Nest and Nurture,LLC

09/07/2026

A groundbreaking study shows that ovaries don’t shut down after menopause, but turn into organs with a new function.
For decades, the medical community viewed postmenopausal ovaries as biologically inert, having completed their reproductive lifespan. However, a new study published in Molecular Human Reproduction challenges this conventional wisdom.
By examining the ovarian tissue of mice at various reproductive stages, researchers from Northwestern University discovered that as egg development and hormone production decline, the ovaries undergo a dramatic molecular transformation.
Rather than quietly shutting down, these organs adapt, developing a distinct 'immune-like' profile characterized by an influx of T cells, macrophages, and active inflammatory signaling pathways.
This discovery suggests that ovaries may continue to exert a powerful, systemic influence on a woman's health long after menopause. While scientists are still determining whether this post-reproductive immune activity is beneficial, harmful, or a mix of both, it raises critical questions about how ovarian aging impacts chronic inflammation across the entire body. Furthermore, early findings from human ovarian tissue hint that these dynamic molecular shifts are not unique to mice. This research fundamentally redefines our understanding of female anatomy, signaling that these vital organs may have a second act focused entirely on systemic health and immune function.

source: Converse, A., Dipali, S. S., Schowe, I. P., Kelly, E. B., Jambunathan, S. S., Ocañas, S. R., Stout, M. B., Pritchard, M. T., & Duncan, F. E. (2026). The post-reproductive o***y shifts from a reproductive to an immune-like organ. Molecular Human Reproduction, 32(2)

09/05/2026

Be informed.

Your placenta doesn't expire at midnight on your due date.

It's not a carton of milk. It doesn't check the calendar. It doesn't stop working the second the clock strikes twelve.

So why are women treated like it does?

Only 4% of babies actually show up on their due date. Normal, healthy pregnancy runs anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks.

Now, that terrifying line you've heard: "stillbirth risk DOUBLES after your due date."

Here's what they don't tell you. That's a relative risk. And relative risk without the real numbers is meant to scare you, not inform you.

The actual numbers?

40 weeks → 0.05%
41 weeks → 0.1%

Yes, that's a "doubling." From about 1 in 2,000 to about 1 in 1,000. At 41 weeks, roughly 999 out of 1,000 babies are perfectly fine.

The risk is real and it does climb, especially toward 42 weeks. That deserves honesty. But doubling a small number still gives you a small number, and you deserve to hear it that way.

Because here's the thing nobody says out loud: induction isn't risk-free either. Pitocin has risks. Inducing an unripe cervix has risks, including the exact cascade that so often ends in an unplanned cesarean. Cesareans certainly are not risk-free.

The truth is there is no risk-free choice. Only informed ones.

We know birth is safest when labor starts on its own. So this isn't "never induce." Sometimes it's absolutely the right call. This is about refusing to be handed a decision instead of making one.

You deserve accurate dating. Real numbers. Monitoring that reassures instead of a clock that pressures. And you deserve to be the one weighing the risks and making the choice.

Your placenta isn't hamburger meat with an expiration date.

And you are not on a deadline.

09/03/2026

“Outside of the kitchen” is the cesarean rate at home and birth center births. It ranges from 5% to 13% in first labors in women and birthing people at similarly low risk to those in the ARRIVE trial, or 6 to 14 fewer cesareans per 100 than the 19% rate reported with routine induction at 39 weeks.

For more on routine 39-week induction see https://hencigoer.com/routine-39-week-induction-busting-the-arrive-trial/

09/03/2026

Most opinions surrounding home birth or midwives may be shaped by fear, misinformation, a traumatic story, or a video they watched online.

And yet, somehow, they can feel very certain about what your birth should look like.

Here's the thing:
No two births are the same.

What feels safe, supported, and right for one woman may not feel that way for another.

A hospital may be the right place for one woman.
Home may be the right place for another.
And you do not have to convince anyone that your choice is the right one for them.

Because it isn't their birth.
It's yours.

You do not need everyone's agreement to feel confident in your choices.

You do not need to carry their fears, assumptions, or worst-case scenarios into your birth space.

Their assumptions are theirs.
Let them stay there.

Your birth needs confidence, trust, and people who understand that your experience does not need to look like anyone else's to be valid.

You don't have to convince anyone.
You just have to make the choice that is right for you.

—

Guided by wisdom. Rooted in grace.
Midwifery Care and Home Birth in North Texas.
kharismidwifery.com

🏷️ physiological birth | midwifery model of care | evidence-based birth | holistic maternity care | low-intervention labor | undisturbed birth | informed consent | water birth | personalized prenatal care | birth autonomy | vbac moms | north texas home birth | dallas

09/03/2026

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4297456/

Epidural analgesia is one of the most popular modes of analgesia for child birth. There are controversies regarding adverse effects and safety of epidural analgesia. This study was conducted to study the immediate effects of the maternal epidural ...

09/03/2026

Obviously, maternal infant health outcomes are multifaceted.

But the rate of inductions has jumped 34% from 2016 to 2024.

Could an increase in elective inductions be impacting our overall outcomes?

06/21/2026

“I wish I dried up
I wish every drop of my milk slipped passed those pink lips and nourished the ground
Where the bones lay
Of my babies
Starved while I feed their murderer
I wish I dried up
So the missus babies would dry up too
And be brittle
So I could crumble them to dust
Return them to the ground
Where all children of my bosom lay equal"
- Hess Love

Imagine being forced to feed the children of the people who treat you as livestock. Imagine feeding a baby you know will be taught to treat you as livestock. And then imagine that happening at the expense of watching your own babies starve.

And after 400 years of this, the generational trauma surrounding breastfeeding (and so much more) is immense.

Why would perinatal providers highlight so much?

You cannot support families without understanding the past.

06/19/2026

Just when you thought breastfeeding couldn't get any more incredible...

For years, we've understood that human milk helps shape a baby's gut microbiome.

Now researchers are discovering that the relationship may work both ways.

A new report published in Trends in Microbiology suggests that signals from a baby's developing gut microbiome may help influence the nutrients and bioactive compounds found in future milk feedings.

Think about that for a moment. Your baby isn't simply receiving nourishment. Their developing body may be helping guide it.

This research offers a fascinating glimpse into the remarkable partnership between parent and baby, one that is constantly adapting to meet changing needs.

Breastfeeding isn't just feeding. It's a two-way conversation.

Helping professionals translate emerging research into practical care is one of my favorite things to do. Reach out if you're looking for a speaker for your conference, organization, or healthcare team.

06/19/2026

https://internationaldoulainstitute.com/2024/01/new-study-induction-of-labor-increases-risk-of-c-section-might-contradict-arrive-study/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSiCc5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJYOEd2a2NPZVpKanA5SVp3c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkIOod0S7q3mU9alcQ3BfTVAOXW2L1oR_v1MoOyzkz8hEYGjkt0T02A6evNT_aem_F8HXQp1syDroF5wEVxJOkw

Since the ARRIVE study was published, anecdotally, many of us felt induction of labor increases risk of c-section.

06/04/2026

Breast milk is digested quickly, which is why babies feed so frequently (it’s not because your supply is low).

Your breast milk is specifically designed for your baby and contains enzymes like amylase and lipase that aid in digestion. Breast milk is also absorbed better than formula due to its perfect composition. 

Babies are meant to feed frequently. It’s the way to guarantee lots of contact with their primary caregiver, which is beneficial for bonding, temperature regulation, and reducing stress! It also has a protective component, keeping them from going into too deep of a sleep (helping prevent SIDS).

Best of all, frequent breastfeeding helps baby gain a good amount of weight, and establishes and maintains a good milk supply.