Hey Carolyn,
That's exactly what i was asking. Many thanks for taking the time to respond
- really appreciate the physiological explanation/logic.
Best wishes
Angela
On 12/29/06, Heartlogic [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Hello Angela,
From my perspective, it would seem that an exogenous oxytocic mediated
third stage, with its forceful, prolonged contraction would be more likely
to force fetal blood into the maternal system. That contraction, coupled
with pulling and tugging, removing placental bits from the endometrium by
applied tension (aka controlled cord traction) would be more likely to
provide opportunities for micro tears in the delicate chorionic villi walls,
lending itself to transplacental transfer of blood cells. The intelligent
way the woman's endogenous oxytocin's pulsatile nature provides gentle and
yet effective uterine contractions, allowing the placenta to come off the
wall of the uterus like a sticky note off a piece of paper and drop into the
lower segment, whilst clamping the uterine wall blood vessels has a
different 'energetic' feel to it all. Given that at the sub atomic level we
are all energy, that differet 'feel' may well be very important. BTW, that
pressure of the placenta in the lower segment provides the pelvic and bowel
sensations to let the woman know it is time to give birth to her placenta.
I would suggest therefore, that physiological 'management' is the optimal
form of third stage 'care' for women with rhesus positive and rhesus
negative blood groups. Funny how often physiology wins out over
intervention. Hmm.
Is that what you are meaning by your question Angela?
warmly, Carolyn
- Original Message -
*From:* Angela Thompson [EMAIL PROTECTED]
*To:* ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
*Sent:* Friday, December 29, 2006 11:45 AM
*Subject:* Re: [ozmidwifery] synto AFTER 3rd stage?
Carolyn,
Would you have any feedback on managed 3rd stage for rhesus negative
women?
Thanks
Angela
On 12/24/06, Heartlogic [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
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,
