While you Wait
The end of pregnancy can feel like it’s own lifetime and maybe you are wondering what to do while you wait for baby to make their appearance. So often I am asked how to encourage labor to get started, and while that can be helpful, more often I try to help moms focus on a …
Medical Induction
A medical induction is the artificial starting of labor. One of the most difficult things about birth is the unknown. When and how it will start is a top question that families often think about, especially as they near the end of pregnancy. Let’s discuss what the options are if an induction needs to be…
5 Postpartum Essentials
If you have been around for any amount of time, you know I am super passionate about preparing for birth. And while preparing is paramount for your birth experience, we can’t forget to prepare for postpartum, too. Let’s check out my 5 postpartum essentials that every family needs.
Earthside Birth Pool Rental
Are you planning to have your baby at home and want to give birth in the most beautiful tub? Look no further! The Earthside birth pool is the most luxurious and practical pool on the market. It was designed by mothers, just like you. It’s the perfect size, shape, and sturdiness for a home birth…
Eye ointment – Newborn Procedures
You’ve just given birth to your precious baby, and your care provider suggests two routine procedures right away, the Vitamin K injection and erythromycin eye ointment. How do you know if this is right for your baby? Ophthalmia Neonatorum (ON) is the infection and inflammation of the thin layer of tissue that covers the inner…
I’m Pregnant! Now What?
Yay! You are pregnant. Now what? Do you feel a little overwhelmed with what you are supposed to do after you pee on that stick? Let me help you get started with three important things to focus on. Nourishment Vision Team While I believe nourishment should be a priority before a positive pregnancy test, most…
Vitamin K – Newborn Procedures
One of the most common questions I get is about newborn Vitamin K. Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding, or VKDB, occurs when a baby cannot stop an internal bleed because they lack the Vitamin K needed to form clots. Most commonly, this internal bleeding would be found in the baby’s brain (this instance may increase with…
Preconception support
When a family is beginning to think about preconception, there are a few important considerations that should be made. Both mom and dad’s DNA come together to produce a baby, and it's imperative that they both are as healthy as possible. The baby’s genes will be formed by this DNA (both good and bad) and…
Out of Hospital Births
My last two births have been outside of the traditional hospital setting and I am all about it. Every birth is special but I always marvel at the connection, the level of care, and the beauty of giving birth in the home or at a birth center. There’s just nothing like it. Outside of pain…
Butt Cracks
I became a mama about 8 years ago and along the way, there have been plenty of things that have surprised me and caught me off guard. Some examples you might relate to have been how long you bleed for after having a baby, how hard breastfeeding can be, how many questions kids have, and…
Planning for Postpartum
You've gotta have a plan for postpartum! You’ve probably spent a lot of time thinking about the birth of your baby. Hopefully, you’ve taken a childbirth education class and even made a list of your birth preferences. But what about postpartum? Have you made a plan for once baby is in your arms and home?…
Get this Baby Out!
One of the top questions I get asked happens around 39 weeks. The question sometimes comes even earlier, as the last month of pregnancy can feel like it lasts for a million days. And sometimes the question is later when the baby has been given an official eviction notice, also known as an induction date. Either way…
My Favorite Organ
According to the National Institute of Health, the placenta is the least understood and the least studied organ in the human body. But if you hang out with any birth workers for even a short amount of time, you’ll quickly learn its definitely one of the coolest and most amazing organs. To start, one day…
Taking Care of Yourself
What a fitting key for me! This was my locker key from a spa day a few months back with some girlfriends. “What are you doing for yourself?” A friend recently asked me this question when I was feeling like the weight of motherhood was swallowing me whole. For me, I love being able to…
Nausea Tips from a Survivor
If you know anything about my own personal journey into becoming a mama, you know my pregnancies weren’t glamorous. In fact, one of the reasons I wanted my births to be so redemptive is because of how difficult those months were. I’ve recently had a few friends struggle with “morning” sickness, and it brought back…
The Four Letter “F” Word
I always ask people how or why they decided to take a childbirth class. One of the most common things I hear is that they are afraid of the process. I know from my own story how much fear can be involved in having a baby. Fear is, after all, the only reason I took…
The Beginning of the Journey
Sometimes infertility can feel lonely, shameful, and full of darkness. Actually, it always felt like that. I can remember feeling like I had a big scarlet letter painted on chest, even though no one could see or feel my pain. “I,” for “infertile.” It’s like that word, that letter, seemed to identify me. Seemed to…