The US is the only developed country that does not offer paid maternity leave to new parents. Support for new families varies from the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act, which offers job protection and mandates 12 weeks of unpaid leave, to private companies who provide paid leave maternity and paternity leave. In NY State,
The Pregnancy Project Read More »
One Wednesday morning, during circle time, a student bravely spoke up about an experience she had at her last prenatal appointment. Her doctor told her she had gained too much weight between visits. The woman left her appointment upset, ashamed and confused about what to do next. Upon hearing, I too was confused and had
Prenatal Weight Shaming Read More »
The C.D.C. reports that black mother in the U.S. are 3 to 4 times more at risk of maternal mortality regardless of socioeconomic status and education than white women. These statistics are just the beginning of shining a light on the racial disparity seen in the birthing world. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak
Improving Birth & Health Outcomes for Black Moms & Babies. Read More »
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
10 Reasons You Should Do Prenatal Yoga Read More »
I’ll admit, I got a bit of zig when my husband and I went shopping to fill our baby registry. It was thrilling to see all the baby gear start to arrive. That is until we realized that our small one bedroom was not equipped to accommodate all the equipment baby’s require! Soon bottles, bibs
Embracing The KonMari Method to Declutter Your Life & Home Read More »
Most people who recently birthed a baby experience some level of trying to reignite a relationship with their core muscles. Some people feel a huge disconnect and have little understanding of why their abdomen remains soft even after the rest of their body has started to regain some semblance of it’s former self. In this
Understanding Core Strength During Pregnancy and Postpartum Read More »
Approximately 10-25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. With such a high percentage of pregnancies naturally terminating, why is this subject often talked about in whispers behind closed doors? When any personal loss is experienced, support is often desired and needed and subsequent pregnancies may be approached with more apprehension then joy. In this episode of
Rainbow Babies with Jessica Mougis Read More »
One of the three pillars of Prenatal Yoga Center methodology is community, also knows as sangha. Feeling part of community, especially in such a transitional time like pregnancy and parenthood, can help assuage fears, feel supported and find a general camaraderie. In an effort to deepen our community connection, Yoga |Birth |Babies continues to share
Pregnancy, Parenthood, and Eating Disorders Read More »
As parents our actions have a lot of power. We are constantly modeling the behavior our children mimic and setting the environment for their developing minds. Recently I found myself having one of “those days.” The kind of day when you’re super frustrated, everyone and everything is pissing you off and nothing seems to be
Time Outs; Not just for children Read More »
Navigating a satisfying sex life with your partner during pregnancy and postpartum can be a bit challenging for many. Fear of hurting the baby, working through body image issues and share logistics can create a gap in a sexual relationship. In this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies, I speak with New York City based sex
Sex During Pregnancy & Postpartum with The V Club Read More »
In April 2018, ACOG, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, released a new recommended guideline for Maternal Care. This new set of suggested protocols has the potential to vastly improve maternal health, which currently has a bleak outcome of 17.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2011, 2012 and 2013 with non- Hispanic black
Deserving of Better Care for Expectant and New Parents; The New ACOG Guidelines Read More »
In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with licensed social worker and Program Director of the Motherhood Center of New York, Paige Bellenbaum. This deeply honest and moving discussion needs to be heard and discussed with all expectant women, partners and support people. It is reported that 1 in 5 women
Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders with Paige Bellenbaum of the Motherhood Center Read More »
In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with founder of the CrunchyRadish.com, registered dietitian, and natural foods chef Miranda Hammer. We discuss nutrition, food preferences and aversions during pregnancy, and how to get optimal nutrition for mom and baby. We also talk about the reality of finding a balanced and healthy
Crunchy Radish founder Miranda Hammer on Nutrition for the New Mama Read More »
In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with new mother and yoga teacher, Chantal Eder. We discus the the challenges and joys of pregnancy and new motherhood. Chantal also opens up about her surprisingly unique birth and processing the experience. New and expectant mothers will enjoy Chantal’s candor and relate to
Community Birth Story: Chantal Eder Read More »
In this episode of “Yoga | Birth | Babies,” I speak with author of the book, “Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?” and executive director of the National Eating Disorder Association, Claire Mysko. Claire and I talk openly about the struggles many women face with body image issues before, during and after pregnancy. If
“Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?” Author Claire Mysko Read More »
In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Bebo Mia founders, Bianca Sprague and Natasha Marchand. Bianca, Natasha and I discuss the misconceptions and assumptions women of size face when entering motherhood. We talk openly about “fat shaming” and how plus size moms can find support and embrace and trust their bodies. With
Plus Size Pregnancy with Bebo Mia founders Bianca Sprague & Natasha Marchand Read More »
In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with fertility specialist and executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health, Alice Domar, PhD. Dr. Domar takes the time to explain how stress impacts fertility, pregnancy and motherhood. She offers some wonderful tips for stress relief for those facing fertility issues and discusses how to integrate her
Fertility, Pregnancy, Motherhood and Stress with Dr. Alice Domar Read More »
This week on Yoga | Birth | Babies, I had the pleasure of speaking with licensed acupuncturist, Frances Goodwin. Frances helps demystify how Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help with fertility, pregnancy, induction, breech and postpartum. Hope you enjoy! In this episode: What drew Frances to acupuncture and Chinese medicine. The philosophy of
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine with Frances Goodwin LAc Read More »
In this episode, I have the chance to catch up the very busy and incredibly fun Tara Stiles! When I interviewed Tara, she was about 27 weeks pregnant. She openly talks about adjusting her yoga practice through pregnancy, food cravings and the needing to let go and accept her new changing body. She also explains
Tara Stiles, Founder of Strala Yoga Read More »
It’s time for a book club! We’re revisiting a post from 2010, but this time I want to delve back into these books with the PYC community. We’ll be reading one book a month, starting with Ina May’s Guide To Childbirth. At the end of the month I will post some questions on the blog and we
Deb’s Book Club and Book List! Read More »
In the past few years I have come to appreciate all the uses and benefits of magnesium sulfate, aka Epsom salt. First off, I must stress, Epsom salts are sometimes recommended as a laxative; this purpose is NOT appropriate for pregnancy. With that usage off the table, let’s check out all the ways a pregnant
Tuesday Tip: Epsom Salt Read More »
What makes some births faster than others? Often, it is the baby’s position in the pelvis. Optimal position is when the baby is head down, with its chin in line with the birth canal, evenly tucked into its chest, and its spine is in an anterior position- towards the pregnant person’s belly (vertex position). Most
Better Birth; Eliminating Intrauterine Constraint Read More »
Who and how you choose your care provider will greatly effect the outcome of your birth. Many women choose to stay with the OB/GYN they have used for years for gynecological purposes, and do not seek out another provider. Other women may ask a friend or relative for suggestions if they are not completely comfortable
Mommybites: Are You With the Right Doctor? Read More »
Once you turn the corner into your third trimester, you may notice the pregnancy “honeymoon” is over. Your baby’s growth is accelerating and you may be experiencing a whole new batch of aches and pains. Yoga within the third trimester focuses on preparing the body for labor and delivery, and encouraging the baby the move
Yoga in the 3rd trimester Read More »
Lately, I’ve been struggling with some of the stories I hear regarding appropriate vs. inappropriate behavior from labor support doulas. While I am not currently taking on any births, I was an active doula for almost 10 years and have tremendous respect and admiration for how a trained labor support doula can support a laboring
Doula Do’s and Don’ts Read More »
My first labor with my son, Shay, was an epic 42 hrs. That is 42 hrs from first recognizing there was a pattern to the contractions to my baby being born. I was completely taken back and slightly traumatized both physically and mentally by the experience. Upon finding out I was pregnant again with our
The average pregnant woman is very capable of a doing a challenging asana practice that can build confidence and stamina. However, it is important to strike a balance by also practicing gentler, more restful poses that teach her how to soften and surrender when she needs to relax. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of
Relax into the Restorative Pose! Read More »
I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who sent their well wishes after the announcement of my pregnancy. I truly feel blessed to be part of this loving community. As I approach week 15, I am noticing some interesting changes to my body. Besides the fact that my breasts have gotten out of
