For the last 60-80 years an incision in the vaginal opening to help the baby come up has been used routinely, with some experts stating, there is no reason not to, so don’t even worry about it!

Yeah.. that was Dr Diethelm specifically, in 1938. Speeding up the pushing stage, helping mom out after pushing for a long time, worrying about the baby being held inside by the tight perineum, trying to avoid major tears by giving a smaller incision, all in the hopes to help out.

Medical and surgical interventions became popular in the 1920s as deliveries moved to the hospital, of course! Most with the best intentions in mind. They thought of a great idea, to use this procedure on everyone and with the help of forceps, totally eliminating the mom from having to push at all! Thanks!

But has the actual evidence held up this theory? Well get into it today! Take what you’ve learned and start the conversation with your provider, remember knowledge is power! Stay informed and stay healthy!

In this episode of the Birth Link Podcast, Colette discusses the topic of episiotomies in detail to help you navigate episiotomies for an empowered birth experience.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Update

00:13 Exciting New Ventures in Maternal and Newborn Care

01:42 The Importance of Birth Plans and Privacy

02:02 Hospital Experiences and Challenges

04:30 Protecting Your Space During Labor

05:37 Introduction to Episiotomies

07:07 History and Evolution of Episiotomies

14:20 Medical Perspectives and Practices

21:29 Conflicting Evidence and Modern Views

23:02 Episiotomy Risks and Recovery

23:16 Hospital Guidelines and Doctor Preferences

23:56 Infection and Pain During Sex

24:30 Severe Perineal Trauma and Fourth Degree Tears

26:15 Shortening the Second Stage of Labor

29:45 Shoulder Dystocia and Episiotomy

31:10 Restrictive Episiotomy Policies

38:18 Factors Increasing Episiotomy Risk

40:02 Factors Lowering Episiotomy Risk

41:22 Importance of Discussing Episiotomy with Your Provider

44:46 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Resources:

• [Fetal expulsion: Which interventions for perineal prevention? CNGOF Perineal Prevention and Protection in Obstetrics Guidelines].
• Riethmuller D, Ramanah R, Mottet N.
• Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. 2018 Dec;46(12):937-947. doi: 10.1016/j.gofs.2018.10.029. Epub 2018 Oct 28.
• PMID: 30377094 French.

Mayo Clinic, Labor and delivery, postpartum care; Episiotomy: when it’s needed, when it’s not

Selective versus routine uses of episiotomy for vaginal birth

Hong Jiang 1, Xu Qian 1, Guillermo Carroli 2,...

#1 Best selling author joins us today to speak about her new book The Fastest Way to Fat Loss After 40, a guide to mind, body and spiritual transformation. We touch on how we can use this valuable insight during hormonal changes in adolescence, fertility, pregnancy and postpartum to stay alive in our body’s healthiest potential.

As a registered dietitian and fitness specialist, Cynthia is 20 years into recovery from her own food and body relationship struggles. She has since taught women how to heal their relationship with food and bondage to sugar and discover their capacity to burn excess fat and rise above conventional norms of age-related weight gain and decline in health.

Cynthia graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a bachelor's degree in nutritional science. Following the completion of her bachelors degree she continued to receive her masters in Public Health, Health Education at California State University, Northridge where she also completed her dietetic internship within the college of Family and Consumer Sciences. She is also certified through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Health Fitness Specialist and Nutrition and Fitness Specialist. Cynthia is also an AFAA certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer.

Together, we explore Cynthia's new book, 'The Faster Way to Fat Loss After 40,' which provides insights into effective weight loss, hormone balance, and healthy living.

Diving into the importance of mental, physical, and spiritual health, fasting, detoxification, and how to optimize these aspects for better overall well-being, this episode provides practical tips for listeners on achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

02:43 Masterclass and Connecting with Cynthia Ray

04:06 Introducing Cynthia Ray and Her New Book

07:00 Cynthia's Background and Struggles

25:03 The Importance of Visualization and Mindfulness

35:35 Difference between Cleansing, Detoxing, and Fasting

37:11 Understanding Fasting and Its Benefits

37:36 Cleansing and Detoxing During Pregnancy

40:46 The Role of Oxytocin and Cortisol

43:50 Hormonal Hierarchy and Body Fat Loss

47:34 The Importance of Insulin and Blood Sugar

50:26 Fasting and Metabolic Flexibility

52:50 Hunger and Fasting Guidelines

54:54 Building Healthy Habits During Pregnancy

57:54 Fasting According to Your Menstrual Cycle

01:01:00 Final Thoughts and Advice

01:04:45 Conclusion and Upcoming Topics

More from Cynthia Ray:

Grab her book: The Faster Way to Fat Loss After 40

Visit her Website CynthiaRay.com

Follow her on Instagram @cynthia_ray01

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

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Grab this FREE Hospital Bag...

We learned in Episode 4 the history of cord blood clamping and cutting after a baby is born, so now what are the ACOG recommendations and what do we think NOW regarding risks and benefits?

If the risks are so great, then is there a way for our non vigorous babies to receive the blood quickly, before needing to separate?

We will get into cord blood milking and what are the limitations around it. If you need that precious blood for a sibling though, with a blood disease or cancer, for example, what about collecting the blood? We can collect the blood to donate, save in a bank as insurance, or hope it's a match for a sick family member.

What happens after your baby is born has so many decisions that must be made, often way ahead of time. As with so many things in medicine, there are ethical dilemmas around these choices.

Join me in this episode to understand how to navigate your birthing options as well as the benefits and practices of cord blood banking, cord milking, and delayed cord clamping.

For more information on anything you heard today, check the resources below.

01:29 Improving Interview Skills and Seeking Feedback

02:15 The Importance of Feeling Heard in Healthcare

03:37 Bridging the Gap Between Natural and Medical Birth Practices

05:04 Exploring Cord Blood Benefits and Practices

06:47 Delayed Cord Clamping: Benefits and Practices

10:23 Risks and Considerations of Delayed Cord Clamping

15:50 Cord Milking: An Alternative in Emergencies

20:50 Ethical Dilemmas in Cord Blood Banking

26:33 Statistics and Research on Stem Cell Transplants

27:32 Family Medical History and Cord Blood Banking

29:09 Public vs. Private Cord Blood Banking

31:12 Preparing for Cord Blood Collection

33:26 Medical Recommendations and Ethical Considerations

36:20 Discussing Cord Blood Collection with Your Provider

41:28 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

43:28 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Topics

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join the Birth Link waitlist!

Join the weekly Birth Plan Workshop every Sunday!

Join us for the Childbirth Crash Course!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

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