Breastfeeding

Only 14% of women were still exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months!

Updating a Standard: Fetal Monitoring

Electronic fetal monitoring during labor and delivery was introduced into obstetrical practice in the early 1970s in hopes that it would reduce the risk of cerebral palsy and death resulting from inadequate oxygen to the fetal brain.
The monitors continually measure the fetal heart rate and produce tracings on a screen and paper that can alert [...]

Website Links for Pregnancy and Beyond

Birth Resource Links

 
Waterbirth International

 
Childbirth Connection

 
Birth Story Diaries

 
Sarah Buckley: Gentle Birth, Gentle mothering: The best possible start

 
Breech Babies

 
Cesarean Section: What every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know about C-Sections

 
International Cesarean Awareness Network

Parenting & Breastfeeding Resource Links

 
Mothering.com Lots of great articles, discussion board

 
Kellymom.com Great articles around breastfeeding issues

 
BreastMilkCounts.com

 
Dr. Sears.com Run by Dr. Sears and his family, wondreful [...]

The Mommy Uprising

They’re fed up with the unwanted C-sections, the endless tests, the dubious interventions, and the scary advice from overworked, malpractice-spooked doctors. And Boston women are shunning the area’s world-class hospitals to go to surprising…
By Tina Cassidy
Lugging hungry preschoolers and makeshift dinners of animal crackers and granola bars, five frazzled mothers gather in a fluorescent-lit conference [...]

Causes of Pain in Labor

http://www.atlantadoula.com/paincauses.htm

Would it make you feel better to know that you can do something (without medications) about 90% of the pain during labor, and that there are things you can do to decrease your perception and increase your tolerance of whatever other pain there may be?
There are physical factors that contribute to pain in childbirth, but [...]

A Word to Fathers

by Jill Cohen
© 1987-2001 Midwifery Today, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
As a father, you play a vital role in pregnancy and birth. Since you are responsible for getting the baby in, you are also a major support for getting the baby out. Women need to feel comfortable when having a baby. Your presence, love and support [...]

Questions for Pediatricians (and their practices)

For the front desk:

What hours are you open? Are there evening/weekend hours for sick kids? How do you handle after-hours questions or problems?
Do you have walk-in hours? If not, can we be worked in (i.e., make a same-day appointment) for pressing issues?
Are there separate office hours for sick kids and healthy kids? separate waiting areas?
How [...]

North Austin Medical Center Questions at Check-in Time

Age
Birth date
Height
Pre-Pregnancy Weight
Current Weight
Due Date
First day of your last period
Allergies
How many pregnancies have you had?
Are you married?
Fathers name
Mothers SS#
Occupation
Religious Preferences
Medications mother takes
When did you last eat?
Do you smoke, drugs, alcohol etc.
Have you had any medical procedures?
Date of your first prenatal visit
Have you taken any prenatal classes?
Name of Pediatrician
Do you plan on breastfeeding/Bottle Feeding?
Do you plan [...]

Questions to Ask Your Caregiver

When would you like me to come to the birth center/hospital?

_____Water breaks
 _____Contractions _____ minutes apart for _______ long

What are your recommendations if water breaks before contractions?

_____Call and stay home until contractions start
_____Come to office/hospital/birth center to monitor baby and then return home
_____Come immediately to hospital/birth center

How long after water breaks would you recommend starting pitocin?
What [...]

Communication exercise

 
Complete the sentence
Please print out this sheet and take turns completing each sentence, either aloud or written down. Make sure you give each other time to talk through each item and discuss them together.

The thing that has bothered me the most during this pregnancy is …
The idea of an episiotomy makes me feel ….
I wish [...]