On Wednesday July 16 I was 38 weeks and 1 day into the pregnancy. The midwife had just finished her pre-birth home visit at 3:15 that afternoon. At 4 p.m. I was resting in bed and reading stories to my girls. Over the next hour I had some contractions, but no more and no stronger than I’d been having over the previous several days, so I didn’t pay much attention. Until I felt a little “pffzt” in my belly and I wondered whether that could possibly be my water breaking.

MammamayI posted a very interesting and helpful response to my post on Choosing a Doula Worldwide. I particularly appreciated the information she provided on how women who are not able to afford a doula can find free or low-cost services. Read on for her advice on how to choose a doula:
“I’m a doula, and it’s GREAT that you’re addressing this! One of the best ways to have a mom who gets off on the right foot breastfeeding is to have that mom hire a doula. Women who have a doula in attendance at the birth of their child are statistically …read more

Writing the post Epidurals May Interfere with Breastfeeding made me curious about others’ experience with pain management during labor. Please share your vote in the poll:
[edited to remove inactive poll; see poll results here]
If you missed any of the previous poll results, click here.

A research study by the University of Sydney concludes that epidurals “hamper breastfeeding” (BBC News). Several factors may be at play:
– an epidural can make the baby sleepy;
– women who get epidurals are more likely to end up with a cesarean section, and c-sections can make it more difficult for the nursing mother to pick up the baby and position the baby at the breast; and
– mothers who choose not to have pain relief may be more motivated to breastfeed.
The study doesn’t really report anything we didn’t already know. This simply tells me that women should consider planning …read more