Vaginal birth lowers babies risk of respiratory problems

 

Benefits of Vaginal birth:

Babies born vaginally have a lower risk of respiratory problems. It is widely accepted that the contractions of labour help prepare the baby's lungs to breathe air. Babies born by caesarean section have a higher risk of respiratory distress syndrome than babies born vaginally at the same gestational age. Adults with asthma are more likely to have been delivered by caesarean section compared with adults without asthma.It is also widely acknowledged that the baby plays a part in deciding when the time is right to be born. It has been commented that babies born by elective caesarean section can show signs of being angry and do not appreciate being delivered before they are ready.

The passage down the birth canal also gives a baby a wonderful first 'spinal aligment' that wakes up various systems in the body.When the birth has gone well, the baby is often peaceful, quiet and relaxed.

Want more information please call us at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer. 430-347-3261

www.family1stchiro.ca

We focus on family care from fathers, mothers, pre and post natal care adn pediatrics.
Dr. Joelle Johnson and Dr. Stephen Kelly

 

Doula - Birth and post partum-What is the difference?

Types of Doulas

Birth Doula

A birth doula assists the woman before, during and often after the delivery. Birth doulas are trained in childbirth, and most have given birth themselves. The main goal of a birth doula is to help the woman have a safe and satisfying childbirth as the woman defines it.

The birth doula has three main responsibilities:

Emotional Support - The doula provides emotional support through her constant presence throughout labor and delivery. Once labor begins, the doula remains by the side of the mother-to-be until the birth is completed and frequently for the first one or two hours afterwards.

The doula provides emotional support in an active way. She adjusts her style to fit each patient and responds as the patient's needs change during the labor. She understands and accepts the woman's pain and fear and serves as a source of support, helping the woman remain confident and in control. The doula also supports the father and any family members who may be present.

Education - The doula educates and informs the mother about obstetric routines and procedures and thus keeps the mother advised about her progress during birth. The doula encourages the mother to manage the situation by listening to the messages the body sends during birth, changing her position, adjusting breathing, and using other stress and pain reducing techniques.

Especially now with the discovery of the importance of skin-to-skin or kangaroo care immediately after childbirth the doula can act as an emotional and informational resource for the mother. The doula can explain what will happen immediately after childbirth and the woman can prepare to have the baby on her chest, skin to skin.

Liaison - The doula functions as a liaison between the patient and the medical staff. She does not give medical advice or perform any medical duties, but she's on hand to support the mother if she has questions for the medical staff.
Postpartum Doula

A Postpartum doula works in the fourth trimester, just after pregnancy. The role of the postpartum doula is to provide support, advice, and assistance in the weeks and months following birth. In the past, the family of a new baby could rely on their family members or friends to assist them. After giving birth women are often surrounded by caring family members who have a great deal of experience and wisdom to offer. While these resources are available today, they may not always be provided due to increasing distances between family members and their loved ones.

The postpartum doula provides:

• Education
• Non-judgmental support
• Companionship
• Assistance with newborn care and family adjustment
• Assistance with meal preparation
• Assistance with light household tasks

Postpartum doulas offer evidence-based information on:

• Infant feeding
• Emotional and physical recovery from birth
• Infant soothing
• Coping skills for new parents
• Safe infant sleeping
• Referrals for more education on these topics when necessary

The doula may also be a buffer to parents who may have received outdated advice. The doula can help friends and family to foster and support the parenting decisions of the new parents. By modeling a deep respect for the wisdom and decision making abilities of the new parents, she makes clear that supporting them in their own choices will have the best results.

Michaelle de Ruiter is a doula dn RMT, located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr. red Deer 403-347-3261
www.family1stchiro.ca

 

Pressure Points and Labor....what you can do

Pressure Points to Induce Labor

Many women find themselves, as their due dates draw near, searching for ways to jump start labor. 

What is acupressure?

An age-old practice, stemming from Asia, is acupressure. Acupressure is derived from acupuncture. With acupuncture, needles are placed in various locations throughout the body to help relieve stress and pain. Acupressure uses a similar technique except needles are replaced with finger pressure.Certain locations on the body have been found to be somewhat effective at not only naturally inducing labor but assisting with the pain and discomfort associated with labor. Before you learn what and where the acupressure sites are, you need to understand when it is appropriate.

Before trying acupressureAnyone interested in acupressure should not attempt to do so until it is safe to deliver the baby. There is no universal agreement on when it is “safe”, but most physicians advise nothing prior to 38 weeks. Some say that no matter what you try, your body will not go into labor until it’s ready. There is no guarantee that this is the case and no mom wants to risk their baby’s health. Also, any woman interested in trying acupressure to help initiate labor should ask their health care provider first.

Pressure points:The first area on the body used for stimulating labor is located between the thumb and index finger. This point is actually the “webbing” between these two areas. Techniques vary, but this pressure point can be pressed and rubbed for several seconds or simply pressed firmly for approximately one minute and then released. This technique can also be used during active labor to relieve pain.

The next area of the body used for stimulating labor is the ankle. This area actually has two different pressure points. The first pressure point is located on the outside of the ankle, just behind where the bony prominence is. Just like the first mentioned location, techniques vary but the pressure point can be rubbed or pressed for several seconds or one minute. The other ankle pressure point is inside the leg, above the ankle. This area may be difficult to find but it is more sensitive to touch than the rest of the leg.Another area is located on the back, above the buttocks and lower back. This area can also be pressed or massaged as tolerated.

The final area commonly used for initiating labor is located on the neck, the large muscle between the neck and the shoulder. This area can be pressed or massaged as tolerated.

Acupressure does not work for all women and may not be tolerated by all. Massaging or pressing on these areas should not cause pain and if it does cause pain, should be stopped immediately.

Nearing the end of your pregnancy can become very frustrating but don’t lose hope. Women do not stay pregnant forever and your baby will be here sooner than you think.

This Blog brought to you by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer
403-347-3261
www.family1stchiro.ca
 

 

 

SUGAR-The HORROR of how much we consume!!!

Overeating, poor memory formation, learning disorders, depression – all have been linked in recent research to the over-consumption of sugar.
In 1822, the average American ate the amount of sugar found in one of today's 12-ounce sodas every 5 days.
Now, we eat that much every 7 hours.WOW!!!

While it is hard to believe, children are now eating their weight in sugar every year. Recent studies looking into the dietary habits of our children show that they are consuming more sugar than ever before and the main culprits are exactly what you might guess: soda and fruit juice. If typical, children – even small children – are eating 1/4 to 1/2 a pound of sugar a day for an average of around 100 pounds of sugar every year.
A new study in the journal, Pediatrics, looked into sugar consumption from just soda and fruit juice. Here is what they found:

• Children are consuming somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of their calories from soda and fruit juice alone
• Children aged 6 to 19 consumed an average of 30 oz of soda or fruit juice every day
• 2 to 5 year-olds consumed an average of 15.5 oz of juice or soda a day
• The average serving size of the drinks they are drinking has increased 46 percent (almost doubled) since 1972

What you have to understand about the above statistics is that they are saying that 10 to 15 percent of the calories our children are eating are coming from just soda or fruit juice. These numbers don’t include sugar such as breakfast cereals, cookies, candies, ice cream and all the hidden sugars such as those found in peanut butter, crackers, chips and other fast foods. For those who have read my book or this blog often, you know that those statistics don’t include foods that act like sugar in our bodies such as many grains and starchy vegetables.
It is clear that our children are overdosing on sugar.
The study in the journal, Pediatrics, showed something surprising: that most of this soda drinking was happening at home. Around 55 to 70 percent of sugar sweetened beverages are consumed in the home, while 7 to 15 percent in schools.
These numbers were slightly higher from very young children who attended day care or preschool where fruit juice is a common treat for the kids.
This means that parents are largely responsible for the incredible amount of sugar their children eat every day.
To reduce the amount of sugar your children consume daily replace the drinkable sugars and replace it with water.

Family First Chiropractic and Wellness is located at 142 Erickson dr, Red Deer, T4R 2X3 403-347-3261
www.family1stchiro.ca

Pregnancy woes and your pregnancy

Pregnancy woes and your pregnancy

Most women get through their pregnancies very healthily - they manage their nutrition, exercise and overall healthcare both by themselves and with the help of healthcare professionals.

CranioSacral Therapy offers women a very gentle and effective way of complementing thenatural work that their body is doing as well as complementing the work of Obstetricians, local Doctors and Midwives.

When we look at pregnancy week by week, there are many natural conditions that come and go as you progress through your pregnancy. Conditions such as early nausea through to lower-back pain can all occur during a healthy pregnancy.

An area that is found especially later in the pregnancy is discomfort in the legs or sciatica. I have found that the majority of clients experience relief from these symptoms for weeks at a time following a CranioSacral Therapy treatment. Probably one of the areas of most discomfort in Pregnancy is back pain - both of the middle and upper back - during the early stages of pregnancy, and lower back during the later stages. The discomfort of back pain during pregnancy can be effectively relieved by CranioSacral Therapy sessions.
At our clinic Family First Chiropractic and Wellness we take a team approach with your pregnancy care, we utilize craniosacral therapy, pre-natal chiropractic and massage therapy to enable you to have an optimal pregnancy experience.
Please find us at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer . 403-347-3261 or www.family1stchiro.ca

Jeannette Raskin, RMT,CST, Dr. Joelle Johnson, Dr. Stephen Kelly, Michaelle de Ruiter

Obesity Linked to increased prescription drug use

Obesity linked to increased prescription drug use

AARON TAYLOR, QMI Agency

First posted: Thursday, October 04, 2012 05:49 PM MDT | Updated: Thursday, October 04, 2012 06:10 PM MDT 

EDMONTON - A study released by the University of Alberta has shown a link between childhood obesity and increased prescription drug use.The study found that obese children between the ages of 12 to 19 were 59% more likely to require the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs than their normal-weighted peers."With higher health-care costs, this emphasizes the need for ... obesity prevention programs," said Christine Fung, the co-author of the study. "If you establish healthy habits at an early age, there are returns when you get older."The two most common types of medication for obese children that the study found were antihistamines and respiratory medications.It's something that Fung said was not surprising as there is an increased level of risk for allergies and asthma in obese children.Fung says the study could shed a light on the economic strain obesity is putting on the health-care system."We're hoping that this gives policy makers a better picture of the impact that obesity is having on the health-care system," she said."If 14% of drug use among kids is due to obesity, prevention then equates to real savings."And the savings could be big, Fund said, adding that currently obesity-related illnesses have a yearly impact of $6 billion on the health-care system.Moving forward, Fung hopes that the study will increase awareness for programs offered by the university like its Alberta Project Promoting active Living and healthy Eating.The program, dubbed APPLE Schools, motivates change by improving learning and health in 40 schools across northern Alberta."(This program) would reduce the negative health effects on the child," she said.But it would also reduce the economic strain on the health-care system."

This post is reposted by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness located at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta T4R 2C3 403-347-3261 to book an appointment today.
www.family1stchiro.ca

Improve Brain Function with Therapeutic Massage

Improve Brain Function with Therapeutic Massage

Massage therapy promotes healthy brain function through the applied pressure to the muscles, which stimulate receptors in different areas of the brain. This is accomplished by the production of intracellular messengers (proteins such as neurotransmitters). These messengers are key to a healthy brain and are primarily useful through three main systems of the body. These are the endocrine, nervous and immune systems.Each of these systems has a tremendous impact on brain activity as well as each other. They form a network of communication that allows the brain to receive the intracellular messengers during a massage session. If one of these systems becomes compromised, it can cause problems with the other two systems, thereby decreasing brain activity.
The healthier the brain, the better results from the massage and other alternative healing modalities, such as aromatherapy. It becomes a symbiotic relationship between the body and the brain; much like strengthening and stretching a muscle through exercise, yoga, walking, etc. Everything we do, or neglect to do, affects our brains. Everything we “perceive” has to do with brain function. A decrease in brain activity affects the body’s ability to function normally.

References:
1. Dr. Datis Kharrazian CD lecture on “Intracellular Messengers of Endocrinology”
2. http://www.massagetherapyworks.com/entry/brain_health_by_cambridge_naturals
3. http://www.jneurosci.org/content/29/18/6042.full
4. http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14331