Birth Center: Exploring Your Options
A birth center sits in the middle ground between a home birth and a hospital. You get…
Hospital Birth: What to Expect
The vast majority of births in the United States occur in a hospital. A hospital birth offers…
Gentle Cesarean and Evidence-Based Options for a Family-Centered Birth
A gentle cesarean, also called a family-centered cesarean, involves adjustments that shift a cesarean from a standard…
What to Expect in a Cesarean Birth
A cesarean birth is among the most common surgeries in the US, with about one in three…
Vaginal Tears During Birth: Prevention, Healing, and What to Expect
Vaginal tears are one of the most common parts of birth that expecting mothers are not prepared…
The Science Behind Eating Dates to Prepare for Labor
Can eating a specific fruit in your final weeks of pregnancy actually change how your labor goes?…
A Practical Guide to Creating Your Birth Plan
A birth plan is a document that outlines your preferences for labor and what happens immediately after…
Going into Birth with Confidence
It is completely normal to feel nervous about giving birth, especially with so many unknowns about how…
Q&A: Worried About Pooping During Labor?
There are many things that can happen during pregnancy and birth that might feel embarrassing in other…
Understanding Your Options for Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
Your doctor or midwife monitors the fetal heart rate of your baby to assess their well-being and…
Are Vaginal Exams Really Necessary? What the Evidence Says
Your doctor or midwife may suggest a vaginal exam in the weeks leading up to your due…
Non-Medical Pain Management Options for Labor
Labor can be intense, but you have many alternatives to cope with pain beyond the medical options…
Medical Pain Management Options for Labor
Labor involves hard work, and pain is part of the process. The good news is that you…
Understanding Natural Birth and How to Prepare for an Unmedicated Birth
Unmedicated birth can offer many benefits, but it also involves real challenges that need preparation, planning, and…
Reframe Your Perspective on Labor Pain
Labor and birth are powerful, life-changing experiences, and pain is often one of the biggest concerns for…
The Complete Guide to Packing Your Birth Bag
If you went into labor and arrived at the hospital or birth center with absolutely nothing packed,…
Labor Signs and the Start of Labor
As you near the end of your pregnancy, the anticipation of labor can bring a mix of…
A Simple Framework for Any Pregnancy or Birth Decision
You will have numerous opportunities to opt in or out of interventions during your pregnancy, at birth,…
Q&A: Is a Birth Plan Really Necessary?
Is a birth plan really necessary, or is it just one more thing to stress about during…
Q&A: Managing Your Fear of Labor Pain
Fear of pain during labor is very common, especially as your due date approaches. Whether you are…
Q&A: What Actually Works to Prevent Tearing During Birth?
Overview During the second (pushing) stage of labor, your perineum stretches as your baby is born. More…
Optimizing Your Birth Environment for a Better Labor Experience
Overview Oxytocin is the key hormone that drives labor, and the fewer stress hormones released during birth,…
Q&A: Should You Avoid Eating During Labor
Overview Eating during labor is a topic with conflicting advice. In this episode, we respond to a…
Is Cord Blood Banking Worth It?
Overview Cord blood banking is a complex and often confusing topic. Advertisements for cord blood banking are…
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