yoga – Carol Gray

How Fetal Constraint Affects Labor and Birth

Carol Gray Babies, Birth, Bodywork, Infants, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Wellness July 27, 2021August 5, 2024asynclitic, babies, birth outcomes, birth plans, birth preparation, bodywork, breastfeeding, carol gray, cervix, craniosacral therapy, epidurals, fetal constraint, fetus ejection reflex, intrapartum care, labor, late babies, making room for babies, mamaspace yoga, military presentation, occiput posterior, OP, optimal fetal positioning, overdue, overdue babies, oxytocin, pitocin, post dates, prenatal care, science, self care, stuck babies, uterus, yoga

How Fetal Constraint Affects Labor and Birth

This is part five of a six-part series. In part one, My Baby Dropped!, I explain why engagement is pathology. In part two, Why Did My Baby Get Stuck?, I explore the maternal factors that cause babies to get stuck. Part three is called Fetal Factors: How Babies Get Themselves Stuck. Last week I wrote Fetal Constraint: How Culture Immobilizes Babies. Today’s post is about the fetal constraint downsides for labor and birth. Next week I’ll write about how fetal constraint adversely affects the babies themselves — the things we notice after birth. Read more

Why Did My Baby Get Stuck?

Carol Gray Babies, Birth, Bodywork, Infants, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Wellness July 6, 2021August 5, 2024abdominal organ mobility, asynclitic, babies, birth outcomes, birth plans, birth preparation, carol gray, cesarean scar, craniosacral therapy, epidurals, fetal constraint, fibroids, iliacus, making room for babies, mamaspace yoga, optimal fetal positioning, pelvic floor, pregnancy fitness, pregnancy yoga, pregnant, pregnant exercise, prenatal care, prenatal yoga, psoas, science, self care, SI Joints, stuck babies, uterine mobility, uterus, yoga

Why Did My Baby Get Stuck?

When I consider how babies fit into — and through — a maternal pelvis I view it from three perspectives: midwifery, bodywork and yoga. As a midwife I generally know more about birth than many bodyworkers. As a bodyworker I know more about how, anatomically and bio-mechanically, a baby fits into and ultimately through a maternal pelvis – more than than some midwives. This is about optimal fetal positioning – or lack thereof. Read more

My Baby Dropped!

Carol Gray Babies, Birth, Bodywork, Infants, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Wellness June 29, 2021August 5, 2024asynclitic, babies, birth outcomes, birth preparation, breastfeeding, carol gray, craniosacral therapy, engagement, fetal constraint, fixation, intrapartum care, making room for babies, mamaspace yoga, my baby dropped, optimal fetal positioning, pathology, pregnancy yoga, pregnant, pregnant exercise, prenatal yoga, self care, stuck babies, yoga

My Baby Dropped!

“My baby dropped!!” People usually say this with great enthusiasm when it happens. I’ve never really understood why people rejoice about their babies dropping. Read more

Flat Spots

Carol Gray Babies, Bodywork, Infants, Wellness June 22, 2021August 5, 2024babies, back to sleep, birth outcomes, birth preparation, bodywork, brachycephaly, breastfeeding, carol gray, container culture, craniosacral therapy, fetal constraint, flat heads, infant care, infant sleep, making room for babies, mamaspace yoga, optimal fetal positioning, parenting, pinhead, plagiocephaly, pregnancy yoga, pregnant, self care, sids, suid, synostosis, torticollis, yoga

Flat Spots

I see lots of babies who have flat spots on their heads (plagiocephaly) in my Craniosacral Therapy practice.

Container-Baby Culture and Flat Heads

The most common variety is the broad flat spot on the back of the head – an artifact of the Back to Sleep Program, swaddling for sleep and time spent in car seats, baby seats and swings that have a flat, firm surface. My mantra is: Back to sleep, tummy for play, car seats only for car rides and in arms or slings the rest of the time. Of course, this doesn’t mesh well with what most Americans actually do with their babies – especially the car seat and “infant furniture:”part. Read more

Insomnia — The Movie

Carol Gray Pregnancy, Wellness, Yoga May 4, 2021August 5, 2024asana, birth preparation, bodywork, breathe, carol gray, conscious birth, craniosacral therapy, gratitude, insomnia, mamaspace yoga, meditation, namaste, online prenatal yoga, pain coping practice, Pranayama, pregnancy yoga, pregnant, prenatal yoga, self care, sleep, yoga

Insomnia — The Movie

Last week’s post, Pregnancy Insomnia Help, included a five-step yoga sequence for sleep. This week’s post is a 14-minute video of that sequence. It was fun making it. I hope you enjoy it. Read more

Pregnancy Insomnia Help

Carol Gray Bodywork, Pregnancy, Wellness, Yoga April 27, 2021August 5, 2024asana, birth preparation, bodywork, breathe, carol gray, craniosacral therapy, gratitude, help for sleep, insomnia, making room for babies, mamaspace yoga, meditation, namaste, online prenatal yoga, pain coping practice, Pranayama, pregnancy yoga, pregnant, prenatal yoga, prenatal yoga safety, self care, sleep, sleep hygiene, yoga

Pregnancy Insomnia Help

Insomnia is common during pregnancy. It ‘s no joke. Some people say it’s just practice for after your baby is born and they wake you at night. Not funny. There are two main categories of pregnancy-related insomnia: trouble falling asleep and trouble getting back to sleep after awakening during the night. Read more

All About Posterior Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy

Carol Gray Birth, Bodywork, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Wellness, Yoga April 20, 2021August 5, 2024asana, birth preparation, bodywork, carol gray, craniosacral therapy, making room for babies, mamaspace yoga, namaste, online prenatal yoga, pain coping practice, pelvic instability, pelvic ligaments, postpartum preparation, pregnancy fitness, pregnancy yoga, pregnant, pregnant exercise, prenatal yoga safety, science, self care, SI Joints, yoga

All About Posterior Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy

How it All Starts

Pain in the posterior pelvis is common during pregnancy. It typically begins in mid pregnancy. Although, it can start at any time. Sometimes it goes away during pregnancy. If it does, that usually happens in the third trimester. Other times it persists long after the birth. Your mileage may vary. Read more

The Truth About Epidurals

Carol Gray Babies, Birth, Infants, Pregnancy October 13, 2020August 5, 2024birth outcomes, birth physiology, birth plans, birth power, birth preparation, bodywork, breathe, carol gray, conscious birth, craniosacral therapy, epidurals, intrapartum care, making room for babies, optimal fetal positioning, pain coping practice, physiology, pregnancy yoga, pregnant, prenatal care, prenatal yoga, science, self care, yoga

The Truth About Epidurals

The Truth About Birth

First a word or two about birth physiology: Labor is almost universally painful for birthing parents and sometimes painful for babies. One of the ways we cope with pain is to produce beta-endorphin. Beta-endorphin is an opiate-like brain chemical – the same one responsible for the so-called runner’s high. It reduces pain. Read more