pregnancy – A Midwife Nation

“Can I have caffeine while I’m pregnant?”: The History, the Evidence and Your FAQs

This is a frequent question I get in at the first visit for a pregnancy: “Is it okay to drink my [coffee, tea, soda…]. It has caffeine in it,” The short answer is yes, there is data that supports that caffeine in low to moderate amounts is safe during all trimesters of pregnancy; but newer…

Can I Have Sex During Pregnancy?

The short answer: Yes. Sex in pregnancy is considered safe for most pregnant people. Let’s start from the top. There are some conditions in pregnancy where sex is not recommended. We’ll get to those. Other times, you may have a healthy, normal pregnancy, but some vaginal bleeding happens every time you have sex. We’ll talk…

2023 State of Midwifery: 10 Tips to Support Physiologic Birth

Look at that! That’s me with baby #1 at about 7 centimeters when I had just arrived at the hospital after laboring at home for 12 hours. I got my 20 minute non-stress test and got straight in the shower. Not everyone gets that same supportive care for low risk pregnancy. That’s why, for part…

Can I Eat Fish During Pregnancy?

The short answer: YES! Eating fish has many benefits for you and the baby. Fish has omega-3 and omega-6 fats, iron, iodine and choline. Omega fats and choline help support the development of your baby’s brain and spinal cord. Iron supports increased red blood cell production for women. Other adult benefits include reduced risk of…

How to Practice Ice Holds to Prep For Labor and Birth Pain

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…

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…

What happens at my visits during pregnancy?

This seems like a straightforward question – what happens at my pregnancy visits – but I spend a lot of time talking about the current and upcoming visit’s components. Common questions include: When can I find out the gender of my baby? When is my next ultrasound? When do I have to take that glucose…

“You’re cleared for exercise.” Now what?

Today we have a guest post from Megan, a physical therapist passionate about women’s health, pregnancy and postpartum care. I reached out to see if she would share some general background and knowledge about physical therapy in pregnancy and postpartum periods. She’s happy to chat more in person if you have additional questions and concerns…

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…

Behind the scenes lately…

Hey friends! Wow. If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been in the past 6 weeks, I’ll tell ya. It has all to do with this little one! We’re expecting baby #4 in the fall and goodness, gracious me – I have never been so nauseous my entire life. Does nausea get worse the more times…

What to pack in your hospital bag for birth?

Hey there hey! I did some research a while back to see what was on the internet about what to pack in your hospital bag for birth. It’s a question that every first time mama asks during clinic. Less so for the seasoned crew. Overall, I wasn’t impressed with what was online. I mean, it’s…

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,…

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 do all your planning for birth and postpartum. In case you missed the other posts so far…here are the links! Overwhelmed by all the information about pregnancy? Looking…

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…

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…