On this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Lamaze Teacher, labor support doula, and international speaker Sharon Muza. No labor is exactly alike, but sometimes there are variations beyond what one would consider “typical.” Sharon and I discus prodromal labor, back labor, as well as a quick and wild precipitous birth. Sharon offers insightful tips and coping strategies for expectant mothers, partners, and doulas. Enjoy!
In this episode we cover:
- What got Sharon started on her path as a birth advocate and educator.
- Defining prodromal labor.
- Identifying the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions.
- What to do if a woman suspects she is having prodromal labor.
- Traits and activities that may contribute to the likeliness of a woman having prodromal labor.
- Tips to consider during pregnancy to help avoid prodromal labor.
- Coping tools for supporting a mother through a prodromal labor.
- For doulas: red flags a doula may spot ahead of time to recognize this is prodromal labor.
- Differentiating back labor from prodromal labor.
- Defining back labor.
- Is a certain body type, placenta placement, pregnancy, or activity during pregnancy that would add to the likeliness of someone having back labor.
- Activities and habits to consider during pregnancy that help avoid the possibility of back labor.
- Indications that someone is having back labor.
- Tools for a partner or doula to help alleviate back labor during labor.
- Defining precipitous birth.
- From an emotional stand point a precipitous birth can be very overwhelming to a woman if she is not expecting things to happen so quickly, some support tips her birth posse can offer her to get through this?
- Strategies for a woman and partner to do if she is having a very rapid birth and not sure she will make it to the hospital.
- Final tips for our pregnant community members and partners!
About Sharon:
Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA) BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE has been an active childbirth professional since 2004, teaching Lamaze classes and providing doula services to more than a thousand families through her private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is an instructor at the Simkin Center, Bastyr University where she is a birth doula trainer. Sharon is also a trainer with Passion for Birth, a Lamaze-Accredited Childbirth Educator Program. In September 2011, Sharon was admitted as a Fellow to the Academy of Certified Childbirth Educators. In 2015, Sharon was awarded Lamaze International’s Media Award for promoting safe and healthy birth. Very active in her community, serving in a variety of positions that promote maternal-infant health, Sharon enjoys active online engagement and facilitating discussion around best practice, current research and its practical application to community standards and actions by health care providers, and how that affects families in the childbearing year. Sharon has been an engaging speaker at international conferences on topics of interest to birth professionals and enjoys collaborating with others to share ideas and information that benefit birth professionals and families. To learn more about Sharon, you are invited to visit her website, SharonMuza.com.
