Posts Tagged ‘childbirth’
With Woman
It is anticipation, flutters and quickening. Life and growth and unparalleled beauty. It is squeals and coos, wriggles and dimples. Hanging scales with tiny feet peeking through. It is knowledge and wisdom, training and practice. Books and research, instinct and reason. It is squatting and reaching, twisting and folding, meeting a mother and her baby right…
Read MoreThrowback Thursday: Dilation Isn’t Everything
A look back at one of our most popular blog posts of the past few years. Originally published May 18th, 2015. And still every bit as relevant! A mother waits patiently on the small triage bed while the nurse concentrates on what her fingers are telling her about the progress of this labor. After a…
Read MoreSo You’re In Early Labor. Now What?
Could this be it? It could be! This is it! You’re finally in early labor! You know this because the contractions are coming, no matter what you do. You’ve had a big glass of water. You’ve gotten up to pee. You’ve had a snack. You’re content to let the rest of your house rest while you anticipate the birth day to come.
Read More5 Things Midwives, Doulas, and Postpartum Moms Love
As I was in the shower today, after two births in 24 hours–one in the hospital as a doula, the other at home as a student midwife–I was appreciating the perfect temperature of the water, the smell of my shampoo, and the utterly clean feeling I had when I stepped out onto the mat. I…
Read MoreGrace Under Pregnancy: Responding to Horror Stories
We’ve all heard the horror stories. The homebirth turned cesarean. The induction gone wrong. The horrible hemorrhage. Cracked and bleeding nipples. Breastfeeding sabotaged by circumstances. And more. There is almost a compulsion to tell these stories, and we are often left feeling a little dazed as we walk away. These are valid experiences, but hard…
Read MorePassenger or Driver: The Importance of Informed Consent.
Yes, it almost sounds like a Dr. Seuss-ism – “Would you rather be a passenger or a driver?” Most of us would rather be the driver, I would venture. In every other aspect of our lives, we exercise informed consent. We want to be involved, in control, and overseeing every detail. Take for example the…
Read MoreWhy take childbirth classes anyway?
Why take childbirth classes anyway? You and baby are made for this process, so what is the big deal? You go into labor, have many contractions, eventually become fully dilated and push out a baby. Bam. It’s nature! Right? Not quite, I’m afraid. In a perfect world, women would grow up around pregnancy, labor, birth…
Read MoreDilation Isn’t Everything: The many jobs of your cervix.
A mother waits patiently on the small triage bed while the nurse concentrates on what her fingers are telling her about the progress of this labor. After a minute, she pulls her fingers out, and chirps brightly, “You are 5 centimeters dilated!” She flips her gloves into the trash can and turns to the computer…
Read MoreA Doula For The Dying: 5 Things I Learned at My Father’s Deathbed
Almost three years ago, I packed up my four children and drove to Oregon to help care for my father. His melanoma had metastasized to his spinal fluid, and everything that could be thrown at it to kill it, had been. There was nothing left, but to wait. Probably only weeks were left. His decline…
Read MoreIn Honor of International Doula Month
Not only were we able to celebrate World Doula Week recently, I found out that there is an entire month to celebrate doulas! Now, I could re-state all the facts about professional labor support. I could share famous doula quotes. I could toot my own horn, as it were. However, I don’t want to do…
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