Page 3 - Pregnancy & Birth

It was just about five months ago now that my husband and I stood peering at two very positive lines on a pregnancy test.  Our thirteen month old daughter; oblivious to our fast changing life, was sleeping soundly down the hall.  Unreal is the only word that could describe that moment; coming to grips with the fact that we would have two children, under the age of two in the very near future.  Of course, once the shock wore off, we were thrilled beyond words.  A brand new adventure was about to wrap us up into an exciting, fresh chapter in our lives. Fast forward a few months into my pregnancy.  I woke up with a sense of excitement;  I was to see our sweet baby on a ultrasound screen this day at my OB/GYN appointment.  My daughter woke up, and I hurried around our home, getting little one and myself ready to walk out the door.  Already, I was a little flustered; feeling a likeness to a pack mule as I  tried climbing the stairs with a twenty four pound toddler on my hip,

Midwifery in Germany differs in many details from the situation as it is in the United States. Sure, on both sides of the ocean mothers and fathers wish nothing but the best for the newborn life, but the way to achieve this may be somewhat different. This article focuses on midwife education in Germany pointing out the importance of freelancers in this area. Midwifery in Germany is a health care profession which takes care of women in pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. There are circa 18,000 midwives in Germany who have passed their exam at one of the total of 58 schools of midwifery existing here. As for the foreign midwives from all over the world that wish to work in Germany, they may have to visit one of the German schools of midwifery so as to improve their theoretical knowledge and gain further practical experience. The training there consists of about 1,600 hours in theory and circa 3,000 hours in practice. In order to provide a deep insight into the variety of obstetrics, the

Pregnant friends, couples and mothers all light up at the mention of what has become the classic book on home birth. It is refreshingly real and thorough in every respect, from touching and graphic birth stories to medical wisdom with drawings, illustrations, and photos to make the information readily useful and usable for all parents. This book is a journey down a comforting, well-worn path that illuminates the sacredness of birth and how each new baby’s birth offers a blessing and a Spiritual experience for everyone involved. Ina May Gaskin reflects, “It is difficult for any human to express compassion who has not been on the receiving end of it. Being compassionate to the pregnant or birthing mother is not just an insignificant nicety of our practice – it lies at the very heart of our success. Kindness begets kindness that is passed on to nursing babies and to proud fathers, to brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles.” The first section details the personal stories of parents

Adjusting pregnant mothers and their children is incredibly inspiring for me. Children truly are our future, and I believe that lifelong wellness care begins in the womb. Taking care of your body and developing a positive self-care relationship are exponentially valuable the earlier in life they begin. Chiropractic care offered during pregnancy benefits mama and baby. Prenatal adjustments support your baby’s optimal development while allowing you to experience a naturally aligned pelvis. I also notice that well-adjusted mothers feel a greater sense of physical and heartfelt connection with the pregnancy process and their newborns-to-come. I am thrilled to provide comprehensive specialty care for women in any stage of pregnancy.  From week 1 to 42, women find that getting adjusted can not only relieve many of the aches and pains involved in pregnancy, but can also create shorter and easier labors and births, as well as a more comfortable post-partum experience. Our office has specialized

What exactly is a doula? While there are people who have heard of doulas, there are just as many who will ask me to repeat myself as if I was speaking a foreign language. In a way, they are right. The word doula comes from the Ancient Greek word doulē meaning “woman’s servant.” Although at the time it was more of a servant position, the name has come to mean something very special. In the past 20 years doulas and midwives have reemerged to become a very important part of the birth process for many women. In fact, currently the use of Doulas has more than tripled in the U.S., as parents have seen how beneficial it is to have a Doula be a support system, most especially during labor. A doula is a labor assistant, hired to give continuous care to the pregnant woman and her partner before, during and after childbirth. She is not a doctor or a nurse or even a midwife. A midwife is a medically trained person who has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed

“Your body works as well as the bodies of your ancestors, almost none of whom had access to any sort of infant-feeding or birth technology.” ~ Ina May The word “midwife” comes from the Anglosaxon, med-wyf, “wise woman,” as defined in Barbara G. Walker’s “Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (Harper Collins © 1983). In France, a midwife is also known as a sage femme, or a "wise woman." The general thread in all of the references regarding ancient midwifery is that a midwife was there to support the woman in labor. Labor was perceived as a basically natural process. Proof of midwifery has been found in The Bible, Hindu records, and during Greek and Roman times. Midwives functioned as respected, autonomous care providers to women during their reproductive cycles. Historians have noted that midwifery has been characterized as a social role throughout recorded history regardless of culture or time. We Are Born For Successful Natural Birthing Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding

So, you want to have a baby, you’re pregnant, just had a baby or you’re at the point of your journey where you’re curious about the likes of motherhood BUT your sisters, mom, aunts, cousins, friends from childhood and college all have their own ideas about it.  On top of that there are approximately 30,000 books on Amazon covering the topics of pregnancy, motherhood and raising babies.  Who’s got the right answer? Where’s the space for your feelings, thoughts and motherly instincts about it all?  When I was pregnant, I felt I had no idea how to care for children or be pregnant, let alone give birth.  Yet, the thousands of years of women birthing along with my lovey doula handing me The Continuum Concept smiling saying, “You gotta read this,” brought comfort.  I’ve always been an instinctual girl who “goes to the beat of her own drum” as my mother likes to call it. When I read this book, it felt like permission to trust my undeveloped mother instincts.  This is the subject of the