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Sore Body after Birth – Perineal Care

By KidsDirect Editorial Team Perineal Care After Birth Your perineum is the area between your vagina and your rectum. It does a lot of work during a vaginal delivery. Most new moms are surprised by just how sore this area feels afterward. Postpartum perineal care covers everything you can do to help it heal, feel less painful, and stay infection free. Plan on giving it real attention for one to three weeks, and in some cases a little longer. Why It’s So Sore The perineum stretches enormously as your baby moves through the birth canal. That stretching alone can leave

Doulas

What is a Doula? A doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a mother before, during, and after childbirth. She believes birth is a natural process, and she sees it as a transformational event in a woman’s life, one worth protecting and making as safe and positive as possible. A good doula understands both the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. She stays with the mother throughout labor, supports whatever birth choices the mother makes, and never pushes her own opinions onto the family she’s

United States Midwives FAQ

By KidsDirect Editorial Team Types of Midwives in the United States, A Parent’s Guide If you’re considering a midwife for your pregnancy, it helps to know that “midwife” isn’t just one job with one training path. There are several distinct types of midwives, each with its own education, licensing, and scope of practice, and knowing the difference actually matters for the kind of care you’ll get. Here’s a breakdown of where things stand today. Midwifery in the United States There are three broad categories of midwife in the US today, certified nurse midwives and certified midwives, licensed or certified direct

Cesarean Section (C-Section)

A Cesarean section, usually just called a C-section, lets your doctor deliver your baby safely and quickly when a vaginal birth isn’t the safer option. During the procedure, your doctor makes a cut in your lower belly and into your uterus, then delivers your baby through that opening. Most people start feeling more like themselves again after about four to six weeks, though everyone heals at their own pace. There are several reasons a C-section might be the right call. Your baby could be positioned wrong, your baby’s head might be too large to fit through your pelvis comfortably, your