Henci Goer and Amy Romano, Optimal Care in Childbirth: The Case for the Physiological Approach (Seattle: Classic Day Publishing, 2012). 583 pp. $46 Paperback / $39 Kindle. After a friend had a “pushed” birth followed by an unnecesarean a few years ago, I gave her a copy of Henci Goer’s The Thinking Woman’s Guide to …
We Must Do More to Honor Birth as a Peak Life Experience My name is Molly Wales. I am the director of The Birth Circle (a consumer birth group) in Athens, Ohio, and am a BirthWorks childbirth educator. I’m here today to talk to you about why I believe that we aren’t doing enough in our country …
There are many prenatal programs that have been developed over the years to help women cope with childbirth. The first childbirth education programs in America were conceived by men such as Dr. Fernand Lamaze, a French Obstetrician who introduced The Lamaze Method in 1951 through observing birthing techniques in Russia. Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, an English …
Allie Chee, author of New Mother: Using a Doula, Midwife, Postpartum Doula, Maid, Cook or Nanny to Support Healing, Bonding and Growth (Hestia Books & Media, 2012), is clearly an extraordinary person. She gave birth to her first baby at the age of 42 at home in the care of a midwife, but only …
“What’s your cesarean section rate?”“What is your episiotomy rate?”“May I eat and drink during labor?”“May I have a doula/ lots of family/ a photographer at my birth?” Women and their partners are often encouraged to ask these and similar questions when selecting a care provider for their pregnancy and birth, the theory being that the …
Presentation at the Virtua Voorhees Hospital I recently gave two presentations on “Supporting Women Without Epidurals” at Virtua Voorhees, the local hospital in Marlton, NJ. The hospital has approximately 5,500 births per year and a 43% cesarean rate. New Jersey and Florida have the highest cesarean rates in the country. My audience consisted of doctors, …
Truth, like surgery, may hurt, but it cures.– Han Suyin The fourth annual Hudson Valley Birth Options panel took an especially hard look at the truth this year. As in previous years a number of childbirth educators, doulas, midwives and mothers form a panel for local families to explore their birth options. Families from …
Our small town of Athens, Ohio is home to a consumer birth group called The Birth Circle. Over the ten years since it began, The Birth Circle has grown from a handful of mothers who got together to share their birth stories, to a powerful community organization that has made a substantial difference in …
Value of a Doula When people ask me what I do, I always respond by saying, “I’m a doula and a childbirth educator.” And then I wait. I wait for the look of uncertainty to fill the face of the person who asked me the question, or for them to say, “What’s a doula?” The …
Why is it so important to create a quiet, peaceful atmosphere during labor? And how can women take charge of creating a peaceful environment no matter where they choose to give birth? The Leboyer Method, established by Dr. Frederic Leboyer in the 1970s was proven to minimize the trauma and stress experienced by a …
Our Facebook Page Was Hacked: We’re aware of the unauthorized posts and are working tirelessly with professionals to resolve the issue.
Have a Question? Let’s Chat.
Please don’t hesitate to reach us, happy to be in touch.
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."
