Talk Birth

Unlike what you see in the movies, only a very small percentage of women have their water break spontaneously as the first sign of labor.  Most often, your water will break naturally while in labor, possibly during a strong contraction.  It may happen early on, it may happen towards the end, and in rare cases, the baby may actually be born in the bag of water.  Having your water broken artificially by an OB or midwife, also known as an amniotomy, is one of the most common medical interventions performed today.  A long, thin instrument with a hook on the end is inserted into the vagina, and through the cervix, to tear the amniotic membranes open.  The hope of the medical provider is to speed up your labor through this procedure.  But is it really working?  Is it really making labor faster?  Is it benefiting anyone?  Studies are saying no. continue reading »

When you plan a vacation, you do all of the research on the best hotels, dining, attractions, etc.  When you set out to buy a new car, you want to know the details like gas mileage, safety, and all of the possible options the car may include.  What about when you become pregnant?  No one wants to hurt their bodies or their babies, and we all wish for the safest birth of a healthy newborn. Yet, many women are still subjecting themselves to unnecessary medical procedures that may actually be hurting their bodies, their birth, their babies. continue reading »