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Q&A: Can I Have a Natural Birth at Salem Hospital?
We get a fair number of questions about policies and procedures at Salem Hospital. While we don’t have all the answers, we’re confident in answering the ‘natural birth’ question that comes up often. Can I have a natural birth in a hospital? Yes, yes, and yes. We are incredibly blessed in the Salem area with…
Read MoreDon’t Listen to Your OB (and other things you’ll never hear us say)
Each time we have one-on-one conversations with OBs and L&D nurses, we hear their ‘horror stories’ of doulas. And every time… It shocks us. “One time, I walked into the room and the client was standing on the bed and the doula was shining a flashlight toward her va-jay-jay and telling the baby to ‘come…
Read MoreMy Pregnant Christmas List
Dear Santa, Let’s get straight to the point. I can’t see my toes. I haven’t shaved my legs in weeks. (Okay- months.) My hormones are freakin’ out of control. Let’s skip the robe and jewelry this year. I have some REAL needs. 1. I’m going to need some self-tying shoes. None of that velcro stuff.…
Read MorePrematurity: When Babies Arrive Early
By Jessica Spooner I didn’t give premature birth much thought, until I had a premature birth. Our son came barreling into this world at 27 weeks gestation, weighing only 2 pounds and 4.5 ounces, a mere 14.7 inches long. Almost one week prior, my water had broke unexpectedly, without warning or symptom. Everything had been…
Read MoreWill I Poop When I Push?
This. The question of almost every pregnant woman we talk with. Because, unless you have some interesting fetish, the thought of pooping in front of a room full of people sounds like a less-than-stellar experience. The thought can cause considerable anxiety about birth- and it may actually cause some issues during delivery. When does pooping happen…
Read MoreThe Mucus Plug Explained
What exactly is a mucus plug? (And…ewwww.) At the very beginning of pregnancy, some mucus collects at the opening to the cervix. This thick substance works to seal the cervix tightly and block infection from traveling from the vagina to the cervix. Due to the hormones surging through the body during pregnancy, the mucus plug continually…
Read MoreSpill the Beans: Is Coffee OK During Pregnancy?
When you live in the PNW, coffee counts as its own food group. Actually, if you can drive a mile without seeing a coffee shop, you must be in a part of town we haven’t visited yet. Since those beautiful little caffeinated beans make up such a big part of daily life, “Can I still…
Read MoreIs My Baby Getting Enough Milk?
Let’s Talk About Milk. If there is one thing I hear consistently from mothers while they are pregnant (and quite often after they have had their baby), it’s this question: “How do I know if I’m making enough milk??” Although this is an excellent question, it leaves me feeling a little sad, too. Sad that our…
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