Understanding Labor & Birth
Transforming Scared Into Sacred Birth
They Lied… It Matters How You Birth
The Role of Fear in the U.S. Birthing Process
Natural Childbirth: The Evolutionary Template for Childbirth
Natural Childbirth III: Why Undisturbed Birth?
Amniotic Fluid Levels- What You Need to Know
Facts About Amniotic Sac, Placenta & Umbilical Cord
FAQs That Other People Have Already Answered
Hormones
Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing and Its Implications for Women, Babies and Maternity Care
Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing
Fetal Lungs Protein Release Triggers Labor to Begin
Molecular Mechanisms Within Fetal Lungs Initiate Labor
Hormones Driving Labor and Birth
Giving Birth: The Endocrinology of Ecstacy
Natural Childbirth IV: The Hormones of Birth
Labor & Progress
Early Labor and Mixed Messages
Active Birth- For A Shorter Labour, Less Pain, and More
Friedman’s Curve and Failure to Progress: A Leading Cause of Unplanned C-sections
Making Progress in Labor is More than Just Dilation
Cervical dilation is (now mathematically shown to be) unpredictable
Optimal Fetal Positioning – Helping to Make Birth Better
Most Healthy Women Would Benefit From Light Meal During Labor
Q&A: Food and Drink During Labor
5 Things to Nourish Your Body in Labor
Vocalization and Use of Tones During Labor
The Truth About Labor & Cervical Scar Tissue
Cervical Scar Tissue: A Cause of Preventable C-sections
Microbiome
The Healthy Birth: Dyad or Triad? Exploring Birth and the Microbiome
The Human Microbiome: considerations for pregnancy, birth, and early mothering
Bundle of Joyful Microbes: Mom’s DNA Alters Baby’s Gut Bacteria
The infant gut microbiome: New studies on its origins and how its knocked out of balance
Like Genes, Our Microbes Pass from Parent to Child
Human Microbiome May Be Seeded Before Birth
Breech Birth (see also breechbirthsd.com)
Breech Babies are Another Variation of Normal
Evidence for Using Moxibustion to Turn Breech Babies
How the Webster Technique Can Help
What is the Evidence for Using an ECV to Turn a Breech Baby?
How a Doula helps with Breech ECV
External Cephalic Version (ECV)- 5 Things to Consider Before Having One
The Complications of External Cephalic Version: Results from 805 Consecutive Attempts
Hospital Breech Birth: The Illusion of the Lack of Choice
ACOG Committee Opinion: Mode of Term Singleton Breech Delivery
Breech Birth After Cesarean (BBAC)
Birth Location
Home Birth
“Homebirth” with an Obstetrician: A Series of 135 Out of Hospital Births
Medical Literature on the Safety of Home Birth
Why Homebirth is 1,000 Times Safer Than Hospital Birth for Low Risk US Women
Natural Childbirth: Is Homebirth More Dangerous than Hospital Birth?
Birth Center Birth
Outcomes of Care in Birth Centers: Demonstration of a Durable Model
Hospital-based Birth
What to Expect When Birthing in a Hospital
What Does It Mean to be Mother-Baby Friendly, Really?
Learning About Routine Interventions in the Hospital
Normal Labor Takes More Time Than OBs Are Allowing For
Cesarean Birth
12 Ways to Have a Mother-Friendly Cesarean
Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery
Top 7 Cesarean & VBAC Websites That Every Birth Pro Needs To Know About
The Vanishing Mother: Cesarean Section and “Evidenced-Based Obstetrics”
Twin Study: Planned Cesarean No Safer than Vaginal Delivery
Top 10 Signs Your Doctor is Planning to Perform an Unnecessary Cesarean Section on You
Women Pushed into Cesarean Births
Documented Causes of Unnecesareans
Effect of Cesarean Birth Can Last a Lifetime
Natural Childbirth VII: C-section Risks and Complications
Research: Could Birth-Canal Bacteria Help C-section Babies?
Do newborns delivered by C-section face higher risk of chronic health problems later in life?
Cesarean Section & Delayed Clamping
Trial of Labor Prior to Cesarean
The Harmful Consequences of Prelabour Cesarean Section on the Baby
Respiratory Morbidity Benefit of Awaiting Onset of Labor After Elective Cesarean Section
Neonatal Morbidity After Elective Repeat Cesarean Section and Trial of Labor
Science You Can Use: Cesarean Birth Without Labor Associated with Breastfeeding Problems
C-sections Are Best With a Little Labor, A Study Says
Interventions
Natural Pain Relief Options for Labour
The Most Scientific Birth is Often the Least Technological Birth
Amniotomy for Shortening Spontaneous Labour
What is the Evidence for Inducing Labor if Your Water Breaks at Term?
What is the Evidence for Going on Bed Rest if Your Water Breaks?
10 Procedures to Think Twice About During Pregnancy
Common Childbirth Procedures Are NOT Supported by Scientific Evidence
5 Reasons Why Your Birth Can Affect Your Baby and Your Parenting
New Research: Direct Correlation Between Labor Pain Medications and Breastfeeding
Epidurals
Epidural Analgesia: A Delicate Dance Between its Positive Role and its Unwanted Side Effects
Pain Management for Women in Labor: A Research Review
Thoughts on Epidurals, Risk, and Decision Making
Epidural: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Natural Childbirth V: Epidural Side Effects and Risks
Does Epidural Analgesia Predispose to Persistent OP?
Fetal Monitoring
Fetal Heart Rates During Labor Not Linked to Health
Evidence-based Fetal Monitoring
Gestational Diabetes
Does Gestational Diabetes Always Mean a Big Baby and Induction?
Induction
What is the Evidence for Induction or C-section for a Big Baby? (updated!)
The Surprising Lack of Evidence for Postdate Birth Induction
What is the Evidence for Induction for Low Amniotic Fluid?
Induction of Labour: Balancing Risks
Induction: A Step by Step Guide
5 Q&A About Inducing From Our CEO
Induced and Seduced: The Dangers of Cytotec
Early Deliveries Without Medical Indications: Just Say No
Pitocin/Oxytocin
Oxytocin During Labor and Risk of Postpartum Hemorrhage
21 Reasons to Say No to Pitocin
Study Finds Adverse Effects of Pitocin in Newborns
What is the Evidence for Pitocin Augmentation?
Natural Childbirth VI: Pitocin Side Effects and Risks
Saline Lock
Evidence for the Saline Lock During Labor
Ultrasound
Natural Childbirth IIa: Is Ultrasound Necessary & Effective in Pregnancy?
Natural Childbirth IIb: Ultrasound Not as Safe as Commonly Thought
Ultrasound: 7 Reasons Your Developing Baby Says It’s Not Safe or Painless
Newborn Procedures
Common Objections to Delayed Cord Clamping
Delaying Umbilical Cord Clamping for preterm infants results in better motor development
‘Wait for Eight’ Delayed Bathing Helps Newborns Thrive
An Actively Managed Placental Birth
Take it Off: Why You Should Drop Your Newborn’s Hat
Hats on Newborn Babies: Reasons to Ditch the Hat
The Evidence on: Erythromycin Eye Ointment for Newborns
Eye Ointment at Birth: A Dated Tradition
10 Incredible Gifts for NICU Families
“Should We Private Bank Our Baby’s Cord Blood?”- Information that can help you answer that question
VBAC
VBAC Birth: Success Rates, Risks & How to Prepare
Vaginal Birth After C-section (VBAC) – What to Expect
Compilation of VBAC/ERCS Research to Date
Uterine Rupture: A Look at 20 Peer-Reviewed Publications
50 Ways to Protest of VBAC Denial
A Woman’s Guide to VBAC: Putting Uterine Rupture into Perspective
Fight Back for VBAC: Protesting the Sorry State of VBACs Today
Sharp Rise in Rate of Delivery-related Severe Sepsis
Waterbirth
Evidence on the Safety of Waterbirth
Using Water for Labor and Birth