04/05/2022
Are you feeling like you've lost yourself?
In a world where having a baby is possibly the most miraculous, exciting, all-consuming event in your life and in the lives of those who know and love you, it is not surprising how easy and common it is to lose yourself in the process - which can have devastating consequences.
It can be fulfilling and joyous to morph into a mother - more for some than others.
But it can also be confusing and overwhelming and leave you feeling like “who am I?” and “what happened to the person I knew?”
You do not have to swap out all other identities when your baby arrives.
Believing that you do will keep you from fully enjoying those big changes that come with your new role - for if you think the “old” you is lost forever, you can easily resent motherhood.
Instead, remember that…
🔸each sacrifice is largely temporary
🔸you embody many identities, each taking a turn at being in the spotlight (sometimes day to day, sometimes year to year, or sometimes phase to phase throughout your life)
🔸your children will benefit from your conscious effort to be an individual other than only their parent.
How are you feeling mama?
Maybe I can help.
03/31/2022
The lessons you can learn in the 40 or so weeks you’re carrying your baby transcend how to find the best stroller and how to manage labor pain.
Find your voice and then make sure you’re heard and respected…
… in the same way this skill will be used over and over in your role as a mother every time you fiercely and unapologetically protect and advocate for your child.
03/29/2022
Tell me mama!
Share your choices in the comments and I'll tally the answers just for fun. 😊
03/24/2022
There is no such thing as FALSE labor.
Ugh, I hate that description.
Every single thing you feel as your body is getting ready to birth your baby is meaningful.
There IS, on the other hand, such a thing as freaking out because you don’t know the meaning of what you’re feeling.
So, hopefully this will help you when you’re feeling contractions.
#1 - Many times, simply overdoing it can kick things into high gear without actually starting a labor pattern that ends in birth. Yes, you may start having contractions that wake you up, and they may end up fizzling out, but most of the time, contractions that start when you’re relaxed end up being the real thing. Just remember to change up whatever you were doing. If you’ve been on your feet, going going going all day long, then sit down. Maybe even do a meditation/visualization, and calm your body.
#2 While you’re at it, grab a glass (or a quart!) of water. You may think that the massive amount of water you’re already drinking is enough, and usually it is (assuming it really IS a lot), but you can become dehydrated for many reasons, and when you’re pregnant those reasons are more prevalent. You may have even heard stories of people thinking they were in labor, or having lots of contractions well before their due date - ending up in the hospital where the contractions stopped after getting IV fluids. Although you might have to go that route, drinking on your own could very well decrease or stop the contractions without having to go to the hospital.
#3 You don’t necessarily have to time these contractions you’re feeling, but noticing whether they’re all over the place or coming in a pattern, is significant. And if they are feeling different as time goes on - becoming more intense and painful - this is not like having a few contractions, then not having any for a few hours, and/or not noticing any changes in how they feel.
Now if you do #1 and #2 and you pay attention ( #3), and your contractions continue to get longer, stronger and closer together, it’s very likely that these are labor contractions. If they slow down or stop, they are practice contractions.
ANY QUESTIONS??
03/21/2022
This is a super-simple device to take a “Sitz Bath”.
It is seriously one of my favorite postpartum “remedies”.
Instead of filling an entire bathtub and completely un******ng (although if you have a tub and want to make that happen, go for it!) you can spend 15-20 minutes twice a day sitting on the toilet to gain the same benefits.
The Sitz Bath is a very focused way of soaking your bottom after birth - soothing this tender area - whether to calm inflammation and for general healing of swollen vaginal tissues and hemorrhoids, or recovering from a tear or an episiotomy.
And if you’re an experienced, multi-tasking mama you can get in a chapter of a book, listen to music or a podcast, meditate, or even feed your baby!
First, lift up the toilet seat and place the basin directly over the rim of the toilet.
Then, fill the bag and basin with warm water and sit!
The bag can be placed off to the side, maybe on the tank of your toilet, or on the counter close by. The tube that leads into the basin will be clamped off at first so that the water in the bag doesn’t run through the tube.
When the water you’re soaking in cools off, you can release the clamp and allow fresh, warm water from the bag to flow into the basin.
Great options for additions to the water:
🌼Epsom salt
🌼Comfrey leaves
🌼Calendula flowers
🌼Yarrow flowers
🌼Witch hazel
🌼Lavender
If you’re giving birth in a hospital, you’ll most likely find a Sitz Bath in your postpartum room - or you can ask for one - not just to use while you’re there, but to bring home with you.
If you’re giving birth at home, you can find a Sitz Bath at a pharmacy that has medical supplies, or you can order one on Amazon.
I highly recommend having one ready to use just after you give birth.
Double tap if you like this idea! 👆🏻👆🏻
03/15/2022
This is medical malpractice as far as I’m concerned.
It’s an outright disregard for INFORMED consent.
#1 - “small frame” is not a medical diagnosis. It’s usually not even a good guess.
#2 - “he was big already”. Based on what? How you look? An ultrasound… which, statistically can be off by 15% in either direction?
And let’s say you actually DO have a narrow pelvis and a big baby.
YOUR PELVIS MOVES IF YOU MOVE.
It can open and change its shape at all points - the inlet, the middle, the outlet - and encourage your possibly big baby to rotate and descend.
The reason you’d “most likely have a c-section” with this healthcare provider is because they would tell you to lay in bed, very still, with several non-evidence-based routine medical interventions.
Is it possible that your unique, individual anatomy might create more challenges in labor compared to others?
Of course.
But, how dare a doctor coerce you into a procedure that contains risk, or usher you into an operating room without true, just cause.
03/10/2022
“Going with the flow” is not a strategy for the best and safest birth experience.
Neither is “Maybe next time I’ll… switch practices, get educated, not be so meek, hire a doula…”.
Of course it’s possible that Mother Nature will be having a good day and she’ll wave her magic fairy dust on you so that everything goes smoothly despite your complacency.
But, that’s a game called Russian Roulette, and I can’t think of a life experience in which I would discourage playing that game more than that of birth.
THIS birth experience… the one you’re embarking on right now… is the only one of its kind.
You will not get it back.
You cannot replace it… no matter how many future births you have.
What might you do right now to ensure that you have no regrets?
03/21/2022
03/15/2022
03/10/2022