The Big Day

An emergency cesarean section (C-section) is a surgical procedure performed when complications arise during labor that make vaginal delivery unsafe for the mother or baby.  Unlike planned C-sections, which are scheduled ahead of time, emergency C-sections are unanticipated and require immediate action.  Understanding what an emergency C-section entails, why it … [Read more...] about Emergency C-Section: What It Is and Your Risk

If you’re curious about delayed cord clamping and want to know the pros and cons, you’ve come to the right place. Clamping the cord separates the baby from the placenta and it is usually done immediately after birth, but recently there’s been a move to delay the clamping process. Certified Nurse Midwife Anne Cooper gives us the 411 on delayed cord clamping, so keep reading to … [Read more...] about Delayed Clamping of Umbilical Cord

No matter how much you prepare for labor and delivery, there's always a chance things won't go exactly as planned. While you may have your sights set on a vaginal delivery, there are countless reasons why your health care provider may call for a cesarean - or as it's more commonly called, a C-section. Maybe labor has stalled and your contractions have petered out, or perhaps … [Read more...] about C-sections: A crash course

When I was pregnant with my first child, I wanted to go natural. No interventions for me! Women have birthed for eons without assistance—so I certainly didn’t need to pay attention in my labor class or hire a doula. My nutrition and exercise regimen? Digging organic cheese crackers out of my couch cushions. But as my labor dragged past the 22-hour, no-sleep, what’s-going-on … [Read more...] about 6 simple secrets for upping your chances of a natural birth