Written By: Izyan Liyana Helmy A lot of mums get nervous about bringing a birth plan to the hospital. “What if my doctor doesn’t like it?” “What if they think I’m one of those patients?” Let’s clear this up once and for all; your birth plan is not a list of demands. It’s just a way to tell your doctor and nurses what matters to you. It helps them understand your hopes for the birth, while giving them a chance to share what’s safe or possible. It’s teamwork, not a tug-of-war. Why a Birth Plan Actually Helps Picture this; you’re [...]

Written By: Dr. Ummay Kulsoom Spotting is when you notice a few drops of blood (red, pink or dark brown) on your undergarments or tissue paper while bleeding refers to flowing blood and it requires you to wear a pad. About 15-25% of all pregnant mothers experience bleeding or spotting in first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Some causes include Implantation bleed: when fertilized egg implants into the uterine wall Hormonal changes: normal during pregnancy Changes in cervix: cervix becomes soft and congested and hence more sensitive to minor trauma leading to spotting Subchorionic hematoma: usually self resolving These are benign [...]

Written By: Zaakirah Idrissu There has been a lot of social media coverage about doula support and its positive impact on the overall wellbeing of the new family. Perhaps it’s for this very reason that the family sought out doula support in preparation for the arrival of their new baby. Unfortunately parents may ask doulas questions that are more appropriate to ask of their medical provider such as what rate of their clients had an unplanned epidural for example. Many parents may have concerns regarding inductions, epidurals, cesareans, etc. It’s their responsibility to communicate these concerns with their medical team [...]

Written By: Fakiha Zaidi For generations, women gave birth in upright positions standing, squatting, or kneeling using gravity and movement to help their babies descend with ease. Modern hospital births often changed this natural pattern, but research now reminds us that upright positions offer many advantages for both mother and baby. As Muslims, we also find a beautiful example of this in the Qur’an. When Maryam (Mary), peace be upon her, went into labor, the Qur’an describes her leaning on the trunk of a palm tree, an upright supported position. This story reflects the natural design of birth. It reminds [...]

Written By: Zeinab Uddin The story of forceps is one many have never heard, yet it changed birth forever. In the 16th century, a family of male barber-surgeons - the Chamberlens - invented the obstetric forceps. They guarded their tool in secrecy for over a hundred years, arriving at births with it hidden in a box, blindfolding laboring women and their attendants so no one could see what they used. When the secret was finally revealed, the invention was praised as a "medical breakthrough" and quickly spread across Europe. In the early 20th century, the introduction of forceps was celebrated [...]

Written By: Dea Revania I’ve always felt at home in the water. Even when I was pregnant, swimming was my escape. This gentle exercise offers incredible benefits for mothers and babies. I loved it so much that I became an aquanatal trainer. This journey began during my seventh pregnancy. My later-in-life pregnancy in my 40s was tough. Severe morning sickness forced me to rest for 20 weeks. I couldn't exercise for nearly half the time. Aquanatal was the perfect solution to start moving again. The water finally allowed me to prepare my body for labor. Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, [...]