1 in 10 dads experience depression and anxiety after the birth of their baby. Although fathers don’t have the same physical changes birthing parents experience, many things in your life are changing as well. Everyone in the family has different roles, experiences, and expectations when you bring a new baby home. The sleepless nights, the Read More
Category: Pregnancy and Childbirth
Pregnancy Discomfort
You’ll probably have some of these normal (but irritating) discomforts during pregnancy. Try the following measures to help you cope with them. If you’re worried, call your doctor or midwife for advice. Read More
Coping During Labor: The 3 Rs
A new approach to self-help comfort measures in labor is based on observations of the real experts — women in labor. These observations have helped the authors simplify and individualize the labor-coping techniques described in Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn. The Three Rs: Relaxation, Rhythm, and RitualDespite the variety of ways that individual women cope Read More
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD) is the term used to describe four emotional conditions occurring during pregnancy and in the first year after giving birth. These four conditions include anxiety and panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum depression and post traumatic stress disorder. About 20% of women will have PMAD during pregnancy following birth and Read More
Postpartum Emotional Changes
After childbirth, most women experience emotional ups and downs. These emotional fluctuations may be partly due to one or more reasons that are related to the childbearing experience. These possible reasons include: For some women, these emotional fluctuations are mild, and they decrease within a few weeks. For others, they are overwhelming and long lasting Read More
The Birth Plan
A birth plan is essentially a letter to caregivers and nurses, describing the expectant parents’ concerns, fears and wishes, and how the mother and her partner would prefer that the labor and birth be managed and why. Some people prefer terms like “preference list,” “goal sheet,” or “wish list” to “birth plan.” Whatever it is Read More