• Last updated 11/16/12 by Marcy Axness

It is good news that the rate of premature birth is down in the U.S. by about 1% from its 2006 high of 12.8%. It is bad news that one out of eight babies born in America (11.7%) is born too soon. With World Prematurity Awareness Day tomorrow, there is a flurry of coverage of the Lancet's report about five proven strategies to reduce preterm birth. But nowhere is there mention of the solid research about preventing prematurity early in pregnancy!   Curt Sandman's lab has been funded for over thirty years by NIH (National Institutes of Health) to study the effects... read more

• Last updated 11/16/12 by Melanie Mayo

Why choose the birth setting before even deciding if you want to have a midwife or a doctor? Studies have shown that a feeling of comfort and safety in your surroundings might be the biggest contribution to a smooth labor—and the best way to reduce the need for medical interventions. Which birth environment is safest? Surprisingly, homebirths, births in birthing centers and hospital births are comparably safe. Recent studies show definitively that there is no improvement in outcome, for mother or baby, in hospital births as compared to those that happen at home... read more

• Last updated 11/15/12 by Melanie Mayo

  The first book I ever read about pregnancy, birth, and babies was Ina May Gaskin's Spiritual Midwifery.  I wasn't interested in becoming a midwife, and this was several years before I even thought of becoming a mother, but it looked interesting so I picked it up.  It rocked my world.  I had never thought of birth in such earthy terms; I had never considered mother-directed birth, and I definitely hadn't thought that birth could be pleasant or even pain-free!  I feel so fortunate to have discovered this book, discovered this whole world of thinking differently about... read more

• Last updated 11/13/12 by SKValenzuela

By Shannon Valenzuela   For better or worse, Lamaze has long had an association in people's minds with breathing -- the "ha-hee" patterned breathing in particular.  The Lamaze method is so much more than this, of course, and breathing strategies are just one of the coping tools taught in a typical Lamaze class.  But, as I always stress to my students, labor coping strategies aren't just for labor, they're for life.  And even though learning to breathe deeply is just one skill among many, it is by far my favorite -- and along with informed decision-making, I think... read more

• Last updated 11/12/12 by Melanie Mayo

Boys   Aquila eagle Latin   Duarte wealthy guardian Portuguese   Elsu flying falcon Native American   Faolan wolf Irish   Gaagii raven Native American   Lywanu growling... read more

• Last updated 10/30/12 by SKValenzuela

By Shannon K. Valenzuela, LCCE     I always tell my students that birth is 90% mental.  I don't know if they entirely believe me, but after having six babies of my own, I'm convinced that this is true.  You don't have to be a marathon runner or in peak physical shape to give birth, but if you're mentally unprepared for the demands of labor, birth is so much more difficult.  And if you want to give birth naturally, boosting your labor confidence is even more important.   With that in mind, try these five easy ways to enhance your mental preparation for labor... read more

• Last updated 10/30/12 by Melanie Mayo

  By Kelley Powell   Today I’m proud to feature guest blogger Bert Powell, a.k.a. my dad. Normally my dad writes about motorcycle travel, but today he’s venturing off the highway and onto the rugged scenic route that is homebirth. In the span of only a generation, men’s role in childbirth has done a complete about face. As my dad tells below, he went from watching me be born on a closed circuit monitor in the hospital to being actively involved in the home births of 5 of his grandchildren (his other 3 grandchildren were born in the hospital). Here is his unique... read more

• Last updated 10/29/12 by Sarah Clark

Written by Mothering contributor Sarah Clark.   I know there is a lot of this mentality out there: "I'm OK.  You're OK.  There are no wrong choices, just choices.  Do what works for you." You are going to hate me, but that just isn't how my mind works.  I have a more black and white view of the world.  I know, so old fashioned, I still believe in right and wrong.  This isn't to say that I think I am better than somebody because I think I did the right thing and I think they did the wrong thing.  Quite the contrary.  I am fully aware of the FACT that I do... read more

• Last updated 10/30/12 by Marcy Axness

Breaking news from Michel Odent's conference on Birth & Primal Health Research*: data is clear that we humans are losing the capacity to give birth! How can that be? It is pure evolution in action: when we do not use certain functions of our physiology, the "message" to our always-changing bodymind system -- a message that becomes passed down to future generations through changes in DNA expression -- is, "That function is no longer needed."   Oxytocin: Liquid Peace  Oxytocin has been in the news lately, the hormone of love...the moral molecule..."liquid peace" I... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

        Weeks 1 to 4: Confirming pregnancy and establishing due date   Becoming a parent may happen on purpose or by accident, but however it comes about, parenting itself is a calling. -Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mindful Parenting     What's Happening in Your Body? Even though you've just discovered that you're pregnant, you're already noticing some changes. You may feel tired, perhaps your breasts are tender, or you find you are urinating more frequently. Some women feel a little... read more