Wisdom and Births

More and more mothers are recognizing the benefits of having a doula with them for their birth, you should too! What a birth doula does... A doula is a labor support companion trained in natural childbirth. A doula will help with physical and emotional comfort measures and can provide informational support as well. A doula does not make choices for you, regarding your birth, but will support you in the choices you feel are best for you, your baby, and your family! You can have a doula for ANY type of birth! A home birth, birth center, or hospital birth... even for a planned cesarean!  Here is my poetic take on what a doula does :) Doulas decrease the rates of various obstetrical interventions and improve a mother's satisfaction with her birth experience. With a doula as a member of your labor support team, you are: 28% less likely to have a cesarean section 31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to speed up labor 9% less likely to use any pain medication 34% less like to rate t...

Unassisted Childbirth (UC) refers to birth in which the mother delivers without professional assistance (such as from a midwife or OB) and has also been referred to as 'freebirth'; this does not mean the mother and her partner have not prepared for labor and birth, just that they do not have a licensed professional present when the baby is born. Some women labor and deliver completely alone while others may be emotionally and physically supported by their partner, a friend/family member or a doula. There are a multitude of reasons why women choose to birth unassisted and some women choose to do so because this is the best choice for them, but for too many women, they have to have a UC in order to have their baby at home. In the U.S., 99% of births occur in the hospital, however the numbers of women choosing home birth are growing. Most home-births in the U.S are attended by midwives, however, many states still have laws that prohibit midwives from attending home-births and the ...

Over the weekend I attended the labor of my first HypnoBirth mother. Labor progressed at home for quite some time before arriving at the hospital at 100% effacement and 3cm dilation. This mother was amazing, so calm and in control - I really experienced how to be present for a woman and to affirm her strength in labor. First, I think I may love HypnoBirth! When I met this particular family they were taking the childbirth education classes and shared how much they were enjoying the philosophy of centered and empowered birth. I was excited to experience something new! At our prenatal visit they let me borrow the book and I devoured the first half in two days. HypnoBirth is based on the understanding that birth is not inherently painful and it is fear that leads to tension within the body and the experience of pain. Mothers spend a little time each day envisioning a peaceful, gentle, and fulfilling birth while preparing for the physical demands of labor using breathing exercises and rel...

"The first intervention in birth, that a healthy woman takes, is when she walks out the front door of her home, in labour. From that first intervention, all others will follow". ~Dr. Michael Rosenthal - Obstetrician       “You are a birth servant. Do good without show or fuss. If you must take the lead, lead so that the mother is helped, yet still free and in charge. When the baby is born, they will rightly say: ‘We did it ourselves!’ ~from the Tao Te Ching "If I don't know my options, I don't have any." ~Diana Korte     "All over the world there exists in every society a small group of women who feel themselves strongly attracted to giving care to other women during pregnancy and childbirth. Failure to make use of this group of highly motivated people is regrettable and a sin against the principle of subsidiary." ~ Dr. Kloosterman, Chief of OB/GYN, Univ. of Amsterdam, Holland     " Pregnancy and birth knit womankind ...

A supportive, no-nonsense approach to informed childbirth in any setting; a hospital, birth center or at home. Cook and Christensen have compiled 12 “secrets” for natural childbirth encouraging women to understand the powerful and spiritual process of birth and to be truly informed when it comes to birthing in any setting. I am thrilled this book is hitting the birth market and I have high hopes that the bold captivating title, with the promise of learning 12 natural childbirth secrets, will contribute to the movement back towards natural, holistic birth. Each chapter addresses one of the “12 secrets for natural childbirth” and provides a wonderful compilation of research based information, advice from well-known experts in the field, and a wide variety of positive and encouraging birth stories. Among the first pages, readers will find professional advice from Christine Northrup, M.D. and Margaret Christensen, M.D.; addressing a common fear- based model of birth and encouraging women ...