One of the most common questions I get as a midwife is: what are the best comfort measures to use during labor for someone who wants a natural birth? One basic truth of labor is that it is a lot of hard work and everyone who is planning an unmedicated birth is trying to figure out methods that will help them work through the labor surges. And I’m so happy to be able to share this information with you! Another birth truth is that pain management in labor doesn’t have to mean medications or an epidural, it can also mean incorporating movement, aromatherapy, and other support people to help you cope with the pain and intensity of labor contractions. Everyone’s birth will be different but having a positive birth experience depends, in part, on feeling capable of the work you need to do. So let’s talk about some pain relief options that are available for people who desire to give birth without medications.
One of the first decisions you’ll make when you start planning to have a baby is who you will see for your prenatal care. The majority of pregnant women in America plan to have their baby in the hospital with an Ob/Gyn, often the same provider they go to for their yearly women’s health needs. But recently more families have been choosing a midwife as their healthcare provider during pregnancy. Midwives are medical professionals who specialize in women’s health care, particularly during pregnancy and childbirth. Some midwives also provide well-woman and newborn care. In this blog we will speak about my top three reasons a midwife can benefit your pregnancy.
I don’t know about you, but love the fall! I love the crisp feel of the air, the changing leaves, and wearing sweaters. It’s one of my favorite seasons and it reminds me of how you feel so good in the second trimester after dragging through the first trimester (for me that’s the heat of summer!). Because I love fall so much, naturally I think that being pregnant in the fall is just about the best thing ever. Here’s my thoughts on why this is the perfect time of year to be growing a new little person inside:
When you find out that you’re pregnant, one of the first steps on your new to-do list is to search for a provider. You may know some people who went to a midwife for care, but in the United States, most women will go to an OB/GYN during pregnancy for all of their prenatal checkups. So what’s the difference? Why would some people choose one kind of provider over the other? Let’s take a closer look.
If you’re looking around online, you might wonder if postpartum recovery garments are the same thing as shapewear. If you already own a corset or body shaper, you might be tempted to wear those after the baby is born. However, I don’t recommend doing that! Postpartum compression garments are specifically designed to help your body heal after birth. Shapewear helps smooth the curves of your body—those are very different functions! To be even more specific, let’s take a closer look at five differences between postpartum recovery garments and general shapewear.
Aren’t all midwives the same? No! They are different! While all midwives are trained in natural childbirth, their specific ways of practicing and protocols for their work might vary quite a bit. This can feel confusing while looking for your midwife. There is good news! You can meet with your potential providers before you try to decide who to choose for your prenatal care. So, what does an interview with a midwife look like? Let's learn about questions to ask. The best way to interview the people you’re considering using for your prenatal care.
Welcome to the world of parenting: where sleep is minimal, diapers are plentiful, and you probably don’t know the last time you showered! But seriously, even though becoming a parent is the most natural thing in the world, that doesn’t mean the transition happens smoothly. In fact, here’s a little inside tip: most of us always feel like we’re winging it! It’s ok to feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. All parents feel that way from time to time and most of us feel like that at some point every day. Be kind to yourself. As much as you may try to develop a rhythm to your days, to some extent every day is different and you’re going to have to go with the flow. And sometimes the days are so similar that they all start to blur together, too. That’s when having a baby care log can come in handy! Use this template to keep track of your first few weeks with baby and make sure that even as you’re figuring it out, you’ve got all your bases covered.
When you’re expecting a baby, there is so much time spent focusing on taking care of yourself during pregnancy and preparing to give birth, that sometimes what to expect during the postpartum can be overlooked or more of an afterthought. But that’s not a good way to set yourself up for success! It takes just a little bit of time and planning to gather the items that will help ease your transition to motherhood and prepare you for an easier postpartum.
Even though a good night’s sleep is immensely important during pregnancy, pregnancy insomnia can be a problem all the way from early to late pregnancy.
