Understanding The Hormonal Blueprint of Labor
Learn about oxytocin, beta-endorphins and adrenaline, the hormones of labor, and how they may impact your birth!
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Blog
Check out our blogs about yoga, birth & parenthood!
Yoga and Exercises to Widen Your Pelvis for Birth
The Pelvis is not a fixed entity. There are joints which allow for the pelvis to modify its shape. In doing so, this allows for more space for baby during labor as well as helping the pelvic floor to lengthen in order to yield and support the baby during birth. Navigation Understanding Pelvic Movement The
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Considering Induction, Know Your Bishop Score
If you’re considering an elective induction or facing a medical induction, it may be helpful to know your Bishop Score. The Bishop score is a cervical assessment system, where five criteria are calculated to produce a rating between 0-13, which determines if the cervix is ready for induction. Generally, a Bishop score of 6 or
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Water Breaking Before Labor: What to Expect and When Induction Becomes Necessary
Not long ago, a student returned to postnatal yoga after giving birth to her first child. I love seeing parents returning with their yummy new babies and hearing about their birth experiences. This one parent, upon telling me her birth story, laughed slightly and said, “I was the poster child for the ‘cascade of interventions.’”
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Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder and Postpartum Depression(PMAD): Exploring the Differences, Signs & Causes
The World Health Organization estimates that around 13% of people worldwide who have recently given birth, experience a mental health disorder, most commonly depression.This figure is even higher in the developing world at 19.8%. For pregnant people, 10% worldwide experience depression and in developing countries, the rate is 15.6% (1). At the Prenatal Yoga Center,
Why Choose a Midwife?
Prenatal Yoga – A Natural Path toward Working with a Midwife by Risa Klein, CNM, M.S. Making a decision as to who will take care of you and your gestating baby is monumental. To make the best-informed decision, you need to understand some differences between the midwifery model of care and the medical model, and
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Postnatal Yoga and Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti (separation of the rectus abdominis) affects all expectant folks to some degree. However, some birthing parents will experience greater ab separation than others and as such, may want to take steps to heal it or know how to prevent it from becoming worse. In this post we will discuss what yoga poses may
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How Do Epidurals Affect Breastfeeding?
Learn how breastfeeding may be impacted by epidurals and how to alleviate the difficulties they may cause.
How Do Epidurals Affect Breastfeeding? Read More »
Placenta Previa and Prenatal Yoga
Learn how to safely modify your prenatal yoga practice and which yoga poses to avoid if you have placenta previa.
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Easy Prenatal Yoga Modifications
Discover these easy prenatal yoga modifications and try adding them to your regular yoga practice.
Easy Prenatal Yoga Modifications Read More »
How Your Partner Can Support You During Pregnancy and Birth
Discover effective ways for your partner to support you during pregnancy and labor and explore partner-friendly prenatal yoga positions for laboring together.
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Membrane Stripping for Labor Induction: What to Expect, Risks, and Benefits
A few weeks ago, one of my good friends was facing labor induction. She was a week beyond her estimated due date and her doctor wanted to induce 10 days past. My friend had tried just about everything to get things moving. I had asked her if her doctor had tried stripping her membranes (also
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Psoas Muscle: How it Affects Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum Recovery
Discover the role the psoas muscle plays in pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery and how to release tension from it.
Psoas Muscle: How it Affects Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum Recovery Read More »
Dispelling the Fear About the Umbilical Cord
Discover why umbilical knots and nuchal cords aren’t as concerning you may think and learn more about the anatomy of the umbilical cord.
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The Benefits of a Postpartum Doula
Learn about what a postpartum doula does and why hiring one can help you to navigate the early days of becoming a parent.
The Benefits of a Postpartum Doula Read More »
7 Moves To Prepare Your Pelvis For Birth
Discover seven prenatal yoga poses that can help to prepare your pelvis for birth by increasing its mobility and the strength of its supporting muscles.
7 Moves To Prepare Your Pelvis For Birth Read More »
Gentle C-Section: What is it & How to do it
Learn what a gentle c-section is and find out whether this is the right choice for your birth plan.
Gentle C-Section: What is it & How to do it Read More »
Navigating Nighttime Labor Pains: What To Do & When To Go To The Hospital
Discover strategies for managing labor pains at night, gain insights into labor patterns, and understand when it’s time to make your way to the hospital.
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What is the Difference Between A Walking Epidural & a Standard Epidural?
Discover the differences between a walking epidural and a standard epidural to determine which one would be a better option for your birth.
What is the Difference Between A Walking Epidural & a Standard Epidural? Read More »
What’s the Difference Between a Prenatal Yoga Class and a Yoga Class Modified for Pregnancy?
Learn the differences between prenatal yoga classes and yoga classes modified for pregnancy. Discover which one works for you!
Help To Relieve Pain From Breastfeeding With Postnatal Yoga
Discover how to treat pain from breastfeeding that can be caused by repetitive movements and bad posture. Learn how postnatal yoga can help!
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Explanation of Fetal Positions; What Poses Are Beneficial and What Poses Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy
Learn about the different fetal positions and how they impact labor and birth. Discover the best yoga poses to do for optimal fetal positioning.
Everything you want to know about your water breaking!
Learn everything you need to know about your water breaking and what to do if it breaks spontaneously or prematurely.
Everything you want to know about your water breaking! Read More »
How Prenatal Yoga Can Help To Relieve Back Pain In Pregnancy
Discover yoga poses to help relieve prenatal back pain and learn how prenatal yoga can help you to have a more comfortable pregnancy.
How Prenatal Yoga Can Help To Relieve Back Pain In Pregnancy Read More »
What Is A Birth Team & How To Choose The Right Team Members
A birth team is a group of selected people that assist and support an expectant parent during labor and delivery as well as sometimes the postpartum period too.
What Is A Birth Team & How To Choose The Right Team Members Read More »
How Prenatal Yoga Can Help You Have An Easier Birth
Navigation Have you ever wondered why some people’s birth is quick and smooth while others have a long and drawn out labor? How easy or difficult a birth is depends upon the baby’s position and the balance of the expectant parent’s bones, muscles and soft tissue and ligaments. When the parent’s body is better balanced,
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Top 5 Pelvic Floor Podcasts
If you’ve spent anytime following my podcast, social media or attended a prenatal and postnatal yoga class, you already know what a HUGE anatomy geek I am and how any conversation involving the pelvic floor I find deeply fascinating. With that in mind, I figured it was high time I put together a curated list
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Exercising Your Pelvic Floor During Pregnancy The Right Way
Learn why kegels may not be right for you & how to identify your pelvic floor needs. Plus, we spill our methods here at Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC.
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4 Ways to Relax Your Pelvic Floor During Birth!
Here are 4 ideas you can use during labor to help combat tightness and tension that can build in the pelvic floor during birth!
4 Ways to Relax Your Pelvic Floor During Birth! Read More »
Top 10 Pregnancy Podcasts Part 2
Welcome to part two of our most listened to episodes of Yoga | Birth | Babies podcast!
Top 10 Pregnancy Podcasts Part 2 Read More »
Top 10 Prenatal Podcasts (part 1)
✨Here is our Top 10 Prenatal Podcasts (part 1)
Top 10 Prenatal Podcasts (part 1) Read More »
Instead of kegels, do this!
There is more to the pelvic floor than kegels! Learning to release, lengthen and strengthen is key!
Instead of kegels, do this! Read More »
Do you need flexibility to give birth?
Recently after class one of my students stayed around to ask a question. They waited until everyone else left and quietly expressed concerns about their flexibility and the ability to birth. I’ve seen their practice for about two months so I understood the limited mobility their hamstrings and hips have and I got where they were coming from. I
Do you need flexibility to give birth? Read More »
Top 5 Breastfeeding Podcast Episodes
This blog is filled with our top Yoga | Birth | Babies breastfeeding podcast episodes & lactaction resources because August is National Breastfeeding Month! This is a month dedicated to advocacy, protection & education around breastfeeding. This month is kicked off by World Breastfeeding Week (8/1-8/7). World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) aims to inform, anchor, engage
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Fear and Birth
I learned a very important lesson early on in my career as a doula. I attended a birth that certainly did not flow as desired. It felt like all the mother’s hope for how her birth would happen went the complete opposite direction. A year later, she asked me to come over and talk. I
For my fellow “Older Moms”
I didn’t set out to be an “older mom” but life and career choices rendered that the case. I met my husband a week past my 35th birthday. I found out I was pregnant with my first child one day before my 37th birthday and was 22 weeks pregnant with my second child while belly dancing
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📣 Your voice needs to be heard 📣
I’m blown away by the bravery and openness of students in this morning’s prenatal yoga class. Several shared that they had some big, emotional decisions to make surrounding their birth. Decisions to be made ranged from the pros and cons of induction, to accepting a cesarean for a breech baby, and preparing for a VBAC.
📣 Your voice needs to be heard 📣 Read More »
It’s Not the Size of the Baby, But the Position of the Pelvis!
The number one reason for first time parents to have a cesarean section is “failure to progress”. This all encompassing statement can really refer to any reason for the cervix not dilating, but many times pregnant people hear that their “baby was too big”. (ps- less than 10% of all babies born at 39 weeks or later
It’s Not the Size of the Baby, But the Position of the Pelvis! Read More »
Welcomed Support!
I started my steady yoga practice years ago when a choreographer I was working with used yoga asana as our warm up. Being young, supple and hypermobile, the practice came very easily to me. I remember the first time props were introduced in class. I scoffed a bit thinking, I don’t need props. And to be completely
10 Reasons You Should Do Prenatal Yoga
You may think, “Yoga is yoga! Sure I’m pregnant, but why not go to a general population class and modify poses as needed?” To some extent, yes, downward facing dog is going to be the same no matter where you take class. However, there is something so special and unique about a prenatal yoga class
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Self Care is not Selfish!
Sometimes, I feel twinges of guilt when I tell my husband or friends that I just came from a yoga class. In my mind I feel judgment that this equates to 90 minutes of time not focused on work or my kids. Then, I slap myself back into reality and realize it’s only 90 minutes
Self Care is not Selfish! Read More »
What Every New Mom Should Know to Survive the First 3 Months
Originally posted on Mommybites May 9, 2018 The first 12 weeks as a new parent can often be described as total love fest with the new baby mixed with fatigue, unwashed hair, and an overwhelming sense of “what did I get myself into?!” Here are some helpful hints to make the transition from maiden to
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Family Bonding Time
Early on as a new parent, my husband and I created a very sweet and nurturing nighttime routine. When my son would wake up for a 3am feeding, I would prop myself up with pillows, get my son established on my breast, and settle in as he would read aloud to us. The book was Eat Cake, and
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March Mom of the Month : Meet Rebecca Elder
One of the best aspects of being part of a community is the benefit of learning from one another. Our mom of the month, Rebecca shares some wise tips that she learned along the way. If you could go back and give yourself advice as a first-time mom, what would it be? Would you change
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Words Matter: How Words Can Affect Your Birth
My heart melted when I read my daughter’s preschool monthly newsletter. The theme this month is “The Power of words.” The lesson, the words you say have impact. “Before you speak, think and be smart. It’s hard to fix a wrinkled heart.” Words can hurt. They can diminish how someone thinks about themselves and be
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February Mom of the Month: Meet Michelle Tsang!
Community and support are a vital part of Prenatal Yoga Center. To help encourage relationships and get to know one another a little better, we like to introduce a new mom and her baby each month. This month, please meet Michelle Tsang and her 5 1/2 month son, Ryan. Is this your first baby? Yes
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Informed Consent; Changing the Way Women Are Treated In Birth
We are at an interesting point in time regarding how women are being viewed and treated. A dark and heavy curtain is being drawn back, and many violent, belittling, and humiliating acts of sexual assault and harassment are coming to light. Both the political arena and entertainment industry are erupting with allegations and shame, and
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Mom of Month: Meet Camelia Mitchell!
What is the most surprising thing about motherhood thus far? How quickly everything else matters less. You’ve lived your whole life with a set of priorities and the moment that little human comes out, that whole list is gone. What is one of the most important pieces of advice you feel you can impart to
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Mom of Month: Meet Bridget Tichar!
What has surprised you most about motherhood thus far? I’m most surprised with how many other moms are now my friends! The commonality of going through pregnancy, labor, birth, and raising a child is such a unifying experience that I instantly have a connection with so many women. Once that friendship door is opened from
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Could Exercise During Pregnancy Make Labor Harder? Why a fit pregnancy doesn’t always make for the best birth plan.
First published in Well Rounded NY When I was pregnant with my first baby, I worked out until I gave birth and looked like I had just stepped out of a pregnancy magazine. I only gained weight in my belly and my boobs, and I generally felt good. But my rigorous and rather insane fitness