Mouthwash Reduces Chance Of Premature Birth, Study Shows

For reasons we don’t totally understand pregnant women who have gum disease are more likely to have premature babies than pregnant women who don’t. Now a study suggests that using mouthwash on a regular basis can reduce the odds of going into premature labor for women with gum disease/periodontal disease.

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The unlikely connection between Ani DiFranco, a midwife's manifesta and the Indy

Salon called Ina May Gaskin "the midwife of modern midwifery." Ricki Lake calls Gaskin "my inspiration and my hero," while Naomi Wolf refers to her as "an American treasure." Ani DiFranco believes Gaskin's writing should be considered among "the great philosophical contributions of our time." In fact, that's what she wrote in the foreword to Gaskin's latest book, Birth Matters: A Midwife's Manifesta.

Birth Doulas Make the World a Safer, More Peaceful Place to Be Born

5 Ways to Prepare for Natural Childbirth

Posted by Jenni on June 21, 2011

During introductions in the prenatal yoga classes I teach, there’s often a mom-to-be or two who say they’re “thinking about” natural childbirth, or they “might try for a natural birth.” That kind of hedging makes me feel nervous for them. Natural birth isn’t something that most women can just “try.” It’s a powerful, physical experience, and one that calls for physical and emotional, even spiritual, dedication and preparation. Natural birth is possible—and for far more than the 14% of women who experience it, I believe. But you have to get ready for it. Few and far between are the mamas whose babies seem to just fall right out. The rest of us are best served by thoughtfully preparing for the birth we’d most like to have.

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Why Ironman is Like Childbirth

A friend of mine, Bonnie, wrote a hilarious Facebook note. I know Bonnie from our former Olympic-style weightlifting days. She's also turned endurance athlete (although...she is much more "athlete" than I!). She has two beautiful children brought into this world by 100% natural childbirth (awesome!) and a new baby girl on the way. Oh, and she did her first marathon in March, averaging a sub ten minute mile pace, which leaves me picking my jaw off the ground. Her husband is an Ironman. (What a group of slackers. Ha!)

Here's her post!

"Two years ago my husband completed his first Ironman triathlon in Louisville, KY. Having never participated in an Ironman competition-it was hard for me to imagine what one would be like.

But as I listened to him describe the life changing experience it sounded very familiar. It sounded a lot like natural childbirth-which I have experienced.

I decided to list the similarities and this is what I came up with:
• Both events are preceded by multiple trips to the bathroom. (some are false alarms caused by nerves)
• Initial excitement slowly fades to self-doubt and towards the end you find yourself thinking, or saying or SCREAMING, “I will NEVER do this again!”

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Doulas: Exploring A Tradition Of Support

by Coburn Dukehart

Baby Project mom Lucy Peck was initially going to use a doula for her birth, but has since decided to have her sister act as a birth companion. Regardless, we decided to explore the topic more to find out exactly, "What is a doula?"

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Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait

Every week of pregnancy is crucial to a newborn’s health, and today, the March of Dimes unveiled a new public education campaign to raise awareness about the important development that occurs during those last few weeks.

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What Do You Know About Childbirth? Maybe Less Than You Think

A Canadian study is making the media rounds: Apparently too many women are going into birth having no idea about the basic risks and benefits of various procedures. An LA Times headline reads, “Pregnant women show an amazing lack of knowledge about childbirth options, study shows.” The Stir says, cleverly, “Most Pregnant Women Don’t Know Squat About Childbirth.”


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Whether To Worry: Letting Go Of Control

In my prenatal water aerobics class last night, our instructor reminded us to do our Kegel exercises while "bicycling" on our foam "noodle." Another woman and I noted to each other that we simply can't do Kegels while in this position. Of course, my mind gave this problem the run-through: Can other women do this? Can other pregnant women do this? Is it a big deal that I can't? Will it make my labor long and terrible and inefficient?

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Despite skeptical medical establishment, more women choosing natural birth at home

By Associated Press, Published: July 5

NEW YORK — One mother chose home birth because it was cheaper than going to a hospital. Another gave birth at home because she has multiple sclerosis and feared unnecessary medical intervention. And some choose home births after cesarean sections with their first babies.

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“If I were at home, I would have died” — The trouble with extrapolating hospital birth events to homebirth

Posted on March 31, 2011 by erinmidwife

A midwife in North Carolina was recently charged with practicing midwifery without a license because her state does not license Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) and other direct entry midwives. There was some local news coverage of the arrest and the ongoing efforts of North Carolina families to legalize CPMs. One of the local news stories contained the “If I were at home, I would have died” sentiment.



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How Dads chemically fall in love with their kids

By Phillip White

Oxytocin (OT) is the hormone of love. Researchers have been discovering how chemicals are stimulating better fathering. Male mammals for the most part have little to do with fathering their young. Human beings are part of the 5 percent that do (Geary, 1999). After reading several articles (see references below, it is clear to me that fathers can be proactive in bonding with their children, but not in the same way women bond with their offspring.

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How Dilated Am I? Assessing Dilation in Labor WITHOUT an Internal Exam.

7 March 2010 by sarahvine

It’s the magic question weighing on most laboring mothers’ minds: (as well as the minds of her partner or birth attendants!) How much longer? Is there any way to tell how far along I am in the birthing process? I’ve seen mothers beg for an internal exam and then be gutted about the answer (What? ONLY 4cm STILL!?) and suddenly *poof* she looses her resolve. It’s akin to having a test and finding out you’ve failed it, in front of your loved ones as well as complete strangers. Everyone knows this feeling is not conducive to labor – suddenly doubt and fear slide in and the laboring mother feels tense. Her oxytocin levels (our body’s natural pain-killer and labor inducer) take a nose dive and immediately she feels much more pain and she starts to run away from the contractions.

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