12 Days of Birth: Day 11

Activism, Birth Choices, Birth Plan, Doula Rochester NY, Doulas, Everything else, Interventions, Pregnancy

If your care providers talk about what they will “let you” do or not do during labor, most likely they do not truly follow Woman-Centered Maternity Care. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) defines patient-centered care as: “Providing care that is...

12 Days of Birth: Day 10

Activism, Birth Choices, Birth Plan, Doula Rochester NY, Doulas, Everything else, Interventions, Labor & Birth, Postpartum, Pregnancy

Getting stitches after birthing a baby is uncomfortable (to say the least!), and can take your attention away from bonding with your baby. An intact perineum also makes for a more pleasant postpartum recovery. #12DaysofBirth

12 Days of Birth: Day 9

Activism, Birth Choices, Birth Plan, Doula Rochester NY, Doulas, Everything else, Interventions, Labor & Birth

Babies move and rotate during labor. A well positioned baby = smoother labor flow. Tip! when YOU move, you give your baby space to move. #12daysofbirth

12 Days of Birth: Day 8

Activism, Birth Choices, Birth Plan, Doula Rochester NY, Doulas, Everything else, Interventions, Labor & Birth

If you feel safe, supported and protected the oxytocin will flow, and you’ll easily drift off into labor-land. #12DaysofBirth

12 Days of Birth: Day 7

Activism, Birth Choices, Birth Plan, Doula Rochester NY, Doulas, Everything else, Interventions, Labor & Birth

Labor does it own thing: it starts, it stops, it takes a detour, hangs out for a while, then takes the highway; or not. Time constraints just get in the way of the process.

12 Days of Birth: Day 6

Activism, Birth Choices, Birth Plan, Doula Rochester NY, Doulas, Everything else, Interventions, Labor & Birth

Eating during labor gives you the energy you need to get through the marathon of labor. You can read more on what the evidence-based research says in this post called “What did you eat during labor?”