A Labor Support Quick-Guide | A Fridge Sheet for My Partner

As we talked through our experiences with our first birth and our anticipations for our second, one thing became clear: having a quick-guide on the fridge to reference these reminders would be very helpful for us! It would help me:

reflect more comprehensively on my labor wishes (writing things out is a great way to prepare!),
trust that my partner will recollect what I’ve asked for (because he can take a quick look at the sheet on the fridge anytime!),
and give me permission to drift off to labor land when the time comes (peace out, mental load! Time to turn off my thinking brain!).

Using your “BRAIN” to inform decisions in Labor // Cesarean, Thrice Denied

I have been talked through transferring to the OR for cesarean. I have uttered those familiar words, "Whatever it takes to get my baby here safely" and meant them with every fiber of my being. I had a very long labor at home during what was a planned homebirth. After a few days of laboring with a stuck baby (her chin wouldn't tuck, and I was lingering at about 8/9cm dilated), I opted for an epidural at the hospital in order to get some rest. I knew that an epidural would likely mean Pitocin, and that I was risking a cascade of interventions. But I felt confident in my decision to transfer to the hospital and medically intervene. Little did I know, I would be talked through cesarean 3 times in the next 9 hours.

5 Benefits of Meditation in Pregnancy

Meditation connects us with our bodies and our minds in such a way that improves our abilities to quell the power of fear, reduce tension, and brave onward with enhanced wellbeing, outcomes, and experiences in pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Furthermore, many of the fears that pop up around pregnancy and birth tend to be rooted in misinformation, misunderstanding, or misguidance and can be relieved through education, exposure, or experience. This is one of the many reasons why birth doula support is invaluable; birth doulas offer informational support in addition to physical and emotional support for birthing persons and their partners. The reality is that there is a lot of information to sift through when it comes to a truly informed birth — and a quality birth doula will help provide you with unbiased, evidence-based information and support your right to informed choice.

Our 3 Favorite Apps for Meditation in Pregnancy & Labor

Are you familiar with the many benefits of meditation in pregnancy, for both pregnant person and baby? If not, check out our blog post on the benefits of meditation here! If you’re ready to practice pregnancy meditation and you’re wondering where to begin, look no further! We give you: our 3 favorite apps for meditation in pregnancy & labor (simply ranked in alphabetical order).

Love Letters for Labor

The following 9 love letters for labor are inspired by 9 main personality types as expressed through the Enneagram. Whether you know your Enneagram type or not, you are likely to resonate with one of the love letters below. With each love letter, we’ve included an affirmation and practical steps you can take to overcome any internal barriers that might be holding you back from embracing birth as the beautiful, natural process that it is.

Hello, Labor Hormones! How Can I Help You?

Did you know that you have the power to influence your hormones and to help them better serve you and baby in childbirth? Yes, we can impact the flow of hormones throughout labor, and in such a way that helps us labor more gently and with manageable pain. So let’s talk about which hormones we want to boost, which we want to minimize, and how!

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