Tampa Bay Cesarean Section Rates (2014)
The location and caregiver you choose will have a major role in the outcome of your birth. In fact this may be one of the most pivotal prenatal decisions that you will make. The World Health Organization proposes a cesarean section rate that does not exceed 15%. Below are the most recently published (2014) cesarean section rates for Tampa Bay…
How Do I Get A Breast Pump From Insurance? [updated in 2021]
Expecting parents sometimes ask us how they can get a breast pump from their health insurance company. Whether you’re planning to return to work or not, a breast pump is handy to have available for those times when you can’t nurse your baby at your breast. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, these should be…
Partners Are Parents, Too! 3 Ways to Promote Bonding with Newborns
It’s a pretty common idea that a “great way” for partners/fathers to bond with your new baby is to express milk and let him/her feed the baby. And while it is a fun activity, expressing before your milk supply is well established – by your baby – is not recommended. It’s best for your baby…
You Can Do Hard Things
It’s Cesarean Awareness Month. Having been through an unplanned, emergency cesarean, this topic is near and dear to my heart. So I’ve been thinking about how to share what has been on my mind about this subject recently. And I realized it’s bigger and more than just cesareans. I realize that it relates to any…
Why We’re Doulas…The Answer Might Surprise You
We’re not all mothers. We didn’t always think we wanted children. Maybe we want some, one day. Maybe we’d like one as soon as possible. Maybe we already have several. We’re not all home birthers. We’ve birthed in hospitals, birth centers AND at home, with pain medications, medical interventions and via cesarean. On a personal level,…
What Is A Gentle Cesarean? (updated June 2022)
Many families are interested in what is referred to as a ‘gentle cesarean’ or a ‘family centered cesarean.’ The purpose is to allow mothers and partners a more active role at the birth, create a peaceful and calm atmosphere and to emulate what happens during and after a vaginal birth. Let’s discuss the features that…
It’s Baby Time! When Should We Leave Home?
They say ‘timing is everything,’ and this is no less true in labor than other aspects of life. It does matter when you go to your birth location – you don’t want to be there too soon, and you probably don’t want to have your baby in the car! So when exactly is the right…
What Should You Do in the Early Labor Phase? (Netflix & Chill!) [Revised 2026]
Sometimes it’s hard to tell when you’re going into labor. Discomfort is normal—but panic doesn’t have to be. Believe it or not, once early labor begins, you can just keep living your life. Yes, early labor is real labor—it counts! But it can also be calm, manageable, and even relaxing. In fact, the more relaxed…
Check Out These Before & Afters
Do you have a DIY belly cast that needs some fixing up? Is your belly cast flimsy, rough, in need of finishing or decorating? Yes, we can repair your belly cast. And not only that but the final results will be FANTASTIC! Here are some before and after pictures of a belly cast that we recently repaired. BEFORE: AFTER: “I…
Who Will Be in the Birth Room?
A new baby brings such joy, not only to her parents, but also to a gathering of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, neighbors, friends… the list goes on and on. And truly, as new parents, you’ll learn to rely on the support they’ll provide over your child’s life. Is there ever a time you won’t…
How Does the Belly Casting Process Work?
A belly cast is a lovely keepsake to celebrate your pregnancy. Let’s break down each step of making a belly cast. Here at Buddha Belly we are known for making exquisite, beautiful and sturdy belly casts that will last. Our casting artists put hours of time, care and love into these handmade works of art.…
Find Us at the Natural Birth & Baby Expo
This Saturday, we’re pleased to join again as a participating business at the Natural Birth & Baby Expo, held at the Corbett Prep School in Carrollwood, from 12-4pm, and hosted by the Tampa Bay Birth Network. The mission of TBBN is “to provide a community of professionals, families and individuals who support, educate and/or promote…