3 Tips for an Unmedicated Birth

There are so many great resources to have an unmedicated labor and delivery, but I've narrowed it down to 3 of my favorites that I've found really helpful! I would love to hear yours! Feel free to leave them in the comments below!





Here's a little overview:

#1. Loosen the jaw! It has been said that a relaxed jaw equals a relaxed cervix. A relaxed cervix is able to dilate and progress unhindered, which is {obviously} pretty ideal during labor!:)

#2. Go pee! A full bladder can stall labor! SO making sure to use the bathroom often can help keep everything running smoothly!

#3 Have an open mind! Even if I'm 100% set in my mind on not having an epidural, I like to leave a little bit of wiggle room! If for some reason your "unmedicated birth plan" doesn't go as planned, be sure to have an open mind! Sometimes the situation can veer away from exactly what you want, but that reward of having a sweet baby in your arms at the end is a pretty great reward no matter what interventions may need to be taken during labor for your health or the health of the baby! Many and maybe even most times, it can go just as planned, which is grand! In either case, having an open mind and allowing yourself permission to change course if that's what is right for you in the moment is a positive thing all around!:)

XO
Sarah

What's New on Composed Mommy?

Hello! After some serious contemplation about this page {both the videos and the blog,} I realized that I thought we needed to add another element to it. While it started as a place to talk about Birth and resources for unmedicated and medicated childbirth, I started realizing that Composed Mommy could involve a little bit more. I've talked about it before here, but I grew up with a lot of Anxiety. For various reasons, it sometimes got to the point that I would search for answers on my symptoms. A lot of the searches would leave me feeling terrified and even more anxious than before I embarked on my WebMD Journey. Hahaha! Does that sound familiar to anyone?;)

Over the years I have been able to control it so much better. I don't find myself needing to know exactly where the door is for a quick exit; I don't carry around homeopathic medication to help ease an attack "just in case" it decided to show up. It still happens, especially when hormones are out of whack such as in pregnancy or near cycles, but it really is so much better. So I realized over the past month that if I could help even one person by inserting some Anxiety Healing elements to this page, then it would be worth being a little bit vulnerable.

SO, what does that mean for Composed Mommy? Now, not only is it a place to talk about Birth, with Unmedicated {and Medicated, of course} childbirth resources, it also will include Anxiety Healing techniques, articles, resources, and ideas and tips to help overcome anxiety and panic. I feel like there's always a need for positive resources, especially on topics that aren't always openly talked about. I hope it proves to be helpful for someone, and I feel like sometimes Childbirth and Anxiety can go hand in hand. At least a tiny bit. Hopefully and probably not for everyone, but for a great majority of the ladies having babies, sometimes it does! Our goal here is to learn together to help have empowered birth AND help lessen anxiety, whether you are expecting a baby or not!<3

Let me know what you think or if you have any comments or anything to add!

XO

Sarah

Anxiety: First Fear, Second Fear

  Today I want to talk about anxiety because I feel like it can go hand-in-hand with childbirth! Because let's be real,  give me a mom who isn't at least a tiny bit anxious or apprehensive of how her pregnancy or Labor and Delivery will go. There probably aren't any! Or they are definitely the exception!  There's a fabulous book called "Pass Through Panic" by Dr. Claire Weekes that talks of first fear and second fear.  In a nutshell, the first fear is the thing that you are afraid of or concerned about. The second fear is the way that you are feeling about it. So if you find yourself extremely anxious about a situation, you may not be afraid of the actual situation, but of the physiological response that you are associating with that concern. Does that make sense? I try to explain it in the most simple way possible in this video, but I know it can seem kind of deep and maybe a little bit complicated. If you're someone who has experienced anxiety, this book is a great read! I hope this helps! Please feel free to leave  anything you'd like to add, any questions, or anything you'd like to see in future videos in the comment section below!:)

XO

Sarah

Breathing Techniques During Labor

Breathing is such a huge part of keeping everything running smoothly during labor! Here are a few of my favorites during labor, and you might even find them helpful to use in everyday activities!

• Square Breathing.
• When I was growing up, I had a lot of anxiety, and a family friend taught me this breathing before we boarded a plane home from New York, and it helped a lot to not only calm down because I was thinking about something other than what I was so anxious about, but it physiologically calms you down, because when your breath is slowed down, your body isn't producing the fight or flight stress hormones that make you panic.
• The easiest way to remember it is by the number 4! Breath IN for 4 counts, HOLD it for 4 counts, breath OUT for 4 counts, HOLD it out for four counts. And repeat 4 times, or as many as you feel you need to find your center.
• In-between Surge Breathing
• This one is also a super common breathing technique, but I first learned about it in the Curtis Method HypnoBirthing Class. I helped tremendously, and this is actually my very favorite out of all three of these techniques. I use this one often, and in between surges, I found it extremely helpful!
• Breath IN for 4 counts, and OUT for 8 counts.
• When you are in labor, your uterus contracting is using oxygen, and it's so important to be replenishing it without hyperventilating. I've heard before that when you breathe out for longer than you breathe in, that can help prevent that hyperventilation, but it also helps keep everything loose and relaxed, which is a high priority during any type of childbirth!
• Breathing DURING Contractions
• This one I also learned from Lauralyn {find her classes HERE, it's well worth it! You can also read our post about Birth Classes HERE.} As with any relaxation technique, it can be interpreted differently or modified for every individual. For me, I found this helpful because since a contraction, or surge, birthing wave, {whichever you prefer to call it,} is obviously more intense than the time in between surges, it's nice to have a breath to match that intensity. It's a powerful breath that can also help you breath your baby down, {or "J" breathing, like it's called in some birthing techniques. More on that in another post!}
• Breathe IN for 10 quickly paced and powerful counts, and OUT for 10 powerful counts. This also helps to oxygenate that uterus, and the first time we took the class, I was worried about hyperventilating with breathing in an out like that,  and when I asked her about it, she said that because it's working so hard, it will use it up! But, of course, always do what feels right in the moment for your body!:)

So there are just a few breathing techniques that can help you stay loose and relaxed, which in labor can help the dilation and progression that gets you steps closer to meeting your sweet baby! These breaths can also be coupled with noises, like the ones HERE. Really, whatever you feel is right for you in the moment is right. But, the more practice that goes into it beforehand makes for better "muscle memory" and is easier to fall back into on game day. If you have anything that you've found helpful in your own labors, I would love to hear about it! Please feel free to share in the comments below!

XO

Sarah

Sphincters and Laughter During Childbirth

*Quick note about the video: In one line, I say, "The more comfortable you are, the more successful it's going to be." Just wanted to make a note so that it's perfectly clear that it's referring to the sphincter relaxing that will be more successful! There's no such thing as a birth that isn't successful! Every Mom, every Baby, every avenue of labor and delivery, it is ALL beautiful, perfect, and successful in its own way! Yay for birth and for celebrating it in every way, shape, and form that it may come!*
Who says childbirth has to be a serious and scary? {Of course, in the right situation, with an uncomplicated labor, which the great majority are!} things can actually be really fun! Afterall, you are about to bring new life into the world...and although it can seem heavy and maybe even overwhelming, that also seems like a pretty exciting thing! I understand that it can be scary, though, there's no denying the anxious jitters or plain out fear that can take over when you don't know what to expect. So it feels important to say that women have been birthing for thousands of years! Your body knows what to do. And if you are having a medicated birth, or an Unmedicated birth at a hospital or birthing center, your medical personnel know what to do, too. Even though three of our four births have been Unmedicated, I still have always loved being at the Hospital where people smarter than me in these types of situations are there to help and make sure everything is going smoothly! But as for my sweet friends who love their Home-Births, during an uncomplicated  childbirth {and MOST are!} that's a great option too. Your body really does know what it's doing! And how lucky are we that for the most part, we can choose where and how we birth! We aren't limited to the woods, or the plains, or in a stream, {although some people legitimately choose to do that!} And no matter the avenue of birth, it's all beautiful!:) And fun! My hubby is pretty convenient to bring along to births...okay, he's the best thing ever, not only because he's my rock and support, but also because he's funny. He can crack me up even during the nervous moments or in between the toughest contractions.

Here is some science behind laughter during labor! We've talked about low noises before {here,} and laughter has the same effect. When your sphincters are relaxed, {the cervix is a sphincter!}they an function properly, and as t relates to this, you are able to dilate and progress in labor. Laughter not only sends signals to your brain of happiness and therefore being relaxed, but I want you to try to clench up every muscle in your body right now. Now try to laugh out loud while still being clenched! It doesn't quite work too well. When you are giving a natural laugh, your muscles are automatically more loose. And THAT is a plus!:) If you need a laugh today, below is a little video that I found that had me cracking up! Don't be afraid to make labor and delivery an enjoyable, fun experience!:)

XO

Sarah

Welcome!

I realized that I started this page without an introduction, so just wanted to say, "Hi! I'm Sarah!" I'm the wife to THE best man on the planet, Mom to 4 super cool kids, ages 4 and under, and the Owner of The Dainty Pear and Composed Mommy!:) I'm a Communications Major turned Esthetician turned Jewelry Maker and Birth Lover! Sometimes you have to explore all that's out there until you find something that is your niche!;) I love meeting you guys, so feel free to leave comments or e-mail me for questions or ideas for content that you'd like to see!:)
XO
Sarah

Childbirth Classes

I know it's a debate among pretty much everyone about to have a baby: DO we take a childbirth class!? My hubby and I were in the exact.same.situation. And for the first two babies, we decided, "Nah!" "We'll know what to do when we get there!" Haha! Does that work? Yeah! If you don't have any expectations of what it should be like or what you want it to be like, it was totally fine! I did want to have an unmedicated birth with our first, and I just went for it! I had bought some CD's instead of classes, and listened to those throughout pregnancy. When I got there, water was broken, IV and Pitocin in place, I toughed it out for a long time. Hours. And Hours. And hours. I bore through the pain clenched. I didn't know that being clenched up could keep you from progressing! I didn't have the resources to have a "Natural Birth," and when it came down to it, tens of hours later and a C-Section was on the table, we opted for the Epidural, and it did help me relax and my cervix to progress. After 3 1/2 hours of intense pushing, our little boy was born! All 7 lbs. and 12 oz. He was perfect! And my birth was perfect because we made the right choices in the situation that we had. Next baby, I was {again} determined to do it unmedicated. When I went in for my induction, I was set on it. And I did it! I will say that an unmedicated induced labor can be intense. It was doable, but I found myself wanting to be more in control and more relaxed. If that was possible. With our third baby, we decided to get some help. We needed the resources to make it happen again in a more relaxed way. So, we decided to take a HypnoBirthing Class! There were definitely pre-conceived notions about taking the class. Especially from my hubby. Liiiiike, "Do we need to bring our own granola?" "What crazy things will we do when we are hypnotized?" Hahah! Kind of kidding. When we took the class, we fell in love with it. We found it helped us not only in preparing for the birth, but in everyday things. Tom found himself using it at work to relax. I found myself feeling more in control of my breathing, and being more "okay" with being relaxed. I have such a go-getter and sometimes anxious personality, that sometimes it is so hard to relax fully. {Isn't it crazy that it can be hard to give in to the relaxation!? I know it sounds weird, but I also know that I'm probably not the only one out there!} During labor, I was in the zone. I was relaxed, vocal noises were at a minimum, and I found myself breathing my baby down into the hands of the doctor. It was a beautiful experience. Just like my other births. Because all birth is beautiful. This time, it did feel good to feel more in control and to understand what was happening when my baby was moving down to be born. The class had explained all of it, and gave me the tools to have the experience I was hoping for! We enjoyed it so much that we decided to take it a second time for our 4th baby. Again, we learned a lot and it was a great re-fresher. When our fourth baby was born, it was such an empowering experience.   Letting your body take over, {of course, when the situation permits!} moving where you feel you need to move, is an incredible thing. After the nurse checked my cervix, I decided to use the potty and take another walk. When we were half way down the hall, I said, "I need to get back to the bed." I knelt down on the bed, leaned over the back of it like a chair, and said, "Get the Nurse! I'm pushing!" As the overwhelming urge to push set in, I followed suit. My body was giving birth with no coaching, no help. It was an amazing feeling. When the Nurse got there, {who also happened to be my friend from College!} our baby's head had already made an appearance! She prompted me to wait one second,  then she put one glove on, grabbed a receiving blanket, and said, "Okay, push!" And out she came. Everyone was emotional because it was the craziest thing in the best way!

SO, when it comes to classes? I'm team classes. Even though we didn't take one until baby #3, I am all about it! Which class you take will depend on what experience you are aiming for. There's no wrong answer, and yes it is worth the money! In our home state of Utah, there are many options! But, if you are looking for a childbirth class that is geared towards an unmedicated birth but has enough curriculum-based information that will be helpful whichever avenue you take, then I highly recommend Lauralyn Curtis with HypnoBirthing Utah! You can find her website and register HERE. She is a phenomenal teacher, and she has become one of our great friends through all of our interaction with her!

I hope that helps demystify the Child Birth Class debate a little bit! Let me know what you think, and if you have any questions or suggestions for material, please leave a comment below!
XO
Sarah

Using Noises in an Unmedicated Childbirth

Noises can be a valuable tool during labor to keep your body relaxed, which helps the cervix to dilate! I know it can sound a little bit ridiculous in the video, but practicing during pregnancy can make it come as second nature on your birthing day!:)
XO
Sarah

Welcome to Composed Mommy!

Welcome to Composed Mommy! When I think of the word "Composed," I think of someone who is empowered, confident, and relaxed. I also feel like all of those words can go hand-in-hand with Childbirth, but it's not always that way! Here's to exploring the amazing world of Childbirth {all types, but specifically Unmedicated,} and having fun in the Birth Community!

XO

Sarah