• Created on 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

• Created on 10/27/12 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

• Created on 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

• Created on 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

        Week 5: What to avoid, steps to a healthy lifestyle   It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready for change and others are not. -James Gordon, M.D.     What's Happening in Your Body? Your uterus is beginning to expand, and if this is your first pregnancy, it will be about as big as a tennis ball. With subsequent pregnancies, your uterus will become larger earlier in your pregnancy. What's Happening with Your Baby? The baby's... read more

• Created on 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

        Week 6: What to do about morning sickness and nausea   Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight. -Benjamin Franklin     What's Happening in Your Body? You may begin to notice sensitivity to certain smells, especially food odors, or even experience slight nausea at times. Some women will experience more serious morning sickness or actually vomit. Take heart, this usually passes by the beginning of the second trimester. What's... read more

• Created on 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

        Week 7: How much does diet matter?   When I use the words eating well, I mean using food not only to influence health and well being but to satisfy the senses, providing pleasure and comfort. -Andrew Weil, M.D., Eating Well for Optimum Health     What's Happening in Your Body? You may begin to notice that you are responding to many things in your life with stronger emotions than usual. This is due to normal hormonal changes, which can also cause mood swings. What's Happening with... read more

• Created on 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

        Week 8: How to choose a place for your baby's birth Human beings are mammals. All mammals hide themselves, isolate themselves to give birth. They need privacy. It is the same for humans. We should always be aware of this need for privacy. -Michel Odent, M.D., Birth Reform   What's Happening in Your Body? You may begin to notice some weight gain. Although your uterus may not have visibly expanded as of yet, many women notice a thickening around their waistlines. What's Happening... read more

• Created on 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

        Week 9: How to choose your birth practitioner Nature, time and patience are the three great physicians. -Greek Proverb       What's Happening in Your Body? Your uterus has expanded to about the size of an orange by now, although you still probably won't be able to see this increase from the outside. What's Happening with Your Baby? It is not yet possible to determine if your baby is a girl or a boy by looking at the external sex organs. The baby's internal sex organs,... read more

• Created on 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

        Week 10: Prenatal testing, and how to have a better relationship with food Birth goes best if it is not intruded upon by strange people and strange events. It goes best when a woman feels safe enough and free enough to abandon herself to the process. -Penny Armstrong and Sheryl Feldman, A Midwife's Story   What's Happening in Your Body? You may begin to see changes in your skin. Because of the pregnancy hormones that are flooding your body, your skin may appear tighter and small... read more

• Created on 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

        Week 11: Make time for exercise and how to beat the blues   Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far. -Thomas Jefferson     What's Happening in Your Body? Your blood volume has now increased by 25 percent. Because of this, most women will begin to experience a gradual decrease in the extreme fatigue of the earlier weeks. What's Happening with Your Baby? Your baby is officially a fetus, rather than an embryo. By now your baby has a... read more