No matter how hard our society and popular culture try to tell us that THE way to have a baby is by lying flat on your back with ten people yelling in your face ‘Push!!! 2… 3… 4… ,’ I am here to tell you that there are organizations pushing back on your behalf. Lamaze International (they’re not just your mother’s Lamaze any more) has made it’s way as mothers’ advocates, and as part of their 6 Healthy Birth Practices (more to come on all of these), Lamaze advocates for you to ‘avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body’s urges to push.’ read all »

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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.

I have been doing a little internet research into birthing mothers’ blogs. I came across this blog, birthingnaturally.net . The author of the website is a doula, childbirth educator and has published at least one book about childbirth. Her website is comprehensive and offers many tools to pregnant mothers, and also offers extensive resources and information for Christian mothers seeking a natural childbirth.