Category Archives: Birth
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
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
2 Comments
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
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
The Benefits of Water
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
Observations in Labor
Some of the things your care team is observing about you (and you can read about these in your labor progress notes in your medical chart, which is worth getting a copy of for a fun birth timeline!) – Your … Continue reading
Posted in Babies!, Birth, TIPS FOR DOULAS
Tagged Doula Resources, New Doulas, Tips for Doulas
Comments Off on Observations in Labor
Belly Dancing
“British anthropologist Sheila Kitzinger says belly dancing originated as a ritual of childbirth as well as seduction… the idea is that the pelvic gyrations help dispere the pain of contractions, orient the fetus, and propel the baby into the world. … Continue reading