Resources

This page is a collection of websites that I find to be informational or amusing.  There is a lot of overlap between categories, so make sure to browse them all even if the category doesn’t seem to specifically fit you.  This page is continually being editted, so if you know of a great page that you think should be listed, let me know!

Local Resources:

EmPoWeReD Birth A non-profit advocacy group for women in Eastern PA, focused currently on the Lehigh Valley.  I was a founding member of this group. Their mission statement is:  We are mothers, daughters, partners, husbands, birth professionals and birth advocates united for the care and well being of women before, during, and after childbirth. We are committed to empowering and educating women to make informed, evidence-based decisions; and encouraging eastern Pennsylvania area hospitals to strive for care consistent with the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative.

ICAN of Lehigh Valley is the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton chapter of the International Cesarean Awareness Network.  They are a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). They have monthly support meetings on the third Saturday of the month (next one is Sat, Jan 16) from 10:00am-12:00pm at Whitehall Public Library, 3700 Mechanicsville Road, Whitehall. Meetings are free and open to the public. They will also be holding a VBAC class on Saturday, March 27 from 1:00pm-5:00pm, space is limited so please pre-register! For information or support, email icanoflehighvalley@yahoo.com

Momma’s Baby A mail order company providing natural/organic nursery products–including the Bummis diapers I use for Sophie.  The company is run locally by a stay-at-home mom.

Seasons of Life OB/GYN An all female OB/GN practice serving women who birth at St. Luke’s Allentown. 

Women’s Medical Specialties A great OB/GYN practice serving women who birth at St. Luke’s Allentown and Sacred Heart

My Birth By Design  Jennifer McFarland is a Certified Labor Doula, Certified Happiest Baby on the Block Instructor , Medical Assistant, Monitrice, Breastfeeding Supporter, Direct Entry Midwife, and Certified Childbirth Educator (CIBI Imagery Birthing).  She serves the Pocono/Lehigh Valley area. 

Rising Moon Midwifery Kate Fawley, CPM and Jane Cruise, CPM; with offices in Chester Springs and Wernersville; they serve Chester, Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh, and Delaware counties for out of hospital birth.

The Midwives and Associates Laurice Dunning.  Laurice has over 20 years experience attending births in and out of the hospital setting.  She currently attends homebirths and provids GYN care out of an office in Bethlehem.

Valley Blogosphere The Morning Call’s listing of Lehigh Valley blogs

Childbirth Blogs

Independent Childbirth  A blog written by a collection of independent childbirth instructors.

Enjoy Birth 

It’s Your Birthright!  After years as an LD nurse, this blog writer observed a midwife attended birth and said of her experience ”[I thought] There HAS to be another way. Surely this is not the way birth was intended to be” and FINALLY I was there to witness it.  I was overjoyed and that was the beginning.  Fast forward to 1997 and there I sat… the youngest in the class of 12 midwifery students at Emory  University.  My life would never be the same……”

Wonderfully Made Bellies and Babies A blog written by a Christian doula and childbirth educator. 

Stand and Deliver Rixa’s wonderful blog about childbirth, cloth diapers, and her life in general as the wife of a Canadian living in America.  She’s also got one of the most comprehensive set of links to pregnancy/birth blogs that I’ve seen.  Rixa has a PhD in American Studies (my best friend from college got her B.A. in American Studies…and here I thought she was the only one in the world with that specialization.  ;-)  ) with emphases in U.S. environmentalism and the history of medicine and health care. Her dissertation, Born Free: Unassisted Childbirth in North America, examines the modern unassisted birth movement. Having birthed Sophie in a standing position, I have to say, the title of this blog is awesome.

Science and Sensibility  Henci Goer and Amy Romano join together to write this informative blog, which focusses on research related to pregnancy and birth. 

Labor and Delivery Nurse Blogs

(I have this as a separate category because I believe it is important for pregnant women to see “inside”)

Nursing Birth ”One Labor and Delivery Nurse’s View From the Inside” She’s doing a great “Injustice in Maternity Care” series

Birth Sense  A relative newcomer to the blogging scene, this LDR nurse turned midwife has blogged great series on “Your OB (or midwife) still does WHAT?” and the “Childbirth Hall of Shame,” both series chock full of great research references and practical take home messages that the pregnant woman can use to have a better birth.

“At Your Cervix“  Is that not the coolest name for a LD Nurse blog?  ;-)  And she’s in Pennsylvaina

10 cm and Beyond A mom of 3 and L&D nurse, she writes great posts.  “Nurse Fantasy Land” is eye opening.

Rebirth  I’ve been reading this one for a while, as she has been “reborn” as a CNM who still works as a L&D nurse because she can’t find an OB who will let her work as a CNM.

N is for Nurse Orthodox Christian, Wife, mom, registered nurse…started working in Labor and Delivery in early 2008

Pregnancy

Birthing Naturally  Lots of stuff about natural childbirth, and specifically about Christian childbirth from the author of “The Lord of Birth.”

Plus-size-pregnancy Information and support for overweight women experiencing pregnancy.

Blessing Godsway Information to help Christian women celebrate pregnancy.

Jewish Mom Offers a collection of articles discussing Jewish spirituality as it relates to the new or expectant mother.

Henci Goer Website of the author of The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth, award-winning medical writer and internationally known speaker.

Pampered Pregger and Beyond  A website offering on-line learning for expectant women and childbirth professionals.

Birth

Pushed Birth  Blog and more about current issues in birth

The Birth Survey  A survey of women’s childbirth experiences.  If you have given birth in the past 3 years, PLEASE fill out this survey!  The results will be available to women to help them in choosing care providers.

Childbirth Connection Collection of information and research organized to help women make informed decisions.

Spinning Babies  A great website about how to get the baby into an optimal position for birth

Midwifery Today  Articles written by midwives and childbirth educators about pregnancy, birth, and newborn care.

http://www.birthingbusiness.com/Book/giveaway.html  Go here to download an electronic copy of “Journey Into Motherhood.”  This is an inspiring collection of real birth stories, great for any pregnant woman to read.

Newborn care / Parenting

Kelly Mom  A treasure trove of information for breastfeeding mothers.  This site opened mere months before my eldest daughter was born, and was invaluable to me in my journey.

Gentlechristian Mothers Articles and a discussion forum for parenting from a Christian perspective.

Arms of Love Family Fellowship  Website of the author of Biblical Parenting and mother of 5 (including one set of twins).

http://www.compleatmother.com/bf_sleep.htm  A short article on infant sleep.

Circumcision Video This video features Dr. Dean Edell and describes the procedure of routine infant circumcision and its risks and harms.  A routine circumcision (sped up) is shown at the end of part 1 and into Part 2.  I reccommend that all expectant parents view a circumcision prior to having the procedure done so that you are fully aware of what will happen.  (Part 2 may be found here, or watch the entire video here) 

http://www.cirp.org/ Provides resources for making decisions about circumcision.

Male Circumcision and HIV blog This blog does a great job at looking at efforts to stop HIV via use of circumcision around the world.

Separated at Birth An article that originally appeared in Mens Health magazine in 1998 about routine infant circumcision. 

National Vaccine Information Center  Resource for parents making decisions about vaccinations.

Ezzo Info  Articles and opinions about the controversial “Babywise” and “Growing Kids God’s Way” programs.

Just for Fun:

My OB Said WHAT??? I wasn’t sure if I should put this in “Blogs” or this category, so I decided to put it here.  You have to laugh…’cause if you don’t, you will cry.  It’s a collection of the jaw dropping statements made by prenancy/postpartum care providers.

Poop & Boogies  A blog written by a dad–who else could use that name?

Cake Wrecks  I read this one when I need a good laugh.  Put your drink down, make sure to swallow before you start to read.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you!