Water or Land?

Midwives at hospitals observed a difference in the babies born in water as opposed to those born regularly in a bed. "We can tell which babies have been born in water. They are like little grown-ups. You know they understand you. It’s very special to be with them."

Egyptians birthed selected babies underwater. It is believed these babies became priests and priestesses. Or was it because those selected mothers were wealthy and more educated and knew and could afford themselves the benefits of water birth?

In the Minoan ruins, art on frescoes reflect dolphins and the special connection with humans and water. Minoans on the island of Crete are said to have used a sacred temple for water birth.

Our first 9 months of life took place in the womb of waters. Sounds of the ocean’s waves simulate the blood rushing through the placenta.

Well, consider: water is an environment of smooth transition for the baby. Mothers report pleasant sensations, no tears, or swelling, and enjoyable peaceful birth instead of agonizing pain of hospital birth.

Which one would you choose?

The use of water is considered among moms and midwives the safest way of birthing the baby. Why not in a hospital? Why don't doctors consider the birth of a baby in water the best way for replicating the environment of the womb, and consider it as an alternative for episiotomy and epidural. Even thought water birth is not covered by insurance, in a long run it comes out much less expensive for the human society, considering the consequences in baby development differences between the babies born in water and 'on land.'

Being educated about your birth choices is the most important responsibility of becoming a parent.

Cord Blood

Collecting blood from the baby is not really a correct procedure, although extremely popular in hospitals.

Here is an article shared by a midwife who over the years of her work collected blood (click here to read the full article).

The baby comes out of the mother's womb with about 1/3 of the baby's blood supply. Why take the blood that belongs to the baby away from the baby complying with the hospital procedure?

"After birth the blood from the placenta transfers to the baby, assisting transition to breathing. ...Parents need to be informed that cord blood collection requires premature cord clamping, and that the blood being collected belongs to their baby." Comments the author.

Why Artificial Oxytocin During Labor Is Bad For All?

Why the approved use of the unapproved drug called Pitocin is bad for you?
Pitocin is chemically produced Oxytocin. When labor is stalled, or delayed, artificial induction with this drug is used to speed up labor. The labor started with Pitocin quickly progresses to a series of strong hardly controllable contractions accompanied by sensations of discomfort and emotional instability.

A recent study discussed in the "Doula International" Magazine links the use of Pitocin to elevated statistics of autism.

The article says that the labor and birth induced with artificial synthetic oxytocin, rob the woman and her child of the natural production of it in their brains and therefore, destroy the emotional link between the mother and the baby.

Later in life this link is non-existent when the forming identity of the child has no reference point about major human concepts of "love", "bond", and the child is emotionally disconnected from mother.

To read the full article click here.

Some Local Hospital Statistics

I just read about birth statistics from one New York Hospital. Absolutely appalling!


NY Presbyterian Hospital-- New York Weill Cornell Center

48.8% episiotomy

39.6 % of all births are c-section (37.2% are first time c-sections)

96.4% of vaginal births include epidural

79.7% of babies are given formula in the hospital

What Time Of Day Will Your Baby Be Born?

What's your guess, when will your labor begin?

When student moms start their HypnoBirthing class with me, I ask them to use their imagination planning their birth and describe it.  One of the moms described her labor start at 11:30am, on a Saturday. Actually,  her labor began on Saturday morning, but very early in the wee hours.

So what does research show us? Why so many of the family lore includes rushing to the hospital at 3 a.m.?

Chronobiology is a relatively new profession. It studies the human body rhythm throughout life, on a yearly basis, and from month to month, day to day and throughout the day. Part of this study includes the rhythm of our body throughout the day, called circadian rhythm, and even in much smaller increments, throughout the hour, called ultradian rhythm. Without taking you into semantics of the titles let me explain the research showing that spontaneous labor in human starts around and after midnight.

Birth is a body's natural progression, so as soon as mother enters into a safe mode of rest in a safe place, the baby knows it is a good time to come out.  A study in 1979 on labor of more than 200,000 women shows that 20% more babies ar born between 2-6am than between 2-6pm. Later studies involving 2 mil. women support night birthing.

Studies also show the same progression for second and third babies. Additionally, same studies show that on average the length of labor for those starting laboring at night take 2 hours less than those starting labor after dawn.

Speaking of hospital births, be aware, that most artificially induced births happen on a Tuesday, and none on weekends. Doctors schedules usually greatly contribute to this pattern.

Natural births occur more often on Saturday or a Sunday, according to a study in 1997 involving births among the US women.

If you want to know more about your body learn to give yourself positive suggestions. When you are tired, rest, when you are emotional, relax. Relax more often than before pregnancy or more often during the day. Listen to your body and  it will pay you off handsomely during peaceful labor.


Morrin is available for further information and discussion of your personal preparation to your labor.