Lying In (Postpartum Healing Timeline)
We need a paradigm shift. We need to bring a respect and honor back to the motherhood transition. We need a lying in period here in America and other Western Cultures. We need a specific down time in which the only priority is to bond with baby and reconnect …
Postpartum Recovery Timeline
People have expectations and assumptions about the postpartum recovery timeline. People want to know details. They don’t want to be left guessing. However, birth is unknown. The journey of birth is unknown and the other side is unknown, and influenced by the birth experience. There are a variety of …
Pelvic Mobility on Birth Ball
Pelvic Mobility Pelvic mobility is critical for comfort and for supporting your body’s ability to adapt throughout pregnancy and the immediate postpartum. Pelvic mobility is also vitally important for labor and delivery. Labor is a dance between mom and baby. Ideally, baby is head down and sort of corkscrewing …
Current Events in Maternal Health Care: November 2020
Once a month we discuss current events in maternal health care. In this installment, we look at a report on associations between maternal and paternal common mental disorders (CMD) before and during pregnancy and offspring preterm birth (PTB) and small for gestational age (SGA). Keep reading for more details! …
5 Things to Consider When Self-Checking for Diastasis Recti
At the BIRTHFIT Coach Seminars, we teach everyone how to self-check for diastasis recti. Why? Because diastasis recti is a symptom of core dysfunction and can be observed in all humans. The earliest I like to check for diastasis recti is 6 weeks postpartum. Then, I check every 4-8 weeks …
Black Doulas Matter: Why Minority Representation Matters in Birth Work
Historical Context Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhumane”(9). The relationship between Black women and healthcare has been strained for centuries. History tells us that physicians were the hired guns of slave owners. Physicians …
7 Ways to Support a Newborn’s Microbiome
The topics of gut health and the microbiome have been at the forefront of wellness recently, and for good reason. We are each covered in bacteria — trillions of microbes. In fact, about three pounds of our body weight is made up of those microbes. The balance, or imbalance, of …
Current Events in Maternal Health Care: October 2020
Once a month we discuss current events in maternal health care. In this installment, we look at a qualitative study of the experiences of Black women and the intersection of race, gender, and pregnancy. Keep reading for more details! Black Pregnant Women “Get the Most Judgment”: A Qualitative Study …
Clean Beauty: Does It Really Matter During Pregnancy?
Clean beauty. What is it? In short, clean beauty includes products made without ingredients that are known to be harmful or questionable. Some refer to it as non-toxic beauty. Clean beauty includes cosmetics and personal care products (shampoo, lotion, body wash, etc.). Surprisingly, the U.S. has very few regulations in …
Current Events in Maternal Health Care: Sept. 2020
Once a month we discuss current events in maternal health care. In this installment, we first take a look at the research on COVID-19 and its likelihood of perinatal transmission. Next, we examine the potential impact of phthalate and bisphenols during pregnancy. Keep reading for more details! Neonatal Management …