Unlike most other animals, human babies are born with very little mobile ability.

For instance, horses begin to run on their very first day of life, while in comparison, our adorable human babies must first learn to first, hold up their neck, then turn over, then sit up, then crawl, then walk (and eventually run, twirl, bounce, and dance!). As parents, it can be marvelous to watch these processes unfold in front of our eyes, but it can also be confusing to wonder if your baby is "on track."

Although there is a lot of discussion about the prevalence of postpartum depression among mothers, there isn’t as much talk about fathers during the postpartum period. What many people, including new parents, don’t realize is that fathers can experience postpartum depression, too.

Despite the skeptics and the stigma of paternal postpartum depression, researchers have found that roughly 10 percent of fathers actually do suffer from it.

As Doulas, we have the amazing job of showering families with love, support, and praise for the incredible job they are doing. We get to remind women that they are strong, that they are smart, and that they can do this!

n the 1980s, the average hospital stay for a new mom after childbirth was 5 days. That's five times more than the average mom receives in hospitals today. That's 5 times more one-on-one, professional help than moms are receiving now during those early days of new mommy-hood. That's 5 times more care than moms are receiving today while they recover and rest from the epic body-stressor that is childbirth.

Recently, the Center for Disease Control published a paper which warned of the possible dangers of placentophagy (the consumption of one's own placenta after childbirth).

Here's what you need to know...

People ask me all the time,  “Does yoga really make birth easier?”

My answer is always yes, Yes, YES!  The practice of yoga makes many aspects of life easier, and the more we practice, the more we can rely on the tools of yoga to back us up in challenging situations. When you look at Yoga as a way of engaging with life, as a lifestyle, then the gifts are much greater than the physical benefits. However, when it comes to the extreme changes a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy and childbirth, that aspect, ‘the physical’ cannot be understated.

I know what you're thinking...."Sure, it would be great having a professional baby-whisper in my home! One who also cooks me amazing food, helps me with my laundry/dishes/etc, and is basically a postpartum Mary-Poppins ninja! But I'm the mom...this is suppose to be hard...this is supposed to be MY job!"

Many parents worry about what life will be like as they transition from one baby to two. Will there be rivalry? Jealously? Pure exhaustion? These essential tips from parents who know what it's like will help ease your mind and give you practical ideas for what's to come.

Giving birth takes energy! Here's five great foods to think about packing for your big day. Be sure to check with your provider first before eating anything during labor.

It may not be formulated into words or a birth plan, but everyone has a birth philosophy of some sort. Through images, movies, stories, and TV, most of us have been influenced by certain perceptions of birth in the media. Some people have even been witness to birth in real life, either with pets, animals, or their friends or family..