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  • How Safe is a Home Birth?

    My main concern about having another home birth is having a birth in which the chord begins to come out first. I have been told by my doctor that this is a life threatening situation which needs immediate ceasarian intervention. What is the midwife's approach to this situation?

  • Abbie's Arrival: A Home Birth Story

    Emma was considered high risk this pregnancy. Most people told her to just suck it up and have a c-section. She chose to follow her gut instincts, and fight for what she felt was right, even if it went outside of what most people consider "normal" for today's child bearing mothers.

  • Is a Gynecologist or Internal Medicine Specialist Best for Me?

    Hi,

    I am 4-5 weeks pregnant and my doctor is specialized in internal medicine. Once I told her that I took two pregnancy tests and that I missed my period she asked me to come for a blood tests and to start taking folic acid.

    My doctor is very good doctor but since I am pregnant, I should switch to a gynecologist or should I continue with her?

    Thank you.

  • Before Hiring a Midwife

    Before you hire a midwife, be sure to interview several carefully. Take your time reviewing their history, call up their references, have a list of questions handy, research the legal issues in your state and ask the midwife for proof of her certification.

  • Preserve the Freedom to Make Birthing Choices

    If you are a well and healthy childbearing woman, you can consider giving birth in a hospital, an out-of-hospital birth center, or in your home. Or can you?

  • Changing Providers at 35 Weeks

    QUESTION

    Dear Midwife,
    Hi. I am 35 weeks pregnant. Is it too late to change prenatal care providers? I go to an OB/GYN, and lately I've been feeling rushed whenever I attend my appointments. This week I feel severe pain on the left side of my pubic bone and reported to my provider that I've secreted a clear-whitish mucous about 3 days ago. I asked if I should see her and she said it is not necessary.

  • Five Things About Your Pregnancy and Birth

    I strongly encourage pregnant women to embrace this truly magical time, a time when their own soul allows the entrance of another into this world. The following is a list of the five things I advise every expectant couple to know.

  • Why Won't They Just Induce Labor?

    QUESTION

    Dear Midwife,
    I am 37 weeks. My doctor said I was totally effaced and dilated to 3. The plug came out a week ago. The baby's head is engaged. I have been experiencing diarrhea. I am 41 and this my 5th baby. I have never continued labor without Pitocin. Every time I go to hospital they send me home.

    My contractions have gone on for months. Lately I have had contractions down to 3 minutes but they send me home. What should I do .They tell me don't come back until you are in severe pain. I can barely walk with this baby's head engaged and am in pain.

  • Do you Dilate Before Effacing?

    QUESTION

    Dear Midwife,
    I am 32 weeks pregnant and I saw my OB a few days ago. I had been having vaginal and rectal pressure so she did an exam. She said that I was 70% effaced but not dilated. I always heard that you dilated first. Can you tell me if this is any indicator that I will go into labor sometime soon?

  • Lowering the Risk of Toxemia

    QUESTION

    Dear Midwife,
    Hi. I was hoping you could help me. I am now in the midst of trying for a third child. My last 2 pregnancies were horrible. I had toxemia for both and had to be put on blood pressure pills. Both were emergency c-sections. My last pregnancy was even worse they had to deliver her at 7 months because she was not growing and was showing signs of distress.

  • Nolan's Birth

    I started having contractions on Monday, December 1. They were about 5 minutes apart the whole day and we were excited that it finally seemed to be "IT." I was due November 23, so I was ready!

  • Changing Providers at 35 Weeks

    QUESTION

    Dear Midwife,
    Hi. I am 35 weeks pregnant. Is it too late to change prenatal care providers? I go to an OB/GYN, and lately I've been feeling rushed whenever I attend my appointments. This week I feel severe pain on the left side of my pubic bone and reported to my provider that I've secreted a clear-whitish mucous about 3 days ago. I asked if I should see her and she said it is not necessary.

  • Lauren Elizabeth's Home Birth Story

    I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions off and on from about dinnertime on May 15th, 2003. I started to feel them more as the night went on. At about 1 am on May 16th, they started to hurt.

  • Sandy's Surprise -- Baby is Listening!

    I was reading that the baby has started reactive listening to things around it already. I thought that was so exciting so I got two books, "Guess How Much I Love You" and "Love You Forever", and started to read them to the baby. About halfway through "Love You Forever" it started to kick! It was amazing!

  • Sandy's Surprise -- Half Way There!

    It was so much better than sitting in a sterile waiting room. I had my fur babies around, my husband right there, and I got to listen to baby's heartbeat on my couch!

  • Sandy's Surprise -- A Fall and a Scare!

    The day started out when I fell in our bathroom at around 5 am and hit my stomach on the side of the toilet bowl. I decided to go back to bed and just see how everything panned out. I started to cramp, and then when I woke up for the day around 8:30, I actually had some bright red spotting!

  • Sandy's Surprise -- 37 Weeks and Pictures

    Today we went to our almost-37 week appointment. Baby's looking great! The midwife felt around for his head, and said that he's ENGAGED! OMG, I was so not ready to hear that! We read up on it when we got home, and found out that that means he's in my pelvis, locked into position for labor.

  • Do you Dilate Before Effacing?

    QUESTION

    Dear Midwife,
    I am 32 weeks pregnant and I saw my OB a few days ago. I had been having vaginal and rectal pressure so she did an exam. She said that I was 70% effaced but not dilated. I always heard that you dilated first. Can you tell me if this is any indicator that I will go into labor sometime soon?

  • Sandy's Surprise -- Signs Labor Starts Soon

    I figure it's all Baby Boy from now on -- when he's ready, he'll let my body know! Here are some signs I've been having that labor is getting closer each day (some of these are TMI, so don't read if you have a weak stomach):

  • Lowering the Risk of Toxemia

    QUESTION

    Dear Midwife,
    Hi. I was hoping you could help me. I am now in the midst of trying for a third child. My last 2 pregnancies were horrible. I had toxemia for both and had to be put on blood pressure pills. Both were emergency c-sections. My last pregnancy was even worse they had to deliver her at 7 months because she was not growing and was showing signs of distress.