The following picture put out by March of Dimes is a great way of impressing upon mothers to “challenge” their doctors if they are forced to be induced at 37 weeks. Study after study has proven that absent any evident medical problem babies need minimum of 39 weeks or till the time of spontaneous birth [...]
So you are pregnant and your doctor has given you a “due date”. As this date approaches you have many questions as to whether you will give birth on the due date or you will do so earlier or later. Most hospitals today do not allow mothers to go past their due date and will [...]
Many of us are aware of Lamaze classes as a series of classes which teach expectant parents important things about good practices in pregnancy, labor, childbirth, breastfeeding, etc. Perhaps the most important aspect of Lamaze education is the knowledge that it gives to would be parents that make them no longer fearful of the whole [...]
Over the past 2 years, I am increasingly hearing the diagnosis “oligohydramnios” or “low amniotic fluid” as one of the biggest reasons for induction and/or C-Section. How do we “diagnose” low amniotic fluid? How much is too little? Do we need repeated Ultrasound Scans to determine the level of fluid? What about traditional hands-on skills [...]
The World Health Organization has always recommended that newborn infants be placed “skin to skin” contact with the mother immediately after the birth. There are numerous benefits to doing this, versus no important negative effects. In the study Puig G, Sguassero Y. Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants: RHL commentary (last [...]
We get lots of questions from expectant mothers and fathers about what diet to follow during pregnancy. Many are confused by advice from colleagues, friends, relatives, mothers and mothers-in-law, and just about everyone out there. In this situation, it is important to have a balanced diet which gives you the right combination of carbohydrates, proteins [...]
In a climate where mothers-to-be are treated as patients, over-diagnosed, over-treated with medicines, and under-counseled, it is sometimes difficult for parents to grasp the depth to which mother-friendly care can affect pregnancy, labor and child-bearing experience of a woman. This blog is for all those who ask me how we at Healthy Mother, in providing [...]
Water has been used over the ages to for labor and during actual childbirth. On closer examination, the baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid all throughout its stay in the womb. Waterbirth considerably eases the baby’s transition from inside her mother’s womb to the outside world. The benefits of waterbirth include being less traumatic for [...]