Maria Elena was born at home. In the most perfect way. I think my dad helped. He even made sure it was on a Saturday morning and the bakery was open so we could all have croissants while the sunlight streamed in through the windows. And there they were, the same feelings of awe that I felt at my dad’s passing, I felt at Maria Elena’s birth. Everyone was quiet, we knew the moment was sacred, we knew something big had just happened. I wondered where she came from, I reassessed my life. Gave thanks for my babies and my husband and for each breath I take.
Read MoreI was going, I couldn’t stop. Energy came from somewhere inside me, even when it seemed endless. I remember that, ironically enough, the only word I said in between pushes was “Mamma.”
Read MoreSarah explains how the nervous system is like a cup, and how every experience that we go through fills our cup. When our cup is full, we are more susceptible to trauma.
Read MoreShe thought she knew her limits. She thought she knew what she was capable of, but this birth showed her that she was capable of even more. She had achieved more than she ever thought possible.
Attending a birth at Gaslini Hospital in Genoa was a positive experience. In this post I share photos and information about the building and protocols that they have around birth.
Read MoreLabor and birth is like a mountain. A tall one. And you're the climber. What exactly can a doula do on your journey to the top?
Read MoreSometimes I imagine what this birth would have been like if all the people involved had been there exclusively for us. Explaining things to me, asking me how I was feeling, speaking in hushed voices, knowing when to talk or when to be silent. I would have felt like this work that I was doing was immensely important as opposed to a mere bother.
Read MoreA few months into a birth and postpartum training course and I can definitely say that it is changing the way that I view birth and life in general. There are four things that I keep thinking about because I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE TRUE, yet as I think more and more about these things I realize that of course they must be.
Read More"I truly did not feel anything - even though the monitor showed the contractions were at 75-90% intensity. The only way I knew I was having a contraction was the skin of my belly got tighter and harder (more than it already was at it's maxed out, 9 months state)." Amy tells us the story of Luke's birth in Virginia, USA.
Read MoreIt's true, birth often takes unexpected turns. But having a positive, calm, and empowering birth experience is possible. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare to bring your baby into the world. Special thanks to my friend Teresa and Lauren Allmond Photography for the beautiful photos.
Read MoreOur brains are rewired during childbirth and postpartum months. If it seems like you are seeing the world through a different colored lens after giving birth, don't worry, you are, and you are not alone.
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