I love these acronyms. They are great decision making tools for your labor and birth, as well as your prenatal tests and procedures! BRAINED Trying to make a decision? Get BRAINED! Ask yourself, and your caregivers, these questions: Benefits – How could the recommended course of action help me or my baby? Risks – How […]
Ultrasounds: Safety and Efficacy
A conversation I had last week brought this topic to mind. This was with a non-medical person who works with pregnant women. I found I needed to explain to her what “valid medical reason” meant, with regard to ultrasound during pregnancy. It also brought me to tell her of the risks of ultrasound to the […]
What to do about Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness (ok, all day sickness) can be a real bear. Here’s my list of things that help: Eat often. Even if it’s just a bite or two, it makes a difference because it keeps your blood sugar level and helps tamp down the stomach acid. Eat whatever tastes good. Some smells or foods are […]
The Myth of the Painless Childbirth
Out there in the cloud of birth information is this idea that birth can or should be painless. Somebody heard a story about a friend of a friend who had just the most blissful, fabulous, painless, even orgasmic birth experience. There are a number of videos on YouTube which show women in all their birthing […]
Great Expectations, or what Not to expect from your OB
A question from today’s private session: “But why do they have women on their backs in a hospital, if forward leaning positions are so good?” From a new mom: “I wish they’d have told me to get up and move, wouldn’t that have changed the baby’s position?” I think many of us, go into a […]