Informational Articles...

   When I found out I was pregnant, I felt I was very prepared with my pregnancy knowledge. Each time I became pregnant - I read everything I could. But back then I was also planning on a full epidural, hospital run birth. I had no idea that I was actually the "consumer" in this situation and that I had a lot of choices when it came to my birth and the way my baby could enter the world.
   As I started reading and researching - I realized just how many things about natural, non-medicated birth I had no clue about. The articles and websites below are where my husband and I found a lot of the information that helped us to make the best choices for our birth and the after care for our baby. You will make different decisions for your birth and baby when you understand that you have many more choices than you may currently be aware of.
   The San Diego Birth Resource Network is a wonderful site with many local providers to help you on your pregnancy journey. If you can't find what you are looking for there - I would be surprised!
    All articles and links are for informational purposes only. Please do not construe them as medical advice or instruction. Use it only as a starting point to continue your own education as you go through this amazing process. As there are new discoveries and studies in the various areas, our content below will reflect that.

Amniotomy(breaking your water)
Amniotomy - What is it?
In Defense of the Amniotic Sac

Attachment Parenting
AttachmentParenting.org
Their mission is to educate and support all parents in raising secure, joyful and empathetic children in order to strengthen families and create a more compassionate world.
A Mothers Affection prevents Anxiety
Sleep Training - Coddle or let Cry?
Raising Compassionate Children

Baby Products in the news
Washington Post-
Carcinogins in Baby Toiltries
MSNBC- Chemicals in Baby Shampoo
Web MD - Toxins in Baby Products

Baby Wearing
BabyWearingInternational.org
AskDrSears.com
43 Reasons to Wear your Baby
MobyWrap.com

There are many baby wraps and you can even make your own - I just loved the Moby after I tried it and got rid of everything else!
Funny Clip
Here's a You Tube Baby sling music video inspired by Beyonce!!

Big Babies
Women are being told as early as 20 weeks that their baby is going to be too big based on such and such measurement and that at this hospital it is an automatic c-section when you have these measurements. Don't be fooled. Your body can birth your baby. Here is a wonderful UK site that shares the research openly and will help you to relax! We only listen to evidence based research... get informed...
Big Baby.org

Bishops Score
Understand the Bishop's Score

Bonding with Baby
Conception to Birth
Ways to Bond
Why Mother's Kiss their Babies
Prenatal Bonding
Prenatal Bonding Paper
Early Parenting - an African Model

Breastfeeding
Ideal Breastfeeding Birth
101 Reasons to Breastfeed your Baby
Stem Cells and Breastmilk
Skin to Skin after a C-Section
Breast milk Sugars protect Baby
50 Best Breastfeeding Web Resources
5 Breastfeeding Myths
Your Weight Loss & Breastfeeding

Breathing
Nasal Breathing-why it works

Breech Babies
Traditional Deliveries for Breech Safer
SpinningBabies.com
This is the GREATEST site for helping to ensure your baby is on the best position possible before labor. Read up now!
17 Ways to Turn a Breech Baby
C-Section not the Best Option for Breech(new Canadian guidelines)

Baby in the Right Position for Labor and Birth
How to Prevent a Posterior Labor
Optimal Fetal Position

CPD - Cephalopelvic Disproportion
(Your pelvis is just too small to fit a baby through - really?)

C-Sections
What are we doing wrong birth in the U.S.?
Why do we jump to a C-section?
Skin to Skin after a C-section

Cervical Examinations
Hey Doc - Keep Your Fingers Out
Cervical Exams - who needs them
Vaginal exams or not?

Cervidil for Induction
What is Cervidil?

Circumcision
IntactAmerica.org
AAP Policy

Co-Sleeping
Why Human Babies do not and Should not
Sleep Alone

Cord Blood Banking
Facts about Banking

Cytotec/Misoprostol - Risks
What is Cytotec?
Dangers of Cytotec- Be Informed
Warning label from Drug Manufacturer

Cutting the Cord
GentleBirth.org
Beneifits of Delayed Cord Clamping
Delayed Cord Clamping
Newborn Blood & Advertising
The Placenta & Delayed Cord Clamping
New Study on Delayed Cord Clamping
Delayed Cord Clamping Grand Rounds 1
Delayed Cord Clamping Grand Rounds 2
Delayed Cord Clamping Grand Rounds 3
Delayed Cord Clamping Grand Rounds 4
Great Site to inform your Doc from
Cord Blood Banking FAQ

Dads
Hormones help Dads Bond
Parenting Rewires Dads
7 Ways for Dads to Bond

Due Dates (EDD)
ACOG:Post date is past 42 weeks
Why your "Due Date" is off
Postdates-Separating Fact from Fiction

Fetal Awareness/Development
This first site has pretty much everything you could want to know about what happens to your baby in the womb while it is developing and an accumulation of data suggesting that the way we are born has long-term consequences, particularly in the fields of sociability, aggressiveness, or, otherwise speaking, capacity to love.
WombEcology.com
Newborn babies & their native tongue
Mom's voice Activates Baby's Brain
Baby's Palate shaped before birth
Brain Behaviors from Birth to Adulthood
A Womb with a View
Baby's Consciousness at Birth
Talking to babies boosts their brain power
Babies Learn While Sleeping
5 Words Baby's Use

Epidurals
Epidural Cocktail -What's in that?
Epidurals -be informed of the risks
Hidden Risks of Epidurals
Epidural Side Effects

Fetal Monitoring
Evidence Based Fetal Monitoring

GBS - Strep test/studies
IV Antibiotics or not?
Researchers found no significant difference in infection with babies/mothers treated with IV antibiotics as compared to those who were not treated during labor.
CDC Information
Midwifery Today Article - Clove of Garlic

Hepatitis B Vaccine
Dangers of Hep B Shot

Hormones Etc.
Protein Release from Baby
Ecstatic Birth - please download (from the right hand side of the page) and read this Free EBook!

Induction of Labor
Un-necessary means higher C-section rate
Routine Induction at 41 weeks(a study)
Induction - Step by Step Guide
Let the Baby Decide
5 quotes to NOT induce your labor
Why Your Baby Needs More Time
Why are Inductions Necessary? Part 1
Part 2
Induce or not induce - that is the question

Kegals - Just Say No :)
Pelvic Floor Party - Kegals Not Invited
Pelvic Floor Encore

Low Amniotic Fluid
Fluid Level Test - Not As Good As We Thought
Should I be Worried?

Meconium
Meconium in the Amniotic Fluid

Mind and Thoughts
DNA can be reprogrammed with Words
Whatever the Mind Believes it can Achieve

Mother Friendly Care
Is your Birth Place Mother Friendly?

Natural & Organic Products
Toms of Maine
California Baby.com
EarthsBest.com
EarthMamaBabyAngel.com

Natural Caesarean
If you needed one - this should
be what you get
You Tube- Watch it...

Nutrition/Diet
You are what you eat
The Pregnancy Pantry
Prenatal Power Foods
The Brewer Diet
The Brewer Diet is a wonderful, well balanced eating plan for pregnancy. This site has more information than any other on the diet, it's founder and what it is used to prevent. Be sure to ask your care provider about any questions that you have after doing your research.

Obstetric Practices
Evidence Under Fire

Pitocin Related Articles
Autism Today article on Pitocin
Is Pitocin associated with Autism?
What is Pitocin?
The Truth about Pitocin
Pitocin doubles the risk of ADHD
Pitocin's Untold Impact
"Pit to Distress"
Perinatal Pitocin as an early ADHD biomarker

PKU Testing in Newborns
What is PKU?

Postpartum Depression
See Resources
How Other Cultures Prevent PPD

Providers - OB or Midwife?
I want to impress upon moms that our loyalty to our Dr. is sometimes at the detriment of ourselves and our baby. Would we buy a car from a dealer who said we could only have one if we bought by the 4th and it had to be red? NO - then why do we have to be in labor by the 4th or else we must be induced? Do we spend more time researching a retail purchase than the care provider for our most precious resource? It is better to leave and feel confident so you can have a better birth.
Wrong Caregiver - Signs I missed

SIDS
Baby's Bedding

Skin to Skin Contact
First Hour following Birth
Kangaroo your Baby
Miracle Baby

Sweeping the Membranes
Why Sweep the Membranes?
Note:This is also called "Stripping the Membranes" by some providers

UltraSounds
More harm than good?

VBAC's
Vbac.com
Tips & Tools
Checklist for Mom's
VBAC Facts
VBAC.com
ICAN of San Diego
See Video section for great VBAC videos

Vernix & Benefits
Vernix & Amniotic Fluid
Don't Wash That Baby!

Vitamin K-see videos too
To Inject or Not Inject...
Vitamin K - Does My Baby Really Need It?
Administration of Vit K to Newborns

Various Informational Articles
Impact of Thought on Performance
Labor is a lot like running a marathon. You educate yourself about it, plan for it and mimic what others have done to win. This article shows what actual changes take place in our bodies and minds when we do three key things. It's HypnoBirthing to a tee!

The Domino Effects of Interventions

No need to fast during labor

Study on Benefits of Perineal Massage