Should I have a homebirth?
Well, you’ll think we’re biased for saying it, but the answer is no. While birth can be and usually is a very benign event, the truth is that the safest…
What is delayed cord clamping and what length of time is best?
After the baby is born, there should be a pause before clamping the cord (as opposed to immediately clamping it). This is called delayed cord clamping or optimal cord clamping.…
Should I store my baby’s cord blood?
The reality of cord blood banking is that it is a huge expense for little to no benefit for the average person. Private cord blood banking has an initial collection…
Is there a best way to push?
The most effective pushing is usually done when you take in a deep breath, fill up your lungs, and then hold that air in while you bear down, tuck your…
Does perineal massage help prevent tears?
Perineal massage a few weeks leading up to delivery may decrease the chance that you tear, but it does so by causing unwanted (and permanent) relaxation of the vaginal tissues.…
Do I need cervical checks during labor?
Cervical checks can vary based on institution. It is definitely true that more cervical checks lead to an increased risk of infection. That being said, some checks are necessary to…
What should I bring in my hospital bag?
This is a preference thing: there is no right or wrong answer here. You are not required to bring anything aside from your ID and insurance card if you have…
What does losing my mucus plug mean?
Many women will sometimes pass a large plug of mucus (and maybe some blood) at some point during cervical dilation. As the cervix dilates and thins, the mucus buildup that…
Does drinking red raspberry leaf tea, bouncing on a ball, having sex, etc. help start labor?
Babies love being unpredictable. If there were a way to induce labor through drinking tea, exercise, sex, or some other magic, we would tell you. Like eating dates, there are…
Does eating six dates a day help soften your cervix for a better labor?
No. If this were the case, we would ask patients to eat dates as their due-dates approached and avoid them before that. Alas, there is no evidence to back up…