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Doing your own research is a huge factor in experiencing the birth you desire and also being equipped to make the best choices for yourself and your baby. The following links will help give you insight into some common questions & topics surrounding birth, and will probably lead you to more research not listed here.

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PLEASE NOTE: This directory is a work in progress and will be updated and added to periodically. I do my best to only include articles from reputable sources and/or that have additional links to sources such as published studies. If you find a link not working, leading to the wrong place, or inaccurate information, please let me know.

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DISCLAIMER: Nothing shared here is meant as medical advice, but for research and educational purposes only. Please talk to your care provider if you have any specific physical/ medical concerns. Also, not all views expressed in all these articles are necessarily shared by me. Use wisdom and discretion while researching and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth and what is best for you and your family.

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A-Z

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Big Baby - Need for Induction or C-section

• What is Defined as Big/ Accuracy of Weight Estimation/ Are there Added Risks with Big Babies 

• Babies Declared "Too Big" In Utero Are Often Smaller Than Doctors Predict 

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Birthing Positions 

• Benefits & Risks of Various Birthing Positions

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Breastfeeding​

• Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk? PART 1

• Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk? PART 2

• Effects of Epidurals on Breastfeeding

• Feeding Interval Obsession | Baby-Led Feeding

• Should You Breastfeed When Sick/ Breastfeeding Protects Baby When Mom Has a Contagious Illness

• Does Baby Need Water When Breastfeeding or During Heatwaves?

• Breastfeeding Rates Rise If Newborn Bath is Delayed

• Breastmilk Protects Infants from Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Improves Preemie Brain Development

• 14 Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom and Baby

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Breech Birth

• Evidence for Using External Cephalic Version to Turn a Breech Baby

• French/Belgian Study Finds No Significant Difference in Outcomes Between C-Section & Planned Vaginal Breech Births

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Cephalopelvic Disproportion (Pelvis Too Small)

• Why CPD Used to Be More Common/ How Common Is It Today/ What Is True CPD

• 68% Diagnosed With Absolute CPD Went On To Have Vaginal Birth/ CPD Myths/ Pelvimetry

• Small Pelvis? Big Baby? The Truth About CPD

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Cervical Checks/ Progress in Labor

• Evidence on Potential Harms or Benefits of Vaginal Checks Toward the End of Pregnancy

• Visual Assessment & Cervical Checks Both Accurate (2005)

• Visual Assessment & Cervical Checks Correlate Well (1993)

• Alternative Methods of Checking Dilation & Measuring Labor Progress

• Direct Correlation Between Number of Vaginal Exams and Developing Fever (April, 2020) 

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Circumcision

• History of Circumcision

• Difference Between Biblical Circumcision of Abraham's Time & Modern Circumcision

• Example of Informed Consent for Circumcision Citing 28 Known Risks (Parents Should Be Informed of These Risks)

• Christianity & Circumcision Resources

• Does Circumcision Promote Health & Hygiene

• Most Babies Receive No Anesthesia for Circumcision

• Why Circumcision is So Popular in the U.S.

• Yearly Circumcision Deaths in the U.S.

• Denmark Doctors Believe Circumcision Has No Meaningful Health Benefits

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Cord Prolapse

• Does PROM Increase Risk of Cord Prolapse/ How Common is Cord Prolapse / Does Bed Rest Reduce Risk

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C-sections

• Skin to Skin Care After C-section

• One More Hour to Push Cuts C-section Rates in Half

• Maternal Death Risk Almost 5 Times Higher With C-Section vs. Vaginal Delivery

• Maternal Morbidity for C-Section Births 4 Times Higher than Vaginal Delivery | Severe Morbidity 3 Times Higher | VBAC Morbidity Rate Lower than Planned Repeat C-Section

• Cesarean Delivery Rate by State

• U.S. Cesarean Stats 2021

• No Evidence That Mortality Rates Improve with C-Section Rate Higher Than 10% (2015) 

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Delayed Cord Clamping

• Positive Effects of Delayed Cord Clamping for Preemies

• Why Delay Cord Clamping?

• Delayed Cord Clamping May Benefit Infant Brain Development

• Major Break-Through for Delayed Cord Clamping (December, 2016)

• OB-GYN Group Issues Major New Cord Clamping Recommendation (December, 2016 - Same as Above)

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Doulas

• What is a Doula/ Evidence on Using Doulas for Better Birth Experiences

• How Doulas & Nurses Work Together

• Constant Birth Support Tied to Better Outcomes for Mothers and Babies

• World Health Organization Recommends Doulas

• The Obstetrician, The Midwife, The Nurse & The Doula - The Differences

• Continuous Support During Childbirth Improves Outcomes (the actual study from July, 2017)

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Due Dates

• Evidence on Inducing Labor for Going Past Due/ How Due Date Is Calculated/ Are Due Dates Accurate

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Epidurals

• What Is an Epidural/ Risks & Benefits

• Effects of Epidurals on Breastfeeding

• Effects of Epidurals on Second Stage of Labor (Pushing & Delivery)

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Episiotomy

• Episiotomy vs. Tearing - Which One is Better?

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Eye Ointment

• History of Eye Ointment/ What It's Used to Prevent

• Canadian Pediatricians Say Newborn Eye Treatment Doesn’t Work (2015)

• If You Don’t Have an STD Your Baby Doesn’t Need Antibiotic Eye Ointment

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Exercise and Body Work in Pregnancy

• When Should Baby Be in Position? | Body Balancing Exercicses for Optimal Positioning

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Failure to Progress

• Friedman's Curve

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Fetal Monitoring

• Types of Monitoring/ History of Monitoring/ Evidence on Monitoring

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Food & Drink During Labor

• Evidence on Eating & Drinking During Labor/ Why is it Not Allowed/ Is it Safe

• Anesthesia-Related Maternal Mortality Rate is Only 1.7 per Million (1997), Yet is the Reason Given For Not Allowing Food or Drink in Labor

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Gestational Diabetes

• Does GD Always Mean Big Baby & Induction

• Is the Glucola Test Effective in Screening for GD/ Do Low-Risk Women Need to be Screened

• GD NOT Linked to Infant Deaths/ What Are Increased Risks Due to GD

• Treating GD With Drugs Not Shown to Improve Outcomes/ Possible Disadvantages of Treatment

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Group B Strep

• Overview of GBS: Tests, Effects, Carriers, Treatment

• Screening Pregnant Women for GBS Not Recommended in the UK

• Study Shows Probiotics Effective in Reducing GBS Colonization Rate

• Natural Remedies for GBS

• Are Antibiotics Effective in Treating GBS/ Risks of Antibiotics/ Infections Resistant to Antibiotics

• Group B Strep Positive – Now What?

• Study Shows Association Between GBS & Candida Overgrowth

• Association Between GBS & Candida

• Fight GBS by Fighting Candida

• Risks of Universal Antibiotic Usage to Treat GBS

• Two Approaches to Screening Pregnant Women for GBS/ GBS Can Come & Go

• Link to Purchase “Group B Strep Explained” by Dr. Sara Wickham

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Hemorrhage

• Risk of Hemmorrhage Is Greater With C-Section Compared to Vaginal Delivery

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Home Birth​

• Comparison of Studies on the Safety of Homebirth/ Factors That May Influence Outcomes

• Largest Study on Safety of Homebirth (Netherlands) Find No Increased Risk for Low-Risk Pregnancies (August, 2009)

• U.S./Canada Study Shows Lower Intervention Rates for Homebirth & Similar Mortality Rates to In-Hospital Births (June, 2005)

• British Columbia Study Shows No Increased Risk for Homebirth With a Regulated Midwife (February, 2002)

• Canadian Study on Relationship Between Distance From Hospital and Outcomes of Planned Home Births (October, 2018)

• International Study Shows Homebirth is as Safe as Hospital Birth for Low Risk Women (July, 2019)

• Dr. Says Home Birth is Safe for Healthy Women (YouTube video) (please excuse some of the language)

• For Low-Risk Pregnancies, Home Births Just as Safe as Hospital (Canada)

• Among low-risk women, those intending to birth at home experienced fewer birth interventions and untoward maternal outcomes.  ( April, 2020)

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Induction

• Series on Natural Induction Methods and Evidence for/against Each Method

• Is Placental Calcification a Valid Reason for Induction

• ARRIVE Study Says Induction Prevents C-Sections | Is It True? - Another Look

• Induction Increases Risk of Anal Sphincter Injuries

• Induction Associated with Higher Risk of Haemorrhage, Uterine Rupture, Fetal Distress, and Perineal Injuries

• Exposure to Synthetic Oxytocin May Increase Risk of Postpartum Depression, Anxiety

• Labor Induction with Prostaglandins and Pitocin (Artificial Oxytocin) Found to be the Strongest Risk Factor for Complete Uterine Rupture

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Interventions (General)

• In-depth Look: Interventions are Life Saving When Used Appropriately, but Harmful When Applied Routinely or Overused | How Much & When?

• ACOG Takes Big Step In Limiting Unnecessary Interventions During Birth

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IV Fluids

• What are IV Fluids/ Are IV Fluids Necessary

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Jaundice

• Jaundice in Newborns Could be a Safeguard Against Death From Sepsis

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Labor Regression

• Ina May Gaskin Speaking on Pasmo (going backward in dilation progress)

• Cervical Recoil - The Cervix Closing Rather Than Continuing to Open

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Legal Rights of Mom/Parents

• ACOG Opposes Use of Coerced Interventions Including the Use of Legal System/ Full ACOG Statement

• Refusal is an Option/ Using Coercion, Guilt, Threat, or Force Considered Discriminatory/ Woman Has Authority to Make Decisions

• Informed Consent & Refusal in Obstetrics: A Practical Ethical Guide/ Examples of Coercion

• Can Providers Say What Is “Allowed”/ Who Has the Legal Authority

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Midwifery Care

• Midwifery Linked to Better Birth Outcomes in State-by-State “Report Card” (February, 2018)

• A Larger Role for Midwives Could Mean Better Care (February, 2018)

• Debunking the Myth that Midwives are Uneducated

• Collaberation of Midwife and OB | Midwives Rock: Confessions of an OB/GYN

• Low-Risk Moms Have Fewer Complications & Interventions With Midwives (November, 2019)

• Study Shows Significantly Lower Odds of C-Section with Midwife vs. Obstetrician

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Mobility in Labor

• Keep the Pelvis Open & Mobile During Pushing

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Nuchal Cord

• Are Nuchal Cords Dangerous? How Should They Be Managed? How Common are Nuchal Cords?

• Nuchal Cord is Not Associated With Higher Rate of Perinatal Mortality nor Long-Term Cardiorespiratory Morbidity

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Nutrition 

• Probiotics Found to Lower Risk of Pre-eclampsia

• Herbs for an Easier Labor 

• Pregnancy Tea Recipe

• Study Shows Probiotics Effective in Reducing GBS Colonization Rate

• Study Shows Eating Dates Before Labor Reduces Need for Induction and Augmentation of Labor (2011)

• Eating Dates from 37 Weeks Results in Greater Cervical Ripening Before Labor

• Study Showed Use of Oral Dates After Delivery Decreased Bleeding More Than Intramascular Oxytocin 

• Date Consumption in Late Pregnancy Reduces Need for Augmentation of Labor (2017)

• Women Who Consumed Honey-Date Syrup in Labor Had Higher Rate of Normal Labor Progression and Shorter Labors

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Oxygen Administration in Labor

• 2020 Research Confirms Oxygen Administration in Labor is not Evidence Based and May Be Harmful

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Pain Management In Labor

• 22 Articles on Various Pain Management Methods & Perspectives

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Physiological Birth/ Environment

• Physiological Hormonal Process in the Critical First Hour After Birth

• Importance of Privacy (not being disturbed, feeling protected & safe) in Labor

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Pitocin During Labor or for 3rd Stage of Labor (Delivery of Placenta)

• The Difference Between Your Natural Oxytocin and Synthetic Oxytocin aka Pitocin

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Placental Calcification

• Is Placental Calcification a Valid Medical Reason for Induction?

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Pre-eclampsia

• Probiotics Found to Lower Risk of Pre-eclampsia

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Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM)

• What Can Make Water Break Before Labor/ How Long Can You Wait for Labor to Begin/ How to Decrease Risk of Infection/ Does it Increase Risk of Cord Prolapse

• Waiting for Labor to Start Instead of Inducing is Appropriate for Low-Risk Women with Term PROM

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Pushing

• How Long is it Safe to Push For/ Does Prolonged Pushing Change Outcomes

• Not Asking Women to Push Reduces Tearing

• Study Finds 1 More Hour to Push Cuts C-section Rate Roughly in Half

• Directed Pushing vs. Spontaneous Pushing Is Associated with Longer 2nd Stage Labor, More Episiotomies,  and More Babies Needing Resuscitation and Nursery Admission

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RH Factor/ RhoGAM

• What Is RH Factor/ What is RhoGAM/ When Would I Get RhoGAM Shot

• Nurse Explains How RH Incompatibility Can Affect Baby (Please note: her words, "what usually happens", in reference to mom's and baby's blood mixing is not supported by all evidence. Otherwise, this is a good explanation of what happens IF they mix when there's an RH incompatibility.)

• Multiple Articles on Anti-D (the UK's version of RhoGAM)/ When Is It Necessary/ How Effective Is It/ Will You Become Sensitized Without It

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Skin to Skin

• Short Film Illustrating Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Care

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Sonograms

• Can Ultrasound Harm Developing Brain

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Suctioning Newborns

• Newborns Who Are Suctioned 6 Times Less Likely to Suckle Effectively

• No Difference in Breathing Between Suctioning & Wiping/ Babies Suctioned Received Lower Apgar Scores

• Potential Harmful Effects of Suctioning Newborns

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Tearing Prevention

• Stop Telling Moms to Push to Reduce Tearing

• Nine Ways to Help Prevent Tearing

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Time Limits During Labor

• One More Hour to Push Cuts C-section Rates in Half

• Long Standing “Rule” of 1 Centimeter Per Hour Challenged

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Tongue Tie & Revision

• Post on 12 Day Difference in Baby After Revision

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Trauma

• Birthing After Trauma

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Twins or Multiples

• Vaginal Delivery with Twins Safer Than Caesarean

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VBAC's (Vaginal Birth After C-section)

• Why Do So Many U.S. Hospitals Prohibit VBAC

• Royal College of Obs/GYNs States VBAC is Safe & Possible/ Majority of Women Can Have VBAC

• Website Dedicated to VBAC Research, Education & Support

• Maternal Morbidity Rates Are Lower With VBAC Than Planned Repeat C-Section

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Vernix/ Delayed Bathing

• What Is Vernix and How Does It Benefit Baby To Leave It On?

• Delaying Newborn Baths Increases Rates of Breastfeeding

• Delayed Bathing Benefits | WHO Recommends 24 Hour Newborn Bathing Delay

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Vitamin K

• History of Vitamin K for newborns/ How often Vitamin K deficiency bleeding occurs/ What puts a baby at higher risk for Vitamin K deficiency bleeding

• Seven Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Vitamin K

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Waterbirth

• Evidence on Waterbirth

• Does Waterbirth Alter the Newborn's Microbiome

• ACOG Opinion on Immersion in Water During Labor & Delivery