Author Archives: Heidi Thaden-Pierce
Planning for the Unexpected
“Planning” for the unexpected sounds like an oxymoron, but it is a necessary undertaking for all pregnant women: whether you intend to have natural childbirth, an epidural, a home birth, or a scheduled cesarean. “… studies from around the world … Continue reading
Vitamin D for Babies
We are using vitamin D drops for the first time with our nursing baby & these were the ones I heard the best things about, Carlson Labs Super Daily D3 for BabyI am really impressed. I was skeptical at first … Continue reading
Posted in Breastfeeding, Links, Pregnancy
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Nursing Benefits
This made me smile: Former Surgeon General, Dr. Antonia Novello, proclaimed: “It’s the lucky baby, I feel, who continues to nurse until he’s two. From the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should ideally be breastfed exclusively for the first six … Continue reading
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Hospital Staff
“Recognize that even among skilled and compassionate medical professionals, there are two basic philosophies. First, there are those who believe you can cope with pain without drugs, who know how to support you through the pain, but who also have … Continue reading
Tips for Hospital Births (from hospital website)
I was happy to read these on the website for one of our local hospitals: No one will tell you that labor is going to be easy. But through a well-organized childbirth education class, you will learn strategies that will … Continue reading
Pros & Cons of Epidurals
(From course manual, email me if you want the study citations:) As with all drugs, the use of epidural medications carries significant risks and can cause side effects in mother and baby. The severity of these risks varies, depending on … Continue reading
Posted in Birth, Hospitals
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Eating in Labor
From the doula guide again: When you are in labor, whether to eat is ultimately your personal choice, even though the hospital staff may strongly discourage or wish to prohibit it. Do your best to avoid a heated confrontation about … Continue reading
The Benefits of Touch
“Benefits of touch include increased levels of the hormone oxytocin, which speeds labor and promotoes a sense of well-being. (Synthetic Pitocin does not produce the effect of well-being because it is delivered through the bloodstream by IV, rather than being … Continue reading
Posted in Doulas
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Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
“Endorphins are nature’s opiates. When we expend a lot of physical effort, endorphin levels rise correspondingly, especially when we are warm enough, feeling loved and supported, and, above all, when we are not frightened. Endorphins are a blessing, because they … Continue reading
The Doula Guide to Birth
From The Doula Guide to Birth: Warm water promotes relaxation by increasing circulation and lowering blood pressure, by stimulating the skin on your entire body (like a water “massage”), and in the case of baths, by providing buoyancy which takes … Continue reading