Today I attended a panel discussion on the Pertussis vaccine, hosted by Southern Oregon Birth Connections. The panel consisted of Bonnie Nedrow, a naturopath, here in Ashland, Jeff Houghton, another naturopath, Jim Shames, the director of Public Health, and Michael Framson from the National Vaccine Information Center.

Pertussis,(also known as whooping cough) is a childhood illness that lasts about 6 weeks, but the cough can go on for months. It's caused by a bacteria, Bordetalla Pertussis, which kills the protective cilia in the lungs with a toxin. This part of the illness happens while the person has symptoms of a mild cold, in the first week or two. By the time the intense sporadic coughing fits happen, the damage has already been done. The most contagious part is during that initial "catarrhal phase," which is indistinguishable from a common cold.  Although it is considered a childhood disease, people of all ages can get sick with it. The real danger is when babies under the age of six months get pertussis. Their immune systems have no way of fighting it off, and there is a chance that they can die from lack of oxygen or bleeding in the brain from coughing so hard.

The issue around whether to vaccinate or not is a bit tricky, though. It seems that the vaccine does not give life long immunity, and neither does getting the disease. This means that immunity starts to wear off in middle school aged kids who have not been vaccinated since they were two. Often, these cases go totally undiagnosed, because in an older child, or adults, pertussis may never sound like "whooping cough," and may just seem like a cold, turned into a nagging cough that lasts a few weeks. Many cases have also been documented of people who get sick but are completely up to date with their vaccines, so it does not always work.  Doctors don't necessarily think of pertussis as a diagnosis for a regular sounding cough in a grown up, and most likely won't even be consulted, but those adults can infect infants, who are at great risk.

Since the vaccine was introduced in the early 1900's, pertussis is much less of a problem than it was, so although the vaccine is imperfect, it has been helpful. The problem is that many of us are realizing that we are bombarded by toxicity in our environments, and giving our children the 48! recommended shots before the age of two can be harmful to neurological development, as well as supressing the natural development of T-Helper 1 cells that constitute a healthy immune system. The rates of asthma and other environmental allergies is skyrocketing. Parents have a tough decision to make with this one, as with other vaccines. Pertussis outbreaks happen, especially in my community in Ashland, OR, where many kids are not vaccinated. Babies get sick, and some die.  Last year, 11 died in California. Its not just unvaccinated kids passing it around. 

I am still on the fence about this vaccine.  It seems that there are some positive results, but the vaccine is not reliable.  It is always given with tetanus and diptheria, because it won't work on its own, and the amount of boosters required to maintain immunity is undetermined.  It sounds like a lot of toxic stuff for unreliable protection from the illness.  I did leave with some simple helpful ideas today.  The first is something that Bonnie Nedrow said.  Babies under 6 months don't have an immune response, yet the vaccinations begin at two months because parents are more reliable about bringing their kids in for regular doctor visits when they are infants. She recommends waiting until 16 months to vaccinate,  if you decide to do so.  At this age, the vaccination will be more effective, and possibly give more lasting results.  The immune system is also given a chance to develop on its own for a while without being bombarded by excess toxicity.  The second thing is that we do have a responsibility to each other, so if we choose not to vaccinate, we should take extra precautions not to spread illness around.   Its okay to stay home from work, or keep your kids home from school if they are sick.   If you have a baby, don't spend time with people who are coughing. 

Comment (0)

      At the Ashland Community Hospital's Birth Center, doula care is provided for any laboring woman who requests support, and the service is at no extra cost.  A doula is a woman, experienced with birth, who provides constant physical and emotional support for a laboring woman.   She can be there as a main support person, if the woman has no family or partner with her, or she can be there to assist the husband or mother.   She will make suggestions about position changes, offer massage, and share her knowledge of the birthing process. She is there as a guide, and her main purpose is to help the woman feel safe and relaxed, so that her body can drop into a rhythm and give birth.   The nurses at the Ashland Hospital provide excellent labor support, but are also responsible for taking blood pressure, checking cervical dilation, keeping records, and caring for other patients.   Since they  cannot always provide constant support,  they have  hired a team of skilled and compassionate women to stay present with their patients.  It is an incredible gift to women, and unique for a hospital to provide this service.

     This Oregon hospital's progressive program began in 1995, as a way to support Spanish speaking women.  Originally, the doulas were fluent Spanish speakers and were there to translate, in addition to offering labor support.  A couple of years ago, the program expanded to include support for all women, and now there are doulas on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.   Many of the current doulas speak Spanish, but not all are fluent. 

      Having a doula present greatly reduces the need for medical interventions and greatly increases the chances of a woman remembering her birth as a life transforming accomplishment.   You can see photos and read a little about the doulas, including myself,  on the Ashland Community Hospital website: http://www.ashlandhospital.org/Page.asp?NavID=175    

Comment (0)

       Women need the constant support of experienced women when they give birth.   Studies have shown that simply having a calm, present woman sitting in the room while labor is happening will reduce the need for  interventions and unplanned medical procedures.  A doula can be that calm, present woman, and she is trained to provide emotional support for a women experiencing fear, discouragement, and fatigue.  Doulas also provide physical support, in the forms of massage, breathing practices, suggestions for change of position, and many other helpful techniques to help mamas relax and release to the flow of birth energy.

      Many couples have experienced discomfort at having a doula present, as she may not be a close friend.  There is a sense that perhaps the nurses will provide the needed female support.  Nurses are indeed wonderful and helpful, but unfortunately, they  have many people to care for at once, are in charge of taking diligent notes and may have little experience with natural birth.  Some nurses feel more comfortable administering drugs than foot massage.  Your doctor will most likely communicate with the hospital staff by telephone until the birth is imminent, unless there is some complication. 

      A doula will meet with you ahead of time to get to know who you are and what you are comfortable with.  She will discuss your fears and plans with you, and she will come to your home when labor begins to help you decide when to go to the hospital.  She will remain by your side, offering words of encouragement, suggestions for your partner, loving touch, and whatever you might need.

   Some hospitals, like The Ashland Community Hospital in Ashland, OR, provide doulas for their patients upon request, free of charge.  Even though she may not be a familiar face when she arrives, the hospital doula provides excellent support and is your friend, advocate and wonderful, calm presence.

These are some statistics for birth with a doula present:

• 50% reduction in the cesarean rate
• 25% shorter labor
• 60% reduction in epidural requests
• 40% reduction in oxytocin use
• 30% reduction in analgesia use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery

Information was obtained from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can HelpYou Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993).

Comment (0)

      When I was pregnant with my son, Jayden, six or seven years ago, we had just moved to Ashland, Oregon, and discovered Jackson Wellsprings, the warm hot spring water filled public pool.  My husband, Benjamin, used to take me there on those HOT 100 degree+ summer afternoons to float me in the pool.  The blissful experience of floating weightless and held in his nurturing arms while my child floated in my womb was beyond my expression in words.  Ben and I could both feel our little sweet one, moving in my belly as the three of us breathed together, swishing through the warm water.  My mind would reach a state of being which must have been similar to the clear meditative presence of my unborn child, and there we would meet.  I would emerge from our watsu session in a clear meditative calm, my body relaxed, my emotions balanced for a change.  I always resolved in those moments to spread the word to pregnant women across the globe that the experience of Watsu Aquatic Bodywork is beautiful, unique, and an opportunity not to be missed.

       Benjamin studied Watsu Aquatic Bodywork with Lexi and Terry in San Diego, and went on to take classes at Harbin Hot Springs with Harold Dull, who came up with the watsu technique, based on his shiatsu training.  This is Benjamin's true talent and gift to the world.

Comment (0)