Moonlight Midwifery Care

11/07/2025

New research shows that ignoring a crying baby can interfere with healthy brain development during the most critical stages of growth. When infants cry without comfort, their stress hormone cortisol rises sharply. Prolonged exposure to high cortisol can disrupt the formation of neural connections in areas responsible for memory, emotional regulation, and attachment.

These early neural pathways shape how children handle stress, build relationships, and regulate emotions later in life. Consistent emotional neglect even unintentionally can make it harder for the developing brain to form the secure bonds essential for resilience and mental well-being. While brief crying is normal, long durations without caregiver response can have lasting effects.

Experts recommend responsive caregiving: soothing, holding, and acknowledging an infant’s distress. These comforting actions lower stress hormones, strengthen healthy brain circuits, and build a foundation of safety and emotional stability. Loving, attentive care in infancy doesn’t just calm the moment it shapes the architecture of the growing mind.

Sources: National Library of Medicine (PMID: 28487564, 20683722).

11/07/2025

Decades of research have shown that round-the-clock fetal monitoring does not reliably predict fetal distress, and experts say it leads to many unnecessary surgeries. But it’s still used in nearly every birth in the U.S. because of business and legal concerns, a New York Times investigation found. https://nyti.ms/3WF7yLx

10/21/2025

10/02/2025

Can’t hurt… might help

An incredible new study found that pregnant women who consume just 6 dates a day in the 4 weeks leading up to their due date were 74% more dilated upon their arrival to the hospital, had a 77% shorter first stage of labor and a 42% lower rate of caesarean sections.

Eating dates in the late stages of pregnancy lead to higher cervical dilation upon hospital admission because the fruit contains nutrients that influence oxytocin receptors, preparing the cervix and uterus for labor by increasing muscle response to oxytocin and other labor-supporting hormones. Dates are a rich source of energy from natural sugars and fats and also contain prostaglandins, which contribute to cervical ripening. Additionally, they provide serotonin, calcium, and tannins, which contribute to powerful uterine contractions.

Eating dates in the late stages of pregnancy shortens the first stage of labor due to their ability to stimulate the production of prostaglandins, which promote cervical ripening (softening and thinning of the cervix) and increase uterine contractions. Dates also contain tannins, which have a similar effect, and provide a natural sugar source for energy during labor. Some studies even suggest that dates can increase uterine sensitivity to oxytocin, leading to more effective contractions and a quicker and smoother labor process.

These actions are also the exact reason why women who eat dates in the late stages of pregnancy and far less likely to need a c-section!

The most common recommendation is for women to begin eating 6 dates a day starting in their 37th week of pregnancy.
PMID: 40322306, 21280989

SEE ALSO: https://www.pelvicphysio.co.nz/the-sweet-secret-to-a-smoother-labour-dates

09/26/2025

My boy is intact. I did my research when I gound out we were having a boy? This was never even a discussed topic in our house, when he was 2, his doctor asked when we were planning on getting it done, not if we were getting it done, but when, so we switched doctors, and that was it. Never had any issues, he pulls that thing like wet gum and as any other boy, he's got his hands on that thing a LOT! We have taught him how to clean it, we help if he needs help, but thats it. He's 3, and will stay intact until it's absolutely 100% medically necessary, and yes, I will have the doctor prove it to me, or until he chooses to get it done as an adult.
And may I just say, to the mom's saying " Well I'll let my husband choose, because I don't have a p***s", you should really educate yourself. You don't have one, but that boy's w***y is yours to clean and protect, just like his entire body, until he is old enough to do so himself!