Your Natural Birth

Labor tip no. 63: understand that there are benefits and risks to everything. Following this account (or any other on insta or tiktok), hiring a doula, and getting your cervix checked all have benefits and risks.

The risks associated with routine cervical exams usually outweigh the benefits.

⚠️ exams are blind procedures. This means it’s not done by looking at the cervix but rather feeling it.
⚠️ exams are usually done with you on your back which can be super painful in labor
⚠️ the exam itself - regardless of the position you’re in - can be painful. This disrupts your labor by negatively affecting your oxytocin release
⚠️ it’s been proven that having more than 2 exams during labor increases your risk of infection
⚠️ one study also showed that prenatal exams dramatically increases your risk for PROM (the bag breaking prematurely)
⚠️ the “diagnosis” of dilation can be - and more often than not IS - not entirely accurate. Yet, many assume the exams are totally accurate and use the cervix as a crystal ball
⚠️ and my personal favorite “the info that you allow your body to give staff can and will be used against you.” Facts. If you don’t believe it, think back on all the “Failure to Progress” stories you’ve heard
⚠️ heartache and disappointment if/when the number isn’t what you hoped

Benefits
🙌 we can get a general idea where the baby is and then IF you and/or your birth team understands physiological birth, positions can be adjusted to help baby along
🙌 allocation of staff and activation of birth team
🙌 excitement and encouragement if/when the number is what you want (tho this can bite you in the arse real quick and turn into a risk)

You get to evaluate these and decide which carries more weight and then decide if you’d like an exam or not.

But yeah, no one is “just taking a peek” at your cervix. It’s quite invasive and often painful.

How do you feel about cervical exams. 🗣️ if you’re out there, lemme know in the comments.

Hello! It’s finally official: the Bradley reunion is set!

When: November 2 - open house style, as always 11am to 4pm with the group pic at 1pm
No pressure just show up when you can

Where: check the Bradley group or your email for the location. If you don’t see it there, text me.

Please bring a small (sooo small) dish to share if you’re able.
If you have a newborn, do NOT bring anything, please

I will provide waters and snacks

Bring a chair or two and stay a while 🙂

Will you be there? 😃

Labor tip no. 22: find an OB who respects the infinite spectrum that is labor and delivery.

You don’t want an OB who works to fit your experience into the only box they are familiar with.
You want an OB who understands individualized care and will cultivate an environment to help you flourish and grow.

Do you know what I mean?

Labor tip no. 6: you can choose the position you’d like to labor in, regardless of whether you have an epidural or not.

This badass mama is using an epidural for the last little bit of her 3 day labor and is still able to get into an upright lunging position.

Also helps to have a partner who understands labor and how to support you 💜

Labor tip no. 69: The future of society - and Someone’s income - relies on your sexual activity.
Let’s get it on.

Labor tip no. 99: everyone in the room should be following you - as you follow your body.

YOU should be the authority in the room.

This mom got her VBAC in an out-of-hospital birth center where she was listened to, respected, followed - and honored.

The day was about her and no one else.
Given that she felt the trust of the folks supporting her, she was able to give in to herself, trust her body, and the process.

She practically floated on air as she labored.

No, that doesn’t mean it was easy. It was labor. Labor is HARD. But we can make it less complicated and more peaceful when we let go and give in.

It starts within you.
But then it’s up to everyone around you to look to you (the laboring one) as the authority.

Mama 🤰@
Birth Center @
Photos and Doula 📸

Labor tip no. 909: birthing in a hospital? Bring l**e. Something like an organic olive oil or almond oil is perfect.

For some reason, medical staff think they have to lubricate the area for your baby to get out.
If you don’t bring your own, they will pour a few cups of toxic mineral oil all over your baby’s crowing scalp.
Or worse - they’ll use an alcohol-based “gel.”

You can decline.
Most folks decide it’s just easier to co-regulate than to opt out. Just so many battles.

But at a home birth, somehow babies make do with nature’s l**e - vernix, the amniotic sac, mucus, and blood 😃🙌🎉

Did they slather toxic chemicals all over your baby’s scalp while you pushed?

“So you’re 24 weeks pregnant and you haven’t signed up for a comprehensive childbirth class yet?
You’re hard core, huh”

These maternal healthcare streets are not playing.

Birth isn’t what you fear.
Maternity care is.
You just don’t know it yet.

And go ahead and say that I’m scaring people, “fear mongering.”
And then drop into any comment section on a “mainstream” birth account. Check out what people are saying about their births.

What I’m doing is not fear-mongering.
“Fear mongering” is when you intentionally scare people about what is UNlikely to happen and simultaneously offer no solutions or tactics for avoiding the unlikely.
“Warning” is when you inform people about what IS likely to happen and also offer techniques for protection.

There’s no need to fear or be scared if you just prepare yourself with information and education.

I have a class starting September 23rd.
And there are a slew of others to choose from.
Birth education is no longer hard to find.
Just make sure the person teaching it is a certified birth educator and affiliated with the method they teach - AND isn’t working for the spaces that cause the harm (ie taking a hospital class is not going to help you).

Did YOU take a comprehensive birth class?

Thanks to the mommy of this adorable little for allowing me to use her in this message @

Labor tip no. 528: never give up.

We can do hard things. Labor and birth are just the beginning of the hard parenting things. That just fact. No need to sugar coat it.

Stick with it, and never give up.

Thank you to this HBAC (homebirth after cesarean) mom and her family for allowing me to share these photos. I’ve known her since before her first birth and her grit, grace and determination are remarkable.
Shout out to her husband who should be a model for all fathers and partners - supportive, dedicated, understanding, and loving.

🤰
Midwife:
Assistants: and
Doula: me,
📸

… for the medical staff.

Settle down. Settle down. Epidurals can be an amazing tool for those who want them. And they are NOT the easy way out for the person in labor. Not at all.

However, for the nurses and doctors, an epidural labor is absolutely more easy than an unmedicated labor and delivery.
(Birthworkers, before you come for me in the comments, let’s agree to only debate my theory with regards to primips)

And I will die on this hill.

Doulas - do you agree with me?

Labor tip no. 18: remember, all your baby needs is YOU.

If your baby needs some medical care in the NICU, they also need YOU.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Get to your baby as soon as possible and stay there as much as you want.

There are many resources for parents of NICU babies.
It’s a good idea to have those in hand before you give birth so you can easily access them should you need them.

One such resource is a book by
I’ll post info in my stories.

Thank you to this beautiful mama @ for letting me share her photo.

Labor tip no. 26: go get your VBAC.

VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) is a reasonable option for most people, according to the American College of obstetricians and gynecologists (ACOG).

Jump into a comprehensive childbirth class taught by a certified childbirth educator to learn more about your options and ready yourself for an empowered birth.

PS look at the velvety skin on that sweet little baby 🥹💜

Thank you to the family for allowing me to share these photos. This mom did all the things to make sure she had this vaginal birth. 🙌💕
🤰🏽.gaines_
📸