Welcome!A reminder: We are not care providers nor attorneys; we do not practice medicine nor the law. Be sure to use common sense and talk things over with a professional you trust!
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What Hollywood Didn't Teach You About LaborLearn about the physical and emotional aspects of each of the three stages of labor, and what signposts can tell you where you are on the map!
Your Homework: ~ Make a plan for how you’d like to spend your three stages of labor Useful Links*: ~ Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering book ~ Your Best Birth book ~ Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn book |
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10 Signs Your Labor Is BeginningHow can you tell if labor is starting within the month? Week? Day? Here are the things you need to know!
Useful Links*: ~ Pregnancy Anatomy 101 class ~ 6 Things You Can Learn From a Cervical Check (And Why It Might Not Matter) class ~ Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering book ~ Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth book ~ Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn book |
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When Is It Time to Go to the Hospital for Birth?Finding the balance between laboring at home as long as is comfortable and safe can be tricky. Here’s what you need to know so you can make this decision!
Your Homework: ~ Talk to your care provider about when they suggest coming in during labor; do you have any circumstances making it a good idea to arrive sooner rather than later? ~ Be familiar with the best route and entrances for your hospital (day and night) ~ Make sure you keep your car gas tank at least half full at all times ~ Be aware of your family’s history when it comes to birth for an indication how long your journey might be ~ Find some activities you can do near your birth place Useful Links*: ~ How to Find the Perfect Care Provider for Your Birth class ~ 21 Must Haves to Pack in Your Birth Bag class ~ What Hollywood Didn’t Teach You About Labor class ~ 3 Choices for Where You Can Give Birth class ~ Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering book ~ Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth book ~ Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn book |
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13 Positions for a Quicker, Easier LaborWatch, learn, and practice positions to use during your labor to help you feel more comfortable and help your body work more efficiently. Using gravity and positive movements, these positions will help you take labor standing up! Be sure to invest the time practicing them so that you’ll have them in your toolbox for your big day.
Your Homework: ~ Practice these positions with your partner Useful Links*: ~ Labor Progress Handbook book ~ Active Birth book |
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13 More Positions for a Relaxing BirthWatch, learn, and practice positions to use during your labor to help you feel more comfortable and help your body work more efficiently. These positions will help you to relax while still encouraging the positive positioning and movement of your baby to make labor quicker and easier! Be sure to invest the time practicing them so that you’ll have them in your toolbox for your big day.
Your Homework: ~ Practice these positions and techniques with your partner Useful Links*: ~ Labor Progress Handbook book ~ Birth ball ~ Peanut ball ~ Spinning Babies ~ Daily Essentials: Activities for Pregnancy Comfort and Easier Birth DVD ~ Spinning Babies Parent Class DVD ~ Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth ~ Rebozo |
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7 Positions for Positive PushingPushing on your back actually means pushing uphill! Come see some other options you have to make your second stage easier.
Your Homework: ~ Try each of these positions ~ Check to see if your birth place has squat bars and their routine during second stage Useful Links*: ~ 13 Positions for a Quicker, Easier Labor class ~ 13 More Positions for a Relaxing Birth class ~ What Hollywood Didn’t Teach You About Labor class ~ Active Birth book ~ Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth book ~ Labor Progress Handbook book ~ Spinning Babies site |
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How to Push and How to NOT Push in Second StageYou’ve relaxed your way through first stage labor, here's how to push in second stage.
Your Homework: ~ Practice pushing positions (again) Useful Links*: ~ 7 Positions for Positive Pushing ~ What Hollywood Didn’t Teach You About Labor ~ Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth book |
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When to Push and What's Going on in Second Stage LaborSometimes it's obvious, sometimes is subtle - here's how you can tell when it's time to push and more notes on second stage labor.
Your Homework: ~ Continue relaxation practice Useful Links*: ~ 6 Things You Can Learn From a Cervical Check (And Why It Might Not Matter) ~ How to Push and How to NOT Push in Second Stage ~ Your Best Birth book |
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What Does a Contraction Feel Like?What was that pressure? Do you feel confused when your care provider asks if you've been having contractions because you can't tell? Here are some common descriptions and ways to tell if your uterus is working.
Useful Links*: ~ Pregnancy Anatomy 101 ~ Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn book ~ HypnoBabies Home Study ~ How, When, and Why to Time Contractions |
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Breech, Now What?What can you do if your baby's breech? Here are four options for your consideration.
Your Homework: ~ Find out if you have any care providers trained to catch breech babies "Useful Links*: ~ Pregnancy Anatomy 101 ~ 3 Choices for Where You Can Give Birth ~ How to Find the Perfect Care Provider for Your Birth |
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20 Tricks to Flip a Breech BabyHow can you help nudge your baby from breech to vertex? Here are 20 tricks and tips to help baby flip.
Your Homework: ~ Find any potential practitioners who might be able to help (chiropractor, Webster, acupuncture, massage…) ~ Learn all the things at Spinning Babies! Useful Links*: ~ 3 Choices for Where You Can Give Birth ~ How to Find the Perfect Care Provider for Your Birth ~ Breech, Now What? ~ Spinning Babies Exercises DVD ~ Spinning Babies Parent Class DVD ~ Spinning Babies website ~ Webster Technique ~ Moxabustion ~ Hypnobabies ~ Acupressure document |
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Cesarean Section or Cesarean Birth?What's the difference between a cesarean section and a cesarean birth? Here's what you need to know to make a surgical experience be an amazing birth experience.
Your Homework: ~ Find out your care provider's cesarean rate Useful Links*: ~ 3 Choices for Where You Can Give Birth ~ How to Find the Perfect Care Provider for Your Birth ~ Birth by the Numbers ~ World Health Organization ~ Family Centered Cesarean ~ Cesarean Story |
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15 Tips on Writing a Birth Plan That Gets Read *and* HonoredYou've put so much effort into preparing for your birth - how do you make sure your efforts are honored?
Your Homework: ~ Start the long birth plan for yourself, your partner, and your doula Useful Links*: ~ 3 Choices for Where You Can Give Birth ~ How to Find the Perfect Care Provider for Your Birth ~ Cesarean Birth or Cesarean Section? ~ [m]other board |
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22 Decisions You Have to Make for Your BirthWhat is most important to you for your birth? Here are 22 considerations for your top priorities.
Your Homework: ~ Go through the Labor Priorities handout to jot down your thoughts; partners do the same, then come together to discuss Useful Links*: ~ How to Find the Perfect Care Provider for Your Birth ~ 21 Must Haves to Pack in Your Birth Bag ~ How to Make the BEST Decisions for *Your* Birth ~ 8 Essential Questions to Ask ~ 13 Positions for a Quicker, Easier Labor ~ 13 More Positions for a Relaxing Birth ~ 7 Positions for Positive Pushing ~ 6 Things You Can Learn From a Cervical Check (And Why It Might Not Matter) ~ When Is It Time to Go to the Hospital for Birth? ~ 15 Tips on Writing a Birth Plan That Gets Read *and* Honored ~ Chiropractor ~ AROM study ~ Labor Priorities Handout |
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5 Things to Consider in Third Stage LaborEven after baby's born, there's some work to do.
Useful Links*: ~ Birth Matters book ~ Placenta Encapsulation Process ~ World Health Organization ~ Long Term Benefits |
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Contraction CalculatorHow much time in labor do you actually spend working?
Useful Links*: ~ What Hollywood Didn’t Teach You About Labor ~ How, When, and Why to Time Contractions ~ Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth book |
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