One of the most common questions I get in clinic is “What does a contraction feel like?” Ask ten women what a contraction feels like and you’ll get ten different answers: “charlie horse”, “cramping”, “hot poker in the stomach”, “dying”… This is closely followed by “What childbirth classes do you recommend?” (These ones are FREE…
Tag: birth
Desiree’s Birth Stories!
Happy day to you! I have a treat in store for you guys. During my first tour through Virginia, I met Desiree as a patient. I was there for her dating ultrasound but wasn’t there for her birth. And I still remember caring for her all these years later (midwives have memories like this). I…
A Home Birth: My Fourth Birth Story
Are you ready for a birth story? It took me a while to come to a place mentally to write my birth story of my fourth babe. There are a few reasons why it took a little longer to put everything down in black and white. One, I’m still processing the birth, but I think…
Abby’s Second Birth Story!
Hello friends! Today we get to share in the sweetest birth story of my dear friend. Abby shared her first birth story a while back. If you missed it, she had a planned cesarean section for breech position. Well, she went on to have an awesome vaginal birth after cesarean – commonly known as a…
Update Your Discharge Teaching (Part 2)
Happy week! Is the summer flying by for anyone else? I looked at the calendar and it’s nearly JULY. Seriously ya’ll, where does the time fly? I’m excited about next month though – I’m headed to my first conference in a few years (the postpartum support international conference in New Orleans!) If you’re going to…
New Tools and Tool Updates!
Hello hello! Today was a milestone. I submitted what I think is the LAST edited version of a manuscript that will hopefully be published in the fall (fingers crossed!). And my littles napped long enough for me to put the final touches on the 38 and 39-40 week templates. And then I was able to…
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula
Happy Monday to you! I’m celebrating turning 36 years old as well – which oddly enough, seems to be the most uneventful and peaceful birthday I have ever had! Does that happen as you get older? I even made my own birthday cake – more as an activity for the kids than anything else –…
What Happens At My 36 Week Visit?
36 weeks! You’re counting down the days now. This visit should be focused on labor education and prep for the hospital or birth plan. Most people see their OB provider every week from 36 to 41 weeks. That’s almost an hour of talking time to ask all your questions or concerns. But…as you guys know,…
How to Heal Those Dry, Cracked Hands!
Hello! I’ve got a quick Midwife Monday tip for the hundreds of beautiful hands out there catching babies and caring for mamas. Whether you’re in the hospital, the clinic or in the birth/home settings, we’ve all been washing our hands and using hand sanitizer like it’s going out of style this pandemic. (Side note: Does…
What Happens At My 32 Week Visit?
32 weeks! The third trimester usually flies by from 28 to 34 weeks. Then the last few weeks seem to drag out. It’s the perfect time to to all the planning for birth and postpartum. And that’s the idea behind this template! In case you missed the other posts so far…here are the links! Overwhelmed…
What Happens At My 28 Week Visit?
The 28 week visit is a busy one – you need a checklist to guide the visit! Don’t miss a thing…get your checklist today. Overwhelmed by all the information about pregnancy? Looking for a checklist to guide to each pregnancy visit? Don’t expect your OB provider to do all the work – take control of…
Two Tips for Practicing Midwives!
Hello hello! It’s been a crazy month around this house! We swung round the New Year, got smacked in the face with a GI bug, and I went to single parent-ops for a few weeks. Behind the scenes, I was also working on resubmitting a publication for Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. The last…
Book Recommendation: Babies are Not Pizzas: They’re Born, Not Delivered! by Rebecca Dekker
Hello Monday! We’re starting off the week with a book recommendation that I’ve been so excited to share. Babies Are Not Pizzas: They’re Born, Not Delivered! by Rebecca Dekker was recommended to me sometime this year and I finally got around to reading it in the fall. It was a quick read – it only…
What Happens At My 24 Week Visit?
We’re continuing our series on routine prenatal care around here! With the bulk of the laboratory testing, physical exam and an established due date, routine obstetric care moves into a prevention, assessment and education cycle. In case you missed the other posts so far…here are the links! Overwhelmed by all the information about pregnancy? Looking…
Trish’s Birth Story!
Happy Monday! You guys are in for a treat today. One of my dear friends, colleagues and all around outstanding mamas is sharing her story. Trish is one of those people that fills up the room with laughter and warmth and easily makes you feel at home. When you meet Trish, you would have no…
Friday Five (#47)
My baby turns five this weekend! She did not smile at us for the first 4 months of her life. We literally didn’t think she could smile! But she has made up ground since and we are blessed to celebrate another year with her…. Are your ready for a packed Five?! Fasten your seatbelts…this one…
Friday Five (#47): Five Things I’ve Been Thinking Since Turning 35
Happy Thanksgiving! And good luck to all shopping Black Friday! I completed all of our Christmas and birthday shopping at the beginning of the month. It’s something I’ve learned over the past few years – early shopping equals more peace during the month of December for me. And along those lines, this Five is about…
Women Ask Wednesday: The ONE Thing Women Forget to Pack in Their Hospital Bags…
Howdy howdy! Just a quick post to talk about the one thing I tell people to pack in their hospital bag over and over and over: the heating pad. That little gem that plugs into an outlet is worth its weight in gold when you’re sitting in a postpartum room with a sweet little babe…
Friday Five (#46)
Hello! This Five full of goodies. And it finally feels like fall. I had to turn on the heat in the house because we woke up to a house at 62 degrees. The littles were shivering and I acquiesced. I hope you’re enjoying the fall wherever you may be. I like to sit outside in…
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Happy Wednesday friends! I had the privilege of meeting this sweet lady during my Alaska adventures. You can read all about her on her blog here: https://kristinsoult.com/. She’s just as lovely in person as she looks! I walked with her on her journey through loss. And it was heartbreaking. This spring, I read her blog…
What Happens At My 20 Week Visit?
What happens at my 20 week visit? With the bulk of the laboratory testing, physical exam and an established due date, routine obstetric care moves into a prevention, assessment and education cycle. Be sure to check out the other posts if you missed them! Overwhelmed by all the information about pregnancy? Looking for a checklist…
Women Ask Wednesday Recap!
Happy middle of the week. I am seriously hoping to catch some babies this week as I venture back into the labor and delivery arena after a few months out of work. I can hear those little newborn cries already! When I set out to start the blog, I thought a lot (and still think…
Women Ask Wednesday: 3 Tips for When Breastfeeding Doesn’t Go as Planned
Oh boy. For starters, I don’t even know if I’m the person to write a post like this. Breastfeeding is a journey for every woman and her baby. I think any mama would agree that it’s hard to know where that journey takes you and it’s full of unexpected bumps along the way. Also, I…
Friday Five (#39)
FRIDAY! We are in full summer mode with littles. Kiddie pool time twice a day. Bug repellant and sun screen in equal amounts. And…my favorite, some homemade strawberry shortcake. Delish. The Five is full as usual! Let’s jump to it. 1. This article examining lower cesarean section rates in hospitals that have midwifery programs. The…
What Happens At My 16 Week Visit?
We’re continuing the series on routine prenatal care. With the bulk of the laboratory testing, physical exam and an established due date, routine obstetric care moves into a prevention, assessment and education cycle. If you missed the first pregnancy visit, you can check out all the details here. Did you download the free template to…
JOGNN Article Review: “Effects of Fourth- Degree Perineal Lacerations on Women’s Physical and Mental Health”
Hello hello! A huge thank you to everyone who read the fistula stories from the past 2 weeks! You guys were so wonderful and sympathetic and thankful that I shared my story. Please continue to spread the story among birth workers! If you missed them, read the story here and here. Today we’re chatting about…
Happy Mother’s Day (2021)!
Hi mamas! This Friday post is for you. Just an early shout out to say Happy Mothers Day. And I mean that to all the mamas. Mamas with five babies. Mamas that have lost babies. Mamas that aren’t mamas yet. Mamas that adopted or fostered. To everyone, in every aspect they are a mother, take…
5 Most Popular “Women Ask Wednesdays”
Well hello! On Wednesdays, we try to focus on some good ol’ education. I call these posts “Women Ask Wednesday” and the topics come from a variety of situations – a journal I read, a friend’s birth, a conversation with a patient – you name it, it can spark a post! But these also tend…