In many childbirth classes, and sometimes, in a doula’s prenatal visit with a client, there are ice cubes. I saw ice cubes in my training when I became a Lamaze educator and ice cubes in various professional development workshops. So what gives? The ice is given to pregnant people and their partners to simulate the […]
Birth Ball Pro-Tips for Labor – Part 2
In part one of this series, we talked about standing postures, with the birth ball (i.e. exercise or yoga ball) on the wall. Here, we continue beyond the seated postures and move into kneeling and using your ball. Kneeling, in a modified child’s pose, leaning over the ball. Josh and Amy are the models here, […]
Rock Your Labor with these Birth Ball Pro-Tips
One of my favorite tools for labor comfort is the birthing ball (i.e. exercise or yoga ball). Most of the time, we envision sitting on the ball during labor. Sitting is comfortable and lovely. However, the ball is one of the most versatile labor comfort tools out there. So, let’s explore two of the most […]
How do I know if I need pain medication in labor?
One of the most common questions I hear from my Confident Birthing students is: I’m planning on a natural birth. But, what I want to know is, how do I know if I’ve reached my limit? How do I know if I need pain medication, an epidural, or if I can push through without? My […]
The Practice of Mindfulness During Labor
This is a guest post by our doula, Amanda Guntrum. If you have picked up a book on labor or attended a birth prep class, you probably have come across the term “mindfulness.” When I started studying for my doula certification I came across this term often, but having no background in meditation I merely […]