Monday, December 22, 2008
Recommended Reading from Danielle Vance, Denver Psychotherapist at Belly Bliss
Danielle Vance is our psychotherapist here at the Denver Belly Bliss pregnancy center. Danielle uses a wide range of traditional and alternative techniques counseling including energy psychology to create change with fears and negative patterns. Using techniques and approaches from different traditions in psychology to help the individual gain insight into deep-seated beliefs and destructive thought patterns. Danielle Vance is a board, licensed Denver psychotherapist with over 11 years experience serving the mental health community in the Denver area. She received her Bachelors degree in Psychology from the Colorado University at Denver. Her Masters Degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology at Naropa University at Boulder with an emphasis in Secondary Trauma (aka, Compassion Fatigue). Danielle is experienced working with sexual trauma, childhood abuse, post partum depression, fertility fears, labor and delivery concerns, cesarean delivery and overall birth trauma.
Pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood can be deeply emotional for a woman. Women may experience emotional swings, fears, baby blues or depression and psychotherapy is a great way to deal with and work through feelings and obstacles in a healing environment. Mother's spend a great deal of time taking care of others and preparing for the baby, taking care of themselves is equally important. Talking to a psychotherapist and taking care of yourself can be very beneficial for mom, baby and family.
Danielle has shared with us some of her recommended reading. Please take the time to check into some of these books for the mother, baby and family in your life.
Trauma-Proofing Your Child by Peter Levine: A parents guide to restoring Joy, Resiliency and Confidence.Teach your children to bounce back after stressful and traumatizing events.
The Courage to Heal Workbook: A Guide for Women and Men Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. By Laura Davis
A very, compassionate and thorough workbook to walk you through the steps to heal the abuse. Meant to be in conjunction with therapy.
Overcoming Postpartum Depression and Anxiety By Linda Sebastian
A comprehensive guide for women and their families in understanding anxiety and postpartum after giving birth.
Mother to Mother Postpartum Depression Support Book by Sandra Poulin
Real stories from women who have lived through it and recovered.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Study Shows Counseling and Childbirth Classes Helps Pregnant Women
An interesting study was brought to our attention - the impact of prenatal counseling and childbirth classes on a pregnant woman's experience. Studies are great because they can help solidify or dispose of ideas that we may have. This study agrees with the ideas that we support: pregnant women who receive support through childbirth and parenting classes, psychotherapy if needed and a resource for heir answers report feeling more satisfied and were able to make decisions that helped them have better outcomes. This is the goal of our childbirth classes, parenting classes and the reason we have an on site psychotherapist, here in Denver at Belly Bliss. Below is some information for the study.
STUDY: IMPACT OF PRECONCEPTION COUNSELING A study in the November 2008 edition of the journal “Women’s Health Issues” discusses the impact of preconception counseling on pregnancy outcomes. In “The Effect of Preconception Counselling on Lifestyle and Other Behaviour Before and During Pregnancy,” the authors conducted a randomized controlled trial with “Parents to Be.” With this study, they sought to assess the extent to which women who have participated in preconception counseling (PCC) increase their knowledge on pregnancy-related risk factors and preventive measures and change their behavior before and during pregnancy and to provide an overview of adverse pregnancy outcomes among these women. The study authors found that, after PCC, women have more knowledge about essential items. When this knowledge was gained before pregnancy, more women changed their behavior to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. To access the study online, go to http://www.whijournal.com/article/S1049-3867%2808%2900137-0/abstract?source=a
Monday, December 15, 2008
Orgasmic Birth News Articles
There have been some great articles posted about Orgasmic Birth in the last week, the attention is really growing. ABC's 20/20 will air a show on the documentary about birth on January 2nd at 8pm Denver time. The documentary explores the idea of women enjoying birth as opposed to fearing it and this is causing quite the discussion!
The New York Times is hosting 2 articles and discussions about Orgasmic Birth. You can check them out and share your comments at:
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/orgasms-during-childbirth/?hp
and
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/some-thoughts-from-tamra-larter/
You can also read the ABC News article by clicking here.
In addition the Huffington Post has an article and discussion.
We encourage you to share your thoughts on the film and read what everone is saying. As the Denver Hosts of Orgasmic Birth we were thilled to get great feedback on the film. The film is now availbale for purchase at Orgasmic Birth site or the DVD is for purchase in Denver at Belly Bliss.Thursday, December 11, 2008
prenatal massage
According to Massagetherapy.com
Recent studies from the Touch Research Institute (TRI) in Miami, Fla., indicates that pregnancy massage provides more than just symptom relief for the mother. A group of 26 pregnant women were given either massage or relaxation therapy during a five-week study. In addition to experiencing a reduction in symptoms of anxiety, stress, sleep problems and back pain, the massage group had fewer complications in their delivery. Their newborns also had fewer postnatal complications. Another TRI study reported massage during labor resulted in shorter labor times for the mothers, shorter hospital stays and less postpartum depression.
Click here to read the full article.
While a professional prenatal massage is wonderful for a pregnant woman, partners can give moms a prenatal massage at home. Often women love to have their hands, feet, hips, backs, necks and shoulders rubbed throughout pregnancy. It is also a great way to practice for labor, women love to get massaged while in labor and this way you'll know what she likes.
Teresa Dudrey offers prenatal massage at Belly Bliss in Denver.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Birth on ABC's News Show 20/20
Orgasmic Birth, the documentary by Debra Pascali-Bonaro, will be featured on ABC's 20/20 news show on Friday December 12th.
We hosted the Denver and Boulder CO screenings of Orgasmic Birth and were thrilled to have shared the film with a few hundred from our area. This film is not just about orgasms and birth, that is only a small part of it. The film is truly about the possibilities in birth, that it can be beautiful, ecstatic and empowering – not scary and horrible. Women deserve to know
Below is some information for the Orgasmic Birth website, www.orgasmicbirth.com
Joyous, sensuous and revolutionary, Orgasmic Birth brings the ultimate challenge to our cultural myths by inviting viewers to see the emotional, spiritual, and physical heights attainable through birth. Witness the passion as birth is revealed as an integral part of woman's sexuality and a neglected human right. With commentary by Christiane Northrup, MD, and midwives Ina May Gaskin, Elizabeth Davis and other experts in the field . . . and stunning moments of women in the ecstatic release of childbirth.
ABC News has written an article for their website:
Labor Orgasms Called 'Best-Kept Secret'
Moms, Experts Say Relaxation Is Key to Pleasurable Childbirth
Below is an excerpt from the article:
Claudia Montes, a
After giving birth to her first two children with an epidural, she wanted to have what she calls a "pleasurable birth" at the hospital, without pain medication. But her toughest obstacle turned out to be her husband.
"I don't understand choosing pain over, you know, modern medicine where you could be blissed out artificially," said her husband, Jay Edlin.
Montes disagreed, saying, "The whole thing is he didn't want me to suffer. And my whole thing is, you know, suffering is perceived." Montes hired a midwife instead of a doctor and practiced hypnosis for months in order to relax for labor. Her hard work paid off.
"I didn't feel pain," she said. "I was in bliss, because I felt safe, because I felt empowered."
Even her husband agreed she chose the right path.
"She ultimately was right and I was wrong. I never envisioned that, you know, it would have such a happy ending," he said.
You can read the entire article on the ABC News website and post your comments.
Friday, December 5, 2008
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends exercise during pregnancy most if not all days of the week. They also recommend 30 minutes or more of exercise on these days. While many women feel tired or nauseous, especially in the first few months, exercise can help aleve nausea and help women with their energy levels throughout the day. I often hear from women who are in their second or third pregnancy “I felt so tired and sick in my first pregnancy, I didn’t workout and by the time I felt better I was out of the practice so never went back. This pregnancy I have have made myself workout, even when I don’t feel like it and I feel so much better. I wish I would have done this the first time!” While each woman needs to listen to her own body and only do what she is comfortable with many can have great benefits and relief from exercise. Exercising during your pregnancy can help with nausea and energy levels, it also helps with water retention, sleeping, joint pain, comfort, diabetes (gestational or otherwise) and swelling, it also often helps with women’s moods and outlook.
While there are a great deal of benefits to exercise during pregnancy many women are concerned with safety, understandably. ACOG guidelines recommend that women can maintain their prepregnancy activity and exercise program. Modifications will be needed for moms throughout pregnancy and certain activities will have to be eliminated. Activities that moms should participate in should not have a threat of falling such as horseback riding and skiing. Also, pregnant women want to avoid laying on their backs after the 1st trimester and be careful about balance and high impact exercises. Some signs pregnant women should be aware of and stop exercising immediatly should they occur are dizziness, headache, pain, vaginal bleeding or leaking of fluid, or uterine contractions that increase after rest. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) states that “No consistent differences have been reported between exercisers and non exercisers in terms of rate of spontaneous rupture, incidence of preterm labor, fetal distress or birth abnormalities.”
It is very important for pregnant women to feel comfortable and safe should they choose to workout, choosing an instructor who can help you gain strength and comfort during your pregnancy is just as important as choosing an instructor who can keep you safe and healthy. We are very committed here at Belly Bliss to help women gain the benefits of exercise, enjoy the process and help find comfort in their changing body while keeping them safe.
I feel this is an important time to keep your body strong and adjusting exercises as your frame and structure changes can be very beneficial. Personal Training is also great for one on one or small group sessions. All of our classes should be taught by trained professionals who have experience and education in working with pre and post natal women.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Prenatal Chiropractic in Denver
During pregnancy, a woman's center of gravity almost immediately begins to shift forward to the front
New Website Pages
We have expanded our website at Belly Bliss! Now you can see our services based on what phase of motherhood you are currently in ~ Pregnancy, Fertility or Motherhood. Our fertility page is now complete and you can view it by clicking here. Our other pages will be up very soon! This is a great way to see what Yoga & Fitness classes fit into the phase of motherhood you are currently in along with seeing what workshops are a good fit for you at this time. We also have broken down the benefits that each of our practitioners can offer you at this time: Massage, Psychotherapy, Chiropractic, Nutrition, Acupuncture, Rolfing and Personal Training.
We hope this is an easy way for you to find the services that are a fit for you!
Belly Bliss is located in Denver Colorado at:
300 Josepphine St Suite 10
80206
303.399.1191
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Family Yoga at Belly Bliss
Choices in Childbirth
Choices in Childbirth
For many the extensive choices available to them for pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care can be very overwhelming. Often women do not find themselves thinking about changing care providers or having so many questions for their care provider until they are pregnant. The resources for parents have grown a great deal in the past few years and information is readily available for parents to help them make some of these decisions.
We at Belly Bliss are also working hard to help parents know of their resources. We have many local Denver OB’s, Midwives, doulas, childbirth educators and other resources available here at the studio and have several classes where parents can learn more about their options. We are committed to giving evidence based information and staying un-biased in what we present in our classes. All of our instructors feel strongly the best thing they can do for women in helping them make decisions concerning their care in pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood is give them the most information we can and let each family decide what is best for them. One class we are excited to be offering is Choices in Childbirth; this class discusses the different birth options from Hospital to Free Standing Birth Center, and Home Birth. Participants get the opportunity to learn about what each setting has to offer and the differences between settings, including how hospitals can differ. The differences between Doctors and Midwives are also addressed along with the pros and cons to each and who is eligible for either care. They also learn about the distinctions between the many sorts of doctors and midwives who provide pregnancy and childbirth care. We are also offering a monthly Meet the Doulas Night where parents can come and learn about what a doula is what they do and get answers to their questions. Parents will have the opportunity to meet different types of doulas and see if a doula is the right fit for them.
Other great resources that are available to parents right now are:
Childbirth Connection which helps women chose a caregiver, a place of birth and their options for support and pain relief. Childbirth Connection also has the Listening to Mothers Survey and Report, this report polls woman in the United States about their maternity experience. The New Mothers Speak Out report presents material from prior surveys and how mothers felt postpartum to their experiences.
Lamaze International also is an amazing resource for parents, part of the focus are the Six Care Practices that Support Normal Birth. These evidence based practices can help parents make decisions throughout their childbirth preparation and practice. The Six Practices are:
-Labor begins on its own
-Freedom of movement throughout labor
-Continuous labor support
-No routine interventions
-Spontaneous pushing in upright or gravity neutral positions
-No separation of mother and baby after birth with unlimited opportunities to breastfeed