Preparing your child for the birth of a sibling: 4 creative tips to encourage family bonding.

So you have a toddler, maybe a school aged child and now you’re pregnant again.  The first time around you and your partner took all the steps to prepare everything just in time for baby’s arrival:

The nursery – coordinated to perfection.

The birth plan – printed (with copies to spare).

So now that your estimated due date for THIS baby has been discussed and you feel it closing in week by week, what are your plans for getting ready to birth again? 

Can the evidence for music therapy change birth policies at local hospitals?

I had a huge opportunity this week.  I was asked to speak to members of the OB Shared Governance Committee (basically the hands on policy makers) at a local area hospital.  When I prepared for my talk, I planned to just talk about music for all the stages of labor and delivery.  After all,  I only had 20 minutes and could easily speak on the topic for 20 hours.   But I quickly realized after hearing from the postpartum nurses, surgical nurses, educators and lactation consultants in the room that they wanted more information about the applications of music therapy for the whole spectrum of the childbirth experiences.