Mothers Declaration of Rights Recently I wrote about the shameful state of women’s health care in America and how America’s broken health care system affects women.  NAMC Advocacy Coordinator and mothers’ rights advocate, Valerie Young, is a bright light and constant champion for improving the status of women and caregiving in America. Valerie has guest posted for BITL many times, and…
Music is Powerful Medicine Parents’ Singing to Fetus and Newborn Enhances Their Well-being, Parent-Infant Attachment, & Soothability: Part One I’ve said for many years now that I am a mother’s biggest fan. Birth and mothering are not just dear to my heart – they determine the future of our world. I am a mother of…
Cesarean Delivery and Fetal Monitoring: Help or Hurt? Fetal monitoring is used more than any other obstetrical intervention, reported to be used in more than 85% of hospitals in 2010 (ACOG Practice Bulletin 132). However, despite its high rate of use, fetal monitoring has not been proven effective in decreasing infant or maternal mortality or…
Labor & Delivery Yoga: Better Birth is Only a Breath Away I have had the absolute joy of giving birth three times. Although I have other secret weapons for labor and delivery, I believe this one is the most important for managing pain, preventing panic or anxiety, and maintaining adequate oxygenation, no matter what type…
The idea of women’s empowerment is a touchy issue. It has been correlated with the myth of the “male decline” and other scare tactics put forth by those who may seek to sweep women’s issues under the proverbial rug. However, one fact stands very clear. Our current approach on women’s health care in the US…
Caring Health Care = Caring Economics Dr. Riane Eisler’s work in launching the Caring Economics campaign possesses the potential to positively affect not only our economy, but all the elements that are defined as “caring or caregiving” in our American society today. As a graduate of the Caring Economics Leadership program and as health care…
Secrets for Easing Labor Pain Studies have, for a long time, shown that deep breathing, mental imagery, deep massage or acupressure, and the presence of a constant companion or coach during labor can ease labor pains, making the miracle of birth more, well, enjoyable. During the birth of all three of my sons, all three…
This week’s post is by guest BITL blogger, Elizabeth Carollton. Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse at Risk Women who have been diagnosed with Pelvic Organ Prolapse should become educated on what it is, how to treat it, and the options available should they need surgical intervention. Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) is diagnosed in approximately 50…
American Childbirth Needs Change The Birth Experience As Empowering Childbirth in America needs to change. America has the highest infant and mortality rates of any industrialized nation. Additionally, women are scared of birth and being scared into making fear based decisions about childbirth, rather than being respectfully informed and supported in their birth decisions. We…
Prenatal Yoga That Fits You “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Confucius The journey of motherhood could be described as perhaps the most strenuous thousand mile journey life offers. I think all mothers would agree. Pregnancy, labor and delivery, and recovering your mind and body afterward are difficult tasks,…
A Bill of Rights for American Mothers? As mothers, it is imbedded in our very nature to take care of others. What mothers should know is that society has taken advantage of this fact for centuries. And while they continue to take, mothers continue to give. How does society take without giving to mothers? I…
New Moms Need Physical Therapy Pregnancy and childbirth exact an enormous toll on a woman’s body. It is transforming and beautiful, but when a mother does not get the physical and emotional support she needs, the effects can be devastating. I am a new mother, three times over. After each birth, I benefited enormously from…