One of the biggest childbirth fears is tearing while you push your baby out.  Unfortunately, most hospitals increase the risk.  Here’s what you need to know: Risk Booster 1: No Prenatal Education The first steps to prevent tearing happen during pregnancy.  If nobody is talking to you about that, you miss the window!  Nutrition, conditioning, and more […] The post How the Hospital Increases Your Risk of Tearing During Birth: Must-Know Info for Natural Birth Mamas appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com ..read more

I'm a big fan of the 80/20 rule for work, household projects, and even cleaning… …but it does NOT work for parenting. This New Year's, I asked myself, “What would make the biggest difference for myself and the kids?” I knew the answer right away: no more back-talk.  They’d need to use the skills I’ve taught them (how […] The post The 80/20 Rule Doesn’t Work for Parenting appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com ..read more

Not sure if you want an epidural or not?   Here are some evidence-based downsides to weigh: 1 – Posterior Babies Evidence shows that more babies are posterior when moms have epidurals.  That leads to long labors and a strong chance of “failure to progress” – and often a c-section you didn’t want. 2 – Limited Mobility  It’s no […] The post 5 Epidural Risks Every Pregnant Woman Has the Right to Know appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com ..read more

Today is my sixth baby’s birthday!  Here are six things that led to his gentle, painless birthing: #1 – I Embraced My Power Labor and birth are POWERFUL… …and those strong contractions are YOUR power.  I embraced my contractions and stepped right into their intensity.  That shifted how I handled labor and made it a positive, powerful experience. #2 […] The post My 6th Baby’s Birth Was Painless – Here Are 6 Things That Made It Happen appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com ..read more

The last thing you want during childbirth is to have someone’s fingers poking inside you!  Here’s how to track labor without a vaginal exam:#1 – Watch the Red (and Purple) LineMidwife Anne Frye says research backs up the 2cm-wide “red line.”  It starts just behind the anus and moves up the gluteal cleft (butt crack) […] The post 5 Ways to Track Labor Progress for Women Having an Undisturbed Birth (NO Internal Exams) appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com ..read more

Curious about fetal movement? Wondering about the kicks, rolls, and rhythmic jerks you feel from your baby? I’ll help you understand all types of movements and what to expect with them! Fetal movement is the sensation of your baby kicking, rolling, or hiccuping inside your womb. First movements may feel like tiny flutters that progress to […] The post Rhythmic Jerks and Other Fetal Movement: What to Expect appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com ..read more

A good pregnancy documentary offers an eye-opening view of pregnancy, birth, and babies.  These birth documentaries show you options and highlight how maternity care works for real women worldwide.   Filled with personal stories, delivery scenes, and commentary from medical experts, midwives, and birth workers, these films may completely change how you look at having a […] The post 25 Must Watch Pregnancy Documentaries on Birth and Babies appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com ..read more

This natural birth tip comes from Ina May Gaskin, one of the midwives who helped establish The Farm Midwifery Center.  Summary of My Natural Birth Tip Video!Ina May Gaskin talks about how you can get big like a man during childbirth (and why you want to!). Your body is magic!  I love this. I know that she […] The post Ina May Gaskin: How to Get Big Like a Man appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com ..read more

Using counterpressure in labor is a quick way to bring pain relief when needed! Most women know "back labor" can make contractions more painful, and that counter-pressure stops that. It's a good tool, but it's also important to understand why back labor happens and when other methods can bring relief and get labor moving more smoothly.Your […] The post Why CounterPressure in Labor is Counterproductive appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com ..read more

Looking for tips and techniques on inducing labor naturally? This article covers important information about your due date, natural ways to induce labor, important cautions if you decide to try these methods, plus factual information on each technique. Old wives tales abound, so I’ll talk you through the most common methods and which ones are the […] The post 19 Methods for Inducing Labor Naturally appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com ..read more