New Beginnings Doula Training

New Beginnings Doula Training
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Monday, February 15, 2010

Bradycardia-low heart rate

A heart rate below 120 beats per min. is called bradycardia. A heart rate between 90-110, though, could be a normal variant. It is also important to make sure that the bradycardia is the infants heart rate and not the mothers. Causes of bradycardia that are not normal include maternal hypothermia(the mother has a low body temperature), some drugs, or a complete heart block in the infant. Another cause of bradycardia is sever hypoxia (or decreased oxygenation).

Hypothermia can be caused by magnesium sulfate(a drug often used for preeclampsia), or maternal hypoglycemia(low blood sugar). A complete heart block can be a result of a congenital cardiac anomaly or idiopathic. With a heart block the brain does not communicate with the heart, so it makes the monitoring of the fetal heart rate useless.


Posted by Rachel at 8:56 PM
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Birth is a Journey: Does it have to be life changing?


  • One woman might have to climb on an overfilled boat, risking her life and nearly dying as she escapes over the ocean to come to this land. This experience could certainly be life altering. It may very well color the rest of her life, positively or negatively. (I overcame this amazing struggle and here I am triumphant! OR Holy crap, that was SO hard I don’t know if I can go on! By the way, neither response is “right”. No one would judge the woman with the 2nd response.)
  • One woman may buy an airplane ticket, sit on a comfortable 747 and fly to America with a nice smooth flight and landing. She is happy to be in America. Those welcoming her are glad she is here safe and sound. She may only travel by plane 2-4 times in her life, so it is pretty memorable. But the journey itself probably wouldn’t be life changing; it would simply be a journey.
  • One woman may learn to fly an ultra-light plane to lead a flock of geese into America teaching them to migrate. This experience could certainly be empowering and life altering.

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