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A Change In Our Care Package (it's kind of a big deal)

10/24/2016

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Minnesota Midwife
Pouring the extra measure of care and intention into families through our Lying-In practice has been life-changing - for our clients and for us as midwives and doulas. Mothers are healthier, happier and are healing in such a beautiful way. Amber and I are leaving homes on oxytocin highs, knowing that this work we are doing is truly GOOD.

We have decided that this is the kind of love and healing-support we want to pour into every family we serve, and so every family choosing to work with Southern Minnesota Midwifery and Nourish Midwifery will receive a midwife-supported Lying-In as part of their care.

In Love,
Kate  
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Healing: Postpartum Bleeding

10/17/2016

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Your body has done A LOT in the past weeks and months and will have some wounds that need to heal. Here is a peek into how to support your body while it does the important work of closing those wounds.

Bleeding

Expect to bleed, off and on, for six weeks after birth. Postpartum bleeding is typically the result of:
  • the endometrium shedding what it no longer needs 
  • the placental site
  • any tears that occurred in or on your body during birth

​The appearance of your bleeding will evolve throughout your lying-in, from deep or bright red to pink/orange/brown and finally to thick, white and creamy.
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What to Expect


-In the first three days after baby is born, expect blood flow to resemble a heavy period. It should begin to taper off after Day 3. 

-Some clots are typical.
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-Blood and discharge should smell healthy, like menstrual flow.
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When to Call


-If your blood flow is heavier than a heavy period (Ex: you are soaking a pad in less than 30 minutes), or if the flow does not slow down.

-You are seeing several clots or you see a clot that is as large as or bigger than your fist.

-You notice a foul odor.


Note to self: If bleeding that has stopped begins again, ask yourself if your body needs more rest. If the answer to that question is “yes”, take the time needed to give your body the rest it is asking for.

Suggested Therapies: How to Support Your Body As It Works to Stop Bleeding After Birth

  • Abstain from lifting anything heavier than your baby (if you need to leave the house for any reason, allow someone else to lift your baby in his or her carseat) for the first 16 days postpartum. Limit your lifting and carrying as much as possible until 6 weeks after birth (the average time it takes for the placental site on your uterus to heal).
  • Rest in your postpartum space (typically a bedroom) for the first three days postpartum, leaving this space only to use the bathroom or to get some fresh air (air should be taken at home).
  • Change your pad each time you use the bathroom – this will help keep your bottom clean, helps reduce the risk of infection and allows you to see how much blood your body is releasing.

Here's a downloadable reminder, if you'd like one.
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Great job taking care of yourself and your baby, mamas - keep up the good work of healing!
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Postpartum - Advice from Minnesota's Moms and Midwives

10/10/2016

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Tips from local mamas, midwives and other healers, on preparing for a healthy 4th trimester - happy postpartum planning!

7 Steps to a Great Postpartum Period - Aly Folin, CPM, LM, North Star Midwifery

http://northstarmidwifery.com/7-steps-to-a-great-postpartum-period/



7 Things You Can Do with Your Placenta... Instead of Tossing It - Erin Piorier, CPM, Geneabirth

https://erinthemidwife.com/2016/07/21/7-things-you-can-do-with-your-placenta-instead-of-tossing-it/



Postpartum Freezer Pads - Twin Cities Midwifery

https://twincitiesmidwifery.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/postpartum-freezer-pads/



Postpartum Doulas - Minnesota Birth Center

http://theminnesotabirthcenter.com/postpartum-doulas-baby-land-sherpas/



Real Moms' Top Tips for Your Postpartum Kit - Alisa Blackwood, Blooma Yoga

http://www.blooma.com/real-moms-top-tips-postpartum-kit/

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Becoming, by Amber LaBancz

10/7/2016

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These words were written by Amber LaBancz - midwife, massage therapist, beautiful mama and a million things, more.
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Motherhood- it is/can be all of the things that we are told that it is. Beautiful and magical and serene.
It can also be really damn hard. We’ve been told that motherhood is romantic and beautiful, and that we just fall in love with our new baby every minute of every day. We may feel those things, but we may also feel exhausted, inept, overwhelmed, and sometimes even a little bit resentful. We don’t always expect the leaking and crying and emotional roller coasters of those early days. I mean, people mention that these things can happen, in a glossed-over kind of way, but then you hear them praise the women that are shopping and doing laundry just two days after giving birth. We want to be superwoman too. We want people to know that we’re that tough too. We want people to know how much we love our baby and our new life by showing them how quickly we can “get back to it:” And we have something to prove to ourselves too. 

Most women have a vague sense that they will need to have some down time after baby comes, to recover physically. It is hard enough for women to even accept any help for this physical recovery, so when we start a conversation with them about their emotional or spiritual selves needing care and tending and ask them what their postpartum plan is, we often get a blank look. “What do you mean?” is the most common question that we hear. Because here in the US we don’t have a framework for caring for new mothers and new families. Women are made to feel that they must be Superwoman or otherwise they are somehow failing or are being overly needy. Put on the happy, well-groomed mask and show the world that you can indeed do it all! And here’s the thing, you probably can. But at what cost? 

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Feeling exhausted, sad, missing our “before baby” lives and loving our baby harder than we thought it possible to love, are feelings that can exist side by side in our minds. We can feel the overwhelm and still love our baby like crazy. Life and emotions are not black and white things. We can love deeply, but also be deeply exhausted. We can feel so much love that we feel like our hearts are either going to run over or explode and at the same time feel deeply empty and overwhelmed. All of these jumbled feelings can stand side by side. They can all exist at once. And we can feel one way one minute and the complete opposite the next. We HAVE to create a safe space and community for ourselves. Ask yourself, who are your people? Who are your “I’m a hot-mess, I don’t even love this day”, people? Who are the people who can understand that you can love your children endlessly, but still not love everything about motherhood and parenting, people? Who do you trust to come into your home, take a look around, and roll up their sleeves because they know what needs to be done? Who will give you a hug, or brush your hair, or tuck you back into bed?
What if we told you that it is your responsibility to your baby to take care of yourself? It’s not a selfish thing to do. What if we said that building a tribe, a village, is actually part of your job. That it’s ok to ask for or need help. That it’s necessary to have a supportive community. That we as humans are built for connection, for interdependency. That because we are always giving, we must also receive. That if we don’t receive, our children, our families, our friends, all of our other work, will suffer. I mean, truly suffer. So, what if we said this is not a selfish desire, but a part of our job title as a parent. It is our job to create a framework, a network of people we feel we can receive from in a way that goes far beyond our physical needs of a clean house and meals. As new mamas we kind of need the same things our babies do. We need to lay our head on someone’s shoulder, have our backs rubbed, sleep deeply, and have someone bring us nourishing food and drinks. We need to be held. We need to not have all the responsibility of running a household. It’s really just the smallest window of time. We need to be able to depend on others during this time. ​


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“While you are nurturing your newborn, you need someone to nurture you, whether it is with healthful drinks while you’re nursing, or with words of encouragement as you talk about your feelings. In this state of continual giving to your infant-whether it is nourishment or care or love-you are easily drained, and you need to be replenished from sources outside yourself so that you will have reserves to draw from. Once you are aware of this, paying attention to and respecting these needs of the early postpartum weeks at home do not make you a weak or self-indulgent mother. They don’t make you a wimp. Rather, applaud your wisdom in respecting your own intimate needs and the needs of your family.” -Sally Placksin, “Mothering the New Mother” 


Becoming a mother (or a mother once again) expands us as human beings. It stretches and grows us. It is a transformative, right of passage experience. We are also expanded and made more whole when we allow people in. To be a part of our experience, to help us, to offer unconditional support to us, to put gentle hands on us and take care of us, to bring us healing foods and drinks. When we love ourselves enough to allow people in, when we create a village for ourselves and our children, we allow ourselves to grow, to have bigger love, we are able to offer even more of ourselves in return. Creating a foundation of support is a gift to ourselves, and in turn, a gift to our families. We are not machines, we are spirit. Invest in yourself. Nourish yourself, mama. Love and care for your body, your mind, and your spirit. We need to take back this ancient way of viewing the postpartum period and caring for women and make it new again. We need to honor it and ASSUME that women will take this time to heal and restore. In this way we can begin to create a cultural shift, so that ALL mothers can take the time they need to renew physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 

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“Ideally, what mothers should be able to have at this time is a self-styled sanctuary. A suspension of usual activity. A shower. A massage. A comforting grandmother. An extra pair of hands.” -Sally Placksin, “Mothering the New Mother” 
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POSTPARTUM

10/3/2016

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Referred to by many as The Fourth Trimester, postpartum is commonly defined today as the six weeks that follow the birth of a baby. 

In the United States, we PREPARE for birth. We attend classes, we talk with other families, we tour birth facilities and interview potential care providers - we hire doulas, we read books and we create gift registries. Very few of us, however, pour any measurable effort into planning or preparing for our postpartum period (aside from setting up the nursery and talking with Human Resources about our PTO).

Today, in the United States, many of us push ourselves back into the same routines we'd had prior to giving birth, loooooong before we are ready. Physical and emotional exhaustion can lead to a wide variety of health problems - including postpartum depression. 

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​Each year, in the United States, nearly one million women are reporting their experiences with postpartum depression (http://www.postpartumprogress.com/how-many-women-get-postpartum-depression-the-statistics-on-ppd).

Here, in the U.S. many women state  "lack of knowledge" as the reason not to start or continue breastfeeding (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52688/).

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Contrast our modern-day American experience with other cultures around the globe where, traditionally, mothers and their families are cared for daily by members of their community: grandmothers, aunts, friends, neighbors, or even a person or team of people hired by the family to help. In these post-birth traditions, new mothers are fed foods and drinks that nourish their healing bodies, they are massaged, bathed and supported emotionally into their new role as "Mother." 

At Southern Minnesota Midwifery, we've placed a high priority on supporting families in and through postpartum. We have AMAZING postpartum doulas as part of our care team (each family working with Southern MN Midwifery has postpartum doula care included​ in their home birth package). We do our best to stay current in new breastfeeding and postpartum research and continually work to build on our foundation of traditional postpartum care practices.

But, last winter, Amber and I bonded over a cup of tea and a shared passion to DO MORE. How can we, as midwives, better support families after baby's birth? How can we, as midwives, reach out and support families within our broader community who are choosing to give birth with other midwives, doctors or unassisted - in hospitals, birth centers and homes? From that shared passion, an idea and a partnership were formed - Amber and I decided we would create and participate in our own little experiment. We asked ourselves, "Would things be different if today's mothers were cared for in a traditional lying-in period?" 

Hypothesis:  With focused planning, a loving and supportive community and a team of skilled care providers checking-in, new mothers will more easily transition to life after baby.
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Our goals are very simple:
  • Reduce rates of postpartum depression in our country, one woman at a time
  • Improve breastfeeding statistics in our country, one woman at a time (this applies to women who want/plan to breastfeed - fed is best and we hold no judgment regarding your personal choices)
  • See new mothers thriving - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually - in and beyond their postpartum periods

Throughout the month of October, we will be talking about little other than the postpartum period.

We'll also be gifting our Lying-In to three beautiful families, so stay tuned!
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Fall News - Home Birth in Southern Minnesota - Updates

9/7/2016

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Well, it’s official: Summer has ended and autumn is upon us. Kids are back to school, leaves are beginning to turn and there is the faintest hint of chill in the air. This summer was wonderful, but we are ready for autumn and its perennial promise of new beginnings. Here’s what’s new at Southern Minnesota Midwifery.....
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​Goodbye, dear Leah!


Leah is moving away, heading out on a West Coast adventure with her sweet family. To say she will be missed is a massive understatement. Leah, with her strength, warmth, wisdom and beauty, has been the most incredible blessing to our families and to me. We will miss you, Leah - California is soooooo lucky!

Sending all my LOVE ,
-Kate ​

P.S. Leah is expecting a tiny, new adventure this winter - SQUEE!!!!!



Southern MN Midwifery + Nourish Midwifery = The Dream Team

Amber LaBancz and I have been having a lot of fun together -- so much fun that we have decided to team up, officially! Families expecting babies October 2016 and on will benefit from the many perks of having a two-midwife team.
*happy dance*

We will be meeting with home birth families in their homes as well as in our prenatal spaces (located in Northfield, Rochester and Stillwater, MN). 
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​Welcome MedCity Doulas!


With Leah away, there are some very big shoes to fill. Thankfully, we know just the right doulas to help! Brittany Baker and Amanda Steele (of MedCity Doulas) will be lending their skills to Southern Minnesota Midwifery, providing up to 12 hours of postpartum support for families in the Rochester area. (Mamas, you will love these awesome, birth-y ladies!)
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NEW ROCHESTER LOCATION!!!

Rochester Chiropractic is moving into a new space. When Dr. Abby and Dr. Beth asked if we would like to join them, our answer was an immediate "YES!!!" -- especially when we learned that MedCity Doulas will be joining us as well! A whole space filled with FANTASTIC pregnancy and postpartum experts... this is going to be good.

Ask these wonderful providers how chiropractic care can benefit you and your baby!


​NEW NORTHFIELD LOCATION!!!

1066 Highway 3 S., Northfield, MN 55057
(We're in the same building as Cannon Pointe Chiropractic and El Tequila.)
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Home birth, midwifery, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, newborns - all around awesomeness. Stop by and say "hello"!










​Last, but certainly not least:

​TRADITIONAL MIDWIFERY and POSTPARTUM CARE


​Our Lying-In program is ahhhh-mazing - Amber and I are really, very proud of it. Supporting women through the early weeks of motherhood is powerful and we are grateful to each and every one of you who have signed up for this type of care. No matter where or with whom you choose to welcome your little one, we would be honored to care for you during the first six weeks of your postpartum journey.

I think that's it! 
​Happy Autumn, everyone!!!

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Speaking Truth In Love

7/8/2016

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As a midwife, I bear witness to life at its best. Brand new, innocent babies -- babies who have never been called a name, never felt hunger, never known hate, never witnessed an injustice – come into the world and for just one moment, their life is as it should be.
 
I sit with mothers in prenatal spaces, in homes, over text, over telephone, FaceTime and social media. I sit with mothers all day and every day and I listen – a lot. What I am hearing right now, is an intense desire to shield our babies from what we are seeing and to maintain that innocence, that one moment, for as long as is humanly possible.
 
As a mother, I understand these feelings.

As a mother, I am also completely aware that two days ago, another mother did not have the luxury of maintaining that one moment for her baby. This mother’s baby watched as a list of crimes played out in front of her eyes and an entire history of our violent humanity was illustrated for her as she sat in the back seat of her family's car. Her innocence was taken, as someone else's baby bled out and died, inches away from her sweet face. 
 
As mothers, we should be OUTRAGED. We should be WIDE AWAKE and ready to fight for the lives of ALL BABIES. Please, mamas – let us not cover their eyes and ears, but let us shield them with the power of truth. Let us show them what is wrong, by doing what is right. Let us help each other hope for a world that is always at its best, by standing up and by loving and protecting those around us.
 
Mothers – SHOW UP.
 
In Love,
-Kate Andrew, midwife
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Meet Amber

6/16/2016

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This is Amber Labancz -- home birth midwife, massage therapist, mother to six and an all-around good egg.

(I'm kind of in love with her.)

Amber and I are teaming for a special project that will benefit families expecting babies October 2016 -- March 2017. We'll share more information soon, but I wanted everyone to get a sneak peek and see who you and I are lucky enough to work with for the next few months.

In the meantime, head over to The Facebook and read a bit more about Midwife Amber: www.facebook.com/southernmnmidwifery

Stay Tuned!
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An Opportunity To Teach Others About Home Birth 

4/26/2016

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Bloom - Rochester, MN

Bloom is an educational event geared toward new, expecting and pre-expecting parents, presented by City Moms Blog Network and hosted by Rochester MN Moms Blog in Rochester, MN.

Southern MN Midwifery is sponsoring a table at this event and while we are answering questions about homebirth and traditional midwifery care, a slideshow will be playing on a loop. In order to give curious families a glimpse into out-of-hospital/home birth, we would love to show as many images as possible: prenatal care, newborn exams, breastfeeding, labor, birth, postpartum, family photos, transfers to great hospitals, babies - anything and everything! 

If you have an image or images that you would be willing to share, please email, FB message or text them here. You can tag your midwife, your doulas, photographer - it would be cool to show as many of our great local options as possible.

Thank you and see you there!
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BELLY BUTTER

1/19/2016

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I had fun meeting so many new families in December! Rubbing bellies…what a happy way to finish out an abundantly eventful 2015. To those of you who stopped in, THANK YOU! Taking pause from the busy-ness of the holiday season to sit with you and your babies was a welcome breath of fresh air.

I've had a few people ask me about the belly butter I used for the massages and how to make it at home. I am not overly precise in my process, but adapted my method from a recipe found in Herbal Healing for Women, by the lovely Rosemary Gladstar. Her recipe (and my variations) are below. 




BELLY OIL  
(Excerpt from Herbal Healing for Women, by Rosemary Gladstar.)
  • 1/2 cup cocoa butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup apricot, almond, or grape seed oil
  • 20,000 I.U. vitamin E oil
  • 2 teaspoons grated beeswax
  • 1 teaspoon lanolin

To Make: Melt all ingredients together. You may wish to scent the mixture with your favorite essential oil, but I love the rich chocolaty smell as is. Rub this rich oil over the belly and breasts two or three times daily to keep the skin supple and help eliminate stretch marks. This is the richest, most emollient oil I have found. It's perfect for the expanding belly!

BELLY BUTTER 
(Kate's variation)
  • 1/2 cup cocoa butter or shea butter (cocoa butter has a strong scent, while shea is more neutral.)
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil (use expeller pressed for a neutral scent or virgin for a strong coconut scent.) 
  • 1/4 cup apricot kernel oil
  • A drizzle of vitamin E oil
  • As much grated beeswax as it takes to create a butter that is semi-solid, rather than liquid-y
  • 1 teaspoon lanolin

To Make: Melt it all together, pour into storage containers. Enjoy!

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