Getting Back in Shape After Baby with Music
Doing your best to do any form of exercise that elevates your heart rate for 20 mins a day is a great way to start getting back in shape after baby. The same goes for maintaining good health at any time of life. But there are two kinds of people. Those who love to exercise…
Ugh, Why Am I Not in Labor Yet? (updated June 2022)
As I got to the end of my first pregnancy, I was so ready to meet my baby. I’m not quite sure that I was ready to be in labor – that sounded hard – but I really, really wanted to find out what he or she looked like. Technically we didn’t know the sex,…
What Is a Placenta Tincture? (updated July 2022)
Are you considering placenta encapsulation services to improve your postpartum experience? Then you may have also heard about placenta tinctures. What is that? you ask. Well, here is your answer. A tincture is a highly concentrated liquid extract of herbs, plants or other natural products. For example, vanilla extract, which you probably have in your…
Six Steps to Prepare Older Siblings for New Baby
Are you adding a new baby to your sweet little family? Preparing older siblings for the arrival of the new baby can be fun and joyful but it does require some preparation. Here are our tips to prepare your older siblings to life with a newborn. 1. Give older siblings some time and grace. Change is…
“My Water Just Broke!” says Every TV Birth
If we trusted modern film and TV portrayals of labor and birth, we would all believe that the first sign of labor is that your water will break unexpectedly. A huge gush will splash all over you and the grocery store floor where you were peacefully doing your shopping, all over your friend’s new car,…
Woof! Don’t Forget About Me! What To Do With Your Dog When You Go Into Labor?
Who is going to take care of your dog while you are in labor? I wish I had prepared better with dog care while I would be in labor and giving birth. I was planning a homebirth with a licensed midwife. The plan was that our dog, Nikita, would just hang out at home with…
On Being an Older Mom
This is me, at age 36, with my second daughter, Violet. Ignore the wrinkles.I didn’t have my first child until I was in my 30s. I got married young and needed time to mature, earn (discover?) a living, and get settled. And in truth, I was ready long before my partner was. At the time I…
All About Labor Induction
Labor induction is the process of using medical interventions to stimulate labor. When it comes to starting labor, it’s generally recommended to wait for it to begin naturally, unless there are specific medical reasons that call for induction. Some reasons given for induction include: hypertension, preeclampsia, heart disease, gestational diabetes, infection in the uterus, placenta complications…
Yes, Doulas Are for Cesareans Too (updated 2022)
Should I hire a doula for a c-section? Some people have the idea that doulas are only helpful for women that want to have a natural, unmedicated or vaginal birth. Well, that just is not true! Doulas benefit everyone, including mothers that are having a cesarean – whether it is planned or not. “I had…
Doulas Benefit Everyone
It’s World Doula Week! (March 22 – 28th) This year the theme for World Doula Week is “Doulas Benefit Everyone.” The doulas at Buddha Belly are proud and honored to do this work. So how is it that doulas benefit everyone? Mothers: This one is the most obvious. Doulas work for mothers. We support you with information, education, comfort measures, emotional…
What Is It Like to Have an Epidural?
Many women in the U.S. choose to use medical pain management in labor and birth, and the most common option is an epidural. Sometimes it is referred to as epidural anesthesia or epidural analgesia. It is a regional medicine (versus local) – this means it only blocks pain in a specific part of your body.…
Labor and Birth in the Water
We recently attended a Waterbirth Education and Certification Course taught by Barbara Harper, RN, Midwife, author and educator. We are happy to share some of the highlights and things we learned. Many birth locations now offer the use of warm water immersion in birth tubs as a comfort measure during labor, and some locations support…