Birth Trauma Archives - Conscious Woman

How Circumcision Affects Sexuality

April 22, 2011 By Raquel Leave a Comment

Circumcision is a primal wound that causes pain and trauma to an infant’s penis–his organ of pleasure and procreation. Initially, circumcision interferes with the maternal infant bond, disrupts breastfeeding and normal sleep patterns, and undermines the successful completion of the baby’s first developmental task of establishing trust. Even when analgesia is used, circumcision causes pain to the penis, and every experience of that organ, from then on, is overlaid on a neuronal background of pain.

Circumcision removes the foreskin, with its 20,000 – 70,000 specialized, erogenous nerve endings, replacing the penile accelerator that allows a man to ride the wave to orgasm with an on/off switch that offers sensitivity and immediate relief without the ride to orgasm and the full symphony of sensation. This is why the most common complaint of circumcised men in the USA is premature ejaculation. At the other end of life, circumcised males complain about sexual dysfunction, including loss of sensitivity and impotence. Many women wonder why sex with a circumcised man is not fulfilling for them. They do not understand the role the foreskin plays in female sexual pleasure, including the gliding mechanism and lubrication.

This session, the third in the Intact Boy series, is led by Marilyn Milos, RN, Executive Director of NOCIRC. Hear Marilyn’s exploration of the effects of circumcision on an infant and on the man he becomes. The dynamics of circumcision, sex, and compensation for the trauma and loss is discussed.

This presentation is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Continuing Education Units available for some professionals. Click here for more information.

Filed Under: By Title, Circumcision, How Circumcision Affects Sexuality, Online Presentations (Videos and Resources), Recorded Presentations Tagged With: Birth Trauma, Bonding, Boy, Breastfeeding, c-section, Childbirth, childbirth education, Circumcision, conscious woman, Conscious Woman Inc., Conscious Women, Consicous Woman, DOC, Doctors Opposing Circumcision, Foreskin, Geisheker, Goldman, Highlight Conscious Women, Infant, intact boy, intactivism, Jewish, Longley, maternal mortality and morbidity, Milos, Mother, Newborn, NOCIRC, Pollack, Raquel Lazar-Paley, Trauma, vaginal birth after cesarean, VBAC

Circumcision: Surgical Methods and Complications

April 22, 2011 By Raquel Leave a Comment

Parents are largely unfamiliar with the realities of how a foreskin is actually cut away. The common myths that circumcision is “quick and safe,” ”just a little snip” or that the baby doesn’t experience any pain are false representations of the procedure. In fact, circumcision involves multiple tissue-damaging steps to remove the foreskin. Moreover, the circumcision devices used on the small penis of a newborn are relatively imprecise – which may lead to specific complications beyond the usual surgical risks of bleeding and infection. This course, led by Gillian Longley RN, BSN, MSS, provides participants with an in depth understanding of what is really involved with a circumcision and what the baby undergoing a circumcision may experience, during and after the procedure.

The presentation begins with an exploration of infant pain, and circumcision pain relief measures, including the facts that not all doctors use anesthesia for circumcision, that no method of local anesthesia has been shown to completely eliminate the pain of circumcision, and that babies do remember the pain of circumcision. The three main techniques of infant circumcision are explained step by step with still photo illustrations. The range of complications which may result are illustrated and explained, including the often-ignored longer term harms that may occur due to loss of the foreskin’s protective and sexual functions, which may not manifest until years later.

The course closes with a brief look at the potentially harmful effects of circumcision on breastfeeding and mother-child bonding, which is covered in greater depth in a later class in this series.

This presentation is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

* Warning: This program is liberally illustrated with photographs and diagrams of adult and infant penises, as well as graphic images of the circumcision procedure. These images are intended for educational purposes only, but some viewers may find them offensive or disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Filed Under: By Title, Circumcision, Circumcision: Surgical Methods and Complications, Recorded Presentations Tagged With: Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, BSN, Childbirth, childbirth education, Circumcision, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Consicous Woman, Doula, Foreskin, Gillian Longley, RN, BSN, MSS, Gloria Lemay, intact, intact boy, intactivism, Mohel, Raquel Lazar-Paley, RN

The Foreskin

April 22, 2011 By Raquel Leave a Comment

The United States has been a predominantly circumcising culture since the mid 20th century, a time when childbirth and infancy began to be heavily medicalized through childbirth interventions and the aggressive marketing of infant formulas. Along with the loss of knowledge of normal childbirth and breastfeeding, Americans have also lost their knowledge of the normal intact (non-circumcised) penis.

In this lecture, the first in our Intact Boy series, Gillian Longley RN, BSN, explains the anatomy of the intact penis, and shows how its unique structure and specialized tissue support a wide array of protective and sexual functions. The development of the foreskin in the fetus and child is also discussed, particularly the gradual natural separation of the foreskin from the head (glans) of the penis. This information provides the rationale for a discussion of correct care of the penis in the intact boy, and the normal variations that may occur during penile development in childhood. This presentation concludes with a discussion of the problem of forcible, premature retraction of the foreskin by incorrectly informed health care professionals. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics specifically recommends against forcible retraction, as circumcision rates drop in North America more and more boys are subjected to this inappropriate, unnecessary, and harmful practice that is obsolete in most of the world.

This presentation is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

* Warning: This program is liberally illustrated with photographs and diagrams of adult and infant penises. These images are intended for educational purposes only, but some viewers may find them offensive or disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Filed Under: By Title, Circumcision, Recorded Presentations, The Foreskin Tagged With: Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, BSN, Childbirth, childbirth education, Circumcision, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Consicous Woman, Doula, Foreskin, Gillian Longley, RN, BSN, MSS, Gloria Lemay, Inc., intact boy, intactivism, Meissner's corpuscles, Raquel Lazar-Paley, RN, sexual organs

Thinking Twice About Cesarean Surgery

April 20, 2011 By Raquel Leave a Comment

Sarah J. Buckley, MD reveals the latest medical evidence about the risks, benefits and side effects of cesareans, including little-known research on the altered physiology (body processes) of cesarean newborns. One of six lectures in our Gentle Birth: The Science and the Wisdom series, lectures that focus on the natural processes of birth, and the impact of interventions in pregnancy and birth on both mothers and babies.

These ground-breaking lectures, based on Dr. Buckley’s public talks and conference presentations in the US, Australia and New Zealand, are educational and informative for midwives, nurses, childbirth educators, doulas, natural health practitioners and others. This series is also valuable for parents who want to be fully informed about their choices in pregnancy and birth.

This session is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

Filed Under: By Title, Pregnancy & Childbirth, Recorded Presentations, Thinking Twice About Cesarean Surgery Tagged With: bad birth, Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, Buckley birth, c-section, Cervidil, cesarean, cesarean surgery, Childbirth, childbirth education, childbirth hormones, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Cord Clamping, Doula, Dr. Buckley, due date, due date calculator, due dates, elective cesarean, Epidural, Gentle Birth, Gentle Birth the Science and the Wisdom, Highlight Conscious Woman, Highlight Conscious Women, homebirth, hormonal impact of interventions, hormones labor, impact of interventions, Induction of Birth, interventions, Labor Induction, Lotus Birth, natural childbirth, normal birth, Pitocin, prenatal ultrasound, Raquel Lazar-Paley, safety and logic of normal birth, Sara Buckley, Sarah Buckley, sarah Buckley MD, Third Stage, ultrasound, ultrasound safety, vaginal birth, when birth goes wrong

Epidurals: Impact on Mother and Baby

April 20, 2011 By Raquel Leave a Comment

Sarah J. Buckley, MD presents important evidence-based information for women and care providers about the effects of epidurals in labor and on the newborn. One of six lectures in our Gentle Birth: The Science and the Wisdom series, lectures that focus on the natural processes of birth, and the impact of interventions in pregnancy and birth on both mothers and babies.

This session is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

Filed Under: By Title, Epidurals: Impact on Mother and Baby, Pregnancy & Childbirth, Recorded Presentations Tagged With: bad birth, Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, Buckley birth, c-section, Cervidil, cesarean, Childbirth, childbirth education, childbirth hormones, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Cord Clamping, Doula, Dr. Buckley, due date, due date calculator, due dates, elective cesarean, Epidural, epidural complication, Gentle Birth, Gentle Birth the Science and the Wisdom, Highlight Conscious Woman, Highlight Conscious Women, homebirth, hormonal impact of interventions, hormones labor, impact of interventions, Induction of Birth, interventions, Labor Induction, Lotus Birth, natural childbirth, normal birth, Pitocin, prenatal ultrasound, Raquel Lazar-Paley, safety and logic of normal birth, Sara Buckley, Sarah Buckley, sarah Buckley MD, Third Stage, ultrasound, ultrasound safety, vaginal birth, when birth goes wrong

When Birth Goes Wrong: The Hormonal Impact of Interventions for Mother and Baby

April 20, 2011 By Raquel Leave a Comment

Referencing the latest scientific research, Sarah J. Buckley, MD focuses on how common birth practices can make birth more difficult and dangerous for mother and baby. The presentation also includes recommendations for enhancing safety and ease in birth. One of six lectures in our Gentle Birth: The Science and the Wisdom series, lectures that focus on the natural processes of birth, and the impact of interventions in pregnancy and birth on both mothers and babies.

This session is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

Filed Under: By Title, Pregnancy & Childbirth, Recorded Presentations, When Birth Goes Wrong: The Hormonal Impact of Interventions for Mother and Baby Tagged With: bad birth, Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, Buckley birth, c-section, Cervidil, cesarean, Childbirth, childbirth education, childbirth hormones, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Cord Clamping, Doula, Dr. Buckley, due date, due date calculator, due dates, elective cesarean, Epidural, Gentle Birth, Gentle Birth the Science and the Wisdom, Highlight Conscious Woman, Highlight Conscious Women, homebirth, hormonal impact of interventions, hormones labor, impact of interventions, Induction of Birth, interventions, Labor Induction, Lotus Birth, natural childbirth, normal birth, Pitocin, prenatal ultrasound, Raquel Lazar-Paley, safety and logic of normal birth, Sara Buckley, Sarah Buckley, sarah Buckley MD, Third Stage, ultrasound, ultrasound safety, vaginal birth, when birth goes wrong

Afterbirth: Cord Clamping and Other Third Stage Issues

April 20, 2011 By Raquel Leave a Comment

Featuring the normal processes that happen immediately after birth (third stage) for mother and baby, Sarah J. Buckley examines the impact of interventions such as cord clamping and Pitocin injections, and offers suggestions for optimizing this time for mother and baby. This program includes a discussion of Lotus Birth.

One of six lectures in our Gentle Birth: The Science and the Wisdom series, lectures that focus on the natural processes of birth, and the impact of interventions in pregnancy and birth on both mothers and babies.

This session is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

Filed Under: Afterbirth: Cord Clamping and Other Third Stage Issues, By Title, Pregnancy & Childbirth, Recorded Presentations Tagged With: Afterbirth, Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, Buckley birth, c-section, cesarean, Childbirth, childbirth education, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Cord Clamping, Doula, Dr. Buckley, due date, due date calculator, due dates, elective cesarean, Epidural, Gentle Birth, Gentle Birth the Science and the Wisdom, Highlight Conscious Woman, Highlight Conscious Women, homebirth, Induction of Birth, Labor Induction, Lotus Birth, natural childbirth, normal birth, prenatal ultrasound, Raquel Lazar-Paley, safety and logic of normal birth, Sara Buckley, Sarah Buckley, sarah Buckley MD, Third Stage, ultrasound, ultrasound safety, vaginal birth

The Safety and Logic of Normal Birth

April 20, 2011 By Raquel Leave a Comment

Sarah J. Buckley, MD explores how the delicate and complex hormonal processes of labor provide safety, ease and pleasure, as well as long-term benefits, for mother and baby. One of six lectures in our Gentle Birth: The Science and the Wisdom series, lectures that focus on the natural processes of birth, and the impact of interventions in pregnancy and birth on both mothers and babies.

This session is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

Filed Under: By Title, Pregnancy & Childbirth, Recorded Presentations, The Safety and Logic of Normal Birth Tagged With: Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, Buckley birth, c-section, cesarean, Childbirth, childbirth education, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Doula, Dr. Buckley, due date, due date calculator, due dates, elective cesarean, Epidural, Gentle Birth, Gentle Birth the Science and the Wisdom, Highlight Conscious Woman, Highlight Conscious Women, homebirth, Induction of Birth, Labor Induction, natural childbirth, normal birth, prenatal ultrasound, Raquel Lazar-Paley, safety and logic of normal birth, Sara Buckley, Sarah Buckley, sarah Buckley MD, ultrasound, ultrasound safety, vaginal birth

Ultrasound Safety and Other Considerations

April 20, 2011 By Raquel Leave a Comment

Sarah J. Buckley, MD discusses important questions about the safety of prenatal ultrasound based on scientific research, and suggests ways to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms from ultrasound. One of six lectures in our Gentle Birth: The Science and the Wisdom series, lectures that focus on the natural processes of birth, and the impact of interventions in pregnancy and birth on both mothers and babies.

This session is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

Filed Under: By Title, Pregnancy & Childbirth, Recorded Presentations, Ultrasound Safety and Other Considerations Tagged With: Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, Buckley birth, c-section, cesarean, Childbirth, childbirth education, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Doula, Dr. Buckley, due date, due date calculator, due dates, elective cesarean, Epidural, Gentle Birth, Gentle Birth the Science and the Wisdom, Highlight Conscious Woman, Highlight Conscious Women, homebirth, Induction of Birth, Labor Induction, prenatal ultrasound, Raquel Lazar-Paley, Sara Buckley, Sarah Buckley, sarah Buckley MD, ultrasound, ultrasound safety

Prenatal Diagnostic Tests

April 20, 2011 By Raquel Leave a Comment

As the number of possible prenatal tests continues to climb, care providers must be able to discern which ones will lead to productive action and which ones will only worry and detract from the woman’s pregnancy experience. This program enables participants to better advocate for clients by articulating which prenatal tests are reasonable, and which tests can cause more harm than good.

One of Gloria Lemay’s twelve Essentials of Maternal-Infant Care presentations for professionals and students who wish to expand their knowledge and skills, and delve into issues that arise repeatedly in clinical practice. This series is also valuable for parents who want to be fully informed about their choices in pregnancy and birth.

This session is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

Filed Under: By Title, Pregnancy & Childbirth, Prenatal Diagnostic Tests Tagged With: advanced doula training, amnio, Birth Trauma, c-section, Cervidil, cesarean, Childbirth, childbirth education, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Consicous Woman, Doula, essentials of maternal infant care, Gloria Lemay, homebirth, Induction, maternal mortality and morbidity, midwife, Midwifery, obstetrician, obstetrics, Prenatal Diagnostic Tests, Prenatal Disagnostic testing, prenatal testing, Prenatal Tests, prenatal ultrasound, Raquel Lazar-Paley, ultrasound, vaginal birth after cesarean, VBAC