80+ Positive Affirmations for Pregnancy, Birth, and Motherhood

Use Positive Affirmations To Wire Your Brain For An Empowered Birth Experience.

Are you trying to overcome fears of birth? Do you want to feel more empowered throughout your pregnancy? Would you like to feel more calm and centered so you can embark into your labor experience feeling confident and assured? Try integrating positive affirmations for pregnancy, birth, and motherhood into your routine!

Harness the power of your mind by using positive affirmations for pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.

Your mind is a powerful tool. The thoughts we allow to occupy our minds affect the way we experience life. Neuroscientists have discovered that repetitive thoughts form neural pathways because “neurons that fire together get wired together.” Therefore, the more frequently a particular thought is activated and reinforced, the stronger that particular neural pathway becomes. As a result, we tend to automatically revert to that way of thinking and perceiving. Luckily, our brains have the ability to change our synaptic wiring. Neuroscientists call this “neuroplasticity.” Due to neuroplasticity, we have the power to intentionally change our thought patterns.

One way to intentionally form positive thinking habits is to use affirmations. When using affirmations, the goal is to repeat a thought so frequently and confidently that your mind forms new neural pathways.

Hence, your positive affirmations will become your “go-to” way of thinking.

Telling yourself every day that something is too difficult or even impossible will cause you to form mental blocks in your mind that manifest into real life obstacles. However, if you encourage yourself daily using positive affirmations, it is much more likely you will reach your goals. This is how remarkably powerful your mind is. If you are conscious and aware of the thoughts you repeat in your mind, your life will reflect it.

Affirmations are positive phrases that are repeated throughout the day. You could read them to yourself or listen to a recording, since the idea is to repeat them frequently enough for your subconscious mind to take hold of them. It is important for you to truly believe in your affirmations, so find the ones that resonate with you. Write them down on sticky notes and put them in places where you’ll read them often. Use a dry erase board to jot a new one down every week. Most of all, take your affirmations to heart and visualize them becoming a reality.

Use affirmations daily to achieve positive results.

Speaking affirmations aloud to your baby is a wonderful way to bond with them in utero, especially when you consider babies hear sounds from the outside world as early as 16 weeks gestation. The mother-baby bond is something mysterious and magical. Even early on, it is evident that babies truly respond to things that their mothers do. According to this study, babies in the womb even respond to their mother’s touch. During the study, when the mothers touched their abdomen, their babies responded by kicking, yawning, or reaching out to touch her back. Additionally, when they talked to their babies, the movements decreased — perhaps her baby was pausing to listen? We can’t know for sure what our babies are thinking, but we can see there is a definite connection between mother and child that begins very early in pregnancy.

Here are some of my favorite positive affirmations for pregnancy, birth, and motherhood:

1. I trust my body. My body knows exactly what to do. I embrace the wisdom of my body.

2. I am totally relaxed and at ease. I can handle whatever comes up.

3. My baby is strong and healthy. My belly is full of love. My baby feels my joy.

4. I welcome my coming labor as the perfect one for me and my baby.

5. My muscles work in complete harmony to make birthing easier. Each surge of my body brings my baby closer to me. My surges cannot be stronger than me because they ARE me.

6. I am thankful for my surges because I know that each one is bringing my baby closer to me.

7. I turn my birthing over to my baby and my body.

8. I am an active and powerful laboring woman.

9. I feel confident, I feel safe, I feel secure.

10. I am a wonderful mother.

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If you find yourself feeling anxious about the birth process, consider using my Empowered Birth Toolkit to help yourself prepare for your birth experience. We tend to fear the unknown.

I also offer one-on-one virtual doula sessions, during which we can discuss and dissolve your fears regarding birth, so that you are able to dive into this experience without anything to hold you back.

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Why Americans Should Be Spending Less On Weddings And More On Maternal Care

I find it strange how much we as a culture focus on weddings. People spend so much money on having a big party… for what? To announce their love for one another? Usually they’re already living together, in this day and age, with the ridiculous cost of rent. Weddings are such an outdated tradition, yet the industry is raking in tens of billions of dollars each year. The average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is $33,391.

I never had a wedding. I couldn’t rationalize spending so much money on one day of my life when we knew what we really wanted was to have children together and own our own home. I decided I would rather invest that money in our future than throw a big party.

In my personal opinion, parenthood is a much bigger step. It is mentally, physically, and emotionally challenging. Crossing the threshold into parenthood is a rite of passage; it shouldn’t be an afterthought. A couple should absolutely plan to allot plenty of resources to care for themselves through this transition. Just think of the comfort that could be afforded with less than half of what the average wedding costs!

A Listening To Mothers Survey data brief reports that in the first two months after childbirth 51% of women reported physical exhaustion, 58% reported sleep loss, and 43% reported not getting enough exercise. About 1/3 of the women surveyed reported that their postpartum physical and emotional health interfered at least some with their ability to care for their new baby. Many women reported that they were not getting enough healthy foods and they were unable to handle stress well. The reported rate of clinical postpartum depression among new mothers is between 10% to 20%, and we are now finding that postpartum anxiety may be even more common than postpartum depression. Anxiety and related disorders were found to affect more than 15% of pregnant and postpartum women, and suicide is one of the leading causes of death in postpartum women.

Photo © Kate Pavlovsky

With these statistics in mind, it is shocking to me that our culture spends so much on extravagant weddings yet is willing to spend so LITTLE on maternal care. It got me thinking… do people even know all of the resources available to them throughout the childbearing year? I think not! I think for too long we have assumed that having a baby just sort of happens. We didn’t consider the mental and physical ramifications of being unprepared and unsupported. We knew that we needed items and services to care for the baby after they arrived, but we forgot to consider the mother (and father, for that matter).

I would like to reframe everyone’s expectations around prenatal and postpartum care. We need to expect and budget for AMPLE care throughout the childbearing year whenever possible. We need to consider it an investment in our mental and physical health instead of an “extra expense.” It is not extra, it is NECESSARY. It can make all the difference!

One of the first ways we can influence this cultural shift is to educate everyone about the various options they have when it comes to taking care of themselves throughout this time. 

Prenatal Care

Pregnancy is intense! You need to care for your mental and physical health throughout pregnancy. It is important to be able to afford wholesome, nutritious foods and high quality prenatal vitamins. Not only is it important to have a good care provider, you can also benefit greatly from holistic care such as regular chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture appointments.

Your Choice of Care Provider

Whether you want to birth with an obstetrician or a midwife, you would have the ability to choose freely regardless of cost. I have had quite a few clients who felt forced into a certain birth plan simply because it was all their insurance would cover. You don’t want to feel stuck with a care provider who isn’t serving you well.

Your Choice Of Birth Location

A recent USA Today investigation showed that about one in eight hospitals have complication rates of at least double the norm. When your life and your child’s life is at stake, you want to have the ability to choose the safest place to birth. The United States is the most dangerous place to birth in the developed world. About 700 women die and more than 50,000 suffer serious complications each year. For many years, hospitals have blamed the rising maternal deaths on poverty and pre-existing conditions, but USA Today’s investigations suggest that the deaths can be blamed on a mix of misdiagnoses, delayed care and a failure to follow safety measures. USA Today released a database of childbirth complication rates at maternity hospitals that families can access when they are making a choice about where to birth. You don’t want to feel pressured into birthing in a certain location that may not be your safest choice.

Photo © Kate Pavlovsky

Birth Doula

A Birth Doula is like your Birth Fairy Godmother. They are hired as early on in the pregnancy as possible so they are able to support you every step of the way. Your doula is like your very own encyclopedia for all things birth and babies. They are equipped with a great deal of knowledge about your local birth & parenting community, so they can act as your “birth/parenthood” planner of sorts, referring you to the people and care providers who will serve you best. Most of them are available to you for advice throughout pregnancy, labor (obviously), and postpartum. No matter what question you have, they will have the answer or find someone who does. That is invaluable! Wondering why your baby’s poop just turned green? Text the doula! Wondering if this is the start of labor? Text the doula! Wondering which birth or parenting books you should bother reading? Text the doula! She probably has a lending library as well. Your doula is like your parenting side-kick. We want you to feel at peace throughout this transition and we will go above and beyond to ensure that we make the transition as smoothly as possible. Not only does your doula act as the “wedding planner” of the maternal care world, we also STAY WITH YOU throughout your entire labor & birth to keep you as comfortable and calm as possible throughout the experience. Doula care has been linked to less complications during birth, less interventions, a lower chance of cesarean section for first time mothers, a higher likelihood of establishing a good breastfeeding relationship, and a higher likelihood that the parents will rate their childbirth experience positively.

Childbirth Prep Classes

If this is going to be your first baby, you might want to invest in some childbirth prep classes. You can take classes focused on birth, newborn care, breastfeeding, or a mix of everything. They vary greatly in price, and can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks of recurring meet-ups. Some instructors teach their own curriculum, while others have been trained in childbirth education by organizations like Evidence Based Birth or Birthing From Within (a couple of my personal favorites). It is a good idea to take an in-depth course before jumping into parenthood head first. You’d be surprised at all the things you don’t know!

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy is important for treating sciatic pain and pubic symphysis pain, and for creating space in your pelvis for your baby to settle into the most optimal position for birthing. Good chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can reduce the length of labor and reduce your risk of cesarean delivery. There are even techniques a chiropractor can use to encourage breech babies to turn! Chiropractic care is the most beneficial when part of a regular care regimen.

Massage

Massage has a wide range of benefits— relaxation, improved circulation, better sleep, reduced swelling, less aches/pains/tension, reduced stress, better labor outcomes, and more! Toward the end of pregnancy, many massage therapists (such as myself) offer “induction” massages, designed to gently nudge your body into labor to avoid unnecessary medical intervention. I highly recommend having regular massage appointments scheduled throughout your third trimester, but having them throughout your entire pregnancy is even better!

Acupuncture/Acupressure

Benefits of Acupuncture/Acupressure during pregnancy include: Relief of morning sickness & nausea; increased energy levels; treatment of migraines; reduction of aches & pains; easing or diminishing symptoms of depression & anxiety; encouraging labor, augmenting labor naturally, & reducing length of labor; improved sleep, and more. I usually recommend my clients begin acupuncture treatments in the third trimester to reduce their anxiety and stress levels, then increase the frequency after the 38th week of pregnancy, when the practitioner can begin using the points to encourage labor to begin. This significantly reduces the chances of going past 42 weeks, which means less unwanted interventions. Acupuncture/acupressure are accumulative, meaning it takes more than one treatment to trigger a response in your body. This is why it is recommended you have regular appointments leading up to your due date, instead of going once at 41.5 weeks in hopes it will bring your baby.

Photo © Kate Pavlovsky

Photographer

This may not be an absolute necessity, but birth photography is definitely a service that could be factored into the budget. After all, we spend a heck of a lot of money hiring wedding photographers, don’t we? I’d say that having a baby is a WAY BIGGER DEAL than your wedding day. Don’t you want to remember every detail from such a powerful, life-changing event? I know I cherish the photos that were taken during each of my births! Even if you decide you don’t want a photographer present for the actual birth, MANY birth photographers (including myself) offer a “Fresh 48” option. For a Fresh 48 session, a photographer is still technically on-call, but they agree to show up within 48 hours of your baby’s birth. That means they’ll capture all the fresh details of your newborn: tiny fingers, wrinkled feet, and precious baby hairs. During labor, birth, and the early postpartum, your body naturally produces hormones which cause you to forget the experience. This is why having visual documentation of this day is so priceless. Without these photos you will only have a fraction of this experience logged in your memory, but with them you will have an everlasting reminder of this wondrous time, down to every important detail.

Postpartum Care

Oh, you thought pregnancy was intense? The postpartum period kicks it up a notch! Many women describe their first postpartum experience as feeling like they have been hit by a freight train. You are feeling exhausted, vulnerable, and somewhat overwhelmed with the task of caring for new life. You are required to learn a long list of new skills overnight: how to feed your baby, how to burp your baby, how to coax your baby to sleep, and more! That’s not including the care you need yourself. Perineal care, cesarean incision care, pelvic floor care, a healthy diet to maintain milk supply and energy levels, etc. The list goes on and on. The services listed below are necessary for easing the postpartum load. Trust me, it’s a doozy. Especially since only 25 percent of fathers have more than a week of paternity leave and a majority take only a single day off work after their partner has a baby. What is a mother to do when her partner returns to work and she is left caring for herself and their new baby? HIRE HELP, whenever possible!

Postpartum Doula

Remember that long list of new skills I mentioned you’ll need to learn overnight? Your postpartum doula can help you with ALL OF THEM. Postpartum doulas are highly skilled in caring for all your postpartum needs, as well as your newborn’s needs. We provide emotional support, evidence-based information regarding caring for your newborn, and practical support like helping with the laundry or preparing/bringing a nourishing meal. Postpartum doulas help reduce postpartum mood disorders and improve breastfeeding success rates. Some postpartum doulas offer overnight services so that you AND your partner are able to get some much-needed rest!

Photo © Kate Pavlovsky

Lactation Consultants

Lactation consultants provide advice and hands-on help for anything about breastfeeding. In the beginning, they can help you with positioning baby, solving latch problems, or handling night feedings. Even after you have established breastfeeding, a lactation consultant can help with things like too much milk, too little milk, making the transition to work, or learning to pump. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) is a healthcare professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. IBCLCs have a unique body of knowledge and skill to provide breastfeeding and lactation care in routine and high-risk situations. Most of the time, a doula can assist with the most basic breastfeeding issues, but if a problem persists or a lip/tongue-tie is suspected, usually your doula would refer you to an IBCLC.

Therapist/Counselor

Birth and motherhood are challenging. Sometimes, unfortunately, birth experiences can be traumatic. There are therapists who offer special birth trauma counseling to help women heal from PTSD following childbirth. Sometimes, even if you had a wonderful birth experience, depression and anxiety creep in during the postpartum period. If you have had depression or anxiety symptoms at other times in your life, this is even more likely. Plan on reaching out for help if you need it. Don’t suffer silently! Studies have shown that 1 in 5 postpartum deaths are suicide related. Don’t wait til it is overwhelming to talk about it. This is why it is important to have people checking in on you postpartum- people who know the signs of postpartum mood disorders, who can refer you to a counselor if you need one.

Pelvic Floor Therapy

Photo © Kate Pavlovsky

There are many birth workers who agree that seeing a pelvic floor therapist after giving birth should be the norm. Many women have pelvic floor issues after childbirth! A weak pelvic floor can cause pelvic pain, pain with sex, leakage (fecal and urinary), back pain, rectal pain, and even organ prolapse. Even something as simple (and common) as bladder leakage after birth is not normal! Seeing a pelvic floor therapist can restore your pelvic floor before the problems get worse.

Other Self-Care

There are many other expenses to consider when it comes to taking care of yourself postpartum, mentally and physically. Self care can include gym memberships (with childcare), hiring babysitters so you and your partner have time to yourselves, hiring a maid to reduce your work load at home, and even things like ordering food or grocery delivery. I know MANY parents who take advantage of at least one of these services postpartum (usually food delivery… because let’s be real, grocery shopping and cooking can be overwhelming with a new baby to care for).

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Maternal care shouldn’t be an afterthought. Just as we plan for the baby’s needs, we should plan extensively for the mother’s needs during the childbearing year. If we can find the money for a wedding, why can’t we allocate those funds (or at least a portion of them) to our health?! The answer to maternal health does not lie in $34,000 drug infusions. We need to be providing high-quality holistic care to mothers throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Maternal care is not a luxury– it is a necessity. It is an investment in the health and future of our society as a whole.

Ecstatic Birth in Austin, Texas

The story of a woman who turned her unexpected hospital birth into an ecstatic birth.

Do you believe in fate?

I do. I absolutely believe with all my heart and soul that SOME moments are just destined to happen. “Fate” is how I ended up at the hospital, supporting a woman who I’d originally met at a city-wide clothing swap through the labor and birth of her second child.

I remember the evening we met. We both happened to attend a clothing swap event at Soma Vida. Each of us had our eldest sons (our only children at that time) in tow. She approached me out of the blue. Just tapped me on the shoulder and introduced herself. The clothing swap was a bit hectic, so it was hard to focus on our conversation, but I was impressed with how straight forward and friendly she was right from the start. I felt an underlying connection, but couldn’t explain why. Over the next few years we ran into each other at random events around town.. Each time we would greet one another like old friends, but we didn’t talk much in between.

Fast forward to recent events:

I take part in conversations on many local and worldwide Facebook groups that have to do with pregnancy, birth, and mom life. One day, I saw a post by her about her pregnancy in a group we both happened to be in. I had never seen her before in this group, and I hadn’t even realized she was pregnant (it had been months since I’d seen her in person). Immediately, I reached out to her to reconnect and offer my support.

Our original spark instantly ignited once again, and we ended up talking on the phone over the next few days. During this time, she discovered there were complications with her pregnancy. Instead of the calm and peaceful birth center birth she had planned, she would need to be induced in the hospital for the safety of her baby. Due to the change of environment and the uncertainty of the situation, she requested my presence as her Doula and I didn’t have to think twice before agreeing.

My intuition told me that although this was last minute and unplanned, everything would work out and this was where I needed to be.

Only a little over 24 hours later, I found myself walking into the hospital to support her. Everything was going well but her body wasn’t progressing as quickly as it had with her first. I could see that she was still having trouble adjusting to all of the changes in her plans. She wanted to be accepting of everything but naturally she had some mental blocks. I massaged her feet, did some acupressure, and we talked through these mental blocks. Her feelings were valid and she needed to allow them to flow freely instead of suppressing them.

“It’s okay to feel frustrated, anxious, and/or upset,” I said. “It’s okay to acknowledge these emotions. It will help you move forward.”

Kristine is a remarkable woman. Her mind is so powerful, and she had worked hard to convince herself that she was okay with this new twist in the story. For the most part, she was okay with it— but she still needed to allow herself time to adjust.

Another thing we worked through was her deep fear of cesarean. It was always on her mind. I guided her through the process of surrendering to the experience. It was unlikely she would need a cesarean, but thinking about it constantly (even thinking “I don’t want a cesarean”) was obsessive and would have negative effects on how her labor progressed. We moved past this mental barrier as well.

After these long heart to heart conversations, her labor started to pick up. She laughed and danced with her partner, talked to her son via FaceTime, drank copious amounts of coconut water, and birthed like a boss.

Eventually, she grew tired, and so did her uterus. It was so late in the night that it was actually early in the morning the next day. She and her doctor made the decision to turn off the pitocin so she could get some sleep and continue later in the morning. I tucked her in, kissed her on the forehead, and went home to nurse my own baby while taking a short nap.

The next morning, after they resumed the induction, Kristine and Charles spent a few hours before noon laboring together as a couple. Their love for one another is so powerful and magical— the perfect spark to get the oxytocin flowin’ in order to fuel a strong, efficient labor. Charles called me back to the hospital when things were going steadily. Kristine was prowling around the floor like a mother lioness. She transitioned between squatting, hands-and-knees position, and crouching on the floor while holding onto Charles’ hands as he pulled upward to give her traction.

I wished we were in a birthing hut with a rope hanging from the ceiling. It was obvious that Kristine would’ve benefitted from that ancient birthing practice. She was now in what some of us birth workers call “Labor Land.” None of us were talking much. The extraordinary thing about Kristine was that she didn’t complain at all. She knew instinctively that she wanted her contractions to be strong. If she made noise at all, it was low, satisfied hums. Her body was able to work quickly and efficiently because she wasn’t fighting it.

It wasn’t long before she was ready to push.

She decided she wanted to squat in the bed. With every contraction, her face would scrunch as she pushed with her body’s cues. Then she would relax into an ecstatic state of rest in between, smiling from ear to ear with her eyes closed. She allowed her body to guide her; to tell her when to push and when to rest. No one in the room coached her or directed her. Everyone watched in awe as she birthed her baby.

The amniotic sac was the first thing to show. It was bulging, but everyone remained hands-off, hoping to see a baby born en-caul. As soon as his head burst through the birth canal, her “bag of waters” broke and amniotic fluid sprayed directly into her midwife’s face. Her son’s body followed very quickly, and soon she was holding him in her arms.

I always love the look on a woman’s face immediately after she delivers her baby, but Kristine’s was especially brilliant. She looked deliriously happy as she thanked everyone in the room over and over again.

“This experience taught me so much,” she told us, through tears. “I love you all! Thank you thank you!”

I cannot tell you how honored I am to be a part of experiences like this. I love being able to assist women through such a monumental transition in their lives. Every birth brings us unexpected hurdles, and being able to guide other women through this process, supporting them physically, emotionally, and even spiritually… well, it’s priceless.

7 Fascinating Facts About Umbilical Cords That Will Make You Think Before You Cut

Learn More About Umbilical Cords and The Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping

Before becoming a mother and Doula, I didn’t realize there were so many questions about umbilical cords. Honestly, I kind of took them for granted. I knew that somehow they were the connection between mother and baby, and I knew that they were responsible for nourishing the baby in the womb. Once I delved into the birth world, I realized there is SO MUCH the average person does not know about umbilical cords and the pivotal moment when babies officially separated from their mothers.

Here I have listed some of the most common questions that I have received about umbilical cords and delayed cord clamping.

Umbilical cord cutting:

Why should the partner cut the cord? Shouldn’t I let someone more trained do it?

Partners are asked to cut the cord is because it is a way to include them in the process. It has become a common ritual for the partner to sever the tie between mother and baby. Care providers would not be willing to pass the responsibility of this task to the partner if it were dangerous. No skill is required if the cord is already clamped by the care provider. Freebirthing couples clamp or tie off the cord themselves, then cut it or burn it when the time is right.

Is cutting the cord only for birth partners?

I’ve had a father say, “Well, I don’t know if our baby would ever forgive me for severing their physical bond.” I chuckled, but he had a point. The father or partner is not the only one who can cut the cord! Many mothers choose to do this task themselves. It is ok to think outside the box. I do get a little sad though when people brush it off completely, telling the doctor to do it as if it means nothing. Of course, I’m always looking for deeper meaning in everything and I’m a sucker for rituals and symbolism.

What if I mess it up and their belly button is too big or too small?!

This is a common misconception: the size of our belly button (and whether we have an “innie” or an “outie”) is determined by where our umbilical cord was cut. The umbilical cord is clamped in two places. One clamp is very close to baby, and the other an inch or two down the cord, closer to the placenta. Then the cord is cut between the clamps, and the baby’s end is tied off with string or a rubber band-like closure made especially for this task. Then, for the first week or so of life, the umbilical cord that is left attached dries up and actually falls off. This leaves the baby’s true belly button. Thus, belly buttons are predetermined by our genetics, and have nothing to do with where the cord was cut.

Delayed Cord Clamping

What is delayed cord clamping?

Delayed cord clamping means that instead of clamping the umbilical cord immediately following your baby’s birth, you or your care provider wait for an allotted period of time before clamping. Your baby is still laid on their mother’s chest immediately after birth. They lay there for warmth and comfort at LEAST until the cord has been clamped and cut.

Is there a benefit to delayed cord clamping?

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):

“In term infants, delayed umbilical cord clamping increases hemoglobin levels at birth and improves iron stores in the first several months of life, which may have a favorable effect on developmental outcomes.

In preterm infants, delayed umbilical cord clamping is associated with significant neonatal benefits, including improved transitional circulation, better establishment of red blood cell volume, decreased need for blood transfusion, and lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and intraventricular hemorrhage.

Delayed umbilical cord clamping was not associated with an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage or increased blood loss at delivery, nor was it associated with a difference in postpartum hemoglobin levels or the need for blood transfusion.”

The fact that delayed cord clamping improves iron stores in babies is an important one. Nature did not intend for babies to be iron deficient! Ever since we have been practicing immediate cord clamping, we have also found it necessary to fortify rice cereal and formula with iron to make up for what they are lacking from birth. Iron is immensely important for neurological development; necessary in order for babies to become smarter at a fast pace.

According to this source, babies that receive delayed cord clamping have 40% more blood volume compared to babies that received immediate cord clamping.

This article states that “The evidence of benefit from Delayed Cord Clamping is so compelling that the burden of proof must now lie with those who wish to continue the practice of immediate clamping, rather than with those who prefer—as nature intended—to wait.”

How long should we wait to clamp the cord?

The ACOG recommends a delay in umbilical cord clamping in term and preterm infants for at least 30-60 seconds after birth. Delayed cord clamping causes 40% increase in blood volume, 45% increase in hematocrit, 50% increase in total red cell blood cell volume. 50% of this change happens within the first 60 seconds.  So giving your baby at least 60 seconds of delay is better than nothing.

It is common in the hospitals in my town to wait 90 seconds.

Many traditional birth workers believe the cord should stop pulsing completely before it is clamped and cut. This is the protocol I have followed with both of my boys. It doesn’t take as long as you’d think to allow the pulse to stop. It takes approximately 5 minutes. This guarantees the maximum benefits are achieved.

Is milking the cord the same as delayed cord clamping?

Many providers are too impatient to wait for delayed cord clamping. They “compromise” with their clients by telling them they will “milk the cord” and give baby the same benefits. Visualize squeezing “Gogurt” out of the container. This is what they mean by milking the cord. The truth is that milking the cord is NOT the same thing as delayed cord clamping AT ALL. Stripping the cord leaves babies with too high of hematocrit levels (too much red blood cells) aka polycythemia.

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Do you have any questions about umbilical cords? Did you do delayed cord clamping, or do you plan to? Do you or your partner plan to cut the umbilical cord (or have you already)? Drop me a comment! I’d love to hear from you.

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If you would like to purchase the FULL coloring book of Mandalas + Birth Affirmations, then please go HERE.

The full book contains:

• 20 pages of black & white mandalas with positive birth affirmations

• 5 pages of black & white mandalas with the space for you to write in your own favorite affirmations

• 25 mandalas TOTAL for you to color in and use as decor in your birth space

50+ Ways To Support Your Partner During Labor

How To Provide Quality Support During Labor

The big moment is here! Your new baby is on the way! You’re thrilled, but your partner is focused on the gripping sensations of labor. Maybe she is irritable or seemingly difficult to please; maybe you are having trouble thinking of ways to comfort and support her. Perhaps you are just interested in finding a way to participate in this life-changing event.

No need to sit there befuddled, worried about what to do with your hands! I have typed up this handy cheat sheet full of tips for the you (the birth partner), all about how to provide support during labor. I have even created a printable PDF that you have the option to download at the bottom of the page, so you can reference it once labor is underway. You’ll be all set to provide loving care for your partner as she brings new life into the world.

Ways to Support Your Partner During Labor:

How To Support Your Partner During Early Labor:

• Help her get ready for labor

• Encourage her; say that she’s strong and ready

• Make her tea (red raspberry leaf is a bonus) or broth to drink

• Make her something to eat

• Distract her with games, TV/Movies, or take her to get a foot massage

• Suggest a shower or bath

• Suggest a nap

• Remind her to relax and save her energy for later

• CALL THE DOULA – Keep her informed!

If she is feeling overwhelmed:

• Reassure her and praise her

• Give her an object or picture to look at during contractions

• Remind her of the reason she’s here (baby)

• Suggest a walk or position change

• Ask extra people to leave the room

• Place your hands on her face and breathe with her

If her belly hurts, you can:

• Remind her to go to the bathroom often

• Help her change position

• With a light touch, massage her lower belly and thighs

• Offer a warm heating pad

If she is having trouble relaxing, you can:

• Place a hand over her hand

• Have her shake both hands in the air

• Touch her and remind her to relax, one body part at a time

• Talk about a relaxing time

• Play music that helps her relax

• Read to her

• Rub her back or neck

If she is too hot, you can:

• Wash her face and neck with a cool, wet cloth

• Give her ice chips

• Fan her face and body

• Open a window or turn down the thermostat

If her back hurts, you can:

• Help her change positions

• Put a warm cloth or heat pack on her back

• Put a cold cloth or ice pack on her back

• Apply counter pressure with hands or tennis ball

• Sit back to back with her so your backs can press together

• Have her lean against the pain with her own fists

• Help her stand and lean against the wall

• Help her get on her hands and knees and rock back and forth

If her legs and arms shake, you can:

• Hold her steady so she feels more in control

• Use a soft touch or long, firm stroking on her legs and arms

• Rub her feet and hands

• Put a warm blanket on her

If her contractions stop, you can:

• Talk about labor and encourage rest and relaxation

• Help her with nipple stimulation

• Kiss her

• Tell her how strong she is

• Make sure she’s hydrated

• Suggest a hot shower

• Help her take a walk

• Rub her back

• Take her outside

• Encourage her to get some sleep; Lay down with her