Tag: Pregnancy and Birth

“We separately covered reasons why you might have labor induced, ranging from being “overdue” to preeclampsia to poor fetal growth. Especially if induction wasn’t your original plan for how labor would start, you may dread being hooked up to an IV and fetal monitoring equipment, and fear needing an epidural to cope with the Pitocin-induced contractions. On that front, we have some good news: Pitocin isn’t your only option for labor induction, there are alternatives. 

Here, we’ll cover a full-spectrum view of labor induction methods, from the least to most invasive. Know that when “D-Day” comes, you may experience multiple methods, layered together. Depending on your medical provider, you might begin with one intervention, then receive another in a scheduled window of time if labor isn’t progressing.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

“Induction: a word that can incite strong feelings in either direction for pregnant women. Maybe you brought the topic up to your doctor, maybe she brought it up to you. The idea of being induced and meeting your baby sooner may sound exciting (not to mention the relief of not being pregnant anymore!). Or maybe you feel scared at the prospect of an induction replacing the natural birth you pictured yourself having. Let’s talk over the reasons you might be induced, plus a well-known research study called the ARRIVE trial about whether to induce a healthy pregnancy at 39 weeks.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

“Was it really best for me to have little to no food for more than 48 hours of labor? Would labor (and the first few hours of my daughter’s life, earthside) have been easier if I had been steadily nourished with healthy foods? And, if so, what kinds of foods should I have eaten during labor? 

Most pregnant women are aware that many hospitals have restrictions on eating and sometimes drinking during labor, but the reasons behind this can be confusing. In this article, I’ll explore why these rules exist in the first place, if they still make sense for our modern medical context, why we should be allowing women to eat during labor, and what kinds of foods are ideal.”

Read the rest of the article at Natural Womanhood.

“In 2021, nearly one third (32.1%) of all births in the United States were via Cesarean section (C-section), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But a July 2021 Scientific American article by Ann Ledbetter noted that research shows C-section rates over 19% don’t lead to healthier moms and/or babies. With 19% as the ideal benchmark and 32% the reality, that translates to “about half a million unnecessary surgeries every year,” by Ledbetter’s estimate.

While the number of excess C-sections performed each year is startlingly high, and has negative implications for maternal mortality in the US and elsewhere, Ledbetter (and virtually everyone else) acknowledges that C-sections can be a life-saving procedure for some moms and babies. Still, as we’ll discuss today, not every C-section experience is created equal, and the “gentle C-section” option could have a lot to offer moms and babies for whom C-sections are necessary. In other words, pregnant women have good reason to think critically about their options should they need to receive this operation.”

Read the rest of this article at Natural Womanhood.

“There comes a point in every woman’s pregnancy where she starts to really think about what labor will be like. That moment might come right after a positive pregnancy test or in the final days of her third trimester. Movies and TV shows may lead you to believe you’ll be rushing into the hospital after your water unexpectedly and dramatically breaks, screaming the whole way and barely making it in time to deliver your baby. But this is not the reality for most women, especially for first-timers. In fact, active labor can last between four to eight hours for first time moms! And this is after early labor, which can stretch well into the 24-hour range. Is there anything you can do to help speed up your labor? Here’s a guide on one of the best tools to help you meet your baby faster: maternal positioning and movement to facilitate the cardinal movements of labor. “

Read the rest of the article at Natural Womanhood.

“It’s no secret that pregnancy brings with it a whole host of physical changes—some of them unwelcome. During the nine months of pregnancy, a staggering 90% of women can expect to have “significant and complex” skin changes [1]. Some of these skin changes can be anticipated, like stretch marks and linea nigra, a dark line that runs from the belly button downward. However, there are some skin issues that go beyond the frustrating, like PUPPP, and can venture into being a health concern, like pemphigoid gestationis. Here’s a guide to skin changes during pregnancy—what’s common, what’s merely annoying, and what merits a trip to your doctor.”

Read the rest of the article at Natural Womanhood.