17-"Gurus of Vaginal Birth"- Dr. Nikki's Story of Loss and Path Towards Midwivery

Meet birth warrior and expert, Dr. Nicole Christian-Genius who shares her experience with stillbirth and her path toward becoming a midwife.

Terms

Midwife:  Obstetrical providers who often work in conjunction with OB/GYN

• CNM (A certified nurse midwife) - can deliver your baby if you have a vaginal delivery, and also provide routine health care outside of pregnancy.

• LM (licensed midwife) - can provide prenatal care and deliver your baby.

Preeclampsia (formerly called toxemia):  High blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy that leads to end organ damage. 

• Signs/symptoms include headache unrelieved by pain medication, vision changes, protein in your urine, elevated liver enzymes, kidney failure, and low platelet levels. 

• Treatment:  Magnesium is usually used to prevent seizures and IV blood pressure 

• Eclampsia:  A seizure-related high blood pressure 

Placenta previa:  the placenta attaches low in the uterus. The placenta might partially or completely cover the opening of the uterus, called the cervix. Placenta previa can cause severe bleeding in the mother before, during or after delivery.

Stillbirth:  is when a baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most stillbirths happen before a pregnant person goes into labor, but a small number happen during labor and birth. Stillbirth affects about 1 in 160 pregnancies each year in the United States.

Preterm labor:  labor occurring between after 20 and before 37 weeks gestation.

Fetal Kick Counts:  Ten movements (kicks, flutters or rolls) in one hour is considered typical fetal movement. 

• Some things you can try to get the fetus to move are:

• Drinking juice or another sweet beverage.

• Drinking something that is cold.

Doula:  A labor coach or birth assistant who can provide prenatal, labor, and postpartum support. This includes helping to create a birth plan, manage pain during delivery, and assist with breastfeeding/lactation needs. 

Birth Center:  A facility where you can deliver with minimal interventions.

Home Birth:  When someone delivers at home. Usually a birth attendant is present to assist.  

Community Hospital:  A smaller hospital that serves a specific location. 

Academic Center:  A hospital that serves a large population of people. Participates in research and has trainees at different levels, which includes medical students, residents, and other higher educational programs. Also, may have the highest level of care. Usually affiliated with a school like USCF, UCLA, USC, Harvard, etc. 

Hypnobirthing:  aims to help a woman deal with any fear or anxiety she may have around birth. It involves various relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques to help relax the body before and during labor and birth.

Aromatherapy:  the practice of using essential oils for therapeutic benefit.

Lamaze:  involves psychological and physical preparation in various techniques (such as controlled breathing and alternative birthing positions) by the mother to reduce pain and facilitate delivery without unnecessary medical intervention.

The Bradley Method:  Course where women are taught relaxation exercises to help endure labor. Their support person is also trained to aid her in achieving a physiologic birth and to help keep outside factors from interfering with the process.

Peanut Ball:  is shaped like a peanut shell, where the middle circumference is smaller than the ends. To f