Category Archives: Natural Childbirth

Is natural birth the latest fad?

New government statistics show that from 2004 through 2008, the incidence of home births grew by a whopping 20 percent. Home births, however, still only comprise barely 1% of all births in the U.S., so that increase is measured in … Continue reading

Posted in Homebirth, Natural Childbirth | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Activist in Training: Sarah J. (post #2)

When I switched into the Biopsychology of Birth class, I was resistant and uneasy talking about birth.  I didn’t even know my own birth story and I never thought to ask until this class.  I had always thought births were … Continue reading

Posted in activism, Hospital Birth, Labor and Birth, Natural Childbirth, Obstetricial Interventions, Obstetrics | Leave a comment

Activist in Training: Carolyn C. (post #2)

As the end of the semester approaches in my Bio Psych of Birth course, the question “What does normal birth mean to you?” arose.  As I pondered what normal birth meant to me, I couldn’t help but wonder what others … Continue reading

Posted in General, Hospital Birth, Natural Childbirth, Obstetricial Interventions | 1 Comment

Activist in Training: Jacquelyn C. (post #2)

Have you ever played the game, Brick Breaker?  The point of the game is to use your pod at the bottom of the screen to catch and bounce a ball back and forth to the top of the screen to … Continue reading

Posted in Hospital Birth, Natural Childbirth, Obstetricial Interventions | 2 Comments

Acitivist in Training: Sarah H. (post #2)

My sophomore year of high school my biology teacher showed all of her students the movie “The Miracle of Life” without any sort of preparation, explanation or discussion. That was the extent of my education about birth and for many … Continue reading

Posted in Childbirth Education, Labor and Birth, Natural Childbirth, Teen Pregnancy | Leave a comment

Winging it. The Birth of my Daughter Jane.

Last night my daughter was born. My midwife came over at noon October 11th, the day before. According to dating, Jane was one week and one day overdue. At this meeting I expressed how I was no longer just a … Continue reading

Posted in Birth Stories, General, Homebirth, Labor and Birth, Natural Childbirth, Unassisted Birth, Water Birth | 6 Comments

The Contractions of Life

I realized that a lot of the techniques and tools that we learn so thoroughly in preparation for childbirth are very similar to coping skills that can help us deal with day-to-day life. Continue reading

Posted in Childbirth Education, General, mothering, Natural Childbirth | 2 Comments

Drug Abuse and Pregnancy and Birth

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery month. For birth activists, this is more important than you may think. First, we need to have an idea of how to identify and help pregnant women who are struggling with alcohol … Continue reading

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Accepting the Unexpected

There is always a choice, and the choice is in your response to the situation you are in. You can choose to see a C-section as a failure, a nightmare. Or you can choose to see it as a birth; not what you wanted, not ideal, but a birth nonetheless. Continue reading

Posted in Birth Stories, Cesarean Section, General, Homebirth, Natural Childbirth | 2 Comments

Intuitive Eating in Motherhood

After speaking with my midwife the other day, we came to the conclusion that I may need to eat more foods rich in iron. I did not take a formal test or anything but just have been feeling tired again … Continue reading

Posted in Baby, Breastfeeding, General, Natural Childbirth, Pregnancy | Tagged , | 2 Comments