Bloggers for Birth Kits: Reducing maternal mortality in developing nations →

Save a mama’s life this Mother’s Day — consider putting together a simple, inexpensive birth kit to help moms in developing nations reduce maternal mortality. Putting kits together is a great project for a moms group, a homeschooling group, a church group, etc., or you can blog about it and link up at the post, or donate money toward the cause. You can even use your donation as a Mother’s Day present in honor of your own mother or mother-in-law!

An actively managed placental birth might be the best option for most women | Midwife Thinking →

As a birth nerd, I’m supremely interested in subjects like how the placenta detaches and leaves the uterus, and what happens after. And as a former sufferer of postpartum hemorrhaging, I love knowledge that can keep it from happening again.

I thought her conclusions were very interesting: In a hospital, you’re unlikely to have a completely hands-off third stage of labor (i.e., the time you birth the placenta); therefore, so-called active management might be best for avoiding PPH, based on studies. However, in a relaxed environment where the birth can be purely physiological, then a physiological birth of the placenta can also be safe and effective. My second birth was like that: low lights, low noise, low stress, skin-to-skin just after birth — and no PPH this time around. I know of women who’ve had serene home births that ended in PPH, however, so I’d love to see more studies on the topic to tease out which method is preferable in terms of maternal safety.

Asynclitism: a well aligned baby or a tilted head? | Midwife Thinking →

On the process and effect of having an asynclitic baby.

Mikko’s head was tilted, since he had his arm wrapped around his (humongous) head (thanks, hon). With that and his size, my labor with him was quite long and irregular — lots of contractions that kept seeming to be leading to something, but then backing off with no seeming progress: 42 hours in all. Still, only 1.5 hours of pushing and no pitocin or pain meds needed, only minor tears, so it all worked out. The midwives told me afterward that having his head tilted for so long meant he wasn’t putting even pressure on the cervix to open it, and this article illuminates that he also was probably looking for the space he needed to maneuver through. It’s good to keep in mind that asynclitic can be just fine, only longer.

Retreat at The Farm | Where's my midwife? →

Fabulous birth activists retreat in support of midwifery at The Farm in Tennessee this June 22-24 (where Ina May Gaskin attends births). Only $100 + camping/dorm fees.

Home birth advocacy in the face of death →

On informed decisions, risk, and being a writer and advocate.

On the one hand, most women can have normal, uncomplicated births given education and competent care. On the other hand, all birth carries risk, and homebirths can definitely have adverse outcomes. It’s important to talk about the risk and the potential for grief and regret when evaluating any birth choice.

The Perfect Placenta - Job Description: Mommy →

I love the placenta! And it’s so odd that anyone on Facebook would think to complain about placenta pictures, and that Facebook’s response would be to ban the posters. Ah, well, I appreciate this informative rebuttal — with pictures, of course! Learn a little more about this fascinating organ.

themule: Birth Special: Acceptance Nude →

The Cassie Fox photo and poem is stopping my heart. How well do you accept and embrace how your body has changed due to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, age, or other causes? How well do you see the good reasons for those changes?

Positions For Labour And Childbirth | Diary of a First Child →

Wonderful descriptions of positions to move into during labor, back labor, and pushing courtesy of Luschka and beautiful drawings of same by JoniRae.com. I wish all childbirthing professionals, mamas, and birthing partners had access to printable charts such as these — print them out, pin them, share them around!

I moved moved moved during my long labor with Mikko. With more confidence during Alrik’s birth, I took to heart my midwife’s suggestion that birthing women, when not persuaded otherwise, will usually move into the position that’s instinctually best for them. I labored bent forward on my knees, and pushed in a semi-reclined squat. It worked, is all I can say!

Mama Birth: A Home Birthing OB Speaks Out- →

Love this article by a home-birthing obstetrician covering her own fears of homebirth and her reasons for choosing one, and the pros and cons of homebirth vs. hospital from an OB’s perspective.