Minimizing Risk of Perineal Tears During Labor
The thought of perineal tearing causes shivers to run down most mama’s backs. The perineum is the area between the vaginal opening and the anus that sometimes tears during labor. In fact, 53-79% of women who have a vaginal delivery will have some type of tearing or laceration to the …
What Is Prodromal Labor? How Do I Know If I’m Having It?
Much to my amazement, significant evidence-based research on the topic of prodromal labor, historically and unfortunately termed “false labor,” is lacking. There is nothing false about the preparatory work of the maternal body and baby. As midwife Anne Frye states, “false labor” lends “credence to the myth that one is …
Should You Take a Childbirth Education Class?
When you are going through pregnancy, you often receive information from everyone and everywhere – whether it’s your neighbor, the internet, or books. With so much information available, it can be hard to decide what you and your partner want out of birth. This is exactly why a childbirth education …
Cesarean Section Under General Anesthesia
When most women think about having a cesarean section (or c-section), they usually think of the common regional anesthesia procedure that is administered in the form of either an epidural or spinal block where the mother is conscious as the baby is born via an incision in her lower abdomen. …
What to Do for Prodromal Labor (False Labor)
Prodromal labor is also called false labor, pre-labor, or latent-labor. While it goes by many names, many who have experienced will call it one thing: a pain. Prodromal labor can be an emotional rollercoaster — it’s the little boy who cried wolf of labor. You see, prodromal labor is the …
Top Five Tips on Preparing Your Older Child for Birth
When I was pregnant for the second time and not wanting the same experience as the first, I began searching for more information and alternative options regarding birth. We brought midwife, Terri Payne, CNM, on as our doula and she asked where I would like to birth and if our …
Where to Birth?
Pros and Cons in Choosing a Birthing Location: Hospital, Birth Center (hospital or free standing), Home Birth, or Unassisted Congratulations! You’re pregnant, have a million things on your checklist, and you’re whittling away at them while you can. But should birthing location be a question of consideration? When our …
Must Reads for Birth Partners
Is your birth partner wishing they could learn more to support you during your motherhood transition? Check out this list of “must reads!” The Birth Partner – This birth classic written by Penny Simkin talks about preparation for labor, when to know labor has started, epidurals and other medications …
#MOMCRUSHMONDAY: Meet Joanne
Mom Crush Monday #MCM Joanne walked into my office during her second trimester with her first child. She was a vibrant, funny, and determined soon-to-be new mom who couldn’t wait to bring a life into this world. Joanne initially presented to my office with the common musculoskeletal complaint of …
Breaking Up is Hard to Do – How to Change to a New Provider During Pregnancy
So you’ve decided it’s time to break it off with your current OB GYN/Midwife in search of a better fit. Now what? How do you best handle the transition to a new provider during pregnancy without anxiety or guilt? First things first, you need to make sure you know who …