Pregnancy Archives - Page 5 of 10

Designed to Heal: The Truth About Tearing in Birth

Written By: Zeinab Uddin For decades, the episiotomy - a surgical cut made at the perineum during birth - was presented as a "necessary" part of childbirth, especially for first-time mothers. What many don't realize is that this practice began not out of medical necessity, but as a marketing ploy to make the use of forceps more convenient. Today, research and global health authorities like ACOG, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) have made it clear: routine episiotomies are outdated and not recommended. Studies show they do not prevent severe tears - [...]

Sumreen Wasiq2025-11-09T08:31:30+00:00Tags: Autonomous Birth, Human Rights During Childbirth|8 Comments

My Experience As A First Time Doula

Written By: Ghada Shawki 8 October, 2025 My first experience as a doula was as a substitute for a doula friend who had to travel. I had met the mom once before delivery. She had gone through sexual abuse and other harassment when she was younger. Upon arriving I found the mother lying in bed, quite anxious, strapped with a fetal monitoring device around her belly. That confined her movement drastically. She was mostly lying on her back in bed apprehensive about the next step. The doctor, one who is pro natural birth, checked on her frequently enough. He regularly [...]

Sumreen Wasiq2025-10-12T08:09:56+00:0012 Comments

From Anxiety to Empowerment: A Birth Educator’s Reflections

Written By: Sumaya Anjum As a birth educator, one of the most beautiful transformations I’ve witnessed is how a mother’s journey from fear and uncertainty can blossom into strength and confidence. This shift doesn’t happen by chance — it happens through knowledge, preparation, and trust. For many first-time mothers, pregnancy is filled with mixed emotions. They’re excited, hopeful, but also anxious. They’ve heard countless birth stories — some inspiring, others frightening. They worry about pain, complications, and whether they’ll be “strong enough” to give birth. This anxiety often stems from a lack of understanding of how their body works and [...]

Sumreen Wasiq2025-10-12T09:07:13+00:00Tags: Autonomous Birth, Childbirth Education, Doulas, Maternal Health Care System|6 Comments

The Husband’s Important Role During Labor

Written By: Dea Revania Often, all attention during labor is focused on the struggling mother, who deserves all the praise. However, as a childbirth educator, I want to emphasize one thing: the husband's role during labor is not merely as a companion, but as a central pillar, crucial to a positive birth experience. The husband is his wife's emotional anchor, spokesperson, and irreplaceable source of strength. The Husband's Key Role: From Coach to Protector The husband's role begins long before the first contraction. His willingness to be active in preparation—attending childbirth classes, understanding the physiology of labor, and developing a [...]

Sumreen Wasiq2025-10-09T11:58:29+00:0012 Comments

Be There for Her: The Importance of Social Support during Pregnancy

Written By: Lalithambigai Sekar A mother remembers the one cared during pregnancy and the one did not help in motherhood. Good or bad, she will never forget. Pregnancy is the most vulnerable period in a woman’s life, where it shapes lifelong impact on mind and body due to physical and mental stress happens during pregnancy, followed by childbirth and postpartum. The experiences during the first nine months shape mother’s view of parenting, her parenting skills, her self-esteem and her relationship with her partner followed by the family cycle for lifetime. Therefore, having an understanding and supportive hands during pregnancy offer [...]

Sumreen Wasiq2025-10-12T09:00:33+00:00Tags: Childbirth Education, Husbands, Informed Decisions, Mothers&Babies|13 Comments

A Gentle Guide for the Fourth Trimester

Written By: Hira Hassan Your journey after birth is just beginning. This "fourth trimester" is a time of healing, bonding, and transition—and should be grounded in support, rest, and understanding—not stress. Here's what thoughtful postpartum care looks like, backed by public health guidelines and real clinical insights. 1. Immediate Postpartum (First 24 Hours) Hospital Stay & Early Check: WHO and NIH recommend that mothers and newborns stay in the facility at least 24 hours, with a clinical check before discharge. If you delivered at home, a postnatal exam within the first day is essential. Danger Sign Awareness: You should be [...]

Sumreen Wasiq2025-10-06T16:38:35+00:009 Comments

The Virtues of Dhikr (Remembrance) Whilst in a State of Hardship

Written By: Noor Rahim At AMANI Birth, we encourage expecting mothers to not simply “endure” any pain they may encounter but to accept it head-on with effective coping mechanisms. These habits boost the mother’s confidence and allow pain to no longer be an impending fear that throws her in a state of panic. From these habits is to learn how to engage in tummy (or diaphragmatic) breathing in order to signal calmness to the parasympathetic nervous system and this amazingly decreases the mother’s pain. Another habit that is commonly mentioned, yet not delved as deeply into, is the power and [...]

Sumreen Wasiq2025-12-12T14:12:23+00:00Tags: AMANI Birth, Informed Pregnancy|8 Comments

The Doula Diaries – It’s okay to say NO.

Written By: Faheema Mohammed A few years ago, when I just started out as an AMANI Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator, I was under the assumption that I needed to hook every client that came my way, and I thought that the power was in the client’s hands. A few months to almost a year later, I realized that was not necessarily true. Even though I needed clients, I had just as much power over who I chose to support. You see, we birth-workers often enter this field with a passion for supporting families through one of life’s most miraculous [...]

Sumreen Wasiq2025-10-06T16:38:56+00:0013 Comments

October is….

Written By: Zaakirah Idrissu In the United States the month of October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness. Miscarriage is defined in the U.S. as a loss happening before 20 weeks gestation while a stillbirth is a loss occurring after 20 weeks gestation. According to the March of Dimes, between 10-20% of pregnancies result in a miscarriage while 1 in 175 result in a stillbirth. Yet the topic of such loss in various families and communities can be seen as taboo. As a result many families carry the pain of this loss alone. This loss from medical lens is experienced [...]

Sumreen Wasiq2025-10-17T13:00:29+00:00Tags: Mothers&Babies, Stories Of Inspiration. Stories Of Empowerment|7 Comments

Sweet Mercy: The Power of Dates in Pregnancy

Written By: Fajr Peter A Superfood from the Qur’an for Strength, Sweetness, and Sacred Support Among the many gifts Allah ﷻ has given us in His creation, dates hold a special place — not just as a food of blessing, but as a source of strength and healing, especially for women during pregnancy and birth. In this installment of the Nourishing the Journey series, we’ll explore why dates are a beloved food of the Qur’an, how they support your body during pregnancy, and simple, creative ways to enjoy them. Dates in the Qur’an: A Gift for Birth One of the [...]

Sumreen Wasiq2025-10-05T12:48:07+00:00Tags: AMANI Birth, Childbirth Education, Nutrition & Physical Activity|21 Comments

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