EXCLUSIVE : Prenatal yoga teacher training course coming soon

Reposted from BirthKuwait
(for registration kindly visit web site BirthKuwait )

For the first time ever, brought to you by BirthKuwait:

Join founder and owner of Blooma, Sarah Longacre and training director Stacy Seebart for Blooma's Level 1 Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training.

BirthKuwait event: Workshop Breastfeeding situation in Kuwait

BirthKuwait event : Workshop "Breastfeeeding situation in Kuwait" took place 29th May 2012 at the Women`s Cultural Society. The programme consisted of five presentations:

1. Dr. Mona Alsumaie : Breastfeeding situation in Kuwait
We learned that 82% of women in Kuwait initiate breastfeeding ( even if only once ) , but only 12% of them continue exclusive brestfeeding up to 6th month of baby age. The most common reasons why women stop breastfeeding are lack of proper information, motivation and help.

2. Dr. Alia Abdeen : Kuwait Lactation Consultants Society: mission and activities
Kuwait Lactation Consultant Society currently has 37 members who took certification exam and qualified, they are distributed in govermental hospitals all over Kuwait and available to help mothers whenever needed.

3. Zuzana Nadova, Midwife : BirthKuwait - mission, vision and activities
BirthKuwait is a local nonprofit birth network— a collection of birth-related professionals—networking together and working towards providing better support for mothers and improving maternity services in Kuwait by making resources available for mothers and advocating for evidence-based maternity care.

4. Heba Al Ali, BSF founder: BFS breastfeeding support club 
The most important message of this presentation was to start preparing for breastfeeding during the pregnancy , setting the priorities right and having support system.

5. Carolyne Presber, LLL leader-Kuwait: La Leche League in Kuwait
We learned about history  and activities of La Leche League, which is international non profit organization providing Mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education for women who breastfeed their children.

Programme was followed by interesting discussion.

Photos from the event:

Invitation for the lecture

Dr. Alia Abdeen ( left) , Zuzana Nadova, Dr. Mona Alsumaie

Carolyne Presber ( left ), Dr. Alia Abdeen, Dr. Mona Alsumaie, Heba Al Ali

Carolyne Presber ( left) , Heba Al Ali

Zuzana Nadova

BirthKuwait event: Food revolution Day at the Women`s cultural Society

BirthKuwait event took place 19th May 2012 at the Women`s Cultural Society as a part of Food Revolution Day. It was day full of fun, learning and pleasant encouters with amazing people. We were talking about Breastfeeding and its benefits.

BirthKuwait Booth:




BirthKuwait team:





Anwer sheet of winner of the kid`s competition about breastfeeding


We loved this poster about breastfeeding from TheAlfaParent.com

You can read more about this event on BirthKuwait web site.

BirthKuwait event at Sadu House 14th may 2012

BirthKuwait event: Coping with labor took place at Sadu House on 14th May 2012. We talked about labor and comfort measures during labor. The lecture was presented by Midwife Jane Ayers and Doula Sarah Paksima of BirthKuwait .

We learned that it is preferred to eat and drink during early stage of labor in order to maintain high energy levels  all the way to the delivery. It is also adviced to practice relaxation techniques and correct breathing to faciliate release of hormones which easen labor and decreases pain. We were also presented with demonstration of many labor positions and comfort measures, like applying hot compresses, massages, accupuncture and use of fit ball.

Photos from the event: My daughter learning about the use of fit ball during labor and me

By providing moms with counter pressure (in response to the pressure of the baby's internal rotations in the pelvis and against the sacrum) by doing the double hip squeeze, using a scarf to accomplish the same thing, or pressing or massaging the sacrum, you can help relieve some of the discomfort of labor.

Check for more info on our Facebook group BirthKuwait.

My doula training

Having a doula with me during my two labors were had been alway a dream of mine, which stayed unfuftilled , cos there were no doulas available in Kuwait then. A doula is birth companion who provides you with emotional and physical support. Imagine a person who calms you down, reminds you of proper breathing, relaxation techniques, keeps you hydrated by offering sips of water, keeps you energized by offering small portions of food ( like dates), relieves pain by massaging and accupunture or applying hot compresses,.. and much more. I took doula training course ( DONA)  sponsored by BirthKuwait and Royal Hayatt so I will be able to attend labors of my family & friends and I also think about getting licensed soon.

Here are some photos from the training course:

                   My trainer Kristi Ridd-Young (left)  and me (right)

                              Kristi speaking about emotional support

            My friend Sarah Paksima of BirthKuwait providing me with shoulder   
             massage while I am sitting on the fit ball

                                 Me practising relaxation

            Model of bony pelvis with baby descending to the birth canal

                                Pain relieve technique

                                Certificate of attendence

The effect of body posture during pregnancy on the baby and labor

What is midwifery?

May : International Doulas Month

Congratulations to all friends and colleagues !

Invitation to a free lecture about childbirth 9th May 2012

INVITATION


Come to a free class at Destination Maternity 360 Mall on May 9th at 4pm to learn how your doula or support person can help you through your labor with tools and techniques to use from your head to your toes!
Find more on: Birth Kuwait Facebook page

Words of wisdom

I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong. [...] I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in the mysterious universe without having any purpose."
Richard Feynman

1st DONA Doula Training course 26-28/4/2012

DONA is International organization of Doulas of North America

Doula is a person who provides non-medical care for mothers during and immediately after birth.

• Recognizes birth as a significant life experience.
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a laboring woman.
• Provides continuous support, practrical comfort measures, and an objective viewpoint to aid in decision-making.
• Complements the care provided by the woman's partner and birth attendants.
• Protects and nurtures the memory of the birth experience.

Recent studies indicate the use of a doula:

• Decreases labor length by 25 percent.
• Decreases oxytocin use by 25 percent.
• Decreases mother's request for pain medication by 30 percent.
• Decreases cesareans by 50 percent.
• Increases father's participation level.

The course took place during  from 26th April to 28th April 2012 in Royale Hayat Hospital. This course was designed and was presented by Kristi Ridd-Young, an experienced midwife, doula, and childbirth educator. She is currently the President of the Midwives College of Utah and former DONA Administrative Director and board member. During her 19 years of teaching, Kristi has facilitated many doula trainings throughout the USA. She has been invaluable in helping many expectant mothers and their partners develop skills and the inner strength neeed to experience a positive birth. As a caring, compassionate doula, she has atteneded over 250 women. Kristi has been mentored by many of the leading experts in the field of childbirth, but most of all, she credits her six children and seven stepchildren for much of the wisdom and knowledge she shares.

Human Colostrum and Breast Milk

Source: SAGE journals

This study proved traces of TRAIL ( known anti-cancer agent) in human breast milk

" To our knowledge, this is the first time that TRAIL has

been measured in colostrum and human breast milk. This

study has revealed much higher TRAIL concentrations in

colostrum and breast milk compared to the levels of circulating

serum TRAIL. Although previous studies have

shown that breast cells express TRAIL,

 it was unexpected

that the mean level of soluble TRAIL detected in colostrum

reached 48.6 ng/mL, approximately 2-fold higher than the level

previously reported in the conjunctival sac fluid

approximately 40-fold greater than the level measured in

human saliva,

and > 400-fold greater than the level found

in human serum. Although we observed a significant

decline in levels of TRAIL in human breast milk measured

at day 4 or 5, these concentrations were still much higher

than those usually found in human serum/plasma and were

in the range of concentrations that are able to kill cancer

cells.

5 ways pitocin is different than oxytocin

Source:About Pregnancy & Childbirth
The numbers of inductions of labor using artificial means like Pitocin and other medications has gone up dramatically in the last few years. A hospital in my area says that 90 of the women have their labors induced. Since science shows us that inducing labor can increase the numbers of complications in the labor and with the baby, you might be surprised to note that many of the inductions are not for medical reasons, but rather reasons of convenience, practitioner or mother, known as social induction.
One of the things that women tell me is that they are lead to believe that induction is completely safe and relatively easy, after all, Pitocin is just another form of the body's own oxytocin, right?
While this statement is generally true, artificially created hormones, including Pitocin do not act identically to the hormones in ones body. For example, in pregnancy both the mother and the baby produce oxytocin. The oxytocin produced by each reacts differently in the body because they each have separate jobs.
Here are five things that you may not know about Pitocin and how it can effect your labor:

Why do many formula-fed infants lack optimal health?

Benefits of breastfeeding

First ever DONA Doula Training April 26-28, 2012

Source: BirthKuwait

First ever DONA Doula Training April 26-28, 2012

6:30 AM0 comments

BirthKuwait, in partnership with Royale Hayat Hospital, is pleased to announce the first ever DONA Doula training in Kuwait, April 26-28th, 2012.
What is a Doula?

A Doula is a person who provides non-medical care for mothers during and immediately after birth. A Doula:

• Recognizes birth as a significant life experience.
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotiona needs of a laboring woman.
• Provides continuous support, practrical comfort measures, and an objective viewpoint to aid in decision-making.
• Complements the care provided by the woman's partner and birth attendants.
• Protects and nurtures the memory of the birth experience.

Recent studies indicate the use of a doula:

• Decreases labor length by 25 percent.
• Decreases oxytocin use by 25 percent.
• Decreases mother's request for pain medication by 30 percent.
• Decreases cesareans by 50 percent.
• Increases father's participation level.

Birthing families and caregivers are welcoming doulas as the newest member of today's maternity care team.

The Workshop:

The Doula Training Workshop will be April 26-28th at Royale Hayat Hospital 9:00am-5:00pm.

The course fee is 150 KWD, and includes course training materials and meals.

*Nursing babies are welcome if they are quiet or if you have someone who can take them out of the room if need be.

The intensive three-day workshop will help the participant:

• Recognize the significance of chidbirth in the life of a woman.
• Demonstrate at least three prental and postpartum support skills.
• Devise a plan to offer optimal support in a variety of labor situations.
• Appraise personal values and their relationship to labor support.
• Assess standards of practice and plan methods of business management.

This DONA-approved Doula training workshop offers the expertise of a highly trained instructor, and uses supplementary text, videos, slides, and role-play to build theoretical knowledge and teach practical skills. A complete syllabus is included with the course. This training comprises one step in the certification process for Doulas of North America (DONA).

This course was designed and will be presented by Kristi Ridd-Young, an experienced midwife, doula, and childbirth educator. She is currently the President of the Midwives College of Utah and former DONA Administrative Director and board member. During her 19 years of teaching, Kristi has facilitated many doula trainings throughout the USA. She has been invaluable in helping many expectant mothers and their partners develop skills and the inner strength neeed to experience a positive birth. As a caring, compassionate doula, she has atteneded over 250 women. Kristi has been mentored by many of the leading experts in the field of childbirth, but most of all, she credits her six children and seven stepchildre for much of the wisdom and knowledge she shares.

Kristi @ recent doula workshop at Midwives College of Utah

Registration:

Please email your registration form to info@birthkuwait.com or sarahpaksima@gmail.com. If you want to print up your form, you can drop off your form with the registration fee to Sarah Paksima (Amwaj Towers, Gulf Road, Salmiya (5536-8636). Registration deadline is April 1st, 2012.

Milking health for all its worth

Source: Kuwait Times

Milking health for all its worth

Published Date: July 22, 2011
By Hussain Al-Qatari, Staff Writer

The bottles boil in a pot, the formula powder is carefully measured with a spoon and placed in little plastic containers. The water is boiled and cooled down to the right temperature and then poured into the bottles, mixed with the powder until it has completely dissolved. This may sound like an experiment in a lab, but it is what happens at home when a mother is bottle-feeding her baby.

Dr Mona Al-Sumaie, Head of the Breastfeeding Awareness Committee in the Ministry of Health says that breastfeeding is not only more beneficial for the child, but it is even easier for the mother. Sadly, in Kuwait, the majority of women do not breastfeed. "The efforts to raise awareness on that issue are very humble. We have a committee but the doctors on board work on various other projects throughout the year," she says. The committee educates young mothers about breastfeeding, gives out pamphlets and bro
chures that explains the difference between breastfeeding and formula milk.

The pediatrician says that breastfeeding is the way a mother naturally nurtures her baby, "It is a trend globally to breastfeed instead of using baby formula. Compared to the mother's milk, baby formula lacks a lot of nutrients and active ingredients that science cannot imitate yet. When a mother resorts to feeding her child formula, she is depriving the child from many benefits that have a long-lasting effect on the child's well-being," she says.

It is recommended that a mother breastfeeds for two years or more. Al-Sumaie noted that breastfeeding makes the child's immune system stronger, and it prevents obesity and many long-term diseases. It also promotes healthier and faster growth, "Breastfeeding is more importantly a way for a mother to bond with her baby. When an infant is born, it doesn't comprehend or speak, but it is very receptive. The act of breastfeeding is nurturing to the child physically and emotionally, and it is the natural way our
bodies are supposed to behave," she says.

Only 2,2% of national income spent on health care system in 2011

Kuwait spends 2.2 % income on health

KUWAIT:  Kuwait’s spending on the health sector increased by 86 percent during the period between 2005 and 2010. However, it totaled to only 2.2 percent of national income, stated a recent report prepared by the Skills Consulting and Public Relations Company. This was held  in cooperation with experts in local health and development fields. The report published by Annahar daily yesterday states that the government spent KD 877 million on the health sector in 2010, while it only spent KD 470 million in 2005. The report, however, indicates that the quality of medical services provided during that period increased between five and 25 percent, according to studies held by Ministry of Health(MoH) statistics, reported  Annahar.

In other news, Minister of Health and Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali has altered the pharmacy licensing law,  according to which, a pharmacist must complete a minimum five years in the field after graduation before obtaining a license to open a private pharmacy, reported  Al-Rai.
Source: Kuwait Times

55 732 babies born in Kuwait in 2011

31,525 Kuwaitis born in 2011

KUWAIT: Rashed Al-Azemi, Director of the Central Birth and Death Administration at the Ministry of Health, said that a total of 55,732 birth certificates and 5,816 death certificates were issued during 2011.

New born Kuwaiti babies totaled 31,525, of whom 15,635 were male and 15,890 were female.

More than 11,000 birth certificates were issued to the stateless residents, and 500 death certificates. He emphasized that forgery in birth and death certificates is almost non-existent, and in case of discovery they are sent to the Public Prosecution Department.

He said mistakes in the date of birth and death certificates are very limited and caused by a lack of information. He added that death and birth records for both Kuwaitis and expatriates are entered into computer records. —Al-Anbaa

Source: Kuwait Times