News from My Best Birth

January 31, 2010
Dear  Jodi,
Happy New Year! We have a lot of great plans in store for 2010 including more celebrity webisodes, a new DVD, a classroom version of The Business of Being Born, and the paperback publication of Your Best Birth. Our community on mybestbirth.com continues to grow and we thank you, our members, for educating each other and supporting women’s childbirth options.  
Warmest,
Ricki & Abby and the My Best Birth Team

A New Series of Celebrity Birth Webisodes Begins In February on Mybestbirth

Following up our popular webisode series featuring Cindy Crawford, Melissa Joan Hart, and Alyson Hannigan, we are excited to bring you exclusive excerpts from the birth stories of professional boxer Laila Ali and actress Kellie Martin.  Laila had planned for a natural birth at home. “My thing is, I always want to be in control,” Laila said. “I didn’t want anyone doing anything to me or my child that wasn’t necessary, for reasons that have to do with wanting to get out of the hospital early, wanting to go home, wanting you to have a fast labor, or wanting to make money...so that’s why I was like, ‘I want to do this naturally and I want to do it at home."  Actress Kellie Martin says that “Giving birth naturally was a very big goal for me.  I don’t know why I initially wanted it. I think it was partly because my mom and my mother-in-law both gave birth naturally. I was like, ‘If my mom could do it, I can totally do it.’ I did everything I possibly could to stick to that goal.”  Stay tuned to mybestbirth.com to view these webisodes.

Ricki’s Recent Trip to Costa Rica

Owen, age 8, Milo, age 12, and Ricki in Costa Rica

Happy New Year!

Last month I was able to travel to Costa Rica, a place I had always dreamed of visiting.  It is an amazingly beautiful country.  Milo, Owen, and I traveled all over the southern and central parts of Costa Rica.  This picture was taken at Rafiki African Lodge in the jungle.  One of the coolest
places ever! 

Costa Ricans know how to live.  They haven't had a military since 1949. Instead of spending money on armed forces, they put that money into educating their people What a concept!

I also learned that they permit women to give birth in water in the hospitals. 

I think I might retire there someday. 

xo

Ricki

Abby’s Baby is Almost Here!

Filmmaker Abby Epstein was unexpectedly featured in her own documentary while shooting “The Business of Being Born” with Ricki Lake.   This time she’s hoping for fewer surprises as she plans for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) birth with baby #2 any day now. Click here to read Abby’s most recent blog entry as we follow her journey to VBAC.
Ricki to Attend CIMS Forum and Receive an Award!
Ricki plans to attend the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services Forum, where she will be keynote speaker, and she will be accepting the Sharron S. Humenick Award.  The event will be held at the Radisson Hotel and Suites - Austin.  Visit the CIMS website for additional details.
How You Can Help Mothers and Babies in Haiti
Even before the devastating earthquake on January 12^th, Haiti had the highest maternal mortality rate in the Western hemisphere, with 607 women per 100,000 dying of complications related to childbearing. In the aftermath of the earthquake, Circle of Health International has pledged to do everything in its power to address women's unique and critical health needs, in order to limit the earthquake's damage to women's health. (cohintl.org).  Financial donations are needed badly, as are donations of midwifery/medical supplies.  Please visit Circle of Health International for more information.
Gisele Chooses Home Birth

As more and more people become aware of their choices in birth, we are seeing more wonderful stories of natural birth in the media.  Hot off the press (although we’ve know for a while!) is that supermodel Gisele Bundchen and husband Tom Brady delivered son Benjamin in their Boston home last December.  We hope that Gisele’s birth story will open the minds of her fellow Brazilians where C-section rates in private hospitals are typically over 95%!  Click here to read more!
A Very Warm Welcome to All Our New and Returning Sponsors!
2010 has started off with a bang and we have 3 new and very special sponsors to thank.  We'd like to welcome Floradix, bringing you a liquid, plant-based source of iron; Mayron's Goods, the creator of "natural, clean and beautiful products for children"; and Hynobabies, hypnosis and birth empowerment for childbirth.  We would also like to thank and recognize our current and returning sponsors G Diapers, Moby Wrap, SproutBaby,Mothers Naturally, Basq, Maternitique and Naturally For Her.  We are so grateful for your support, as well as for the knowledge you share and wonderful products you make available to our great community.  Thank you from everyone at My Best Birth!  If you are interested in sponsoring a Webisode, or advertising on our site, please contact Lynn@mybestbirth.com.
Maternitique is Hosting a Giveaway!
Maternitique is hosting an amazing giveaway, worth over $135 (including free shipping).  One lucky winner will receive the I Love My Mama gift set, Thank You cards, Angel Milk Nutritional Shake for pregnant and nursing moms, Monthly Comfort Tea and Eye Brightening Cream.  Sign up and spread the word!  You can also follow Maternitique on Twitter and fan them on Facebook for two additional entries! It's simple to sign up. Click here for more information and how to enter.
Invite Your Friends to Join My Best Birth
It's easy to invite your friends to join My Best Birth.  Just locate the Invite tab on the upper left hand corner of your page, and click to import your contacts from Yahoo, MSN, Gmail and AOL.  It's a great way to support our amazing community, and to help us grow!
Link Your My Best Birth Page to Your Twitter
You can now seamlessly integrate your Twitter account with your My Best Birth Page.  Just locate the Twitter icon on your page and click to share blog posts, discussions and more!  It's that simple, and a fun way to help grow our community.
Actress Kimberly Williams Paisley Wears Her Baby in Our Moby Wrap


Click here to see the new Spring colors!

  Your Best Birth

YOUR BEST BIRTH is an empowering childbirth guide packed with crucial advice from medical professionals, delivered in a down-to-earth, engaging, and honest voice. Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein reevaluate the pregnancy process, renew expectant mothers’ confidence, and place the control back where it belongs: with parents-to-be.
Order your copy now!

The Business of Being Born on DVD
"It should be seen by EVERY pregnant woman in America..." -NY Daily News
Click here to watch the trailer

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