For as long as I can remember I was drawn to the miracle of birth. Like my grandfather (a prominent OBGYN in Philadelphia) I wanted to deliver babies, but daunted by the path to medical school, I pursued a career as a high-school English teacher instead, received my MA from Middlebury College and focused on helping adolescents find their voice in the classroom and navigate life’s challenges. When I became pregnant with my first child in 2011, I was determined to have…
Read More
When I first heard of HypnoBirthing® (the Mongan Method), I was pregnant with my first child and eager to have a natural birth. I found a podcast on birthing methods and listened to the founder of HynoBirthing, Marie Mongan, talk about its philosophy and techniques, and the calm, gentle, and sometimes pain-free birthing experiences of HypnoBirthing mothers. I was instantly hooked and quickly signed up for a class. I loved every minute of the 12-hour series… it was a full education on…
Read More
The most common reason that mothers wean early or add in supplemental formula is due to concerns about inadequate milk supply. As a doula and lactation counselor, this is the postpartum concern I hear the most frequently. First, determine if you need to work on your supply. If your baby has exceeded her birth weight and is producing at least 4 stools a day, then you have a healthy, adequate supply. Striving to increase your supply may lead to engorgement, sore nipples,…
Read More
I just got back from an amazing Spinning Babies Workshop and I’m eager to share what I’ve learned with my students, doula clients, and all of those Mamas out there preparing for birth. In a nutshell: position matters— your position, baby’s position; in pregnancy and in labor. “Optimal fetal positioning” has been a bit of a buzz term lately and I have even seen some debate on whether it matters, but let me tell you— it matters, much more than you think!…
Read More
For many women, a positive experience can be hard to come by. Ask around and you will likely discover this for yourself. It is all too easy for a woman’s birth to slip out of her control and into the hands of procedure, routine, the clock, concern for liability, etc. But the key to a positive birth experience is not complicated; it does not require voodoo, chanting, or even homebirth. When it comes to having an empowering birthing experience, it all comes…
Read More