I came across this wonderful and informative flim entitled “The Facts About Waterbirth” over on 5min.com. It’s a great introductional piece for those of you who may be considering a home birth, birth at a birthing center or even tips as how to utilizing the shower in Labor and delivery rooms can help with the progression of labor in a hospital birth. You will also see several discussions with mothers, midwives and doctors in this film. Check it out. If you have any questions about resources that talk about waterbirths further, have a look at some of my previous posts or leave me your questions in the comment field.

For those musical fanatics out there who just so happen to be excepting or already have little tots, this collection is for you. Rockabye Baby is a smart modern collection of lullabies for your babies influenced by popular and respected punk, metal, and classic rock artists. Head on over to their site to sample the albums. You’ll be amazed at how such great classics can be translated into soothing sounds for baby. I actually had to convince myself to not purchase some of these albums just for me, an adult, because they all sound so relaxing. I already have the adult artist versions of a lot of them, so I guess I can hold out for now. My favorites are the renditions of No Doubt, The Beatles, Radiohead and U2. There are a total of 26 artists they cover.

While classical sounds are the most recommended sounds for infants, these Rockabye Baby tunes are very gentle. What I like most about the concept behind this collection is that parents will be bound to sing or hum to their babies with the albums playing in the background. Such an experience will be enjoyable for both baby and parent. Music and singing can create a wonderful bonding experience and sweet memories.

Rockabye Baby is a division of the CMH Label Group, based in LA. Label Vice President Lisa Roth says, “First and foremost, we’re fans, so we take care to make every album musically interesting enough to satisfy adult listeners. Believe me, making an album that’s gentle enough for sleeping babies but won’t bore Mom and Dad is trickier than it sounds.”

Check out these cute graphic tees from MollyAnna Organic Maternity. Made from 100% certified organic supima cotton, these make for perfect soft and breathable additions for your summer wardrobe. For every tee purchased online, the company donates $1 to the non-profit organization, Care. Care’s mission is to empower women, defend dignity and fight poverty.

Denise Spatafora, creator of the BornClear childbirth preparation course, has just released a wonderful book entitled Better Birth: The Ultimate Guide to Childbirth from Home Births to Hospitals.

The book is based on her Born Clear method which is structured around the intuitive mind-body connection of expectant parents. The BornClear method aims to dispel the fears and mystery around birth.

This book educates the reader as to how the mind affects the body and how our thoughts can release “the medicines/pain relievers” during labor. She goes over several relaxation techniques and visualizations which help women tap into their own hormonal toolbox to aide them throughout labor.

THIS IS TRULY A REMARKABLE MUST READ for expectant parents. There are definitely plenty of linear text-books written books out there about pregnancy, but I have not come across many that dive into the depths of the mind-body connection, sacredness and the humanity essence aspect of pregnancy and birth as this book does.

Here is a segment that features Spatafora on the Today show speaking to her BornClear method.

And another clip honoring the book:

Creating a pregnancy journal is very beneficial for you and your baby. By establishing such a routine and communicating your thoughts, emotions, concerns, and your honest truths with yourself and baby, you are further developing a sacred internal space. The grounds of this sacred space help to nourish communication, bonding and trust within your body, self and baby.

Check out these Journals from Baby Butterfly. Their pregnancy journals are great for they prompt you to talk about yourself and your feelings during your pregnancy, with pages devoted to baby’s health, mom’s feelings during pregnancy, dad’s favorite names, and other very sweet memories of having a baby. Though, Baby Butterfly memory books have a general format for their pregnancy and baby journals, if you contact them, they can customize your book to ensure that you include all the information you wish to share with your baby, for instance if you are adopting or raising children as a gay or lesbian couple.

If you want, you can specify to have Baby your journal be made in a blank-lined format for your handwritten entries, or you can type your entries online and receive a published hard copy when you have completed your book. The Baby Butterfly Pregnancy Journals are 9″ x 10″ and 48 pages in length. They are all made in New England and use acid free paper made of 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper. The construction of these beautiful journals allow for them to lie flat when you are making your journal entry. The $68 price tag of the book includes printing and binding.

A prenatal fitness routine is extremely beneficial for both mom and baby. Developing and maintaining a strong core is essential for an easier labor and delivery. G2 Fitness has developed an eco-friendly self-guiding maternity mat that will help mother’s to-be do such and live a healthy and green pregnancy.

The mats are 100 percent recyclable and use TPE, a durable alternative to rubber or PVC. TPE is completely non–toxic, odorless and harmless to both the environment and human body. G2 Fitness also has an integrated policy that all waste materials used during the manufacturing process are to be completely recyclable and reusable.

Instructional videos are available online after purchase. Still, even if you were to only follow the iconographical directions on the mat alone, you would still reap the benefits of more tone and strengthen muscles, improved balance and circulation, reduction of swelling and more.