Bangalore Birth Network

Image Source When a mother on the verge of labor asks us for a last minute checklist of things to do the first thing I remind them of is delayed cord clamping. What is Delayed Cord Clamping? WHO states clamping the cord at least one minute after the birth as delayed cord clamping for all births. But the general belief by some practitioners is that we should wait for 3 to 5 minutes or wait till the cord stops pulsating. Some of them even think it is better not to clamp or cut the cord till the placenta is delivered. But all of them agree on one thing, that delaying the cord clamping to some extent is definitely beneficial to the baby. So why delay the clamping? We have seen that everyone agrees on waiting for somewhere between one minute and till the cord stops pulsating or even the placenta is delivered. But why delay? What are the advantages? 1. Decreased risk of Anemia . According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, research shows ...

Image Source Title: From Fear To Love Author: Red Miller Pages: 288 Rating : 5/5 If you are pregnant and wish to read a book on pregnancy and labour, this is one book that you shouldn't miss! As the blurb in the back of the book says, this book is for pregnant mothers who wish to experience the healthiest, most joyful and nurturing birth experience possible. It helps you to identify your fears and discover the secrets they hold to empower and transform your birth experience, develop a self nurturing plan that will enhance your body’s ability to nourish and grow a healthy baby, work with your pain guides and increase your capacity to cope with the intensity of labour, minimise birth interventions, ins pire your birth partner to step up and play an active role, and understand your unborn baby’s wishes to create the ultimate birth team. The book is divided into three sections - Blossoming (Pregnancy), Opening (Labour), and A Whole New World (The Fourth Tr...

Image Source Skin-to-skin is the practice of holding a newborn baby close to the mother or the father, where both, the caregiver and the baby, are bare chested and usually a thin cloth is used to cover them. While this practice is often seen while caring for preterm babies in the initial phase of their life outside the womb, it is also very beneficial while caring for full term, healthy babies.This practice, though age old in many cultures, is becoming popular amongst caregivers in the recent years because of its many benefits to both, the baby and the parents, especially mothers. Babies cannot control their body temperatures soon after birth. Holding them close to one’s body helps regulate their temperatures as well as their heartbeat. It is believed that the mother’s heartbeat and breathing patterns are familiar to the baby and this helps the baby transition from the atmosphere and security of the womb to the outside world with the least amount of stress and thereby red...