Nice answer :)
----- Original Message -----
From: Heartlogic
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] synto AFTER 3rd stage?
Great question Kristin.
If a woman who has given birth to her baby is in her 'tend and befriend'
neural network regulatory process aka parasympathetic aspect of her autonomic
nervous system, then her endogenous oxytocin will be high, therefore doing what
endogenous oxytocin does - contract her uterus, stimulate lactogenesis,
generate sensations of loving her baby, stimulate all sorts of yummy, healthy
physiological effects, which in turn creates more of the same. BTW, that is the
state we are all meant to be in - our physiology works for health and harmony
in that 'state'.
If however, she is frightened, cold, disrupted, interfered with or her baby
is taken away from her for whatever reason, including weighing, measuring etc,
therefore her autonomic nervous system switches into the 'flight, fight or
freeze' state, then she may be much more likely to bleed and therefore 'need'
exogenous oxytocin.
Fascinating how we create what we are always trying to prevent/control :-)
Something that is not well enough known is that when we give exogenous
oxytocics aka syntocinon, then that synthetic hormone does not cross the blood
brain barrier and therefore does not act like a behavioural hormone, meaning it
does not help mothers fall in love with their babies and it does switch off the
woman's own oxytocin supply, which complicates the falling in love issue. So
giving exogenous oxytocin interrrupts bonding and even distorts it. That's a
big responsibility and we are seeing the effects of our (medically dominated
and controlled/interrupted birthing process) meddlesome ways in our society's
ills right now.
I for one, would not advocate giving syntocinon after the placenta was born
for 'insurance' reasons.
It is really time that we all started looking at what makes our physiology
work best, instead of the Newtonian way of always trying to control 'risk'.
That is shutting the door after the horse has bolted way of doing things. We
have to reduced risk by optimising conditions before we get to the risky state.
We are busy creating risk by frightening women. We have to start asking 'what
helps women feel confident?' 'what helps women feel safe in their own skins?'
' what can we do to make the birth environment one which enhances women's sense
of self and internal security?' "what helps women feel relaxed and calm?'
"What do we need to do to help women stay in their parasympathetic aspect of
their autonomic nervous system?"
At Belmont, we are seeing the effects of facilitating, supporting and
respecting the normal parasympathetic way of being - healthy happy babies and
mothers, well bonded. Labour goes better and faster, perineums are stretchier,
love is more likely and deep, connection between mother/baby/family is
facilitated, breastfeeding goes better, babies are healthy and happy and
smiling from birth - we know they smile in the womb, but we can't see that til
they're born.
love, Carolyn
----- Original Message -----
From: Kristin Beckedahl
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006 12:47 PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] synto AFTER 3rd stage?
Hi all,
A woman I will be supporting for her first birth had a checkup y'day where
she discussed her birth plan with the midwife. MW was very impressed and
supportive overall, yet was concerned about her decision for a natural 3rd
stage. She has stated on her birth plan that she would prefer to take the "wait
and see approach" and only have it if there was 'excessive' bleeding. The MW
was happy to negiotiate this with her and suggested she have it not at birth,
but after the placenta has come away.
Would she really need it at this stage....if her loss was minimal...?
Any insights would be appreciated thanks!
Kristin
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