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
What IVF Costs Without Insurance: US Price Guide (October 2026)
Without insurance, one IVF cycle in the US typically costs $12,400 on average, and anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 once medications, anesthesia…
Egg Freezing Process and Timeline Explained (October 2026)
Egg freezing process and timeline explained, from ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval to lab freezing, with recovery and planning tips ( ).
How to Tell Good Health Information from Bad Online (2026)
Learn how to tell good health information from bad online in by checking who wrote it, who reviewed it, what evidence it…
How to Advocate for Yourself in a Hospital Birth (2026)
Learn how to advocate for yourself in a hospital birth in : calm scripts for speaking up, asking for time, using BRAIN,…
How to Read a Medical Study Abstract: A Simple Guide (October 2026)
Learn how to read a medical study abstract in : study design, sample size, results, limits, and what a finding really means…
What Informed Consent Really Means in Maternity Care 2026
What informed consent really means in maternity care , how to recognize it, ask useful questions, and protect your choices before and…
What Shared Decision Making Looks Like in Obstetric Care 2026
What shared decision making looks like in obstetric care: real examples from pregnancy and labor, the three key elements, and the words…
Why Relative Risk Numbers Can Be Misleading (2026) Guide
Learn why relative risk numbers can be misleading, how to find the baseline rate, and how to turn relative risk into absolute…
How to Prepare Questions for a Prenatal Visit (October 2026)
How to prepare questions for a prenatal visit in : sort them by urgency, bring the right records, and leave knowing what…
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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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