One of the things as midwives we hear from so many moms is that they hope to have a fast and pain-free birth. While we cannot promise you either of those, what we can do is provide you with suggestions of what you can do to help achieve a better birth.

Preparing for the birth of a baby can be stressful for anyone. But, for women who struggle with anxiety and depression, pregnancy can be a very distressing time. This article discusses possible strategies to support pregnant women who struggle with anxiety and depression.

One of the most important “pieces of the puzzle” of health and wellness for both mother and baby is the mother’s blood pressure. This article explains the significance of elevated blood pressure, and strategies to help.

Pregnancy is a normal process - a physiological part of being a woman. But for some reason, instead of recognizing that pain in your body is a sign of a problem that can (generally) be fixed, women just embrace it. Oddly, if they were having the same symptoms outside of pregnancy, they might be more inclined to seek out solutions.

Chiropractic care is one of the best practices you can have throughout your whole pregnancy to be strong, healthy and ready for birth.

Pregnancy is a great time to evaluate your priorities, and commit to investing in your health so you can have the best possible birth experience. This is the perfect time to start focusing on physical health — exercise and fitness.

Here are some ideas and resources that you may find helpful:

Babies have sleepy times, and wake times throughout the day. Knowing your baby’s normal movements will help you respond quickly in the rare event that something changes. This simple daily check-in can literally save a baby’s life.

Here’s to beginning the journey toward birth! These next weeks . . . months . . .will be filled with dynamic changes, transformation, exploration, and growth — both figuratively and metaphorically. As we begin this journey together, we want to share our vision for your care. You are the hero of your own (birth) story.

Eating a balanced diet throughout pregnancy is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the both you and the baby are as healthy as possible. There’s no time like now to make a commitment to eating as clean and healthy as you possibly can.

What if I told you there was something you could do that would

• make your labor shorter

• reduce your perception of pain

• reduce your stress and anxiety

• help prevent lacerations in birth

• improve safety in your birth

• increase your potential of birthing without medication

When labor is “wonky” — long, uncoordinated, unusually painful or uncomfortable — it might be because the baby isn’t quite in the best position.

Spinning Babies is the original collection of functional, physical movements moms can try to balance their pelvis, bring their baby into an optimal position, and help make labor easier and faster.

Ideally, nutrition should come from food. However, many people need some supplements to hit all of the targets. This article explains the supplements that may be beneficial at each stage of pregnancy.