A face painter from the UK, Erica Norman, is expanding her clientele. Using water based face paints, she is turn mother’s bellies into works of art. While her belly paintings do not last as long as a belly cast, her sessions definitely appear to be a fun activity for excited new mothers to be. The final piece makes for some really cool and artistic photography, which Erica provides. Check out more of her story over at BBC

Actress, Activist and Producer Salma Hayek was moved to take action while on a recent visit to Sierra Leone, West Africa. Before she reached her hotel, her and her crew stopped at a hospital. “(A woman) was trying to breast-feed the baby, and the baby wouldn’t take it anymore. I said, ‘I think we shouldn’t be here.’ As we walked out, two to three minutes later, the baby died,” she says. “I’ll never forget the look of desperation on that woman’s face. How can you not get involved, especially when you have a child yourself?”

With the camera crew of ABC’s Nightline following her during the duration of her stay, footage of Ms. Hayek breastfeeding a hungry baby was documented. The infant’s mother was unable to produce any milk to feed her child so Ms. Hayek was compelled to become the baby’s wet nurse. She went on to say, “It’s about women sticking together and we really need to help the children in any way we can.”

Ms. Hayek was in the routine of breastfeeding her one year old daughter at the time and had extra milk to share.

I have been thinking about various ways to help my mothers’ partners feel a bit more at ease and aware about their partner’s pregnancy and the road to parenthood ahead. While it is quite easy and more common to find resources for women, it is not necessarily the case the other way around. The other day while taking a quick peek at my local thrift shop, I came across a book called ‘The Expectant Father’ Facts, Tips, and advice for Dads-to-be. In regard to its content, it is similar to the respected guide book by Penny Simkin, The Birth Partner, but it is simplified and orchestrated for the male audience.

Coming across the book got me thinking. I would like to further explore not only the questions & concerns that father’s to be may have, but learn in what formats they feel would further allow them to digest the information. I have noticed that some father-to-be books write from the sports and humor perspective while some have quite amusing sketches and drawings. I would love to hear feedback from both my male and female readers. What has been your experience with father books and resources to help prepare for childbirth and parenting? Do you have particular favorites, opinions on what informational delivery method would work best for you, etc?

Above are a few books that I have either read or will be reading soon that may be of interests to fathers-to-be.

While our country’s media has been talking about pregnancy in the Palin family, BBC news has been covering pregnancy and childbirth overall. It is very encouraging when non-bias, reputable articles and organizations are shared with the woman and families who need it. The new Tommy’s campaign, “Let’s Talk Baby”, which aims to empower pregnant women by bringing the realities of pregnancy into the open, and making impartial, expert pregnancy health information available to all was just highlighted (a potentially a case study for the US). As well, a recent Yale study was just unvealed. The article and results helps to share light for mothers who are looking for further understanding of the role of hormones in pregnancy, how they aid in childbirth and bonding, and how those hormones are effected with a cesarean verses a vaginal birth.

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What is a birth doula?
A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth.

Where does the word “doula” come from?
The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek, meaning “Woman’s servant.” Throughout history and in much of the world today, a cadre of women support a woman through labor and birth, giving back rubs and providing continuous emotional support. Like their historical counterparts, DONA International birth doulas know how to help a woman in labor feel better. However, today’s doulas are much more diverse than their predecessors. DONA International membership includes men and women from a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds.

What effects does the presence of a doula have on birth outcomes?

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:

- tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications

- reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience

- reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction

- reduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the incidence of cesareans

What effects does the presence of a doula have on the mother?
When a doula is present during and after childbirth, women report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for medical intervention, and less postpartum depression.

What effects do the presence of doulas have on babies?
Studies have shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries, breastfeed more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the postpartum period.

How do doulas practice?
Doulas practice in three ways: privately hired directly by clients,
as hospital employees, and as volunteers in community or hospital programs.

Does a doula replace nursing staff?
No. Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff. Doulas do not perform clinical or medical tasks such as taking blood pressure or temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or providing postpartum clinical care. They are there to comfort and support the mother and to enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals.

Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical care. She provides informational and emotional support, while respecting a woman’s decisions.

Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?
No, a doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and plays a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to the extent he/she feels comfortable.