At Baby+Co., we believe that every woman should have the choice to create her own unique birthing experience. While many...
When it comes to pregnancy and birth, we know parents are inundated with choices. One of those choices may be...
Whether you’re a new mom or a seasoned pro, a low-risk pregnancy can be defined as one where there is...
Earlier this year Britain’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), an independent organization that advises the National Health Service, presented new guidelines recommending that all women with low-risk pregnancies be presented with the options of midwifery care and out of hospital birth. We already know from the landmark Listening to Mothers surveys, expecting women prefer to have an array of alternatives when it comes to their care; however, the NICE recommendations go beyond the argument of “choice is good.” The evidence-based report states that midwifery-led care is best for healthy pregnancies due to the achievement of equal health outcomes with lower intervention rates, when compared to physician-led care.
“Birth hormones matter: Take precaution before intervention” could be the bumper sticker summary of Dr. Sarah J. Buckley’s new, in-depth report, Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing: Evidence and Implications for Women, Babies, and Maternity Care. In her book, Dr. Buckley reviews the important role of birth hormones in helping expecting women prepare for birth, initiate labor, bond with their babies, and begin breastfeeding. The report also covers common practices that may create stress for the mother and interfere with natural hormonal processes during labor and birth, such as lack of privacy, loud noise, bright lights, and unnecessary or too frequent interventions, assessments, and monitoring.