Birth Happens
Birth happens and then you tell the story… Having broad expectations about how things will go can help you have a positive experience, no matter how your story unfolds.
The Power of Story
I am a really, really big NPR geek. It started when I was a stay-at-home Momma after the birth of my first baby. My girl never slept during the day through that whole 4th Trimester – unless I was holding her. (This was sixteen a LONG time ago! Long before the ubiquitous smartphones and Netflix […]
My Third Is Now Eleven. Wait – What?
It is my girl’s birthday today. She has turned 11 years old and I wonder, “How in the hell did that happen?!” Last night, she feigned interest in listening to me read some Harry Potter to her younger brother, attempting some wacky dance moves instead. But she gave herself away when she shared, “I love […]
On The Night You Were Born…
Last week, I wrote about wanting to clone myself because I have so many things I’d like to do and just not enough “me”s to get it all done! I just want more time to help women process their birth stories, is that so wrong??? But because cloning is not possible, I’ve tried to do […]
To Clone or Not to Clone?
That is the question… Well, not really. I’ve often wished that I could clone myself – not for any weird reasons, I think there really should only be one unique version of us in the world. It’s just that there’s an awful lot I’d like to accomplish in this one, wild life I’ve been given […]
I Love a Good Conference…
I was at an all-day conference over the weekend that focused on body positivity -a touchy subject for most women, especially those whose bodies have been transformed by pregnancy and birth. There’s so much pressure for us to return to – acting, working, looking, behaving, being – who we were before the baby. This presumes two things: […]
Making Predictions During Birth – About as Magic as the 8 Ball!
Did you ever have a Magic 8 Ball? I did. I loved that thing. I loved being able to ask a question, any question, and have the almighty oracle predict my fate. Inside the little window floated a single die, with twenty possible answers to life’s biggest questions. Some of which included: “Signs point to […]
Comparisons… Why do we do it to ourselves?
Comparison is the thief of joy. So said Teddy Roosevelt, our 26th President. I’m guessing that he was not talking about women and their birth experiences, but this quote absolutely applies to what can happen when we compare our own birth stories with others. Recently I facilitated a postpartum support group for new parents and […]
Either/Or? How About Yes/And?
During introductions on the first night of class, Janet* sat up, told us her name, and added: “I’m planning on getting the epidural – and you can’t talk me out of it!” She pointed straight at me when she said this and I threw up my hands in mock defense replying, “I’m not going to […]
The Birth Scale Part II
In part two of The Birth Scale, I share more ideas on how to feel positive and empowered – even when birth doesn’t go to plan.