A weekly roundup of helpful and thought-provoking links for mothers and mothers-to-be!

::  Peaceful Revolution: Motherhood and the $13 Billion Guilt.  A tale of two births — one in a hypothetical, ideal United States, and one in the real United States — illustrating how institutional and workplace barriers prevent so many U.S. women from having a positive breastfeeding experience.  Eye-opening!  (The Huffington Post; Melissa Bartick, MD)

::  Postpartum Support Virginia.  Resources for Virginia mothers with postpartum depression.  Help includes telephone and e-mail support; social support from peer-led groups; and information and suggestions for further reading.  Their message: You are not alone.  You are not to blame.  With help you will be well. (Postpartum Support Virginia)

::  Nighttime Breastfeeding and Maternal Mental Health.  On a related note: growing scientific evidence that for a majority of mothers, nighttime breastfeeding (compared to formula- or mixed-feeding) improves sleep and subsequently lowers risk for depression.  (Science & Sensibility; Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC)

::  Beautiful Cervix Project.  Fascinating!  Any woman trying to conceive, thinking about trying to conceive, or simply wanting to better understand her monthly cycle and fertility should explore this site!  It features a photo sequence of a 25-year-old woman’s cervix across her cycle, along with graphs of hormonal changes and basal body temperature, plus descriptions of how her cervical position, opennness (of os), mucous, emotions, and libido vary with the cycle.  Also: additional galleries of women of other ages and vaginal states (pregnant, IUD, postpartum, menopausal).  (Beautiful Cervix Project)

::  How the Stats Really Stack Up: Cosleeping is Twice as Safe.  A worry-banishing article for parents wishing to co-sleep with their babies.  Satisfying for folks who like statistics, too! (Mothering Magazine; Tina Kimmel, MSW, MPH, PhD candidate)

::  Top Ten Reasons You Should Hire A Doula.  Right-on!  You can view a list of local doulas here, at The Williamsburg List!  Most area doulas offer a free initial meeting to provide you an opportunity to discover whether  the two of you are a good match. (Babble)

::  Testing, Testing… A brief, thoughtful perspective on various tests given during pregnancy, with an emphasis on increasing the chances that the tests are truly just offered — not mandated — and that mothers are informed and responsible for deciding which tests are and are not done.  Includes a link to a helpful chart with an overview of common tests and how their outcomes may affect your prenatal care.  (Midwife Thinking)

::  No Sugar: 20 Tips to Curb Sugar Cravings and Kick the Addiction.  Not a maternity article per se, but helpful to moms diagnosed with gestational diabetes and also to moms just wishing to eat less sugar during pregnancy and breastfeeding.  (The Huffington Post; Frank Lipman, MD)