"The more you know about something, the less fear you have." ~ Unknown
I am constantly adding to this list of resources for the DC metro area. As I hear of or read new books, classes, videos - I add them; or have positive experiences with different providers, I add them. Check back for updates! If you are looking for something in particular and don't see it here, please contact me, and I will do my best to find the information for you.
Childbirth Classes:
Birth You Desire (Bradley Method) Taught by a very experienced doula Ursula Sabia Sukinik out in North Bethesda, MD. I highly recommend Ursula's classes and workshops with a holistic approach to birth.
Susan Messina's Childbirth Education Classes Offering 8-week series classes as well as weekend intensives classes
The Birth Center at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital childbirth classes
My Gentle Birth HypnoBabies Class Taught by experienced doula Rose Quintilian in Gaithersburg, MD with the option of group classes, private instruction or a home study program.
HypnoBirthing National Childbirth Class Taught by fellow doula, Michelle, who also teaches prenatal yoga, baby sign language classes, etc. She warned me her website is a work-in-progress so let me know if you're interested but have trouble getting in touch with her.
Hypnobirthing Class with Creating Your Calm Taught by a birth doula in Alexandria, VA in groups or in private classes.
Childbirth and Parenting at GWU Hospital
Stuff Mom Never Told You - What is natural childbirth? (podcast)
Books:
Ina May 's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkim
Mindful Birthing: Training the Mind, Body, and Heart for Childbirth and Beyond by Nancy Bardacke
What to Eat When You're Pregnant: A week-by-week guide to support your health and your baby's development by Dr. Nicole M Avena
The Natural Pregnancy Book by Aviva Jill Room
When Survivors Give Birth by Penny Simkin (excellent resource for women who have experienced past sexual abuse or any sort of vaginal trauma)
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah Buckley
The Mommy Greenest Guide to Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff
Expecting Better by Emily Oster
Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself by Amy Richards
Childbirth Classes:
Birth You Desire (Bradley Method) Taught by a very experienced doula Ursula Sabia Sukinik out in North Bethesda, MD. I highly recommend Ursula's classes and workshops with a holistic approach to birth.
Susan Messina's Childbirth Education Classes Offering 8-week series classes as well as weekend intensives classes
The Birth Center at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital childbirth classes
My Gentle Birth HypnoBabies Class Taught by experienced doula Rose Quintilian in Gaithersburg, MD with the option of group classes, private instruction or a home study program.
HypnoBirthing National Childbirth Class Taught by fellow doula, Michelle, who also teaches prenatal yoga, baby sign language classes, etc. She warned me her website is a work-in-progress so let me know if you're interested but have trouble getting in touch with her.
Hypnobirthing Class with Creating Your Calm Taught by a birth doula in Alexandria, VA in groups or in private classes.
Childbirth and Parenting at GWU Hospital
Stuff Mom Never Told You - What is natural childbirth? (podcast)
Books:
Ina May 's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkim
Mindful Birthing: Training the Mind, Body, and Heart for Childbirth and Beyond by Nancy Bardacke
What to Eat When You're Pregnant: A week-by-week guide to support your health and your baby's development by Dr. Nicole M Avena
The Natural Pregnancy Book by Aviva Jill Room
When Survivors Give Birth by Penny Simkin (excellent resource for women who have experienced past sexual abuse or any sort of vaginal trauma)
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah Buckley
The Mommy Greenest Guide to Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff
Expecting Better by Emily Oster
Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself by Amy Richards
Nutrition & Vitamins: (Message me about any individual questions or concerns)
My highest recommendation for prenatal (and anytime) multivitamin goes to Shaklee's Women's Vitalizer
If the Vitalizer is too pricey, there's Vita-Lea with iron which is also excellent
During pregnancy, you need more protein than ever. A great protein shake option is Life Enegizing Protein
Best Foods for a Healthy Pregnancy
14 Tips to Minimize Toxins If You're Pregnant (or want to be)
The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery (psst! They help with dilation and constipation)
10 of The Healthiest Food to Eat When You're Pregnant
For iron supplementation, I recommend an iron plus vitamin C
Natural Gatorade alternative - Homemade rehydration drink recipe
How to make delicious lemon electrolyte drink "Labor Aid"
Recipe for red raspberry leaf tea labor punch popsicles
7 Simple Healthy Habits for Pregnant Women
Labor & Delivery:
11-Pose Prenatal Yoga Sequence To Prepare For a Blissful Birth
Positions for Laboring Out of Bed
Labor Support: best evidence
Comfort in Labor: how you can help yourself to a normal satisfying childbirth
Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping May Benefit Children Years Later, studies show
Waiting a Few Minutes to Cut Umbilical Cord Helps Baby
The Human Microbiome: considerations for pregnancy, birth and early mothering
Giving Birth Before Your Due Date: Do all 40 weeks matter?
Why Scheduling Early is Not a Good Idea - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology
Short Documentary on VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) - An Unnecessary Cut?
Research Findings on Elective C-Sections' correlation with Kid's Long-Term Health
Cesarean Birth May Raise Baby's Risk of Asthma, Type 1 Diabetes, and Obesity
Maternal and neonatal outcomes of elective induction of labor
The effect of amniotomy on the outcome of spontaneous labour in uncomplicated pregnancy
My highest recommendation for prenatal (and anytime) multivitamin goes to Shaklee's Women's Vitalizer
If the Vitalizer is too pricey, there's Vita-Lea with iron which is also excellent
During pregnancy, you need more protein than ever. A great protein shake option is Life Enegizing Protein
Best Foods for a Healthy Pregnancy
14 Tips to Minimize Toxins If You're Pregnant (or want to be)
The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery (psst! They help with dilation and constipation)
10 of The Healthiest Food to Eat When You're Pregnant
For iron supplementation, I recommend an iron plus vitamin C
Natural Gatorade alternative - Homemade rehydration drink recipe
How to make delicious lemon electrolyte drink "Labor Aid"
Recipe for red raspberry leaf tea labor punch popsicles
7 Simple Healthy Habits for Pregnant Women
Labor & Delivery:
11-Pose Prenatal Yoga Sequence To Prepare For a Blissful Birth
Positions for Laboring Out of Bed
Labor Support: best evidence
Comfort in Labor: how you can help yourself to a normal satisfying childbirth
Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping May Benefit Children Years Later, studies show
Waiting a Few Minutes to Cut Umbilical Cord Helps Baby
The Human Microbiome: considerations for pregnancy, birth and early mothering
Giving Birth Before Your Due Date: Do all 40 weeks matter?
Why Scheduling Early is Not a Good Idea - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology
Short Documentary on VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) - An Unnecessary Cut?
Research Findings on Elective C-Sections' correlation with Kid's Long-Term Health
Cesarean Birth May Raise Baby's Risk of Asthma, Type 1 Diabetes, and Obesity
Maternal and neonatal outcomes of elective induction of labor
The effect of amniotomy on the outcome of spontaneous labour in uncomplicated pregnancy
Breastfeeding:
Bethesda Breastfeeding: breastpump rentals, supplies, & services
The First Week After Birth - What to Expect
Breastfeeding 101 for Sexual Assault Survivors
10 Things I Wish I'd Known About Breastfeeding
Increase Breastmilk Supply - 10 Simple Tips to Increase Your Supply
International Breastfeeding Centre
Breastfeeding Tips - 10 tips to help with breastfeeding
10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
"Breast Crawl" - Initiation of Breastfeeding after Birth (video)
Mindfulness & Personal Identity:
The Last Days of Pregnancy: A place in-between
7 Think I didn't Know about Life Until I Had a Baby
10 Things I Wish All Women Knew About Giving Birth
7 Ayurvedic Tips to Alleviate the Postpartum Blues
7 Things Every New Mom Should Do After Childbirth For a Healthy, Happy Recovery
10 Practices to Experience Childbirth as a Spiritual Journey
Body Image & Self-Image:
There's No Such Thing As a Post-Baby Body
This is What Women Really Look Like After Giving Birth
Melissa Harris-Perry: My Daughter, Myself
Why No Woman Should Hide Her Body After Having A Kid
What to do when you dislike your fat, pregnant body (a podcast episode)
3 Things Mothers Need to Stop Saying in Front of their Daughters
6 Ways To Empower Your Daughter To Have Positive Body Image
Babies Don’t ‘Ruin’ Bodies: 3 Reasons to Stop Saying They Do
We Need to Stop Using These 3 Excuses to Justify Fat-Shaming Pregnant People
Sleeping with Baby:
10 Tips for Safe Sleeping
Research on Bed Sharing
Sleeping with Baby: Safe Co-sleeping Tips
How Co-Sleeping Can Help (Infographic)
Bethesda Breastfeeding: breastpump rentals, supplies, & services
The First Week After Birth - What to Expect
Breastfeeding 101 for Sexual Assault Survivors
10 Things I Wish I'd Known About Breastfeeding
Increase Breastmilk Supply - 10 Simple Tips to Increase Your Supply
International Breastfeeding Centre
Breastfeeding Tips - 10 tips to help with breastfeeding
10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
"Breast Crawl" - Initiation of Breastfeeding after Birth (video)
Mindfulness & Personal Identity:
The Last Days of Pregnancy: A place in-between
7 Think I didn't Know about Life Until I Had a Baby
10 Things I Wish All Women Knew About Giving Birth
7 Ayurvedic Tips to Alleviate the Postpartum Blues
7 Things Every New Mom Should Do After Childbirth For a Healthy, Happy Recovery
10 Practices to Experience Childbirth as a Spiritual Journey
Body Image & Self-Image:
There's No Such Thing As a Post-Baby Body
This is What Women Really Look Like After Giving Birth
Melissa Harris-Perry: My Daughter, Myself
Why No Woman Should Hide Her Body After Having A Kid
What to do when you dislike your fat, pregnant body (a podcast episode)
3 Things Mothers Need to Stop Saying in Front of their Daughters
6 Ways To Empower Your Daughter To Have Positive Body Image
Babies Don’t ‘Ruin’ Bodies: 3 Reasons to Stop Saying They Do
We Need to Stop Using These 3 Excuses to Justify Fat-Shaming Pregnant People
Sleeping with Baby:
10 Tips for Safe Sleeping
Research on Bed Sharing
Sleeping with Baby: Safe Co-sleeping Tips
How Co-Sleeping Can Help (Infographic)