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Shining Light

Building empowerment, self-confidence and connection through candid education and compassionate advocacy for all families before, during and after pregnancy.

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Childbirth is work. To work you need energy. To get energy you do this…

July 22, 2014 By Deena Leave a Comment

  The definition of labor is “work”. If we are to work; we need energy. Energy comes from food. If you don’t eat you won’t have energy. Without energy the work of giving birth becomes more difficult and more painful. Let’s break it down:Infographic courtesy of Lamaze International.

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Childbirth, childbirth ed, Coping Skills, Eating and Drinking during labor, Evidence-based practices, Labor, Lamaze, Pittsburgh, Pregnancy, Pregnant, Valid Medical Reason

A Story, a Challenge, and Going Home – Day 4 of the Lamaze Conference in New Orleans

October 21, 2013 By Deena Leave a Comment

This year’s conference had an overarching theme of social media and interacting with the “millennial generation”. I’m a Gen X-er. I’m not that different from my students. Even the boomer generation can connect with these moms. We connect because we listen, not because we talk. If we listen to the mothers and the families in […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Childbirth Education Classes, Communication, Evidence-based practices, Lamaze, Lamaze Conference, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Pregnancy, Pregnant

Optimal Umbilical Cord Clamping

December 8, 2012 By Deena Leave a Comment

Dr. Alan Greene gives us an insightful look into the practice of immediate clamping of the umbilical cord and the detriments of doing so.  These include: decrease of red blood cells, decrease of white blood cells, decrease in baby’s iron levels and decreased oxygen levels.  His talk is thorough and compelling. He advocates for waiting at least […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Baby, Childbirth, Delayed Cord Clamping, Dr. Alan Greene, Evidence-based practices, Infant, Newborn, OB, Placenta, TED talk, Umbilical Cord

Placentophagia – Consuming your own placenta. Benefits or Placebo Effect?

March 29, 2012 By Deena 4 Comments

Ok, well technically, the placenta is the baby’s since it shares his DNA… but I digress. There’s been quite a bit in the news this week about placenta eating.  Mad Men star, January Jones let it be known that she consumed her encapsulated placenta after her baby was born, per her doula’s suggestion.  The original […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Eating Placenta, Evidence-based practices, Hormones, Media, Natural Remedies, Placenta, Placenta Encapsulation, Postpartum Depression

About Shining Light

Building empowerment, self-confidence and connection through candid education and compassionate advocacy for all families before, during and after pregnancy since 2012.

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