08/10/2018
Often times so true!
One of the biggest lies told to women during pregnancy and/or labor is that baby is too big! This plants a seed of doubt into parents’ heads that mama’s body physically cannot birth her baby vaginally. That’s absurd!
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This little guy was born at home.
12lbs 11oz at birth.
Mama pushed for 8 minutes.
Mama did not tear.
Baby had a 10 APGAR at 1 min.
No gestational diabetes, baby had no blood sugar issues.
This is NORMAL!
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Obviously, this cutie was on the bigger side of normal, but for the majority of women, our bodies make babies that we are capable of birthing! Baby being truly too big to fit through mama’s pelvis (Cephalopelvic Disproportion) is rare. Often doctors will use it as an excuse to induce women before their due date, perform a c-section, augment labor with medication, or say it’s the reason for “failure to progress”. Ultrasounds are notoriously inaccurate when it comes to estimating baby’s weight. It has about a 2 lb margin of error (meaning baby could weigh up to 2 lb more or less than what they estimate!).
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Most home birth midwives understand that babies and bodies vary and so do labor patterns! Patience is a necessity. For women in labor, the key is movement! Laying in a bed reduces your pelvic diameter by about 30%! Most babies go through a series of rotations to navigate their body through the pelvis. When a mama is stuck in a bed due to medications or policies, it makes it much more difficult for both babies and their mothers. What’s the best way to avoid being stuck in a bed? Stay home during early labor, rest and nourish your body as much as possible to prepare for active labor. Have supportive providers and a doula by your side who trust birth and believe in you.
Right on the spot words by
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Mama: Amy Fulton
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