"We repeatedly tell patients we are not in a hurry; there are no trains to catch and we don't care when the baby comes, only how! A doctor who is in a hurry does not belong in the field of obstetrics. As my chief pointed out, 'An obstetrician should have a big rear end and the good sense to sit calmly thereupon and let nature take its course.' " - Dr. Robert A. Bradley

“When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” – Sophia Loren

Mum gives birth in petrol station

"It all happened somewhere between the biscuits and the anti-freeze," Miss Tyler said

Birth happens, when the baby is ready, weather Mom and Dad are ready or not. I tell my students that if you find yourself in this type of a situation it usually means that there is NO reason to worry because the mother's birthing system and the baby are working PERFECTLY together and there are no problems.

Throw Your Clocks out the Window

"Instead of looking at the clock, observe the woman. Listen to her. If a dad calls me and announces the contractions are matching some formulaic expectation and I can hear the mom chatting excitedly and barely cracking a sweat during the contraction, I tell them to stay home if they can. Very often they'll call me hours later, and even though the contractions may or may not be different in terms of length and frequency, I'll hear a change. She will be vocalizing in some way, or doing some very focused breathing...her voice will sound a little far away even between the contractions. If I'm present and watching her, her motions will be slower, and more deliberate. She'll have to lean over things and sway her hips. When labour is really rocking and rolling, most women will look quite stoned between their contractions, the idea of distracting themselves by conversing or watching tv ridiculous, and there is a sense they are far away, off in labour land, and moving normally is often difficult. Plus it's aparent they are feeling some spectacularly strong sensations. For first time mothers, this is usually the time to go to the hospital, because labour has had a chance to establish itself...endorphins and oxytocin are flowing beautifully. If a woman goes to the hospital too much before this happens, it can be EXTREMELY difficult to achieve this trance-like state with all the routines and strangers asking questions, often making the labour seem longer and more painful."

36 Obvious Reasons You are Capable Of Natural Birth

Love this list!!! Sometimes we just need to be reminded. :-)

"The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed." --Chinese proverb

"With all the attention paid to your new baby, it's easy for your own feelings and needs to get lost in the shuffle. Although all parents engage in some self-sacrifice for their children, keep in mind that your goal isn't just to raise a happy, healthy child. You want that child to be part of a happy, healthy family as well," - Lawrence Kutner

“When enough women realize that birth is a time of great opportunity to get in touch with their true power, and when they are willing to assume responsibility for this, we will reclaim the power of birth and help move technology where it belongs – in the service of birthing women, not their master.” – Christiane Northrup

"I believe the act of giving birth to be the single most miraculous thing a human being can do and it is surely the moment when a lot of women finally understand the depth of their power and connection to all of nature... You think can’t possibly take the pain, and then you do - and afterward you look at yourself in a whole new way... The memory of pain always recedes. The memory of triumph does not," - Ani DiFranco

SE MN Childbirth Network presents... "A Midwife...Why?"

Find out how incorporating a midwife in your
pregnancy can be more than beneficial.

Please join us at the
Rochester Athletic Club
Thursday, February 3rd
7pm—Multipurpose Room

Everyone Can Help Make Breastfeeding Easier, Surgeon General Says in “Call to Action”

"According to the “Call to Action,” breastfeeding protects babies from infections and illnesses that include diarrhea, ear infections, and pneumonia. Breastfed babies are also less likely to develop asthma, and those who are breastfed for six months are less likely to become obese. Mothers themselves who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

A study published last year in the journal Pediatrics estimated that the nation would save $13 billion per year in health care and other costs if 90 percent of U.S. babies were exclusively breastfed for six months. Dr. Benjamin added that, by providing accommodations for nursing mothers, employers can reduce their company’s health care costs and lower their absenteeism and turnover rates."

It's better for babies, it's better for Moms, it's better for families, it's better for employers, it's better for our health care system, it's better for our nation. Wow!!! How many things can boast that large a span of beneficiaries? Let's not say no to that.

A Touching Look at Touching

"Having been lucky enough to work with therapeutic touch in the past few years I have my own very simple explanation for what is going on; it's your inner healer dancing forward and taking over - connecting and passing on your good thoughts, intentions and a little healing to the growing life within. It is after all, mum's tum you wants to touch. There's nothing more natural than touching a pregnant woman and so people go ahead and touch her."

I never minded people touching my baby bump very much, unless it was a complete and total stranger and then it was a little weird. I totally agree though with the statement quoted above, "connecting and passing on your good thoughts, intentions and a little healing to the growing life within." I always felt intense amounts of love and good will being channeled into myself and my unborn baby when people would pat, hold and sometimes even hug my belly, and that made me feel like a stronger mother. Like somehow, with all this love and support coming from all these people toward me and my babies, I knew I could succeed and even excel at this mothering thing.

What were your reactions, experiences and feelings in regards to people wanting to touch your pregnant belly?

Abdominal Breathing for Labor and Birth

Abdominal breathing is a BIG key to the Bradley Method® of natural childbirth classes. If you will focus on replacing chest breathing, which causes a tension, pain, fear cycle, with nice deep, relaxing, abdominal breaths you will eliminate one cause of unnecessary pain in your labor and birth.

"The more people have studied different methods of bringing up children, the more they have come to the conclusion that what good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is the best after all." - Benjamin Spock

"I feel the most important thing the birthing woman does is to listen to her own body and find out what her body is telling her she needs to do. And that neither the partner, nor the midwife, nor the doula, or whomever, should be giving orders, 'Now do this' or 'Now do that' because that interferes with what she is really trying to get from her body..." ~Marsden Wagner, M.D. (via Birth Without Fear)

Beyond Biology: The Holistic Stages of Labor

This is one of the most powerful and intuitive accounts of the labor and birth process that I have ever read before. I was brought to tears several times by the power I felt and remembered from my own births as I read it. It is lengthy, but you will not be sorry if you take the time to go all the way through it.

"Breastfeeding is the biological norm for mothers and babies. It is a relationship that provides stress reducing hormones to the mother as well as stimulation, connection, and protection from illness to the baby. It even feeds the baby." - Alice Martino Roddy

"There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don't ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it." - Sheryl Feldman

"One thing you can depend upon is that your birthing with be *powerful*! Powerful pressure, powerful stretching, powerful pushing sensations and intense joy. Expect these powerful sensations and emotions, appreciate them for what they are; they bring your baby to you." --Hypnobabies (Official)

"I always knew I was meant to do something really BIG in life, and now I know that this was it. Screw winning an Academy Award someday ... I GAVE BIRTH!" - Jenny McCarthy