The Wildwood Way

Welcome to Wildwood! Allow us to introduce ourselves. We're excited for you to discover what's in store.

We are honored that you have chosen Wildwood Birth Education as a resource and guide for your pregnancy and birth. While we are professional and experienced perinatal health providers, this course is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult with your midwife or doctor for any questions pertaining to your health and the health of your baby.

In this video, we will provide an overview of your options for perinatal health care providers: Obstetricians (OB), Midwives (CNM, CM, CPM), Family Practice Doctor (MD), Perinatologists/Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist (MD, for high risk pregnancies), and Doulas (physical, emotional, and informational support person). For optimal perinatal heath and wellness, we invite you to also explore the complimentary care providers who specialize in supporting people through conception,…

Let's explore the roles of the people in your birth space, the importance of trusting them and feeling safe, considerations for building your team, setting boundaries with loved ones, and how your support team can prepare for labor and birth.

Spouses, partners, family, and friends - this one's for you. Here, you'll learn practical ways to support your partner through their pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum, including: communication tips, decisions and tasks that you can help with, how to prepare for labor as a support person, advocating for and helping to hold boundaries your partner has set, asking for help, and taking care of yourself.

In this video, we'll discuss the process of creating a birth plan. We'll discuss the benefit of having one, explore the difference between birth plans vs birth preferences, walk you through creating a birth preferences document, and encourage you to create a birth preferences document for both vaginal and cesarean birth.

Let's explore what you can expect when giving birth in the hospital, a birth center, or at home. In this video, we discuss how to prepare for a surprise home birth, water birth, transitioning from home to the hospital while in labor, and setting up you birth space in each location.

The birth space is not immune to bias, and this can have significant health consequences for both the person giving birth and the baby. Guided by Rach—a Full-Spectrum Doula and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion educator—you’ll learn about the history of obstetrics, racial disparities in the U.S. medical system, dominant culture in the birth space, finding culturally competent providers, and what to do if you experience bias from a care provider.

In this video you'll learn about the important hormones involved in labor: oxytocin and the endorphin response, and catecholamines (stress hormones). You'll also learn about how you and your support team can work with your hormones to encourage labor progress.

Let's explore what changes the cervix goes through during labor, and why it's so important. In this video you'll learn about the mechanics of the uterus and contractions, dilation and effacement of the cervix, and measuring your baby's station.

Let's explore the signs and symptoms that indicate your body is warming up for labor, the difference between pre-labor and actual labor, and what to do when you experience these pre-labor symptoms.

In this video, you will learn about the two ways that labor begins, the (in)significance of due dates, and what to do if your water breaks before contractions start.

We'll start with an overview of the stages and phases of labor, how wide the range of 'normal' is when it comes to early labor, what to do in early labor, how to know when early labor becomes active labor, and when to transition to the hospital or birthing center (if you aren't giving birth at home).

Let's explore what's happening in your body during active labor, how you might look and sound, and the importance of releasing tension.

Let's explore what's happening in your body during the transition phase of labor, signs and symptoms of transition, how to cope with the intensity of it, and what your support people can do to help you through.

We'll start by talking about the resting phase between transition and pushing. Then we'll explore what's happening in your body, "laboring down" before pushing with an epidural, spontaneous vs. directed pushing, how to push using your breath, how long the pushing phase might last, and what your support people can do during the pushing phase.

It's important to understand your rights as a patient, and how to make informed decisions during birth. In this video, we'll discuss evidence-based research and practice, your rights as a patient in the hospital, consent and refusal of a treatment or procedure, why it could be challenging to make an informed decision, tips for communicating effectively with your providers, and introduce the BRAIN tool.

In this video you'll learn about the most common interventions, and their respective risks and benefits. We'll cover cervical exams, IV heparin or saline lock, the three types of fetal monitoring, AROM (artificial rupture of membranes), and the use of Pitocin to augment (speed up) labor.

In this video you'll learn about non-medical ways to encourage the onset of labor. We'll cover sex and orgasm, nipple stimulation, creating prostaglandins at home, consuming dates and red raspberry leaf tea, movement and exercise, and acupuncture & acupressure.

In this video you'll learn about the benefits, risks, and alternatives of medical induction methods. We'll explain the Bishops Score, and cover membrane sweeps, cervical ripeners, foley bulb, AROM and Pitocin, and why induction at 39 weeks is so often recommended.

In this video you'll learn about why and how labor sometimes becomes complicated: stalled labor, prodromal labor, and "failure to progress". We'll discuss how your baby's position could affect your labor, what to do if you're faced with a complication in labor, and how your support people can help.

In this video you'll learn why and in what situations an assisted delivery might be recommended or required. You'll learn about the three types of assisted delivery: forceps, vacuum, and episiotomy, and the benefits, risks, and alternatives of each.

Most cesareans are unplanned, so this video helps you prepare for what to expect. Learn about cesarean rates and reasons, planning for planned or unplanned birth, anesthesia choices, partner support, comfort items for the OR, and immediate postpartum recovery.

In this video, we'll share what to expect in the minutes and hours after your baby is born. We explore The Golden Hour, skin-to-skin, and the first latch of breastfeeding/chestfeeding. We'll explore your options when it comes to delayed cord clamping and birthing your placenta, fundal assessment, vitals monitoring, and repairs. We'll also discuss what the immediate postpartum might be like if you baby requires medical support after birth.

In this video you'll learn about the tests and procedures available to your baby in the first hours and days of life. We'll cover erythromycin, hepatitis B vaccine, and Vitamin K, testing for genetic disorders, jaundice, PKU and hearing screening. We will also discuss which procedures and required, and which you can choose to delay or decline.

Zoë Berliner (she/her), IBCLC with Wildwood Birth, discusses the basics of nursing you baby in the early days and weeks postpartum. She discusses the physiological process of milk production and maintaining supply, and more.

The best time to prepare for postpartum is... now! Learn how to prepare for postpartum, focus on recovery and bonding, understand what is happening in your body and when to call a care provider, emotional and mental health considerations, breastfeeding challenges and bonding concerns, and postpartum mood disorders.

A gentle postpartum movement practice with yoga therapist and pelvic health specialist Emily Light. Safe after vaginal or cesarean birth, it supports reconnection, recovery, and body awareness through meditation, pelvic breath, supported Child’s Pose, abdominal contraction, and chest opening.

Welcome to the Handout Library! Here you'll find every handout referenced throughout the course, along with additional resources to support your learning. Each resource has been thoughtfully created to complement your learning and support you as you prepare for birth with knowledge, confidence, and presence.