Pregnancy
Planning for birth



Books
Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel
Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols
Mindful Pregnancy by Tracy Donegan
Gentle Birth by Tracy Donegan
The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill
Transformed by Birth by Britta Bushnell
Birthing from Within by Pam England & Rob Horowitz
Birth Without Fear by January Harshe
Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born Not Delivered by Rebecca Dekker
In Your Own Time by Sara Wickham
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
When Survivors Give Birth by Penny Simkin & Phyllis Klaus
Unspeakable Losses: Healing from Miscarriage, Abortion, & Other Pregnancy Loss by Kim Kluger-Bell
Podcasts
The Birthful Podcast with Adriana Lozada
The Birth Hour with Bryn Huntpalmer
The VBAC Link with Julie Francom and Meagon Heaton
Fear Free Childbirth with Alexia Leachman
Informed Pregnancy Podcast with Dr. Elliot Berlin
Real Birth Podcast with Lucy Hill
With U Podcast with Tara & David Van Dyke
Local classes
Evidence Based Birth (see website for local instructors)
Once Upon a Lullaby with Marcia Huizinga
Informed Beginnings with Deb Lawrence (Wheaton)
Bradley Method with Lisa Upham (Wheaton)
Spinning Babies parent class with Rebekkah Carney (Hoffman Estates & Chicago)
Hypnobirthing with Robin Ross (Lisle)
Holistic Family Doulas classes with Lara Lasky (St. Charles)
Burr Ridge Birth Center classes (Burr Ridge)
Birthing from Within with Holly Rogalski (Chicago)
Birth Center of Chicago classes (Chicago north side)
Third Coast Birth, Chicago
Family First team members:
Private sessions or group classes with Tara Van Dyke
Wellness recommendations
NUTRITION
Nutrition During Pregnancy (Birthful Podcast #6)
Follow Real Food for Pregnancy with Lily Nichols
EXERCISE
Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga (Mindful Movements in Glen Ellyn)
Prenatal Pilates with Carrie Koziol (Chicago suburbs)
Fit4Mom (find your local franchise)
CHIROPRACTIC/BODYWORK
Dr. Cortney Wiegand | Structure Chiropractic, Naperville
Dr. Robin Ackerman | Balance Family Chiropractic, Bartlett
Dr. Stephanie Pittenger | Balanced Care Chiropractic, Hoffman Estates
Dr. David Hanson | Hanson Family Chiropractic, Batavia
Deb Lawrence | Magic Hands Therapeutic Services, Wheaton & Schaumburg
Birth videos
Montage of all types of birth by Benzel Photography*
A VBAC Birth Story with Ty & Taryn
Twin Delivery Cheyenne Pearson
Home Water Birth @ 43 Weeks with Family Present
Hospital Birth in Tub, No Meds, Surprise Gender
Birth During Coronavirus With Surprise Ending!
Hospital Birth, unmedicated with coached pushing (note how the coping & sounds change from 6 cm to 7 cm. Any ideas for how position changes could have changed her coping?)
Optimal Positioning + Comfort



Miles Circuit Instructions
Use this if baby's position is causing you discomfort, or in the early stages of labor especially if contractions are irregular or not progressing.
Belly Mapping
Get familiar with your baby, and figure out which parts are where!Â
Spinning Babies - 3 Sisters
This series of positions & activities can be used anytime during pregnancy or even during labor to create balance in the body and create room for baby in the pelvis.