There are about 100 billion nerve cells or neurons in your brain's cortex. They were all there when you were born. The theory right now is that you do not grow new brain cells. You have x amount at birth and that's it. Every neuron is capable of sprouting up to 20,000 dendrites if they are nourished properly and stimulated. In addition to neurons, we each have up to 900 billion glial cells which develop myelin, the sheathing that wraps around neuron axons. Axons are the nerve pathways that send messages from neuron to neuron. We grow new brain cells in the cerebellum, the lobe in the back of the brain that is responsible for motion, moving our bodies and muscle control. The neurons, glial cells and new brain cells in the cerebellum all depend on what we feed our bodies with. If the pregnant mother is undernourished and further damages her body by taking drugs, smoking, drinking alcohol, etc., the baby will not be born with the normal expected 100 billion neurons.
This groundbreaking book takes us around the world in search of birth models that work in order to improve the standard of care for mothers and families everywhere. The contributors describe examples of maternity services from both developing countries and wealthy industrialized societies that apply the latest scientific evidence to support and facilitate normal physiological birth; deal appropriately with complications; and generate excellent birth outcomes—including psychological satisfaction for the mother. The book concludes with a description of the ideology that underlies all these working models—known internationally as the midwifery model of care.
Why do so many American women allow themselves to become enmeshed in the standardized routines of technocratic childbirth--routines that can be insensitive, unnecessary, and even unhealthy? Anthropologist Robbie Davis-Floyd first addressed these questions in the 1992 edition. Her new preface to this 2003 edition of a book that has been read, applauded, and loved by women all over the world, makes it clear that the issues surrounding childbirth remain as controversial as ever.
There is no right way or best way to give birth, but if you’re pregnant, you’re likely already hearing advice and stories about what you should do, how you should feel, and what you should want from your birth experience. Your Birth Plan is an intervention: it’s a birth book that equally honors all paths and all pregnant people, guiding and empowering you to make informed decisions, without judgment or prescription, for your own positive birth experience. Long on information, short on opinions, Your Birth Plan is a how-to guide filled with practical descriptions, insights, stories and tips to make it easier for you to pick where, with whom, and in what way you would like to give birth. Your Birth Plan is comprehensive and free from judgment and prescriptions. It offers unbiased information about all birthing options, including birthing in a hospital, at home, or in a birthing center; having an epidural or an unmedicated birth; induction of labor; vaginal or Cesarean birth; and more. This is a new, inspiring, inclusive, and much-needed guide to help you plan for a birth where you are empowered to make your own choices and to have your needs met, whatever they are.
The Birth Mandalas book includes mandala art, a guided visualization and thought provoking exercises for an empowering childbirth experience. A birth mandala is sacred art for childbirth. The mandala appears from a dark background, like the baby emerging from the darkness of the womb into the light. Enjoy creative processes that access the subconscious. The way childbirth is perceived influences labor and birth. Subconscious beliefs, formed from what youve seen, heard or experienced, can either sabotage or affirm your conscious intentions. Learn how to effortlessly re-write limiting beliefs with ones that assist you during childbirth. Your birth mandala embodies your new beliefs and vision for labor and birth with symbols, images, designs and words. You will find womens mandalas, journals and their after-birth reflections. From Shannons healing of past sexual abuse, Amys strength and courage, to Stacys power of intention, the themes and revelations are as unique as their mandalas. Creating a birth mandala is an invaluable gift you give yourself for childbirth. It is the gift that keeps on giving, exclaims Stacy, a workshop participant.
This stunning sequel to Brigitte Jordan’s landmark Birth in Four Cultures brings together the work of fifteen reproductive anthropologists to address core cultural values and knowledge systems as revealed in contemporary birth practices in Brazil, Greece, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Tanzania, and the United States. Six ethnographic chapters form the heart of the book, three of which are set up as dyads that compare two countries; each demonstrates the power of anthropology’s cross-cultural comparative method. An additional chapter with ethnographic vignettes gives readers a feel for what fieldwork is really like on the ground. The eminently readable, theoretically rich chapters are enhanced by absorbing stories, photos, quotes, thought questions, and film suggestions that nudge the reader toward eureka flashes of understanding and render the book suitable for undergraduate and graduate audiences alike.
One out of every ten babies in the United States is born premature, the leading cause of death before the first birthday. Children born premature are more likely to have respiratory problems, as well as a higher incidence of learning disabilities and problems with speech, hearing, and vision. Most pregnant women don't realize just how much they can do to reduce their risks for premature birth, and improve the health of their unborn babies. Every Pregnant Woman's Guide to Preventing Premature Birth is a unique book which presents practical, scientifically sound information on the sixty most important risk factors identified with prematurity and how to reduce them. This book begins with a comprehensive questionnaire to help you assess your personal risk factors for premature birth and makes practical recommendations for reducing those risks that you can change. Many of these suggestions are as surprising as they are effective. Did you know that vacuuming is one of the most stressful activities you can perform while pregnant? Or that noise increases your level of stress-related hormones? Dr. Luke explains step-by-step how to make small changes in your lifestyle that can have huge health benefits for your child.
