The single most important thing that you can do for your baby is to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. A well-balanced diet is one that includes foods from all food groups in appropriate amounts, so as to ensure proper nutrition. Read more…. Nutrition during Pregnancy
With the birth of my daughter nine years ago, my family seemed complete. Her birth was an event filled with a joy I never could have anticipated. Several months after delivery, however, and seemingly without warning, fulfillment turned to confusion, withdrawal and hopelessness. Read more…. What Midwives Need to Know about Postpartum Depression
Photo provided by author. Some of the residents of Hogar Materno, Vinales, Cuba
Imagine health care as a right, not a privilege. One of the many successes of the Cuban revolution is its dedication to creating a comprehensive medical system accessible to all citizens free of cost. Read more…. Cuban Maternity Homes
Our clinic day begins at 9 a.m. with ‘Welcome, how are you?’ Smiles may greet us, with excited tales of the baby’s first kicks. Or a stone face may turn away, and our patient questioning of the pregnant mom elicit a story of trouble at home. Read more…. Prenatal Care CNM Style
An intact perineum is the goal of every birthing woman. We love to have whole, healthy female genitalia. Many people consider the health of the vagina/perineum to be a matter of chance, luck or being at the mercy of the circumstances of the forces that prevail at the time of the birth. Read more…. Midwife’s Guide to an Intact Perineum
What is a professional? How do we become professionals who serve women instead of ourselves? Is it possible? Read more…. Professional?
In many traditions, the father has the duty and honor to welcome the newborn to Earth. In these traditions, the first sound and the very first impression that the baby hears is the voice of her father. He will whisper in the left ear of his newborn the most sacred word known. Read more…. Making a Difference: A Blueprint for Harmony
Even as midwives we can underestimate the long-term grace brought through the presence of a doula at a mother’s side. This is a curious blind spot in our maternity care. As a homebirth parent and midwife, I came to this realization slowly, even though I was a doula myself! Read more…. The Doula’s Contribution to Mamatoto
Learn about the traditional midwife from Mexico! Read more…. Doña Irene Sotelo: Traditional Mexican Midwife
Midwives, fathers and mothers all agree that dads should participate in childbirth. They are less clear, however, about why dads should be there. Do fathers really ease birthing for mothers? Is there a moral obligation to accompany mothers on their passage? Read more…. Fathers: Those Engrossing First Minutes
One of my home-born babies had a wrinkle-free gentle entrance into our world. The other was an almost seven-minute shoulder dystocia. After three and a half minutes of CPR, he took hold of his life and is thriving. He has never been separated from mother. Read more…. Cesarean Birth: What about the Baby?
When the obstetrician said he would use Cytotec, the woman and her husband said they expected he would use prostaglandin gel but he said that he now uses Cytotec, as it is ‘more modern and reliable.’ They were not told Cytotec is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose… Read more…. Midwives and Cytotec: A True Story
