Although many women now choose to birth in a hospital, for centuries, birth took place in a woman’s home. She was attended to and surrounded by the women in her community. The word doula is a Greek word meaning a woman who serves and serving is exactly what a doula does. Most birth doulas start attending to families during the prenatal period. They provide emotional and informational support and may offer some form of childbirth education in group or private class settings. They may accompany a … [Read more...]
Coping With Birth Pain Naturally: How My Wife Birthed Pain Free
When I asked my wife, when she was pregnant, what she thought about natural childbirth, she told me she was uninterested. She planned on using an epidural to deal with the inevitable, and horrible, pain. She worked as a physician in a hospital at that time, so I know she welcomed whatever other procedures would alleviate pain, make the birth go faster and, most importantly, ensure a healthy baby and mommy. I didn’t press the issue, figuring it’s her body, and her choice. That was that... Or … [Read more...]
Keeping Your Hospital Birth Safe, Healthy and Yes – Even Natural
Birth today in the U.S. is often treated as a risky, over-medically-managed event. In reality, birth is neither a disease nor an injury. For the majority of women, birth is a safe, healthy and very normal bodily process. If you’re seeking a more natural, low intervention birth, but aren’t quite comfortable with home birth or don’t have access to a birthing center, there are effective ways to keep birth in a hospital natural, safe and healthy. It will take some effort, planning and perseverance … [Read more...]
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