American Healthcare System


Natural Birth vs. Epidural: What to Expect

natural birth vs. epidural: what to expect    There are so many ways to birth your baby! Whether you want a birth that is vaginal or a planned cesarean, in a hospital, birthing center, or at home, with a midwife or OBGYN, with the support of a birth doula and/or partner, to give birth while squatting, side-lying, or any one...

Partner Support versus Doula Support During Birth: What’s the Difference?

Partner support vs. doula support during birth: what’s the difference?    If you are partnered, it can be wonderful to have the presence and support of your partner while you are pregnant, in labor, and delivering your baby. They are a crucial part of the experience for many people and maybe the number one emotional support. They can also be...

The Impact of Doulas on Healthy Birth Outcomes

the Impact of Doulas on Healthy Birth Outcomes    There has been a lot of research on the benefits of doula services for birthing parents, mothers, and infants over the past several years, and the findings are extremely positive. In addition to reducing low birth weight, doulas can also increase rates of breastfeeding/bodyfeeding, reduce postpartum depression, decrease medical interventions, strengthen...

The Top Five Questions To Ask At Your Newborn Visit

We asked one of our favorite pediatricians, Dr. Jon Snaroff at Premier Pediatrics, to go over the top 5 questions new parents should be asking their pediatrician during their newborn visit and included his common answers to his patients....

Is a homebirth for you?

So you’ve read the blogs, you talked to your friends, you saw all the chatter about switching to a homebirth early in the pandemic. Maybe you’ve seen the popular birth documentary like The Business of Being Born? You’re pregnant and you have come to the conclusion you want to give birth at home. Or maybe you’re pregnant and you have no idea where you want to give birth. Maybe you assume you’ll go to the hospital like most everyone else you know. But you keep hearing these stories of friends who had C-sections, who had to lie down for most of the birth, who couldn’t hold their babies right after giving birth and you wonder if there’s an alternative option. What about giving birth right in the comfort of your own home?...

Top 5 Ways Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Can Help With Breastfeeding Difficulties

One of the most rewarding parts of my Family Medicine practice is working with new parents to help their babies with breastfeeding/bodyfeeding challenges. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for babies is an amazing modality, widely used in Europe, that few American parents are aware of. OMT can help change a frustrating and painful breastfeeding experience to a more peaceful and fulfilling one. Here are the top 5 questions people have about OMT to help you see if OMT is the right modality for you to try on your lactation journey!...

BIPOC-founded Maternal Health Organizations to Support

Black birthing people are 3-4 times more likely to die in or soon after childbirth in the US and 12x more likely in NYC. While this has gotten some more awareness in the last few years, we need to take immediate action so we can stop these painful tragedies from occurring, bring an end to these preventable deaths and push legislators to hold healthcare professionals and hospitals accountable. We cannot continue to lose Black mothers like Jazmir Taylor, Yolanda “Shiphrah” Kadima, Sha-Asia Washington, and Amber Rose who all died this year. For people who are unsure of how to get involved or contribute, we’ve compiled a list of organizations you can support monetarily or otherwise....

How to have a positive and confident hospital birth during COVID-19

While giving birth has always included many unknowns for expectant parents, COVID-19 has created more questions and confusion for many parents-to-be. Educating yourself about what to expect during labor in the pandemic will help you feel more positive, confident, and ready to bring your baby to this world. This may not be what you envisioned, but you can do this! These COVID-19 birthing tips will support you in having the best hospital birth possible given the uncertain circumstances....

How to choose where to give birth?

One of the biggest decisions you will make when you are pregnant, in addition to who will help you deliver your baby, is where to give birth. Where you give birth will influence the type of care you receive and the likelihood of medical intervention....

Black Breastfeeding Week: A celebration, discussion & Q&A with LaShanda Dandrich, IBCLC.

Black Breastfeeding Week was started by Kimberly Seals Allers, Kiddada Green, and Anayah Sangodele-Ayok to highlight the unique challenges and triumphs of being Black and breastfeeding. This year, their theme is Revive, Restore, Reclaim. Jada Shapiro, boober founder, talked with LaShanda Dandrich, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) of Uptown Village Cooperative about what care does and should look like for Black birthing parents, how to reduce lactation disparities rooted in bias, lactation myths and facts, and so much more....