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As a childbirth educator in Calgary, I’ve shared many conversations with expectant mothers who wanted a midwife but didn’t make it further than the waiting list. I listen to them express their feelings and often shed tears in disappointment. Women say things like, “All my family has given birth with midwives and I have been so inspired listening to their …
Birth Unlimited and the team at Birthing Magazine support the rights of the pregnant and birthing woman to make informed choices about her own care. Navigating the many interactions with your healthcare professional during the prenatal and birthing period can be a challenge if you are not sure of your own rights. The number of decisions that need to be …
The team at Birthing Magazine is dedicated to providing women with knowledge to make empowered and informed decisions about their bodies. While we know that many women birth free of interventions there are times when an intervention is suggested by a care provider. In the coming issues we will look at common interventions used in pregnancy and birth. What are …
Often we forget about the placenta when anticipating birth. the contractions announcing its arrival after birth sometimes come as a surprise. with the medicalization of birth it became rare for women to even see their placentas. now we are remembering the many uses for this extraordinary organ and the ways we can honour and celebrate it. The placenta begins its …
Birth companionship is part science, part art and whole-hearted work for everyone involved. Holding the space, being present and avoiding the urge to apply a “quick fix” is hard, but very important work. As a partner, relative or friend it can be challenging to find the best ways to support a woman through her pregnancy, birth and early postpartum experiences. …
Make your own drink to help you stay hydrated and maintain your electrolyte balance during labour! Labour-Aid 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 1/3 cup honey (or to taste) 1/4 tsp sea salt 2 calcium/magnesium tablets, crushed Water to make 4 cups 7 VBAC Truths Krista Cornish Scott Let’s be real; there can be a lot of myths, …
You have found out you are pregnant and want to learn as much as you can about birth. When the time comes to visualize your ideal birth you start to wonder about coping with labour pain. Despite your plans to have a natural birth, friends and family encourage you to “just take the epidural”. Every birth you see depicted on …
Our childbearing years are a time of deep vulnerability and transformation. Those who support women on this journey have their own stories and carry with them the stories of those they support as well. Often there are challenges and sometimes there is trauma. The reverberations of these experiences are felt throughout our lives. Nan Nassef, a doula and Birth Story …
As your pregnancy approaches week forty, few things will be on your mind as much as what to expect in labour. It is the one thing we hear about from before conception and all the way through pregnancy. Unfortunately, many stories that are shared are horror stories. Coping techniques do not seem to stay in the mind the same way. …
The more I read birth stories and talk to other women about their birth experiences, the more I feel I was lucky to have the experience I did. I’ve realized that, as women, we need to educate ourselves about birth. I wouldn’t have done that if some friends hadn’t pointed me in the right direction. When my husband and I …
