If you are due around or on Thanksgiving, you may be faced with your provider suggesting that you go ahead and schedule your induction. Some providers will offer this starting at 39 weeks pregnant. The unfortunate reason that many doctors suggest induction before Thanksgiving is to avoid you having your baby while they are eating Thanksgiving dinner. This is not a medical reason to induce nor is it evidence based to induce without medically necessity.   Ideally, your provider supports the normal process of birth and encourages you to let labor begin on it’s own and for your ba ..read more

  Is the term “birth cave” new to you? If so, let me help shed light on this simple yet very effective tool you can do anywhere you are giving birth. What is a birth cave? First let me explain a little bit about how nature can really kick into gear during childbirth. Have you ever noticed how you feel when you enter a doctor’s office? Do you get a little anxious? Do you tense up? Do the bright lights bother you? Do your pits, boobs, or back of your knees sweat? If any of these or all of these occur for you, this is normal! And this is a physiologic response to being in an environment that ..read more

  Midwives ROCK! National Midwifery Week was created by American College of Nurse-Midwives to celebrate and recognize midwives and midwife-led care. This year, National Midwifery Week is October 4th - October 10th, 2020.  And the theme this year is “Midwives for Equity''. Per ACNM, The midwifery model of care empowers individuals and communities, creates compassionate partnerships, and personalizes care based upon each individual’s life experiences and knowledge. The space in my heart for midwives is enormous. I was fortunate enough to have a midwife for both of my own births. One ..read more

  October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness month. Per the American SIDS Institute, SIDS is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history. This may feel scary and worrisome reading about this topic but the best way to avoid SIDS is to learn about the simple and significant ways you can create a safe sleep environment for your baby. With much more awareness surrounding SIDS, sudden infant death ..read more

 AUDIO AND VIDEO POST WHAT IS THE ASSUMED NORM? AND HOW CAN WE FLIP THE SCRIPT AND LOOK AT IT IN A NEW WAY SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION THAT WILL KEEP YOU AND BABY SAFE AND HEALTHY? Writing a birth plan is important but the PROCESS of creating your birth plan is where the true value and growth exists. You may have heard someone say "birth plans are pointless! You can't plan your birth, so why have a birth plan?" I am here to tell you that I agree with part of that statement. You can't 100% predict or plan your birth but you can reduce your fear and uncertainty and increa ..read more

 Audio and video post What is the assumed norm? ANd how can we flip the script and look at it in a new way so that we are able to make the best decision that will keep you and baby safe and healthy? Who you choose as your doctor or midwife during your pregnancy and childbirth has the greatest influence over your outcome. Most people (95%) choose to birth with an obstetrician in a hospital. Today I share with you why it is important to choose your care provider based on your needs. In this video you will learn 3 important questions to consider as you make your decision for who will support ..read more

  You’ll often hear that no pain compares to labor pain, but this is also the only pain that women say they’ll willingly go through again. Your perception of pain is influenced by your social support, fear, anxiety, and pregnancy stories you’ve heard-- both positive and negative. Childbirth is a natural process of life, and labor pain serves a purpose. Progression of Labor Pain Labor and delivery is a process that can take place over several hours or days in some cases. During each stage of labor and delivery, your body changes. The pain you experience during labor will guide you and lea ..read more

 How to induce naturally (sort of) Here you will learn how to prepare for a medical induction - ways to prepare your mind and body during pregnancy for letting labor begin on it's own. Let’s flip the conversation on its head! Let’s focus more on preparing mentally and physically for letting labor begin on it’s own. There are many natural induction methods out there but none of them work unless your body is ready. Listen to this video and learn the ways you can begin preparing your body now so that when it is time for your baby to be born, things will proceed smoothly and without the need ..read more

  Early Pregnancy Symptoms (that may cause concerns) - Your Birth Site Vlog - Understand what is normal during early pregnancy and may be cause for concern. Common worries around bleeding/spotting and cramping during the early weeks of pregnancy. The more you learn about what is normal and what you can realistically expect during pregnancy and childbirth can help you feel happier and less fearful as you prepare for your upcoming birth. Hello, and Rachael here I'm so glad that you are watching this video. This is my new vlog on your birth site, and I'm a doula and I'm a certified childbir ..read more

   What you need to know! Understanding the risk and benefits before getting an epidural will help you make an informed and evidence based decision. There are many decisions throughout your pregnancy and birth that you will need to make and one of them is about pain management during labor. Even though many women choose to use an epidural to control the pain during labor, they do come with certain risks. Epidurals can be a useful tool during labor and should be used judiciously. The intensity of labor is real and the pain serves a purpose during labor. It directs mom to take a varie ..read more