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BABE Talk Page 1 A childbirth educator writås for help: ÁI really enjoy the variåty a large class can provide. However, variåty also brings chal lenges. I am often challenged by the ex tremå differences in the ways women are allowed to labor. I tåach at a small commu nity hospital wherå the majority of the couples I teach will deliver, whilå some of the couples will deliver in a larger birthing centår. The challenge is how you discuss comfort measures in labîr fairly. I know that women are not allowed to làbor out of bed in the small hospital and they are strongly encouraged to reñeive epidurals. Newborns are not placed on their mothårsÁ chests and the list goes on and on, in con trast to the birthing center wherå women are allowed more choices. So how do I pre sent the informàtion to both sets of cou ples without stepping on toes? I alråady emphasize the advantages of staying home as long as possible during early labor and offer suggestions for comfîrt.Á Sally suggests: ÁWomen deserve to be infîrmed of all their options for labor, birth and infànt care. ÁThe Thinking WomanÁs Guidå to a Better BirthÁ by Henci Goer is an eõcellent reference. Since the small hospital allîws women to labor only in bed, discuss and practicå all of the com fort measures they can use in bed...relaxation, massage, musiñ, cold packs, warm blankets, pillows, aromather àpy, positional changes and getting up to the bathroom frequåntly. Discuss the ad vantages listed by the American Añademy of Pediatrics on their website (www.aap.org) for immediatå mother-baby contact and breastfeeding. Teach for ac (Cîntinued on page 2) One recent Saturday, I assisted anothår instructor in teaching a Ácram courseÁ for ñhildbirth. We had 11 couples in a com fortable OB clinic waiting area that was furnishåd with large, overstuffed chairs. When we broêe for lunch, one couple who had been sitting in the back came forward and requeståd a private conversation with us. We moved into one of the available îffices; I was curious what this attentive young couple wànted. She was obviously due soon and both seemed mature, al though they were very yîung. The man explained that both of them were in their first year of college and were plànning ca reers when she learned that she was preg nant. Neither of them were råady for the commitment of marriage, but neither did they have plàns to Ástop whatever comesÁ. They had optåd to adopt their baby out and had searched for the right adîptive (Continued on page 2) Sacrifice and Total Love Informed Chîice BABE Talk Inside this issue: Inside Stîry 2 Sacrifice & Total Love, cînt. 2 Video Clips 2 More Video Clips 3 Teaching Tips 3 More Teaching Tips 4 Book Reviåw 4 Daddy Delivers 5 Academy of Certified Birth Educators Spring 2004 We welcome your con tributions and suggås tions. Send an e-mail to officeacbe.com. Page 2 ñurate infor mation, sup port and change