Often times when I sit with an expecting mother and her partner one of the questions that comes up is whether or not I have given birth.

This evening I was remembering that last year was 10/10/10 (which to me, it’s a really great day when all the numbers match up). I decided to look into my journal from our trip last year and discovered that the words I wrote then still resonate for me today – “let’s see what will happen [...]

One of the most important things I always encourage laboring mothers to practice is allowing their hips to relax and open. Studies have shown, that laboring women whom assume postures that facilitate opening of the hips, can literally change the course of labor. In a small trial conducted at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center (part [...]

While we are often challenged to defend the right of all women and girls to decide if, when and with whom to have children, the equally important right to choose the way in which a woman brings her baby into the world often does not receive the attention it deserves. Rich or poor, childbirth is an [...]

As many of you know, I have been cast to read the role of “Jillian” in the NYC premiere of “Birth”, a play by Karen Brody, this Labor Day.Throughout the last several weeks I have read this play while riding the subway, eating dinner, in the bath, and before going to bed at night.  I [...]

I was reminded just now by Vivian Stein, Ilana’s daughter, that placenta was her mother’s favorite word!Three years ago today we lost Ilana. For those of you who knew her you understand the gravity of that statement. And, for those of you who did not, I can only hope for you that you have the [...]

“They’re happy pills,” Mayer says. “They’re made by your body, for your body. Why wouldn’t you want to try?”(Jen Mayer as quoted in a New York magazine article written by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian, Aug 21, 2011) One of our talented and adventurous doulas, Jen Mayer, helps women of NYC (and their partners) to venture into [...]

A Real-World Education: Things I Learned About Birth Abroad  By Elizabeth Mangum-Sarach, CD(DONA) New York, NY In April 2010 my husband and I set off on our first adventure — driving overland from London, England to Capetown, South Africa on his BMW motorcycle (R80GS). We traveled for twelve months and six days, rode 30,000 miles, [...]

“Every time a pregnant mom is shifted by a story in my play BIRTH I call it their “wake up” moment. That moment when they hear a story and their consciousness wakes up. And when you’re awake, touching your True Nature, that’s when you must take action! So we’re using these stories in BIRTH to [...]

A few weeks ago, I had actually made it to bed early for a change when I was woken up around 11:30 pm by my frantic husband, saying my six year-old son Yedidya was not breathing properly. Nothing gets you out of bed quite as fast as hearing that your child is not breathing. I [...]