Natural Birth Archives - Page 2 of 8

Stages of Labor Handout

February 20, 2019 By Lauren McClain

Can't do birth class or doula work without covering the stages of labor! Here's a handy stages of labor handout that details all the parts of stage one: dilation. The stages of labor were definitely defined and named by a man. Getting to 10 centimeters feels like three or four distinct phases. I have here so named [...]

Chiropractic Can Help Up to 92% of Breech Babies Turn

February 13, 2019 By Lauren McClain

An interview today with Dr. Bob Mason, a doctor of chiropractic who specializes in the Webster Technique. He and his wife have a practice in North Carolina where they have helped 92% of breech babies find their way head-down. How did you get started with Webster technique? I have always had a passion for helping children [...]

Adventure Birth with Katie, Michael, and Aurora

February 2, 2019 By Lauren McClain

Thank you to Katie and Michael, who took my natural birth class, for sharing this birth story. First, a word from Michael. Then the story from Katie. The Dad’s View of Birth Michael says: A side note I must share with everyone. My wife is by far the strongest and toughest woman I know now. […]

Scaffolding & A Shield: What We Need In Labor

December 12, 2018 By Lauren McClain

When someone we care for is working through something difficult, one of the best means of support is “holding space.” Effective labor companions know (from learning or experience) how to hold space for someone in labor. But what does that mean? Holding space is like holding the fort. You protect the people inside the space–that’s […]

Elements of Easier Birth

September 14, 2016 By Lauren McClain

Trusting the process...the whole process Although women have no second thoughts about growing a baby (ooo...gotta work on growing some tiny toenails today!), they very often lack trust in the birth process. We trust our bodies to grow the baby. We need to trust them to get the baby out as well. A good childbirth education class [...]