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natural childbirth

  • Nitrous Oxide Analgesia for Child Birth

    So many women could use is a "middle path;" a mild analgesic that could be safely used during birth, with little or no effects on the baby. It would be okay if this analgesic let in some pain. It would make all the difference to have just "a little something to take the edge off."

  • My VBAC: Hailey's Birth Story

    All in all I am so happy I tried a vaginal birth. My c-section healed very quickly but still doesn't compare to how much easier this has been. Here's my birth story -- emotions and all!

  • Fantasy vs. Reality: Plan for the Unexpected Birth

    I was planning for a natural birth. Every girl imagines her first kiss, her wedding day and what it will feel like to have a baby. Part was through pregnancy, out of the blue, a friend said, "Oh, I've been meaning to tell you...if things don't go the way you have planned," she paused briefly, yet thoughtfully, "it's okay." For some reason, her words anchored themselves into my mind.

  • Ensuring Natural Labour and Delivery

    QUESTION

    Dear Midwife,
    I am 26 years old and 36 weeks pregnant with my first child. I am passionate about having the most natural birth experience possible (although, having said that, I am not having a home birth for this one - I'd like one "under my belt" before going that route!).

  • Overcoming Childbirth Fears

    How do you feel about giving birth? If you're afraid of giving birth, you're not alone. In fact, fear seems to permeate the culture of birth today. But giving birth can teach you that your body has a wisdom all its own and has strength and resilience.

  • Natural Childbirth FAQ

    The term "Natural Childbirth" is most widely used to describe a birth in which the mother labors without the use of pain medications or unnecessary interventions. The female body is designed to labor and give birth, and centuries of history attest to the fact that a natural birth usually results in a healthy mother and a healthy baby.

  • Hypnobirth Tip #2: Your Bubble of Peace

    As pregnant women, we get so many negative messages about childbirth, and they take their toll, making us stay in a state of fear, producing adrenaline and other stress hormones, which cause constriction of the birthing muscles.

  • Assisted Delivery

    Near the end of delivery, it may be apparent that mother and baby need a little extra help for a successful delivery. After ensuring anesthesia is working, an obstetrician would gently apply forceps or minimal suction to the baby's head.

  • PUSH: Shot, in the Dark

    Epidural. In the Childbirth Universe, no four syllables have more power as an argument-starter. The word provokes defensiveness in some and smugness in others. There's hand-wringing. Rationalizing. Pontificating.

  • Sandy's Surprise -- Nursery or Finals?

    For the past week or so I have been really eager to get started on the baby's room and get it all put together. Then tonight, while I was in the shower, I started scrubbing away at the tile because I wanted it to be clean. Could it be the start of a nesting phase?

  • A Natural, Unmedicated, Midwife-Assisted Birth

    This is the story of the day in my life of which I am most proud -- the day my daughter Fionna Rylee was born. Fionna is my first child. It was two days before my due date and I was not expecting to go into labor.

  • Ensuring Natural Labour and Delivery

    QUESTION

    Dear Midwife,
    I am 26 years old and 36 weeks pregnant with my first child. I am passionate about having the most natural birth experience possible (although, having said that, I am not having a home birth for this one - I'd like one "under my belt" before going that route!).

  • Nitrous Oxide Analgesia for Child Birth

    So many women could use is a "middle path;" a mild analgesic that could be safely used during birth, with little or no effects on the baby. It would be okay if this analgesic let in some pain. It would make all the difference to have just "a little something to take the edge off."

  • Overcoming Childbirth Fears

    How do you feel about giving birth? If you're afraid of giving birth, you're not alone. In fact, fear seems to permeate the culture of birth today. But giving birth can teach you that your body has a wisdom all its own and has strength and resilience.

  • Natural Childbirth FAQ

    The term "Natural Childbirth" is most widely used to describe a birth in which the mother labors without the use of pain medications or unnecessary interventions. The female body is designed to labor and give birth, and centuries of history attest to the fact that a natural birth usually results in a healthy mother and a healthy baby.

  • PUSH: Shot, in the Dark

    Epidural. In the Childbirth Universe, no four syllables have more power as an argument-starter. The word provokes defensiveness in some and smugness in others. There's hand-wringing. Rationalizing. Pontificating.

  • Assisted Delivery

    Near the end of delivery, it may be apparent that mother and baby need a little extra help for a successful delivery. After ensuring anesthesia is working, an obstetrician would gently apply forceps or minimal suction to the baby's head.

  • Hypnobirth Tip #2: Your Bubble of Peace

    As pregnant women, we get so many negative messages about childbirth, and they take their toll, making us stay in a state of fear, producing adrenaline and other stress hormones, which cause constriction of the birthing muscles.

  • Sandy's Surprise -- Nursery or Finals?

    For the past week or so I have been really eager to get started on the baby's room and get it all put together. Then tonight, while I was in the shower, I started scrubbing away at the tile because I wanted it to be clean. Could it be the start of a nesting phase?

  • Sandy's Surprise -- Birth Story

    Thanks so much for reading my birth story! I'm going to start documenting my postpartum recovery and new mommyhood adventures in the baby journals section! Thank you all so much for sticking with me through this journey -- it's been an AMAZING 9 months!