Birth and family health
Plain answers for pregnancy, birth and the months after
Barbara Katz Rothman writes about pregnancy, birth, midwifery and reproductive health in plain language — explanation you can read the night before an appointment, alongside honest guides to the things families actually buy.
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Latest guides and explainers
How to Tell If You Have Diastasis Recti: 5-Step Check (2026)
Learn how to tell if you have diastasis recti with a safe five-step home check, what your finger-widths really mean, and when…
Baby Blues vs Postpartum Depression: Signs & Help 2026
Baby blues vs postpartum depression: learn the differences in symptoms, timing, and severity, plus when to contact a health professional for help…
What Is a Postpartum Recovery Plan and How to Make One? (2026)
Learn what a postpartum recovery plan is, how to make one, which support and care tasks to include, and when to ask…
Newborn Hearing Screening Explained: A Parent Guide (2026)
Newborn hearing screening explained for parents in : how OAE and AABR work, what pass, refer and inconclusive results mean, and the…
How to Decide About Circumcision: A Parent’s Guide 2026
A calm guide to how to decide about circumcision in : weigh the small medical benefits and risks, your values, and questions…
How to Find a Hospital That Supports VBAC: 7 Steps (2026)
Learn how to find a hospital that supports VBAC, ask sharper questions about policy and staffing, and plan a safe birth. Updated…
How to Prepare Older Siblings for a New Baby (2026)
How to prepare older siblings for a new baby in with age-ready conversations, protected one-to-one time, real jobs, and a jealousy plan…
12 Essentials: What to Pack in a Hospital Bag for Labor 2026
What to pack in a hospital bag for labor in : documents, a one-page birth plan, comfort items, newborn going-home essentials, and…
What the Golden Hour After Birth Means: A Guide (2026)
Learn what the golden hour after birth means, what happens in that first hour, and how to ask your maternity team for…
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About
Plain explanation, never a textbook
This site explains pregnancy, birth, midwifery and reproductive health for people who want to understand their options rather than memorise terminology.
The subjects widen into family health, parenting and the occasional buying guide, but the voice stays the same: careful with the evidence, gentle with the reader.
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