Gentle Strength Midwifery and Doula Services
Welcome to Gentle Strength Midwifery
Gentle Strength Midwifery provides services for the greater Lansing area, within
about a one hour radius. Midwifery services include holistic care during
pregnancy, continuous hands-on labor and birth assistance, postpartum and
well-newborn care. Sandra promotes active birth with minimal interventions.
During the immediate postpartum period she is an advocate for breastfeeding
with skin to skin contact and no separation for mother and baby. Sandra has been
clinically trained under apprenticeship for a total of three years and
graduated with honors from Ancient Art Midwifery Institute.
Sandra McCurdy has been a practicing doula since 1997, and has empowered hundreds of Mid-Michigan mothers to have wonderful child birth experiences. Doula
services include continuous labor support, positional support, comfort
measures during labor, help with making informed decisions, breastfeeding
support, and aid with sibling involvement.
about a one hour radius. Midwifery services include holistic care during
pregnancy, continuous hands-on labor and birth assistance, postpartum and
well-newborn care. Sandra promotes active birth with minimal interventions.
During the immediate postpartum period she is an advocate for breastfeeding
with skin to skin contact and no separation for mother and baby. Sandra has been
clinically trained under apprenticeship for a total of three years and
graduated with honors from Ancient Art Midwifery Institute.
Sandra McCurdy has been a practicing doula since 1997, and has empowered hundreds of Mid-Michigan mothers to have wonderful child birth experiences. Doula
services include continuous labor support, positional support, comfort
measures during labor, help with making informed decisions, breastfeeding
support, and aid with sibling involvement.
Is Pregnancy Tea Safe to Drink in the First Trimester?
-3/14/13
Yes, pregnancy tea is safe to drink during the first trimester. There has been some controversy if red raspberry is safe during the first trimester because of a study that was conducted in 1954. Red raspberry was fractioned and isolated and discovered to cause uterine contractions in animals. This was not proven when the whole plant was used. Red raspberry has been rated“likely safe” for pregnancy. The two essential ingredients in pregnancy tea are red raspberry leaf and nettle. The traditional dosage is one cup/day first trimester, two cups/day second trimester and three cups/day third trimester.
Benefits of Red Raspberry Leaf
Increases fertility success
Prevents miscarriage
Eases morning sickness
Reduces pain during labor
Decreases the length of labor
Helps expel the placenta
Prevents hemorrhage
Decreases after pains
Assists in the production and enrichment of breast milk
Benefits of Red Raspberry Leaf
Increases fertility success
Prevents miscarriage
Eases morning sickness
Reduces pain during labor
Decreases the length of labor
Helps expel the placenta
Prevents hemorrhage
Decreases after pains
Assists in the production and enrichment of breast milk
Born In Water At Home - 2/5/13
Weston, born at home using a birth pool
A water birth is a gentle entry for newborns. The birth pool resembles the womb. It is warm and soothing. The transition from intrauterine life to the external world is more subtle in water. Why then do babies not breathe underwater? There is primitive reflex in newborns that prevents them from breathing until they are exposed to the air. Also, the dive reflex allows water to be swallowed and not inhaled. When a solution reaches the back of the throat the taste buds on the larynx automatically closes the glottis.
Mothers benefit from having a water birth. Hydrotherapy is a natural form of anesthesia. There is immediate reduction in pain. A birth pool’s depth is important. The water must completely cover the mother’s belly to create buoyancy. She then can freely move to her body’s rhythms. Concerned about tearing during delivery? Warm water from a birth pool relaxes muscles and the tissues reducing tearing on the perineum. Choosing a water birth at home with a midwife is a safe and satisfying option for low risk mothers.
A water birth is a gentle entry for newborns. The birth pool resembles the womb. It is warm and soothing. The transition from intrauterine life to the external world is more subtle in water. Why then do babies not breathe underwater? There is primitive reflex in newborns that prevents them from breathing until they are exposed to the air. Also, the dive reflex allows water to be swallowed and not inhaled. When a solution reaches the back of the throat the taste buds on the larynx automatically closes the glottis.
Mothers benefit from having a water birth. Hydrotherapy is a natural form of anesthesia. There is immediate reduction in pain. A birth pool’s depth is important. The water must completely cover the mother’s belly to create buoyancy. She then can freely move to her body’s rhythms. Concerned about tearing during delivery? Warm water from a birth pool relaxes muscles and the tissues reducing tearing on the perineum. Choosing a water birth at home with a midwife is a safe and satisfying option for low risk mothers.
