Check out our blogs about yoga, birth & parenthood!
Just the other day at the end of class several students were discussing their doctors’ recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy – a very hot topic among the pregnant mamas! Some women were saying that their doctors are very lenient while others have stricter guidelines, suggesting no more than 25 pounds. One woman commented that […]
How Much Is Too Much Weight To Gain When Pregnant? Read More »
I just recently came across a wonderfully informative article, Early C-Section Carries Risks, Study Finds by Keith Winstein in the Wall Street Journal about a study recently conducted and published in The New England Journal of Medicine about the risks of early elective cesarean births. This struck me as an important, immediate topic, as I
Early C-Section Carries Risks, Study Finds Read More »
Inspired by what I saw on my bike trip through Vietnam, since returning I have been obsessed with incorporating more squatting poses into my prenatal yoga classes. I have long been fascinated by the incredible ease with which many people from other cultures (particularly in Asian countries I have visited) can assume a squatting position,
Four years ago I was traveling through India when I came face to face (as it were) with the reality of the ‘Sphincter Law’. First allow me to describe my experience, as I think that it will illustrate why Ina May Gaskin has so termed this ‘law’. When I arrived at Amma’s ashram, I had
The Sphincter Law and Childbirth Read More »
I love when a study comes out that supports normal, healthy birth. This fall’s edition of The Journal of Perinatal Education features the article “Doula Care For Middle-Class Women With Male Partners Substantially Lowers Cesarean Rates”. The article describes a recent study that demonstrates some of the benefits of having a doula present. Of course,
New Study: Doula Care Lowers Cesarean Rate Read More »
A birth ball, that is! I often find myself teaching postnatal yoga while sitting on a birth ball, balancing two babies on my knees. I joke that the ball was the best piece of equipment I bought for the studio. Although I say this in jest, there is great truth to this statement! The birth
There was a flurry of e-mails in my inbox earlier this week as the teacher trainees were very excitedly passing on an article from the NY Times on home birth. The article, Baby, You’re Home, discusses the upward trend of home births, the practicality of it, the safety precautions, and the opposition. I find it
Choice and Safety of Home Birth: An Ongoing Discussion Read More »
Last weekend I was walking home from the gym when I ran into one of my students. She told me that she was in early labor – 4 cm – and was sent to go walk around to try to get things moving. She also told me that her doctor had informed her that since
Low Level of Amniotic Fluid – No Risk to Normal Birth Read More »
Please enjoy this list of 10 healthful hints for pregnancy, labor and postpartum. Much of this information is gathered from friends, students, hands-on experience, mentors and teachers. I strongly believe in learning from others, so please feel free to pass this along to all your friends! 1. Olive Oil on Baby’s Bottom to Prevent the
10 Helpful Hints for Pregnancy, Labor and Postpartum Read More »
For years I have been asked to substantiate with a clinical study the idea that prenatal yoga helps pregnant women during labor. So you can imagine my excitement when I was reading from the Journal of Perinatal Education and found this article doing just that. Please read and enjoy the article. This may help remind
Prenatal Yoga May Result in Less Labor Pain, Shorter Labor Read More »
Last week I stumbled upon the article “A Top Obstetrician On Why Men Should NEVER Be At the Birth Of Their Child” by a very renowned obstetrician, Michel Odent, about the father’s place in labor and birth. Odent is a father of three and a pioneer in water birth. At first I was very surprised
Where Does Dad Belong During Labor? Read More »
I finally sat down to go through the many books that are stockpiled on my bookcase to give away to Housing Works. As I was tossing several of my chick lit books into a paper bag, I came across a book I forgot I was given, Enjoy your labor: A new approach to pain relief
Hormonal Blueprint of Labor Read More »
As seen in Midwifery Today Issue 91, Autumn 2009 I am very excited that I can finally put my degree from the Boston Conservatory of Music to good use in my current career! Recently during class I have been focusing a lot on vocal toning and its benefits during labor and birth. So let me
Open Throat, Open Vagina Read More »
I attended Andrea’s birth almost 5 years ago. I think this was the third birth in which I took the role of a doula – I was just a doula in training. Andrea had given birth naturally to her first child (almost 10 pounds if I remember correctly) and was well on her way to
Birthing Positions: Don’t Just Take it Lying Down! Read More »
Over the last few weeks I have received so many inquiries about doulas. What is a doula? What does a doula do? How much do they cost? How do you interview a doula? So, I thought I would try to answer these questions to the best of my ability. The word ‘doula’ is derived from
On June 18th the American Medical Association (AMA) issued a resolution in support of the ACOG statement that “the safest setting for labor, delivery, and the immediate post-partum period is in the hospital, or a birthing center within a hospital complex, that meets standards jointly outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and ACOG,
Home Birth: Is This the Next ‘Right to Choose’?! Read More »
I have never been one to closely follow celebrity gossip. In fact, I am embarrassingly behind the times – stuck somewhere in the late 90’s when Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan and Friends were big. But I can’t deny the influence celebrities have on society. They are the American equivalent of the British Royal Family. Recently,
Celebrity Births. The Good. The Bad. The Influence. Read More »
Very few occasions in life have the expectations and anticipation that compare to those of pregnancy – the whole pregnancy is called ‘expecting’! So of course, the onset of labor is going to be a big deal – but maybe it shouldn’t. I am not saying that you shouldn’t be excited about finally meeting your
My Labor Has Started. Now What? Read More »
I was talking to one of the students yesterday about freedom of movement during labor. She was concerned that as soon as she arrived at the hospital she would be hooked up to the EFM and would not have the freedom to move about as she would like. She asked what I thought about that.
Labor is probably not the time you will be requesting a huge steak dinner, but it is a good idea to continue to nourish your body. Not eating during labor may reduce your energy, increase your fatigue and decrease your ability to deal with stress during labor. Can you imagine laboring for 15 hours and
Eating During Labor Read More »
