Awesome Penny Simkin conference

Matrescence · 09-30-2005, 09:32 AM

This was an awesome workshop!

Tuesday morning, we learned how to use a TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit on a laboring mom for back pain. Penny limited the amount of participants to 25 so we could do hands on practice, there were doulas, nurses, physical therapists, midwives and childbirth educators. We spilt up in groups of 3 and practiced using the unit on each other! It's such an odd feeling but I can see where it would help in labor. She taught us the theories about why it works, the endorphin theory and the gate control theory. TENS was originally developed to test the gate control theory (i.e competition of stimuli) it was found that "awareness of pain can be reduced by increasing pleasant or innocuous stimuli", these stimuli travel to the brain faster than the pain stimuli do, closing the gate to pain. The theory behind endorphins are about the same, they found that TENS used over a localized area of pain increased endorphins in that specific area. We looked at the studies done on the effects of TENS in labor and learned the importance of beginning it's use in early labor to allow time for raising those localized endorphins and provide adequate relief in active labor.

Tuesday night there were 80 people! With so many people it was touching to see Nancy Koerber (a CPM here in Asheville) dedicate the workshop to Dr. William Brannan. Many of us were moved to tears, hearing how this man has dedicated his life to supporting North Carolina midwives and how he is now with his family in his last days of a terminal illness. To hear the many stories of how he stood up for normal birth, to hear about how he supported homebirth in the presence of many who did not, it was truly amazing.

After the dedication we began the session on Supporting A Woman With An Epidural, which Penny admitted was odd seeing as how we had just before heard the story of a physician supporting normal birth, lol. We looked closely at studies related to epidurals, reducing the side effects and the moms emotions with an epidural, we even looked at a study done on men and epidurals, lol that was an interesting one!

After dinner we began the session Postpartum The Neglected Phase of Childbearing. We learned about the 6 PP mood disorders and risk factors. With a 30% incidence for PP mood disorder we learned how to recognize and help refer (for doulas) or treat (for medical professionals) we learned how to process the birth and how to better help the new mother.

Wednesday morning as soon as I pulled into the parking lot I saw a familiar car and a familiar person dressed all in purple (of course) Lisa! LoL, I was so happy to see her there. She had told me she wasn't going to make it due to speaking at the Midwifery Today conference in the Bahamas but she made it! I asked when she got back she said "last night at midnight" she said she couldn't miss seeing Penny

This time the room was absolutely filled we had a few physicians, more midwives and nurses. We started with the session on Psychophysiologic Management of Labor which was awesome! Then Early Childhood Influences on a Woman's Childbearing, this one was eye opening, it made you really think about some of the things that happen (like September 11th and now the hurricanes) and how they *will* effect future generations! Then lunch, and back to the room for a session on Reducing the Cesarean Rate and Non-Pharmacologic Methods of Pain Relief!

When it was all over a few of us stayed behind to clean up and then went shopping with Penny in downtown Black Mountain. How could I not know this place existed! It's beautiful, and the stores were so unique, we even found one with birth art! Anyway, we split up, went shopping up and down the streets, mostly walking and talking then we met back at the Highland Grill & Oyster Bar for diner. I can't begin to express how amazing this was, dinning in an intimate setting, candles, low lighting, wine, delicious food, mountain views, Penny Simkin... are you kidding!

And it's not over, this weekend Ina May Gaskin will be in town! I'm on a birth high

DL · 09-30-2005, 03:34 PM

Thanks so much for sharing this awesome conference with us; I LOVED reading about it, and the photos are great too!!! I'm soooooo jealous....but in a good way!!

I'm thrilled that you were able to do this. How wonderful for you! I hope an opportunity like this would come my way sometime; I'd be on a "high" too!

Matrescence · 09-30-2005, 04:57 PM

I won't get to rub shoulders with Ina May though, she's here for a larger LLL conference as the key note speaker. We were lucky with Penny, a department of our large regional hospital brought her here and the president of our doula association was 1 of the 2 who set it all up... it was an amazing opportunity, I'm so thankful to the ladies who arranged it all and to Penny for coming all the way out to the boonies

Funny story... we were getting ready to practice with those TENS units, she was saying something about being glad we were all wearing clothes

and got interrupted so that's all that came out when she was trying to say she was glad we were all wearing clothes that separated at the waist... I'll never forget that, someone spoke up and said something like well yeah we're all dressed this is the sticks but we wear clothes or something... it was too funny!

Kalamazoo Doula · 09-30-2005, 11:13 PM

Okay, I'm just way too jealous!

And I'm in awe of your experience!

Two years ago, Penny came to our local annual Perinatal Conference. I was able to say a few sentences to her, and she signed my copy of 'Birth Partner'. I thought that my experience was pretty cool, but you defiantly topped it! LOL

Awesome Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

~Tranquility~Doula · 09-30-2005, 11:37 PM

Oh, you totally topped my Penny moment as well. I only got to shake her hand and say hellp to her at the DONA conference in July. I would love to have lunch and go shopping with her! How fun!

Matrescence · 10-02-2005, 07:21 PM

Oh wow Jack Newman! That would be awesome!!! Please please please take pics and tell us all about it

Matrescence · 10-03-2005, 01:36 PM

If he answers e-mail you could e-mail him and ask so that you have a written permission. I did that with Penny for the pictures on our doula association's website. They're usually fine with it. Funny thing is when I asked Lisa Goldstein she said that Midwifery today uses pictures taken of her at their conferences all the time without asking, not that she minds but she said it kind of just goes with the territory. So maybe just asking while you're getting the picture taken if it's be okay?

Matrescence · 10-18-2005, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My2girlsmama

Well I had no intention of NOT asking permission. That's just rude.

I didn't mean it like that

Glad you had a good time and how cool that he's sending you the latest studies

Babies_Bellies_Boobies · 10-18-2005, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My2girlsmama

I introduced myself to him later, told him I own/manage my BF site....he quickly asked if I had his newest updated articles/studies and I don't, so he said to email him and he'll send me everything I need..........!! Wonderful man!

he and i have emaile a time or two

you can also get his curr5ent articles from kellymom or brightfuture lactation resource center's site ( www.bflrc.com ) as well as other good articles from both.

11-14-2005, 11:09 AM

How did you get to hear of stuff like this. I am off to see Sheila K on Saturday but would luuuuuurrrrve to hear Ina or Penny.

Is there a mailing list somewhere??????

Matrescence · 11-14-2005, 10:10 PM

The local hospital brought Penny here and NC's LLL brought Ina May. I completely missed seeing Michelle Odent in SC a few months ago though so I'm not sure if there's one way to hear about all of the opportunities. Best way is word of mouth with other area (local) birth professionals. And see I would loooovvveee to hear Shelia

1stimestar · 11-17-2005, 07:54 PM

I'm so glad you all are out there seeing the best of the best so to speak. It really helps when you attend a horrendous birth to think back on the good and exciting times that being a doula also brings to you. I've met Penny at our advanced doula training and have seen Dr. Newman speak, but didn't get to meet him personally. Isn't it awesome how they are able to explain things so well? Every thing make so much "sense" when they talk about it. It makes me wish I was a better public speaker.

1stimestar · 11-17-2005, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rachbee

How did you get to hear of stuff like this. I am off to see Sheila K on Saturday but would luuuuuurrrrve to hear Ina or Penny.

Is there a mailing list somewhere??????

Our doula association brought her in for our advanced doula training. It was cool as I was the secretary.