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Feb
3
Written by:
Dr. Cherniawski
2/3/2010 3:16 PM
Learning I was pregnant in September, my husband and I decided to seek the care of a midwife for pre-natal, birth, and post-natal care. There are several reasons why we chose natural childbirth with a midwife versus medical childbirth with an obstetrician.
1. Pregnancy and birth are completely natural processes. Modern medicine, however, often frightens women into believing that birth is dangerous and painful without medical supervision and intervention.
2. There are several dangers associated with medical procedures. Studies find:
- Pre-natal ultra sound increases the temperature in the developing brain causing abnormal brain development and potential neurological disorders such as autism, epilepsy, dyslexia, and schizophrenia. Also see MidWiferyToday
- Epidurals limit the mother's ability to correctly position herself to give birth, increase the usage of other medical interventions such as internal heart monitors, Pitocin, and vacuum or forcep extraction, and limit the mother's ability to breast feed after birth. Epidural drugs also pass to the baby making baby less able to breast feed after birth. www.community.babycenter.com/journal/buddahasbabies/23022315/the_evidence_says_epidurals_do_impact_newborns
- C-sections increase the likelihood of newborn hospitalization, poor lung function, infections, and other problems, while children born by c-section are 79% more likely to develop asthma. More info at the Colombus Dispatch and the New Wellness
3. Having a healthy pregnancy involves good lifestyle habits (not ultrasounds, medications, and birth interventions) that prepare mom-to-be to carry a healthy baby and give birth. I recommend:
- Cutting out junk food and increasing water, fruit, and vegetable intake. In addition, I drink a high quality protein shake every morning in addition to my daily meals and snacks.
- Taking a high potency multi- or pre-natal vitamin. I recommend Juice Plus. I take the recommended adult dose and some days double up to get extra nutrition for my growing baby.
- Taking 4 grams of omega-3 everyday, 3 grams for me and 1 gram for my baby, to aid in brain development.
- Exercising every day. I'm not moving as fast as I used to and now rely on short walks, yoga, Kegel exercises, and squatting exercises to prepare for childbirth.
- Getting weekly chiropractic care to handle and prevent aches and pains as my body changes with pregnancy. Studies find women who get chiropractic care before giving birth have 20% shorter labors, are less likely to utilize medical interventions during birth, and deliver healthier babies.
4. Midwives guide moms-to-be through a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. I consult with Dixie Story in Las Vegas for routine check-ups and plan on delivering my baby in the comfort of my own home with her and my husband. I plan on holding my little one the second it is born and breastfeeding within the first minutes of birth. As long as the pregnancy and birth are healthy, I will refuse medical interventions and will not subject my little one to unnecessary drugs.
Special Note:
With so many societal pressures to utilize medical obstetrical care, making the decision to utilize natural child birth practices is difficult despite the scientific evidence that supports natural pregnancy and child birth practices.
For more information: http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=54475
I am available to all future and current moms who have questions or would like a consultation in my Las Vegas wellness center. Simply call to schedule a consultation over the phone or in the office.
Thank you for your support! - Dr. Angela Cherniawski, D.C.
10 comment(s) so far...
Re: Dr. Cherniawski is Having a Baby!
Congrats!!!
By Will Paccione on
2/9/2010 5:24 PM
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Re: Dr. Cherniawski is Having a Baby!
That is so awesome and perfect!!!!!!
Blessings to you and your budding family
By Tiffani on
2/9/2010 5:48 PM
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Re: Dr. Cherniawski is Having a Baby!
During the delivery of my wonderfully healthy, completely loved, and blessed daughter, I used things like Pitocin, an epidural, and I delivered in a hospital. Gasp! Even with an epidural, I pushed for only 29 minutes and was certainly able to get into a great position for childbirth. I held my beautiful girl immediately after she was born and I breastfed her shortly thereafter, all with great success and experiencing a closeness to my "miracle from God" that I cannot describe. Although she is only 20 months old and I have no idea what her future holds, she has been extremely healthy and is definitely not suffering in her neurological development.
I only bring this up because I find it important to not assume that one way is the only way. I congratulate those who educate themselves on the options of childbirth and then strive for a healthy pregnancy and safe birth, however they choose to accomplish that.
By Lisa on
2/10/2010 4:26 AM
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Re: Dr. Cherniawski is Having a Baby!
I have done this with all three of my kids. I wound up at the hospital with my third kid and they tried to look at me like I was crazy for having natural births. I said why do I need to pay you $4,000 for pre-natal care when my body will tell me if something is wrong.......and all three healthy happy kids. What someone should broadcast is the studies that have been done in Europe regarding feeding soy formula to boys. Apparently Europe has banned soy formula......but not here in U.S......mmmmm why......sales! I had my boy on soy as I did with my girls until my APN showed me the studies.
By Anna Troller on
2/10/2010 10:27 AM
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Re: Dr. Cherniawski is Having a Baby!
I am so happy for you and your choice to have a home birth. I wish more women had the chance to educate and empower themselves to have a home birth or at least the choice to know that option is available to them and that it is safe. I also choose a home birth after observing several hospital births and a few homebirths.
By Dr Wendy Scheer on
2/10/2010 12:15 PM
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Re: Dr. Cherniawski is Having a Baby!
Can't wait to hold and love that new little one!!! I am excited about your home birth choice. Hospitals are so impersonal and so full of infection sources. Home is the perfect place to enter this world!
By onnie on
2/11/2010 3:44 PM
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Re: Dr. Cherniawski is Having a Baby!
Yo me, natural childbirth was trying to deliver my babies without drugs. I received prenatal care by a group of midwives for both of my pregnancies. Unfortunately, for both of my deliveries, the midwives were out of town so doctors delivered my children (which was not a bad thing either). For my first daughter, she had turned and caused horrible back labor pains so I did ask for some pain medication. My second daughter was born without any drugs, but her pregnancy was monitored very closely with ultrasounds because of a massive blood clot on my placenta. I do not feel guilty or bad about any of my decisions because I felt it was best for me and my babies. My girls were lifted on my chest the second they were born and I was able to breastfeed within an hour and my hospital deliveries were very personable and comfortable. I agree with Dr. Cherniawski that you should take care during your pregnancy to have a healthy diet, take supplemental vitamins and exercise. I think it is important to be open to all kinds of options and make the choices that you feel are best for you.
By Christie Alles on
2/11/2010 5:45 PM
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Re: Dr. Cherniawski is Having a Baby!
I agree that it is important to have an open mind about whatever decisions a mother decides to make. I applaud any mother that decides to go au-natural. I also personally know a few women who would have lost their babies (and potentially their own lives) without medical intervention. A woman knows her body best and should be trusted to make these important decisions. I regularly go to a chiropractor, and try my best to live a healthy lifestyle. I recently lost a pregnancy and having ultrasounds actually put my mind at ease, helping me to understand what was happening. The type of miscarriage I had happens to one in ten-thousand women. Without ultrasounds, I would still be in the dark as to what went wrong. When I do get pregnant again, I plan on delivering in a hospital. I just want to know there is a doctor and an O.R. ready for anything that could happen. I know many midwives are trained to handle issues that arise, but it is a personal comfort thing with me, just as I'm sure that delivering natural is what will comfort you. Cheers to any woman brave enough to go through childbirth, however they decide to do it. :)
By Jen Roman on
2/11/2010 6:43 PM
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Re: Dr. Cherniawski is Having a Baby!
Congrats Angela!
And for all the readers out there! I agree completely. There are times when Medicine is necesary, those times should be life threatening events, no just because you are not sure what do to or because everyone or every TV comercial tells you to run out and buy this drug, that drug... Do the research, there are healthier options. The body is capable of healing itself with a happy and healthy functioning nervous system. Please get your spinal/neurological hygiene checked with your Holistic Wellness Chiropractor. Dr. Angela is a great doctor and for those who are unable to get into her office, feel free to track me down. www.wisechiropractor.com
By Dr. Jon Wise on
2/18/2010 5:16 PM
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Re: Dr. Cherniawski is Having a Baby!
I think your last statement "As long as the pregnancy and birth are healthy, I will refuse medical interventions and will not subject my little one to unnecessary drugs" is perfect. This was my feeling exactly. I think one misconception about mothers desiring natural childbirth is that they will refuse ANY medical intervention, even to the point of putting their little one's life in danger. That is a sad stereotype because we just want the BEST for our babies, not "okay" or "probably fine" or "standard procedure."
I had both my boys via natural labor in the hospital. I knew I would feel most comfortable knowing that if there WAS an emergency, I would be right there. Of course this was after much discussion with my OB on my desire to go natural and his support (not all hospitals in the valley are "pro" natural childbirth.) My husband and I did a lot of research and reading about natural labor, and were prepared (as much as possible) for what we were headed into. We also switched hospitals when we found the one we had intended to deliver at was not natural-labor friendly at ALL.
The flip side is that I've seen the other extreme as well... the mothers who have taken certain natural childbirth classes that almost have an arrogance against doctors because they feel they truly know better than them. I've also seen two people literally have their own lives in danger because they made poor choices and did not go to the hospital soon enough after home birth complications. One of which also put her baby at risk, unintentionally. Sadly I think part of this comes from their belief that they truly do know better than anyone else, which for the life of me, I can't understand why. (I figured I'M not the doctor, there is a reason for that!) :-)
Unfortunately some of the "education" there is out there seems to not have current medical information with it. I did a LOT of reading before the birth of my first son and some of it was shocking at how OLD it was. I am of the firm belief that if mothers just had the education, this would help with their fear of the process (which is probably why most mothers receive epidurals... fear of pain.) However some of the things I've heard (and my sister has heard; she is also a Level 3 NICU nurse) has been ridiculous (and medically inaccurate according to my sister and what she has seen on the job) coming from "educated" natural birth folk. In fact it has made me somewhat GLAD I did not take formal training in anything.
So, to be honest, I didn't resonate with either side of the spectrum completely-- I just wanted to have a healthy, natural labor and childbirth! And if things went wrong, then I was glad to have medical technology available to save my baby's life! At the end of the day, that was what mattered to me... my baby. The rest I really had to leave at rest when I went into the hospital... at the point you go into labor, you know, it truly isn't in your hands anymore. So you hope and pray and rest in knowing you did what you could and you made the best decisions you could. And then you have that new baby in your arms and it's all -- amazing.
I wish you all the best with your new baby! I know you will have a beautiful story to tell once he / she is here.
By Wendy Van Ryn on
2/18/2010 7:33 PM
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