ONLINE RESOURCES                                                                    << Back to Previous Page

Here is a list of online resources you may find helpful during your pregnancy and as you prepare for the birth of your baby.  Having a baby changes you and your husband’s lives together in many wonderful and amazing ways!  Overall, we have found the information on these sites to be valuable, but cannot guarantee the ongoing accuracy and safety of everything you might read while exploring them.  If you find any broken links, or if you would like to suggest a favorite site, please email us at: 
webmaster@aquanatalbirthcenter.com

 

PREGNANCY

• Visembryo details the stages of fetal development, from one day post-fertilization to 40 weeks with some pictures and lots of text description.  Also includes an extensive Glossary of Terms.  http://www.visembryo.com/baby/index.html
• Your Growing Body & Baby  offers finely illustrated drawings of a baby’s development through pregnancy and shows how your body changes to accommodate your baby’s growth!  453
  http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ClickedLink=343&ck=10236&area=27
• Blue Ribbon Baby is the official website for Dr. Tom Brewer’s nutritional information.  This is the basic plan for the Pregnancy Nutritional Goals explained the AquaNatal Birth Spa childbirth classes. 
  www.blueribbonbaby.org
• BabyCenter.com will be the pregnancy/baby website you will use often.  You’ll enjoy their weekly bulletins during your pregnancy and can receive emails updates after the birth of your baby! 
  www.babycenter.com
• Harvard Women’s Health Information on pregnancy is excellent!  It includes information on preparing for pregnancy, exercise, and nutrition while pregnant, a pregnancy “timeline,” an overview of labor and birth, and a section on life with a newborn. 
  http://www.bidmc.harvard.edu/display.asp?leaf_id=8803
• Ask Dr. Sears is a comprehensive website offering Sear’s wisdom on pregnancy, birth, and parenting.  Updated regularly with weekly topics and questions.  We highly recommend this site as an extension of their excellent books. 
  www.AskDrSears.com
• IVillage.com offers a Panel of Experts to advise you on pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond.  Includes a certified nurse-midwife, 2 lactations consultants, labor expert Henci Goer, a pediatrician, parenting experts, a family counselor, etc.  Advice is organized by topic and is easy to navigate to find what you need.  An excellent resource! 
  http://parenting.ivillage.com
• Healthy Eating During Pregnancy: A Visit with Dr. Tom Brewer is an interview transcript with Dr. Brewer about his nutritional recommendations for a healthy pregnancy – and healthy baby.
  http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/pfitness/0,,40hj,00.html?
• Patient Rights at Your Fingertips is a short document detailing your basic rights as a patient.  Want a copy of your medical records?  Don’t want to sign that consent form?  Click on this link to learn about your rights!  Be sure to scroll down the page to see “Fundamental Problems with Maternity Care in the United State,” and “The Rights of Childbearing Women.”
  http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10084&ClickedLink=0&area=27
• Buying a Maternity Bra is a great article to help assure you purchase the correctly sized bra for your pregnancy.  For many women, the “moment of truth” comes at about 16 weeks!  That’s when your breasts “take off” in preparation for breastfeeding, and begin to outgrow your regular bras.  Great information in 3 articles from Parents.com   
   http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-life/maternity-fashion/buying-a-maternity-bra/
• The Daily Kick  is a daily email newsletter personalized to your week of pregnancy.  Several other newsletters are also available. 
  https://secure.parents.com/common/profile/quicksignupNewUser.jsp?regSource=7059
• How Do I Choose My CareGiver?  The Childbirth Connection website provides an insightful overview that answers many of the common questions women have about choosing a maternity caregiver and explains what types of caregivers provide maternity care.
  http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ClickedLink=247&ck=10158&area=27 
• Sidelines National Support Network provides nationwide support for women and their families experiencing complicated pregnancies.  There are excellent suggestions for bedrest activities, a great FAQ page, a list of questions to discuss with your caregiver, and more, including a very comprehensive links section which is great for any pregnant or new mom!  
  www.sidelines.org
• THIS  is a very cool “guess” date and pregnancy timeline calculator.
  www.ivf.ca/calcu.htm
• CIMS, the Coalition for Improving Maternal Services, offers useful downloads and resources here, including “The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative,” “Having a Baby? Ten Questions to Ask” and fact sheets on inductions and c-sections (a very risky abdominal surgery that is difficult to heal an you can catch serious infections, and have problems with future pregnancies!) 
  http://www.motherfriendly.org/
• Plus-Size Pregnancy Website provides evidence-based articles and links to information geared toward possible concerns of plus-sized women, as well as a more general audience.  An excellent resource! 
  www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/firstindex.html
• Mothers of Supertwins is a network of families with triplets, quadruplets and more.  MOST provides information, resources, and good humor during pregnancy, infancy, toddlerhood and school age. 
  www.mostonline.org/index.htm
• Pee on a Stick is a comprehensive collection of home pregnancy test and ovulation predictor test information and images.  www.peeonastick.com
• The Hyperemesis Education and Research (HER) Foundation provides education and support for mothers suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum and those who care for them.  The FAQ section is
  very worth viewing.  www.hyperemesis.org
• Multi-Dimensional Human Embryo Atlas details the development of the human embryo in words and photographs.  Be sure to click each photo for additional information. 
  http://embryo.soad.umich.edu/carnStages/carnStages.html
• The Morning Sickness page on Dr. Sears’ website offers great information, including “24 ways to ease morning sickness,” a list of “tummy friendly” foods and a list of “discomfort foods” to avoid. 
  http://www.askdrsears.com/html/1/t010102.asp 
  And, the AquaNatal Birth Spa has excellent products to help with Morning Sickness, too!  Order online [   ] or drop by the Spa!
  This is a clear explanation of how a non-stress test works and how to understand the results.  http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/2/3608_848.htm
• Listening to Mothers II Survey results from Childbirth Connection.  Learn what 1,600 mothers across the United States said about planning for pregnancy, labor, and birth, and being home with a new baby, physical and emotional health after birth, and opinions about choice, control, knowledge and decision making in childbirth.
  http://childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10401
• Preventing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, an article from the Childbirth Connection, offers valuable information about urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor dysfunctions, including what factors can contribute to these conditions, as well as what you can do to help keep you pelvic floor strong.
  http://childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ClickedLink=281&ck=10206&area=27
• Joy M. Jones, RN has created a website, The Brewer Pregnancy Diet, that clearly outlines Dr. Tom Brewer’s Pregnancy Diet, including an explanation of the eating plan, the physiology of how and why it works, and a variety of other useful information. 
  http://home.mindspring.com/%7Edjsnjones/index.html 
• Become an Ex offers information on how to stop smoking. http://becomeanex.org
• Help Pregnant Smokers Quit – More detailed information on the benefits of quitting, how to successfully prepare to quit, how to set a quit date, etc.
  http://www.helppregnantsmokersquit.org/assets/documents/booklet.pdf
• Pocket Seafood Selector of the best and worst seafood, from Environmental Defense.org  Print it, cut it out and keep it in your wallet!
  http://www.edf.org/documents/1980_pocket_seafood_selector.pdf

CHILDBIRTH

• Midwifery Today is a website dedicated to the “heart and science of birth.”  It offers searches for midwives and doulas, an extensive collection of searchable articles and a number of interesting forums.  A terrific site for expectant couples and birth professionals covering pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding topics.
  www.midwiferytoday.com
  
  
• Ten Tips for Labor Coaches provides solid advice for labor partners and birth coaches. 
  A BabyCenter.com resource. 
  http://www.babycenter.com/0_ten-tips-for-labor-coaches_1072.bc

• Childbirth Connection is the new website of the former Maternity Center Association.  It offers up-to-date information on evidence-based care in a very readable format.  The sections on Cesarean delivery (a very risky abdominal surgery that is difficult to heal and you can catch serious infections, and have problems with future pregnancies!) labor support, and choosing a caregiver are especially worth reading. Finally, the text of “A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth” is on this website. This text is an excellent reference for information on evidence-based care. 
  WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND EXPLORING THIS WEBSITE!
  
  
• BirthPlan.com http://www.birthplan.com/ from Pregnancy Today and the Interactive Birth Plan http://www.Childbirth.org/interactive/birthplan.html  are 2 websites we recommend visiting to help you develop your birth plan.  Use these websites to get a sense of the appropriate language to use in your plan and to think about the wide range of topics to include.  Also, be aware, that when you sign the documents for being admitted to any local hospital, you may unwittingly sign away your rights to have a Birth Plan. . . something to think about!
    
  Trying to decide whether (or how) to bank your baby’s cord blood?  Check out an article by Dr. Robert Sears http://www.askdrsears.com/html/1/t012700.asp or go to www.cordblood.org

ARE YOU PLANNING TO BREASTFEED YOUR NEWBORN? 

• Check out this site to see how the choices you make during labor and birth may affect breastfeeding.  Keep in mind, though, that breastfeeding can be successful even under less-than-ideal situations.  Just some food for thought that might be helpful when drafting a birth plan or talking to your caregiver about your choices and options in labor. 
  http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/breastfeeding1/l/blbfchoice.htm
  
  
  www.VBAC.com is a “woman-centered, evidence-based” resource with information about having a vaginal birth after a C-section  (a very risky abdominal surgery that is difficult to heal and you can catch serious  infections, and have problems with future pregnancies!).

  International Cesarean Awareness Network’s mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary c-sections through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC).  http://www.ican-online.org
  
  
• Considering using a DOULA for your birth?  Check out this great one-page chart showing the benefits of doula care. 
  http://www.birthsource.com/pdffiles/Relaxation.pdf
  
  
  So You Want an Epidural   http://kimjames.net/epidural%20main%20page.htm offers a balanced look at what’s involved with using an epidural for labor and delivery, including a detailed explanation of how they are performed, the benefits, the risks, and the side effects. PLEASE DO NOT USE AN EPIDURAL, but if you are considering it, please check out this list of 11 Things You Can Do to Enhance the Childbirth Experience Before and After the Epidural is in Place. 
  http://kimjames.net/Eleven%20Steps.htm

REMEMBER, EVERYTHING THEY DO TO YOU IN THE HOSPITAL IS TO MAKE MORE MONEY! 

So, if you are even thinking about having an epidural, PLEASE THINK AGAIN, and check out the following websites:

• Want to know what it looks like to have an Epidural?  Check out this incredible pictoral “essay” of what happens to you.  This is somewhat graphic, but a reliable description, which could be a valuable aid in your decision-making. http://pattiramos.com/Epidural.html
  
  
• Dr. Lewis Mehl’s website, the Medical Risks of Epidural Anesthesia During Childbirth offers some of the “under-reported” risks of epidural anesthesia.  It is easy to navigate to find the information you’re looking for.  Also, Dr. Mehl has been documenting the safety of homebirth since the 1970s. 
  
  http://www.fensende.com/~swnymph/Epidural.html
  http://sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/1/255
  http://www.birthpsychology.com/messages/epidural/epidural.html
  
  
• They gave her the epidural so they could make more money off of her!  She didn’t need it!
  
  http://harshrealities.info/nutrition/?p=334
  
  
• Side effects of Epidurals:  Minimizing Risks 
  http://transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/parented/pain/epiduralfx.htm
  
  
• Side Effects of Epidural:  Research Data
  http://transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/foreducators/ceinfo/Side%20Effects%202.htm
  

  
  
• Please check out the following websites about waterbirth
  http://www.pattiramos.com/waterbirth.html

HAVING YOUR BABY AT HOME

• The wonderful North Carolina Homebirth website
  http://www.nchomebirth.com/WhyHomebirth-main.html provides a lot of interesting information that might help families planning a homebirth, regardless of where they live.  It includes resources on “Choosing Homebirth,” “What Make a Homebirth Different,” and “Safety: How Homebirth Measures Up,” and “What to Say When Others Say ‘No Way!’, as well as how to plan the details – who to invite, how to prepare, and more.  Finally, here’s an adorable homebirth coloring book available, too! 
  http://www.nchomebirth.com/coloringBook-main.html
  
  
• Ecstatic Birth:  Nature’s Hormonal Blueprint for Labor describes the various roles of hormones during birth, how common hospital procedures affect  laboring mother’s hormones, and how to “optimize to ecstasy.” 
  http://www.joyousbirth.info/articles/ecstatic.html   Be sure to catch the trailer of the movie “Orgasmic Birth, which is shown each week during our Birth Spa tours.
  
  
• Light Eating During Labor Won’t Raise Complication Risk summarizes a recent British study eating
  during labor. 
  http://www.obgynnews.com/article/PIIS0029743707703634/fulltext
   
  
• Have You Ever Heard of the “Bishop’s Score”?  No, it’s not from church!  It’s how a physician should be determining how successful an induction of labor might be.  Ask your midwife – I bet SHE doesn’t agree with it.  Ask your doctor – he might not use it.  Increasing reading from Canada! Don’t let a doctor talk you into an unnecessary induction unless this is used! 
  http://www.mother-care.ca/bishop.htm
  
  
• Homebirth Reference Site – with answers to common “What if . .. “ questions:  “What if you want pain relief?”  “What if the cord is around the baby’s neck?” etc. 
  http://www.homebirth.org.uk/
  
  
• A revealing chart about ideal (WHO Recommendations) and real United States Birth Statistics
  from 2004, provided by Citizens for Midwifery.
  http://www.cfmidwifery.org/pdf/idealschart2004.pdf
  
  
• There’s No Place Like Home, on the advantages and joys of giving birth where you live, by Birthing from Within author, Pam England.
  http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/homebirth/no-place.html
  
  
• Resources on Midwives and Midwifery, from Citizens for Midwifery, including information on finding a midwife, safety of homebirths, US birth statistics and more.  http://cfmidwifery.org/resources/
  
  
• Pain Relief and Homebirths:  What pain-relieving medications are used in homebirth situations, ideas for non-medical pain relief for homehirths And lots of homebirth stories. 
  http://homebirth.org.uk/pain.htm
  
  
  BIRTH STORIES
  
  
• BirthStories.com offers birth stories from a wide variety of perspectives.  The stories are helpfully indexed, so you can read (or avoid!) certain categories depending on your preferences. 
  http://www.birthstories.com
  
  
• Read an empowering birth story here.  It’s long, so settle in for a fine read!
  http://webpages.charter.net/mamamojo/katieandavery2.html
  
  
• Scroll down on the MoonDragon Birthing Services website
   http://www.moondragon.org/pregnancy/pregnancyinfo.html
  (scroll way down!) for a list of homebirth stories, many with great photographs, including the “WaterBirth Story in 100 Pictures.”
   http://www.nandu.hu/english/childbirth/csenge100/csbirth01.htm
  
  
• My Big Ugly VBAC: It Wasn’t Pretty But it Was ALL MINE! Is one mother’s VBAC
  (Vaginal Birth After C-Section) birth story with pictures.
  http://freewebs.com/myvbac/thestorybegins.htm
  
  
• This is a beautiful slide show of homebirths created by Circle of Midwifery.  Absolutely EXCELLENT waterbirth pictures, and musical background.
  http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=3c5b874ed95f8ea9bf9466&skin_
  id=1009&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
  
  
• Birth Story Diaries offers a wide variety of birth stories, some vaginal, some c-section, some hospital, some home, etc.  Many of the stories include pictures, and are rated on a scale from modest to very graphic.
  http://www.birthdiaries.com/diary/index.vaginalbirths.html
  
  
  BREASTFEEDING
• La Leche League   http://www.llli.org//   is one of the best and most well-known breastfeeding support groups.  You can get answers to common breastfeeding questions here, or find out when your local LLL meets. They offer a breastfeeding mother hotline Monday – Friday, 9am-3pm. 
  800-LA-LECHE
  
  
• Breastfeeding is Priceless is a fact sheet on the benefits of breastfeeding your baby.  Written by the Center for Improving Maternity Services.
  http://motherfriendly.org/pdf/breastfeeding.pdf
  
  
• Positions and Tips for Breastfeeding from BabyCenter.com is a collection of photos that show a
  variety of nursing positions and useful tips. 
  http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-do-i-hold-thee-positions-and-tips-for-making-breastfeedi_8784.bc
  
  
• Breastfeeding Know-How is a part of the National Women’s Health Information Center.  We are really impressed by the content of this site – great pictures and lots of easy-to-read information.  There’s a telephone helpline answered by trained Breastfeeding Information Specialists. 
  We highly recommend this website!      
  http://www.4women.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=228
  
  
• The American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Breastfeeding
  (revised as of February, 2005). 
  http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496
  
  
• Motherwear.com has an excellent stock of nursing clothing.  They have a large range of sizes and a great return policy.  Check out their collection of nursing bras or clothes and/or accessories. 
  http://www.motherwear.com
  
  
• Pregnancy Today “Ask the Experts”  Breastfeeding Basics section answers a wide variety of
  common questions.  http://www.pregnancytoday.com/experts/index-after.htm
  
  
• NursingMother.com offers a pleasant mix of humor and useful information about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting.  The nursing bra and breastpump sections are very complete. Especially helpful is the scheduled sessions with Lactation Consultant.   Be sure to check out their “Music to Nurse By” page!  This is a well-done, very helpful site!
  http://www.breastfeeding.com
  
  
• Promotion of Mother’s Milk, Inc. (ProMoM)  http://www.promom.org
  is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and public acceptance of breastfeeding.  This site includes a number of informational articles, a discussion forum, ways to support breastfeeding, and more. This is the source of the “101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child,” article. Click Here to download it as a .pdf file!  It’s updated, colorful, and great to email to every pregnant lady you know! 
   http://www.promom.org/101/101reasons_2007.pdf
  
  
• This website provides a selected list of medications approved by the AAP for use in breastfeeding mothers.  Also includes some information about use during pregnancy.  Easy to understand!
  http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/aap-approved-meds.html
  
  
• Herbals and Breastfeeding is compiled by a pharmacist with a comprehensive list of herbals, including uses, safety during breastfeeding, and suggested alternatives.
    http://www.uspharmacist.com/oldformat.asp?url=newlook/files/comp/acf1e63.htm
  
  
• Planning to breastfeed twins?  Check out this website for lots of photos  http://www.karengromada.com/karengromada/photos/index.htm  and helpful articles  http://www.karengromada.com/karengromada/articles/index.htm
  
  
• Breastfeeding information arranged in the FAQ format by The Nursing Baby website.  Great questions, including information about milk supply, sore nipples, leading, inverted nipples, and more.
  http://www.nursingbaby.com/nursing/
  
  
• GREAT BIG LIST of Excellent Videos & Breastfeeding Hand-outs from Dr. Jack Newman’s
  website.
  http://www.beyondbirth.ca/ContentPages/content_Downloads.html
  
  
• Parenting Web’s Guide to Breastfeeding Basics includes articles on how breastfeeding works, stories from breastfeeding mothers, dealing with others on the topic of breastfeeding, a detailed FAQ and more.  Excellent pictures!
  http://www.parentingweb.com/lounge/bf_basics/getstart.htm