Hope for Growing Families

05/02/2026

04/27/2026

INTERNATIONAL BEREAVED MOTHER'S DAY 💜

Every year on the first Sunday in May, International Bereaved Mother’s Day honors mothers who have lost a baby or child. It’s also a day to recognize women who cannot be a mother due to infertility or other health reasons.

Serving as a gentle reminder of the strength and love that bereaved mothers carry every day.

This year it’s May 3, 2026

04/24/2026

Openings available for August, September and October!
Need a full time birth doula, just a birth class, or lactation help I’m here!
Message me or give me a comment below for contact info.

04/16/2026

Nobody talks enough about how intense Pitocin contractions are.😮‍💨

People hear “induction” and think it just helps labor start.

But Pitocin doesn’t ease you into labor… it can feel like it throws you straight into the deep end.

Contractions can come fast, strong, and back-to-back with barely a break to catch your breath.

Your body is trying to process pain that ramps up way quicker than natural labor usually does.

And somehow women are expected to just lay there and handle it like it’s nothing.

If you labored on Pitocin… you know.

That kind of labor is a whole different level of strength.

04/16/2026

The lies are loud, but the truth is simple: every life is valuable.

04/11/2026

Lauren Alaina Details ‘Really Scary’ Birth After Umbilical Cord Wrapped Around Baby’s Head Twice

A nuchal cord (when the umbilical cord is wrapped around a baby’s neck) is actually very common—and in most cases, not dangerous.

How common is it?

• Occurs in 20–30% of all births
• Can be single loop, double loop, or more (multiple loops are less common) (Kesha attended a birth with 6 loops!!! Baby was perfect!)

⚠️ Risk of newborn death

The key point:
👉 The statistical risk of death from a nuchal cord alone is extremely low.

What research shows:

• Large studies estimate no significant increase in stillbirth or neonatal death when a nuchal cord is present by itself
• The risk of death directly attributed to a nuchal cord is estimated to be:

• Less than 1 in 1,000 births
• And likely much lower when no other complications are present

Why the risk is so low?

Babies don’t breathe through their neck—they get oxygen through the placenta via the umbilical cord.

Also:

• The cord is protected by Wharton’s jelly, which helps prevent compression
• Most nuchal cords are loose, not tight
• Providers can usually slip the cord over the baby’s head during birth

🚩 When can it become risky?

A nuchal cord may contribute to problems only in certain situations, such as:

• A tight cord that compresses blood flow
• Multiple loops combined with tension
• True knots in the cord
• Cord prolapse or compression during labor
• Other complications (placental issues, growth restriction, etc.)

Even then, the typical outcome is:

• Temporary heart rate decelerations (decels)
• Rarely long-term harm when managed appropriately

💡 Bottom line

• Nuchal cords are common and usually harmless
• Death directly caused by a nuchal cord is very rare
• Most babies born with a cord around their neck are completely healthy

Nuchal cords are one of the most commonly misunderstood topics in pregnancy and birth education. A lot of fear comes not from the actual risk, but from how the topic is presented.

🎥 1. Media tends to dramatize rare events

In movies, TV, and even some documentaries:

• A cord around the neck is often shown as an immediate life-threatening emergency
• It’s portrayed as a primary cause of stillbirth or brain injury

👉 In reality:

• Most nuchal cords are loose and clinically insignificant
• Providers often unwrap them in seconds with no impact on the baby

Why this matters:

People walk away believing “cord around the neck = danger”, when statistically, that’s not true.

📰 2. Mislabeling cause of death

Sometimes in media reports or even medical discussions:

A stillbirth is attributed to “nuchal cord” simply because one was present

👉 But here’s the nuance:

• Since **20–30% of babies have nuchal cords, their presence can be *coincidental*
• True cause-of-death investigations often find *other underlying issues* (placental problems, infection, genetic conditions)

Key misunderstanding:
➡️ Correlation gets mistaken for causation

3. Overemphasis in risk conversations

In some birth education spaces:

• Nuchal cords are listed alongside serious complications without context
• They’re framed as something to “watch out for” or “prevent”

👉 The reality:

• There is no safe or reliable way to prevent a nuchal cord
• And more importantly, it usually doesn’t need preventing

This can lead to:

• Unnecessary anxiety
• Requests for early induction or cesarean based on fear rather than evidence

🩺 4. Over-reliance on ultrasound findings

Sometimes ultrasounds detect (or suggest) a nuchal cord:

• Parents may be told “the cord is around the neck” without explanation

👉 What’s often not explained:

• Ultrasound is not very accurate for diagnosing nuchal cords
• Even if present, it can come and go as baby moves
• Finding one does not predict harm

Result:
Families may think they’ve been given a serious diagnosis, when it’s usually a normal variation.

🚨 5. Confusion with real cord emergencies

Nuchal cords get lumped together with *actual high-risk cord issues*, like:

• Cord prolapse
• True knots with tightening
• Severe cord compression

👉 These are different situations entirely and much rarer.

Misunderstanding:
All “cord issues” get mentally grouped as equally dangerous—when they’re not.

💬 6. Anecdotes outweigh statistics

You’ll often hear:

• “My friend’s baby died from a cord around the neck”
• “The doctor said it was the cord”

These stories are powerful and emotional—but:

• They don’t always include the full medical picture
• Humans are wired to remember rare, tragic stories more than common, normal outcomes

The big takeaway

The misunderstanding comes down to this:

👉 Nuchal cords are common, but harm from them is rare
👉 Presence ≠ danger
👉 Stories and visuals often outweigh actual data in shaping perception

🤍 A more accurate way to frame it

Instead of:

👉 “The cord is around the baby’s neck—that’s dangerous”

A more evidence-based framing would be:

👉 “This is a common finding, and in most cases, it doesn’t cause problems. Baby’s well-being is being monitored, not just the cord.”

Happy educating all you wonderful CBEs!!! ❤️

02/11/2026

The science is clear. Breastfeeding boosts immune function; improves gut health; reduces the rates of asthma, allergies, obesity, and diabetes.

Come back later for a more in depth look at why? And how long?

02/05/2026

02/03/2026

Having an anterior placenta.
Something people don’t talk about enough during pregnancy.

An anterior placenta means the placenta is attached to the front of your uterus, right behind your belly.
It changes a lot about how you experience pregnancy.

For me, it made the first 20 weeks scary.
I couldn’t feel the baby move like everyone said I would.
I worried constantly.
I wondered if everything was okay.

Movement feels different.
Kicks can feel softer, later, or harder to find.
People tell you, “You’ll feel it soon,” but for some of us, it doesn’t come like the books say.

It can affect ultrasounds.
It can make certain positions more comfortable.
It can make you feel like you’re not connecting with your baby as early as you hoped, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

If you have or had an anterior placenta I feel your pain.