Birth Options: Use Your BRAIN!

Pregnancy and birth can be an experience full of tons of different emotions. One we see frequently is worry! What procedures are “okay”? Which options do you have? With everything you need to decide, it seems impossible to know the “right” answers to each and every question. In most cases, though, there isn’t a “right” answer, just an answer that is right for you!

As doulas, we have a brilliant method of helping you explore your options. Simply use your BRAIN!

No, really. B.R.A.I.N.

This is a really quick and easy way to explore what your options are and make a choice that works for your family.

Let’s use an Epidural as an example and walk through what it might look like to use your BRAIN to make a quick decision.

Benefits

Ask “what are the benefits of this procedure/decision?” Answers are often health of baby, comfort of mom, or improved outcome overall. The

In our scenario, the benefits of an epidural might be increased comfort of birthing person which could result in sleep, allowing them to recover the strength they need for pushing in the event of a long labor.

Risks

What are the risks of the decision? The risk of an epidural might be decreased feeling which leads to less control during pushing, loss of mobility (meaning the rest of the labor will continue in bed), and inability to use a shower/bath as a means of comfort.

Alternatives

What are the alternatives? In the example of an epidural, alternatives may be any other physical comfort measure that provides relief. A warm bath or shower, counterpressure, massage, distraction, Rebozo, or position change could all be considered alternatives.

Intuition

What does your intuition say? We are often more in tune with our bodies than we give ourselves credit for and taking a moment to pause and reflect may give you a great idea of what the right decision is for you.

Nothing

What happens if we do nothing? In the case of an epidural, doing nothing does...well, nothing. If we do nothing we could wait an hour and come back to the option again. It doesn’t take it off the table, just changes the timeline.

This super simple system (try saying that five times fast!) is an easy way to explore your options quickly and help you make a decision. Sometimes we have more time to research and don’t need a snap decision. In these instances, using BRAIN will still help walk you through exactly what you need to research.

Making the right decision for your family is important! Exploring your options for laboring, birthing, pushing, feeding, and even birthplace often leads to feeling more empowered, more secure, and having a better birth experience. Whatever you decide, we’re here!

Pregnancy Dreams and Why They're So Screwy

You are walking down the street on a normal fall day. As you walk, you notice the breeze pick up and leaves start to swirl more than usual. You look behind you and then turn back to face front only to see a huge purple and yellow cow standing in your path. The cow stand on its back two legs and asks you for a breath mint. As you hand the cow a breath mint, you realize you’re carrying a Star Wars lunch box as a purse.

Dreams during pregnancy can be absolutely wild and downright scary sometimes! Women who are pregnant often experience changes that include more frequent dreaming, nightmares, anxiety-based dreams, and the ability to remember dreams. Since your body is going through so many changes, it’s not shocking that you experience these changes!

Since our mental, physical, and emotional states are all intertwined, as your body changes so does your mind. One likely cause is due to the increase in hormone production. Pregnancy hormones (like Progesterone) often have the ability to affect and increase emotional distress as well as Anxiety. They also impact the way your brain takes in information and processes it. It’s very possible those strange dreams have something to do with that! (This also may be an explanation why a lot of pregnant women find themselves having sexual dreams.)

During pregnancy our sleep schedule is also disrupted. Whether it’s due to an inability to fall asleep, physical discomfort from an expanding body, or just needing to pee in the middle of the night (a million times…) this changes our sleep cycles and disrupts what is known as REM sleep. The REM or Rapid Eye Movement stage of sleep is the stage in which dreaming happens. When this is disrupted it can affect the length, frequency, or even ability to remember the dreams. This may sometimes be the cause of the more vivid or easily remembered dreams.

Some experts also believe that pregnancy dreams are a way of your unconscious mind dealing with the increased stress or anxiety that accompanies bringing a new life into the world.

While there is no actual scientific answer for why dreams during pregnancy are so weird, there are many contributing factors that definitely make sense! If your dreams aren’t bothering you, simply return back to sleep and visit the purple and yellow cow again. If they’re a bit disturbing or unnerving, consider keeping a dream journal either on your phone or in a notebook by your bed. It may be your unconscious mind trying to process something important! If your dreams, however, veer into dangerous or scary territory frequently, it may be a good idea to talk with a counselor, therapist, or friend to check in and make sure everything is okay.

No matter what crazy, alarming, or sexual dreams you’re having at night, make sure you’re still doing your best to rest as much as possible! We do a lot of healing and growing at night and your body is literally making a human being. Relax, take a deep breath, and dive back into some REM sleep.

Sweet (or slightly weird) dreams!

Our Favorite Toddler Shows (without Talking Animals)

Team Umizoomi

This cute show features two main characters, Milli and Geo, and a robot named Bot. Together they soar through space and explore math concepts. From counting to simple addition and subtraction, this show is a well done dive into prepping kids to enter preschool by introducing numbers in a fun way.

Little Einsteins

An oldie but a goody, Little Einsteins is based on the ideas behind the Baby Einstein franchise. This show’s main characters are Leo, Annie, June, and Quincy. They fly in their rocket and solve puzzles in each episode. Weaving classical paintings and music into each adventure, this show also introduces concepts like patterns, colors, and shapes.

Sid the Science Kid

In classic Ed Henson style, Sid the Science Kid features human-like characters who are very...well, Muppet-inspired. They are definitely kids and Sid, the lead, loves to explore new scientific questions, theories, and concepts. Touching on a range of subjects, this show is full of fun characters and learning.

Yo Gabba Gabba!

Okay, this show isn’t *technically* talking animals because they’re…..well, we don’t know what they are. But the’re not animals. Yo Gabba Gabba is a brilliantly colored show full of electronic music, emotions, and fun dances. While not educational in a school sense, it touches on everyday skills like sharing, brushing teeth, and getting ready for bed. Plus it features some of our favorite bands. This is one we’ll actually watch too.

Charlie and Lola

The misadventures of Charlie and Lola are somehow soothing and precious as these siblings stumble through life learning together. This UK-based show features soft colors, life lessons, and main characters with British accents. This one’s pretty sweet.