Do Babies Need Baths Right Away?

It's been over twenty years since studies first started showing that bathing a baby right away had no benefits. Back in 2013, the World Health Organization recommended that baths be delayed by a minimum of six hours, with a preference of waiting at least 24 hours after delivery. There are many studies showing the benefits…

I Use Cloth Diapers…Sometimes

I am the first to admit, I used to think cloth diapers were gross. I said I would never use them. They seemed difficult and stinky and like way too much work. But then I got pregnant, and one day while I was down in the Pinterest rabbit-hole, I saw a blog that talked about…

5 Birth Affirmations for Your VBAC

If you've hung around my blog at all, you know I love birth affirmations. I love how changing your language can literally change your brain and shift your experiences. This is especially true for one of my favorite categories of people: moms pursuing a vaginal birth after a cesarean. After having my own experience with…

Choosing a Provider for Your Pregnancy

Often, when I ask women how they chose their care provider for their pregnancy, I am met with a bit of confusion. "I'm just seeing the OB that I've seen for years" is a pretty common response. If they didn't already have an OB, they maybe just called up the office that their insurance covered,…

Why Delay? Cord Clamping, That Is

It has been pretty well known for several years that delayed cord clamping has many benefits for a newborn baby. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, World Health Organization, and The American College of Nurse-Midwives all agree that delaying clamping by at least 1-2 minutes after birth raises neonatal iron levels, which can provide cognitive…

4 Ways to Respond to Birth Plan Haters

If you have decided to pursue an unmedicated childbirth, you have probably heard at least one, if not all, of the following: "You're doing WHAT?!" "You won't be able to handle it." "Why would you put yourself through that pain when you don't have to?" "You won't win any medals, it's not a competition you…