What Does a Doula Really Do?

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What Does a Doula Really Do?

According to Doula International, "the word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period". Doula International describes the differences between a birth doula and a postpartum doula: 

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Benefits of Taking a Childbirth Class

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Benefits of Taking a Childbirth Class

According to MacDonald Women's Hospital, a childbirth class is the perfect environment to ask questions and can help you make informed decisions about key issues surrounding your baby's birth.

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Prenatal Yoga for Easier Delivery

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Prenatal Yoga for Easier Delivery

One of the most anxious aspects of pregnancy is labor and delivery. We learned via an article by parents.com that many women spend weeks, even months, feeling anxious about childbirth. However, the article stated that women who practice prenatal yoga before giving birth learn how to decrease their anxiety about labor. 

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The Midwives of El Paso

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The Midwives of El Paso

Today we learned via The Atlantic that, "For women of the border, where to give birth is a matter of enormous consequence, and a birthing-center industry has flourished as a result." There are many reasons why women of the border choose to give birth in El Paso, but the world of opportunities available in the United States is the primary driving force.

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Fewer Cesarean Sections in California

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Fewer Cesarean Sections in California

Recently the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) kicked off an effort, working in concert with a large number of partners in the state--- such as the California Maternity Quality Care Collaborative, Pacific Business Group on Health and the Hospital Quality Institute--  to lower the rates of low risk C-sections in the state.

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Acupuncture for Pregnancy

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Acupuncture for Pregnancy

According to Jill Stevens, L.Ac., acupuncture is commonly used during pregnancy to induce labor, avoid medical induction and to help turn a baby in a breech position. However, Stevens recommends mothers use acupuncture from the beginning of pregnancy to postpartum. 

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Increasing Access to Maternal Health Care in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Increasing Access to Maternal Health Care in Sub-Saharan Africa

Every year in sub-Saharan Africa, almost 200,000 women die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. One in 39 women in sub-Saharan Africa is at risk of dying of pregnancy related complications, compared to one in 4,300 in developed countries. Sometimes we forget how truly lucky we are. 

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Navajo Midwives Announce First Native American Birthing Center in the United States

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Navajo Midwives Announce First Native American Birthing Center in the United States

Today we learned via Colorlines that two Navajo midwives from Waterflow, New Mexico, plan on building the first Native American birthing center in the nation.

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The Rebozo is More Than Just a Shawl

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The Rebozo is More Than Just a Shawl

The rebozo (ree-bo-zo) is a delicately woven, multifunctional, traditional shawl from Mexico. According to Tereza Iniguez Flores, a Curandera and Holistic Life Coach at Community Well, the rebozo is a healing practice handed down by the ancestral grandmothers of Mexico.

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