C-Section = 3 Times the Risk of Death
Here's the question of the moment for me: Why are pregnant woman choosing c-sections over vaginal birth? I'm all about birth choices, really. I am admittedly a passionate supporter of homebirth,...
View ArticleThe Beauty of Birth
I have to admit, I didn't always think of birth as beautiful. There are no pictures or video clips that captured my first labor or my daughter entering this world. Honestly, I didn't know what to...
View ArticleLabor Pain: Do You Need It?
Pain in labor has a purpose. Really. There are so many ways to view labor pain, whether it is in actual physical/biological terms, or from a more psychological angle. Some see the pain as having a...
View ArticleBirth the Indie Way or “Don’t Tell Me Where or How to Give Birth”
If Indie Mamas are free-thinking and independent (and so they are), there are many ways to have a baby. Unassisted, or “free birth” is one way and I have absolutely no problem with that. In fact, my...
View ArticleWill You Choose to Not Bond With Your Baby?
The latest research headline reads, “Epidural During Labor May Hinder Breastfeeding”. Let’s be real here. What this study is really saying is that interventions (here, epidurals) mess with the entire...
View ArticlePacking for the Trip… the Miracle of Birth Supplies
When I am getting ready to have a baby, buying birth supplies feels like its own rite of passage. It seems so practical, so impersonal, maybe even silly. But I look forward to this ritual with...
View ArticleFeng Shui Babies and Birth
Raquel Rotnes - Indie Birth Contributor Birth is one of the greatest transitions in our lives. During pregnancy you plan everything to have the safest experience possible. Whether you give birth at...
View ArticleMiscarriage as a Rite of Passage
Katie Silva - Indie Birth Contributor Miscarriage in our culture is not often discussed openly. Women often pass through the experience of a miscarriage alone or with only her partner. In many cases,...
View ArticlePreparing for Birth
What's the best way to prepare for giving birth? Especially if you've never done it before? Some would take the more external approach, pointing in the direction of childbirth education classes,...
View ArticleSigns of Labor: What Should You Look For?
Picture this- you're about 38 or 39 weeks pregnant, excitedly awaiting your first labor and birth, all of which will take place safely at home. Chances are you wake up every day, wondering if today or...
View ArticleA VBAC Story
I came across this video and cried watching it. As far as the video and c-section rates go, I couldn't say it better than midwife Gloria Lemay (who sent this video with the excerpted email):
View ArticleDoes the US Have a “Birth Model That Works”?
This week I am in Chesapeake, Virginia, with my sister, at her home--along with her husband, her son and my son, we are anxiously awaiting the debut of her baby. Baby is literally due any day now, and...
View ArticleFinding Your Own “Truth” in Birth
I came across a blog post the other day on a site called "The Truth About Traumatic Birth." This particular post, which I thought was very well-written, talked about the damaging effects that certain...
View ArticleNatural Childbirth Movie
Watch the birth movie and please pass it on. The change begins with you: html .fb_share_button { display: -moz-inline-block; display:inline-block; padding:1px 20px 0 5px; height:42px; width: 122px;...
View ArticleHave Something to Say About Birth?
I know you have something to say about natural birth--or parenting or pregnancy. Or maybe you've got a question you want to ask others. Come check out our free, new Indie Birth forums and get...
View Article101 Tips for Having a Natural Childbirth
Pre-Conception 1. Start eating well, sleeping well and get exercise! 2. Eliminate stress as best as you can. Take time for yourself. 3. Learn about Natural Family Planning (Must Read: Taking Charge of...
View ArticleMy Mental Place, My Dream Birth
My mental place, my dream birth. This is where I go, when in labour, and relaxing with music through my contractions. I always envision myself in a field of green grass. The sky is a pale blue, and...
View ArticleBirth Envy
Have you ever been envious of someone? Envious of someone's success, confidence, intelligence? I am sure we all have at some point. A strange thing has happened to me lately. I have birth envy. Not the...
View ArticleLove & Light
"The baby is gone." These words leave only the rubble of pain and shadows from which a mother must pry herself from. There are no emergency medical teams that could rescue her would-be-baby. She stood...
View ArticleNot All Doulas Are the Same
Not all doulas are the same. True. Just like all birthing mothers are not the same. Most people outside of family in our lives are there because we have chosen to share our special moment with them. We...
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