411 Contractions Rule
The 411 contractions rule is an easy way to know when to go to the hospital. – when each contraction is 4 minutes apart, 1 minute long, and has been …
Active labor
First Stage of Labor 101 for the First Time Parent
The first stage of labor is the longest stage and everything that happens before pushing, birth, and the placenta. Because it’s so long and varied, the first stage of labor …
How Far Apart Should Contractions Be Before Going to the Hospital?
When planning for their hospital birth, many parents want to know how far apart should contractions be before going to the hospital. Dads want to know so they don’t accidentally …
When to Go to the Hospital for Labor
Whether you’re a first time mom, a seasoned pro, planning for a VBAC, or pregnant with twins, it’s important to know when to go to the hospital for labor. Many …
How to Get to the Hospital Without Having a Car Baby
Nobody wants to have a car baby. I’ve never read a birth plan that expressed the desire to go into labor, hop in the car, have a baby on the …
Natural Birth Plan: What You Need to Know About Writing One
I don’t enthusiastically encourage creating a birth plan with my childbirth classes and even my doula clients. One reason is because I dislike the negative responses from nurses in the …
How to Get Through Painful Labor Before an Epidural
This blog post is all about how to get through painful labor before an epidural. This blog post isn’t about whether or not a woman should get an epidural. Maybe …
What Do Contractions Feel Like in Labor?
According to some, contractions feel like the abdominal cramping you get with bad diarrhea that rhythmically come and go, strengthening in intensity and eventually become longer, closer together and more intense/painful …
The Stages of Labor: How to and Helpful Tips
When parents begin to understand the stages of labor and how birth typically unfolds, it gives them a better idea of what labor may be like for them. Once moms …
Active Labor: How to Cope, When to Go and More!
Active labor is part of the first stage of labor, and where parents spend the bulk of their time in the birthing process. Active labor happens when contractions become longer, …
Snacks for Labor | Mother Rising
Snacks for labor are as essential as the demands of labor and delivery are high. One way to stay strong is to eat and drink throughout the entire process. Even …
DIY Electrolyte Cubes for Labor and Birth
I’ve been at a lot of births. And whew, birth is a lot of work. The demands of labor require lots of hydration and lite meals as needed. Why is …