Daniela Knaan
UX/UI Designer at - AdobeThe cascade of intervention refers to a sequence of medical interventions that often occur during childbirth, starting with seemingly minor procedures and leading to more significant ones. While interventions can be necessary and life-saving, many are avoidable and can be prevented with proper preparation and a supportive approach. Prenatal yoga, along with the use of yoga tools, mindset cultivation, and breathwork, can play a crucial role in reducing the likelihood of this cascade. This blog post explores how these practices can empower pregnant individuals to have a more natural and intervention-free birth experience.
What Is The Cascade Of Interventions?
The cascade of intervention refers to a sequence of medical interventions that often occur during childbirth, starting with seemingly minor procedures and leading to more significant ones.
Bed-Rest And Continuous Monitoring
Bed rest and continuous monitoring during labor are counterproductive to the physiological progress of birth. These practices restrict a birthing person’s movement, which is essential for facilitating labor progression, helping the baby descend through natural movement and the help of gravity, and eventually navigating the birth canal.
Movement and upright positions can help align the baby optimally, reduce pain, and shorten labor duration. Continuous monitoring, often involving being strapped to machines, can increase stress and anxiety, which may hinder the release of oxytocin, a hormone crucial for labor. These practices neglect the mom`s need for following their natural intuition of birthing and reflect outdated hospital policies that prioritize control over the birthing process, rather than supporting the body’s innate ability to give birth.
Restriction Of Eating And Drinking In Labor
According to the American College Of Nurse-Midwives the restriction of food and water can lead to maternal dehydration and increased anxiety and stress. A woman going through hours of labor needs to follow their needs of everything including food, to have enough willpower and stamina to endure. Oral nutrition during labor does not influence either obstetric or neonatal outcomes, according to (O’Sullivan, Liu, Hart, Seed, & Shennan, 2009.
There are wireless monitors and unless you are in a high-risk pregnancy it is enough to check from time to time while you are moving around.
Frequent Vaginal Exams
Being really painful, vaginal exams are rather hurting and slowing down the physiological process of labor than doing much good. Dilation gives you absolutely no indicator of how fast birth will progress. Having to lay down during these and experiencing Unnecessary pain stops the oxytocin flow and may enter you into the circle of tension-pain-fear. This circle describes how tension leads to a higher perception of pain, leading to fear. And fear causes tension in return.
(Early) Local Anesthesia
Having an epidural in the early stages of labor restricts your movement, preventing you from working through upright positions that would encourage the baby to descend and navigate the birth canal. Lying down leads to poor blood- and oxygen supply in the baby that may cause a slow down in labor leading to the need of artificial augmentation of labor, or drops in the neonatal heart rate leading to- you guessed right:
Higher chances of vacuum birth or even C-section.
Artificial Augmentation Of Labor
Synthetic oxytocin does not have the same effect on labor as the oxytocin produced by our body. Contractions will be more frequent and painful, often leading to fetal distress and drops in the baby`s heart rate leading to c-section.
Artificial Rupture Of Membranes
Your baby needs to be in the amniotic fluid as long as possible to perform micromovements in turning, rotating, and navigating. Artificial rupture can cause contractions to be more painful, leading to distress in the mom and higher chances of needing and epidural. It can also have other side effects such as a prolapsed cord or or fetal distress.
How Does Yoga Help Prevent The Cascade Of Intervention
Building Physical and Mental Strength
Prenatal yoga offers numerous benefits that extend beyond physical fitness. The practice helps to increase flexibility, strength, and endurance, which are essential during labor and delivery. Regular yoga practice also teaches relaxation techniques that can be invaluable in managing pain and stress during childbirth. By fostering a deep connection with your body, prenatal yoga helps you listen to your body’s cues, enabling you to make informed decisions during labor.
Mindset: Cultivating a Positive and Empowered Attitude
A positive mindset is a powerful tool in preventing the cascade of intervention. Prenatal yoga emphasizes mindfulness and mental resilience, helping you cultivate a sense of empowerment and confidence in your bodies’ ability to give birth. Visualization techniques and affirmations practiced during yoga can prepare your mind for the intensity of labor, reducing fear and anxiety. This mental preparedness can lead to a more positive birth experience and a reduced need for medical interventions.
Breathwork: Harnessing the Power of Breath
Breathwork is a cornerstone of yoga and an invaluable tool during childbirth. Deep, controlled breathing helps to manage pain, reduce stress, and maintain a calm state of mind. Techniques such as Ujjayi breath or alternate nostril breathing can promote relaxation and keep oxygen flowing to both you and your baby. Proper breathing can also aid in maintaining focus and stamina during labor, reducing the likelihood of interventions like too-early anesthesia.
Knowledge is Power
Know your rights to informed consent and the ability to decline any of the interventions that seem unnecessary to you!
Practicing prenatal yoga frequently before birth will make the poses, the breathing and the mindset so accessible and automatic that your intuition will guide you to use them exactly the right way!
Prenatal yoga gives you the ultimate toolset you need for a positive and empowered birth experience!
As soon as labor got really strong I felt I forgot everything. So I just moved on the birth ball and started breathing really deeply and slowly. Then everything went so fast that I did not even have to take an epidural.
Said one of my prenatal students after she gave birth. She felt she had forgotten what to do but she had learned to be so intuitive, and she was physically and mindfully prepared for birth.
Conclusion:
Prenatal yoga, when combined with the strategic use of yoga tools, a positive mindset, and breathwork, offers a holistic approach to childbirth preparation. These practices empower pregnant individuals to have a more natural and intervention-free birth experience by enhancing physical readiness, mental resilience, and emotional well-being. By integrating these elements into your prenatal routine, you can increase the likelihood of a smooth, empowered, and intervention-free birth journey.
Would you like to be part of my prenatal yoga and birth preparation program? Take a look:
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