Read this article posted on Lamaze International’s research blog, Science & Sensibility. Judith Lothian, PhD, RN and LCCE followed 20 women in the US who chose homebirth, and comes to the conclusion that they all made this decision to ‘be safe.’ Lothian will present her entire research findings at LI’s 2009 Annual Conference. Check out this article “Being Safe:” Making the Decision to Have a Planned Homebirth, and then explore the blog. They study the research studies.

Scar tissue on your cervix can slow dilation during labor. A care provider massaging the scar tissue to break it up can be helpful, but taking evening primrose oil is something you can do at home to help soften the tissue. Remember, a slowly dilating cervix to medical staff is ‘failure to progress,’ which can result in a c-section. Being aware of scar tissue that may be present and alerting your care provider to it can help you have a vaginal birth.

Think of any possible procedure you may have done to your lady parts, and tell your doctor about your medical history and alert them to the presence of scar tissue and it’s affect on cervical dilation.

For example, cryo-surgery is a procedure that uses extreme cold (liquid nitrogen) to destroy abnormal tissue. Abnormal tissue is not cancerous, but thought to be pre-cancerous which is why it is destroyed. A widespread cause, though not the only cause, of abnormal tissues is HPV (human papilloma virus). At least 50% of sexually active men and women in the US may get HPV at some point in their lives. 1 in 2 people.

If you have been affected with HPV and had any procedure done to remove abnormal cells at your cervix, please be aware that the scar tissue left may affect the rate at which your cervix dilates. Using evening primrose oil orally throughout your entire pregnancy, and vaginally each night after 36 weeks can help break up the scar tissue during labor. Have your care provider, when checking you for dilation, also check for scar tissue. If they find any, they can massage it to help break it up.

Read this article written by a San Diego Birth Doula to hear her story: Cervical Scar Tissue- A Big Issue that no one is Talking About.

At a recent birth I was greatly encouraged and impressed by the beautiful work done by a Certified Nurse Midwife at one of our local hospitals.  My client’s midwife was in tune with the birthing mother and allowed the mother to do what she needed to do, without asking her to have medical intervention.  The mother arrived at the hospital, unknowingly nearly complete in dilation, did not want to be checked for dilation, and thus was not checked until she felt it was time to push, just minutes before the birth.  The baby was nearly born into it’s mother’s arms with the mother able to squat while birthing.  The baby was not separated from it’s parents arms until it was absolutely necessary for him to regain his temperature.  The mother always reported feeling greatly cared for by the group of CNM’s she was being seen by.  They would hug her when she came in for appointments and encourage her in her up and coming motherhood.  This level of care is affirmed by the Midwives Model of Care statement.

The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.

The Midwives Model of Care includes:

• Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
• Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
• Minimizing technological interventions
• Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

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