The Forest

The Whippoorwill calls
Breaking through the veil of night
With a feeling of desperation.

The damp earth sinks beneath my feet
A blur of deep jade caresses my face
As I soar through the depths of darkness.

My aching heart yearns to hide,
But the pulling brings me ever forward
Exposing me to the branches that cage me.

I am lost here, having left myself behind
My moral compass swinging wildly this way and that
Intertwining honor with deceit.

With the ethereal song still settling
I slow to a walk
Willing myself to stop.

The memories of abduction and abuse
Convoluted with shameful longing
Bite back at me with malice.

Her rough footfalls saunter near,
Fantastic hate folding into me,
Evasion now only a distant recollection.

Elleanore

The fading cinnamon of her skin,
Glowing faintly in the morning sky and
Piercing through the gloomy dawn,
Guides me to peace.

The subtle, white hot gleam
That shimmers from her fleeting embrace,
Surrounds me in lost abandon.

The gentle simmer of love's release
Pulls me higher with wings mended,
But pale from lack of light.

Elleanore awakens
Blinding with her reach.

Forever Yours

Twirling fingers laced into your shoes
Fold around me like licorice
Whipping me like heavy cream
Around and round we go.

Forgive me my impatience
For I shall be forever yours
But its burden feels like concrete
Heavy on my soul.

The wind swirls like fingertips
Against my skin and through my toes
And freedom rears its ugly head
My mistaken muse unfolds.

Cut the baby straight in half
My arms cannot spread wider
Each direction wrong
Nowhere to fall.

Twirling fingers laced in gold
Fold around me like chains
Whipping me like battered horses
Around and round they go.

Bishops Score

Before considering labour induction, you can determine your chances of a successful induction by scoring yourself using the Bishops Score table, below.

A lower score can mean induction may be more difficult, longer, and will most likely be harder on you and your baby.

The higher the score, the more favorable the cervix. Clinical trials showing a score of 6-7 or more were associated with successful inductions, but most agree that a score of 9 is preferable.

Cervix	Score
	0	1	2	3
Position	Posterior	Mid-position	Anterior	---
Consistency	Firm	Medium	Soft	---
Effacement	0-30%	40-50%	60-70%	>80%
Dilation	Closed	1-2cm	3-4cm	>5cm
Baby's Station	-3	-2	-1	+1, +2

Further Bishops Score considerations:

Add 1 point to your score for:

• Preeclampsia
• Each prior vaginal birth

Subtract 1 point from score for:

• Postdates pregnancy
• Nulliparity (if this is your first baby)
• Premature or prolonged rupture of membranes

Website DOWN

So, my website is down and I'm bummed. So, while we are trying to figure it out, please feel free to just browse this site or the Wiregrass BirthNetwork site, or just email or call me if you have questions.

Hopefully it won't be down forever. :(

What pain reliever is ten times more effective than Valium?

Oxytocin!

Immediately before orgasm, levels of the hormone oxytocin rise by 5 times, determining a huge release of endorphins. These chemicals calm pain because the pressure in the brain's blood vessels is lowered while we love.

This is why natural oxytocin (the love hormone) in labor signals the brain for endorphins and lessons the pain of contractions.

The primary conscious behavior or thought process that increases oxytocin is caring for another. Appreciation, generous touch, gratitude, and emotional connections with others also raise oxytocin levels. In addition, oxytocin appears to be behind many of the health benefits from meditation, massage and acupuncture.

In addition to oxytocin's powerful effects on the body, it strongly affects your mind and behavior. It is nature's antidepressant and anti-anxiety hormone. It creates feelings of calm and a sense of connection, so it actually shapes how you view the world. The whole universe looks like a better place when you feel tranquil and loving.

Cesarean Rate Jumps Again

For Immediate Release

Cesarean Rate Jumps Again To Record High; 32.3% of Births Resulting In Major Abdominal Surgery
12th Consecutive Year to Show Increase

Redondo Beach, CA, April 6, 2010 – The National Center for Health Statistics has reported that the cesarean rate hit another record high in 2008 with a rate of 32.3 percent, up 2.6 percent from 2007. The findings reflect the 12th consecutive year of increase.

“Every U.S. woman in childbearing years should have deep concern over this rate,” said Desirre Andrews, president of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN). “With the cesarean rate showing no signs of decreasing and VBAC access being limited in many areas across the U.S., women need to be well educated and well versed in self advocacy during pregnancy and birth.”

With the preliminary number of 4,251,095 U.S. births reported in 2008, a 32.3% cesarean rate results in approximately 1,373,103 women undergoing surgical deliveries. This total is equivalent to the entire population of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or the combined populations of Alaska and Washington, DC. “This real life comparison highlights how serious the near 1 in 3 percentage of pregnancies resulting in major abdominal surgery is,” said Andrews. “Evidence shows that cesareans put women and babies at increased risk for morbidity and mortality immediately and long term. Cesarean sections are being overused in the United States and as the rate continues to rise, mothers and babies are exposed to these risks avoidably. The repeat cesarean rate of over 90% is undoubtedly helping to drive this record setting data."

ICAN has a variety of educational, advocacy and support options on-line through webinars, forums, blog, twitter and white papers at www.ican-online.org.

About Cesareans: When a cesarean is medically necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique for both mother and baby, and worth the risks involved. Potential risks to babies from cesareans include: low birth weight, prematurity, respiratory problems, and lacerations. Potential risks to women include: hemorrhage, infection, hysterectomy, surgical mistakes, re-hospitalization, dangerous placental abnormalities in future pregnancies, unexplained stillbirth in future pregnancies and increased percentage of maternal death. http://ican-online.org/ican-white-papers.

Mission statement: ICAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean. There are over 130 ICAN Chapters across North America and internationally, which hold educational and support meetings for people interested in cesarean prevention and recovery.