New Data Show Connection Between Childbirth and Spirituality

 
Contact:  Berna Diehl
               202-591-4045
              Berna@JonesPA.com
For Release: May 27, 2010

New Data Show Connection Between Childbirth and Spirituality

- Spiritual beliefs may have a place in the clinical assessment for women having babies -

WASHINGTON—While having a safe and healthy birth is typically a primary concern for pregnant women, new research shows that most women view childbirth as a spiritual experience as well. The just-published research shows that women across diverse cultures correlate having a baby with “growing closer to God.”
The study, published in the spring issue of the Journal of Perinatal Education, found that understanding the spiritual dimensions of childbirth is essential in clinical settings.  As such, authors of the study recommend clinicians include the question, “Do you have any spiritual beliefs that will help us better care for you?” during their clinical assessment.
“Childbirth and motherhood provide many women with an ideal context in which to recognize the spiritual aspect of their lives,” said Lynn Clark Callister, R.N., Ph.D., FAAN, a professor of nursing at the Brigham Young University College of Nursing and study co-author.  “Our research illustrates that for most women, childbirth is a deeply spiritual experience.  As healthcare providers, we need to recognize and support this evidence, and listen to women’s voices to guide their care.”
In their study titled “Spirituality in Childbearing Women,” authors Callister and Inaam Khalaf, R.N., Ph.D., dean and professor of nursing at the University of Jordan Faculty of Nursing, discovered five themes in a secondary analysis of the published and unpublished narrative data collected over the past 20 years from about 250 culturally diverse women.
“This study is both insightful and intuitive,” said Sharon Dalrymple, president of Lamaze International.  “It’s no surprise to see a woman’s spirituality is an important part of her well-being, but it’s interesting to consider how this information can be used by women and their healthcare professionals to enrich and further empower women when they are giving birth.”
The themes that emerged in the study included: childbirth as a time to grow closer to God, the use of religious beliefs and rituals as powerful coping mechanisms, childbirth as a time to make religiosity more meaningful, the significance of a Higher Power in influencing birth outcomes and childbirth as a spiritually transforming experience.
“At Lamaze, we understand childbirth is not just another day in a woman’s life, childbirth is a major life event and it can be a transformative experience that profoundly affects women and their families for generations to come,” continued Dalrymple.  “It is important to acknowledge the inherently spiritual nature of childbirth and create a birth environment that lets women give birth simply and safely.  A key component to creating this environment is avoiding unnecessary medical interventions.”
To support women in their efforts to have safe and healthy births, Lamaze International developed the Six Healthy Birth Practices based on recommendations by the World Health Organization and backed by extensive research that support a woman’s natural ability to give birth.  The Six Healthy Birth Practices are:

•Let labor begin on its own
•Walk, move around and change positions throughout labor
•Bring a loved one, friend or doula for continuous support
•Avoid interventions that are not medically necessary
•Avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body's urges to push
•Keep mother and baby together; it's best for mother, baby and breastfeeding
To learn more about Lamaze’s Six Healthy Birth Practices, please enroll in a Lamaze childbirth education class and visit http://www.lamaze.org/Default.aspx?tabid=251.
About Lamaze International
Lamaze International promotes a natural, healthy and safe approach to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting practices.  Knowing that pregnancy and childbirth can be demanding on a woman’s body and mind, Lamaze serves as a resource for information about what to expect and what choices are available during the childbearing years.  Lamaze education and practices are based on the best and most current medical evidence available.  Working closely with their families, health care providers and Lamaze educators, millions of pregnant women have achieved their desired childbirth outcomes using Lamaze practices.  The best way to learn about Lamaze’s steps to a safe and healthy birth is to take a class with a Lamaze certified instructor.  To find classes in your area, or for more information visit www.lamaze.org.
About the Journal of Perinatal Education
Published quarterly by Lamaze International, The Journal of Perinatal Education is the leading peer-reviewed journal specifically for childbirth educators. Through evidence-based articles, the journal keeps educators informed about research and its implications for practice. Journal features provide practical resources and advice educators can use to enhance the quality and effectiveness of their teaching to prepare expectant parents for birth.

Infant Eczema

What is infant eczema?

Infant eczema is a topical skin rash, most frequently showing up any time after birth on the face, arms and legs but rarely in the diaper area. The rash can look like chapped, scaly skin or tiny red bumps that can blister or ooze, and are incredibly itchy. Eczema patches can be spread by scratching so it’s important to keep scratching to a minimum.
Anyone with a family history of eczema or respiratory illnesses has an increased likelihood of also getting infant eczema.

What causes infant eczema?

Infant Eczema is a hypersensitivity of the skin to irritants in the body, whether they be diet-related, respiratory (as in the case of asthma, allergies or hay fever), or a reaction to topical irritants such as chemicals in lotions, synthetic fabrics, or perfumes in laundry detergents, soaps or lotions.
Food sensitivities such as dairy can certainly be responsible for infant eczema, although only about one third of all babies and children have diet-related infant eczema.

Dairy – the #1 Food that can cause allergic reactions in a baby

Dairy is the single biggest culprit causing digestive problems in infants. In breastfed babies who exhibits rashes or stomach problems Moms should stay away from dairies for awhile to see if it may be the case of your baby’s fussiness, or discomfort. You may want to try to completely eliminate it for a period of two to four weeks to determine if it makes an impact in your baby’s comfort level. Kosher items labeled “Parve” are dairy-free. Be sure to read ingredient labels for hidden dairy and avoid the following items:

• Milk or milk fat
• Butter
• Cream
• Whey
• Whey protein
• Casein or caseinates
• Lactose
• Paneer

Sometimes your baby will not react to dairy in the form of yogurt or kefir but test with caution.
Other suspected causes are dust, dust mites, mold, pet dander or pollen. Once a baby develops infant eczema there are numerous triggers that cause recurrences such as sun exposure, heat, topical irritants and stress.

Treatments for infant eczema

Do:

• Keep your house a cool temperature with average humidity by using a humidifier or dehumidifier if necessary.
• Wash all bedding frequently and use a double rinse cycle on any of baby’s clothing or bedding items.
• Breastfeed your baby as much as possible to pass your anti-bodies onto your baby.
• If breastfeeding consider an elimination diet to see if any items in your diet are contributing to your baby’s eczema.
• Increase essential fatty acids in baby’s (if eating solids) or your diet. Fish oil, olive oil, avocado oil and flax seed oil are all good choices.
• Only dress your baby in well-ventilated natural fiber clothing.
• Consider seeing a naturopath if your baby is eating solids and seems to have no food sensitivities.

Avoid:

• Harsh chemicals
• Petroleum (can clog the pores)
• Scents or perfumes added to personal products or laundry detergents for both you and your baby.
• Synthetic fibers
• Overdressing your baby
• Over-stimulating situations and crying as much as possible.
• Sun exposure

Care for infant eczema

• Use only lukewarm water when bathing. You can add goat’s milk directly to the bath. For older babies, bathe daily to remove any irritants on skin like dirt, sweat or sun block (best not to use sun block at all.) Newborns don’t need bathing for cleaning purposes, but a warm bath can really sooth and tired and uncomfortable baby. Pouring grape seed oil in the bathtub water also keeps the skin moisturized.
• Use only a gentle, natural baby soap that doesn’t remove necessary skin oils or contain unnecessary scents or ingredients.
• Gently pat your baby’s skin mostly dry and then begin your moisturizing routine quickly to trap moisture from the bath in the skin.
• Instinctually you’d want to use something to alleviate the scaly skin, beware of products with fragrances, or worse cortisone, or steroids.
• Good moisturizers for eczema are Eucerin Aquaphore and Eucerin Plus Lotion. They soothe the infected skin. Another good remedy, that also works for cradle cap, is 100% food grade Grape Seed Oil, coconut oil/butter again food grade.  What I love about food grade oil is that if you can eat it probably is at its purest state.  For itching, you may use calamine lotion. Ask around or go to your health food store and see what they have. READ LABELS if it has fragrance or color stay away from it.

Are medications for infant eczema safe?

There is legitimate concern about medications marketed for eczema in babies. Dr. Greene’s excellent website has information on infant eczema treatment warnings. We believe that only natural products should ever touch a baby. What is deemed safe today by the FDA may turn into tomorrow’s recall once more testing is conducted.
Most pediatricians prescribe a 1% hydrocortisone cream, such as Locoid Lipocream, they say that one should take caution in African American babies with eczema because this cream bleaches the skin. But, think about it, if it can bleach the skin of an African American baby do you really want to put it on your baby?
The pediatrician should be contacted if the baby’s rashes do not improve with home remedies or if they worsen. Also, a pediatrician should be called if the baby gets a fever or infection or if blisters, redness, pain, oozing fluids or yellow crust occur.