tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49856937363732232212024-03-05T14:02:56.179-08:00Birth at Home in ArizonaThoughts, musings and information on homebirth midwifery and natural childbirth.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger563125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-78817077299472366382017-05-20T21:03:00.001-07:002017-05-20T21:03:22.141-07:00Birth Story for Our Newest!<br />
<i>This blog is semi-officially closed, but I do stop by to post our birth stories! Here is the story of our fifth homebirth from March. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b><br /></b><b>Hello, dear readers!</b><br />
<br />
I have been extremely lazy with writing my birth story. Usually I'm starting the process within 48 hours, but here we are: Baby is three months old, and no birth story. While I'm purposely <i>trying</i> to neglect my blog at the moment, I also know that I need to write down my story or risk forgetting precious details.<br />
<b><br /></b><b>And so, here goes:</b><br />
<br />
This pregnancy was challenging. While it was non-hyperemetic, it wasn't as smooth as our last pregnancy. I threw up a lot more, was super-nauseated through the whole thing, and had a very difficult third trimester in terms of mobility and back/pelvic pain.<br />
<br />
As I neared the second half of this pregnancy, I also dealt with a recurring problem - a deep fear of childbirth. This is not new - I have written about it before. This time around, I even named it my "EGAD!" phase (Extremely Grumpy About Delivery).<br />
<br />
I ended up praying two specific prayers:<br />
<br />
One, for the grace, courage, and strength to face this birth and the postpartum period.<br />
<br />
Two, for joy in the journey. That I would approach our birth time not with fear and dread, but with joy and anticipation.<br />
<br />
Both my prayers were most joyfully answered. This time through, I was finally able to await the arrival of our sweet little one much more peacefully and joyfully, and without the same high level of fear. It wasn't perfect, but it was a huge improvement.<br />
<br />
<b>Our due date for this little one was March 13th.</b><br />
<br />
Thus, I wasn't quite prepared for a February entrance. But that's what happened!<br />
<br />
<b>Here is the story </b>- not of the birth <i>day, </i>but of the birth <i>week. </i>This baby chose a rather meandering route for his entrance.<br />
<br />
As our 37th week dawned, we felt very status quo. Several more weeks to go, etc. etc. etc. Same ol', same ol'.<br />
<br />
But on <b>Monday, February 20th (37w1d)</b>, I woke up with an upset stomach. Usually, this is my first labor-is-coming-in-the-next-day-or-two sign.<br />
<br />
Really?<br />
<br />
I wasn't sure whether to take it seriously. I'm still not sure if that was a coincidence or not.<br />
<br />
But that night, going into <b>Tuesday, February 21st (37w2d)</b>, I woke up unexpectedly at 4:00 a.m. with strong false labor that lasted for two and a half hours. (Ouch!) Very suddenly, everything had changed.<br />
<br />
<i>(False labor is labor contractions that feel every bit as painful and regular as the real thing, but - while having a purpose - do not effect any cervical dilation or lead directly into actual labor.)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>That morning, I could tell that my body had really changed. My uterus had gone from "generally well-behaved" to "irritable, cranky, and painful." Whether labor was on its way soon, or not for weeks more, we were definitely moving quickly into the last stages.<br />
<br />
That night, leading into <b>Wednesday, February 22nd (37w3d)</b>, false labor began as soon as I laid down and lasted for another three hours before stopping and finally letting me go to sleep. (Ouch again!)<br />
<br />
I was getting a bit tired. It's hard to live constantly on edge, forever thinking, "Is THIS it? Or is this it NOW?"<br />
<br />
But we soldiered on.<br />
<br />
The next night, leading into <b>Thursday, February 23rd (37w4d)</b>, I went to bed dreading the inevitable hours of painful false labor. To my surprise, there was none! Not one contraction! (YAY!)<br />
<br />
But when I woke up in the morning, I found that I had blood-tinged cervical fluid (sorry to be so graphic, folks). This has always been my "Labor is coming TODAY" pre-labor symptom. This really brought things into clearer focus. We were not weeks, or even days out - this baby was coming, and likely that day.<br />
<br />
But the day waxed and waned with no baby, and no labor outside of occasional painful contractions that never became regular.<br />
<br />
Going to bed that night, I had no idea what to expect. But labor-or-false-labor contractions started right away - thirteen minutes after I laid down - and kept right on going until 6:30 in the morning. I then finally fell asleep - and woke up twenty-six minutes later! Time to start a new day! (*Sigh*)<br />
<br />
That day was rather odd. I could tell that we were right on the brink of labor. At the slightest provocation, my uterus would start another painful contraction. But... it wasn't labor. Not yet. And life continued on. Again.<br />
<br />
After lunch, I sat down to nurse our two-year-old prior to nap time. And immediately, contractions started coming hard and heavy. (I think the two-year-old was rather puzzled by being flung away while mummy shouted, "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!") And from there, the contractions didn't stop. I tried to nap, and couldn't, and so ended up timing my contractions for an hour (10 minutes apart) before texting our midwife.<br />
<br />
One thing I am learning of late is to accept my husband's suggestions, rather than immediately brushing them off in the approved "His opinion is automatically wrong, and my opinion is automatically right" mode. Thus, when my husband suggested calling in our birth team at around 4:00 p.m., I went with it and agreed (instead of doing my usual "Oh, I'm sure we don't need anyone yet!" bit).<br />
<br />
The first assistant midwife arrived at <b>4:30 p.m.</b>, and she immediately began unpacking our birth supplies and preparing our room. Our midwife arrived at <b>5:00 p.m.</b>, and the second assistant midwife arrived shortly thereafter.<br />
<br />
During this labor, I took a big (for me) step - I asked my birth team for time to labor alone. This is not normally something I'd have the guts to do, because it sounds so rude: "Go away and leave me alone!" But during our last labor, I discovered that I like to labor by myself, and during this labor I got up the nerve to ask for that. Of course, our wonderful midwives graciously arranged for me to be alone, with our midwife simply coming in every few minutes to listen to baby's heart tones. It was a lovely experience, and I greatly appreciated their willingness to go along with it.<br />
<br />
And now, I will tell you something that has been super-exciting: <b>I have found something that helps me handle labor!</b><br />
<br />
This is just so exciting, amazing, and earth-shattering. Seriously.<br />
<br />
I normally do not handle labor well at all. I do not "work with it," or learn to handle contractions well. I panic, tighten up, and end up moaning or screaming through contractions because of the pain.<br />
<br />
Some people label vocalizing as a "labor-management technique." No. Just... no. One does not look at a man being stabbed to death, and say: "Goodness, listen to that screaming! He sure is dealing with the pain well!" No. It's simply a reaction to pain, and that is how I have reacted to labor pain, being completely unable to cope in a constructive way.<br />
<br />
During this pregnancy, however, I randomly borrowed a book from my midwife's lending library: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Labor-Progress-Handbook-Interventions-Dystocia/dp/111917046X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1490547790&sr=1-1&keywords=labor+progress+handbook">The Labor Progress Handbook</a> by Penny Simkin. I was really just looking to brush up on my labor and birth terminology - now that I am not an active birth blogger, I have found myself slipping in remembering a lot of the basic terms.<br />
<br />
But - and this was really a God thing - I found what I needed for this birth (when I wasn't even looking for it).<br />
<br />
What I found was a simple description of breathing techniques for labor - "slow breathing" method for early labor and a "fast breathing" method for later, more intense labor. I copied the information and practiced the breathing at night for a couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
And... it worked.<br />
<br />
I used both techniques: the slow breathing technique for all of the nights of false labor, plus early "real" labor, and the fast breathing technique for late labor and transition.<br />
<br />
It was incredibly helpful. I was able both to manage the pain and distract myself from the pain. And, incredibly, I was able to avoid any type of vocalization. For me, this was a good thing. As I've said, vocalizing does not help me with the pain at all. I also find it highly embarrassing. But I haven't been able to help it, despite my best efforts, so I've just had to go with it. But during this labor, I didn't have to resort to vocalizing once - except during pushing, when it would truly take a miracle from Heaven to avoid. But aside from that, I was able to have a quieter and much more peaceful labor.<br />
<br />
I personalized the fast and slow breathing techniques by adding a beginning (when I feel a contraction starting) and closing (when the contraction is mostly over) "cleansing breath," taken from Lamaze technique. (I can't believe I'm finally getting around to this eleven years after I watched that old Lamaze video).<br />
<br />
All of this makes me think that we moderns may be doing Lamaze birth methods a disservice. Such older birth methods have been, in recent years, completely discarded. Nowadays, the only reason one hears of Lamaze is as the object of a childbirth joke. And instead of the scripted breathing methods prescribed by Lamaze and others in previous years, one is much more likely to hear something like "focus on your breathing."<br />
<br />
For women like myself, however, I can say that "focus on your breathing" is nothing short of absurd. To return to our man being stabbed to death, someone standing by and shouting "Focus on your breathing!" would be... worse than useless. It really doesn't mean anything, and it doesn't give any concrete help during labor either to women who struggle with fear and panic at the onset of hard contractions, and I'm guessing it's not really that helpful to most women.<br />
<br />
For myself, being given a basic prescription on exactly HOW to breathe was incredibly helpful. It was night-and-day difference in being able to deal with contraction pain, and it is definitely a part of my labor plan going forward.<br />
<br />
(I should note that my own mother is a huge proponent of traditional Lamaze, and defends it vigorously against the barbs of modern-day dismissal of the method. She used it for 20 hours of unmedicated labor herself when I was being born.)<br />
<br />
And to clarify, the methods described from the book were not Lamaze themselves, but being that they were a prescribed breathing method (rather than a generalized "focus on your breath"), I am likening them to the more prescriptive methods of breathing such as Lamaze.<br />
<br />
The one caveat is that I felt that this labor was - at least possibly - easier than my others. I don't know if I could have handled a harder labor completely with this method. However, in the end, childbirth is childbirth is childbirth. It's hard, and it hurts. And I'm so happy with how it turned out using the above method.<br />
<br />
<b>And now, to return to our story:</b><br />
<br />
I labored in bed for some time, with our midwives camped out in the living room. At some point I decided to move into the tub, so I got up and ran a bath and hopped in. The lovely thing about getting into a warm bath is that it nearly always gives one a brief break in contractions, and I enjoyed that very much.<br />
<br />
At some point, I remember thinking of praying that baby would be out soon, as I did not want to labor through another night. The lazy part of me then thought, "No! That would mean more pain!" So, after debating the matter for some time, I ended up praying that baby would come easily, rather than sooner or later. (The lazy part of me won.)<br />
<br />
Note: During this birth I finally got around to using the <a href="http://www.mothering.com/forum/19-i-m-pregnant/347728-red-raspberry-leaf-tea-tribe.html">"miracle birth red raspberry tea"</a> drink. Hard to drink during labor, but I can't argue - I definitely had an easier labor. (I had also used red raspberry tea during the last month of pregnancy.)<br />
<br />
My husband came in a bit later and said that he thought our midwives should probably come in. I agreed completely, so he summoned them and they tiptoed in quietly and sat out of sight in the bedroom.<br />
<br />
A short time later, I called to them and told them that I thought they should come in. I was starting to feel some pelvic pressure - which is worse than contractions, oddly enough - and probably had a feeling that things were getting close.<br />
<br />
The midwives came in, and a short time later (just a few minutes, I believe), I said suddenly, <b>"I think someone should get my husband."</b> One of the assistant midwives ran to get him, and as he ran to come into the room - about ten seconds later (or less) - I was slammed by my first (and only? not sure) pushing contraction.<br />
<br />
Things got little bit crazy. My husband didn't have time to take his sweatshirt off, or even push up his sleeves, so he got soaking wet jumping over to catch the baby. At the same time, he was asking the midwives to grab his phone from his pocket so that we could catch some photos before it was too late.<br />
<br />
Of course, I didn't notice any of that, being a bit preoccupied.<br />
<br />
However, an odd thing did happen, which was rather neat:<br />
<br />
I am not a fan of pushing. If you ever see me protesting something, I'll probably be marching along with a sign that says "American Moms Against Second-Stage Labor." I am simply not a fan.<br />
<br />
But this time, as soon as the pushing contraction hit, I made an instant and utterly unpremeditated decision - that I was not going to put up with this. Since the only way out was through, I was going to push with every ounce of strength that I had, as hard as I could, until this baby was out. And I did. I did not stop pushing in between contractions, and I didn't care if I tore "from nave to chops." This baby was coming OUT. And NOW.<br />
<b><br /></b><b>And baby did!</b><br />
<br />
We checked immediately, and found to our surprise that baby was a BOY! Somehow, we'd both assumed that since we'd had one girl, we'd start having more girls. But nope - the count is now four-to-one, in favor of Team Boy.<br />
<br />
We had picked our boy name - at last! - only 24 hours earlier, so baby immediately had his name.<br />
<br />
We got all cleaned up, got all exams done, and had our birth team home in time for bed.<br />
<br />
<b>While childbirth is always a challenge, this was our best birth yet.</b><br />
<br />
<i>We would like to thank our wonderful team of midwives who, as always, provided a safe, happy, respectful, and joyful entrance for our newest!</i><br />
<br />
Baby Oliver<br />
Born February 24th @ 6:28 p.m.<br />
Six hours active labor<br />
8 lbs. 4 oz.<br />
<br />
<br />
We don't have any pictures from the labor (okay, a few, but they're not showable!), so here are all the post-birth shots:<br />
<br />
<br />
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Have a wonderful summer, dear readers!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-39962616028758334182016-01-23T17:30:00.000-08:002016-01-23T17:30:19.090-08:00How I Prepare for Pregnancy<br />
In our modern culture of fast food and instant health care, we have a lot of advantages. But we also have a lot of disadvantages. Namely, we're not living as we should, food-wise and lifestyle-wise, and our health suffers.<br />
<br />
One of the areas in which we have floundered (badly!) is the area of pre-conception nutritional preparation for the childbearing years.<br />
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In traditional societies, couples about to be married often went through a time of preparation, eating specific cultural super-foods in order to nourish and build up the body preparatory to marriage and subsequent pregnancies. And in many traditional societies, it was customary to give women of childbearing age extra-nourishing foods - such as raw organ meats, which are a super-food all by themselves.<br />
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However, those days are - alas! - far gone in America. If you go to a doctor today and tell him that you are about to be married and ask what you should do to prepare for possible pregnancy, you will get the same answer in virtually every doctor's office - "Oh, um, take a prenatal vitamin." *<br />
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That's it.<br />
<br />
And that, my friends, <i>is not good enough</i>.<br />
<br />
Pregnancy and childbirth are an incredibly stressful time for a woman's body. A pregnant woman is growing an entirely new body for the little soul she is nurturing! While a prenatal vitamin might be a good start, it's not going to cut it for helping a woman through the incredible stresses of pregnancy, especially repeat pregnancies, especially repeat difficult pregnancies. **<br />
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Additionally, for those of us who experience extremely difficult pregnancies due to strong NVP or hyperemesis, pre-conception nutrition is our only shot at giving baby a good start - because once pregnancy begins, good nutrition has to go out the window in favor of survival.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GsWTvaal3lp8aTt41wrOWkQbnClOe8m54CwE08Zi4WVEmiSqj3tz_VSB3hoaPZgO_T2w1RYLg8nGPu_XGx9Pa5xjRxlUEVn_XY0WuNH4IAXxjaFt6N9gh664W22BiE0_hjcXg5mbWxw/s1600/2015-12-12+11.25.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GsWTvaal3lp8aTt41wrOWkQbnClOe8m54CwE08Zi4WVEmiSqj3tz_VSB3hoaPZgO_T2w1RYLg8nGPu_XGx9Pa5xjRxlUEVn_XY0WuNH4IAXxjaFt6N9gh664W22BiE0_hjcXg5mbWxw/s400/2015-12-12+11.25.10.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is where I start inserting random pictures into this post in order to get more clicks.<br />
Sorry, folks, you'll have to live through it. </td></tr>
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<b>There are several other factors to consider as well:</b><br />
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(1) Our bodies in the modern world are being blasted with additional stressors in the form of pesticides, altered DNA sequences through GMO foods, artificial hormones in meat and dairy, artificially altered fatty acid profiles of the animal fats we consume (through poor feeding practices), and industrial toxins through environmental contamination - to name a few.<br />
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(2) Most of us have long-term damage in the form of impaired insulin regulation from the unhealthy carb overload we've experienced in this country since the bad diet advice of the mid-1900's (fat is bad! eat more sugar!) became virtually institutionalized and culturally normed. Many of us are dealing with systemic inflammation, chronic disease, and other issues stemming from that same diet (high sugar with loads of pro-inflammatory vegetable oils and a deficiency of healthy fats) that most of us were raised with.<br />
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(3) Most modern foods are less nutritious than they were a hundred years ago due to soil-depleting farming practices. So even if we eat healthy foods like broccoli, that broccoli does not have the same level of micro-nutrients that broccoli had in the early 1900's. That's a problem.<br />
<br />
(4) The modern American diet has canceled out lots of super-foods that previous generations relished, making us even unhealthier than we were before. Examples: bone broth, lacto-fermented foods, organ meats, meat with skin, gelatin, seaweed.<br />
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Thus, if you're about to be married (or are already married!) and want to be open to God's gift of children.... <i>Sister, you've got some work to do if you want to be ready. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>Those of us who have experienced hyperemesis gravidarum - or other hardcore pregnancy problems - know how incredibly taxing pregnancy can be when our bodies are maxed out and suffering under terrible duress. In those cases, preconception preparation is even more important.<br />
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With that in mind, I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you about what I am doing for preconception preparation for pregnancy. Unfortunately, I have no guarantees of what will or will not work to prevent recurrent HG. All I can do is read, research, apply what I've learned, and pray for the best outcome possible.<br />
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<b>My pre-conception protocol focuses on the following areas:</b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Overall macronutrient ratios</li>
<li>Nutritional super-foods</li>
<li>Probiotic foods</li>
<li>Supplements</li>
</ol>
<br />
I will update my official <a href="http://whiningpuker.blogspot.com/2015/03/new-and-improved-pregnancy-preparation.html">pre-conception pregnancy protocol </a>next month, and that post always includes detail-work like brands and places to purchase. But for now, here's an easy and conversational description of the different things that I'm doing to prepare my body for possible pregnancy.<br />
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* We've all heard about the magnesium/morning sickness connection. <b>Magnesium is my friend!</b> I take an oral supplement, plus an occasional glass of Natural Calm. I also use a magnesium oil spray. Additionally, I schedule a weekly Epsom salts bath - but that almost never happens (being that it requires half an hour of uninterrupted free time - HA).<br />
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* One of the most important factors of my preparation is working on <b>gut health through the use of lacto-fermented foods.</b> Lacto-fermented foods can also be termed probiotic foods, being that they are fermented foods that are teeming with friendly bacteria and/or yeasts. Adding these foods to my diet made a huge improvement in how I feel! Unfortunately, these foods have been all but eliminated from the American diet. And if you buy the modern forms of such foods, like the "pickles" and "sauerkraut" from the store, they are neither lactofermented nor probiotic, and are useless from a health standpoint. The lacto-fermented foods that I include in my repertoire are raw pickles, raw sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, and yogurt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3JunEOj_-SVDFkzmYnkw_MUL6sFHsApIZMWdypPAYTNCqcsjqzgRd9EHf56MfdGycpltGULV3StciZu0KNo67Rrl-1MDBe89vkIqTlzMwnb4I29W44A-cdQgMjHxzPYKHRzjq102pTM/s1600/2015-12-12+11.26.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3JunEOj_-SVDFkzmYnkw_MUL6sFHsApIZMWdypPAYTNCqcsjqzgRd9EHf56MfdGycpltGULV3StciZu0KNo67Rrl-1MDBe89vkIqTlzMwnb4I29W44A-cdQgMjHxzPYKHRzjq102pTM/s400/2015-12-12+11.26.53.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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* Another item on my list is focusing on <b>super-healthy fats in my diet.</b> This means nixing fake fats (margarine and synthetic shortening), minimizing unhealthy industrial seed oils (cottonseed, corn, canola, soy/vegetable) and using lots of <b>saturated animal fats</b> (from meat and butter), <b>coconut oil and coconut milk, and nuts and avocados.</b> I also take a <b>fish oil supplement </b>in liquid form.<br />
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* One thing I'm really bad about is <b>drinking enough water.</b> My normal habit is to forget to drink anything all day, and then realize sometime mid-evening that I am burning with thirst. When I took a day to measure how much water I was drinking, I found that it was less than half the recommended amount for my current weight! Yikes! So now I strive to drink more water (I've only made it to the recommended amount once). I also <b>add lemon juice to my water,</b> which is liver-cleansing and alkaline as well. Most people recommend adding apple cider vinegar to water, which I would do except for the fact that I loathe the taste. But if you can make it work, it's a good option.<br />
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* My favorite brand of dessicated liver is Radiant Life. But it's quite pricey, and so I came up with a cheaper alternative - namely, <b>eating raw liver!</b> Yes, really. (Stop gagging, it's not that bad. Really.) I cut up raw, organic, grass-fed liver and freeze it in pieces, then thaw one each day, cut it up with kitchen sheers, and swallow it whole (like a pill, with water). I'm really excited about this, and I can feel how good it makes me feel. Right now, as I'm out of liver, I'm feeling the stress! I can't wait to buy more.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>In case you should be crazy enough to try this, do not, under any circumstances, attempt to swallow a piece of frozen liver. Don't ask me how I know, but I can tell you that I'm surprised I survived the experience. Let it thaw first. </i></blockquote>
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* A few months ago, while reading (on nutrition, what else?) I discovered that Brazil nuts are high in selenium - so high, in fact, that eating <b>two Brazil nuts a day</b> is the same as taking a selenium supplement. Okay, why not? Americans are deficient in selenium (surprise!), and it's an essential micronutrient. Nuts are also a great source of other micronutrients, so it's a win-win scenario.<br />
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* Also a month or two back, I read about the <b><a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/sugar-blackstrap-molasses-eating-cheat-foods-all-at-once-or-in-installments-and-healthy-pooping-with-a-fused-knee/#axzz3u9J8yJ2G">health benefits of blackstrap molasses</a>. </b>While the carbs may not jive with a very-low-carb diet, I justify it by the mineral content awesomeness. Hey, and it's super-yummy, especially when you're sugar-deprived.<br />
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* One of my favorite health books is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Wahls-Protocol-Autoimmune-Conditions/dp/1583335544">The Wahl Protocol.</a> The author, Dr. Wahl, recommends eating the following amounts of vegetables daily: <b>3 cups of greens, 3 cups of sulfur vegetables </b>(that is, onions and cruciferous vegetables), <b>and 3 cups of dark-colored vegetables. </b>While I <i>never</i> reach those levels of awesomeness, that is my goal, and I'm working toward it. When I remember it (which is almost never) I try to make spinach and coconut milk smoothies to get in extra raw greens.<br />
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* I do my best to use <b>bone broth </b>often, and I also add <b>gelatin</b> to any hot liquids I'm drinking. Bone broth is incredibly healthful, and it's so easy to make. Just put a chicken carcass (after you've baked it and eaten the meat) into the crockpot with water, peppercorns, and some carrot-celery-onion (I keep a container in the freezer for leftover bits of those vegetables so that they're always available and never wasted). Then cook for 24-48 hours, cool, strain, and freeze! Our only problem is that we go through it too quickly!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtQmyQJawWRMgbgFVysoAuj5VcQwiJbLYqg0_zMnEQBNmrv8BqMi8HqYoCj6cC6ahxM75z30VmUAAk6FyYMF2vwypwlscl-L9Tl_LqhPvZGO9gykoLP_v-5Ck7N-hxtyDf2Zpi8zt8g0/s1600/2015+Advent+Wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtQmyQJawWRMgbgFVysoAuj5VcQwiJbLYqg0_zMnEQBNmrv8BqMi8HqYoCj6cC6ahxM75z30VmUAAk6FyYMF2vwypwlscl-L9Tl_LqhPvZGO9gykoLP_v-5Ck7N-hxtyDf2Zpi8zt8g0/s400/2015+Advent+Wreath.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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* I'm trying to add <b>dried seaweed</b> to our diet, also per the Wahl Protocol. This one's been trickier, but I'm working on it. On my to-do list is <b>nutritional yeast</b>, another nutritional powerhouse.<br />
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* I continue trucking on with the <b>Very Low Carb Diet.</b> Am I enthusiastic about this? No. Do I think it's the way everyone should eat long-term? No. I believe that all three macronutrients are healthy and needed (at least for most people) in a healthy long-term diet. Additionally, this diet requires strict discipline and self-denial, neither of which is practical for a long-term dietary strategy. (That and it's pretty boring.) But the fact remains that, to the best of my knowledge, this diet worked to prevent hyperemesis gravidarum. No other diet has that same guarantee. And so I continue onward.<br />
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(My current goal is to maintain this diet until menopause, and then transition to something along the lines of Trim Healthy Mama. Which actually allows decent desserts. YUM.)<br />
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* I also take a number of supplements:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Turmeric (anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial)</li>
<li>Vitamin B complex</li>
<li>Magnesium</li>
<li>Calcium</li>
<li>Multi-vitamin</li>
<li>Zinc</li>
</ul>
<div>
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* I also spend time reading (and reading, and reading) on the subject of nutrition. Every book teaches me more! And every book helps me to make more connections. While almost none of the books I read talks directly about morning sickness, I am starting to understand the human body and the underlying causative factors of chronic illness. I highly recommend that any mama interested in health or NVP-prevention start investing time and energy in reading health-related books. (See my growing list <a href="http://whiningpuker.blogspot.com/2015/01/so-you-want-to-learn-about-food.html">here</a>.)<br />
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* I have a whole different list of supplements that I take during the last trimester of pregnancy to prepare for birth and postpartum, but I won't go into that here. See my<a href="http://whiningpuker.blogspot.com/2014/10/my-favorite-pregnancy-supplements.html"> supplement list </a>for that information.<br />
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* There's also work of a practical nature that I do to prepare for pregnancy:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Scripture memorization </b>- Pregnancy is frightening for post-HG mamas. Having Scripture readily available to meditate on is very helpful. </li>
<li><b>Decluttering</b> - Stuff = a nightmare mess, especially when one is too sick to do anything about it. Fewer toys = much better. </li>
<li><b>Training of children</b> - Pregnancy is my litmus test of how well I'm disciplining the children, because usually I'm too tired to enforce much of anything during pregnancy. I need to take advantage of between-pregnancy times to make sure I teach and train as well as possible. </li>
<li><b>Exercise</b> - Another one where I'm pretty bad on consistency. Lately I've been getting back into more barre exercises, which has been lovely, so that's a better bet for me than straight "exercise for exercise's sake."</li>
</ul>
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As you can see, this is a lot of work! And there's really so much more to be done.<br />
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<b>But the question really comes down to this... Does it work?</b> Yes, it sounds nice on paper. But does it make a difference?<br />
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Yes, it does. A huge, amazing difference.<br />
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I have been through pregnancy (full-term, that is) four times. As I've gradually incorporated these supplements and dietary choies, my pregnancies have gotten easier. My last pregnancy was even non-hyperemetic and drug-free. Things like afterpains - which are supposed to worsen with each pregnancy - have become more and more manageable. My births have gotten better (less bleeding, less time with afterpains, shorter recovery times), my postpartum times have gotten easier, everything has improved.<br />
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There are no guarantees, of course. And I cannot make any promises for the future. I could have a very difficult next pregnancy (though I pray not). But I have come to see that prenatal and pregnancy nutrition is absolutely vital to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes.<br />
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Additionally, whether or not a supplement and lifestyle regimen "works" to achieve a certain goal (such as avoiding hyperemesis), it cannot but be helpful to build up a body's strength, health, and nutrient stores before undergoing the rigors and stresses of pregnancy. A woman's body will have better outcomes for herself and her babies when her body is well-prepared.<br />
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<b>If you're working on your preconception or prenatal nutrition, I would love to hear what you have learned! </b>Please tell me in the comments!<br />
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(Really. I mean it. Leave me a comment, and make my day.)<br />
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* A similar situation faces already pregnant women in America. In virtually every doctor's office there will be absolutely zero dietary advice given to pregnant mamas (and what is given won't be very good). The only time a pregnant woman receives dietary advice in the American obstetrical system is when she is (1) gaining weight faster than her doctor likes, or (2) tests positive for gestational diabetes. But in virtually all other cases, she will be told, "Oh, don't worry about it. The baby will get what it needs from your body." Again, <i>not good enough</i>. In cases of severe NVP, a pregnant mama can do nothing about her diet, and she doesn't need the stress of being told "You need to eat for your baby!" But in cases where a mama has the ability to eat, there are definite pregnancy super-foods that can be a huge blessing to her body and her baby's developing body.<br />
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** One thought that came to mind while researching this subject was that the cavalier nature with which the modern medical establishment treats pre-conception and prenatal nutrition may stem partly from the smaller size of modern families. In past ages, when childbearing and breastfeeding were often constant throughout the fertile years, consequences were far more drastic when a mother neglected nutrition - for example, the old country saying that a woman would "gain a child, lose a tooth." This might be furthering the negative trend of neglecting pre-conception and prenatal health.<br />
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<em>Sharing at <a href="http://www.themodestmomblog.com/2015/12/modest-monday-and-a-link-up-133/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:">Modest Monday Link-up!</a></em><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-47553986184265217772015-03-12T19:39:00.002-07:002015-03-12T19:39:48.234-07:00Pregnancy Preparation Plan (New and Improved!)<b><br /></b>(Latest Update: February 2015)<br />
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<u><b>Introductory Comments</b>
</u><b><br /></b><br />
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It's that time of year, folks! The time when I go through my supplement and diet plan and revise for the coming year. And... here it is! Version 2015, at your service.<br />
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This year, I have done several new things:<br />
<ul>
<li>I have greatly pared down the information to avoid redundancy.</li>
<li>I have changed the formatting for easier access.</li>
<li>I have included a whole new sourcing section for ease of reference and planning. </li>
</ul>
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<div>
The question arises - am I doing all of the things on this plan?</div>
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Short answer, no. </div>
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<div>
Firstly, this is a work in progress. I'm getting there, folks, but it's a long time in the making. Secondly, there is the small matter of finances. I simply am not able to make all of this work financially right now. (Working on it!) </div>
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<div>
I'd say that right now I am maybe, <i>maybe</i> achieving a quarter of the items on the plan. On a good day, if I exaggerate. My goal is to work up to somewhere like 75%. Hopefully that will be possible with time, planning, and work. Right now I'm taking a few supplements, but doing all the supplements isn't possible - and organic, free-range, etc. is completely out of the question. Hopefully some time.<br />
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Two things have become extremely apparent to me:<br />
<br />
(1) Diet and supplements can have a hugely positive effect on morning sickness and other pregnancy issues, and...<br />
<br />
(2) It is extremely important for women to pay careful attention to their health during their childbearing years. (It's always important, of course, but during the childbearing years the negative consequences of neglecting one's health can be particularly dire.)<br />
<br />
Thus, I do take my diet and supplement regimen extremely seriously, and I put lots of energy, effort, and time into both developing my regimen and putting it into place. It's a work in progress, but I hope to make consistent progress. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'd love to hear any input - and also to see your supplement and diet plans, so do let me know what you're doing!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
* sourcing information provided below<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRE-CONCEPTION PLAN</span></b></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Diet</u></span><br />
<br />
<b>Very Low Carb</b> (VLC) at 3 months postpartum<br />
<br />
<b>Clean</b> (no additives)<br />
<br />
<b>Avoid industrial seed oils</b> (cottonseed, soy, etc.) <b>and fake fats</b> (hydrogenated oils, margarine)<br />
<br />
<b>Lacto-fermented foods</b> - preferably with each meal<br />
<br />
Kefir* (one-quarter to one-half cup daily)<br />
Kombucha*<br />
Yogurt* (small amounts daily)<br />
Raw sauerkraut*<br />
Raw pickles*<br />
<br />
<b>High in good fats</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>Saturated animal fats (free-range organic grass-fed preferred)<br />
Avocado<br />
Coconut oil* (2-4 Tbsp. per day)<br />
Olive oil<br />
Butter* (2+ Tbsp. per day, preferably grass-fed)<br />
<br />
<b>Lemon water </b>(for alkalinity and liver cleansing)<br />
<br />
<b>Bone broth </b>(2 cups per day)<br />
<br />
<b>Eggs</b> (3-4 per day, preferably organic and free-range)<br />
<br />
<b>Some form of healthy meat at each meal</b><br />
<br />
<b>Coconut based snacks like coconut cream*</b><br />
<br />
<b>Unrefined sea salt* </b>(pink or grey)<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Supplements</u>*</span><br />
<br />
<i>I am no longer taking vitamin D, as this is <a href="http://www.greenpasture.org/public/FAQ/index.cfm">provided by fermented cod liver oil</a></i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Multi-vitamin </b>(<a href="http://www.beeyoutiful.com/supermom.html">Super Mom</a>* or other) - Since I'm taking fermented cod liver oil and dessicated liver, I believe that the multi is less important. It may go on my optional list.<br />
<br />
<b>Fermented Cod Liver Oil </b>* (Preferred dose = 10 mL per day, to provide 1000 mg DHA daily)<br />
<br />
<b>Alpha Lipoic Acid</b> (600 mg/daily)<br />
<br />
<b>Vitamin B complex*</b><br />
<br />
<b>Probiotics</b><br />
<br />
Pill form*<br />
Lacto-fermented foods (see above list under diet)<br />
<br />
<b>Dessicated Liver Pills*</b> - For iron and micronutrients<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Magnesium</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>Oral supplement - <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CD0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnaturalvitality.com%2Fnatural-calm%2F&ei=akLyVIXpEIKkoQT9y4KIBg&usg=AFQjCNHHVATXoZ50aTzQMqA_azjoFNZGDg&sig2=eBYxZ3lD23am-KgKB_J-pA">Natural Calm</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Elemental/dp/B000BD0RT0">Doctor's Best Chelated Magnesium</a> (or <a href="http://hypergpregnancy.com/recommended/">other options</a>)<br />
Epsom Salts baths* - minimum once per week<br />
Magnesium oil* or Magnesium Lotion*<br />
Magnesium water* <br />
<b><br />Zinc*</b><br />
<br />
********************<br />
<br />
<br />
Other:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Finances Permitting</b> (both of these decrease inflammation; turmeric is also anti-microbial)<br />
<br />
Resveratrol (100 mg twice daily)<br />
Turmeric (350 mg twice daily)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Occasional</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>Kelp - occasionally for iodine<br />
Yearly Liver Cleanse (dates done: May 2011, May 2012)<br />
<br />
See my <a href="http://whiningpuker.blogspot.com/2014/10/my-favorite-pregnancy-supplements.html">list of pregnancy supplements</a> for other pregnancy-specific supplements (most are third-trimester birth and postpartum prep supplements).<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;">Lifestyle</span></u><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Exercise </b>- Especially weight bearing exercises, since muscle mass helps with insulin/glucose metabolism.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Sunlight</b> - As much as possible. (I'm terrible about this.)<br />
<br />
<b>Sleep</b> - Minimum of eight hours per night.<br />
<br />
<b>Self Care - </b>Keeping my house clean so that I'm not a stress-case about it. Doing things I enjoy occasionally. Staying off of the computer. Going for walks. Keeping up with my devotions and Bible study. All of the things that keep me sane, balanced, and emotionally healthy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;">Healthcare</span></u><br />
<br />
<b>Find a naturopath.</b> (I have several recommendations, plus the local naturopathic college.)<br />
<br />
<b>Contact acupuncturist.</b> (Done! They recommend starting pre-conception. This will also be a matter of finances.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Spiritual</u></span><br />
<br />
<b>Bible verse memorization</b> - I find that having Scripture verses to recite during stressful or panicky times is truly a lifeline, and it's one that I want to develop more fruitfully.<br />
<br />
<b>Regular prayer and Bible study</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;">Personal and Practical</span></u><br />
<br />
Make the most of the time! I find that the thought of future pregnancies helps me to treasure my time, and encourages me to use my time wisely - to take every advantage of time with my children, to train my children as much as possible in character and practical skills, etc.<br />
<br />
Work on organizational projects as much as possible.<br />
<br />
Read as widely and deeply as possible on the topic of health. (See my ever-growing booklist <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhiningpuker.blogspot.com%2F2015%2F01%2Fso-you-want-to-learn-about-food.html&ei=lCz5VJC-JYKeggSKi4DwBA&usg=AFQjCNFeXSgzBy9zrOlFPVz1a2bGgZ_k3A&sig2=UCNLYbYIiJbfcw5wL0zeGA">here</a>.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
********************************************************</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">POST-CONCEPTION </span></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Diet</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b> Strict VLC</b> (very low carb)<br />
<b>Constant snacking</b> - every hour at least<br />
<b>Lemon/ACV water</b> - lots of it.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Supplements</b><br />
<br />
Add more Epsom salts baths (daily)<br />
Add digestive enzymes<br />
Consider <a href="http://www.lifevantage.com/products/protandim/">Protandim </a>(this might also be a good pre-conception supplement)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Healthcare</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>Start Vitamin B/Magnesium/Folate shots at naturopathic college<br />
Contact acupuncturist to let her know in advance<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Spiritual</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>Pray!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Personal and Practical</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>Buy paper supplies (plates, bowls, utensils)<br />
Easy kid snacks - gold fish, healthy bars, raisins, juice boxes, cheese sticks, dry cereals<br />
<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
***********************************************************<br />
<br />
* Sourcing Information:<br />
<br />
<b>Kefir</b><br />
Kefir is easy to make. Just buy grains or get some from a kefir-making friend, and follow <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-milk-kefir-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-202022">easy directions</a> for culturing plain milk. I unfortunately have not had good luck with it, so I buy plain, full-fat <a href="http://lifeway.elsstore.com/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=40A4048C553A437FBD65EBCE6EF6B8F6">Lifeway kefir</a> from Sprouts. <br />
<br />
<b>Kombucha</b><br />
Kombucha can be purchased, but it's so easy to make! My directions <a href="http://whiningpuker.blogspot.com/2013/05/introducing-our-wee-slimy-friend-wsf.html">here</a>. The longer you culture, the lower the sugar content. <br />
<br />
<b>Yogurt</b><br />
Full-fat plain yogurt is also easy to find, but it's pricey. I make a gallon a time in a crockpot. My updated directions <a href="http://whiningpuker.blogspot.com/2008/10/yogurt-at-last.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Raw sauerkraut</b><br />
The sauerkraut you buy in the supermarket is <u>not real sauerkraut</u>. It is heat-treated for sterility and not useful from a probiotic standpoint. Look for the words "raw" on the label. Raw sauerkraut is available at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and most health food grocery stores. I buy raw <a href="https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/4141//">Bubbies sauerkraut from Azure Standard</a>. <br />
<br />
<b>Raw pickles</b></div>
<div>
The pickles you buy in the supermarket are <u>not real pickles</u>. They are heat-treated and not useful from a probiotic standpoint, and if you're buying typical brand-name pickles, they are also loaded with toxic dyes, additives, and aluminum compounds. (For non-toxic regular pickles [non-probiotic], buy at Sprouts, Whole Foods, or Trader Joe's.) For probiotic pickles, look for the words "raw" on the label. Raw pickles are available at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and most health food grocery stores. I buy raw <a href="https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/4140//">Bubbies dill pickles from Azure Standard.</a> <br />
<br />
<b>Coconut Oil</b><br />
I buy <a href="https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/3322/">Wilderness Naturals from Azure Standard</a> or the coconut oil now available at Sam's Club. Coconut oil is also available online from <a href="http://tropicaltraditions.com/">Tropical Traditions</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Butter</b><br />
The butter I hear most often recommended (organic and grass-fed) is <a href="http://kerrygoldusa.com/products/butter/">Kerrygold</a>, now available at Costco. I buy the slightly cheaper <a href="https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/11692/">Rumiano's from Azure Standard</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Coconut Cream</b><br />
I buy <a href="https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/14912//">Artisana Coconut Cream from Azure Standard</a>. Coconut cream is available online from <a href="http://tropicaltraditions.com/">Tropical Traditions</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Unrefined Sea Salt (Pink or Grey)</b><br />
Pink sea salt is available very inexpensively in the bulk bins at Sprouts. Other types (purchased in smaller individual packages) at Sprouts or Whole Foods will be much more expensive.<br />
<br />
<b>Supplements</b><br />
Online, I buy supplements from <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a> and <a href="https://azurestandard.com/accounts/login/?next=/">Azure Standard</a> (available only in areas to which Azure Standard delivers). I buy herbs locally from <a href="http://desertsageherbs.com/Desert_Sage_Herbs/Welcome.html">Desert Sage Herbs</a>. I buy supplements locally at Sprouts Market, Trader Joe's, and the <a href="http://medcenter.scnm.edu/services/medicinary/">medicinary at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine</a> in Tempe, Arizona.<br />
<br />
<b>Supermom Vitamins</b><br />
The most inexpensive way to purchase that we found was to buy a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005E0WJAK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">three-month supply through Amazon</a>. This is not currently available, but we hope it comes back soon! It's much more expensive <a href="http://www.beeyoutiful.com/supermom.html">through the product website</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Fermented Cod Liver Oil</b><br />
<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenpasture.org%2Fpublic%2FProducts%2FCodLiverOil%2F&ei=KCr5VLqAMIn4gwTJq4SYAg&usg=AFQjCNHXdtAbl3gP6cSiyRrlUvTsGLEHMg&sig2=ax7q-SRiPpu3QV3a7RHsFw">Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil by Green Pasture</a>. I purchase through <a href="http://azurestandard.com/">Azure Standard</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Vitamin B Complex</b><br />
See <a href="http://hypergpregnancy.com/recommended/">Rachel's recommendations</a> (in general and for specific brand).<br />
<br />
<b>Probiotics (Pill Form)</b><br />
See <a href="http://hypergpregnancy.com/recommended/">Rachel's recommendations</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Dessicated Liver Pills</b><br />
My favorite brand is <a href="http://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/radiant-life-desiccated-liver/superfoods-supplements">Radiant Life Dessicated Liver</a>. Because of cost, I currently use a cheaper brand, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Solgar-Desiccated-Liver-Tablets-Count/dp/B000Z8X76G">Solgar</a>, purchased at <a href="http://www.natureshealthaz.com/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=43SGR4UDL6WM9HAC33Q13F3QFCUJ9DC7">Nature's Health</a> in Chandler, AZ.<br />
<br />
<b>Epsom Salts</b><br />
Epsom Salts (magnesium sulphate) are available in any pharmacy store (Walgreen's, CVS, etc.) or in the cosmetic/pharmaceutical area of any Walmart or Target. It can get quite pricey - most two pound bags run around $6 each, and you use two cups per bath. The best price I have found is the <a href="https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/1548//">50 lb. bag for around $45 from Azure standard. </a><br />
<br />
<b>Magnesium Oil</b><br />
<a href="http://hypergpregnancy.com/recommended/">Make your own</a> or purchase <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-flo-Pure-Magnesium-Oil-Ounce/dp/B004NHN9OA/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1425615812&sr=1-3&keywords=magnesium+oil">ready-made. </a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Magnesium Lotion</b><br />
<a href="http://www.themodestmomblog.com/2014/04/how-to-make-your-own-magnesium-lotion/">Make your own</a><br />
<br />
<b>Magnesium Water</b><br />
<a href="http://www.themodestmomblog.com/2014/04/how-to-make-your-own-magnesium-lotion/">Make your own</a><br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Now it's your turn, dear readers!</b> What supplements and/or dietary changes are you using to prepare for possible pregnancy and to improve or prevent pregnancy health conditions?<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-61649511647118925422015-01-04T11:43:00.002-08:002015-01-04T11:50:28.832-08:00Hanging Out in Labor and Delivery (And Loving It!)<br />
This past summer, I began a project for the sheer joy of it - touring labor and delivery suites (a.k.a. hospital birth centers, a.k.a. maternity wards) at several Phoenix valley hospitals and making detailed notes of those visits for the purpose of comparing the different options for maternity care within the valley.<br />
<br />
Though I am a dedicated homebirther, I love spending time in hospital birthing areas, and this project was a lot of fun for me. I loved getting to hear what tour guides had to say about their hospitals, and it was very interesting to compare the different locations.<br />
<br />
In the beginning, my intent was to write a detailed summary of each hospital and then to write a comparison. However, I changed my mind on that and have decided simply to write one summary report of what I learned (see below!).<br />
<br />
For this project, I visited three hospitals. I would like to have visited more, but making the time and arrangements to visit three was quite a challenge in itself. Perhaps I'll have the opportunity to visit more in the future.<br />
<br />
I will not refer to the three hospitals by name. Although one of the hospitals was pretty much perfect, my thoughts about the other two hospitals did include some criticisms as well as praises, and thus I have decided to keep the names of all three hospitals anonymous.<br />
<br />
The reasons for this are several, but primarily, hospital experiences are highly individual. One mother may have a wonderful experience, and another a horrible experience, at the same hospital - because doctors, nursing staff, and unavoidable circumstances may contribute toward very different experiences.<br />
<br />
Additionally, hospital tour guides are, it seems, very strictly instructed in what to say (and probably what <i>not </i>to say!). Thus, a hospital tour may or may not be representative of the true experience that a mother or family will have at the time of birth - for better or for worse.<br />
<br />
<u>For the record</u>:<br />
<br />
- The personnel type giving the tours varied from hospital to hospital. At one hospital, our tour was given by an actual labor and delivery nurse. At another, it was a hospital aide and translator who gave the tour.<br />
<br />
- Tours all took place in the latter half of 2014.<br />
<br />
- All quotes are paraphrases. I made detailed notes directly after each tour so that my summary would be accurate, so all details should be accurate - quotes, however, are reconstructed paraphrases rather than word-for-word quotations.<br />
<br />
- I have a strong preference for Catholic hospitals. I do not want to give birth (or even be) in a hospital that performs abortions, and I like being in a place that (basically) shares my life ethics.<br />
<br />
- In my notes, I did not take into consideration various high-risk abilities, such as Level III NICU, etc. In an emergency or a severely high-risk situation, the mother and baby need be where they can get needed care. Period, end of sentence, etc. As my midwife told me, "In an emergency, it doesn't have to be pretty." My notes were simply for the normal birthing family who is looking for a hospital in which to have a non-high-risk birth.<br />
<br />
<br />
All that being said, here are some of the observations that I gleaned from my experiences touring local hospital labor and delivery departments!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Hospitals Tend to Brag About the Wrong Things</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I noticed very quickly that hospitals tend to advertise various amenities that they believe will appeal to birthing families (and which probably will). For example:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Free WiFi</li>
<li>Movie channels</li>
<li>Room service</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
However, all of those things are absolutely irrelevant to the love, respect, and quality of care that a family will receive during their labor, birth, and postpartum. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I would <u>much</u> rather hear things like:<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>We offer a wide variety of labor tools (birth balls, peanut balls, birth stools, whatever!) and a nursing staff that is trained to help you use them.</li>
<li>We would love to see your birth plan and want to help you achieve your goals.</li>
<li>We respect decisions that you make for their newborns without trying to pressure you into hospital protocols. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
And I did hear some of that (especially at one hospital in particular), but on the whole, I think hospitals brag about the wrong things. And perhaps we parents are <i>looking</i> for the wrong things.<br />
<br />
On another note, I noticed that hospitals also brag about high-tech things ("machines that go beep"). For example:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>We have full-service monitoring technology that will be tracked at the nursing station at all times.</li>
<li>We have an anesthesiologist ready at all times.</li>
<li>We have a full surgery team available at all times. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Is this a good thing? Yes, if that's what you're looking for. But, to repeat myself, those amenities still have nothing to do with the love, respect, and quality of care that a low-risk family will receive during a normal labor, birth, and postpartum.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>All Amenities Are Not Created Equal </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Just because two hospitals offers a certain service does not mean that their quality of care regarding that service is the same. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is one incredibly interesting example:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At two of the hospitals, the question was raised about labor tubs. (Both hospitals had labor tubs available for patient use.) Here are the responses:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hospital #1:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Yes! We have labor tubs! They are great for helping you to relax and get non-drug pain relief. Just give us a little bit of notice so that we can get one to your room and set it up for you!"</blockquote>
<br />
Hospital #2:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Yes, we have a labor tub. But nobody ever uses it. They always stay in bed. And nobody here ever goes unmedicated anyway. They always end up begging for drugs even if they say they want a natural birth when they come in."</blockquote>
<br />
Enough said.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Don't Assume That Outdated Practices Are Dead</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
At two of the hospitals, we were strictly informed: "As soon as you are admitted, you are treated as a pre-op patient - no food by mouth, and no fluids except ice chips and IV fluids."<br />
<br />
Folks, it's really time to <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265206.php">stop this nonsense</a>.<br />
<br />
From the article linked above:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Our study found no difference in the outcomes measured, in terms of the babies' wellbeing or the likelihood of a woman needing a C-section. There is no evidence of any benefit to restricting what women eat and drink in labor."</blockquote>
And:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"There should be no hospital policies which restrict fluids and foods in labor."</blockquote>
But converting <u>evidence</u> into <u>evidence-based practices</u> is easier said than done. Dinosaurs die hard.<br />
<br />
Similarly...<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Don't Assume That All Practices Are Evidence-Based</b><br />
<br />
At one hospital, I asked the question: "What is your policy on delayed cord clamping?"<br />
<br />
The answer that I received was decidedly odd. The tour guide replied, "Um.... people don't really do that any more. You'd have to ask your doctor."<br />
<br />
Wait a second. "People don't really do that any more?" The practice of cord clamping over the past century in the United States is moving in the direct <i>opposite</i> direction. The current (and past) standard of practice is immediate cord clamping, now moving (at something somewhat slower than a snail's pace) toward delayed cord clamping, <a href="http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/cord-clamping-delaying-cord-clamping">which has all the evidence on its side</a>. <br />
<br />
One way or the other, the fact that an experienced labor and delivery nurse had no knowledge of delayed cord clamping is somewhat alarming.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Environment Is Important</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Things like noise levels, decor, ambiance are not the most important things about a hospital. Granted, absolutely. BUT - they <i>are</i> important. The ability to relax in a comforting environment is critical for the progress of a healthy labor, and a stressed-out mother is likely to have more trouble relaxing enough to labor effectively.<br />
<br />
Here are some of the ambiance-related factors that I noticed in the various hospitals:<br />
<ul>
<li>Paint and flooring colors</li>
<li>Floor plan</li>
<li>"Hospital feel and/or smell" - Both of these are an incredible turn-off to me.</li>
<li>Sense of busyness - Also an incredible turn-off.</li>
<li>Noise levels - Often related to floor plan and general acoustic design.</li>
</ul>
Some of the hospitals made me somewhat uncomfortable, ambiance-wise, and some (okay, one!) actually felt more like a resort. When a person is in labor, these things can be more important than we know. (And really, this also applies to patients in the hospital who are there for illness, injury, or surgery. Stress-relieving surroundings can be incredibly conducive to healing, and the reverse is true as well.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Tour Isn't Everything</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Hospital tours are meant to present a hospital's best side to prospective clients. That doesn't mean that a hospital tour accurately represents as to a hospital's true atmosphere and attitude with regard to birthing practices and policies.<br />
<br />
Additionally, a hospital tour leaves out two important factors - your doctor (or midwife) and your nurses. One (your doctor) you get to pick, and one (your nursing staff) is a surprise. Both of those are incredibly important components of your hospital birth experience.<br />
<br />
When you combine all of the different factors (doctor, nurses, hospital, your specific case), you can easily get many different outcomes from the same hospitals. I have heard both horror stories and "I love this hospital!" stories coming from all three hospitals that I visited.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>We're Speaking Different Languages</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
As I toured these hospitals, I got the strong impression that the hospital staffs love their families, love their babies, and want the best for all involved.<br />
<br />
Mothers and fathers also love their babies and want the best for all involved.<br />
<br />
But sometimes those two groups (hospitals and families) mean distinctly different things by that statement.<br />
<br />
When hospitals want the best for everyone, they want their mamas to follow procedures, adhere to protocols, and not rock the boat.<br />
<br />
When I want the best for my baby, I want the complete freedom to make choices that will be lovingly respected, even if they deviate from cultural norms or hospital rules.<br />
<br />
The tension between the desires of hospital staff and the desires of families is what can make hospitals a difficult place to achieve desired birth goals or have birth wishes respected by staff. It's what makes homebirth doubly desirable for mothers like me, who do not want to be fighting battles for themselves and their babies during labor, birth, and the postpartum.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusions</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I came away from this project confirmed in my preference for home birth. I do hope that I will never see the inside of any hospital as a laboring mother.<br />
<br />
However, I am extremely grateful that these hospitals are there in the case of emergency. Here in the valley we are blessed to have several excellent hospital midwifery practices who accept transport cases (as well as providing excellent hospital care for mamas who choose hospital births), and I am thankful that we have supportive care providers to whom we can transfer care when a home birth moves outside of safety protocols and requires transfer.<br />
<br />
Each hospital evoked my admiration in different ways, and I deeply appreciated the kindness of their staff in providing detailed and lengthy tours to give prospective clients information and allow them to ask questions.<br />
<br />
The take-away message is simply to do your homework if you are planning a hospital birth. Tour the facility and ask questions. Compare hospitals and make a thoughtful choice. Be extremely selective in your choice of doctor or midwife. Take a childbirth prep class. Read, read, read. Do your research. Write a birth plan. Hire a doula. <b>Do your homework.</b><br />
<br />
As for me, I loved touring hospitals and can't wait till we're pregnant again so that I can tour more of them! I had so much fun.<br />
<br />
<br />
Dear readers, what are your thoughts? Have you toured more than one hospital? How did they compare? How did your hospital tour compare to your birth experience in that hospital?<br />
<br />
As always, kindly worded and non-combative comments and questions are welcomed. Impolite comments of any kind will be quietly deleted without comment.<br />
<br />
I look forward to hearing your thoughts!<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-60747163749683284512014-12-06T10:55:00.003-08:002014-12-06T10:55:33.024-08:00Just In CaseJust in case you're interested in the topic of extreme morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum), hop on over and <a href="http://whiningpuker.blogspot.com/2014/12/avoiding-hyperemesis-gravidarum-with.html">check this out</a>.<br />
<br />
Have a great weekend, everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-10762355418832006962014-11-24T20:45:00.003-08:002014-11-24T20:45:52.164-08:00Welcome, New Baby! (Birth Story Time!) <br />
It's that wonderful time of year - birth story time! Thanks for joining us as we celebrate the arrival of our fifth little one!<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The Pregnancy:</b><br />
<br />
This has been an amazing pregnancy - beyond anything that I could have ever imagined. By the grace of God, I have been drug-free and non-hyperemetic, which is more than I ever dreamed was possible. It's been challenging with constant nausea, but staying out of hyperemesis has been an answer to prayer. (I'll be posting the big summary post about that very soon - look for it!)<br />
<br />
And now for our birth story!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Prologue:</b><br />
<br />
You'd think that by now I would be over it, but I'm afraid not.<br />
<br />
As the end of each pregnancy draws near, I am inevitably haunted by the same thing - an intense fear of childbirth. Most women seem to be able to work through this fear so that they're able to get into the mindset of, "I can't wait to go into labor so that I can meet my baby!" I, on the other hand, inevitably stall before that point - "Hmm. I'd like to meet this baby, but that would mean... childbirth. So, um, thanks, but I think I'll just stay pregnant forever."<br />
<br />
Thankfully biology doesn't wait for me to be ready, or else we'd still be awaiting the birth of our second child. But it is an emotional challenge each time.<br />
<br />
Several months ago, I was drawn to II Corinthians 4:17-18, and that has been my memory verse ever since. Here it is in a newer translation:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."</blockquote>
Though the original context is talking about the Christian life as a whole, it is very applicable to childbirth - the attempt to keep one's mind fixed on the end goal (a precious baby whose soul will live forever) rather than present troubles (childbirth!).<br />
<br />
I can't say that I ever moved into the realm of, "Yay, childbirth!" - but I did gain some measure of peace as our due date approached. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57Jjx0p5Ix4bMfgOXwxbcq4p9h1Ve5fkm9qCRJsqS1aPKQkB95qDXz2PlA2-mV3-_T6uRX6DItko0PrJ5ugW5VvRjZOLk9bXajPJHs8n3wsU72ZZYG2Kh75XIcOj4GE4y5xnzTIK-QiQ/s1600/01bcbe496aa7e957d24256f49b12bd3b8a01760125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57Jjx0p5Ix4bMfgOXwxbcq4p9h1Ve5fkm9qCRJsqS1aPKQkB95qDXz2PlA2-mV3-_T6uRX6DItko0PrJ5ugW5VvRjZOLk9bXajPJHs8n3wsU72ZZYG2Kh75XIcOj4GE4y5xnzTIK-QiQ/s1600/01bcbe496aa7e957d24256f49b12bd3b8a01760125.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leading a field trip about three days before D-Day. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
<b>The Birth Story: </b><br />
<br />
A week or two ago, I got it into my head that baby's birth-date would be Wednesday, November 19th. While I knew that it was silly to count on something like that, I did have it as mental background noise.<br />
<br />
Thus, when I woke up on the morning of <b>Tuesday, November 11th </b>with classic pre-labor symptoms - blood-tinged cervical fluid and an upset stomach - I was a bit shocked. More than a week earlier than I had expected! I had to make some fast mental adjustments - today was going to be the day.<br />
<br />
We did school lessons as usual, and continued with our normal schedule. At <b>2:00 p.m. </b>I tried to take a nap, but as soon as I laid down, contractions became painful enough to keep me from sleeping. Eventually I gave up and got up.<br />
<br />
In the late afternoon, things were a bit crazy. Contractions were getting more painful, but we had a ton left to do for the day, so we did our best to crank through our to-do list in a hurry. DH ran errands (library, shops, etc.) and I made an early dinner (pancakes!), and then we rushed the children into the bath to get things settled for the night as quickly as we could.<br />
<br />
This was the first time I'd ever had to deal with ordinary life (children, schedules, meals, etc.) while in labor. Previously, my labors had all (except the first, when I had no other children to care for) been in the middle of the night, so I'd always had the freedom to labor without dealing with piles of "to-do" items. This was quite a switch!<br />
<br />
Our midwife had a postpartum visit to make in our area, so she asked it she could stop by to set up her kit and check on me. We were very glad to see her - but as soon as she arrived (at about <b>7:30 p.m.</b>), my contractions nearly stopped. (Embarrassing.) She's used to "performance anxiety," though, so she opted to stick around and wait to see how things would go. Eventually, we made the decision to let everyone try to go to sleep (our midwife camped out on the couch) and see how things would go from there.<br />
<br />
It was a difficult night for everyone. The five-year-old (our baby with special needs) decided to get up in the wee hours and throw a two-hour party in his crib. The two-year-old was upset at being out of his normal crib (he's still in our room) and woke several times crying. It wasn't a particularly restful night for anyone.<br />
<br />
I, of course, didn't go to sleep at all! I stayed in the bedroom, just laboring in the dark. In some ways, it was rather nice. I like laboring alone.<br />
<br />
But in other ways, <b>I was starting to get seriously confused.</b><br />
<br />
In the past, my labors have always been strictly linear. That is, whether they were slow or fast, they always moved in the predictable labor curve of contractions that get more intense and closer together until the baby is born.<br />
<br />
This labor was not behaving in that way at all. Some of the contractions were nasty, but some were not. And the timing was all over the place - anywhere from five to 20 minutes apart. Sometimes they would get me up out of bed, where I would try to labor on the toilet or in a semi-kneeling position for a while - and then I'd get tired, go back to bed, and the contractions would space out while I drowsed for a bit. Then I'd get up and do it all over again.<br />
<br />
As time went on, contractions got more intense, sometimes requiring vocalization, but the puzzling non-linear pattern continued.<br />
<br />
Additionally, I was really, really <i>tired</i>. I hadn't slept since the night before, and my main desire was not to have a baby but to go to sleep.<br />
<br />
Every few hours, our midwife would pop in to check on me and ask if I needed her. Each time, my answer was a confused, "Um... I don't know." It just wasn't clear either way.<br />
<br />
Around <b>5:30 a.m.</b>, contractions were intense enough that I thought I'd better have our midwife call out the rest of the birth team so that they wouldn't miss the birth. And then...<br />
<br />
I fell asleep.<br />
<br />
Completely and entirely. Labor stopped, and I was out cold until sometime shortly after <b>7:00 a.m.</b>, when I awoke to found the world in sunlight again.<br />
<br />
I immediately felt more cheerful. And also slightly silly.<br />
<br />
Here I had made our sweet midwife spend the entire night at our home waiting for a baby who was obviously not coming any time soon. And considering that there were no forthcoming contractions, I felt even sillier.<br />
<br />
Shortly thereafter, our midwife came in to see us and chat about what was going on. She also offered to do a cervical check to see where we were at the moment. While both of us are against routine cervical checks, I immediately saw the sense in this and said, "Yes! Let's do it!" As she said, cervical checks can't tell you where you're going, but they can tell you where you've been.<br />
<br />
A quick check revealed the fact that after something like <b>17 hours of labor</b>, we were at a whopping...<br />
<br />
<b>Two centimeters. </b><br />
<br />
Well, crumbs.<br />
<br />
Seventeen hours of labor in a multip should <i>not</i> produce a measly two centimeters. (Especially since I had previously checked my dilation and knew that we'd been at a minimum two centimeters for several weeks. In other words, we'd gone nowhere. Slowly.)<br />
<br />
Additionally, our midwife said that baby's head was so high in the pelvis as to be non-palpable. Also not good.<br />
<br />
My immediate question was "Are we looking at a malpresentation?" - having baby in a non-optimal position can cause wonky labor patterns, and that would also account for lack of descent.<br />
<br />
Her immediate reply was "Yup." Based on heart tones and the lack of descent, her guess was that baby had slipped from LOA (left occiput anterior) back to LOP (left occiput posterior), where he had been a few weeks ago. Babies in the OP position have a nasty habit of not wanting to come out, and my weird labor was almost certainly a result of that.<br />
<br />
Next, we talked about a game plan. Our midwife said, "You think you're okay, because you've had an hour or so of sleep. But you're not okay. You're sleep-deprived. And if you're going to face doing labor all over again from the beginning, then you need some sleep."<br />
<br />
We made a quick plan, and I followed it. Our midwife left to give us some time, and I immediately followed her suggestions - a snack (cottage cheese and a banana), a bath, taking a Unisom, and crashing on the bed to get some sleep. (Still no contractions.)<br />
<br />
I was also careful to lay on my left side (stretching over as far onto my stomach as I could) in order to facilitate baby swinging back from LOP into LOA. (The fact that I had been lying on my right side the entire night had most likely confirmed baby in his unfavorable LOP position.)<br />
<br />
I immediately fell asleep and slept for something like 60-90 minutes. It was lovely.<br />
<br />
I would have slept (much!) longer, but at that point, I was awakened by a contraction. A sudden contraction, and a mean one. I immediately knew by the feeling (even half-asleep) that baby had swung out of LOP into LOA, and that we were now where we needed to be.<br />
<br />
However, I was still tired, so I tried to keep sleeping. Nope. These contractions meant business. Even that first contraction had required vocalization.<br />
<br />
But I was still so tired, so I tried to ignore them. "La, la, la, I can't heeaaar you." etc.<br />
<br />
<b>During the third contraction, my water broke.</b><br />
<br />
What? Really?<br />
<br />
It was just a small gush, maybe two to four ounces of fluid - not a huge amount. Thus, I wasn't really sure if my water had indeed broken. However, I immediately swung out of bed and headed for the bathroom to avoid getting the bed soaked - just in case.<br />
<br />
I immediately sat down and tried to figure out if my water had broken or if I was just imagining things. Immediately, another contraction started.<br />
<br />
<b>And that's when things got crazy.</b><br />
<br />
The contraction began, and I knew instantly that I was in trouble.<br />
<br />
<i>Oh, no! I'm feeling pushy! I need to call my midwife RIGHT NOW!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
But my body made it immediately clear that I was not going to be calling anyone, because within five seconds I had shot to my feet and was screaming my head off at the wall in front of me. (My normal reaction to the pushing feeling.) This wasn't just "feeling pushy" - this was PUSHING TIME RIGHT NOW, and this baby was coming.<br />
<br />
Within a second or two, I knew that my midwife wasn't going to make it.<br />
<br />
<i>Oh, no! Joe's going to have to catch the baby!</i><br />
<br />
Small problem. I was in the back bathroom, and my husband was nowhere around (thinking that I was sleeping). Despite the fact that I was screaming like a mad woman, our house is a good sound-deadener. I was on my own.<br />
<br />
Thus, those thirty seconds went something like this:<br />
<br />
<i>Need the midwife! (Nope.) Need my husband! (Nope.) Oh shoot, I need a towel - I'm going to have to do this on my own!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
But even the towel rack, two feet away, was completely beyond my capacity to reach.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, my husband did actually end up hearing me, and he burst into the bathroom just as baby was born.<br />
<br />
<b>"Is the baby coming? Oh, there's the head!"</b><br />
<br />
He leaped for me as I hit the ground in some sort of half-kneeling position, and he caught baby and handed her to me - after taking the time to notice that baby was, indeed, our first girl!<br />
<br />
So there we were - sitting happily shell-shocked on the bathroom floor, surrounded by a pool of every birthing fluid known to man.<br />
<br />
What better way to spend a Wednesday morning?<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aX3LBq8a-GCqwXJrcCHeKuaBQ5LzmiB2QX5X5l9DegHD-e9DhAU-JsRSNPl_y2T9NNLIc-r6TgHTXaW1EPscKi97d7tRQrz-AZFV60io3t2sOiHLUEQ1LNkmI-9GOSxC1sjIWjpOaZA/s1600/Black+and+White+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aX3LBq8a-GCqwXJrcCHeKuaBQ5LzmiB2QX5X5l9DegHD-e9DhAU-JsRSNPl_y2T9NNLIc-r6TgHTXaW1EPscKi97d7tRQrz-AZFV60io3t2sOiHLUEQ1LNkmI-9GOSxC1sjIWjpOaZA/s1600/Black+and+White+1.jpg" height="320" width="171" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Within a minute or two, Joe was on the phone with our midwife. "Guess what? Diana's sitting here holding our brand new baby girl!"<br />
<br />
The really funny thing was that Joe had told our midwife a few hours earlier that he had planned to call her with those very words - as a joke! Thus, when he called her, her first response was something along the lines of, "Are you kidding me?"<br />
<br />
Our midwife immediately shot out onto the freeway to get to us, all the while making sure that we were okay and didn't need to call emergency. (We were completely fine - no hemorrhage, and baby was born already snuffling and fussing about for food. No issues there!)<br />
<br />
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<br />
A few minutes after the birth, the placenta followed - completely effortlessly and painlessly.<br />
<br />
Our doula made it to our house first, followed shortly by our midwife. They immediately checked us out and began helping us get cleaned up and settled in bed.<br />
<br />
We have absolutely no labor or birth pictures (or video), but here are some postpartum pictures!<br />
<br />
Our 8yo got to cut the cord for the first time:<br />
<br />
<br />
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Newborn exam! Baby was 8 lbs. 8 oz. (fitting in nicely with our last baby, who was 9 lbs. 9 oz.):<br />
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Pictures with the birth team!<br />
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Placenta exam picture!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqBaWOX-MPmf4RMOW8S64ePjz8VB6q8kiwONKW1BHRzGEGaDcvAEl3zg5HYV9NdDnom4ZZaHu1FmCcVocgPJ0L_KjouZNjPU7md7FJ8FUawth98C63Ai831pe1Cy7RvuaPgM-j7YQH6k/s1600/01beae9f5847c7042a3ff62f4158427997388cb3c5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqBaWOX-MPmf4RMOW8S64ePjz8VB6q8kiwONKW1BHRzGEGaDcvAEl3zg5HYV9NdDnom4ZZaHu1FmCcVocgPJ0L_KjouZNjPU7md7FJ8FUawth98C63Ai831pe1Cy7RvuaPgM-j7YQH6k/s1600/01beae9f5847c7042a3ff62f4158427997388cb3c5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And a proud papa with his first solo catch (he's caught all of our babies, but never by himself!):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNV0x7ILaLLKBh7j0i6dsBQKdw8v_h7lOP6saIy3GIZUupKdvolhtcQM9n2__aAY0XvxopTvD9zSWQZhCcaYOyIxMb_8m9Xx71pUiYx0U71KNp12bk14T1Z4mnYYHBDFducYBAv1lzyTc/s1600/01ad65e5a62601bfff987a77f26e86aed4c76937c9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNV0x7ILaLLKBh7j0i6dsBQKdw8v_h7lOP6saIy3GIZUupKdvolhtcQM9n2__aAY0XvxopTvD9zSWQZhCcaYOyIxMb_8m9Xx71pUiYx0U71KNp12bk14T1Z4mnYYHBDFducYBAv1lzyTc/s1600/01ad65e5a62601bfff987a77f26e86aed4c76937c9.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
Some postpartum pictures:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppBpo1eiIGVyBxl3otWWyVTC6mb-JogmPYjGXKKLYl-4wE62m2GpExW97-7d02QBdaDJ7xBheZnOKJ6_7FMEhI1YkXEHcsSR4nSWf5hBA-cPHqn6UPkE-a-fJdlIW0R5n4FDgY3MZFfU/s1600/IMG_2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppBpo1eiIGVyBxl3otWWyVTC6mb-JogmPYjGXKKLYl-4wE62m2GpExW97-7d02QBdaDJ7xBheZnOKJ6_7FMEhI1YkXEHcsSR4nSWf5hBA-cPHqn6UPkE-a-fJdlIW0R5n4FDgY3MZFfU/s1600/IMG_2028.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for baby's birthday cake! (Mint chip!)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml1RC2jNj_itQbF1yjufXCX0zy6RCZJCGe4NUd-NKqwb1rvMm7zjhH_4rba3Y-XcOr5tQ_VBlwYKFZILYKAmDNCtwZ8a6PT2zKR7_Mp876x3I8sTv3wMt1GksoxVCoXnJ5bkYY25gaN0/s1600/IMG_2038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml1RC2jNj_itQbF1yjufXCX0zy6RCZJCGe4NUd-NKqwb1rvMm7zjhH_4rba3Y-XcOr5tQ_VBlwYKFZILYKAmDNCtwZ8a6PT2zKR7_Mp876x3I8sTv3wMt1GksoxVCoXnJ5bkYY25gaN0/s1600/IMG_2038.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Grandma.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQm7hDqWNxlbXY6BdECAzhcnRKdPORnENCQHEdP52csLU7Ta20RhZ73Dy0Xn5Pydd7bf6bW7zzwDo0gj0spuJJkcE8EgG4IRRZKfJYYTbbafAplGqZnpZgKza96_VbQZMinu5ZdSx1jI/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQm7hDqWNxlbXY6BdECAzhcnRKdPORnENCQHEdP52csLU7Ta20RhZ73Dy0Xn5Pydd7bf6bW7zzwDo0gj0spuJJkcE8EgG4IRRZKfJYYTbbafAplGqZnpZgKza96_VbQZMinu5ZdSx1jI/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love that newborn stare! </td></tr>
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<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Reflections:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
There is part of me that would have loved to see what would have happened if this had truly been a solo birth - not for the experience itself, but simply for the incredible comedic potential of the moment. To have my husband walk into the bathroom and find me calmly nursing an infant - ah! That would have been truly a great moment. All it would have needed was a great one-liner to go with it, and we would have had a moment to remember.<br />
<br />
However, DH was great as a baby-catcher, and it will remain one of our best family memories forever.<br />
<br />
I've always wondered what it would be like to have an unassisted birth. Now I know, and I hope it doesn't happen too often! But to all you dedicated unassisted birthers out there - I take my hat off to you. You are an amazingly strong group of women!<br />
<br />
An interesting question that I have posed to myself is - how would this birth have gone in the hospital? It's an interesting thought, because it could have gone several different ways. We could have had an unassisted hospital birth... or a cesarean... or a car baby... or an unassisted at-home birth. It could have gone in many different directions.<br />
<br />
But, as C.S. Lewis says, no one is ever told the story of "what might have been."<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmNowCzCYtIVMtW8puqr5tLmsv4Exc1FUuyqXv9UutFEAgw1Mx7Wl-9SjG6BVwZIgfVyUdmQblvc6xltKCi4asmaPmV-_LTWjD8WSQ65DD1qBPuVWo1DyNLlFasSxDLo54K_0_pNUVY8/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmNowCzCYtIVMtW8puqr5tLmsv4Exc1FUuyqXv9UutFEAgw1Mx7Wl-9SjG6BVwZIgfVyUdmQblvc6xltKCi4asmaPmV-_LTWjD8WSQ65DD1qBPuVWo1DyNLlFasSxDLo54K_0_pNUVY8/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally old enough to hold a sibling on his own! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZvGecU2CKbl2Mq32qUb8QLbXRUppx7RBRWtBluS-C2nkyq6z8ubO-Iz7E4zzhIE5mnsZfE1hIk5lNlJsJgEnB9XbYAESlGfOg_eigDo8nojiY8yVTF6Jnwz1TNK-P6dubhoC5b1nDBk/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZvGecU2CKbl2Mq32qUb8QLbXRUppx7RBRWtBluS-C2nkyq6z8ubO-Iz7E4zzhIE5mnsZfE1hIk5lNlJsJgEnB9XbYAESlGfOg_eigDo8nojiY8yVTF6Jnwz1TNK-P6dubhoC5b1nDBk/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding baby sister with mama about 0.5 inches away! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<b>Afterword:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This pregnancy has been an incredible growing experience. It's been difficult, but it's also been wonderful. The Lord is growing our family at the same time that He is growing <b>us</b> - and it's wonderful both to watch and to experience.<br />
<br />
This pregnancy has been a pregnancy of <i>firsts</i>.<br />
<br />
This was our <u>first</u> non-hyperemetic pregnancy.<br />
<br />
This was our <u>first</u> pregnancy welcoming a GIRL into our brood.<br />
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This was our <u>first</u> intentionally unplanned pregnancy.<br />
<br />
This was our <u>first</u> 100% on-land labor and birth.<br />
<br />
This was our <u>first</u> (accidentally) unassisted birth.<br />
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<b>We can't wait to see what God is going to do with our family from here!</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Welcoming baby Margaret (Greta) Fern</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Born November 12, 2014</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eight pounds, eight ounces<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>We are blessed. </i></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-22089722549633503022014-11-06T11:14:00.001-08:002014-11-06T11:14:37.049-08:00Why Mercy Gilbert Hospital Rocks! <br />
I'll be posting more on local hospitals later, but for now, I just wanted to share the letter that I emailed to <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDIQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dignityhealth.org%2Fmercygilbert&ei=OchbVJ_JJan2iQKTuoGoBw&usg=AFQjCNEEcVwgOCIX9eJ56sTebMm_6peVoQ&sig2=hrBVhRheoBvu55ainotrDw">Mercy Gilbert</a> after touring their birth center this past week.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
Dear Mercy Gilbert Staff,<br />
<br />
This past week my husband and I toured the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEIQjBAwAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dignityhealth.org%2Fmercygilbert%2Fservices%2Ffamily-birth-center&ei=OchbVJ_JJan2iQKTuoGoBw&usg=AFQjCNHu6G5PASYE47AfFlYTtRCxaryGTQ&sig2=e5SFnE8hTu8TsYCdGq0zWQ">Lund Birth Center</a> at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, and we were extremely impressed with the high quality of your facilities, staff, and services that you offer at the birth center.<br />
<br />
Here are some of the things we love about the maternity care you offer at Mercy Gilbert:<br />
<br />
- Welcoming labor doulas, siblings, and birth plans (rather than discouraging all of the above, as many hospitals do)<br />
<br />
- Making water labor widely available (and encouraged!)<br />
<br />
- Welcoming midwives to your labor staff<br />
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- Encouraging mother who want VBAC births and/or unmedicated births, as well as maintaining a low rate of cesarean births<br />
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- Your commitment to couplet care and breastfeeding, as well as to non-interference in bonding and rooming-in<br />
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- Making labor tools such as birth balls and peanut balls both available and encouraged<br />
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- Respecting the rights of parents to make individualized choices for their labor, birth, and newborn health care<br />
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- Your lovely (and quiet!) facilities – both within the birth center and throughout the hospital<br />
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We have toured several other valley hospitals, and none of them could even come close to the quality of care offered by Mercy Gilbert. We very much thank you for the hard work you have put into creating such a wonderful environment for babies and families. Congratulations also on your upcoming designation as a Baby-Friendly Hospital!<br />
<br />
Sincerely Yours,<br />
Diana J.
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-9033965117240985332014-10-07T20:35:00.001-07:002014-10-07T20:35:43.416-07:00My Favorite Pregnancy Supplements! <br />
My first pregnancy was virtually supplement-free. I was young, clueless, and too horribly sick to take anything anyway - even if I'd known what to take (which I didn't).<br />
<br />
Thankfully, since then I've learned of a great array of supplements to help make pregnancy easier and healthier. I'd like to share my list with you, and I hope you'll reciprocate - I love hearing new ideas!<br />
<br />
<i>Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, just a passionate amateur. You are responsible for doing your own research and accepting all risks before trying any supplements!</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">For Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy:</span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://whiningpuker.blogspot.com/2012/08/its-new-its-improved-its-new-and.html">Click here</a> to see my entire list of supplements (and dietary/lifestyle changes) to avoid severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Preferably, these supplements and dietary changes would be started as far in advance of conception as possible.<br />
<br />
Additionally, I enthusiastically recommend all supplements and dietary changes at the above link for <i>all</i> pregnancies, not just those plagued by morning sickness. Check it out!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">For Pregnancy and Postpartum in General:</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>BASICS: Vitamin B complex, Vitamin D, Multivitamin, Magnesium, DHA (fish oil), Coconut Oil</u></b><br />
<br />
<u>Why</u>: These are the supplements that provide much of what is missing in the standard American diet.<br />
<br />
<u>When</u>: Every day, preferably pre-conception onward (i.e. all the time!)<br />
<br />
<u>Ideally I would add</u>: Probiotics! Probiotics are awesome for just about everything, and gut health is extremely important during pregnancy (as it always is). This time around, I have neglected probiotics simply because I was eating so many probiotic lacto-fermented foods. But if funds were not an issue, I would definitely add a good probiotic to the mix.<br />
<br />
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<b><u>Desiccated Liver Pills</u></b><br />
<br />
<u>Why</u>: This supplement was recommended to provide micronutrients I might miss in the early first trimester when my diet was so limited. I like it so much that it's now part of my regular supplement regimen! Read all about the benefits of dessicated liver <a href="http://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/radiant-life-desiccated-liver/superfoods-supplements">here</a>. Of course, if you <i>like</i> liver, you can always just cook it and eat it. I'll stick with pills.<br />
<br />
<u>When</u>: All the time! Especially good to build up iron stores before baby is born.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div>
<u>Other options</u>: If you'd like a good source of non-animal-based iron, try Floradix. I'm guessing that liver provides a superior micronutrient profile, but Floradix is good too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOklMsoY0DudPbt9LvqY3Uh5DkVM5IhSxKWvtPLYY6i7NVkkX3fkzkVZDlAi44b_fGIejr1oeK0aP89RZ4PoTFS5HEw1eKUSFqHNgpI9V_HwHCMEWbiKLdvHqvxFoqKse8YVfaWI_01-o/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOklMsoY0DudPbt9LvqY3Uh5DkVM5IhSxKWvtPLYY6i7NVkkX3fkzkVZDlAi44b_fGIejr1oeK0aP89RZ4PoTFS5HEw1eKUSFqHNgpI9V_HwHCMEWbiKLdvHqvxFoqKse8YVfaWI_01-o/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
<u><b>Red Raspberry Leaf Tea</b></u><br />
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<u>Why</u>: Good for everything "woman-wise"! Morning sickness, birth preparation, etc. Read all about it <a href="http://www.deeprootsathome.com/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-danger-help/">here</a>! I am currently drinking two glasses a day, and I also plan on doing the "miracle birth brew." I'll let you know how it works! (Directions for regular tea and for full-strength birth tea are in above link.)<br />
<br />
Bulk herbs may be purchased online at several excellent online stores. Local friends, try <a href="http://www.desertsageherbs.com/Desert_Sage_Herbs/Welcome.html">Desert Sage Herbs</a> in Chandler, AZ. The price per pound is slightly higher than online, but when you take shipping charges into account, it is far cheaper than purchasing online.<br />
<br />
<u>When</u>: All the time, but especially during pregnancy!<br />
<br />
<u>Also try</u>:<br />
<ul>
<li>Nettles! - Another great herb for women! Can be mixed with RRL to make tea.</li>
<li>Alfalfa! (See below for more information) - You can add alfalfa to your tea mix if you prefer that over pill form. </li>
<li>Peppermint! - For flavor. </li>
<li>See <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2462/nutrition-for-healthy-pregnancy/">this tea recipe</a> for directions on combining the above into a pregnancy tea! </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZQ-Ui7NyZEbmSB5Pm3_VF0fWbCAdqh0pIInN2QLgWfSYC79kurI0sIcHS7Mu1btoml0CHlPS1biKPldbZOBPz0hVp4LCNE5j0oq34x1R8_DdwzB4jigtkkm1w_v1hYeUYapavr-X_9g/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZQ-Ui7NyZEbmSB5Pm3_VF0fWbCAdqh0pIInN2QLgWfSYC79kurI0sIcHS7Mu1btoml0CHlPS1biKPldbZOBPz0hVp4LCNE5j0oq34x1R8_DdwzB4jigtkkm1w_v1hYeUYapavr-X_9g/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea why this picture turned out upside down, but you get the idea. </td></tr>
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<br />
<u><b>Alfalfa Pills</b></u><br />
<br />
<u>Why</u>: Building my vitamin K stores (to help with postpartum bleeding) and building up baby's vitamin K stores (since we choose not to accept the vitamin K shot). Alfalfa also has a ton of great micronutrients - <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/188/alfalfa-herb-profile/">check it out here</a>! It's an awesome supplement. Please note that I am talking about alfalfa (the grass) not alfalfa seeds.<br />
<br />
Alfalfa can also be taken as a tea rather than a pill (see above).<br />
<br />
If you want another way to get super-high levels of "green stuff" (i.e. concentrated greens), try liquid chlorophyll! (Hint: It's made from alfalfa.) We always keep a bottle of this wonderful stuff on hand to use as green food coloring for frosting and ice cream (instead of the typical petroleum derivative), but it's also an amazing supplement. Many people put it in their drinking water.<br />
<br />
You can always just eat terrifically high amounts of greens (spinach, etc.), but I am notoriously bad at that!<br />
<br />
<u>When</u>: Preferably all the time (pregnant or not), but at least during the last trimester.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm-z8e-Ld2ds7FOEINBadbToWHS2vkioHwBMccO0FWY386eVR5UyB_WPBuLIP27ltPGyt6d6eFramXLMPmZcYQ_OYX2yRUxS14eLaTcUzIMrg6p4WHTpoHAYRzHh-PKyyBK4cfs4r0MU/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm-z8e-Ld2ds7FOEINBadbToWHS2vkioHwBMccO0FWY386eVR5UyB_WPBuLIP27ltPGyt6d6eFramXLMPmZcYQ_OYX2yRUxS14eLaTcUzIMrg6p4WHTpoHAYRzHh-PKyyBK4cfs4r0MU/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u><b>Dates</b></u><br />
<br />
<u>Why</u>: Date consumption has been shown to have amazingly positive results on pregnancy health and birth statistics! <a href="http://wisdomandbirth.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-amazing-date-fruit-for-more-than.html">Read the summary here</a> (or the original 2011 study <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12850886">here</a>).<br />
<br />
It's also a great excuse to eat one of the yummiest foods on the planet.<br />
<br />
<u>When</u>: All the time, but at least during the last four weeks of pregnancy (~6 dates per day).<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ51GRTVScxpjLuNazbGiUS_Stf0kvCBOGlFRDuSti5QZZVlBGnA8xt6NahGZfKJJZs_53MGOBDf88r3F3vrWXjdNco3Bd-z2ooeW-cUtnD4A6Fu-tnRPenbMPzA8MNEnNVXOINqvWQe4/s1600/Trip+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ51GRTVScxpjLuNazbGiUS_Stf0kvCBOGlFRDuSti5QZZVlBGnA8xt6NahGZfKJJZs_53MGOBDf88r3F3vrWXjdNco3Bd-z2ooeW-cUtnD4A6Fu-tnRPenbMPzA8MNEnNVXOINqvWQe4/s1600/Trip+7.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm entirely too tired to find a picture of a date, so you'll have to make do with a picture of a toddler with a date shake! Does that count? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<u><b>Liquid Calcium-Magnesium</b></u><br />
<br />
<u>Why</u>: Prevention and treatment of afterpains!<br />
<br />
Read about<a href="http://birthingathome.blogspot.com/2012/11/time-for-some-extreme-awesomeness.html"> <span id="goog_1290958210"></span>my complete afterpain protocol</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1290958211"></span></a>, which has taken my afterpains from debilitating-excruciating (first birth) to quite manageable (third birth).<br />
<br />
<u>When</u>: Always good, but especially during the last trimester and then during the postpartum.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWF8-1HIjIPn-kEgtpX7XsVWSc-82VCQmgE8btmx2lfE1_Fx_LGRzXmT_zHsOv4G5Bk7iL4T0MBCSts30ErYY9lROP0ynMZ7wh-5foKq405bkKHyf-Ou7F-fexw52uDRT1UBtbtpaIKd0/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWF8-1HIjIPn-kEgtpX7XsVWSc-82VCQmgE8btmx2lfE1_Fx_LGRzXmT_zHsOv4G5Bk7iL4T0MBCSts30ErYY9lROP0ynMZ7wh-5foKq405bkKHyf-Ou7F-fexw52uDRT1UBtbtpaIKd0/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<b><u>Afterpains Tincture</u></b></div>
<div>
<br />
<u>Why</u>: This stuff is great for helping with afterpains! Unfortunately the company from whom I usually buy my tincture has stopped selling to the public, but there are comparable products out there. Just do a quick Google search!<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<u>When</u>: Immediately after birth (I take mine within 60-120 seconds after birth) and thereafter as needed.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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***</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
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Okay, dear friends!<b> <u>It's your turn!</u></b> What pregnancy supplements do you take to make pregnancy easier, happier, and healthier? Let me know!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-89176533186676285252014-06-26T19:06:00.000-07:002014-06-26T19:06:09.722-07:00Arizona Homebirth Families Under AttackI am very disheartened as I report that Arizona has recently turned from a state that respects and honors the rights of homebirth families...<br />
<br />
... to a state which is actively attacking and removing the fundamental human rights of homebirth families.<br />
<br />
Let's look at some of what's going on in the sunshine state:<br />
<br />
<b>Removal of Informed Consent</b><br />
<br />
Informed consent is the hallmark and bedrock of midwifery care. In true informed consent, a client is presented with all information (including pros and cons) of <i>every</i> available test and/or procedure. The client makes a decision, and the midwife then respects that decision.<br />
<br />
Under new interpretation of statutes, informed consent has been almost completely removed. An overwhelmingly large number of prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum tests and procedures are now absolutely mandatory, and the client has no say in decision-making for herself or her baby. (<a href="http://onearizonamidwife.wordpress.com/2014/06/14/bullet-point-list-of-what-you-cannot-refuse-by-request/">See the full list here.</a>)<br />
<br />
And what happens if the clients should be so bold as to assert their <i>basic human right</i> to refuse the administration of an unwanted test or procedure?<br />
<br />
<b>Mandatory Client Abandonment</b><br />
<br />
That's right. Should a client refuse a "mandatory procedure" during the prenatal, labor, or postpartum periods, the midwife is commanded to terminate care instantly. That means dismissing a pregnant client who refuses an unwanted test. It means packing up and walking out the door if a client refuses the now mandatory vaginal exam(s) during labor. For any of a large number of possible infractions, a midwife is to abandon the client instantly if the client refuses compliance.<br />
<br />
Let's go back briefly to the "now mandatory" vaginal exam(s) during labor.<br />
<br />
Guess what? A client no longer has the right to say NO.<br />
<br />
There are words to describe what it means when someone says, "Let me stick this in your vagina, or I will do bad things to you."<br />
<br />
Coercion. Assault. <b><i>Rape.</i></b><br />
<br />
Coercive "choice" is not choice, because true informed consent implies the possibility of unpunished informed <i>refusal</i>. When the "choice" is "do what I want you to do, or I will do something bad to you," that is coercion - not informed consent. When a midwife is forced to say, "Let me do a vaginal exam, or I will walk out this door and let you birth on your own," she is being forced to practice coercive and abusive care.<br />
<br />
Hospital birthers are no strangers to coercive care. It is common, if not the norm, for obstetricians to practice this type of care. I've experienced it myself. But homebirth clients seek out homebirth midwives because they specifically wish to have their wishes, decisions, and the right to personal and medical autonomy respected and upheld. Homebirth midwives practicing under the golden standard of informed consent are now being forced to practice coercive care, and the basic bodily and medical rights of homebirth clients are subsequently violated.<br />
<br />
<b>More Mandatory Client Abandonment</b><br />
<br />
Additional requirement that midwives abandon care come under the following circumstances:<br />
<br />
(1) A client may not see her midwife after the baby is 5 weeks and 5 days old. Once the baby turns six weeks, a client may not see her midwife for any reason (without risk of the midwife losing her license). This means that a client may not see her midwife for continuing issues - like recovery from birth injuries, or breastfeeding problems - or for well-woman care.<br />
<br />
(2) A client may not see her midwife once a pregnancy or labor has been transferred, however briefly, to a physician or hospital. This means that if a client has any reason to transfer care to a doctor's care or to a hospital (for example, for fluids, suturing, postpartum complications, etc.), she may no longer see her midwife for any reason - even after the attending physician or hospital has cleared her to return to the care of her midwife. She is now abandoned to find new care and cannot see her midwife for any reason - even if her pregnancy/labor/postpartum is now completely normal, or if she needs simple care like a postpartum check-up or help with breastfeeding.<br />
<br />
See the full run-down <a href="http://onearizonamidwife.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/azdhs-training-on-coercion/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Where Is This Headed?</b><br />
<br />
It is believed that this is only the beginning in attacks against Arizona homebirth families. In other words, <i>if you're not scared, you should be</i>. Important human rights can be only one tiny personnel or policy change away from being obliterated, and we are seeing this happen here. This leads me to the most important point:<br />
<br />
<b>How Can I Help?</b><br />
<br />
Let me make this clear: This is an issue that must be tackled by consumers. You. Me. This means - <b>GET INVOLVED NOW </b>if you want homebirth rights to be protected (and restored) in the state of Arizona. To change the minds and hearts of those in charge is going to take serious hard work.<br />
<br />
<u>Here's how you can help</u>.<br />
<br />
(1) Subscribe to <a href="http://onearizonamidwife.wordpress.com/">this blog</a>.<br />
<br />
(2) Join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/256480614406716/">Rights for Homebirth Facebook group</a> for activism updates.<br />
<br />
(3) Make sure you are actively participating in any online forums provided by your care provider so that you can get important information.<br />
<br />
(4) Contact your midwife and let her know that you love and support her. Ask what she needs and how you can help.<br />
<br />
(5) Write letters. A basic list of persons concerned is added below. Please keep letters polite, formal in style, non-attacking, focused on the rights of homebirth families, and using keywords like medical and bodily autonomy and parental rights.<br />
<br />
<b>A Brief Aside</b><br />
<br />
It is the absolute conviction of this blogger that:<br />
<br />
(1) Homebirth is a healthy and viable choice for families.<br />
<br />
(2) The right to informed consent and refusal and the right to personal and medical autonomy are absolute in all circumstances.<br />
<br />
Should you disagree with the above (and I hope you don't!), please know that I am not interested in starting debates here. Any "I love to see the rights of homebirth families being attacked!" comments will be quietly deleted without comment.<br />
<br />
Additionally, please know that <i>I do not have all the answers</i>. If you have questions, please head over to the above-mentioned blog and/or Facebook group to ask questions of people who are truly in the know.<br />
<br />
And with that said...<br />
<br />
<b><u>Get involved now! </u></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
***********************************************************</div>
<br />
Letters may be sent to the following individuals. Email addresses are included below, but physical letters are almost <u>always</u> more effective. If you can take a few minutes, print them out and mail them!<br />
<br />
(I directed my letter to Director Humble and did a CC to all the others, so I only had to write one letter and sent a copy of it to each of the below.)<br />
<br />
Director Will Humble<br />
Office of the Director<br />
150 N. 18th Avenue, 5th floor<br />
Phoenix, AZ 85007<br />
will.humble@azdhs.gov<br />
<br />
The Honorable Janice K. Brewer<br />
Arizona Governor<br />
Executive Tower<br />
1700 West Washington Street<br />
Phoenix, AZ 85007<br />
(email form is on her website: <a href="http://azgovernor.gov/contact.asp">http://azgovernor.gov/contact.asp</a>)<br />
<br />
Cara Christ, Chief Medical Officer<br />
Division of Licensing Services<br />
150 N. 18th Avenue, 5th floor<br />
Phoenix, AZ 85007<br />
cara.christ@azdhs.gov<br />
<br />
Pragathi Tummala<br />
Arizona Department of Health Services<br />
1740 W. Adams Street<br />
Phoenix, AZ 85007<br />
Pragathi.Tummala@azdhs.gov<br />
<br />
Donald Gibson<br />
Arizona Division of Licensing Services<br />
Office of Special Licensing<br />
Phoenix, AZ 85007<br />
Donald.Gibson@azdhs.gov<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-66158948315025685232014-06-03T17:04:00.002-07:002014-06-03T17:04:25.242-07:00Alert for Arizona Homebirth FamiliesHello, friends -<br />
<br />
It seems that some nasty stuff is starting to happen in the state of Arizona regarding licensed midwives and their clients. Read all about it here (three entries total), and remember to subscribe for further updates:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://onearizonamidwife.wordpress.com/">One Arizona Midwife: Midwifery on Trial</a><br />
<br />
I will post more details, including any meetings or consumer action requests, when I am made aware of them. In the meantime, please join these two Facebook groups to keep abreast of the issues:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rights-for-Homebirth/216683511697923?ref=ts&fref=ts">Rights for Homebirth (Community)</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/256480614406716/?ref=ts&fref=ts">Rights for Homebirth (Group)</a><br />
<br />
If anyone has any further information, please feel free to let me know in the comments!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-17821622791572869572014-05-30T20:05:00.002-07:002014-05-30T20:58:35.415-07:00Podcasts Devoted to Extreme Morning Sickness! Don't Miss This! I'm so excited to share this with you all!<br />
<br />
Rachel, a correspondent of mine and multiple-time hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) mama, has started her own website with regularly-released podcasts exclusively devoted to the subject of HG (a.k.a. extreme morning sickness).<br />
<br />
In her podcasts, Rachel talks to HG survivors and activists as well as researchers (professional and amateur) who are investigating causes and cures. Each podcast is professionally edited, quite interesting, and relatively short. I'm currently working my way through her current archives and am enjoying them greatly.<br />
<br />
Visit Rachel's website and check out her podcasts! <b>This is a great way to connect with other HG mothers, and also for maternity care providers to learn more about extreme nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP). </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://hypergpregnancy.com/">HyperG Pregnancy: A Podcast About Hyperemesis Gravidarum</a><br />
<br />
HG mamas and researchers, Rachel is always interested in talking with HG survivors and mamas who are engaged in HG experimentation and research. Email her at hypergpregnancy@gmail.com or leave a comment on her site if you'd like to chat with her!<br />
<br />
Enjoy! Thanks to Rachel for providing this awesome resource!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-49922737941221052352014-05-29T20:16:00.001-07:002014-05-30T20:58:42.154-07:00Expecting Great Things! Hello, dear readers!<br />
<br />
I realized that I have not yet stopped by to announce that.... we are expecting! We are very grateful for and excited about the Lord's newest blessing to our family, and we can't wait till the new little one puts in an appearance - Lord willing, this coming Thanksgiving or thereabouts!<br />
<br />
I am doing pregnancy updates every fortnight on <a href="http://whiningpuker.blogspot.com/">my other blog</a>, so hop on over if you'd like to share in our journey!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-53924075583743010632014-05-28T17:46:00.001-07:002014-05-28T17:46:24.175-07:00Extreme Morning Sickness: A Success Story! <br />
I've realized that I really should be cross-posting morning sickness information from my other blog, so here goes!<br />
<br />
***
<br />
<br />
I wanted to quote from the comments to highlight another hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) success story - an HG mama whose efforts have resulted in a subsequently HG-free pregnancy. Her method and the method I'm using have both similar and dissimilar points, but an underlining similarity of plan and purpose. Here are her own words! (All emphases mine.)<br />
<br />
Pre-pregnancy:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I've been following your blog for quite some time and really enjoy it, thank you. I've been researching gestational diabetes and insulin resistance and believe these may be the underlying cause of some cases of severe pregnancy sickness, along with inflammation. This can be fixed before pregnancy and does not require a very low carb diet. <b>Avoiding omega 6 fats is a very important part </b>of treating insulin resistance. I also don't necessarily think low-carb during pregnancy is safe, after reading a few journal articles that say it causes epigenetic changes and obesity in offspring. Perhaps getting insulin resistance under control before pregnancy could be done instead of the ultra-low carb diet. I would prefer to do this and stay out of ketosis, while still taking advantage of a higher fat/higher protein diet.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
After reading the book "Pregnancy Sickness", I do not feel vegetables and herbs are safe during the first trimester. Berries are a low-carb fruit that could be subbed for veggies. Boiling meat is the best way to avoid both toxic charring and bad smells. Coconut milk/oil/flour is high in fats and/or fiber and doesn't have the bad omega 6 oils. Nuts have toxins and omega 6. Milk and especially cheese spikes insulin so probably not a good idea. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I'm planning to start trying in a few months and I have a blog so I will keep you posted on my diet and if it works. I want to be low-carb but just above ketosis. I have strips to test this. I am trying to merge low-carb, paleo, "pregnancy sickness protocol" and manage insulin/inflammation all at the same time.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Some supplements that help manage insulin are magnesium, alpha-lipoic acid, and DHA/EPA. B vitamins seem to be of great benefit for pregnancy and health problems, especially "non-folic acid" forms of folate such as: folinic acid and methyl-folate.</b> (Excess B vitamins are lost in the urine). My body does not process folic acid so my doctor has me on methyl-folate instead (Deplin). Of course B6 is a must for pregnancy sicknesses.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I read an article that said alpha lipoic acid helped infertile women concieve but am not sure if it is safe during pregnancy. Magnesium and DHA are safe and recommended, along with vitamin D which boosts the immune system, reduce inflammation, seems to prevent developmental disorders, and also prevents severe flu complications. I also think there should be a greater focus on vaginal health (ie vaginosis and candida) and anemia, especially getting these under control before pregnancy for better outcomes.</blockquote>
And...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Well my thought is the same as Dr. F: that insulin resistance leads to infertility and NVP/HG. He used to treat with metfomin, now uses a low carb diet, but there are other ways to lower insulin resistance:</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li><b>weight lifting</b> (the more muscle that can store glycogen, the less insulin resistance) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li><b>avoiding omega 6's </b></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>supplements: <b>magnesium, alpha lipoic acid, vitamin D, DHA, probably B vitamins </b></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>lowering overall inflammation with a <b>gluten-free paleo/GAPS/SCD diet</b>.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"No fancy ideas here, just a compilation of ways other than low-carb diet to control insulin:)</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Metabolic problems in moms such as insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity have been linked to autism in the children (recent research). One more reason to get insulin under control way before TTC. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Power of 10 and Body by Science are excellent books to teach high intensity weight lifting. This type of workout is done one a week and build the most amount of muscle in the fastest amount of time. They also noted that when pregnant women did the workouts before and during pregnancy, they had low incidence of diabetes, and much easier labor. The mechanics of the workout (slow controlled movements while avoiding holding the breath) are very similar to what women do in natural labor. Having high muscle mass in pregnancy leads to a much quicker recovery.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It's just amazing how all this stuff ties together. I think a huge problem is our modern lifestyle, if my theory is right, it makes NVP/HG way worse.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I just had my HemoglobinA1C and insulin retested, going to see if the weight lifting and diet and supplements have lowered the A1C."</blockquote>
<br />
And the results!<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Hi, I am the one who left the long comments above. I had a healthy pregnancy (despite placenta previa and borderline glucose numbers) and healthy baby, 8 lbs 1oz. He is now one and I expecting again, 6 weeks and feeling great. I used the supplements I mentioned. If I had been able to exercise I might have had better glucose but it wasn't full blown GD. I needed a lot of mag, 800 mg a day. <b>Didn't throw up once, no HG or nausea.</b> :)" </blockquote>
<br />
Many congratulations to this mama! <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-24592979464827229072014-05-25T09:55:00.003-07:002014-05-25T09:55:50.517-07:00Magnesium and Morning Sickness<br />
Re-posting from my morning sickness blog!<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
If you're doing any research into NVP (nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, i.e. morning sickness) prevention, you have surely run across the magnesium-NVP link. There are many people out there who believe that magnesium deficiency is (fully or partially) behind pregnancy nausea - fascinating stuff!<br />
<br />
An interesting fact is that almost all Americans are magnesium-deficient already, due to the modern farming practices that have resulted in magnesium-deficient soils, and thus magnesium-deficient foods. Considering how vital magnesium is to the human body, it's not surprising that we're experiencing widespread detrimental health effects from this situation. For more information, see <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/034549458X/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=33840909715&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14298223524383791061&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_1jxwi7cbnn_b">"The Magnesium Miracle."</a><br />
<br />
I wanted to collect the articles that I have on magnesium and NVP for quick reference. Definitely check them out!<br />
<br />
Regardless of whether magnesium supplementation is "the answer" for some women dealing with severe NVP, it behooves all of us to consider magnesium supplementation - either through oral supplements like <a href="http://naturalvitality.com/natural-calm/">Natural Calm</a>, or through products like Magnesium Oil (applied to the skin - buy <a href="http://realtraditions.com/">here</a>) or Epsom Salts (used for baths). An additional option is magnesium injections, which can be obtained through a naturopath.<br />
<br />
Remember that magnesium absorption may be affected by pregnancy, so it's probably important to raise your magnesium levels <i>before </i>conception.<br />
<br />
I've seen lots of great health benefits through magnesium supplementation, and it's now on my "always" list of supplements. Highly recommended!<br />
<br />
Articles:<br />
<ol>
<li>Raising Arrows: <a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/2014/05/week-9-pregnancy-update/#comment-83203">Magnesium Supplementation and Morning Sickness</a></li>
<li>Modern Alternative Mama: <a href="http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2012/11/12/monday-health-wellness-magnesium-may-solve-common-health-issues/#.U3q98PldXAk">Magnesium May Solve Common Health Issues</a></li>
<li>Mommypotamus: <a href="http://www.mommypotamus.com/the-real-cause-of-morning-sickness/">The REAL Cause of Morning Sickness</a></li>
<li>Wellness Mama: <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/6065/how-i-avoided-morning-sickness/">How I Avoided Morning Sickness</a></li>
<li>Article: <a href="http://whiningpuker.blogspot.com/2011/03/hyperemesis-vitamin-b-and-magnesium.html">The Miracle of B Complex B-12 and Magnesium Injections</a></li>
</ol>
<div>
You will notice that most of these articles are about normal morning sickness, not HG. However, it's one of those things that can only help - why not try it? Solving nutritional deficiencies and strengthening our bodies is always a positive step in preparing for pregnancy, regardless of whether or not it's "the answer" for each individual woman. I would list magnesium supplementation as an essential for preparing for pregnancy, especially in post-HG women. </div>
<div>
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<div>
Thoughts, dear readers? </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-45381675123157596662014-05-16T09:59:00.002-07:002014-05-16T16:34:53.556-07:00Video: Surprise Twin Homebirth!Have you all seen this video yet? It was posted a year or so ago, but I just recently ran across it.<br />
<br />
Wow, what a birth!<br />
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This birth is a planned midwife-attended homebirth - the surprise comes when "birthing the placenta" suddenly transforms into "Um, that's another baby!"<br />
<br />
The midwife mentions in the early part of the video that the mother had mentioned "twins" several times, and both midwife and mama commented that Baby A was rather small for a singleton (heh heh heh). And then... Baby B makes his entrance!<br />
<br />
I have read several surprise-twin birth stories - and my husband himself <a href="http://birthingathome.blogspot.com/2010/06/family-birth-stories-my-husband.html">would have been a surprise twin</a> had his mother not insisted on an X-ray. But this is the first surprise-twin birth video that I've seen, and I was overjoyed to find such a treasure.<br />
<br />
One thing that surprised me greatly was the fact that Baby B's birth seemed even rougher on mama than Baby A's birth. I had always assumed that the second birth of a twin arrival would be super-easy. Not so! However, I've seen the same thing in other twin birth videos. Perhaps because the mother is already tender from the first birth, and the second is just adding insult to injury? Not sure.<br />
<br />
Enjoy! And congratulations to this sweet family!<br />
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<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Lztw8pAlPgo?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-83724249447916760912014-03-01T15:29:00.000-08:002014-03-01T15:31:44.523-08:00It Took Me Long Enough!For the past few weeks, I have been working on a rather time-consuming project - cleaning up the link lists on this blog!<br />
<br />
And goodness gracious - I didn't realize how horribly outdated they were!<br />
<br />
Every year I post a request on our local network of birth professionals asking for people to notify me of updated links and information, but in going through the links I realized that step was not enough. When I undertook the project of going through each link, I found that a solid one-quarter to one-third of the links were completely dead - and that was aside from the links that were no longer accurate (i.e. midwives listed under practices they've left, etc.).<br />
<br />
I have greatly pared down my link lists. Some lists I have removed completely, such as lists that were somewhat redundant (like lists of Bradley teachers <i>and </i>links to the Bradley site where teachers can be found). Some lists I reduced for purposes of clarity (like taking my blog list down from 100 to 20). All of the dead links have been cleared, with apologies to the birth professionals represented - unfortunately, I can't chase down the hundred or so birth professionals in question to find out if they're out of business or have just changed their website addresses.<br />
<br />
I have also taken care to make sure that all midwives are listed with their current practices, and that all name updates (for example Boojum to iWomen's Health Care) have been accounted for.<br />
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(I have also added a list of some of my favorite blogs on the topics of womanhood, marriage, mothering, and the link. Enjoy!) <br />
<br />
Local friends, if you know of any wonderful practitioners who should be on these lists, or if you yourself would like to be listed, do let me know! I need to know your full name or company name, your service category (see below), and your website.<br />
<br />
Current categories include:<br />
<br />
Homebirth Midwives<br />
Hospital Midwives<br />
Homebirth Doctors <br />
Birth Doulas<br />
Postpartum Doulas<br />
Placenta Encapsulation Services<br />
Independent Childbirth Educators<br />
Birth Centers<br />
Waterbirth Rentals<br />
Pregnancy Chiropractic<br />
Breastfeeding Support Groups<br />
Breastfeeding Counsellors and Lactation Consultants<br />
Pregnancy & Birth Photographers<br />
Bellycasting<br />
Crisis Pregnancy Centers<br />
<br />
My blog focuses on resources within the Phoenix valley, but submissions for anywhere in the state of Arizona are welcome.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Love to you all! Have a great weekend! </b></span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-9276977483049218162014-02-05T18:15:00.000-08:002014-02-05T20:29:15.441-08:00Time for a Birth Story! (*Wild Celebration*)<br />
Re-posted from my other blog!<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
That's right, folks! Time for a birth story! Y'all probably didn't know that we've been concealing a pregnancy, but now it's time to meet the new young'un!<br />
<br />
<b>Just kidding. </b>I can hide a pregnancy for about as long as it takes me to get from the bathroom to the computer.<br />
<br />
BUT since I just put up my birth story sidebar (on my other blog) and simply cannot find where I published my second birth story there, I have decided to republish it!<br />
<br />
As it will come up in your newsfeed (my apologies), I'll just invite you to enjoy reading it again!<br />
<br />
One HUGE added bonus is that I have taken the time to go back, find our birth photos, and add them to this originally picture-free story. Is that fun, or WHAT? Many of them I haven't used, because at the time I chose - for whatever reason - to labor completely nude. It was the hippie in me coming out. But there were lots of usable pictures, and even our close friends have not seen these - and I hope you enjoy them!<br />
<br />
Both DH and I look completely different - this birth was eight years ago! - and I think you guys will get a kick out of seeing how we've changed.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b><br />
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<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<br />
We had my last prenatal on Monday, June 20, 2006 - my due date. We were worried because Wendi, our midwife, was leaving the country for six weeks that Saturday, and didn't want to have to have another midwife if we were a few days late. Wendi, bless her, wasn't a bit worried, and she was right. I lost my mucous plug the next day, so things were in motion.<br />
<br />
(I should mention how I came to choose a midwife - When I got pregnant, we didn't have maternity coverage. In my cherubic innocence I thought that "no maternity coverage" meant that while our insurance wouldn't cover hospital birth, they would cover other services [such as homebirth midwifery]. Well, I was wrong - they wouldn't cover any of it. But by that time I'd done enough research and read enough stories that I was hooked! I didn't care at that point - I knew I wanted a midwife.)<br />
<br />
On Wednesday night I took a firm hold on DH and told him that we were going to get our to-do list done, as I was tired of putting things off indefinitely. So we hung our clothesline, set up our bassinet, and did several other things. My one and only instance of nesting!!!<br />
<br />
Thursday morning I awoke with a start at 4:28 a.m. with the odd dual sensations that (a) I really needed to use the restroom, and (b) I was already doing so! It didn't take me too long to realize that my water had broken. I was nervous and excited! I got up and cleaned like a maniac and then got dressed, being very careful to do my makeup and clothes nicely, since our midwives would be coming over! (Ha! As if that would last!)<br />
<br />
My contractions immediately made themselves known. I had had rolling Braxton Hicks contractions since my second month of pregnancy, but as soon as my water broke they became much more intense and uncomfortable - labor had started.<br />
<br />
When DH got up, he immediately freaked out and insisted on calling Wendi. After that we had breakfast, and then I headed back to bed. Getting up at 4:30 a.m. and cleaning wildly had been tiring! So I slept lightly, waking up for contractions.<br />
<br />
Sometime that morning the toilet decided to overflow, so there I was - trying to help DH clean up a flooded bathroom in between contractions. Rather amusing! We called for emergency maintenance help which, as expected, never came, so the carpet had to dry on its own. We were too busy to fuss with it anyway.<br />
<br />
Our doula Jennie came over in the early afternoon. Sometime during the afternoon, Wendi came over to check on us. I asked her if I could labor in water, and she said yes, so I immediately headed to the bathroom and stayed there - first in the shower, and then in the bath.<br />
<br />
I have to put in a plug here for laboring in water. This may sound weird, but when I got into the tub/shower, labor pain initially vanished. Completely. It was wonderful. Of course it built again from there, but I don't think I could have done it out of water. It is, after all, reputed to reduce labor pain by about 40 percent, and I highly concur.<br />
<br />
Another amusing thing was my total loss of modesty. When I initially got in the tub and DH asked if our doula could come in to say hi, I was really reluctant. Well, it went downhill from there! By the end of the night I was walking around stark naked in front of everyone and not caring a bit! So funny.<br />
<br />
One thing I also learned about myself was that I am loud in labor. Very loud. Think male sea lion during mating season. Or maybe a wounded bull moose. Many women are. I'd read enough birth stories to know this, so I didn't try to fight it (couldn't have, probably, anyway). So I yelled my head off with each contraction! Thankfully, none of our neighbors seemed to notice.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Vzycs7QbQXZ-mw9d_uoUohKcOwvuVR6rcWxQai3WatExFQxThj4KcjEh6coOH5fnaA_eBc6fizq-4WPdxpH8LyOTo4rMSS62StKQQbcToE7Jg4DHb4wgj7-n614e-opUspYM2uwB6LI/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Vzycs7QbQXZ-mw9d_uoUohKcOwvuVR6rcWxQai3WatExFQxThj4KcjEh6coOH5fnaA_eBc6fizq-4WPdxpH8LyOTo4rMSS62StKQQbcToE7Jg4DHb4wgj7-n614e-opUspYM2uwB6LI/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting up the (dead) video camera.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Somewhere during early evening, DH and Jennie set up the birth pool in our living room and filled it up with warm water. I immediately headed in there, and the relief was once again great. Wendi and her back-up, Sue, arrived about this time. However, I was never actually able to say hi to them. It is true that in labor you do loose a lot of functions you normally have - such as conversation. Your whole body is focused involuntarily on labor, and all extraneous functions cease. Makes sense. I actually spent several hours trying to say hi, and never managed it. Maybe I should apologize sometime!<br />
<br />
However, after going through childbirth, I realize how important it is to have an advocate with one - an informed husband or doula. A woman is really helpless during a lot of childbirth - she is vulnerable to suggestion and unable to fight for her rights. If I'd been with an unscrupulous caregiver, he could have given me pitocin, an episiotomy, whatever he'd cared to, because I wouldn't have noticed and/or been able to stick up for what I wanted.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbnXQTuEcn9D0f3ziSMZ2RfE-1Qi0OGwEUm4WMbMkXTcYULK1zHX5SFpiOOEpP6vwGdprfmx0Ma0oumXAZ3h_Pc4VMvUKu5JGu8T1yAKCf0xbawxyVZ0oayWA54f_4CgU3O6fHper69M/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbnXQTuEcn9D0f3ziSMZ2RfE-1Qi0OGwEUm4WMbMkXTcYULK1zHX5SFpiOOEpP6vwGdprfmx0Ma0oumXAZ3h_Pc4VMvUKu5JGu8T1yAKCf0xbawxyVZ0oayWA54f_4CgU3O6fHper69M/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back-up midwife, Sue!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This last part of labor was not a lot of fun. Everyone just sat around quietly, giving support when needed, while I dealt with things (loudly!). During the worst part I had a massive throwing-up spell, signaling transition (gotta love it!). It was during this time that I broke out in the standard "I can't do this anymore, dang it!!!" lingo. However, I was giggling inwardly at being so stereotypical - breaking out the typical transition phraseology like I'd been reading it from a script!! LOL<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFgdokkbrCDClQYJFRxSBuF-w-vlY1qyg-sSQbgBIWr7RLaOJS0VYVbYy2uw53FSi6GyEzW2atw_Ymm1XMmSSSBxaaS0voa0OHyqm5moebgmjvSjjUawyO1WqFu5KbVGliD-KByMeB18/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFgdokkbrCDClQYJFRxSBuF-w-vlY1qyg-sSQbgBIWr7RLaOJS0VYVbYy2uw53FSi6GyEzW2atw_Ymm1XMmSSSBxaaS0voa0OHyqm5moebgmjvSjjUawyO1WqFu5KbVGliD-KByMeB18/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This single picture is why midwives are awesome. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHmquJI7_r2SP2Xzd1QaUXfJ6boC6qY5scqMnLRP-4dV0umf__GXQ89_hdgGNmsnEm2ose79ZUxFdBZqtsBKkI8kIi1O4Fle1DxUnUDyhGnQAcogrpK46dFuzZC5ER-xRV2E8hR6lGz4/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHmquJI7_r2SP2Xzd1QaUXfJ6boC6qY5scqMnLRP-4dV0umf__GXQ89_hdgGNmsnEm2ose79ZUxFdBZqtsBKkI8kIi1O4Fle1DxUnUDyhGnQAcogrpK46dFuzZC5ER-xRV2E8hR6lGz4/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dealing with a contraction. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivIqlnC9Uqg68eshboMQVnpEtX5DJP-4MthvujDvvo3TW6NOE_Do8sME3iwfEFSUr2_M5cy20iufVn_3QbZItZ4-jqXVLd7EJ0ucRP9WtRSwPHOzcXzKhQ87WRXproEaOl2HOND5kgV4/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivIqlnC9Uqg68eshboMQVnpEtX5DJP-4MthvujDvvo3TW6NOE_Do8sME3iwfEFSUr2_M5cy20iufVn_3QbZItZ4-jqXVLd7EJ0ucRP9WtRSwPHOzcXzKhQ87WRXproEaOl2HOND5kgV4/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping through a break between contractions. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Our cat was totally freaking out. She had no idea what was going on - we have some great pics of her going around sniffing everything.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKGN79pPo3ywHT3FAIxT3NmPAAmHspg8IBvrIPM40AbV3l9hdNqZcGaQXWCjBwGcfA93yhL7BHiLXfHOb3fTbuWxuLAvgsFW-4iAt6nPNRyfb6v7f3jVOY9TQiRjvVD9xWkqJGJhVTAs/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKGN79pPo3ywHT3FAIxT3NmPAAmHspg8IBvrIPM40AbV3l9hdNqZcGaQXWCjBwGcfA93yhL7BHiLXfHOb3fTbuWxuLAvgsFW-4iAt6nPNRyfb6v7f3jVOY9TQiRjvVD9xWkqJGJhVTAs/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"There are some really weird hormones in the air and I am NOT happy about it!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I would ask "Am I almost finished?", Wendi would wisely say, "Soon!" I'm so glad she didn't tell the truth - I couldn't have handled it. She also told me that the only way she could know for sure was to do a vaginal exam. I refused each time. I knew that I couldn't handle it emotionally if she said something like "2 centimeters!"<br />
<br />
When my vocalizations changed from yelling to grunting, Wendi said she'd like to check to see how things were going. She did, and not only were we fully dilated, but baby was at a station of +4! Almost there!<br />
<br />
I should say that it is one of the proudest points of my pregnancy that the first vaginal exam of my entire pregnancy was an hour before baby's birth. Wendi is so, so hands-off (not all midwives are), and I loved that about her. No fuss!<br />
<br />
She tried to help me push more effectively in the water, and then after a while suggested I get out. Wendi mentioned later that most primips (first-timers) don't end up giving birth in water, as they tend to find the lack of gravity confusing. I concur!<br />
<br />
So we went in the bedroom and pushed in a variety of positions, ending up with seated. I pushed like anything for one or two hours. It hurt! At the very end I just gave up and pushed, because I wanted it to be over more than anything. And baby Caleb was born!! At 10:35 p.m. - 18 hours and seven minutes of labor. We'd refused prenatal ultrasound, so the first big excitement was finding out that he was a boy! DH had desperately wanted a girl, but he immediately fell in love with his baby BOY and hasn't looked back since.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xIAy0-oFj9YhWX_gE72kz-pXI9nFRyjviuKgUSoD04-aLxefjuUPzD1sKAv8Gg0PHAwztpC6__mEBKRR4K-BHoU4ZaaEz2v08gBq075GnXheKYIle4x-BEdfJjUOMI2VYPrZxQJ6VBE/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xIAy0-oFj9YhWX_gE72kz-pXI9nFRyjviuKgUSoD04-aLxefjuUPzD1sKAv8Gg0PHAwztpC6__mEBKRR4K-BHoU4ZaaEz2v08gBq075GnXheKYIle4x-BEdfJjUOMI2VYPrZxQJ6VBE/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calling the family - it's a boy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJorw_QiFy_uDCjM6FHGAwr3ijyrCfR-L8aTwd9G1ZYt03ckdV1Misj3g5hNIEXwUP20YKDJpjFks-ntNDg0utfSok_OjxqlTHL021qMHxzl77Sb7gsI_b86e-lxskHCLoUKpxWf8xIdo/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJorw_QiFy_uDCjM6FHGAwr3ijyrCfR-L8aTwd9G1ZYt03ckdV1Misj3g5hNIEXwUP20YKDJpjFks-ntNDg0utfSok_OjxqlTHL021qMHxzl77Sb7gsI_b86e-lxskHCLoUKpxWf8xIdo/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few minutes old! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZXFaYMUQJISIS8ntvMhA8DNnJlnnVKUQSkaO1hGD5SJfe9x3nj_JTytUH_Ydn1G06l7iOhvvAwSA4wFQiHCmwFA6RYw0bWJzb5wMLNnVo3qt0i3kcoGH4yT2tNBb23HXmgd4n0x8vZ4/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZXFaYMUQJISIS8ntvMhA8DNnJlnnVKUQSkaO1hGD5SJfe9x3nj_JTytUH_Ydn1G06l7iOhvvAwSA4wFQiHCmwFA6RYw0bWJzb5wMLNnVo3qt0i3kcoGH4yT2tNBb23HXmgd4n0x8vZ4/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We'd discovered mid-labor that our video recorder had quit, so our doula only caught the last minute or so on her camera. Big disappointment. Next time we're going to check it before labor starts!<br />
<br />
One of my big disappointments was that I (through some odd act of divine intervention) missed out on the birth ecstasy - that "my baby, my baby!!" moment. I was really bummed. I wasn't actually that interested in baby at all. I just wanted to go to sleep! But he was pretty cute, and we spent the next couple of weeks falling in love.<br />
<br />
Wendi and Sue and Jennie and DH took turns cleaning up, getting rid of the birth pool, bathing baby, and doing a gentle newborn exam (we refused eye prophylaxis and vitamin K and Hep B vaccine, and delayed newborn tests). I myself had only torn slightly (nothing to worry about), so I went and showered while they changed the sheets (after eating an enormous bowl of strawberries and cottage cheese, I should mention) and then went back to bed. They all left a couple of hours later.<br />
<br />
(I should mention that midwives don't forbid eating during labor - in fact, they encourage it - but after breakfast, I hadn't wanted to eat anything. I just drank Gatorade. So I hadn't eaten since about 6 a.m. that morning!)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcO36QQ1tOtk8vZQbJdVoPAphh8b-MFqO_iRHvJitoJgwm1tZEA7PUJrb-FJ7V4yWwcCEgBrj0-xafqgLZ5Ui02C7FRVH_Hb-SJvY0Wq9axDZMDaJ23-BgC54yT2hd7fqK3SNfN_bEXE/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcO36QQ1tOtk8vZQbJdVoPAphh8b-MFqO_iRHvJitoJgwm1tZEA7PUJrb-FJ7V4yWwcCEgBrj0-xafqgLZ5Ui02C7FRVH_Hb-SJvY0Wq9axDZMDaJ23-BgC54yT2hd7fqK3SNfN_bEXE/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doula Jennie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20Nw7kEYG7XtM-BLt0j07xJF47xI45bmevJRQNSfdEKSqGh9kna2WIw21eJRCm4kjhKj1WTaucV0vYuQs-RJybpboiTb8i70PhNUKL8RFaYpvKRuRSqJv6NT9b6h-P_7x-qjMgyBhJxM/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20Nw7kEYG7XtM-BLt0j07xJF47xI45bmevJRQNSfdEKSqGh9kna2WIw21eJRCm4kjhKj1WTaucV0vYuQs-RJybpboiTb8i70PhNUKL8RFaYpvKRuRSqJv6NT9b6h-P_7x-qjMgyBhJxM/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beloved midwife. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So that's my birth story! I have a feeling that I'm going to be coming back to my blog every couple of hours today to input little details I've forgotten, but that is the main!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSCKANGicBcDmgog19qUEMTgKyIoUueR0w2tWA-OR8aRiloPPguwrEQukibqcnodbr3WHGK1fUj5rWNzVL7LAO4YeWCxHiR9Ls61NXSLH5wCzLoyUYsoacGqNX4k3V0B1_namChCtiPY/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSCKANGicBcDmgog19qUEMTgKyIoUueR0w2tWA-OR8aRiloPPguwrEQukibqcnodbr3WHGK1fUj5rWNzVL7LAO4YeWCxHiR9Ls61NXSLH5wCzLoyUYsoacGqNX4k3V0B1_namChCtiPY/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super-long cord! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqTGfh4sqRWty3_GWsypzREPQ9zPNjQAUOW2XVm0IbH9Ped9uT0jW1TqWSOZ7D-Bgu0doXUP70hMhZ8OnKUbwiHkXUA_kMYSW1bzxJAf3WzYgXYQfI0wAEg7jOV6ZSRw1pKXf6b_I5CU/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqTGfh4sqRWty3_GWsypzREPQ9zPNjQAUOW2XVm0IbH9Ped9uT0jW1TqWSOZ7D-Bgu0doXUP70hMhZ8OnKUbwiHkXUA_kMYSW1bzxJAf3WzYgXYQfI0wAEg7jOV6ZSRw1pKXf6b_I5CU/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Placenta examination. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNuQ5Q_SdaO4ug6l34I_zUcLPq6PKsPQOS15AdpFNWfOMc-4qWc-8fbrIIH57QaW2d6_jGhN-5eUkxYBWbRON0xFXrh2Yv_FeRo7V7JLQ3Qbd6fbeEI6SH6Tg4ekwSR2kNzK5iEsnsaI/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNuQ5Q_SdaO4ug6l34I_zUcLPq6PKsPQOS15AdpFNWfOMc-4qWc-8fbrIIH57QaW2d6_jGhN-5eUkxYBWbRON0xFXrh2Yv_FeRo7V7JLQ3Qbd6fbeEI6SH6Tg4ekwSR2kNzK5iEsnsaI/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newborn exam. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBoHGSKGN-p9uHgj0ztUO-bP3fsvUrWZfJGIf-KhSwuzU027i83_4bdYKThc5ECBNmG1YQonVHRnjv0ZoFb7JXu9mHg-o-USU6XJc-XwPgRTfF5BsC7RiZw0ANW3-juR8qrPRIv8Mf5I/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBoHGSKGN-p9uHgj0ztUO-bP3fsvUrWZfJGIf-KhSwuzU027i83_4bdYKThc5ECBNmG1YQonVHRnjv0ZoFb7JXu9mHg-o-USU6XJc-XwPgRTfF5BsC7RiZw0ANW3-juR8qrPRIv8Mf5I/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newborn exam. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMG9p9oHKElqXeyTlJmk72-NN1-Bxrm_XAoscBBY7s4fsiLLIEWn9iCdA8qhUTlIWfYfsMmNbctfVJRvDaJ9-mO3a4usMRPGxGlL4x00wN5-hx1yBd7lnJiTHCLSWf6gVnm4KOWgOAsI/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMG9p9oHKElqXeyTlJmk72-NN1-Bxrm_XAoscBBY7s4fsiLLIEWn9iCdA8qhUTlIWfYfsMmNbctfVJRvDaJ9-mO3a4usMRPGxGlL4x00wN5-hx1yBd7lnJiTHCLSWf6gVnm4KOWgOAsI/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking heart tones with daddy! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And that was our first (live-birth) birth story! Reviewing this birth story and adding pictures has been so much fun! Thanks for joining me on this journey!<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-20067531823919403512013-12-19T16:48:00.001-08:002013-12-19T16:48:08.375-08:00Let's Talk, Shall We? Greetings, ladies!<br />
<br />
It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm afraid I'm not nearly as active on this blog right now as I once was - or I'd like to be. Sometime I'll write a blog post explaining why, and what's going on, and all of that.<br />
<br />
But in the meantime, I thought I'd ask...<br />
<br />
<b>Do we have any Catholics in the audience? </b><br />
<br />
I don't really know my audience very well. I'm assuming there are lots of Christians-in-general here, but I'm looking specifically for Catholics. Or, for that matter, Protestants who are interested in life ethics. I was thinking of posing a discussion question specifically concerning Catholic life ethics, and I thought it might be fun to chew on it for a while among friends.<br />
<br />
But only - ONLY - if...<br />
<br />
(1) There are people interested in discussing it! And, equally importantly...<br />
<br />
(2) Those who participate can pledge to remain 100% sane, level-headed, kind, and gentle-tongued. In other words, who are willing to <i>play nicely.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
So, dear friends, let me know! Catholics and Protestants interested in the theology of life ethics - check in! If I get a decent response - even just one or two people! - I'll try to post my discussion question.<br />
<br />
Hey, I'll probably post it even if I don't get any response - just for fun! So you're stuck with me either way!<br />
<br />
Hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas season, ladies!<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-90989713553076434672013-11-05T21:23:00.001-08:002013-11-05T21:23:34.397-08:00"The Cause and Cure of Morning Sickness and Hyperemesis Gravidarum" (Part 1 of 2)The upcoming article I mentioned earlier last week has been posted, and I am so excited to link to it!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://stevenandersonfamily.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-cause-and-cure-of-morning-sickness.html">The Cause and Cure of Morning Sickness and Hyperemesis Gravidarum</a><br />
<br />
I have a whole bunch of thoughts and comments that I want to share with you all (Part 2!), but they will have to wait for a not-so-busy day. In the meantime, go read the article and join the comment threads there!<br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
(P.S. I do testify again that yes, this is for real and has worked for a six-time hyperemesis mum who is an in-person friend!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-30524969940145931802013-10-29T10:31:00.000-07:002013-10-29T10:31:01.298-07:00A Cure for Extreme Morning Sickness, Coming to a Blog Near You! (Cross-posted from my morning sickness blog...)<br />
<br />
A cure for extreme morning sickness? It sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn't it?<br />
<br />
But, as a matter of fact, I'm not joking.<br />
<br />
More details will be published soon, and in the meantime you can read the initial summary <a href="http://stevenandersonfamily.blogspot.com/2013/10/double-digits.html#comment-form">here</a>. I can testify that yes, this is for real. This mama is a repeat-HG (six-time) mother, and she is just finishing up her first trimester... with no drugs and no HG. I'm anxious for all of the details to be published (*hint*hint*hint*), but I wanted to link to the teaser so you can all be waiting on tiptoes!<br />
<br />
Have a great night, everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-23169026939291185392013-07-24T16:02:00.001-07:002013-07-24T16:02:17.505-07:00My New Favorite Birth Video! I have watched this video twice... and cried both times! This gorgeous and heart-touching birth video (click <a href="http://www.cecijane.net/shes-a-girl-just-like-me/">here</a> to see full-size) is a true keeper, and embodies everything that is beautiful and holy and precious about childbirth. Please take a few minutes to watch (and share!) - I know you'll love it as much as I did!<br />
<br />
This video is very G-rated - no nudity at all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/67928527?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Enjoy! Congratulations to this sweet family!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-14589383195407936392013-07-24T15:57:00.003-07:002013-07-24T15:57:37.736-07:00An Awesome Book.... For Free! This week I became aware of a soon-to-be-published book, <a href="http://www.visionarywomanhood.com/three-decades-of-fertility/">"Three Decades of Fertility."</a> It looks absolutely awesome, and I can't wait to read it! Here is the trailer:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/68302310?byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
I am a long-time blog reader of many of the authors, and I am sure that this is going to be a great book.<br />
<br />
<b>And..... if you would like to use your blog to review this book, you can get a virtual copy (E-book or PDF) for free <a href="http://crossfocusedreviews.com/2013/07/available-for-review-three-decades-of-fertility/">here</a>! </b><br />
<br />
Much as I'm drooling over this book, I probably won't take advantage of the offer, simply because I have found e-copies of books impossible to finish. Not having (or wanting) an e-reader (or whatever those things are called!), it requires massive amounts of time sitting at the computer - time that I don't have right now, as all of my reading is done while nursing (or while brushing my teeth!). I've tried to read e-books on the computer before and found them impossible.<br />
<br />
However, for you Nook/Kindle/etc. people out there, this is an awesome opportunity! Please let me know if you decide to take them up on the offer, and how you like it! Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-43162915366116616582013-07-23T16:12:00.001-07:002013-07-23T16:12:00.827-07:00The Best Parenting Book You Will Ever Read! (Promise!)That's quite a promise, isn't it? <i>The best parenting book you will ever read. </i>We'd all click to buy that book!<br />
<br />
If I <i>were</i> to recommend a parenting book, it would go like this:<br />
<br />
<b>#1 - The Bible. </b>It truly lays the groundwork for godly parenting, and I am attempting (however imperfectly) to follow its precepts.<br />
<br />
And, as a side note, there is nothing in the world more annoying than a parenting book which claims to be "Christian" and then goes on to ignore, contradict, or belittle everything that the Bible has to say about parenting. Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
<b>#2 - <a href="http://raisinggodlytomatoes.com/default.php">Raising Godly Tomatoes</a>. </b>Love this book. It is biblical, it is practical, it comes from a woman with vast experience (that is, ten children!), and it is simply awesome!<br />
<br />
Another humorous side note. Have you ever read of one of those parenting books which was obviously written by someone who had only easy-going children? Those crack me up. I read one book which gave an example of child-teaching something like this:<br />
<br />
Mommy: "Johnny, when you said such-and-such, you hurt your sister's feelings."<br />
Johnny: *Weeps copious tears of repentance and never says such-and-such again*<br />
<br />
Um, yeah. I'll stick with the parenting books written by parents who have experience dealing with challenging children.<br />
<br />
But I digress.<br />
<br />
Back to the "Best Parenting Book You Will Ever Read." Well, I can't <i>quite</i> come through on that promise. Because the "book" I'm going to tell you about isn't exactly a... book.<br />
<br />
It is this:<br />
<br />
The best parenting "book" you will ever "read" is.... <b>spending time around good, experienced parents. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
That's it. Not reading the newest books by PhD experts, or going to mommies' groups, or any of that. Simply spending time around parents who are doing a good job parenting their children, and learning from them.<br />
<br />
When I look back at my parenting career, I can easily see that the times that I have made the most progress in my parenting skills have been from that very thing - being around experienced moms, watching how they interact successfully with their children (loving them, spending time with them, correcting them, disciplining them, discipling them), and then making those good habits my own as I imitate them. Those are the positive changes in my parenting that have had the most lasting and most memorable impact.<br />
<br />
Books - not nearly so much. Usually, when I read something in a book, I think, "I should do that!" and then make a few sporadic efforts, only to forget it until I read the book again and think, "Oh yeah, I meant to do that."<br />
<br />
A few months ago, I spent just a few minutes with a very experienced, wonderful mom - and in those few minutes, I watched at least three or four specific examples of awesome parenting that were immediately tucked into my mind for future reference. And that same thing has happened to me many times. Learning from other (good) parents is simply the way to go.<br />
<br />
And when you think about it, the main biblical model for teaching and training the next generation is through one-on-one discipleship. Jesus spent three years doing one-on-one discipleship with his twelve disciples. And when Paul is writing instructions to Titus, he writes:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>"[Older women] are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children." (Titus 2:3b-4a)</b><br />
<br />
Not "Younger women should go and read lots and lots of parenting books to learn how to take care of their children" but "Learn from the older women who have done this all before." Each generation learns from those who have gone before.<br />
<br />
I think that the absence of this precept is what often plagues us younger and more inexperienced moms. We don't automatically get this type of discipleship like former generations did. Some older women don't have much to teach, because they abnegated their child-raising responsibilities. And some women don't pass on the riches of their experience because they simply do not make themselves available to disciple the next generation of young mothers.<br />
<br />
<i>Older mothers, never think that you are not needed because your children are up-and-out. We younger moms need you desperately. If you do nothing but keep your home, help with your grandchildren, and minister to younger moms within your church, we younger moms will arise and call you blessed. You are greatly needed. </i><br />
<br />
Some young mothers find themselves isolated from older mothers due both of those reasons, and also to geographic isolation (lots of job-related moves, etc.). And all of those factors result in young women who don't receive the discipling that they need from the older generation of experienced mothers.<br />
<br />
What happens next?<br />
<br />
What happens next is that we younger mothers turn to unreliable sources - either the newest pop-culture parenting books (and we are so vulnerable to all of the nonsense they turn out) or our mommies' groups, where we are receiving the counsel of women just as inexperienced as ourselves (and often women who are greatly misled by the latest disastrous parenting fads). Neither produces the true discipleship that we need.<br />
<br />
With all of that in mind, I would simply say...<br />
<br />
Older (and more-experienced) mothers, make yourselves available to the next generation. We need your counsel and wisdom and advice so very much. Be willing to spend time with younger moms who can benefit from your experience.<br />
<br />
And younger moms (such as myself), take the time to find those older mothers - either the "graduated" moms who have finished their parenting journey and are willing to offer counsel and support, or moms who are simply further down the parenting road and are doing a good job of it.<br />
<br />
<b>That is truly the best parenting book you will ever read. I promise. </b><br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FMESfozHVr3BzhHdmLv6TRR-4nBM8xz03W9-16g0Jv7pTXKulTZIQ6W3xbvFezdZY2yfijNb_Kq91wFxWUF9YNvT0Yd2fWQ-Ti6xY9zfx5BCzjDc84deqHxkOcI9jsMaGv82_nFUIKgn/s1600/Boys+Playing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FMESfozHVr3BzhHdmLv6TRR-4nBM8xz03W9-16g0Jv7pTXKulTZIQ6W3xbvFezdZY2yfijNb_Kq91wFxWUF9YNvT0Yd2fWQ-Ti6xY9zfx5BCzjDc84deqHxkOcI9jsMaGv82_nFUIKgn/s320/Boys+Playing.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoever said that parenting these kidlets wasn't a hardcore full-time job was, frankly, insane. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-66442827016332159532013-05-23T20:55:00.000-07:002013-05-23T21:39:22.947-07:00It's Time to Protect Arizona Midwives & Homebirth RightsHello out there, dear readers...<br />
<br />
As most of you know, big changes are coming down the pipeline in Arizona regarding licensed midwives and client rights for homebirths.<br />
<br />
These changes are not good ones.<b> <u>In fact, they are disastrous.</u></b> If the current proposed regulations go through, (1) Arizona midwives will no longer be able to practice safely, due to (among other things) a removal of their ability to carry and administer life-saving medications (such as pitocin for postpartum hemorrhage), (2) homebirth clients will lose the right to informed refusal of state-dictated prenatal, intrapartum. and postpartum procedures and tests, and (3) many additional restrictions and requirements will be added to homebirth midwifery that will prevent midwives from practicing and serving their clients well, and which will restrict client access to safe homebirth midwifery services.<br />
<br />
Even I, who have had three safe and uncomplicated homebirths, will most likely lose access to legally-attended homebirth should these new regulations pass.<br />
<br />
You can read an excellent summary of what's going on <a href="http://www.yogimompreneur.com/arizona-midwives-under-fire/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
You can leave your comments <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YX8VYBP">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Please take a minute to follow the above link and leave comments regarding these regulations. You do not have to be an Arizona resident or homebirth client to leave comments, and all are appreciated. Please remember to keep all comments calm, polite, and evidence-based. Flinging accusations or being rude or argumentative will get us nowhere.<br />
<br />
Regulations will take effect on July 1st unless changes are made.<br />
<br />
Thanks, everyone!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985693736373223221.post-84029022714262065292013-05-13T16:15:00.005-07:002013-05-13T16:15:47.223-07:00New Resource for Hyperemesis Moms in ArizonaArizona birth professionals, please add this to your list of resources to give to your hyperemesis mamas - a new Facebook group specifically for hyperemesis women in Arizona! A wonderful local resource for help and support.<div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/458430540905429/">HG Moms of Arizona</a></div>
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See you there! </div>
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