Category Archives: Prevention

Baby Announcement

Exactly three days ago I was walking down the ramp of the parking garage and into the hospital because I was pretty sure I was in labor.

Right now I am rocking in a glider with my 3 day old newborn baby boy snoozing on my chest.

I had psyched myself up thinking about the labor and delivery, worried that I had somehow set the bar too high with my first one and thinking maybe it was a fluke that it went so well. I heard several horror stories from women who had a terrific natural childbirth with their first baby, only to tell me their second labors were harder, longer, and unbearable. (Note to those whom this has happened to- don’t tell these stories to pregnant women! Wait until after their babies are born to share the scary details!)

Of course I know how strong the mind is, and the power of suggestion- so I was trying to remember this and focus on what I knew to be true…that our bodies are made for this and if supported, know exactly what to do and how to birth a child! I recently read a story of a woman who delivered a healthy baby while in a coma! So it seems if we “get out of the way of ourselves,” most times things will go the way they should.

Of course there are many circumstances where medical intervention is necessary, and this is why pregnancy and childbirth are much safer for women and babies in our country than they were even a hundred years ago. This is also why I chose to have my babies in the hospital even though I have home birth written all over me!

Most people I know think it has to be one way or the other- hospital or home birth, because they assume at the hospital they will take over and do everything conventionally. I have now given birth in two different hospitals in two different states and am here to prove you can have a wonderful, amazing, natural childbirth in a hospital. It’s what I consider the integrative approach.

omg — Published in The New Yorker 03/15/2010 by Mick Stevens

Over the next few days (maybe weeks depending on how much time I have to write with a 2 year old and a newborn to care for!) I’ll tackle many of the questions people have about having as natural an experience as possible in a hospital setting, and many of the things to consider before you go in.

Remember my post recently on red raspberry leaf tea? Check back tomorrow to see if I used it and whether or not it worked!

Prevention

Happy Father’s Day!

Holly 1 Comment

We are a site devoted to moms, however I know we have lots of daddy readers and today I say to you-

Happy Father’s Day!!

And especially to the two best daddies on the planet.

Mine:

vp-17 — Top row 3rd from left, when he was a Navy pilot. How cool is that?

and my son’s and baby bump’s:

The greatest thing a FATHER can do to his children, is to love their mother.

– Anjaneth Garcia Untalan

I love you both so much! Happy Father’s Day!

Prevention, Products, Recommendations

Baby Crying

Holly 1 Comment

I just spent twenty minutes inflating my “birthing ball.” Technically, it’s just a balance ball or stability ball, however they are very useful during the days leading up to labor and during labor itself.

Gently bouncing on the ball can actually help the baby get into position
Doing hip circles on the ball helps to open up the pelvis and makes delivery easier
sitting on the ball offers relief that a more structured chair or sofa doesn’t

The hospital where I delivered my 2 year old son recommended I bring my own ball in case the ones they had were all being used. I still love the image of my husband and me in active labor walking the long city blocks to the hospital with the suitcase, boom bucket, and birthing ball in our arms, stopping every few minutes for me to bounce.

Little did we know that ball would be FAR more useful after we brought our newborn home. I remember my sister saying there was no use buying a glider or rocking chair when babies love the stability ball, so in one of those “witching hour” moments when absolutely nothing would stop my baby from crying, my husband held him in his arms and bounced on the ball.

It was magic.

He instantly stopped crying, and fell asleep shortly thereafter. We were amazed and overjoyed. If I had known how many hours I would spend bouncing on that darn ball, I would not have been as happy. But in that moment it was wonderful.

how to soothe colic — This was always the result. Went from crying at full throttle to sound asleep in no time flat.

For the next 6 months or so, my husband and I traded off sitting and bouncing on that ball, during all hours of the day and night. It worked better than anything else we tried. I had a love/hate relationship with it, but it was miracle enough for me to know that I will use it again with this new baby.

Do you have a birthing ball? How about a deflated exercise ball gathering dust? Do you have a crying baby? Then I encourage you to get it out, puff it up, and start bouncing!

If you don’t have one, I consulted a fitness expert and found out how to choose a ball based on your size:

Each ball holds up to 600 pounds

How to choose size of ball:

Up to 5’7″ tall use 55cm
5’8″ to 6′ use 65cm
6’to 6’4″ use 75cm

He also recommended the best place to order one online- they have the best quality balls:

Perform Better Stability Balls

Happy Bouncing!

Natural Treatment, Prevention

Evening Primrose

Holly 2 Comments

I am officially one week away from “full term” in my pregnancy, and it’s the strangest phenomenon. Sometimes I wake up and forget I’m pregnant. It’s not until I try to hoist myself out of bed that I remember- oh, yes, I’m carrying an extra 36 pounds and another human inside of me.
Speaking of 36 lbs, that’s also something I forget until I see a photograph someone has take of me and then I realize once again that I am indeed great, GREAT with child.

So since I am on the home stretch, I have added an additional supplement to my daily regime of prenatal vitamins, red raspberry leaf tea, fish oil and chia seeds:

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening Primrose is native to North America, has beautiful yellow flowers that bloom in the evening, and its oil contains gamma linoleic acid. GLA is used medicinally in the treatment of inflammation, eczema, arthritis, and PMS.

Evening Primrose Oil is also recommended by midwives for use during the last month of pregnancy to soften and thin the cervix in preparation for labor. I used this with my last pregnancy and was 100% effaced and by 37 weeks. Effacement, which is also called cervical ripening, is the process of the cervix as it softens, shortens and becomes thinner. I must believe that the Evening Primrose Oil helped, as I was a first time mom!

The essential fatty acids the oil provides are also beneficial for this stage of pregnancy, since they are anti-inflammatory and nobody wants cankles!

As with everything I write about, this is something I’ve done with success but you must consult your doctor or midwife before adding any supplement to your diet during pregnancy. If she gives you the go-ahead, let me know how it worked for you!

Prevention, Products, Recommendations

Teres Kids

Holly 1 Comment

I am thrilled to share a fabulous children’s clothing find with you.

A friend recently told me about a wonderful company called Teres Kids. I checked out their website and was very impressed. The clothes are all 100% organic, and made in the USA. From their website:

“Our clothing is sourced and manufactured entirely in the United States, keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum.

We started Teres Kids to create simple beautiful clothes for active kids. By eliminating all the things that make kids uncomfortable, like itchy seams, tags and rough fabrics, we can help all children be comfy and stay active.”

They sent me an outfit for my son for review, and these clothes are really outstanding. The material is soft, comfortable, and perfect for a toddler’s active lifestyle. They are also great for sensitive children, as there are no tags to cut out.

My son wore his shorts and t-shirt the day after we received them, and has worn the shorts almost every day since. We love them because they are nice and long, so they protect his knees from the many trips he has throughout the day.

The shirt is great too- he gets lots of compliments on the fish design, and I absolutely love that color on him. They have many other adorable graphics you have to see. The girls clothes are also super cute!

One issue I always have with organic t-shirts is how thin the material is, so we end up with lots of holes. Not so with Teres Kids! They fabric is thick and durable and “woven in a family-owned mill in South Carolina that dates back to the early 1900s and is dedicated to organic, sustainable operations.”

The other test with organic clothes is how well they hold up in the washing machine. Well, we’ve washed the shorts 3 times and they still look as great as they did the day we received them. He dripped a chocolate popsicle all over the front of them one day and sat in white paint another, and both stains washed out completely.

Need some great new clothes for your kids for summer? You’re in for a treat- head over to Teres Kids to check out their amazing line!