Wisdom and Births

It seems to make sense that "bed rest" during pregnancy, especially one that is threatening preterm labor or other complications, would be helpful. I mean, wouldn't staying in bed, rather than doing her normal activities, be a good thing for a mother and her baby? The answer is NO. Bed rest actually increases risks for the mother and baby and causes a great emotional and financial toll on many families. Understand that this is only referring to complete activity restriction and strict bed rest, not to say that pregnant women should not rest. You should listen to your body and rest when you need to, always. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published 3 articles in its recent June 2013 issue about bed rest and the unethical use of this practice. Let's take a look at the research and put this issue to rest ! THE ROOTS OF BED REST   (1) Historically, bed rest was intended for orthopedic ailments, but quickly spread to all areas of medicine, without question of it...

I'm a birth junkie, plain and simple. I love learning all about birth and sharing all this knowledge with those around me. Unfortunately though, my interest in birth has allowed me to witness, both individually and on a population scale, the widespread abuses of women in childbirth . Years of experience as a birth doula, home-based educator for new mothers, and my Master's education in the field of maternal and child health has led me to the firm conclusion that birth in the United States isn't as good for mothers and babies as it can AND should be! This knowledge and experience has impassioned me to protect and inform women. I want my friends, family members, ALL WOMEN, to understand the options they have for their childbirth . That they don't have to be abused, pressured, or scared. It is my hope that women learn to trust themselves and their bodies and can say "enough" when they are disrespected in their care. In my experience, many women have an u...

Another perfect food for Pregnancy, and everyone! I discovered a research article about the beneficial effects of eating dates towards end of your pregnancy! I knew NOTHING about dates, and had to do some research, and I have discovered that dates are wonderful little fruits and should be consumed by everyone :) The date ( Phoenix dactylifera) is a sweet tasting fruit which grows on the date palm, originating in the Middle East and African Regions of the world. There are a variety of date palm species and over 14 varieties of date fruits. Dates may be one of the top 10 foods you should eat . You can use them in so many different recipes (sweet potatoes, salads, desserts!) and they have a long shelf life. The list of various fatty acids, minerals, nutrients, animo acids, vitamins, elements... is so long, this fruit is amazing! Dates are composed of: At least 15 different minerals such as Potassium, Calcium, Fluorine (great for teeth!) , Iron, and Zinc 14 types of fatty acids 23 typ...

This blog has been in the works for many months, but due to my own concerns about portraying the research correctly, and the potential for backlash from the medical community, I have sat on publishing this for quite some time! So here we go... Over the span of 30 years there has been a steady increase in the routine use of ultrasound technology during pregnancy. Initially, women received one, maybe two ultrasounds to determine the sex of the fetus, to determine size and confirm the EDD, and to assess for any congenital abnormalities. Now, women often received multiple throughout their pregnancies, but we'll get to that in a bit. Ultrasounds are generally thought to be completely safe and to carry very little risk, but unfortunately this isn't true. Contrary to over 30 years of warnings about the potential risks of ultrasound exposure and other non-evidence based interventions, the market for medical technology in pregnancy and childbirth has continued to expand. In many case...

Another inspiration from the results of the Listening to Mothers Survey III ... I currently work on a March of Dimes funded grant project with the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative where we provide education and support to hospitals and providers in an effort to eliminate non-medically indicated deliveries before 39 weeks of gestation. The recent LTM-III survey results reveal dis-heartening statistics about a mother's knowledge of a "term" pregnancy... SO MANY MOTHERS still don't know that a healthy pregnancy should be allowed to continue for AT LEAST 39 weeks! Check out my info-graphic below: Spread the word and protect those tiny, developing babies! A Full-term p regnancy is 10 MONTHS!!! ~Wisdom and Birth

Since when did the birthing vagina lose it's privacy?!? In the United States, the majority of births occur in the hospital where women are EXPECTED to deliver their baby's in the lithotomy position; which is extremely counterproductive to pushing and I think we would all agree it's uncomfortable and unflattering. How humiliating the traditional hospital birth must be for some women who have kept their sexuality within the confines of their relationships and bedroom, but now their most intimate body part is exposed during a more or less "unflattering" event. Some women even experience a level of embarrassment or anxiety when it comes to topics relating to, or issues with, their vaginas. From early childhood we are trained that our genitals are "private parts" intended only for ourselves and those we love and trust. We spend years functioning with this knowledge and it becomes a part of what we believe to our very core. Then we are expected to set di...