Empowerment
The Impact of Fear, Stress and Anxiety during Pregnancy and Birth on Women and Infants
by Sally Dear-Healey, Ph.D., PPNE, CCE (BWI), CD (BWI), TICP Research shows that “both psychosocial stress and pregnancy-specific stresses can have marked effects on pregnancy, maternal health, and human development across the lifespan.” Moreover, both animal and human studies suggest that activation of what is referred to as the “maternal stress response” and resulting changes …
The Importance of Why
One of the beauties of a strong and vibrant community of birth workers is that our conversations quickly delve into conceptual yet crucial topics such as human rights in birth, the effects of language and persona on confidence, power dynamics in the laboring room. This talk brings us, as birth professionals, to a higher plane …
“The Baby Comes Out the Back” – Birth Story
by Krista Haggerty, BWI Trainee I was 40 weeks and 6 days pregnant when I woke at 6am to my waters breaking. It was a small trickle, but I knew today would be the day we would meet our third child. I woke my husband, text my doula, and called my midwife. Since this would …
A Mothering/Fertility Slavic Textile Doll
by Yulia Welk, CCE, BWI Crafts can serve a role of ritual, strength and healing through working with mental images, fabric and old handmade Russian tradition of making charm dolls. I have been making Russian traditional fabric dolls for five years now, they are very numerous and unique (check my Instagram at yulia_welk). I currently …
Pushing in Labor??
By Horatio Daub MD, MPH and Cathy Daub PT, CCE and CD(BWI) A recent study in the Journal of American Medical Association1, October 9, 2018, found that delaying pushing once full cervical dilatation is reached for 60 minutes vs. immediate pushing had no significant effect on the rate of spontaneous vaginal delivery (85.9 % in …
Twin Victory
by Jane Beal, PhD, CCE (BWI) When the waters were rising from January rains, and the California hills were all green, when the white-woolly sheep were wandering in pastures and chewing the grass at their feet, then the Victorious One went walking across the expanse of her fruitful olive farm, carrying twin …
Integrating the Mind, Body, and Spirit in Birth: An Emotional Preparation for Birth
By Cathy Daub PT, CCE/CD (BWI) Teaching about birth is straightforward: the challenge is to get women to trust and believe in their own ability to give birth. Being present at a birth, we soon become aware that an emotional, trans-formative, sacred experience is happening. It is in this emotional state that a laboring …
Birth Poem
by Trisha Lawrie I thought I couldn’t do it, I thought I wasn’t strong I saw myself as weak, but I know now I was wrong After all, I always cried at the slightest little thing A stubbed toe or a paper cut would cause my eyes to sting I proceeded to convince …
Ten Tips for a Healthy Postpartum
In an ideal world. the fleeting days of new parenthood are spent cocooned in a warm family bed with meals being prepared and all the family’s basic needs being met. However, the reality is that enjoying the early moments of new parenthood can be a challenge. In a society where family and friends are often …
