What if I told you your mental state could have an impact on what you feel during labor? For some this conjures up images of the new agey idea of mind over matter, or the magical thinking concept that if you only focus on good thoughts you will inspire your body to birth without any pain.
Read moreThe problem with squatting...
The benefits of squatting come from a combination of the mobility built into the pelvic structure, and the specific alignment used when performing the position. Done properly, the squat can help to tone the musculature of the pelvic floor, align the birth path through the pelvis better with gravity if done in an upright position, and create more space between the pelvic bones.
Read moreThe Four Cornerstones to working with your labor
As a doula I’ve seen a lot of births. Over 300 in fact. Seems everyone comes into the labor process hoping for a positive experience, and dreading a negative one. Looking at the stories in this culture and it’s easy to see where these fears comes from. The birth world is littered with stories of traumatic births or births where things didn’t go the way Mom was hoping. But there is a difference between having things go differently, and having that difference be a negative experience.
Read moreSawyer's Birth- The most profound surrender I have ever done
I have been a prenatal yoga teacher and a birth doula for the past 15 years, so I was eagerly looking forward to actually experiencing labor myself. I planned a home birth, using my professional connections to select the exact midwife team and the best support I could have. I even had a nominal statement from one of the few OB’s I trusted for hospital birth that if anything happened I could call her if we transferred…Not that I expected to need it, but just to have all the bases covered.
Read moreYoga for Fertility : The Philosophy
These days many women are having babies later and later in life. Waiting until later is not necessarily a bad thing. But with delay comes the looming possibility of infertility. In such a case, yoga may be able to help. Since studies have now found a connection between pregnancy rates and would-be mothers’ stress levels, stress-reducing yoga, used in concert with conventional medical treatments, may increase the chances of conception.
Read more5 Benefits of Prenatal Yoga (And Why It’s Not Just for Beginners)
If you have recently become pregnant or have friends who are expecting, you’ve probably heard a lot of talk about prenatal yoga. Recent studies have pointed to the benefits of practicing gentle yoga before giving birth. And a recent controlled trial showed positive results after only a few sessions.
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