In This Issue

Charis "Teaching Birth" Workshop
     February 27, 2010
About Birth
     Study backs midwife-led maternity care
Our Charis Family
     Emily Johnson
Charis Cuisine
      Delectable Fruit Platters
 About Children
    Hidden Messages
 Tidbits from Ebony
     A Trip Back to Glory Land

To enjoy past newsletters, visit the archives:
Newsletter Archives
 

Our address

Charis Childbirth, Inc.
P.O. Box 6900
North Port, FL 34290

It's been over a year since Charis headquarters moved to Florida.  If you use our old Virginia Beach address, your mail will not reach us as the post office is no longer forwarding mail.  Be sure to mail your yearly membership fees to the Florida address!

Our Director's Heart

With a Little Common Sense…

I recently overheard two people in public talking about their teeth. Since I used to work in the dental field, my ears perked up. No, I wasn't eves dropping. They were talking loud enough for all to hear. When I saw that one was pregnant, it caught my attention that much more.

The pregnant lady made a statement that saddened me. She said that her teeth get bad during pregnancy and she has resigned herself to losing a tooth for each pregnancy. I have heard the old wives' tale that you lose a tooth for each pregnancy, but I didn't realize that there were some educated people out there who still believe it.

It is true that there are changes in saliva during pregnancy that make the environment in the mouth more friendly to decay-causing bacteria; but contrary to popular belief in the not-too-distant past, tooth calcium is stable and is not mobilized during pregnancy the way bone calcium is. A baby doesn’t take calcium from his mother’s teeth.

The mouth isn’t the only part of the body that experiences changes during pregnancy. Every system in the body is affected by pregnancy, but that doesn't mean that our overall health has to suffer. It just means that we need to use common sense about how we care for our bodies in light of the changes experienced in the pregnant body.

Using good common sense, expectant mothers can avoid dental problems during pregnancy. When a pregnant woman understands that the changes in her saliva will create an environment where bacteria can flourish, common sense will lead her to brush after each meal, floss daily, and avoid sugary foods that promote the growth of decay-causing bacteria.

As a bonus, when pregnant women give attention to oral hygiene, they are also reducing their chances of preterm labor and heart problems. One of the causes of premature birth and heart disease is periodontal disease. The bacteria that live beneath the gums can get into the bloodstream and precipitate labor before the baby is ready and can also put the woman at higher risk for heart disease.

Think about the other parts of the body and how they are affected by pregnancy. How about the decreased gastric secretion of pepsin (the main enzyme that digests protein) during pregnancy, for instance? Or how about the fact that dehydration and low blood sugar can lead to greater nausea in pregnancy? How can a little common sense lead to simple solutions that will help expectant mothers have a happier, healthier pregnancy?

I encourage all childbirth educators, doulas, and midwives to become very familiar with how pregnancy affects every part of the body. If we understand the physiology, then we are better able to give our clients sound advice on how to care for themselves.

Blessings,
Kristin Schuchmann
Executive Director, Charis Childbirth
 

Congratulations Anne Sokol for successfully completing all the requirements to become our newest Charis Certified Childbirth Educator/Certified Doula!!!  Please join us in celebrating with Anne,  what a huge blessing she is to Ukrainian women and families!
 

The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of medical care and advice from your health care provider.