Are We Bonding Yet?

By Vicki Elson, MA, CCE, CD www.birth-media.com Feel free to make copies and share with credit! Labor pain comes with a gift: the “cocktail of love hormones,” described by Dr. Michel Odent, includes oxytocin, the hormone of labor, lactation, and love, plus an endorphin rush that helps us deal with pain and also gives us…

Home Birth: Exaggerating Danger

By Vicki Elson, MA, CCE, CD www.birth-media.com Feel free to make copies and share with credit! There’s been a lot of press lately about the Australian home birth advocate who suffered a heart attack during labor at home, was rushed to the hospital, and died the next day.  This story is extremely distressing, but there’s…

Birth From the Baby’s Point of View

birth from the baby’s point of view vicki elson 2008 Edgeless space Sleep, awake, drifting silence, darkness, warm simplicity Gradually you become aware of: movement muffled sounds soft edges Now you’re feeling crowded. You find the place where your head feels best You try to stretch out You react to movements and sounds with movements…

A Better Birth Plan

A great birth plan isn’t just about what you WANT from your care providers. It’s about what you BRING to your birth. A birth plan is best used as a tool for COMMUNICATION with your partner and your care providers, well before the baby is due. And always, you will dance between PREPARING for the…