Tag Archives: birth

Double The Uteruses, Double The Babies

Ami AngelowiczSeptember 21, 2011 //

Finally, a story out of Florida that is not about a bizarre crime or a teacher schtupping a student. Andreea Barbosa, a woman with the rare condition of having two uteruses (or is it uteri?) gave birth to twins who were conceived separately in her respective wombs. This feat of conception is virtually impossible, yet her husband’s sperm managed to successfully navigate the labyrinth of her reproductive landscape and fertilize two eggs at once. Twins Natalie and Nathan (pictured above), who were born last week, will be happy additions to their family. Yay Florida! And reproductive miracles! [Jezebel] Keep reading »

Miranda Kerr Should Keep Labor Horror To Herself

The StirJuly 16, 2011 //

Labor already has a terrible reputation, so when Miranda Kerr said her natural, drug-free birth was so painful, she thought she was going to die, most people probably were not terribly surprised. And while I am sure it was intense (because duh), it does not do women any good to hear all the time how awful labor is.

It is not just to spare pregnant women, either. Our culture as a whole seems to have this idea that labor has to be terrible. We all have to curse and yell and scream and cry and eventually, even those of us who prepared for and planned a drug-free birth, will beg for the epidural.

It is simply not true. Now, I am well aware that I had textbook simple pregnancies and extremely easy labors, which makes me unable to comment on medical intervention. Certainly, when it is needed, it is wonderful. The point is, it is not always needed. And labor is not always a screaming mess of pain. Read more… Keep reading »

Girl Talk: Don’t Judge Me Because I Had A C-Section

Gillian TellingNovember 19, 2010 //

When I was pregnant and watching DVDs about the birthing process, the OB-GYN onscreen kept insisting that no matter what, “You do NOT want a Cesarean!” She herself had managed to have twins out the viola without drugs, and if she could do it, so could you! She drove this point home over and over: natural childbirth is good, without any drugs is even better. C-sections are BAD. Bad, bad, bad. Epidurals, bad. Pitocin, worst of all.

Of course, I immediately told my husband, “Good God, I am never having a C-section, how horrible! She says the healing process takes two months and it’s super traumatic for the poor baby and so bad for you as a woman! I’m totally going to have a nice and easy vaginal birth.” Well, of course I didn’t have a nice and easy vaginal birth. I ended up having a C-Section. With both Pitocin and an Epidural to boot. Keep reading »

Poll: What Do You Think Of The Woman Who Gave Birth Thanks To A 20-Year-Old Embryo?

Ami AngelowiczOctober 11, 2010 //

What Do You Think Of The Woman Who Gave Birth Thanks To A 20-Year-Old Embryo?

  • View Results

Girl Talk: I’m A Doula

Miriam Zoila PérezOctober 6, 2010 //

Usually, when I tell people that I’m a doula I get two questions. The first: How do you spell that? And the second: Isn’t that like a midwife?

The concept of doula, at least in the way I use it, is relatively new. The word itself comes from ancient Greek, meaning “helper” or “woman slave,” but it’s been adopted in the last 40 or so years to refer to someone who provides support to women during pregnancy and childbirth. The support a doula provides ranges from emotional cheerleading to massages and acupressure to aromatherapy and meditation. It runs a wide gamut of all things non-pharmacological, a unique service for women giving birth mostly in hospitals. Keep reading »

Quotable: SNL’s Will Forte Filmed His Sister Giving Birth

Jessica WakemanMarch 26, 2010 //

“It was really the best night of my life. You know, this is the most important person in the world to me and she’s going through the best night of her life. It strikes me as weird that other people wouldn’t be in that situation. I feel bad that they don’t have that kind of relationship with their sisters.”

—Will Forte will never make us laugh at “Saturday Night Live”‘s Vagisil commercials the same way again [Bust Magazine] Keep reading »

Olympic Weightlifter Picks Up A Dumbbell And Pops Out A Baby

Ami AngelowiczDecember 16, 2009 //

If you saw “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant” on TLC, you probably can’t stop wondering how it is possible for a woman not to know she’s pregnant and then slip into a bathroom stall and drop one out? It just seems so incomprehensible to me. How could you miss all of the signs—like the 20 pounds of weight gain in your belly or no period for nine months? Not so subtle, people. In Chile an Olympic weightlifter, Elizabeth Poblete, was in the gym training for a competition when she felt a little bit sick. Wait for it … then she picked up a dumbbell and popped out a baby boy. Surprise! Keep reading »

Women In Labor Need To Lay Off The Twittering

Nikki DowlingAugust 12, 2009 //

In the world of Facebook and Twitter, it’s beginning to feel like not much is sacred or private. On Tuesday, Sara Williams, wife of Twitter CEO Evan Williams, pushed the boundaries of discretion even further, when she tweeted about being in labor … while it was happening. She told her 14,000-plus followers when her water broke, when her contractions got painful, and when she got her epidural. And she’s not alone. Some women find it necessary to dish the deets of childbirth live via Twitter, including Erykah Badu. Keep reading »

The Daily Squeeze: Birth On The Front Lawn, Awkward Love Scenes, And Punishment For Loud Sex

Catherine StrawnAugust 15, 2008 //
  • A woman in Fullerton, CA, gave birth to twins on her front lawn, alone. [LiveScience]

    • Keep reading »

    Frisky Quote Of The Day: Pete Wentz

    Catherine StrawnJune 5, 2008 //

    “I’m genuinely a nervous person in general. The first time I ever went to the doctor’s office and heard the baby’s heartbeat, I felt totally content and at peace with everything.” — Pete Wentz Keep reading »

    2. 1
    3. 2
    4. ...
    5. >