Stephanie Ondrack 3/18/25 Stephanie Ondrack 3/18/25

The Terror Of Tearing: Demystifying The Dreaded ‘tearing’ During Birth

A very common fear before giving birth for the first time is the idea of tearing. And it’s obvious why. The image of having your body ripped open is dreadful and appalling. It’s terrifying. The very idea makes anyone cringe and cower, and gives the impression that birth will be excruciatingly painful, and damaging to your very bodily integrity.

But this particular image is somewhat misleading. It’s an inaccurate analogy that is based on centuries of not understanding everything that happens during birth, and focusing exclusively on the idea of the mechanics of one body bursting out of another. Yes, that sounds scary, like the movie Alien, or The Substance, or countless other iconic images of parasitic host-body horror. But this is not a good metaphor for birth, because it misses all the quiet ways our body can help us birth the baby, and stay intact while doing so.

Here are twelve facts about your perineum that might change the way you think about a baby emerging from your body.

Stephanie Ondrack 2/4/25 Stephanie Ondrack 2/4/25

Do You Need a Doula? 8 Reasons Why You Do

Do you need a doula?

Yes you do!

Your birth will be better with a doula. Any birth will be better with a doula. Here are some of the reasons.

Stephanie Ondrack 1/15/25 Stephanie Ondrack 1/15/25

Cervical Dilation: 12 Fun Facts

Almost everyone knows that one important aspect of labour is that the cervix has to dilate from zero to ten centimetres. But what does this actually mean? What is the cervix, how does it dilate, and how does that relate to your birth? And more importantly, does it hurt? Here are twelve things you might not know about the cervix and dilation.

Stephanie Ondrack 11/14/24 Stephanie Ondrack 11/14/24

Neuroception

Babies are born with the superpower to detect danger in their surroundings, and this same superpower helps with long-term brain development. What is it? Neuroception.

Stephanie Ondrack 10/26/24 Stephanie Ondrack 10/26/24

Is This Really Labour?

Recognising the signs of labour can be an elusive and vague target. Until you’re actually in it. Then it’s pretty unmistakable. But only if you know what you’re looking for.

So what are the signs of actual labour?

First, let’s start with what’s not.

Stephanie Ondrack 9/23/24 Stephanie Ondrack 9/23/24

Drinking in Labour

Why is hydration so beneficial during childbirth? Read our latest blog post to find our why.

Stephanie Ondrack 8/22/24 Stephanie Ondrack 8/22/24

As Smooth as a Baby’s Bottom: Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Diaper Rash

You’ve heard the expression, ‘as smooth as a baby’s bottom’? A baby’s bottom is indeed supposed to be smooth, healthy, and perfect. But often our poor little ones are afflicted with unhappy, irritated skin in the diaper area. So what can we do to prevent this, and if it happens anyway, what can we do to help?

Stephanie Ondrack 7/20/24 Stephanie Ondrack 7/20/24

Pregnancy Dreams

Are you having crazy dreams during your pregnancy? You’re not alone. Pregnancy affects our whole body, all our systems, floods us with new hormones, and even changes our senses. Is it any wonder it also affects our minds?

Stephanie Ondrack 6/24/24 Stephanie Ondrack 6/24/24

Preparing for a Caesarean Birth: TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO

If you have a scheduled Caesarean, or if you end up needing an unplanned one, there are several things you can do to improve the experience. Here are ten things you can do.

Stephanie Ondrack 5/20/24 Stephanie Ondrack 5/20/24

Going Pee and Giving Birth: 4 things about emptying the bladder during labour that you probably didn’t know

You may have heard about the importance of eating, drinking, breathing, and changing positions during labour, but did you know that urinating regularly is equally important? Here are four reasons why. Some of them might surprise you.

Stephanie Ondrack 4/12/24 Stephanie Ondrack 4/12/24

Eggs!

Pregnancy myths involving eggs are abundant and span the globe. I would propose that the hyper-caution surrounding egg consumption during pregnancy is in that same category.

Stephanie Ondrack 3/26/24 Stephanie Ondrack 3/26/24

Birthing Class for First Time Parents: What to Expect and How to Prepare

By the time most people are pregnant, they have already been thoroughly inundated with narratives about birth. Many of these come from media–movies & TV shows–and many come from stories we hear from family and friends. Some are from books, high school health class, TikTok, or just a general cultural expectation of what birth is like.