What I missed

You know you were (are) a Google Reader addict when you get back on after giving it up for Lent, and it's stopped counting new posts after "1000+". If I was going to be really true to my Lenten vow I would have marked them all as read and started afresh. But I did skim some of my faves. So while these links are probably old to everyone else, here are a few that jumped out at me:

Navelgazing Midwife on Touring L&D suites around the country and wondering what they say about what patients want...or are supposed to wait. I commented about how often hospitals seem to advertise "private rooms"... even in pretty dingy public hospitals I have yet to work with a doula client who got anything but a private room, whether L&D or postpartum. Is this just an advertising gimmick?

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine on audio galactagogues for mothers of babies in the NICU. I want to hand out little MP3 players to all the pumping NICU moms I see! It made me wonder whether a Hypnobirthing/Hypnobabies type of track targeted especially to NICU moms to listen to before or during milk expression would be helpful.

Alanna at Blood and Milk on how "helpful" postpartum visitors are a lot like "helpful" aid organizations.

Via Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog, a NY Times article on the deadly consequences of cultural beliefs that deprive babies of breastmilk in developing countries.

Article on hypnobirthing

I really like this reporter's tale of her birth assisted by hypnobirthing techniques, in part because she spends relatively little time on the birth itself. Instead she discusses her wish to avoid her region's 45%(!) cesarean rate and how she had to "break up" with two different OB practices (actually, one broke up with her) before finding a doctor she trusted. I wish more women were unafraid to leave their OBs when they realize it's not a match! I love how she notes that her doctor never told her to push - even the most calm and non-interventive care providers so often ramp things up at pushing time.

Since I did my hypnodoula training I've been so interested in attending a birth that uses these techniques! I'll be in another city this summer for a (very) full-time practicum for my master's, but I hope when I get back in the fall I'll be able to offer my services to some parents in the area who are doing HypnoBabies classes. It just seems like such an empowering birth technique.