janice’s placenta encapsulation story

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hey, friends!

normally i share stories of my students’ births in this story series, but this quick story about janice’s decision to encapsulate her placenta was really touching to me and i wanted it to be out there so that hopefully people will find some encouragement from it! janice recently gave birth to her second baby and was referred to me by a friend of hers. here is her story about why she chose placenta encapsulation and her experiences with it…enjoy!

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Hey Kelly, I just had to take a couple minutes to write you and tell you thank you beyond measure for the placenta capsules and the salve that you made for me. As you know, when I had {our first daughter}, my postpartum experience was pretty much horrendous, and I really wasn’t expecting that at all. I guess I’m just one of those people who didn’t respond well to the fast shift in hormones, and to the fact that I ended up with a c-section after a long labor that left me totally exhausted mentally and emotionally. I wish I knew about encapsulation or knew that I would need it last time!  While we decided to have a repeat c-section with {our son}, I went into this experience doing my homework- how to make this c-section more calm and serene, how to help my postpartum experience be brighter not only for myself and my husband but for our children. I couldn’t imagine having to care for two kids if I felt anything like I felt the first time. After hearing about placenta encapsulation so many times and doing some research I thought to myself, what is there to lose? If it’s all potential benefits, and no real side effects, then why not? I figured even if I wasn’t one of the moms who felt like little rainbows and butterflies were popping out of their placenta pills, I at least would know that I was doing everything I could to be proactive about my health and my relationships with my family. Thankfully our hospital was easy to work with in terms of placenta release, and thankfully YOU were so accommodating and came to us only 2 hours after {our son} was born, picked everything up for us, and brought it all back to us so quickly. I was able to take my first dose less than 24 hours after my son was born, and was able to use the salve a few days later when my incision site closed up. I think the quickness in getting those hormones back into me made a difference for sure, and I think the suggested dose and how it helped me “wean” off the hormones was especially useful. I literally was stunned how quickly my milk came in {something we struggled with after the birth of my daughter which led to her being formula fed, yet another thing I lamented over}, and honestly how much energy I had. I felt like my incision healed faster this time around, and that I actually wanted to cuddle with my baby, with both of my babies, and that, in and of itself, would be worth me paying triple what it was you charged. We are now 3 months postpartum and I have to tell you, everything is different than last time. Yes I still struggle a bit with anxiety, but I didn’t expect to be magically cured of all my ailments from these placenta pills. What it HAS provided was an abundance of milk, a much more awake and aware mom, and no real sense of looming sadness that followed me around after my daughter’s birth. I can’t tell you that this was only the placenta pills that did this for me, but what I can tell you is that I wish every mom would make the investment and take advantage of this service, whether they think they’ll need it or not, because I didn’t think I would the first time and boy did I. I sing the praises of what my placenta has done for my baby and for me, and I hope every mom at least considers this options. I know it makes many people squirm to think about, but it really was life-changing for me, which is worth a little squirming in my book!  Thanks, Kelly. I am forever grateful. So is my husband! And my babies, I’m sure!

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Thanks so much Janice for sharing your placenta encapsulation story with us. What an AMAZING thing to hear that you have been so much more present with your family this time around. It is humbling to read something like this- I am thankful that the services I provide can have such an impact on families, and thankful that you took the time to research all of your options. It was a fun journey with you answering your questions and laying out all of your options! Lots of love!

If you are in the San Diego area and interested in placenta encapsulation services, please visit my business site at Beautiful One Birth Services or email me at info@beautifulonebirthservices.com

placenta encapsulation and gestational diabetes

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hey, lovelies.

this is a little bit of a “the more you know” post for inquisitive minds…

i wanted to touch on a topic here relatively briefly simply due to the amount of times it comes up in conversation from perspective placenta clients of mine (and others) regarding their diagnosis of gestational diabetes and their desire to encapsulate their placentas.

what is gestational diabetes?

briefly,

Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. Based on recently announced diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes, it is estimated that gestational diabetes affects 18% of pregnancies.

We don’t know what causes gestational diabetes concretely, but we have some clues. The placenta supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother’s insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother’s body to use insulin.

Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia. {diabetes.org}

obviously a problem, right?! some moms are able to control (keep their levels in check) their gestational diabetes with diet and exercise, others need to actually take medication in order for their body to find a more homeostatic point. but, either way, because of the focus on the placenta thus far in research regarding gestational diabetes, many moms and many care providers are leery of having the mom then go forth and ingest her placenta, in this case- the “cause” of all the issues in the first place.

but…not so fast!

even if a mom has gestational diabetes, she can still utilize her placenta.

{cue clapping and whistling}

When the placenta is no longer inside of the uterus, doing what it was designed to do, it cannot continue to produce and release the HPL hormone. With that being said, every woman’s experience and then recovery period with/from her GD (gestational diabetes) symptoms will vary. Ingesting your placenta will be fine, but doing a trial and error until your body is able to completely tolerate the capsules (meaning, your levels stay consistent) might be the wisest route to take. I have had some of my GD mamas take the normal dosage that I suggest and then they will go on to check sugar levels afterwards just to be sure, others will simply see how they feel and check only if they feel necessary. If an issue arises, the best route of suggestion would NOT be to simply toss the capsules away counting it as a loss, but to discontinue the capsules for a week or so, allowing your body to kind of recalibrate. After that little hiatus you then go ahead and try again. It should only take a few weeks (if that) for your to regulate…OR you may also be fine right off the bat and not have any issues whatsoever- which, honestly, is what I’m finding more often than not.

For insulin dependent mamas with severe issues, tinctures may be the more realistic route rather than in pill form…but again, some women in this situation are very sensitive to any dips or rises and some can not have noticeable issues whatsoever.

I hope this is an encouragement that you CAN continue on in the plans you desired and not have them derailed because of a gestational diabetes diagnosis.

with all of this being said, this is not designed to be medical advice nor am i medical care provider. if you have specific questions or want more information, ask a trusted care provider.

ch-ch-ch-changes

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hey, friends.

in light of my recent announcement, some things are going to look a little different business-wise for the rest of this year, and i wanted one, concise place to mention it all.

so lemme break it down for y’all (and it goes like this…♫♫♫)

childbirth education.

not much to say here, actually. my listed classes will still be running as they are posted. i am teaching until August, having zee babe sometime in September most likely, and then teaching final classes to wrap up the year starting in November. Well, that final class is up in the air, depending on how I’m feeling at that point. Even though it’s only a couple hours away and the logistics of that are totally doable, I need to make sure I’m getting enough rest, etc at that point so that i can actually be an effective instructor.

you WILL notice when you click over to my childbirth education options that i have a new class offering starting up in May, which i’m super stoked about. being a christian myself, i’ve had many couples ask me if there is a particular class where not only they’d be instructed by a fellow christian, but where we actually would discuss God and how to tangibly rely on Him through pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. while those same couples have LOVED taking my HypnoBirthing classes and found it to be a wonderful preparation course- both mind and body, i almost always would be spending lots of time in emails and coffee dates about more in depth issues regarding utilizing scripture, preparing one’s heart from a christian perspective, etc for their labors…so now we have one place to do, learn, and talk about ALL of that…and more! i’ll be teaching out of my home on my cozy little patio (or in my cozy little living room if the weather gets crazy…but, let’s be honest…this is san diego). i’m excited!

so, in summary:

HypnoBirthing classes- sign up!

Alpha classes- sign up!

doula services.

as you can imagine, this is where you’ll be seeing the most change and shifts. i have mamas scheduled until may 2013 and then i’ll be taking some time off to rest, relax, have  a more firm schedule, and just enjoy being pregnant. this little goose is due in september, so it’ll be a nice break to enjoy the last few months of my pregnancy. it is tempting to continue on in this work because i love it so much, but honoring my family and this pregnancy and this baby is really important to me…so time off it is! then i PLAN on taking couples on (probably just one a month for the first few months to see how it meshes with our new family dynamic), in or around february or march of 2014.  i am so excited to utilize some doula love at my own birth, and am so excited to be able to share that love with others myself again after my sweet babymoon is over. i have 4 more births scheduled until my maternity leave from doula’ing begins, and i am SOAKING it all up…

i WILL have some new, fun options available to you in the coming weeks, too- birth tub rental, and a couple other new things up my sleeve that i am still ironing out the details on. you see, i can’t stay away from this birth stuff…

placenta services.

welp, there’s really nothing to see here, folks. i haven’t decided yet- i MIGHT not be taking on other september moms, but most likely i will and in case that mom and i are in labor at the same time, i will just utilize a backup. i will continue to provide the same services and not taking maternity leave from this aspect at all. so bring on your placentas, mamas. you know i love ‘em

hope that helps clarify anything you were just DYING to know about over on my end. i know, you were waiting with bated breath for this info.

with love,

kelly.

14+ Weeks

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14+ Weeks

So, I haven’t blogged much recently….or at all basically. Lots happening both personally and professionally. Kicking off my return to blogging with a little announcement for those who haven’t heard. #2 shows him or herself rather quickly, eh?! We are so excited to meet our little goose in September 2013! <3

monica’s HypnoBirthing story

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I have another super awesome birth story to share with you! It was so much fun to have this sweet couple in class with us, and I SO appreciate their enthusiasm for what they were learning and how it was transforming their view of pregnancy and birth. Humbling that I get to do what I get to do! Here is Monica’s birth story…

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I wanted to share my birth story!  My son was born December 24- a perfectly healthy, beautiful 7lb 12 oz baby.  I was 40+2 and in the days preceding my labor I started going on very long walks.  The afternoon before I went into labor I went on a very long walk and started noticing more pelvic pressure.  That evening I started having painless, semi regular surges.  We were very excited so we tried to go to sleep so I could get some rest in case it really was the real thing!  We went to bed around 10 pm the 23rd and I woke up at 1230 am on the 24th with intense, regular surges.  I went into the shower and found the warm water on my back to help relieve them.  At this point the surges were 4-5 minutes apart and we decided to head to the hospital.  When I arrived at triage my surges were 3-4 minutes apart and I was 3cm.  The intern at triage wasn’t sure if I was actually in labor but they decided to admit me.  I requested to have a midwife instead of a MD and for a nurse who was comfortable with natural, unmedicated childbirth.  Upon being admitted they told me they wanted me to have constant monitoring for one hour to make sure everything was okay and if it was I could have intermittent monitoring after that (they said they noticed some “weird” readings on the monitor when I was in triage and wanted to make sure everything was okay).  That first hour was pretty miserable.  With the constant monitoring I was unable to get up and move around and I found lying in bed during surges to be painful.  Luckily everything with the baby’s heart rate was fine so after that first hour I was unhooked and I just went straight into the shower.  I had back labor, which made things really intense for me.

Shortly after being admitted they did change of shift and the nurse and midwife that were assigned to me, and they were the ones who ended up delivering my baby, were FANTASTIC.  I couldn’t have asked for a more incredible team, I was SO impressed.  Our nurse even found our “Hypnobirthing in progress-quiet voices please” sign and placed it on the door for us.

While in labor I thought about what you mentioned in class and only received minimal cervical checks.  At the time hearing a number I wouldn’t have liked would have been devastating so I just told myself I was dilating and that worked for me.  I also used your advice and didn’t think in the “long term” of labor-I just focused on each surge and told myself I only had to get through that specific surge.
I spent most of my labor in the shower, frequently changing positions.  When I wasn’t in the shower I would get on my hands and knees during a contractions and have my Mom or husband apply counter pressure on my lower back and I found some good relief in that as well.  I would also get very nauseous at the peak of each surge.  Even though that was unpleasant it gave me hope that I was in transition.  I remember the point when I was ready to push.  I was in the shower and all those sensations I was experiencing changed and I started subconsciously making these noises that I couldn’t really control but I could hear myself making, like you talked about.  I crawled out of the shower and my Mom asked me “Do you feel like you need to push?” I nodded and they called the nurse in and they checked me and I was fully dilated and ready to push at that point!!  My nurse asked if I wanted a mirror but I couldn’t really answer questions at that point so she just grabbed one and I’m glad she did.  The first couple pushes I couldn’t see my progress but once they got the mirror I was actually able to see my hard work in action and it helped me focus.  After his head came out the rest went really fast.  I just remember the burning and all of the sudden instant relief and they plopped him right onto my chest.  I was in disbelief- he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I loved him more than anything in this world!  His eyes were wide open, bright, and looking around.  He started crying.  They did his vital signs and everything on my chest.  His first two hours of life he was on my chest skin to skin with me.  My mom and my husband were right there too throughout the whole labor and to greet our son as he entered the world.  They were any excellent support team!
I wouldn’t have changed anything about my labor.  I am so proud that I was able to do it without receiving anything for pain and the only medication I had to receive was an IM injection of pitocin post delivery since my bleeding warranted it.  I am also SO THANKFUL we took your class.  If I wouldn’t have prepared for labor I think I would have been overwhelmed in the moment.  Thank you again for everything!!
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Oh goodness! This just brings tears to my eyes, Monica! What a sweet story and an amazing way to bring your son into the world. I am so thankful you found the techniques, mental prep, and comfort measures that we went through in class so helpful. It sounds like you had amazing support throughout your entire labor (both from your family and from the staff- awesome!!) and were able to handle the intensity of things really well! Congratulations on your beautiful son, and thanks again for sharing your story with us!! Lots of love to you three!!

sometimes

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i can’t count how many posts i’ve made where i’ve mentioned how crazy it is that my son is growing up so quickly. i guess i won’t ever stop thinking that. even when i am watching him drive away for the first time on his own, or heading off to college, or getting his first career job, or dancing with him on his wedding day, or crying with him when his son or daughter is born…i guess my thought will always be- wow, how time has flown!

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i don’t really want it to fly though. not necessarily because i treasure these moments so much (i do, i wish i could bottle them up and keep them forever), but moreso because i don’t want that to be my life. “where did the time go?!”

this year, after looking at pinterest at the end of last year, i decided to take note of little joys that happen each day in my life. not only does this help me see joy in sometimes unexpected places, but it helps me take some time out of being preoccupied with busy-ness and focus on the sweetness of life. grace.

some days the joys are easier to spot than others. keaton happy, mama happy- yes, good things just seem to burst forth like a well.  but some days i don’t want to leave the house and keaton is running me ragged and i just don’t know how i’m keeping all of the balls i have in the air up so high. but those days are when this practice is so needed. where is my joy? in my circumstance? dependent on my day to day experiences? dependent on the choices my son makes to obey or disobey? where is the joy in that fickle-ness? how can i be IN the moment when i feel overwhelmed by it?!

those are the days i need the reminders of sweet grace in my life. of taking on a project and seeing it to completion. of writing hand written cards to friends and sending them. of bringing up old jokes with my husband that we had forgotten how they used to make us laugh so hard we couldn’t breathe. of being intentional in my discipline with my son but deciding to focus more on connecting than correcting. of finding even small ways to bless my family. of doing something sweet for my husband that reminds him that no matter how many kids or jobs or crazy things that happen, that i always strive to honor and love him well because, well, i love him.

thinking about these sweet graces in my life and shifting my perspective is helping me reclaim my joy. and it’s keeping my footing strong. and helps me stay in the moment, enjoying the moments rather than letting them dictate how my life will be, or how i will engage in that life. yes there are times when i’m stressed, and overwhelmed, and wondering how in the world i can take any more in that exact moment- but in that same exact moment there is still joy to be found. it takes a lot of intentionality to find it, but it’s there. and i’m learning to find it. to enjoy the moments of my life rather than let them slip by unnoticed. it’s making me a better woman. a better wife. a better mom.

a few days ago was a rough day with keaton. he wasn’t giving me a hard time, he was having a hard time. or at least i kept telling myself that.  i wasn’t feeling well, i didn’t have a lot of energy to play with him, and i was getting the brunt of his frustration. we could have gone on all day like that. a few minutes of giggles followed by some alone time, followed by tears and frustration, followed by some giggles and so the pattern could have just repeated all day. i decided instead to make the best of it. his sweet little laugh was all i needed to keep going. we made, out of the blankets on the bed that i was laying sick in, a pretty awesome fort. i had keaton run and get books and toys and he brought them in with him, as if he was entering disneyland or something, with a huge smile he says “mommy this is VERY cool!” add on a flashlight and some shadow puppets and there you go…day turned upside down. a shift in my perspective to be present and meet his needs while needing to meet my own needs as well…took a bit more effort than just turning over and thinking “woah is me…”

and it was one of those moments that will go down on a piece of paper for my little joys of the day for the year. and when the year is up and i look back on it through these papers, i can smile and say- yup, that WAS very cool.

Cassidy’s HypnoBirthing Story

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Hey, friends! Grab some hot tea, snuggle up with a warm blanket, and prepare to read a birth story that is going to just absolutely warm your heart. Cassidy, along with her good friend Alison, took my HypnoBirthing classes while Cassidy’s husband was deployed. Both Cassidy and Alison are L&D nurses at a local naval hospital, it was so great having their feedback and insights in the class as well! Cassidy knew he wouldn’t be home for the birth of their daughter, and she was SURROUNDED by loving and encouraging friends and family. It was really beautiful to see! Cassidy and I kept in touch as her guess date approached, and I was filled with joy to receive her birth story a few days after Charlotte arrived. This is her birth story…enjoy!

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Hey Kelly,
Just wanted to share my birth story with you!
It was forever a life changing experience in so many ways! Your HypnoBirthing guidance carried me through the incredible journey.

Charlotte arrived at 10:52 am. Happy and healthy as can be!

The Saturday i had been swept (membrane sweep) and i was already 4/80/-3… at 3am on the13th i started surges about every 7 mins that required lots of movement for comfort but were moderate at that point. I waited an hour then hopped in the shower, surges were now about every 5 mins. I then decided to wake my mom up and have her shower etc while I threw cookies in the oven for the nurses.  Meanwhile I’m on Skype with my husband they were now every 3-4. By 6 am we were headed down to my friends to labor at her house, as she was closer to the hospital than I was, and she was filling my tub I had rented- I was looking forward to that! On the way we picked up my midwife Sara and she checked me quick… And quickly decided that we’d be going straight to the hospital as I was already 8cm.  So Alison and my 3 other girlfriends met me there at 0730… They were dying because i made them all take the stairs with me to the 3rd floor and i was in lead. I was that patient that we always roll our eyes at and doubt when they come to triage smiling and perky saying “i think im in labor” and we check them and they are at advanced dilation… that was me! (but thankfully i know the whole staff!). My labor was remarkably easy, I was working but I honestly would do that again any day of the week! Heat pack on my lumbar, hip counterpressure  and leaning on the birthing ball (all that we learned in class) were my biggest friends.

image{ummm, can we talk about this picture for a second?! WOW!! -kelly}

At arrival I was 9cm with a bulging bag of water… I had a saline lock placed and we only did doppler tones the entire time- so great! In all the hustle my husband who had great contact with me at home was MIA now on Skype… (He was assuming i went to my friends, got in the tub etc… clueless about the new plan and how quickly things were moving). Everyone was trying frantically to get him to be “there” but eventually I was feeling the urge to breathe her down… And was complete now… So I started here and there as I felt it, mostly in hands and knees… And then we got a phone call from Zac… Everyone cheered and literally my bag of water burst (it had meconium in it…so our pediatrician team had to be at delivery) within a minute of the call and the urges came on quickly… I have no idea how long I pushed, but it had to be over an hour or more with at least 30 minutes of crowning… My least favorite part by far… At some point I flipped to side lying which was a tremendous help and used the mirror.   The “ring of fire” was the most intense but I worked through it and they were doing compresses etc down there. And then the biggest moment of relief arrived at 1052 with her birth!!! She came out vigorous as ever which cleared any trace of meconium out of her lungs for sure and i grabbed her and went straight to my belly! I had 2 small 1st degree tears that Sara repaired after some lidocaine. But other wise my bleeding was minimal, I never had iv fluids or oxytocin postpartum, not even a Mortin yet… She breastfed within minutes and she’s been a rockstar at it  since. She is perfect! And Zac got to “be there” with us during it all which we hadn’t thought would be possible. But somehow these things work out!!!

image1 I honestly could not have done it without my girls… Oh my they carried me through it and brought my breathing after pushing back under control and I probably had 4 pairs of hands on me at all times… It was so remarkable and truly a shower of love!!!!
I think most of it was videotaped so once I’ve collaborated it down (at some point in the next few months hopefully), I’d love to share it.

Ahhhh what a journey… I never lost faith in my trust of my body or my baby… It just was so natural. They were all joking because at one point just before I started pushing I said ” I don’t understand why people would get an epidural”… I guess that’s how good I was feeling…. Couldn’t have done it without your expertise and hypno guidance! I’m so inspired and I’m in love with not only this beautiful baby Zac and I created but also my body and how it never ceases to amaze me!

Sorry that rambled. I’m just still in this surreal experience!
Best wishes,
Cassidy & Charlotte

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Cassidy! Not rambling at all! I was captivated the entire time. Thank you SO much for sharing your birth story (and a few AMAZING pictures!) with all of us. I love how supported and encouraged you were throughout the process, and the obvious trust and surrender you had in the intensity of the process. I am so thankful that you were able to have the experience you truly desired, and that Zac was able to be as present as he could be for the experience as well- what a sweet sigh of relief that must have been for both of you. Lots of love, mama!!

if you are interested in joining in one of my classes, please check out Beautiful One Birth Services for more class information/scheduling as well as other services!