Why Neutral Spine? 3 Pushing tips
When pushing, we recommend the following as general guidance: Neutral Spine Position Space for the sacrum to move Knees in, ankles out If you have followed us long enough, you will know that we recommend neutral positioning of the spine for pushing. This may be different than your typical pushing guidance in the labor room […]
Labor Progress: 6 Clues
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we had a crystal ball that told us exactly when we would go into labor and exactly where we were throughout the duration of labor?? We may not have a crystal ball, but there are a lot of clues that could help us better understand where you are in labor! […]
Labor Comfort Science: 1 Cold Washcloths & 2 the Mammalian Dive Reflex
It is easy to use different temperatures to provide labor comfort during birth! A cold washcloth on the face or neck, or a heating pad on the low back or belly can provide a ton of comfort! In my own labors, I used both of these comfort techniques to find relief from labor pain. The […]
Prolapse: 6 Pushing Considerations
Pelvic Organ Prolapse can occur after birth. Pelvic Organ Prolapse is when one or more of the pelvic organs has pushed into the vaginal wall, and are beginning to descend downwards through the vagina. This could include: the bladder; the uterus; and/or the rectum. There are different grades associated with how far the organ has […]
Kegels? Maybe, Maybe Not
Kegels A common exercise recommendation when someone is pregnant is to do kegels. If you complain of leaking or any sort of pelvic floor issue, both medical providers and mom groups alike will probably recommend doing some kegels. The issue is obviously weakness. “Do 500 kegels a day.” “Do them at every stop light.” “Hold […]
Exercising During Pregnancy: Benefits for Your Baby!
Exercising During Pregnancy is beneficial for both you and your baby. It can help you navigate pregnancy with strength and comfort. There is no reason to be in pain during pregnancy, or attribute pelvic girdle pain as a part of pregnancy you need to suffer through. Exercising During Pregnancy is not only safe for most […]
Understand Laboring Down: Wait to Push!
Undestanding Laboring Down So, you’re 10cm!! Completely dilated! It’s time to push! Wait… not so fast. There is more to labor than just dilation. We can decrease pushing time and conserve energy levels if we allow your body to labor down. What is laboring down? First, we need to explore a few concepts. The Fetal […]
Relative CPD: Is Your Baby Too Big??
Relative CPD Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD) is when the baby is too large for the pelvis, or the pelvis is too small for the baby, to descend through during birth. This may be the diagnosis after a prolonged pause in labor, lack of engagement (baby entering the pelvis), and eventual cesarean birth. Relative CPD: Is baby […]
Pushing Technique: The Pull
When it’s time to finally push, we may find a few helpful techniques can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of our pushes! Remember, pushing can be exhausting, so we want to make our efforts efficient. Let’s focus on the “pulling” aspect of pushing! We are usually cued to grab our legs, handles, scarves/sheets, […]
Prenatal Fitness 7 Guidances
Prenatal Fitness Guidance How should you approach prenatal fitness during pregnancy? Unfortunately, there isn’t a set “Yes v. No” list nor a strict timeline of when to do what, but there is general guidance we can provide! Here are our tips on how to approach prenatal fitness! 1. Do what you enjoy First, it’s important […]
Rowing During Pregnancy and Early Postpartum
Rowing is a great full body cardio exercise! However, we may need to modify how we approach rowing during pregnancy and then early postpartum. Here are some helpful tips on how to support your changing body and healing core during this phase of life. The typical rowing sequence includes extending in the legs, leaning backwards […]
4 Induction Tips from a Doula
Induction can be a scary topic! We have all probably heard horror stories on how long and drawn-out inductions can be; how painful and overwhelming they can be; and how many may lead to a birth you did not expect or want! But induction does not need to be scary! We tend to fear what […]