• 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 10/18/12 by Melanie Mayo

A special thank you to Anni Dautler for writing this guest blog post on the sacredness that is pregnancy and birth! When I was pregnant with my second child, Lotus, I became obsessed with trying to find women I could connect with that knew about the sacredness of birth and the rite of passage process that every mother goes through, but few mark. My pregnancy craving was for that sisterhood that used to exist back in the day when women lived in tribes and pregnancy wisdom was passed down from mother to mother. Not being able to find what I was truly looking... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by emilyfrischmann

Anna Melzer at Bellyrama 2011 Thank you to Alisa Blackwood for the guest post. When Anna Melzer’s water broke at 41 weeks pregnant, her contractions were manageable. She faced two choices: go to the hospital early or drive to Minneapolis’ Lake Harriet, where an outdoor yoga festival for pregnant women and mothers was about to begin. She chose the yoga festival, aptly named “Bellyrama.” “I was so happy with my choice… mamas, sunshine, the lake, the breeze, yoga, squats, dancing… heaven! Best yoga practice ever!” Melzer says. She spent... read more

• Last updated 10/24/12 by emilyfrischmann

Arek Akot Mawien after giving birth to her daughter Ajok. (Photo: Peter Biro/IRC) AWEIL, South Sudan – Ripping up clouds of red dust, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) ambulance flies along the potholed roads leading to the South Sudanese town of Aweil. Inside, 19-year-old Arek Mawien lies on a stretcher grimacing in pain as she struggles to give birth to her first baby. “She came into our health center yesterday and has been in labor for 24 hours,” explains Joseph Remi, the IRC’s health manager in the isolated village of Malualkon,... read more

• Last updated 7/5/12 by Mothering Editorial

By Sirena Van SchaikIssue 150, September-October 2008 Becoming a mother is exciting and terrifying. First-time mothers are cast in a new role, and although they may have been preparing for it for months, many are overwhelmed by a newborn’s needs and demands. Life revolves around the new being in their lives, and there seems to be little time for even the necessities of life, let alone for pampering. However, this need not be so—there is time to be pampered, even to pamper yourself. self-care 101 Each day, do something you love. When my first child was born, I enjoyed... read more

• Last updated 6/26/12 by Mothering Editorial

Prenatal exercises and yoga are wonderful ways to spend time with your child. Children can do their own version of your exercises, and they’ll enjoy being a part of your self-care routine. Here are a few fun yoga exercises geared just for kids that you can do together: Cat and Cow: Get onto your hands and knees. Keep your back straight. Breathe in. Stretch your head back as your back curves. Moo! Now breathe out and stretch your head down so your chin is tucked into your chest. Let your back arch up. Meow! Keep stretching and arching back and forth... read more

• Last updated 12/16/12 by Marcy Axness

It’s hard to think of a baby being violent or destructive, but the seeds of violence may be planted before a child is born, according to research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. A study carried out there and reported last fall in the journal Aggression and Violent Behavior suggests that attention to health factors during prenatal development could prevent violence in later life. Citing recent research demonstrating a biological basis of crime, article author and Penn nursing assistant professor Jianghong Liu explains, “‘Biological’ does... read more

• Last updated 11/2/12 by Cynthia Mosher

Thank you to Jennifer Margulis for sharing this excerpt from her most recent blog post with us. You can read the full article on her blog. Doctors and other care providers want you to do things their way. But often their way is based on habit, fear of liability, or expediency. Unlike homebirth midwives, obstetricians almost never request their patients keep a food and exercise log. They almost never take 45-minutes to review the foods you’ve eaten in the past week, counsel you on good nutrition, and strategize on how best to exercise during your... read more

• Last updated 11/2/12 by Cynthia Mosher

Thank you to JoAnna Woods for this guest post. Find out more about placenta encapsulation on her website Twice Blessed Encapsulation.  Throughout the last decade placenta inferences have been popping up in the Hollywood buzz. GQ quoted soon to be parent Tom Cruise in 2006 (supposedly joking), “I’m gonna eat the placenta. I thought that would be good. Very nutritious.” In keeping with Australian Aborigine tradition MatthewMcConaughey buried his son’s placenta in their yard and planted a tree over it in 2008. January Jones (Mad Men) learned from her doula that... read more

• Last updated 12/5/12 by Melanie Mayo

  Anyone who has suffered from any form of postpartum depression knows that it is nothing to be taken lightly.   Knowing you are not alone, and that your feelings are not your fault, are important things to remember when trying to find a way to tackle your pain. Many mothers go through what you are experiencing now and want to help you make it through. It is OK to be honest about your feelings and seek help.    Here are some suggestions to help you find support and gain information in your journey. Many are simple and will only be helpful in mild cases.... read more