The Midwives Of New Jersey
Serving Women, Honoring Birth
When pregnant women go past their “due date”, they are often greeted with questions about when the baby will come. They may be on alert for signs of labor all the time, feel frustrated or angry, weepy or scared. They may feel like a watched pot or a beached whale. That pregnancy will last forever. …
A new recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics is Iodine supplementation in pregnancy (see first link below). It is not surprising that poor diets result in less than ideal outcomes for children. I think we need to heed Dr. Mercola’s advice (see second link below) though, and ensure that Iodine intake is through diet …
Is Glucola Necessary? A foundational concept at the Midwives of New Jersey is choice. We do believe pregnant women should be screened for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) because, left untreated, it can have significant negative effects, both in the short and long term. But there is more than one way to skin a cat! The …
There is no Need to Rush There is no hurry! Why is childbirth so rushed? The baby comes out-Clanking instruments, loud, high–pitched voices, tunnel-vision and sharp jerking motions surround the baby as he is dried vigorously and the cord is cut and clamped usually in the first seconds of life. I think this is the …
Imagine if from a young age, you were taught that you were strong, capable and powerful beyond measure….. What if you were taught that you were intelligently and divinely created and that this intelligence that made you from one cell to a trillion cells in 9 months was with you from the moment of conception …
I love this poem as it acutely describes the work we do as midwives. Hands These are my hands Through these hands I have come to see the world. These hands have measured the growth of life and documented the stalling of time. They guide my ears to places where I hear The watch-like beat …
http://www.hackensackumc.org/cap/ Hackensack University Medical Center has opened a Center for Abnormal Placentation. I am sure that most people are unaware of abnormal placentation, which occurs when the placenta implants abnormally and can be incredibly risky to the pregnant woman’s life. Placenta accreta is the leading cause for Maternal death in the United States. When a …
Women defend right to Waterbirth It’s letters like these that have a tremendous impact on natural childbirth and women’s health. Waterbirth will remain at Morristown Memorial Hospital because of testimonies like these. I am writing in response to ACOG’s recent position regarding the clinical benefit and safety of waterbirth. As both a mom, and a …
The Overuse of C-section With nearly 1 out of 3 births resulting in a C-Section, ACOG and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recently published recommendations amid growing concern that C-sections are overused. The new guidelines urge providers to wait longer before turning to C-sections. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/02/20/new-guidelines-to-reduce-c-section-births-urge-waiting/ This article is testimony to the fact that trying to quantify a …
Waterbirth information, facts and waterbirth photos and videos from clients at our practice.
I often hear people ask, “Is massage safe during pregnancy?” Yes, yes, yes! Massage not only is safe during pregnancy, but it also has many benefits. Massage relieves muscle aches and joint pains and improves labor outcomes and newborn health, as well as regulates hormone levels and reduces swelling. Studies done in the past …
Patience is a virtue and it also leads to better birth outcomes. Modern obstetrics needs to be cognizant of its interference in a normal labor. I have found in my own practice, the Midwives of New Jersey, that less is more. The more that we try to control the normal process of pregnancy, birth and …
For real people making real choices, let’s open up the discussion with compassion instead of trying to choke it to death. Transparency and collaboration can make birth safer in all of these settings, but it can’t happen in a hostile environment. If we can let go of our own biases of where women “should” give birth, maybe …
A finding that epidurals are associated with a longer duration in the second stage of labor indicates that doctors might need to wait more time before intervening with drugs, forceps or cesareans. The wisdom of midwifery is constantly being proven by modern science. I am so happy that these “pearls” are now a scientific facts …
The Midwives of New Jersey are working hard to increase awareness about the effect that healthful living during pregnancy has on a babies health. Our guest Lecturer, Laurel Wilson we be speaking on the topic of epigenetics on Saturday January 25th from 9am until Noon. We have arranged to bring her in from the West …
I love this article! Please pay close attention to the sections on Epigenetics and weight gain in pregnancy. I hope to see you at our conference on Saturday the 25th of January. Laurel Wilson will be speaking about How to Impact your Children’s Genetic Potential for Health and about how our diet in pregnancy affects …
You may have heard the term “epigenetics”, especially if you are our client here at the Midwives of New Jersey. But you may not know exactly what it is or why it should matter to you. Epigenetics is more than a scientific concept—it’s a reminder that the daily choices you make can help shape your …
Sleep Positions for Better Sleep During Pregnancy Pregnant women may sleep in whatever position is comfortable to them. You do not have to sleep on your side for your baby to be healthy. Restrictions in sleeping positions cause more sleep disruptions than pregnant women already have just being pregnant. Your body will tell you to …
