BirthTouch
A gentle, evidence-informed mind-body approach for pregnancy, birth, and early parenting.
Practical, body-based tools to support nervous system regulation, emotional resilience, and whole-person healing.
BirthTouch® offers gentle, evidence-informed mind–body support for pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Rooted in touch therapy, mindfulness, and aromatherapy.
BirthTouch reflects an integrative mental health approach, supporting perinatal emotional wellbeing through gentle nervous system-based practices.
BirthTouch helps parents feel more grounded, connected, and confident in their changing bodies.
These practices are designed to support the nervous system, reduce stress, and nurture emotional wellbeing throughout the childbearing year—honoring both the physical experience of pregnancy and the inner journey of becoming a parent.
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Latest Insights + Articles
New Study: Chronic Stress During Pregnancy Increases Risk for Postpartum Depression
Originally posted October 15, 2012. Benedetta Leuner, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Ohio State University, released a new study on Saturday, 10/13/2012, during a talk at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, in New Orleans. Using rats, Leuner and her colleagues study the effects of pregnancy on the brain. In a study released last year, Leuner and her colleagues found that the brains of unstressed new rat mothers had a 20% increase in ...
Live Chat with Dr. Meltzer-Brody
As I sat at my computer at lunch hour, a wonderful email popped into my inbox! To my surprise, Wendy Newhouse Davis posted a link on Postpartum Support International’s Facebook page regarding a Live Chat with Samantha Meltzer-Brody, M.D Director of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine Perinatal Psychiatry Unit. The UNC Perinatal Psychiatry Inpatient Unit (PPIU) is the first in the US. It was modeled after the mother-baby units (MBU’s) in Europe. I dream of...
Taking her dog away
Originally posted July 24th, 2012. “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Dalai Llama. Two weeks ago my siblings and I moved my mom to assisted living. Some people know what that really means. Some people think they know, but I know they really don’t know. She gave up her home, her car, her bank accounts, her keys, her freedom. She still had her small dog. But they made me take him away from her after a few days, too. In the first few days in a strange setting, they SAID he bit...
How Much Stress is Too Much Stress in Pregnancy?
I’d love to share with you a chapter from new book, BirthTouch: Shiatsu and Acupressure for the Childbearing Year. It’s available on Amazon for purchase So – good question – how much stress in pregnancy is too much? Like many things in life, the question of how stress affects a woman’s pregnancy does not have a simple answer. Because each individual has her own emotional and physical tolerance for stress, exactly how much stress is a causative factor for depression and anxiety is not...
Book Review: One Mom’s Journey to Motherhood by Ivy Shih Leung
I met Ivy at Postpartum Support International’s Conference in 2011. She had such a nice feeling about her. Her accessibility, strength, humility and intelligence were quite strongly evident. Of course I had to kindle her book when it came out. Ivy, as she says, gives us a picture of the “ordinary postpartum depression” experience. But her personal story is about so much more than postpartum depression. I had a lot of emotions as I read her personal story and learned about her inner...
Part Two: Interview with Walker Karraa MFA, MA CD(DONA
This is Part One of a two part interview with Walker, Karraa This interview highlights the perspective of a professional working in the field of perinatal mental health, sharing clinical insight, experience, and approaches that support women and families during the childbearing year. “ Pregnant and postpartum women are particularly vulnerable to mood and anxiety disorders, and it is life threatening.” How Long Must We Ask for Compassionate Care? Why aren’t our childbirth websites and...
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BirthTouch is not just a technique — it’s a pathway to caring for your nervous system, your body, and your transition into parenthood with intention and support.