Giving Birth
with Confidence

Trusted resources, stories and answers for parents.

Coping with Your First Trimester

August 16, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

Long before anyone notices your pregnancy on the outside, you'll feel your pregnancy from the inside. First trimester symptoms can catch you off guard because the pregnancy is still so new and because it's often thought that pregnancy symptoms occur only when your further along.

First trimester pregnancy symptoms vary widely. You could be fortunate enough to breeze through your first trimester with only a few minor symptoms, like feeling more tired and having aversion to certain smells, or you could be part of the group that experiences extreme nausea from hyperemesis gravidarum. Below is a list of the more common first trimester symptoms along with tips that can help you cope better.

What Happens When You Arrive at the Hospital in Labor

August 14, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

You've probably imagined the moment you go into labor a million times throughout your pregnancy, but do you know what to expect once you arrive at the hospital or birth center? Knowing the specifics of arrival procedures when before you go into labor can help bring a sense of comfort and confidence to you, your partner, and birth support team. Your birth place follows a specific set of routines and procedures upon arrival/admittance in labor. Knowing your choices and decision making points in advance can help the process go smoother.

Why Can't I Eat Food During Labor?

August 12, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

Spoiler alert: you can... and you should!

Eating and drinking during labor and birth has long been a known no-no. But in recent years, it has been found that, in fact, eating and drinking is safe for laboring people. This is great news because labor and birth is a monumental physical event that requires energy and hydration from food and drinks!

Making Decisions About Birth as a Couple

August 05, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

Pregnancy, birth, and parenting require making lots and lots of decisions. It's one of the things many individuals and couples struggle with most! Things like which prenatal tests to agree to, where to give birth, baby names, hiring a doula, taking a childbirth class, baby sleep habits, and many many more can be easy to tackle for some and difficult for others. So what is the best way to deal with the [likely] inevitable disagreements over potentially heated topics? Let's take a look.

Common But Not Normal - 5 Things to Watch for Postpartum

August 02, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

Whether you've had a baby 6 weeks ago or 6 years ago, being pregnant and giving birth (no matter if it's vaginal or c-section) causes internal structural changes in your body. Some of these changes require repair, but unfortunately go undiagnosed and untreated even though they cause pain or negatively affect your quality of life. Why does this happen? Because too often, people (even doctors!) dismiss these changes, don't know enough about postpartum healing, and even worse, call them "normal."

How to Support Someone Through Early Labor

July 29, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri

Early labor, technically known as the first phase in the first stage of labor, refers to the time when contractions start to organize and follow a pattern (ie, you're in labor) up until you reach "active labor," which begins at 6 cm of dilation (you won't know your dilation unless you have a cervical exam performed to check). If you're supporting someone through early labor, it helps first to know how to recognize early labor signs and symptoms. Typical early labor signs include:

Your Pregnancy Week by Week: 0 Weeks

July 25, 2019 | by: Lamaze International

The following information -- and much more -- can also be found in the free weekly email Lamaze Pregnancy Week by Week.

Your Pregnancy Week by Week: 1 Week

July 25, 2019 | by: Lamaze International

The following information -- and much more -- can also be found in the free weekly email Lamaze Pregnancy Week by Week.

Your Pregnancy Week by Week: 2 Weeks

July 25, 2019 | by: Lamaze International

The following information -- and much more -- can also be found in the free weekly email Lamaze Pregnancy Week by Week.

Your Pregnancy Week by Week: 3 Weeks

July 25, 2019 | by: Lamaze International

The following information -- and much more -- can also be found in the free weekly email Lamaze Pregnancy Week by Week.

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About the Blog Manager

Cara Terreri is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, certified DONA doula, and a professional writer, editor, and content specialist. She has been part of the Lamaze International team since 2004. Cara manages and writes for the Lamaze parents’ blog, Giving Birth With Confidence. She lives and works in the Orlando, FL, area with her husband and three children.