Sunrise Birthing Center

The first minutes after birth create part of the blueprint of our nervous system. Whenever possible, I encourage a ‘golden hour’ after birth to ease baby’s tran...sition from womb-to-world and create an environment for mama and baby to bond: hushed voices, soft or no music at all, dimmed lights, ambient noises hushed, immediate skin to skin for baby contact. No chaos, just quiet calm. This has been traditional practice in every culture across time until modern birth practices began to separate mom and baby. Bonding research began in the 1970s when two physicians in Colombia didn’t have enough incubators for the premature babies in their hospital, so started placing the babies, naked, on their moms’ bare chests to keep them warm. These babies thrived in comparison with those placed in the incubators - they were able to regulate their body temperatures using mama’s body heat. Research has shown that skin to skin time with mama is important for baby’s development, by stimulating the newborn ‘breast crawl’: baby smells mama’s milk and starts to move to her breast to latch. The baby will then often open her eyes for their very first gaze upon mama. These two behaviors stimulate physical, emotional and social development. Additional research has found this early skin to skin time with mama can help baby: absorb and digest nutrients gain weight after birth obtain a more stable heartbeat and breathing, higher blood oxygen levels, and a stronger immune system with brain development and function as well as healthy parental attachment There’s a lot for you and baby to integrate in those early moments. Creating sacred space for at least an hour before any weighing, measuring, etc, is ideal. A newborn exam can be done right in your arms - I’ve done it hundreds of times. If you’re birthing in a hospital or birthing center, this may be something you need to request in advance and have your doula or partner remind everyone. With homebirth, make sure your midwife knows that you don’t want a lot of rushing around after birth. If a cesarean is required, you can request a gentle cesarean to create sacred space and bonding time for you & baby. @parteramidwifery

Listening is the first tool of the midwife. Heartones. Stories. Emotions. Every woman has a labor song. The way her breath changes. Her words. The tone of the w...ords. Spoken. Shouted. Whispered. Screamed. Is she scared? Is she holding on to the past? Heartones again. Crying. Words of encouragement. The sound of bearing down to push is music to the midwives ear and will have her jumping up to prepare the room. The first cry of the newborn. The heartbeat of the newborn. The sound of her lungs. Her first breaths. The tears that flow. The name of the newborn as it is first spoken. Jubilation. The sound of the first latch and drops of milk. The first tool of the midwife is to get quiet: and listen. Listen more often to things than to beings Tis’ the ancestors’ breath When the fire’s voice is heard -Birago Diop #midwives #midwife #birthcenter #prenatal #antenatal #childbirth #motherhealthinternational #maternallhealth #naturalbirth

Just think about this for a moment #normalizebreastfeeding... Have you joined The Breastfeeders Club yet ? We are out there Breastfeeders http://bit.ly/breastmilk_queen Instagram.com/marissathemilkmom

All screening tests have downsides. They may lead to overuse of intervention. And every time we use technology like this, we are undermining women’s own knowled...ge. The constant use of technology implies that our bodies aren’t capable of growing, birthing and feeding babies without a shed load of expensive machinery. And that’s not just true. I spent last week chatting with a wonderful, passionate group of midwives, obstetricians, doulas, childbirth educators, hypnobirthing teachers and other birth workers from around the world, and this came up - again - as a key theme that so many of us are experiencing. It's so important to keep sharing positive messages about the awesomeness of the female body. And to remind people that we did this for millions of years before the machines came along. If it hadn't worked, none of us would be here today. If you'd like more information, see www.sarawickham.com where I have a whole information hub on screening as well as more than 500 pages of information. #midwife #midwifery #doula #decisionmaking #decisions #whatsrightforme #book #bookstagram #childbirth #childbirtheducator #childbirtheducation #hypnobirthing #pregnancy #pregnancyyoga #women #birthrights #trustbirth See more

I don’t know who needs to read this today #normalisebreastfeeding... Have you joined The Breastfeeders Club yet ??? 1600 members strong http://bit.ly/breastmilk_queen

Bringing birth home changes the narrative of power and possibility for our daughters too. (And this beautiful mama has five!)

One to share xx

True fact! (The one and only meme I’ve ever made- featuring my lovely daughter.)