Healthy Parenting

Labor

Labor. I can remember when I would stick my fingers in my ears and "lalala" if anyone near me started talking about the pain of childbirth. Since I've always wanted children since I was a child myself, the thought of childbirth was something that I thought of over the years but was quickly pushed out of my mind.

No more chronic infections,
allergies or sickly kids! Ground-breaking
new report
provides valuable
information on
boosting your child's
immune system to
prevent disease.

Once my husband and I decided to start trying to conceive we started our usual research. The more we educated ourselves, the less fear I had. The more I learned about how a woman's body worked - how MY body would work during labor/childbirth, the more I actually became excited at experiencing a natural childbirth.

I truly believe that MOST women can give birth naturally and live to tell about it. The problem is that many women just aren't getting the proper information and support, especially those outside holistic circles.

Before we became pregnant with our first son in 1998, my husband and both got physicals. I also had a gynocological exam with a new OB/GYN (we had just moved). After the appointment, I realized I really wanted to use midwives and a birthing center and called the doctor's office to have my records sent to the Birthing Center in NJ. The OB/GYN called me himself that same day to lecture me on my irresponsible decision to go with midwives and how it was "witchery". LOL. If I had ANY doubts about leaving the OB/GYN, they were eliminated by that phone call.

Sending happy birthing vibes to all those nearing their due dates!

Articles

Herbs in Pregnancy
http://www.healthyparenting.net/birth/articles/herbspreg.shtml

Obstetric Myths vs Research Realities
http://www.hencigoer.com/obmyth/

Create your Own Natural Birth Plan
http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/birth_plan.html

Aromatherapy: Ease the Discomforts of Pregnancy
http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/pregnancy/aroma1/index.php

Medical Risks of Epidural Anesthesia During Childbirth
http://www.healing-arts.org/mehl-madrona/mmepidural.htm

Women's Health Risks Associated with Orthodox Medicine
http://www.garynull.com/Article.aspx?article=/Documents/WomenRisksOrthodoxMedPt1.htm

Safety & Usefulness of Ultrasounds
http://www.alternamoms.com/ultrasound.html

Resources

Gentle Birth Archives - A midwifery archive of everything you need to know about pregnancy/prenatal issues, labor/birth and post partum issues.
http://gentlebirth.org/archives/#Parents

Currants and Spice: Herbs for Pregnancy, Birth and Lactation
http://currantsandspice.fateback.com/

Episiotomy Resources
http://www.childbirth.org/articles/epis.html

Birthing Naturally
http://www.birthingnaturally.net