Planning and preparing for birth are valuable actions that will help you have a healthier and more positive birth. Planning is the act of intentionally making choices that are within your control. Preparation is building confidence, skills and readiness for birthing. They are related, but distinct, and you will find resources here to help with both. Planning involves a lot of decision making such as choosing a doctor or midwife and a birth location. This section of Mara’s World will help you understand what decisions you are making, deliberately or otherwise, and how they may affect you and your baby. Preparing involves carrying out your plans, as well as the more personal work of increasing your readiness for birth. Read on, or give us a call, to learn more.
Many articles claim to help you write a birth plan. From my experience with many couples in labor, I’ve found that not all birth plans are effective. Here, I’ll show you how to write a truly effective birth plan. I also provide you with a printable birth plan template. If you are wondering whether you […]
Are you wondering what to read when you are pregnant? Some pregnant women seem to sleep best beside a massive pile of books. Ironically, seeing as I spend a lot of time writing material for pregnant women, I find myself often counseling women to read less rather than more. Or rather “read smarter, not harder.” […]
Informed consent is an important concept in pregnancy and childbirth. Decision making can be a stressful aspect of medical experiences. If you and your loved ones have the good fortune of being healthy, your pregnancy, birth, and well-child pediatric visits may present you with your first experiences making medical decisions. All competent and oriented patients […]
Most women aren’t thinking about preventing GBS in pregnancy because they have never had reason to know what it is! If this is your first pregnancy, this article will give you a bit of background so you know what is going on when your care provider announces that they will be testing you for this bacteria. If you […]
The labor breathing techniques of our mother’s day, “ha ha heeeee, ha ha heeee,” make decent material for sitcom births, but are in fact rarely seen today. I’m not sure exactly why the use of breathing techniques for labor has fallen from it’s once revered place. I do know that many women seek out instruction in breathing […]
Take this quiz to help you identify the labor strategies/birth methods that will work best for you. Following the labor pain quiz are descriptions of each birth method and the childbirth classes and books that teach the birth method. If you’re wondering if you should take a childbirth class or how to find a great […]
Choosing a childbirth class is important. Finding a phenomenal childbirth class will inspire and nurture you, realistically and practically prepare you, and ultimately put you on the strongest foundation possible as a new family. Here are some tips on how to find a great childbirth class. Qualities of a phenomenal childbirth class Some childbirth classes […]
We are living in the information age, and pregnancy web sites (such as this one!), books, TV shows and movie’s abound – as well as home-study or online courses in childbirth education. It’s no wonder that attendance at childbirth classes is waning and fewer couples are attending classes. My doula clients often ask me if […]
If there was a magic formula for effective natural ways to induce labor I would be famous! Many women try to get their labor started at home. There are actually a lot of natural ways to induce labor, but they don’t always work, and they aren’t totally harmless just because they are natural. Before discussing natural ways […]
You can do a lot to prepare your body for birth! Gentle or moderate exercise and good nutrition throughout pregnancy are basic preparations, but beyond that there are things you can do to promote specific aspects of labor physiology. The four principles of preparation I address in this article are: reducing adrenalin, pelvic alignment, optimal […]
In addition to creating a plan you prepare to share with the staff on the day of your birth, you can use your birth plan to guide your own personal preparations and to clarify who can become a resource for you and help you have the experiences you are hoping for. This process is very […]
Birth relaxation techniques help you remain focused during labor. Women often get into a rhythm where they find a way to work well with their contractions. I have found that women who practice birth relaxation techniques during their pregnancy reap benefit from the deep relaxation, and are also better equipped to find their focused rhythm […]
What is a Baby Birth Plan? A baby birth plan is typically a summary of your preferences during labor and for your baby’s care just after birth. This type of plan is written down and includes a list of the interventions and pain medications you wish to use or avoid. Couples bring their baby birth […]
I am often asked in my day-to-day conversations, “” Or “What is the difference between a midwife and a doula?” I find that inaccurate impressions are common. The ins and outs of pregnancy care providers is a new topic for many expectant parents, and often people turn to one professional for help that would be […]
Should you get an epidural? How do you make decisions about epidurals? What are epidural side effects? Are the benefits worth the risks? These may some of the questions you ponder as you prepare for labor.
