8 Routine Newborn Procedures You Need to Know About
For many new parents, routine newborn procedures are something they’ve not given much thought to… yet. In this article I hope to describe the benefits of an undisturbed first hour …
Natural Birth
Hi there! I’m Lindsey VanAlstyne, the childbirth educator behind Mother Rising. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about natural childbirth. Natural birth 101 – how to plan for a natural birth, ways to cope with labor pain, and more!
(Pssst! Come join my FREE Facebook group just for pregnant women! I can’t wait to meet you.)
Stages of Labor
To get started with a natural birth, study the basics – the stages of labor. Learn about when to go to the hospital, understanding contractions, writing a birth plan, identifying early labor, water breaking 101, and more with Mother Rising’s tips and advice for each stage of labor!
Pain Management
Once you understand how normal labor progresses, it’s helpful to pair that information with coping strategies for the pain of labor. DIY pain management in labor is extremely effective and a cornerstone to having a safe and satisfying natural birth experience. Learn the about the purpose of labor pain and how to relax during contractions.
Check out all the “How To’s” of decreasing labor pains:
- How to cope through early labor
- How to relax between contractions
- How to labor at home as long as possible
- How to not pass out (this one is for dads)
- How to rock back labor
- How to progress prodromal labor
- How to use birth positions to decrease pain
- How to use a birth ball for a better birth
- How to rock a long and difficult birth
- How to stop throwing up during labor
- How to get through birth without an epidural
- How to prevent tearing
Birthing Tools
Learn about birthing tools used in labor and delivery like a birthing ball, hydrotherapy/water birth, gas and air for labor, but also birth affirmations, and the B.R.A.I.N. acronym tool that helps parents obtain informed consent.
Homebirth
Discover the world of homebirth with homebirth stories, a homebirth supply list, understanding a midwife’s birth team, how to setup for a water birth, having siblings at birth, and more with Mother Rising’s tips and advice for homebirth!
Hospital Birth
Want to know more about a natural hospital birth? I got you. Plan for an empowered natural hospital birth with questions to ask on a hospital tour, and tips to pack a hospital bag. Learn about laboring at home as long as possible, coping through labor before an epidural, VBAC tips, routine newborn procedures, and more with Mother Rising’s tips and advice for hospital birth!
Birth Stories
Read birth stories and see birth photos for inspiration and motivation, written by mamas just like you! Have a birth story to share? Send it my way. :)
The Latest Posts on Natural Birth
Here you’ll find the latest evidence-based resources, articles, and inspiration for all things natural birth. Enjoy! :)
How to Use a Birthing Ball for a Better Birth
A birthing ball is an exercise ball that helps ease pregnancy symptoms, but can also encourage a less painful more straightforward birth. It’s a must-have for every pregnant woman hoping …
Tips for a Gentle C Section Birth Plan
A gentle c section is a cesarean birth that is heavily focused on supporting the new family as a unit throughout the birth process, and less on traditional medical procedures …
Surprise! Pitocin and Postpartum Depression are Linked!
Much to the surprise of the medical community, a 2017 study showed that Pitocin and postpartum depression and anxiety are linked (not a causation but a link). The mothers aren’t surprised. …
3 Mistakes to Avoid Immediately After Birth
Have you ever paused to think about how culture impacts the process of giving birth? Do you ever wonder what giving birth in other countries is like? Have you ever …
How to Get Through Transition Without an Epidural
It is 100% possible to get through transition without an epidural! This article is FULL of wonderful information about how to do just that. Let’s go! What is Transition? Birth …
Signs of Labor – Is It Baby Time?
Towards the end of pregnancy, women experience new symptoms that leave them wondering if these are signs of the first stage of labor or just more “end of pregnancy stuff”. …
Hospital Tour Questions for Labor, Delivery, and Postpartum
One of my favorite jobs was to lead the labor and delivery hospital tour for those planning a hospital birth in my community. Unfortunately, I noticed most parents don’t come …
How to Labor at Home as Long as Possible
Many women in my childbirth classes and those that hire me for doula support often ask for tips on how to labor at home as long as possible. In fact, one …
30 Encouraging Bible Verses for Labor and Delivery
These 30 bible verses for labor and delivery bring comfort during the end of pregnancy and throughout the intensity of any type of birth – natural birth, medicated, or a …
What Not to Say to a Woman in Labor (And What to Say Instead!)
Planning on attending a birth? Whether you’re a doula, grandmother, or spouse, it’s important to learn what not to say to a woman in labor and what to say instead. …
5 Things Your OBGYN Won’t Tell You – How to Have A Better Birth
Over the years I’ve realized there are things your OBGYN won’t tell you about how to have a better birth and postpartum – 5 things in particular. For my first …