It is common in our system for a doctor or midwife to recommend that a woman's water (amniotic sac) be artificially broken during labor if it hasn't broken on its own. The idea is that it will quicken the labor and cause the baby to be born faster. Often, women will even be erroneously and unethically promised this. This procedure is technically termed an amniotomy. Sometimes it's also referred to as AROM (artificial rupture of membranes), "rupturing her", or "breaking her wa

THE BIRTH OF MY FIRST BABY: My first pregnancy was labeled “high-risk,” and for good medical reason. Around 35 weeks my blood pressure began climbing, and by 37 weeks I had all the classic signs of preeclampsia: severe swelling, rapid weight gain from fluid retention, protein in my urine, and hypertension. At the same time, my husband had just accepted a new job and we were moving three hours away at the last minute - without a new provider or birth plan in place in our new c

How should a mother recover and rest postpartum? How can she do that through the lens of her faith? In every culture until modern times, there have been cultural practices, routines, and ritual surrounding the postpartum time. Humanity has always recognized, to varying degrees, that this time was critical for mothers and babies to heal, bond, rest, recover, and establish healthy feeding for the baby. Modern American culture, highly influenced by the industrial revolution, all

We're so excited to share with you about our newest updates! For our iPhone users, we now have some really exciting new features on the Made for This app! (Android users, please pray we can eventually add these updates on Android as well!) Drumroll please... You can now make customized playlists! Create your own playlist using tracks from the Made for This Birth Album and EVEN INCLUDE MUSIC from your own phone’s library or Apple Music! By popular request, we’ve now also added

Without doubt, one of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to the option to birth at home is " but is that safe?? " Whether...

Understanding the possible options for a cesarean birth is important for the mother in this situation to feel as empowered as possible and create a personalized, dignified experience for both her and her baby. Learn what options you might have for a gentle, family-centered cesarean.