Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim In the last seven articles we explored the Mother's Role to maximize the many safety nets that Allah (SWT) has built into the childrearing year, including the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth of ten such safety nets we will discuss in this series. This time we'll talk about breastfeeding. Rizq (Provision or Sustenance) Breastfeeding is a direct fulfillment of Allah (SWT)'s promise of rizq (provision or sustenance), as it comes free, flowing from the mother's breast to sustain her child, subhan'Allah (glory to God). "Kill not your children for ..read more

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim In the last six articles we explored the Mother's Role in maximizing the many safety nets that Allah (SWT) has built into the childbearing year, as well as the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth of ten that we will discuss in this series. This time we will take a look at the safety nets of second stage labor, which is the time when the mother is pushing the baby out into the world.  First of all, the contractions of second stage labor space out, giving the mother decent rest periods between contractions. This is quite a relief, as the contractions pri ..read more

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim In the last five articles we discussed the Mother's Role to maximize the infinite safety nets built into the childbearing year by Allah (SWT), as well as the First, Second, Third, and Fourth of ten of these safety nets that we will explore in this series. This time we'll take a look at Relaxin hormone, which was also mentioned for its effects of softening the lower segment of the uterus in the First of ten safety nets discussed.  Beyond relaxing the isthmus (see the First of Ten safety nets) the rush of Relaxin hormone in late pregnancy also serves to loos ..read more

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim In the last four articles we discussed the Mother's Role to maximize the infinite safety nets that Allah (SWT) has built in the childbearing year, as well as the First, Second, and Third of ten of these safety nets that we will discuss in this series. In this article we will discuss the increased blood volume that mothers experience during pregnancy and how this is an important safety net for mother and baby. When a women is pregnant, her blood volume increases by about 50%. This is a vital safety net for both mother and child. First of all the mother must shar ..read more

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim In the last three articles we discussed the Mother's Role to maximize the safety nets that Allah (SWT) has built into the childbearing year and we began exploring the First and Second of ten of these safety nets that will be uncovered in this series. Now we will move on to the third. This one is related to slowed digestion and circulation that occurs during pregnancy. Slowed Digestion When pregnant, the digestion slows significantly. This allows the food we eat to sit in the intestines longer so that more of the nutrients in the foods we eat can be absorbed. Th ..read more

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim In the last two articles we explored the Mother's Role to maximize the safety nets Allah (SWT) has built into the childbearing yearn and the First of Ten of those safety nets. Now we will move on to the second of ten safety nets bing explored in this series, which is the layer of protection. Allah mentioned in Qur'an "threefold depths of darkness" as a protection of the child in the womb. According to the tafsir (explanation of Qur'an) of Ibn Kathir (Islamic scholar from the 1300s), these "threefold depth of darkness" refers to the protection of the womb, place ..read more

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim In the last article we explored the The Mother's Role to maximize the safety nets Allah (SWT) has built into the childbearing year. Now we will begin to explore just a few of these infinite safety nets. We'll begin with the maternal cervix. This is the opening between the womb and the birth canal and is  best known as the anatomical structure that must dilate to 10 centimeters for the birth to proceed. I find it amazing that there are safety nets built into this structure to prevent it from opening too soon and therefore prevent preterm birth. First of all ..read more

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim May people are quick to discuss all the things that may go wrong in childbirth. Although it is important to be aware of complications and be ready to deal with them, should they arise, it's equally important to acknowledge that in most cases birth goes just fine on its own. In fact. Allah (SWT) is the best of all Creators and has created the childbearing year to be inherently safe. There are probably an infinite number of safety nets built into the childbearing year. In fact, birth is a safe and pleasurable journey, but very few people describe it that way. Th ..read more

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim AMANI Birth is one of the first books to look at the childbearing year from an Islamic perspective. The book is a good choice for Muslim mothers and the care providers who serve them. At the end of the day, birth is birth, so even the non-Muslim mother will benefit from the lessons in this book. The book is divided into five sections based on the AMANI acronym: Assisting, Mothers, Active, Natural, and Instinctive. Assisting: addresses the people who support the expectant mother and has a significant focus on the father of the baby.  Mothers: explores the ..read more

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim We are excited to announce that Aisha Al Hajjar is now a licensed home birth midwife in the State of Delaware! Delaware just recently legalized midwifery and she is proud to be amongst the first to receive her license. Even more exciting is that she is the first Muslim home birth midwife in the state!  Delaware is known as "The First State" so Aisha is "The First State's First Muslim Midwife." With this development, Aisha has committed to spending significant time in Delaware to provide natural birth support to the women of Delawar ..read more