby, breathing was everything; it was the most important component in childbirth education classes.

The pre-natal class teacher, for the course we attended, was quite disciplined in following the same format every evening of 10 minutes of breathing practice at the beginning of each session and 10 minutes at the end.

visit: www.julieclarke.com.au

By reinforcing the breathing at every session those who kept up their practice and really took it on board were able to use it during their labors and it made such a difference to minimizing the use of drugs and medical intervention.

Fortunately for me I had already completed a couple of years of Yoga, and a relaxation course so I was pretty well practiced in the art of breathing slowly and calmly.

During my first decade of teaching CBE (Childbirth and Parenting) courses relaxation breathing was routinely demonstrated and taught, and then the tide of fashion turned and it became “silly” to teach breathing and many educators were encouraged to explain to course participants that they didn’t need to come to classes to learn how to breathe because they already knew how to breathe!

About 15 years or so ago…The President of the Childbirth Educators Society (who by the way had never had a baby LOL) wrote in the national journal and also presented at National Conferences exclaiming “We don’t need to teach breathing in classes anymore because it’s a waste of time”…

Do you want to know what happened next?

Our Epidural rate across Australia skyrocketed!

No surprises there… if you take away the most important empowerment tool for women in labor (by failing to teach them the breathing techniques) it’s just like ripping the rug out from under their feet isn’t it?
One of the most extraordinary situations to occur in Maternity History in Australia.
This is clearly reflected by the maternity statistics across Australia held by the varying Dept of Health in each state.

Well we have certainly come a long way forward from there, to the current day where it has been shown to once again be a very important skill for labor.

Why? Because when a woman breathes calmly and slowly she reduces her stress and Adrenaline and instead experiences a good steady increase in Oxytocin.

But there is more to this than just breathing isn’t there?

Yes, it has to do with attitude and expectancy. Like everything else in life. If a woman chooses to expect or believe all those horror stories then chances are that will increase her fear which in turn increases her tension which will increase the pain. Dr. Grantly Dick-Reid’s “fear-tension-pain” theory.

It makes sense doesn’t it?
At an intuitive level, we are very aware of the way our thinking will affect our physiology. Our thoughts affect our emotions; our emotions will trigger chemical messengers in the brain which might be favorable or unfavorable.

Welcome to the Calmbirth Childbirth Education Course

Welcome to the Calmbirth Childbirth Education Course

Let me give you an example, lets say you and I have met for a cuppa in a cafe and we are catching up on old times.
I ask you what you are doing for dinner tonight and you say you are going to the Mexican Restaurant in the city.
I suddenly look horrified and ask if you have heard that the Dept of Health had shut them down for several weeks last year due to a filthy kitchen and several reports of severe food poisoning… what do you think?
How do you feel?
Let’s just say you still decide to go along to the restaurant for dinner… are you happy relaxed and enjoying yourself? I don’t think so!
I expect that with your new concerns about the restaurant you will be “worried” and this will create an “adrenaline” surge which will affect your appetite – won’t it?

Hmmm, let me give you another example, let’s say once again we meet for lunch but this time we both have busy afternoon schedules and select to meet early let’s say 11.30am for lunch.
Now you might be feeling still well satisfied from breakfast and not actually hungry at all… until you get to the lovely little Italian restaurant with the red and white check tablecloths, the aroma of garlic and onions being sauteed in the kitchen.
Mmm smells beautiful doesn’t it? We sit and look at the menu you start thinking about what you’d like to eat and imagining what the garlic bread and lasagne tastes like, next thing your thoughts have created a physiological effect of causing the mouth to water, your stomach to growl and you frown wondering where the waiter is – yes?

What we think affects our feelings creating a physiological effect.

Seems fairly simple? How do we take this knowledge and use it to benefit woman and their partners as they prepare for birth?

This is what the calmbirth® course is about; helping people reverse the negative cycle of previous learning’s, experiences, thoughts and to create a special and positive birth experience.

Many thanks for the support and affirmation in my work!
Jan 11 2012

The best birth course is an experience… not a lecture by Julie Clarke

Sometimes my experiences as a childbirth and parenting educator amuses me, especially when I reflect on a session afterwards and realize I actually asked the group more rhetorical questions to stimulate their thinking, compared to the “fact finding” questions they may have asked me!

Although yes, my groups come along here to learn, they actually leave here usually having had an experience… they have heard and seen the noises of labor and birth when I “demonstrate giving birth” using a fetal doll model underneath my specially designed childbirth educator t-shirt.

They will have also watched as I display the noises and mannerisms of a hungry newborn, before, during and then after the feed.

By taking the risks of being prepared to act the scene and explain it along the way not only are the group sometimes moved to tears and laughter they also remember it more as an experience rather than a lecture.

The feedback I have had over the years has been very worthwhile in creating improvement in areas that required it, as well as heartfelt, uplifting and energizing feedback that has encouraged and empowered me to keep going year after year for over 20 years.

Many thanks for the support and affirmation in my work!

Many thanks for the support and affirmation in my work!

A special thanks to all those thousands of couples who have already attended my courses… I do love it when new folk book in saying their friends and family have sent them… I find it endorsing and heartwarming – thank you for your support and affirmation!

Jan 10 2012

Here is a fly on the wall moment for you from my classroom… by Julie Clarke

Picture of a Caring and Sensitive Childbirth and Parenting Educator - Julie Clarke

Picture of a Caring and Sensitive Childbirth and Parenting Educator - Julie Clarke

Here is a fly on the wall moment for you from my classroom:

Hello everyone and welcome to our session, we have a lovely session in front of us in which we will be focused on, labor and birth.

Suddenly I notice a couple of the women prickle with tension; smiles disappear as their anxiety is raised with the mere mention of labor and birth.

And this is about where this course differs tremendously from most other “typical” pre-natal classes whether in a hospital or not.

I recognize and respect their anxiety, and move straight into reassuring them and relating to where they are at, at that point in time.

I am well aware of the horror stories they’ve been subjected to, the awful movie scenes, Hollywood nonsense and recognize once again that a lot of my work as a natural active birth educator is about undoing the harm that has been done to these women, in their past, whether it’s a well meaning school teacher showing scary birth videos to frighten them off sex as teenagers, or negative details they have heard from their mothers, sisters other family and friends.

Interestingly enough, the pregnant women in my courses are also reporting the men/fathers at their work are the new horror birth story experts, who are entertained by frightening the heck out of them and finishing their tale with “You wait and see I’m right you’ll definitely be screaming for the epidural when you’re in labor – my wife did!”

And of course we are well aware of the more sinister damage of sexual abuse, whether as a child, teenager or adult, impacting on women whilst they are pregnant and trying to prepare for birth.

When I cover labor with them I will usually discuss it by commencing with the following:

“OK let’s look at labor and contractions… actually before we really begin let’s play a little game of word association.

I’ll say a word and I’d like you to respond out loud with the first thing that comes to mind – ready?

CONTRACTIONS… (their response): PAIN, PAIN, OUCH, IT HURTS, EPIDURAL, SCARY… then they laugh nervously at what they’ve all blurted out and I nod my head and explain how our culture in Australia is very influenced by the USA.

They all agree nod their heads and understand where the conversation is going – the fear driven culture of the USA spills over into our culture via the media; newspapers, magazines and Hollywood movies.

The group as a whole will often bring forth plenty of examples they read, seen, heard in the media that has had a powerfully negative effect on them.

They will also provide examples of horror birth stories from family and friends – it turns into a cathartic exercise.

Quite often someone in the group will begin to identify truths such as “women having been having babies for millions of years” and then some perspective is found again.

I then ask the group:

“Would you like me to describe for you what many women have found as a more realistic and helpful description of labor and contractions?”

They nod yes.

Then I proceed with the classic textbook description of labor “Dull rhythmic backache, lower belly period sensation and deep pelvic pressure…” I encourage them to place their hands on their belly and I gently describe the normal feelings women have…

It does not take long and women and their partners feel quite safe asking me questions and checking or challenging what I have told them, often with statements like “Well my friend who had a baby last week said it was an absolute nightmare…”

Which I love because it provides me with the wonderful opportunity to ask a variety of questions to help the group explore issues such as “Was she induced?” …. “Was she well supported by her partner and support team?”….
“Was she in a birth place with good facilities?”…. “Did she and her birth team know how to use those facilities?” etc. ….
Which leads me on nicely to all those issues.

The course walks people through the logical progression of their concerns and then what to do about it, which helps to empower them to know what to do and feel well prepared when their turn comes.

End of fly on the wall moment.