Preparing For Birth

Though most hospitals have “birth centers”, they are really nothing more than the labor and delivery floor where births take place. The only freestanding birth center in Colorado is the Mountain Midwifery Center.  MMC is owned and run by Tracy Ryan, CNM  along with 4 other main midwives along with supporting staff.
What is a birth [...]

Today the cesarean rate is an alarming 31.8% (CDC 2007 preliminary data).  Only a maximum of 15%  of birthing women should be having cesarean deliveries in order to keep mortality (death) and morbidity (poor outcomes) to the healthiest levels according to the World Health Organization. With the staggering discrepancy in what should be and what [...]

Putting effort into the initial postpartum period is in my opinion equally as important as preparing for pregnancy and birth.  Sometimes it is even more important due to circumstance or birth outcome.  Too many focus solely on the labor, delivery and perhaps the “stuff” that goes with having a baby while completely forgetting to look [...]

Normal, natural birth is spoken of all the time in the birth world.  It is discussed on many levels from the evidence of being overwhelmingly the safest and healthiest way to birth, to the emotional aspects of privacy, safety and support,  to following the money trail of interventive birth versus natural birth and so much [...]

Today pregnant women need to be consumers and self-advocates. Many childbirth classes are teaching strategies to better these skills. This is not by chance, but rather by the often one-size-fits all packaging and management from pregnancy onset to labor through immediate postpartum in the care provider offices and hospitals of today.
Many routine tests are done [...]

Visit http://www.birthingtouch.com/ for upcoming childbirth classes serving the Colorado Springs area and for CAPPA childbirth educator trainings in Colorado, Missouri, and Utah.

Proper support is important for childbirth – builds confidence in mom, builds safety in mom, lowers complications, interventions, medications and cesareans.
Induction is only for medical reasons – big baby, past “due date”, tired [...]

“Pushing felt good.” “The urge to push was unstoppable.” “I felt like I was going to split apart.” “It hurt so much more than I thought it would.” “I didn’t want to push.” “Why did I have to hold my breath and tuck my chin?” “Why were people yelling at me?” “All I wanted to [...]

There are many reasons why a woman chooses to birth in the hospital. Women have the right to choose where and with whom she will birth regardless of what another would choose.
Women need the tools to navigate the hospital setting. She and her baby ARE unique. They are human beings. [...]

I far too often hear women saying “My insurance doesn’t cover the location, provider, type of birth I REALLY want. Well it will be okay anyway, won’t it?.” Or “We just bought XXXXX and cannot afford to pay for care out of pocket.”
I wonder what are you willing to do to have the childbirth you [...]