by Elise Bowerman {this post updated regularly}
Local Metro Detroit resources here.
Books
Real books are a must-have; not screen books. By handwriting notes, underlining, and highlighting yourself - this will reinforce the information you're gathering. It will also be an easy tool to be reminded of useful ideas later. If you have future children you'll have easy access to all that info!
Pregnancy through First Year Postpartum
Pre-Parenting: Nurturing Your Child from Conception by Thomas R. Verny, MD and Pamela Weintraub
Birth Matters or Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Diane Wiessinger
The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou, Amely Greeven and Marisa Belger
One of these two for traditional/medical/milestone info:
- The Baby Book by William Sears, M.D. and Martha Sears, R.N.
- Mayo Clinic Guide To Your Baby's First Year
The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide by Genevieve Howland
The Other Baby Book: A Natural Approach to Baby's First Year by Megan McGrory Massaro and Miriam J. Katz
Feng Shui Mommy by Bailey Gaddis
Mindful Birthing: training the mind, body, and heart for childbirth and beyond by Nancy Bardacke
Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds by Cynthia Gabriel
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
Birthing From Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation by Pam England
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins
Yoga Mommas (new to yoga or regular yoginis)
Yoga Mama Yoga Baby: Ayurveda and Yoga for a Healthy Pregnancy and Birth by Margo Shapiro Bachman
Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful by Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
Parenting
The Conscious Parent by Dr. Shefali Tsabary
The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, M.D.
Healthy Baby Issue by Wise Traditions magazine
The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley
Out of Control: Why Disciplining Your Child Doesn't Work and What Will by Dr. Shefali Tsabary
Parenting the Children of Now: Practicing Health, Spirit, and Awareness to Transcend Generations by Meg Blackburn Losey, Ph.D.
The Children of Now: Crystalline Children, Indigo Children, Star Kids, Angels on Earth, and the Phenomenon of Transitional Children by Meg Blackburn Losey, Msc.D., Ph.D
Conversations With the Children of Now by Meg Blackburn Losey, Msc.D., Ph.D
Although the following are deemed controversial by some, our family integrated parts of the Baby Wise, Toddler Wise, Potty Wise and Child Wise books by Ezzo and Bucknam.
Breastfeeding
LowMilkSupply.org
Check out this homemade baby formula we loved using!
Breech or Transverse Position
Spinning Babies.com (optimal fetal positioning)
Chiropractor who has been trained in the Webster Technique
Vaginal Breech Birth Providers - InformedPregnancy.com/resources
Car Seat Safety
Child Passenger Safety Law - Michigan
Documentaries
The Business of Being Born, Executive Produced by Ricki Lake
More Business of Being Born, Executive Produced by Ricki Lake
Death by Delivery, 2017
Breastmilk, Executive Produced by Ricki Lake
The Face of Birth and Meet the Experts
When the Bough Breaks: A Documentary About Postpartum Depression
Cesarean Section / Abdominal Birth
International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc.
Research: The natural caesarean: a woman-centred technique, 2008
Research: Promotion of family-centered birth with gentle cesarean delivery, 2014
An All-Natural C-Section?, Parents magazine, 2013
The Natural Caesarean: A Woman Centered Technique, YouTube documentary, 2011
My Gentle C-Section, blogger, 2014
VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)
VBAC.com: a woman-centered, evidence-based, resource
Circumcision
National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Center
Infant Circumcision: Did You Know? YouTube video
International Coalition for Genital Integrity
Circumcision and Foreskin Care Information
Unspeakable Mutilations: Circumcised Men Speak Out book by Lindsay Watson
How Male Circumcision May be Affecting Your Love Life article by Dr. Christine Northrup
Religious Reasons
Beyond the Bris: News & Views on Jewish Circumcision
Christianity and Circumcision Resources
Jewish Circumcision Resource Center
Doula
DONA International (Doulas of North America)
Glucose Testing Alternatives
Takeaways from the articles below:
- You have the right to refuse the blood glucose test.
- Offer an alternative way to monitor your blood glucose level... found in the articles below.
- There are midwives and doctors who will support your decision(s) - so you may like to switch practices.
- The more women standing up for what is right for them, the better chance this testing will change. There are more women than men in North America (US and Canada) so if we work together we will make positive changes to pregnancy healthcare protocols, so that instead of something being wrong with being pregnant, it will be a healthy, welcomed experience.
Gestational Diabetes: Please Don’t Drink the “Glucola” Without Reading the Label, Aviva Romm, M.D., 2014
Gestational Diabetes and the Glucola Test, Evidence Based Birth, 2012
Healthy Options for Pregnancy & Prenatal Care, Wellness Mama
Guess How Many Times This Pregnant Mama has Consumed that Orange Glucose Test Drink?, Kitchen Stewardship, 2014
Paleo Pregnancy - Refusing the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test for Gestational Diabetes, What I Gather, 2013
- Read Comment from Kristin on March 14, 2013
Third Trimester: Glucose Test Alternatives, Today's Mama, 2011
Glucose Tolerance Drink Ingredients, and Alternatives to the Standard Gestational Diabetes Screening, Oaxacaborn.com, 2010
Grief / Bereavement
BabyLossComfort.com
EarthMamaOrganics.com (products for physical healing)
Group B Strep
Group B Strep in Pregnancy: Evidence for Antibiotics and Alternatives, Evidence Based Birth
Group B Strep (GBS) in Pregnancy: What’s a Mom to Do?, Aviva Romm, MD
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)
HER Foundation: Education and Research
Infertility / Fertility
Banyan Botanicals - article
VPK by Maharishi Ayurveda - article
Midwifery
America College of Nurse-Midwives
Midwives Alliance of North America
Mother's Blessing
In addition to, or in lieu of a baby shower. Contact me to coordinate your mother's blessing ceremony.
Blessingways: A Guide to Mother-Centered Baby Showers -- Celebrations Pregnancy, Birth, and Motherhood by Shari Maser
Mother Rising: The Blessingway Journey into Motherhood by Yana Cortlund
Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
AKA Pubic Symphysis Diastasis (PSD)
PelvicPartnership.org.uk
Preparation: Childbirth Education
Calm Birth
HypnoBirthing
Mindful Birthing
The Bradley Method®
Water Birth Solutions
Rhesus Negative (Rh Negative)
An option, if your provider is willing, is to do the blood test at birth.
Dangers of Rhogam in Pregnancy
Websites and Blogs
Just for Dads
Pregnancy through First Year Postpartum
A good birth experience is more than the baby being delivered alive, article from The Guardian, 2013
Parenting
Intentional Conscious Parenting
Renowned UNH Researcher on Corporal Punishment Makes Definitive Case Against Spanking, 2013
How Spanking Harms the Brain, Psychology Today, February 2012
11 Things I Wish Every Parent Knew, July 2013