welcome
This is birthing with Guinever, a place dedicated to pregnancy and birth. I hope you can find the answers that you’re looking for about your pregnancy. It is my hope that you will trust labor so you can birth your baby with confidence.
new article:
top 10 things you should to do to have a natural birth
read birth stories
- diary of a primipara
- my second labor–a lot quicker than my first
- the labor that kept on stopping–my third birth
- born in our living room-the story of my fourth birth
- 12 days overdue, but who’s counting? the diary and birth story of my fifth baby.
- a (fictional) birth story for Christmas
Please look to the sidebar to find your way around this website. You’ll see a listing of the most popular articles as well as the most recent posts. Follow links to find a midwife, doula, or childbirth class. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please ask a question in the comment section anywhere on this website. You can also use the search bar at the top of the page.
your labor questions answered
- cervical dilation 101: frequently asked questions
- what does being 2 centimeters dilated mean?
- how long does it take to get to 5 centimeters dilated?
- can my baby be too big for my pelvis?
- how long is it ok to push during labor?
- what are the”P’s”of childbirth?
- should I get an epidural?
your pregnancy questions answered
- what can I do to help keep nausea away?
- what books should I read during pregnancy?
- what is a doula and should I have one?
- what is the triple screen test and should I get it?
- what books can I read to my children to help prepare them for a new baby?
cloth diapering
midwives
- lexington, kentucky needs more midwives
- Read a tribute to Beth, a well-loved midwife.
- watch a homebirth advocacy video that addresses the need to legalize certified professional midwives
Come and visit again because I’m always adding new articles.
Birthing blessings, Guinever
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-14a
I love the new look! Great job designing and updating your site. I recommend it to all the mothers-to-be that I know!
Guinever,
Your resourcefulness and passion for natural birth are gifts! You are a tremendous blessing to women and their families in our community. Thank you!
i am 36 wks and 5 days my doctor says that my baby is in my pelvis now, how long does it take approx to go into labor after this has happened? This is my 5th child.
Oh I am so glad that I found this site! My husband and I have a 16 month old daughter and are trying to get pregnant again. We have had three miscarriages and we so pray for more children. With our daughter Sofia I was “scared into an epidural”. I wanted so badly to have Sofia naturally, but my husband and I didn’t have the support we needed. The next child’s birth will be different! We have a great church family who are so supportive and encouraging in our journey to conceive and give birth again! Thank you so much for making all this information available! What a blessing it is to have other women who have the same heart I have about child birth!
God Bless
Crystal < (SAHM)
I am almost 33 wks pregnant. I just went to my doctors and she said I am 2 cm dilated on the outside of my cervix. What does this mean? I have about 3 contractions an hour.
I just wanted to let you know that we found out I am pregnant this past Tuesday!!! Praise the Lord!!! I am 4 weeks today and counting. I posted a blog about it if you are interested. Thanks for the prayers!
God Bless
Crystal
I am 36 weeks along I was on a terbutaline pump for ten weeks to stop my pre-term labor now I am off the medicine. The doctor told me I was more than 80 % effaced and about 3 centimeters dialated. I have been having contractions but they have been irregular. Will I be having this baby soon like in the next few days? I am very anxious since my last pregnancy ended badly.
Hi there!
Thank you so much for the sleeping advice for Sofia. We really need it. She actually did very well last night, I think mostly because she was so exhausted. She did wake up at 5am however, but my dear sweet hubby got up with her to let me get a couple more hours of sleep.
I will definitely try the method you have given me. I also agree that naptime is non-negotiable.
Thanks again!
God Bless
Crystal Sewell <
Hello LOVE THE SITE!!!!! I been reading some stories in this site for a while and until now i decided to put a question since there’s always an answer for my questions in your site but until now something strange happen in my pregnancy. Am 32 weeks now and I found out that i was 1 centimeter dilated this is my third pregnancy and this didnt happen in my last pregnancies…Am AFRAID that i might go into Pre-Term Labor… My Baby weighs about 4 pounds my doctor told me that this not exactly mean i might go early in labor since you can be dilated for weeks before it happens..BUT am concerned i STOPPED from having sex with my Husband because of that.. My Doctor didn’t say anything about it.. Do you think it’s still safe for me to still be sexually active with my husband i really have cravings on that!!!! LOL!!!
Dear Diana, why were you getting a cervical check this early in pregnancy? Were you having pressure or pain? If not, I question why you would need to be checked at this point in your pregnancy. If your doctor didn’t say anything about abstaining from intercourse, then you’re probably ok. If you experience bleeding or have more than a few very intense contractions, then it might not be a good idea. ~blessings, Guinever
Hi, I’m 41 weeks today with my first . I just wanted to know if my Dr is supposed to give me a vaginal exam/cervical check? I haven’t had any vaginal exams/ cervical checks through out my pregnancy and I don’t have another appointment until the end of the week. My other question is it also normal for the Dr. to not want to induce a patient. Not that i want to be induced i like the fact that i can carry until he is ready.
Hi, I am 35 weeks pregnant. At today’s appointment, my doctor performed the Group B Strep test and also did an internal check. I was not expecting the check to be painful, as pelvic exams are generally no problem for me. (The same doctor did the pelvic at the beginning of my pregnancy, and it was fine.) However, when she inserted her fingers today, it was excruciating. She said that my cervix was too high for her to really reach. When I asked her why the exam was so much more painful than usual, she didn’t really give me an answer, but just said something like “some women have more pain” and said nothing is wrong with me.
I am very worried about the quick check being so painful when she couldn’t even reach my cervix! Do you know what might have caused the increased pain? I have been having quite a lot of lower back and hip pain, but no vaginal pain other than during the exam today.
Any input would be appreciated.