Fetal movement is your best indicator of fetal well-being. I believe that with all my heart. So, when should you start kick counts? Or, maybe we should back-up and ask what kick counts are, why we do them, and what will the benefits be? Kick counts are very much a soapbox of mine — soContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
We all sort of wonder if we’ll love this baby when it comes out? — or will we just sort of feel like it’s just a new thing to carry around and add to our life? Today I want to give you some tips to bond with baby both before and after birth so thatContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
Having protein in your urine (called proteinuria) while as a pregnant woman isn’t too unusual, but when the results start to be +1 or +2 your doctor will start to become more concerned, as you enter the third trimester. Let this L&D RN tell you exactly why this happens, why they test your urine sample andContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
There are a few keys to a great labor that no one really talks about (or talks about them right). Today I want to share them, when you can most effectively use them and also how to go about using them (because a few are trickier than you think). As a labor nurse for 20 …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
If you’re doing kick counts, or just feeling your baby move — what is the normal daily fetal movement count. This article will tell you what is normal for you and how you count them to make sure baby is doing well. But first, how do I know so much about fetal movements? Hi — …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Looking to get your partner more involved in pregnancy, labor birth — and perhaps most importantly, PARENTING? It’s SO important to do as much of this together as possible (fortunate — for him, his pelvis likely won’t be aching like yours is…. but other stuff he can be involved in). Today I’m going to giveContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
There are a lot REASONS to be induced << and that post goes into it more — but today I want to talk about the signs you’re READY To be induced. They’re different, and I want to talk about why. All of this isn’t to say that there aren’t times that you NEED to be …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
When should you hire a doula? Doula support has a lot of advantages, but are most often paid for out of pocket by the family. So, you want to be sure that you’re getting your money’s worth when you hire one. When is one really necessary? — let’s talk about it. But first, how doContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
It can feel like you need to check out some textbooks from you local hospital before you go in to have your baby, but I’m here to tell you that is NOT the case at all. You really need one skill, and frankly –a lot of people aren’t good at it — so today I’mContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
Everyone feels labor pain differently. Today, a labor nurse walks you through why and how to feel less pain at your upcoming birth.| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Yes, Hilary is a nurse since 1997 and has 20 years of labor and delivery experience (read more about her experience here). But, that is most certainly not the start The Pregnancy Nurse’s story. It started a long time ago…. in a valley near the mountains…. I was a junior in high school dreaming about …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Are you hoping to have a “natural” delivery at the hospital. Today we’re going to talk about what your plans for “natural” mean (as that means something different for everyone) — and 5 SIMPLE (think: easy — this isn’t standing on your head for hours a day) tricks to make it happen for you! While …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Pain can be really scary — but birth pain is very different. Today, I’m going to tell you 4 things for you to understand about birth pain that will hopefully make it less scary! Before we get going, I’m talking about BIRTH pain. Not PREGNANCY PAIN. There’s a big difference, and if you’re having pains …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Today I want to share a few things you should be doing each month of your pregnancy to be ready for your delivery by month nine. This will probably take a “medical” slant (although I hope to offer some tips on a few other things as well) — since I am The Pregnancy Nurse® — …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Today I want to talk about a few things that you’re doing that makes labor longer than it has to be. Most of these have some pretty serious studies behind them, so it’s not just “The Pregnancy Nurse® THINKS it’s this way” — but truly evidence-based ways to make your labor faster. I’m excited to …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
If you’re considering an induction, you may wonder if it’s more painful than “regular” labor (meaning labor that comes on naturally). Today we’re going to look at some of of the “why’s” this might be that way, along with what studies show. Plus, my own experience with going both induced labor and “natural” labor with …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
If you think that birth class is mainly to get you through the pain of labor — do you really need it even if you’re planning on an epidural? Great question — today I’m going to explore exactly what a birth class can, and can’t do — and what your next steps should be. While …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Far too many people are going in for necessary (medically-indicated) inductions and finding that their cervix just isn’t ready to open — ultimately leading to a cesarean section. I’ve been thinking a lot about those types of births, and if there is anything we can do to help them. Today I want to give you …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Let’s talk about sex to induce labor — and then go a bit deeper {see what I did there} to ask if a certain position can be better than another. If you’re tired of being pregnant, this may be one of those things that finally gets that baby out — but what do the studies …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You’ve maybe heard about preeclampsia, but you’re not sure why you should know about it, or why it might apply to you? Today I want to share 5 things that every pregnant person should know about preeclampsia. We’re going to talk about decreasing your risk from it, how to know if you have it and …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You’re wanting to go into labor (or prep for a planned induction) will nipple stimulation, (or pumping) put you into labor? It’s a great question. I’ll tell you what I’ve seen as a nurse, and we’ll dive into a few studies and what they show. I will say you may be surprised at how long …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Birth classes, for the longest time, really covered the BASICS of labor. They didn’t dive into problems you might have, or how to manage them. Studies are showing that this type of birth class isn’t doing families any favors. Today I’m going to dive into what a recent study shows, and how you can getContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
It’s that time of year again — where I take all the babies names I’ve seen all year and I boil them two ten boy names and ten girl names — I share WHY I liked them, and maybe it sparks some ideas for names for YOUR adorable bundle of joy. Just remember that bundleContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
Are you wondering if primrose oil will put you into labor? I get asked this question a lot (along with what else might put you into labor) and I’m excited to dive into the studies, show you what I learned so you can either decide to drop it, or talk with your provider about it. …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
I am a huge fan of movement during birth. In fact, it’s one of my 3 proven secrets. However, you may feel, with an epidural, that you can’t use movement to your benefit — but that’s not true at all. Today I’m going to share 3 easy tips to using movement during labor even with …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
I often hear people wanting to know how to have a “natural” birth at the hospital. It’s important to know that “natural labor” or natural childbirth looks different for everyone. Some people prefer the terms holistic of physiologic birth. Either way, this article is going to help you clarify what that means for YOU and …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You know that labor involves contractions, but how exactly does that baby get from the inside of your body outside of you? This post is going to help you know what happens once you’re fully dilated — how to push your baby out, how your body manages it (along with some helpful studies)…. I hope …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Your choice of cesarean section anesthsia is not too broad. There are mainly two humane choices for a cesarean section. Today I’ll discuss both of them, along with some of the risks and the benefits of each. As always, if you are planning on a cesarean section, or your doctor has mentioned it could be …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Pitocin or Oxytocin is a hormone your body produces to start things like labor, breastfeeding, and more. Your body has been producing it for you for YEARS, so why is the internet so full of negativity about this hormone when used to start labor? Let’s talk about it, and how it is used in labor …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
What is latent labor, how long does it last and is there anything you can do to speed it up? How do I know all of this? Hi, I’m Hilary — The Pregnancy Nurse. I’ve been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of labor and delivery experience. After seeing thousands and thousands …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
This is a real fear for a lot of people (in my study on birth fears 61.2% of respondents were concerned about having a BM at delivery). Today we’re going to talk about what you can do to avoid pooping at delivery, and also if it ends-up being that big of a deal at birth. …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
An epidural is a process that you probably have a lot of questions about. What does it it feel like, look like — does it hurt? Let an L&D nurse of 20 years, plus the recipient of 3 epidurals, answer your questions! First off, hello! I’m Hilary — many people know me as The PregnancyContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
A Foley catheter is something that drains the urine out of your bladder into a bag. It can be used for a variety of reasons in healthcare, but why would it be used in labor and delivery and what do we use it for? Before we get started, who am I and why do I …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Self-Care looks different during every phase of our lives. As you get later into your pregnancy & after you have your baby self care will become more important than it has been prior to now. Here are a few things you can consider as you get further along…. Let me first say that your mental …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Welcome back to The Pulling Curls Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re diving into the benefits of attending a prenatal class. We’ll explore the studies that show how these classes can improve birth outcomes and reduce the risk of C-sections and other interventions. Plus, we’ll discuss why it’s important to choose the right class and instructor.Continue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
Prenatal check-ups can seem really useless. You’re likely hot, tired and you REALLY don’t want to go wait at the office and then have what seems like an entirely useless office visit with your provider. Today we’re going to chat about six very normal things they will do at your appointments to make sure you …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
If your provider wants to break your water, should you let her? Today I’m going to talk about some of the things you should think about if this situation arises. Before we get going, this is a STICKY one for patients. Many don’t want it done, but then the provider comes in the room and …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You're past your due date and there are no signs of labor -- what should you be doing to get things going?| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Getting an epidural during labor is a very common form of pain mangement in the US. Today I want to talk to you about what it will do for you, how it is placed and what to expect throughout the process. Remember, the epidural is just ONE of the forms of pain management — I …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Today I’m going to share what you should expect from the epidural after you get it placed. While you may know it will be “numb” it’s sort of hard to know what to expect that will feel like for half your body. But first, how do I know so much about epidurals? Hi, I’m HilaryContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
Preeclampsia Signs: Preeclampsia can be a scary complication of pregnancy. We’re going to talk labs, prevention, why it sometimes happens postpartum, when it occurs, how it may affect the baby and what causes it. **Please do not take any information given here in lieu of your doctor’s advice. You pregnancy is special and you need toContinue Reading| www.pullingcurls.com
Maybe you have a planned c-section or you’re just wondering what you might need to change into if you have a c-section? I’m here to give you the skinny on what you CAN and can NOT wear for a c-section — and what to consider about your own “outfit” choices. BUT before we get too …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You hear a lot of thoughts about birth class online. Some people think they’re helpful, some don’t — but today I want to dispel 5 myths about birth class that you need to stop believing it. And, how did I come to all these conclusions (frankly, I’d call them facts) — it comes from being …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
How will you take care of your bottom and perineum (the area between your urethra and your rectum)? After you have a baby you're going to take care of this area in a whole new way. I can show you what to expect so it's not as foreign after the baby is born.| The Pregnancy Nurse®
There’s a lot of “dont’s” while you’re pregnant but there are some serious ones to not do AFTER baby is born too. Today I’m going to share things you should NOT do after you have a baby. Pro Tip: Ignoring what life will be like after baby is here is one of the BIGGEST mistakes …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
