BOHO BIRTH

Mindful Birth

2011-12-08T23:32:00.000-08:00

I am really excited to announce the beginning of my new pregnancy and birth education series called, 'Mindful Birth'. I have been creating it for some time..gathering information, and using the tools and techniques at births i attend (and my own!) to see which ones are actually useful for women. Learning mindfulness is life changing..not only will you use this method in pregnancy and birth..you will use it for living...parenting, eating, dealing with conflict, pain and stress...all parts of a normal life! The next session starts on Thursday, January 5th. The course runs for 4 weeks (every Thursday), and goes from 6:30-8:30pm. Contact myself for more info: abarker54@gmail.com

blog love!

2011-05-17T20:23:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite photo blogs is from France, titled, 'Le Dans La'. The daily posts are beautiful and it keeps with my romantic notion of what it would be like to live there....

Birth story of Ezra Lewis

2011-03-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

My littlest man Ezra was born on February 1st, 2011..almost 6 weeks ago.

This last pregnancy was going to be a breeze...this was my fourth baby after all, i had home birthed, i was a HypnoBirthing practitioner, was in a traditional midwifery program, and i had been working as a doula for the past few years...so i knew pregnancy and birth and i trusted the process. I remember feeling sorry for women who thought of birth as a painful event that one had to "get through" in order to meet their babies. I was above all that fearful-of-birth business ....at least until i hit the eighth month and realized that I had to do it again!
The fear crept in and stayed awhile... I remember at night, waking up to the feeling like i needed to escape my body, but i couldn't move. And sometimes it felt like i wasn't able to breathe.
The more fear i felt, the more positive (and some not so positive) birth stories i read, and the more abdominal breathing i did. I practiced my HypnoBirthing daily and listened to positive birth affirmation CDs while driving my minivan filled with MY children. Thats right, the three previous children i had already birthed quite fearlessly. Why now? I think the fear came from: 1) the thought of being out of control, and not being able to surrender, 2) I've given birth before, so i know its intensity, and 3), attending births during my pregnancy gave me a whole new perspective on the variations of how birth can go.
I had had three empowering births, and I had gotten all those lovely endorphins and oxytocin to help me feel euphoric and totally blissed out and bonded to my babies. I remembered those parts so well, and when we were planning on having a fourth, all i thought of was that highly addictive euphoria at the end!
I liken it to a druggie (hello birth junkies!) who will do anything to get that feeling from the next hit. We forget the "sensations" a little while after birth since we are totally high on LOVE!
So i continued on my journey embracing the birthing process for what it was, and practiced surrendering. I did it over and over and over again...since its easy to stop surrendering. I learned how to focus on the now, while being thankful to God for the opportunity to take part in another birth, which He made me able to do. My biofeedback sessions were amazing and gave me some incredible tools for life, not just birth. I also had chiropractic adjustments once a week, massage therapy and acupuncture. I was mostly ready.
The last day of January came and i felt prepared emotionally and physically to birth...i had faith, courage and TOOLS! At around 6:30 pm that Monday evening as i made dinner for my family, i had started to get some mild contractions ( i won't use the HypnoBirthing speak here), and i knew this was it. I got excited at the thought of meeting my baby and i was SO DONE with being so huge. The contractions came and went, not in a particular pattern for a few hours and then started to get painful around 9 ish. I called my midwife and then wrote a little letter to my baby...one of my rituals i do when i go into labour. When we tucked the kids into bed we told them they would be meeting their baby in the morning, and they found it hard to believe! (My six year old told his dad that he doubted it). My other births had gotten faster and faster, and with my last birth being about an hour and a half i thought this baby would be born in January.
We got the birthing pool up and ready, i stayed out of it as long as i could and laboured using the "lift and tuck" for my back labour, and got my husband to massage...er, punch...my lower back, which is our standard labour "system" we've done every time. One of my boys called down from his bedroom,"Mom, are you having birth?"
It was at the point when i had to use "vocal toning" (ie: yelling the 'ahhh' sound) during my contractions that i thought i was near and got into the birth pool. My midwife came and got everything set up, ...and my contractions slowed to 5-6 minutes apart. I was comfy in my pool with my Ray LaMontagne and Jack Johnson playing, and i thought that the baby would soon be out... heck, what was i worried about..I could do this!
When the second midwife arrived i asked her to check me to see how dilated i was ( i was dead against this before)...I was ONLY 3! Labour had just begun.
My husband made coffee for the midwives, our children slept and i held onto the side of the tub for dear life. They were strong and coming closer together. I took my Rescue Remedy...don't know why, i wasn't afraid, i was in freaking pain! My labour went from the dreaded back labour that i had always had, to the feeling of my hips being pulled apart like wish bones after a Thanksgiving dinner. I couldn't breathe into the pain or through it, i only felt like yelling (i mean vocal toning!).
My midwife thought that maybe i should get out to speed things up...like climb stairs or Mount Everest..sure, no prob. I got out and headed to the bathroom, frantically searching for walls to brace myself against...yelling my head off the whole time. I felt like i was going to go crazy if i had to do this much longer...and realized i needed a plan. So i yelled at my husband to stop looking at me, and holed myself up in my cave. I sat on that toilet, put my feet on the stool, and welcomed every feeling, every sensation, and just "observed" them, i didn't judge those cute little contractions as pain..not one bit. For about an hour and a half i was zen. I was SMILING. I thought i got the freakin' golden ticket...everything clicked and i "got" what surrendering through pain was, i would be the best hypnobirther ever.

Then I needed a new plan.

When I had gotten cold enough and my bottom too numb to feel, I went back to the pool. My little birth spa. HA. The sensations went rip roaring through every cell south of my belly button. I felt that I needed to bear down with every contraction. I asked to get checked again. 5 cm. I wished she had lied..nope, I wished I hadn't asked. The problem was this; my little man had part of the bag of waters in front of his head, so his head wasn't putting very much pressure on the cervix. Maybe thats why so much pressure in my hips?
Plan..plan..needed a plan! My husband got in the pool and punched my lower back harder than my midwife had ever seen someone want to be punched(counter pressure at its finest!) while I held onto the sides and bore down....yes, I pushed this early. This is how I got through the labyrinth of my labour.
Ray and Jack continued to sing, the midwives did paperwork and had a little nap, and it felt very comforting to be doing this at home. Comforting in a bittersweet sort of way.
At 4:30 am, I got out of the pool so my midwife could check to see if my cervix was swelling from all that bearing down I was doing (it wasn't) and I wanted to know if my self checks were accurate (they weren't). I was at 5 and a half cm...I'm thinking the "and a half" was just to make me believe my body had done SOMETHING in the last hour and a half. My midwife asked if I wanted her to break the water bag, and I said a big "YES!" The baby was down low enough so there was no risk of chord prolapse, and I had laboured through the night. I wanted to meet my baby.
As soon as she broke the bag he descended quickly. So quickly that they couldn't find his heartbeat for a couple of contractions. I went from side lying on my left side, to the right side to standing until they finally found those blessed heart tones. So relieved!
I was on autopilot. I got down on my knees and held onto the side of the pool..I never did get back in. I pushed for a few more contractions and when I felt the feeling of a huge rock coming out my bum, I knew it was almost over! Oh blessed be. Ezra slid out into his father's arms and I heard his loud cry belt out from his little body (little-ish, 9'3 isn't so small!) My baby was here! I remember saying, "Am I dreaming? Is this for real?"
Birth is such a surreal, ecstatic (out of body) event. Birth has taught me so much about myself, and about how pain is an important part of the birth process just as it is in life. Fear loses its power when we learn how to TRUST.
After Ezra was born I laid down and held him for the first time, drinking it all in, so excited to have these first moments with him. I stared into his sweet little eyes, and realized how much we already knew each other.
My three year old son woke up first, surprised that there really was a baby in my belly. Then the other two woke up and ran down the stairs to meet their new baby. Immediate love and acceptance for their new brother.

I am thankful.

birth story

2010-12-14T14:18:00.000-08:00

Oh i cried when i read this...so beautiful. Also, it may have something to do with the fact that i am 7 weeks from my own guess date and i am so excited to meet my little one :)

Read the story HERE

Wee Textile

2010-12-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

I love Lena Corwin's textiles and overall design style. She has a design blog and now, as she is almost due with her baby, has started another called Wee Textile.

my new boots!

2010-12-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

I love my new purchase! Being VERY pregnant, there is not much that i can wear at this point and still feel/look good in...my tall boots are getting too difficult to pull on (well, it just bending over is gymnastics for me!)...i saw these faux leather boots..and coupled with some prego jeggings...i'm good for my last 8 weeks!!

Birth Doula Services

2010-09-30T22:34:00.000-07:00

I am a mother of three, wife, Herbalist, Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator. I have been attending births since 2006 and have a passion for helping pregnant mothers find their inner strength and courage for birth and future mothering!

My doula services include:

- Prenatal herbal & nutritional consultation

- Three organic belly butters (Ovio Organico)

- Three visits (after the initial meeting) for discussing your birth plan, answering your questions, and childbirth education.

- Being on call 24 hours/day for two weeks prior to your "guess date", and two weeks after.

- Staying up to 2 hours after the birth (or untill breastfeeding is established).

- One postnatal visit to discuss any questions and concerns.

My fee is $500.00 including all of the above, $200 to be paid at the second meeting as a retainer fee, and $300.00 to be paid within two weeks before your "guess date".

Other services offered:

- Pregnancy photo session: 25+ photos to document this special time in your life, your choice of location and partners welcome! $100.00

- Nutritional Analysis with customised prenatal food and supplement plan. Suitable for vegetarian and vegan mothers, as well as for anyone wanting to nuture themselves and their growing babes with whole, real foods and proper supplementation. $50.00

The first Doula meeting is free, to schedule an appointment:

abarker54@gmail.com

(250)376-8331

(250)320-3980

Blessings,

Amanda Barker

An amazing woman...

2010-09-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

Please read this post over at Marvelous Kiddo...its about Jeannine Parvati Baker ; a mother and midwife who changed many peoples perspective in her lifetime, and afterwards...

Allergies and Pregnancy

2010-06-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

Many women suffer from seasonal allergies, and dealing with them when you're pregnant is not fun! As a Herbalist and Doula (and fellow hay fever sufferer), I get asked all the time if i know of any natural methods. I spoke with a Naturopathic Doctor and Midwife, and they told me about some remedies that do work well AND that you can take during pregnancy:

1. WATER! Drink plenty...minimum 8 glasses per day (flushes out the allergens from your system).

2. Homeopathics are safe during pregnancy and lactation. Pollinosan Tabs by A.Vogel help regulate your immune system. I use this myself and this literally worked overnight.

3. Echinacea is safe during pregnancy and is also great for regulating the immune system; making it strong enough to fight invaders, yet smart enough to know what to attack and what not to.

4. Vitamin C is an effective natural antihistamine, and you can take up to 2000mg/day. Try to spread 500mg doses throughout the day.

5. A healthy diet of anti-inflammatory foods! Follow The Gentle Birth Method nutritional guidelines for a healthy, glowing pregnancy and better birth.

Gloria Lemay's Anti-Bleed Tea

2010-06-12T22:23:00.000-07:00

Recipe for Anti bleed tea

2 Tablespoons Shepherd Purse

1 Tablespoon Fennel

1 broken Cinnamon stick

Put all herbs in a big pot. Boil water separately and pour boiling water (at least 5 cups) over the herbs. Let steep. (You may have to re warm but do that with least heat possible. Leaf and seed herbs are not boiled).

Get your big mug ready before the baby is born.

Put 2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey in the cup with a spoon. Have bendy straw ready. Put tea strainer (small strainer with a handle) over the top of the cup. As soon as the baby is born one attendant runs to get a cup of the tea and the straw. Make sure it’s warm but not hot enough to burn mother’s mouth with a swallow. Give it to her and say “This tea will help your placenta come out smoothly, all in one piece.” Say this only once. Keep offering the tea liberally.

The mother’s body needs warmth inside and out after the birth and women seem to love the taste of this tea plus the hydration.

We use this tea for primips. With multips we use a crampbark/cinnamon tea for helping to reduce the afterpains. Barks and roots are boiled so there is a different method for preparation.

Multip Postpartum Tea

2 heaping Tablespoons Cramp Bark

1 broken 4 ” cinnamon stick

Cover with 6 cups water in a metal pot and boil slowly on the stove for about an hour. Remove from heat. Sweeten with maple syrup or honey as for the other tea.

This tea will warm the mother inside and the Cramp Bark is very effective for reducing the pain of the uterus contracting down (”after pains”).

teacup cozy made by KnitStorm

BOOB

2010-06-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

Maternity clothes can be so...typical. Boob maternity is an on-line shop out of Sweden that delivers original prego wear...even if its just to look at and be inspired by the interesting pieces. Its like Thyme maternity meets Forever 21.

Green and Prego!

2010-06-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

Green Smoothies are wonderful for pregnant mothers (and lactating ones too!) They deliver food based vitamins and minerals in a easily digestible form. Check out Get Fit and Yummy for some great information and recipes!

Lift and Tuck for Back Labour!

2010-05-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

I have had three back labours, and every time I get pregnant I hope to God that I will not have a posterior baby again...but I do without fail. I do all the tricks that I know of; get chiropractic adjustments, crawl around my house on all fours, and try to sit up straight against really hard chairs. But no..my babes always turn right side up after I am 10 cm dilated, and after i have endured the dreaded back labour. The pain of back labour is awful...even terrible, and it can prompt many women into having epidurals. The other day I found this site and its looks very promising...it gives me goosebumps to think that women who have posterior babies may have another option!

Beautiful birth

2010-05-21T14:27:00.001-07:00

The Homebirth of Lucia Mae from Sara Janssen on Vimeo.

Don't Push!

2010-05-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article by Laura Shanley about pushing, or NOT pushing.

And here is an interview with Laura on www.mothering.com.

Kristy's Birth

2010-05-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently gave birth to her sweet little boy; Foster. Here, is her birth story...

Take a nap!

2010-05-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

This is a great post from The Idler:

There’s a simple remedy for the exhausting hardships that life can throw at the idle parent. It’s not advertised on the television or in the papers, because it costs nothing and therefore no one makes money out of it. But indulging in it will without doubt improve your quality of life. I’m talking, of course, about that glorious care-charmer, the nap. The destruction of the nap has been a victory of Calvinist culture. Perhaps this is because the nap is so deeply pleasurable, and as we know, pleasure was frowned upon by the puritanical tendencies of the post-Medieval age. In our pell-mell Western economies, napping is seen as a waste of potentially productive time. Instead of taking 40 winks, we tend instead to power ourselves up with that ubiquitous, costly and dangerous stimulant, coffee. As the Protestant work ethic spreads its joyless gospel around the world, societies that used to nod off after lunch are dropping the habit. In Italy, for example, shops now stay open during the siesta hour to compete with the guy across the road. And in China, workers are giving up their afternoon doze, fearful that Western visitors will consider them lazy. Thankfully, idler-friendly countries remain, such as Mexico or Laos, where naps can be taken at any time of day without any sense of guilt. The nap is enjoyable for its own sake, particularly to sleep-starved parents. “I used to think booze and sex would bring me joy,” wrote P.J O’Rourke after becoming a father. “Now it’s a nap.”
A nap is useful, too. American research suggests that nappers are healthier. Napping reduces stress and lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes. A study of pilots found that a 26-minute nap in the cockpit (while the co-pilot flies) increased alertness by 54 per cent. One report says that simply knowing that you are going to be able to nap later in the day reduces blood pressure. I know from experience that I am far more likely to be grumpy on days when I have not managed to nap. Sleep deprivation damages mood and, conversely, the nap is a great promoter of domestic harmony. The morning is improved by its anticipation, and the afternoon and evening are improved because you are not exhausted. There is also that immensely healing sense that you are being kind to yourself. For this reason, the idle parent should make napping an absolute priority. If you are at home with the children during the day, napping should be easy. The kids need a nap, too, so – while they sleep – resist the urge to get things done, unplug everything and go to sleep as well. At weekends, take turns with your partner to nap. One idle dad friend of mine offers to give his wife a break by taking the children to a matinee. Having installed them in the cinema, he creeps back to the car and dozes off. If you are stuck in the dark satanic mills of the modern workplace during the day, then more ingenuity may be required. On fine days, the park bench may afford a 20-minute kip in your lunch break. Deck chairs are very comfortable and are offered by many municipal parks. If it is raining, then creep into a church and find a quiet pew for some dozy contemplation. Or if you drive to work, then use the car for a bit of shut-eye. I have heard of dedicated nappers managing to take a snooze in public lavatories, or even at their desk. And if you are worried that your brain may not be able to switch off, then simply drink a pint of real ale or a glass of wine at lunchtime, and remember – no coffee! God gave us alcohol to help us relax: we were not made to toil for nine hours or more without respite.

PINK

2010-05-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

I am going to be planning a baby shower for a friend very soon, and i found this on the NonChalantMom blog ..some great ideas for decor and food!!

enfant terrible

2010-05-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

I am planning on taking my daughter with me to France next year, and with all things French on my mind, i came across this on-line shop; Enfant Terrible. Please, check it out! (PS. It's Canadian!)

Breech documentary!

2010-04-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Ovio!

2010-04-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

My organic skin-care line, 'Ovio Organico' will soon have pregnancy, birth, new mama, and baby kits available! I've been thinking about doing this for ages now, and since i am always telling women what herbal teas to drink, homeopathics to take and what salves to use, i figure its time to put all i recommend and make for those special times in one package! I am open to more ideas for those "must have items" for pregnancy, birth and beyond. Cheers!

Photo taken by Tina Modotti 1929
'Mother and Child'

Circumcision

2010-04-14T23:45:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Milos is the compassionate nurse who founded NOCIRC, the National Organization of Circumcision Info and Resource Centers. Here Milos speaks of her early motivations, influences, and remembers humanist Ashley Montagu.

(taken from http://www.mothering.com/ )

Herbs for pregnancy- what to use & what to avoid

2010-03-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

This is such a great resource! If you have some time read it through and make notes :)
Article taken from Childbirth Solutions

Wise Use of Herbs during Pregnancy

by Linda B. White, M.D.

To make love with the goal of creating a child represents longing incarnate. It is an act both wonderfully irrational and a bit reckless. Once the child within takes hold, you are no longer one, even after the birth. Being pregnant reminded me of those Russian Matrushka dolls with tiny women nestled one inside the other--only in pregnancy, the figures are strung together by umbilical cords. Motherhood can evoke feelings that run the gamut from profound to mundane, rapturous to maddening.

A woman and her fetus are literally connected--spiritually, emotionally, and physically. If you desire a child, now is the time to optimize your health. A few weeks--critical ones for organ development--typically pass between conception and the realization that you are pregnant. Susun Weed, herbalist and author of Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, offers the following advice: "Basically, what we should be doing every day of our lives is taking care of ourselves--getting sufficient rest, eating well, exercising, making sure that we're touched lovingly, that we're supported by people who believe in us and encourage us."

Herbs Commonly Used during Pregnancy

Although herbs are not necessarily needed by all women during pregnancy, the following herbs are recommended by experienced herbalists and have been used safely by women for centuries. Kathryn Cox, owner of Motherlove, an herbal company for women in Laporte, Colorado, suggests generally choosing herbs that can be eaten as food: nutritive herbs rich in vitamins and minerals such as red raspberry leaf, nettles, alfalfa, and dandelion. Rosemary Gladstar, author of Herbal Healing for Women, stresses that with these traditional pregnancy herbs the whole plant is meant to be used, preferably eaten as a vegetable (in the case of dandelion greens or nettles) or in some cases taken as a tea or tincture. Unless under the care of a health practitioner, pregnant women should not use concentrated botanicals that isolate a few chemical properties. Also, do not exceed recommended dosage guidelines unless advised to do so by your healthcare practitioner.

Red Raspberry is a tonic that has been used safely by people in North America and Europe for hundreds of years. Catherine Hunziker, owner of WishGarden Herbs and an instructor at the Rocky Mountain School of Botanical Medicine in Boulder, Colorado, calls it "the best all-around herb for a healthy pregnancy. It's a nourishing, building herb that has an affinity for the reproductive system."

This nutritive herb is rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, vitamins B, C, and E, and the alkaloid fragarine--the constituent that contributes to the plant's potency as a pregnancy tonic. It increases fertility in men and women (especially when combined with red clover), tones the uterus, eases morning sickness, and assists in plentiful milk production.

If you have a history of miscarriage, some herbalists recommend that you should delay using the common variety of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) by itself, especially as a tincture, until after the first trimester. You can then drink one to two cups of tea a day every other day. Also, if your previous labor has been under three hours, red raspberry may be contraindicated. Check with your health practitioner.

To make a tea, add one to two tablespoons dried leaf per cup of boiling water and steep ten to 20 minutes. You may want to alternate red raspberry with other nutritive herbs such as nettles or combine it with other nourishing herbs. Motherlove's "Tea for Two" recipe contains red raspberry, red clover (blood cleansing), nettles (nourishing), alfalfa (also nourishing), and spearmint (tastes good and calms the stomach).

Nettles are rich in biochelated iron, calcium, and protein, as well as a host of other important nutrients. "It is virtually a pregnancy tonic by itself," says Gladstar. The benefits of drinking nettle infusion before and throughout pregnancy include nourishing and strengthening the kidneys, increasing fertility in men and women, nourishing the mother and the fetus, diminishing leg cramps and childbirth pain, preventing hemorrhage after birth, reducing hemorrhoids, and increasing the richness and amount of mother's milk. According to Sharol Tilgner, ND, president of Wise Women Herbals in Creswell, Oregon, nettles should be picked prior to flowering to avoid bladder and kidney irritation. Although use as a tonic is considered safe in pregnancy, concentrated extracts of stinging nettles (such as used to treat hay fever) can act as an abortifacient.

Alfalfa is loaded with vitamins A, D, E, and K, eight digestive enzymes, and numerous trace minerals. It is particularly helpful in late pregnancy because the vitamin K it supplies promotes proper blood clotting, thereby reducing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.

Dandelion. Both the leaf and root of this common garden "weed" provide many essential nutrients: vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, potassium, and many trace elements. The root is said to be a specific remedy for the liver. The leaf is a mild, nonirritating diuretic, which can reduce water retention during pregnancy. You can eat flesh leaves as salad greens, cook them, or steep them as a tea. However, because dandelion is rich in vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that can accumulate in the body, use only in moderation.

Herbs to Avoid during Pregnancy

Experts agree that pregnant women should avoid herbs that have strong medicinal or potentially toxic effects. Francis Brinker, ND, author of The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, notes that many of the herbs not recommended help initiate menstrual flow, particularly in nonpregnant women. For women who miscarry easily, higher doses of these herbs in early pregnancy may increase this risk.

Under professional guidance, a woman may be advised to take some of these herbs to treat specific conditions, including complications of pregnancy. For instance, herbalists have traditionally used black haw, false unicorn root, cramp bark, and wild yam root for threatened miscarriage. Both blue cohosh and black cohosh are sometimes recommended during the last weeks of pregnancy to prepare the uterus for childbirth or to stimulate contractions. Shepherd's purse has been utilized to abate hemorrhaging during childbirth.

The point is not to self-medicate with the following botanicals. It is also important to realize that the examples in each category do not represent an exhaustive list.

Herbs that stimulate uterine contractions: birthwort, blue cohosh, cinchona, cotton root bark, ergot (as in commercial preparations for migraine headaches), goldenseal, gotu kola, Peruvian bark.

Herbs that stimulate menstrual flow: agave, angelica, bethroot, black cohosh, chicory, feverfew (in flower), hyssop, horehound, lovage, milk this-tie, mistletoe, motherwort, mugwort, nasturtium seed, osha, fresh parsley leaves (especially placed vaginally), pennyroyal, poke root, pulsatilla, rue, saffron, sumac berries, tansy, thuja (white cedar), watercress, wormwood, yarrow.

Herbs high in volatile oils (which can stimulate or irritate the uterus): eucalyptus, nutmeg, osha, yerba mansa, and the mint family members basil, catnip, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, peppermint, pennyroyal, rosemary, true sage, and thyme. For the common culinary herbs, the concern lies with the use of high doses in women susceptible to miscarriage, not with using herbs to flavor food.

Plants high in alkaloids (which can also stimulate the uterus): barberry, blood root, broom, goldenseal, coffee, mandrake, tea.

Herbs that affect hormonal function: dong quai, hops, licorice, motherwort, wild yam.

Harsh herbal laxatives: aloe, cascara sagrada, purging buckthorn, rhubarb, senna, and yellow dock (in large amounts).

Strong diuretics: juniper berries, uvaursi (bearberry).

birth without violence

2010-03-24T17:44:00.000-07:00

Frederick Leboyer, M.D. was a French physician who was responsible for creating the awareness in maternity wards of the intact an functioning senses of the newborn. Many doctors at the time even thought newborns to be blind at birth! His revolutionary book "Birth without Violence" changed the way in which many parents and professionals bring babies into the world.

Interview with Midwife Cara Mulhahn

2010-03-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

Cara Muhlhahn, CNM, and midwife featured in The Business of Being Born (documentary film)

Why did you decide to become a midwife?

I knew from a very early age that I was destined for a medical profession. A series of events led to the decision, but the first birth I attended is what got me hooked. So much of what we do is helping women navigate their own process by giving them reflection and feedback about the normalcy of what’s going on from the outside—when they think they’re dying, splitting apart, falling into oblivion.

You started your career as a lay midwife in your early twenties. What made you decide to become a certified nurse-midwife?

When I was apprenticing for home birth I heard about a maternal death at home. I immediately thought, “I need to pay attention so I’m doing the safest thing.” I knew there was more education I could get. I also wanted legitimacy and legal protection. I didn’t want my entire career to be at risk in the event of an unavoidable bad outcome.

Did you ever consider becoming an ob/gyn?

When I went to college, everyone wanted me to be a physician because I was first in my premed science classes. I did consider becoming an ob/gyn for a while, but the one thing that held me back was that I did not want to do surgery. I was worried about becoming inured to the sacredness of the body and possible intervening unnecessarily in a natural process. Midwifery seems to be a better fit for me.

What made you choose to practice in a home setting?

I worked in a freestanding birth center for four years in New York. I loved the birth center, but I had to leave that setting in order to graduate to midwifery based on experientially honed clinical judgment call, rather than what I view as restrictive protocols. Adherence to institutional protocol can be a first step, an essential one for securing safe outcomes while working as a novice. Practicing at home allows me to make clinical birth plans based on the unique circumstances of each birthing woman’s labor and contributes to lessening the interventions that often make up the slippery slope of the descent into resolution by cesarean section.

How do you view your colleagues who practice midwifery in hospitals?

I’m not interested in promoting a division between home birth and hospital midwives. All midwives are making headway in the battle to bring the power of birth back to the woman—who is actually doing most of the work. If we legitimize home birth and hospital birth, people are going to naturally find their comfort level. Opponents of midwives will just use the old “divide and conquer” to keep us from our deserved triumph.

How did you get involved with The Business of Being Born?

Abby Epstein, the film director, approached me by telephone and said she was working with Ricki Lake. Synchronistically, a couple of weeks earlier, I said to one of my student midwives who had just gone to film school that we needed to make a film. Abby and I first met at a neighborhood café, Ciao for Now, and talked about the proposal. And I said “The film you are proposing is the one I wanted to make, but not being a filmmaker, I’d rather you do it.”

What was it like making the film?

It took us over two years. I created a persona that could completely tune out the cameras most of the time. If I hadn’t been able to do that, I can imagine things would have been quite difficult. Allowing the filmmakers into such an intimate personal and professional space was clearly an act of faith. At the end of it all, I can pretty much attest to Ricki and Abby´s adherence to portraying midwives as we would like to be seen.

How do you feel about how you are portrayed in the movie and what would you like to have changed?

First of all, I want to say that I’m very grateful for this film. However, it leaves some questions unanswered. One is that there is no clip of me listening to the baby’s heart beat in labor. I’m one of the stricter home birth midwives in terms of how closely I follow ACOG guidelines for intermittent fetal heart rate monitoring. It would have been better for the public to know that we do check on their babies when they’re in labor.

Abby ends up being one of your clients in the film, but it looks like she visits several care providers during the course of the movie. Were you Abby’s prenatal care provider?

I was not until very late in the game. I had two prenatal visits with her and another scheduled two or three days after she went into preterm labor at 35 ½ weeks. At 32 weeks, I knew the baby was breech.

The film ends with a lot of drama when Abby goes into preterm labor at home. What do you think about the transfer scene?

They don’t show all of the clips of me executing the decision to go. They don’t realize the drama in the lobby scene makes it look like I was not in charge of the transport. We were only at the house for about an hour, and Abby and I arrived at the hospital before the physician. I was in the operating room during the cesarean section at Abby´s head.

What do you envision as a positive future for midwifery?

The Business of Being Born can help initiate a necessary conversation between the birthing public and birth professionals. Here is an opportunity for an honest exploration and evaluation of what home birth midwives really do instead of reliance on the convenient and self serving projections of a suspicious and undereducated governing body. We need to make a stance and we need to make it strong. The women of this country desperately need midwives on their behalf to help them birth normally.

The Transfer Scene: What the Cameras don’t Show

If you’ve seen The Business of Being Born, you probably have some questions about the preterm labor and the cesarean section at the end. ACNM member Cara Muhlhahn, CNM, shares the details that didn’t make the final cut.

What do you think about how you are portrayed in the movie and what would you like to have changed?

First of all, I want to say that I’m very grateful for this film. I feel that midwives are portrayed in a very positive light. However, there are a few lapses that leave some questions unanswered. One is that there is no clip of me listening to the baby’s heart beat in labor. I’m one of the stricter home birth midwives in terms of how closely I follow ACOG guidelines for intermittent fetal heart rate monitoring. It would have been better for the public to know that we do check on their babies when they’re in labor.

Abby Epstein, the film director, ends up being one of your clients in the film. But it looks like she visits several care providers during the course of the movie. Were you Abby’s prenatal care provider?

Not until very late in the game. She was undecided about her choice of birth site and provider until after 28 weeks. Her early prenatal care was done by the physician in the film, Dr. Moritz. I had two prenatal visits with Abby and another scheduled two or three days after she went into preterm labor at 35 weeks. At 32 weeks, I knew the baby was breech.

Can you explain the events that led to your decision to do a transfer to the hospital?

The night Abby called me, she didn’t sound like she was in labor on the phone. She said that she might be having contractions, but she didn’t know. Since I live in the neighborhood, I decided to walk over and spend some time with her face to face. When I got there, I checked the baby. The baby was fine, but still breech. Abby was lounging in the tub, but I was watching her contract and saw that her affect had become less rational. When I examined her, she was already 3 – 4 centimeters. I also knew that Abby’s mother had a six hour labor with her first child, which meant that Abby was likely to progress quickly. So that’s when I said, “Let’s get this show on the road.”

The transfer scene seems pretty rushed. What are your thoughts on that scene?

Of course documentaries are edited for dramatic effect, which may be the source of my discomfort with how Abby´s labor transfer is portrayed. It appears that we were home for hours, which isn’t true. She had a precipitous labor for it being her first baby, which didn’t give us a lot of time. But they don’t show all of the clips of me executing the decision to go. They don’t realize the drama in the lobby scene makes it look like I was not in charge of the transport.

You and Abby take a taxi to the hospital. Why didn’t you call 911 instead?

911 is a slower transfer. It takes the ambulance an average of eight minutes to get to the house and a lot of important time can be lost just registering the patient to EMS. EMS would also take Abby to the hospital of their choosing, allowing institutional protocol to outvote my judgment call as an experienced midwife.

After Abby’s water breaks, you do not appear on camera during the rest of the transfer and cesarean section. Were you still with Abby?

Yes. Abby’s water broke in the driveway of the hospital. I examined her in the wheelchair on the elevator ride so that I could hold the head up in the event of a cord prolapse. (The baby ended up having the cord around his neck, which is why he didn’t turn vertex.) Abby and I arrived at the hospital before the physician. I was at Abby’s head in the operating room during the cesarean section.

Although Abby’s baby boy arrives safely, the physician says that Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) occurred. Do you want to talk about that?

In the film it appears like the baby was starving, everybody missed it, and the doctor saved the day. But the situation was misconstrued because of a critical detail that was lost during the emergency transfer. The physician who received the transfer was under the impression that the baby was 40 weeks. Abby’s baby was actually born at 35 ½ weeks. A 3 lbs, 5 ounces baby at 40 weeks would have been much more serious than at 35 ½ weeks.

Cara Muhlhahn's Home Birth Stats:

Years of CNM Experience: 18
Years in Homebirth: 16
Number of Births Attended: ~800
Transfer Rate: 9%
C-section Rate: 3.5%
Article taken form Peaceful Parenting

Midwife Cara Muhlhahn

Midwives assisted UC?

2010-03-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

Interesting article on midwives dealing with UC'ers (Unassisted Childbirthers) from the Navel Gazing Midwife Blog.

beautiful birth & great soundtrack

2010-03-05T22:53:00.000-08:00

The birth of baby Koa! from Rachel Shepard on Vimeo.

Raw Vegan diet and Pregnancy

2010-02-28T20:46:00.000-08:00

Please go to Raw Ragamuffins for information regarding a raw vegan diet during pregnancy.

adorable

2010-02-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

Blog Love: Rummey Bears

Boho Birth has a website!

2010-02-24T09:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.bohobirth.com/

Singing during labour

2010-02-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

I remember singing during my labour with my second baby...i was so calm being alone in my bathtub, singing and rocking back and forth. Having nurses and doctors present while in a hospital enviroment doesn't make a woman want to start singing...and sometimes even having your husband or doula present can damper the freedom you would've had if you were completely alone. I encourage women to take time alone during their labours so they can have some time without feeling like they're being watched, its amazing what time alone can do to ease pain and anxiety.

vaginal births with multiples

2010-02-14T20:30:00.000-08:00

These women are incredible!!

Waldorf babies

2010-02-06T21:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article on parenting babies Waldorf style.
A friend of mine sends her children to a Waldorf school on the Island, she always has these really inspiring stories of nature festivals and how her children are learning all about the natural rhythms of life, and celebrating them!

What are the rhythms that you celebrate?

Here is another great link exploring the different festivals that are celebrated in the Waldorf communities.

fresh blog babies!

2010-02-02T15:25:00.000-08:00

I have decided to start a couple of new blogs that include all the other "selves" of me that are unrelated to birth. Boho Birth will just be about pregnancy, birth and babes, and any other lifestyle musings i may have will be here: http://www.ragamuffinliving.blogspot.com/
And for you foodies out there: http://www.rawragamuffins.blogspot.com/
Thanks for reading!

Labourless labours and painless births

2010-02-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

This is has not been my personal experience, but i have enjoyed my births in all their pain and glory nonetheless... this would be a dream though!

Taken from http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com:

The scene is a familiar one. A woman in labor is lying in a hospital bed surrounded by masked men and women. Her forehead is sweating, machines are beeping, and she's screaming at the top of her lungs, "I can't do it! I can't do it! It hurts! It hurts!" This is the way women give birth. Or do they?

The fact is, many women don't find birth to be painful or difficult. Call them lucky if you wish, but I tend to believe it has more to do with the attitude of the woman giving birth, and the people she has chosen to surround her. If you interview a woman who has had an easy birth you may find she has a very relaxed attitude about her body and her sexuality. Perhaps she has always been this way, or maybe she has consciously worked at overcoming her fears and learning to trust her body. Either way, her babies are born with grace and ease.

True, at this point in time these women may be the exception rather than the rule, but I still find their stories fascinating. If we can at least entertain the idea that perhaps birth can be painless and easy, maybe more of us will be able to experience it this way. In any case, it makes for some interesting reading. Here are some stories I've collected over the years about laborless labors and painless births.

* * * * * * * * * *

I was six days from the due date of my third child. On Jan. 6, 1991 at 11:13 p.m. I started to have very mild cramps, so I called the doctor. He said to meet him at the hospital. So, I woke up my husband and got my aunt to watch our other two girls. We left at 11:45 p.m. and headed to the hospital, which is about 10 minutes from home, and I felt the need to push. I pushed one time and the head crowned. The rest of the baby followed. It was a girl. She was 6 pounds and 19 inches long. I did it by myself while my husband was driving. She is now 8 years old and in the second grade.
-From "My Husband Drove While I Delivered" by Lori

* * * * * * * * * *

I know for a fact that completely painless labour and birth does happen! This is the tale of three different women...two of whom are my own sisters.

Firstly my eldest sister Karen didn't even realize she was in labour till she was told by her doctor at her 39 week appointment. He sent her straight into hospital. The staff there didn't believe she was in labour as she was wandering around happily laughing and joking with them and the other mothers. She felt absolutely nothing until an urge to bear down came along. Five minutes later Tara was born. Karen swears the only thing she felt besides the urge to push was her perineum stretching over the baby's head.

Her second daughter was stuck in breech position for her birth. Karen was in hospital at the time, she had gone over her due date and the doctor was planning to induce her. She woke up in the morning and refused breakfast even though she was feeling fine. She was sitting up in bed joking with one of the nursing staff when suddenly she felt something wet between her legs....it was a little FOOT! She looked up at the nurse and said there was a foot sticking out. The nurse didn't believe her til she pulled the covers back and saw for herself. She ran to get the doctor. In the mean time the other foot appeared along with most of the length of the legs. The doctor came running and Karen delivered 9 pound 4 ounce Adele in two more pushes. There wasn't even time to transfer her to the labour suite, she just delivered in the general ward!

(By the way, we're all kinda short in my family, Karen is only 4 foot 11 inches.)

My other sister Erika was under the "care" of an obstetrician so unfortunately she copped an episiotomy with both her births. She says it was the only pain she felt for the entire births of both her son and daughter. She only knew she was contracting because she felt her belly hardening every few minutes.

Okay, I did say three. This one is from a magazine article a few years ago. A fifteen-year-old girl was experiencing mild tummy pains and diarrhea. She assumed she had some sort of stomach bug and had a bath to relax and put herself to bed early. She woke up some hours later, aroused by the cries and the sensation of something bumping her legs under the blankets. Alarmed she pulled back the covers to find a wriggling, pink baby girl still attatched to her via the umbilical cord lying on the bed between her legs. No doubting where that came from! She wasn't even aware that she was pregnant! In shock she scooped up the infant and ran into her parents' room. Her boyfriend, who had been staying over the night sleeping on the couch, took one look at the girl, the baby and her parents heading down the hallway and into the loungeroom and leapt up and ran out the front door heading for the hills in his pajamas. He probably thought that "Grand-dad" would be looking for his rifle next!
-Peta Hewitt

* * * * * * * * * *

"In a letter to me Dr. Douglas states that he was called about 6 A. M., Sept. 26, 1828, to attend a Mrs. D., residing on Eccles St. On his arrival he found the house in the utmost confusion, and was told that the child had been born before the messenger was dispatched for the doctor. From the lady herself he learned that, about half an hour previously, she had been awakened from a natural sleep by the alarm of a daughter about five years old, who slept with her. This alarm was occasioned by the little girl feeling the movements, and hearing the cries of an infant in bed. To the mother's great surprise she had brought forth her child without any consciousness of the fact."

"A lady of great respectability, the wife of a peer of the realm, was actually delivered once in her sleep; she immediately awakened her husband, being alarmed to find one more in bed than there was before."

"I have elsewhere mentioned the case of a patient of mine who bore eight children without ever having labor pains. Her deliveries were so sudden and void of sensible effect that in more than one instance they took place under most awkward circumstances, but without any suffering."

"Dr. J. King, in his work on Obstetrics, speaks of attending cases where there was no sensation of pain. He found that by placing the hand upon the abdomen, the muscular contractions were distinctly felt, and examination proved the progress of labor, while, excepting a suppressed breath, the patient experienced no change from the ordinary condition."

"Some very marked cases have come to my own knowledge proving the possibility of painless labor. I attended a neighbor of mine in four different confinements. I never was able to reach her before the birth of the child, although I lived across the street, and according to her injunctions always kept my shoes 'laced up.' She sent for me, too, at the first indication of labor. There was always one prolonged effort and the child was expelled. The heads of her children were temporarily distorted, showing pliability of the osseous structure."

"Another lady patron had two children without a particle of pain. With the first she was alone with her nurse. During the evening she remarked that she felt weary and believed that she would lie down. She had been on the bed no more than twenty minutes when she called to her nurse, saying: 'How strangely I feel! I wish you would see what is the matter,' when to their astonishment the child was already born."

"Two years later I was summoned to the same lady about ten at night. The membranes were ruptured, but no other visible indication of labor. Investigation revealed dilatation of the cervix and although she soon fell into a quiet slumber, I noticed regular and distinct contractions. The child was born about two in the morning without any sensation of pain. I have no doubt that in her previous confinement the contractions went on the same, and if she had been one to mark her symptoms closely, she would have felt them as one feels muscular contractions in the performance of other natural functions."
-From Tokology: A Book for Every Woman by Alice B. Stockham, M.D., Copyright, 1911

* * * * * * * * * *

"If you suffer, it is not because you are cursed of God, but because you violate his laws. What an incubus it would take from woman could she be educated to know that the pains of maternity are no curse upon her kind. We know that among Indians the squaws do not suffer in childbirth. They will step aside from the ranks, even on the march, and return in a short time bearing with them the new-born child. What an absurdity, then, to suppose that only enlightened Christian women are cursed."

"But one word of fact is worth a volume of philosophy; let me give you some of my own experience. I am the mother of seven children. My girlhood was spent mostly in the open air. I early imbibed the idea that a girl is just as good as a boy, and I carried it out. I would walk five miles before breakfast, or ride ten on horseback....I wore my clothing sensibly....I never compressed my body....When my first four children were born, I suffered very little. I then made up my mind that it was totally unnecessary for me to suffer at all; so I dressed lightly, walked every day...and took proper care of myself. The night before the birth...I walked three miles. The child was born without a particle of pain. I bathed it and dressed it myself."
-Elizabeth Cady Stanton, early feminist

* * * * * * * * * *

"Weill describes the case of a woman of twenty-three who gave birth to a robust boy on the 16th of June, 1877, and suckled him eleven months. This birth lasted one hour. She became pregnant again and was delivered under the following circumstances: She had been walking on the evening of September 5th and returned home about eleven o'clock to sleep. About 3 A.M. she awoke, feeling the necessity of passing urine. She arose and seated herself for the purpose. She at once uttered a cry and called her husband, telling him that a child was born and entreating him to send for a physician. Weill saw the woman in about ten minutes and she was in the same position, so he ordered her to be carried to bed. On examining the urinal he found a female child weighing 10 pounds. He tied the cord and cared for the child. The woman exhibited little hemorrhage and made a complete recovery. She had apparently slept soundly through the uterine contractions until the final strong pain, which awoke her, and which she imagined was a call for urination."

"Shortt says that one day, while crossing the esplanade at Villaire, between seven and eight o'clock in the morning, he perceived three Hindoo women with large baskets of cakes of 'bratties' on their heads, coming from a village about four miles distant. Suddenly one of the women stood still for a minute, stooped, and to his surprise dropped a fully developed male child to the ground. One of her companions ran into the town, about 100 yards distant, for a knife to divide the cord. A few of the female passers-by formed a screen about the mother with their clothes, and the cord was divided. The after-birth came away, and the woman was removed to the town. It was afterward discovered that she was the mother of two children, was twenty-eight years old, had not the slightest sign of approaching labor, and was not aware of parturition until she actually felt the child between her thighs."

"Smith of Madras, in 1862, says he was hastily summoned to see an English lady who had borne a child without the slightest warning. He found the child, which had been born ten minutes, lying close to the mother's body, with the funis uncut. The native female maid, at the lady's orders, had left the child untouched, lifting the bed-clothes to give it air. The lady said that she arose at 5:30 feeling well, and during the forenoon had walked down a long flight of steps across a walk to a small summer-house within the enclosure of her grounds. Feeling a little tired, she had lain down on her bed, and soon experienced a slight discomfort, and was under the impression that something solid and warm was lying in contact with her person. She directed the servant to look below the bed-clothes, and then a female child was discovered."

"Coleman met an instance in a married woman, who without the slightest warning was delivered of a child while standing near a window in her bedroom. The child fell to the floor and ruptured the cord about one inch from the umbilicus, but with speedy attention the happiest results were attained. Twitchell has an example in the case of a young woman of seventeen, who was suddenly delivered of a child while ironing some clothes. The cord in this case was also ruptured, but the child sustained no injury."
-From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine, by George M. Gould, A.M., M.D., and Walter L. Pyle, A.M., M,D. (The Julian Press, Inc., 1896)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Vocal toning

2010-01-26T00:12:00.000-08:00

I came across an article today on 'vocal toning' during labour, and it mentioned that the long A sound as in "ACE", when said in lower tones and held helped dilate the cervix and create more space within the pelvis.

Janice Clarfield is a Yoga instructor from Vancouver, BC; she has put out a Prenatal Yoga CD set which includes instruction on Visualization, Guided Relaxation, Vocal Toning and Breathing techniques.

a new camera for me!!

2010-01-24T21:25:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to work on my photography skills for awhile now..about 8 years ago i got into the idea and bought a Pentax manual/automatic and began shooting everything i saw (we lived in Victoria so most of it was beautiful)..and then i got less inspired and my skills rapidly diminished to point and shoot. So yesterday i took my new Nikon to a class to learn how to use it!! I had alot of fun..just taking the whole day for taking pictures. Now i'm walking around my house seeing photos that are over exposed, and feeling sorry that my kids had to put up with all those darn flashes. I can now go flash free (most of the time)!! Here are some of my manual photos from yesterday..

my tattoo

2010-01-24T17:23:00.000-08:00

"CHAVA"

dropped food..to eat or not to eat??

2010-01-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

Rebozo for labour

2010-01-21T22:23:00.000-08:00

Canadian study on homebirth

2010-01-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

Read this: Canadian study on homebirth.

why choose a midwife?

2010-01-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

so simple.

2010-01-20T23:11:00.000-08:00

The Top 10 Things Children Really Want Their Parents to Do With Them

Posted by: Dr. Mercola

January 21 2010
1,525 views

Many moms today feel as if they are not good mothers unless they are racing around, shuttling their children from lessons to practices, and back to lessons again. What do you think matters most to your children? You driving them to lessons and practices? Or the smile and hug you greet them with after school?

If you guessed the latter, you are correct.

Here is a list of the top 10 things students around the world said they desire most from their mothers.

1.Come into my bedroom at night, tuck me in and sing me a song. Also tell me stories about when you were little.

2.Give me hugs and kisses and sit and talk with me privately.

3.Spend quality time just with me, not with my brothers and sisters around.

4.Give me nutritious food so I can grow up healthy.

5.At dinner talk about what we could do together on the weekend.

6.At night talk to me about anything: love, school, family etc.

7.Let me play outside a lot.

8.Cuddle under a blanket and watch our favorite TV show together.

9.Discipline me. It makes me feel like you care.

10.Leave special messages in my desk or lunch bag.

Children are incredibly wise and tend to see the world more simply than we do. Perhaps it is time we start taking their advice.

big mom and tots

2010-01-20T12:07:00.000-08:00

art by Creative Thursday for TWIG
This painting is so sweet....it reminds me of how (most) of us mothers forgo our best 'style' when we have children...i feel like this momma looks. Big, puffy and busy. Ha. As a child I remember thinking about how it wouldn't be much fun to have a tiny mom without any boobs, my mom wasn't big at all, but she was the perfect amount of soft.

warning against vacs

2010-01-19T11:50:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday to me!

2010-01-18T12:08:00.000-08:00

Today i am 29, my last year before 30...so thankful i haven't died yet. ha..that IS how i think. I haven't gotten eaten by a huge mammal, and i've gotten enough (well, a little too much) to eat in the last 29 years. I've had three babies and have a good man to boot..and i've still got my teeth. Life is good.

I got a tattoo this past week...at book club i said, "i need to do something crazy before i turn 29", and Mar said, "get a tattoo", so i did, a small one on my wrist. It reads "Chava", but its written in Hebrew, and it means Eve, life giver (mother). I can hear my kids fighting over Connect Four upstairs, off i go to break it up.

oh Gloria

2010-01-15T14:14:00.000-08:00

This is taken from http://www.glorialemay.com/blog/?p=260

January 10, 2010

“Being a Midwife”

Being a midwife starts with the ego. Our “ego selves” see the status, admiration and responsibility of the job as an attraction. What the ego cannot see is that the aspiring midwife has placed her foot on a road by taking up the work. This road will take her on a journey, which she will only finish when they chisel the word “midwife” on her gravestone.

The midwife will know days when the road is clear and smooth and her heart is bursting with joy. Along the road, she will also be ambushed and attacked. This is the nature of life and it is not personal, but it will seem to be personal. Childbirth is so pivotal to society and there have been so many years of misinformation that the attack that befalls midwives is swift and harsh—it is not for the faint of heart. Many good women have left the midwifery road because the attacks were just too violent for their spirits in this lifetime.

The midwife who sticks to the road learns to temper her pride in her work, knowing that, to the degree that she is pumped up by success she will be devastated by failure. Failure and success become less important to her as she walks the road and her focus on the birthing family becomes more important. She begins to disappear as an individual and a personality and, in that disappearing, her true Self emerges.

She learns from the mothers. The most important things are the simplest: be on time, keep your word, keep confidences, be organized and, above all, be patient. These things take a lifetime of mistakes to master. She constantly looks critically at herself to unearth her failings in these areas. The midwife makes many mistakes. There can be no learning or growth without mistakes. She doesn’t make the same mistakes over and over. She listens to the experiences of others to avoid those mistakes she can avoid and is grateful for the teaching. She is able to be honest with herself and her clients about what she learns.

She is averse to condemning other practitioners, knowing there is a karmic come-uppance that comes with self-righteousness.

She understands that her words are remembered for a lifetime and chooses them wisely. How she speaks results in the birthing woman being honored, respected and dignified. She knows her role is to be transparent in the process of birth. She has a quiet, dignified way of being. Her context for each birth is, “This is the only one.” Her actions and attitude at the birth will affect the family for the rest of their days. She is trusted because she has shown by her actions and speech that she is trustworthy. She has no need to prove anything and is able to discover some new lesson from every birth.

Numbers of births, degrees and licenses do not concern her. She knows that she chose her profession with all its inherent risks and she refuses to portray herself as a victim.

She takes responsibility for passing on the knowledge to the new ones; her legacy will be generations of women who emulate her. She teaches the old ways because birth is ancient and it works. She distances herself from the crowd. She takes the time and space to develop and formulate her own values and ideals.

She has known the warmth of the placenta, the tear-filled eyes of a happy new father, the devastation of miscarriage, the freedom of a fast car and the fear of imprisonment. She has been honored and insulted, blessed and cursed, loved and hated and has reached a place where she likes the woman who gazes back at her in the mirror. She is excited about her future and at peace with her past. All this she brings to the birthing chamber as her contribution.

Written at Burnaby Correctional Center for Women in 2002.

First published in Midwifery Today Magazine Issue 68, Winter 2003

purdy as a picture

2010-01-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

http://www.jamesjean.com/

i'm gonna get it, and wear it and love it, and prance.

2010-01-12T21:40:00.000-08:00

http://www.anthropologie.com

Moomah

2010-01-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

Ode to Moomah. Lets take a moment to click on the link and search through this beautiful site. This cafe is a super cool place in NY...dedicated to moms and their kids. I want my house to look like a mini version of this place...i'm going to steal some ideas for sure. When we lived outside of Calgary i would take the kids into the city to go to the Coup for lunch, and then to a kids play place that had OK coffee and a HUGE playspace that i would often lose them in. It was a great escape though and i miss having those options.

Everyone knows about ETSY but do you know about http://www.weloveindie.com/ ? They edit what comes onto the site so they aren't promoting bad artistic endeavors that should not be online..ha. ETSY allows anyone to set up an account..which is great, but http://www.weloveindie.com/ is a bit more pared down to the really well done.

(Photo taken form the Moomah site)

ze healthiest chocolate pudding

2010-01-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

I was at a dinner party about a month ago and the host made this delish chocolate pudding, none of us could place the taste in our mouths, but it was different and good. At the end i asked for the recipe and i couldn't believe how simple it was and foolish i'd been. It was tofu!! I just made it for lunch for my kids, since i can add random goodness and they won't notice.

Recipe: 1 pack of firm organic tofu (i like Soyganic)
            3 tbsp (or to taste) of agave nectar or honey
             bittersweet chocolate, melted OR 5 tbsp plain cocoa powder
           * blend it up in your Vita-mix or blender and its done!

To be sneaky i add some supplements into it sometimes, like hemp oil and spirulina (but don't go overboard or they'll notice!) And raspberries add a nice touch.

to just be

2010-01-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

Now and then i ponder my life (almost everyday)...and i question what i do and why i do it...i almost always go back into the mania that i am and do the same things i was doing before, but at least i know why i'm doing them...i am usually running away. What from? My mortal body, the threat of death, pain and suffering in the world...or that i am really afraid of amounting to a nobody? If i strive for something bigger and better, maybe it will make me bigger and better, no? What i should've learned a long time ago, is that striving only makes me a fool. I'm always on the lookout for a good idea, always reading a few books on new projects, when i haven't finished the one i started. I know part of it is my genetic code( i am a Sanguine to the nose), but for the most part i like looking to the future, and maybe to just a dream. I am one of those people that can barely stand reality, if i see a child with a mother that looks unfit to be a mother, that alone can put me into depression for the rest of the day. I have a hard time editing what is my problem and what isn't, and so i find myself heading to 'escapist island' often. My resolution for 2010, is to just BE, i am not what i DO or PLAN to do...i am me and i can only do what is at hand to do. On a creative note, if i want to paint for a day, i can paint (and i don't have to go to the art store and decide on my palette for the next 6 months) or if i want to play piano again, i can, but i don't have to sign up for a year of lessons. My life is full. Full to the brim. I once read a great book called, "If you want to write", it was written a long time ago, i think in the 30's. It was about how our society (even in the 30's) was becoming a culture that needed gratification for everything they did, and how if we truly are meant to do something, we would do it EVEN IF NOBODY EVER SAW US DOING IT (both activism and creative pursuits).Wowsa. And now with Facebook, blogging, and Twitter, etc..we can broadcast all we do to the world, and feel like we're a little bit bigger and better because we do what we do (and everyone else knows about it too!) If we could just rest in the GRACE of being who we are, and not striving to be more than we are, we would BE better...we'd be real, not so competitive and we'd have better community since one person wouldn't be trying to do everything. (Even if you CAN make that baby bonnet, just buy the darn thing from someone who already made it to give them some support, and they in turn will support you in what you do). This post just went from one thought into many thoughts, and skipped into a rant. Anyways, i am ME this year and thats it. My one and only resolution.

This Personality Test is pretty bang on (take it and let me know what you are:) I was Sanguine Choleric

Even the Ancient Greeks believed in "Humors", this is an interesting read.

Here is a painitng by http://www.nikolasdemasi.com/ titled "Sanguine View"...interesting since sanguine also means blood.

hopeful 2010

2010-01-01T12:01:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! I had a fun night with friends last night, good laughs, food and drink. We ended up staying the night and came home this morning to a house smelling minty fresh..why? Not sure...maybe little knomes came in last night and did a phantom deep cleaning...phantom meaning 'invisible'. Or maybe its the neighbor's essential oils seeping through the fire wall. Its bugging me, especially since its so strong i can taste it. Anyways, Happy New Year!!

slow birth

2009-12-29T13:02:00.000-08:00

Having just read Gloria Lemay's blog on slow birth, i am feeling awakened to how our cultural values on how fast = better have seeped into birth, even "natural birth". With my first 2 i had average birth lengths, about 8 hours with each, always jealous of the women who could pop out those babes and then leave in their skinny jeans. (2.5 years after my third, i am still looking at those damn skinny jeans.)
We've all either told or heard the stories, "the baby just shot out", "3 hours of labour and 2 grunts, and she was out...and that was my first!", or " i went from 4 cm to birth in 40 minutes"..OK the last one was me. I fell into the trap of competitive birthing!! How could've i been so duped?! The ironic thing is, is that the last super fast birth i had, felt like i had a semi coming out my behind...and made me feel like i was lucky to be alive afterwards. And THAT was my brag story, simply because it was fast. How lame of me. But my grace is that many of us do it, a reason many moms like avoiding new mom groups like the plague, since we will all be forced to tell our story and either amp it up with tales of horrible pain and incredibly long painful hours, or make the rest of the women feel like itty bitty wimps(or at least not very efficient) by saying how fast and easy peasy it was. Either way to say it, we still like making a statement of how powerful we are. We all have many ways in which we are powerful, and a good slow birth is a thing to be proud of as well.

Gloria's blog and article here:

A lovely birth here:(also taken from Gloria's blog)

good ol' propaganda

2009-12-26T22:48:00.000-08:00

I love this poster...i'm going to hang it on a wall in my kitchen. Read the history of it here:

Merry Christmas friends:)

2009-12-24T23:27:00.000-08:00

Tonight was lovely..i had my folks come up from Salmon Arm, and i tried some new foods that i had never made before (always try new foods when you have company)...I made bruschetta on sour dough and then a fried zucchini, fennel and mushroom dish, with a fennel, tomato, poppy seed salad..did i mention i love fennel? I could smell it all day, well maybe for at LEAST 20 minutes. Then for dessert we had avocado ice cream, followed by raspberry sorbet with a bittersweet chocolate crispy brownie. And for the naysayers who wouldn't eat the avocado ice cream i bought some stolen and Cool Whip (to put on the ice cream to make it sort of Albertan-ish). But everyone liked it! And i got to show off my Vita-Mix in the process. Oh Vita. Its now off to drink a little vino and wrap the presents from Santa (i switched the more expensive gifts that were originally from Santa...the cheaper ones are now from him, why should he get the credit?)

Merry Christmas friends! Here's a poster i would love to give to every pregnant woman as a gift from their doula :) Ashley G's drawings exude coolness.

glowing Christmas babies

2009-12-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

Well, i'm ready for Christmas..in my world at least...i'll think about what we're going to eat the day before we eat it. I'm shunning turkey as i just don't like it, and i think we may just have a big brunch, and i'll try and make some gluten-free cinnamon buns. Yummy? I'm hopeful...The really exciting part of Christmas for us is Christmas Eve anyways, the candles at the Christmas Eve service, the anticipation for the kids, and the whole "night before Christmas" feeling. My kids just watched ET, when Levi started watching the movie he said, "Is ET a child hunter?"..no Levi he's a friendly alien...I didn't remember this part, but the teenie tiny Drew Barrymore call ET a "penis head"...my kids will be sure to use that one :) And for my pleasure i will post a picture of a hard plastic baby that glows AND is also a piggy bank...and is BLUE! The french made this one up...and its so tacky, its cool...you can find it at Basic French.

a simple craft

2009-12-19T20:03:00.000-08:00

I love crafts, but i like simple ones..something where the process is creative yet not too tricky, so i can relax and not get frustrated..especially when children are involved! Its also nice to see a bit of the creator in the craft as well...not just Martha hiding in the glue and sparkles ;) Here is a craft idea that is simple and chic with all of those beautiful colours...last year i thought i had bought some of these felted balls at a market, but it turned out they were dyed cocoons..strange but pretty.
Here is a link for the craft materials.

fab prints and toothpaste

2009-12-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

I just got up and noticed Ruben had been brushing his teeth with toothpaste...Scott's toothpaste, the flouride type...i was panicked thinking about all the paste he'd probably just eaten, and then i thought about how toothpaste was one of my favorite snacks as a kid, and i lived...and i realized that he's not yet smart enough to squeeze, so he couldn't have gotten that much. I love these prints from http://www.riflepaperco.com/ .

Christmas spirit anyone?

2009-12-15T11:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas can be such a sad time for so many people, and i fall into a melancholy mood every single year since i was about 12. Its really hard to enjoy what my own family has, without looking around to see what others don't have. I am trying to focus on what i can do, and not allow myself to be taken over by what i can't change. Here are some things that i can do:

1. Be thankful always.

2. Give my time to certain community services (Salvation Army), or people i know who need help and friendship.

3. Do not be a crazy consumer..it only makes me feel worse, and doesn't benefit anyone. Carrying a light load gives room for other experiences.

4. Pray. It really does have power, i have experienced it many times over.

5. Practice surrender everyday. Jesus never asserted his rights and neither should i.

6. Have positive boundaries. I will not have to assert my rights if i have proper boundaries in the first place.

On another note...i sure do love this ribbon...i'm wrapping my gifts this year with mostly newspaper, and this ribbon would be a perfect addition.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/applesandeggs

flippin cute!

2009-12-13T18:22:00.001-08:00

hello my friends

2009-12-12T17:39:00.000-08:00

Updates:

1. My dentist was awesome...told me that "we're going to take it slow since we just met, and that we're dental dating right now, so you can relax"...dental phobia is 1/8th of what it was.

2. The raw food challenge went to the wayside end of November...who was i kidding? All raw till Christmas Eve...yeah right. ( I'm planning to start in January though...around Jan.2nd(ish) unless there happens to be cake around ;)

3. Ovio Christmas party was a fun, relaxing time with friends...thanks for coming!!! New website will be up very soon since my good friend Lenna shot some super creative photos of the products.

4. I am off to have an amazingly delish meal for my health food store staff party...Rick (former owner of Oops cafe) is cooking, and i'm going to eat every scrap.

5. I have a crazy addiction to grande americano mistos, with soy and half sweet gingerbread syrup...please make it stop.

6. I need birth stories people! E-mail me @ abarker54@gmail.com . I'm planning on posting a birth story at least once a week.

7. is my favorite number . Ciao!

beautiful birth story

2009-12-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

My Journey to a VBAC from Lindsey Meehleis on Vimeo.

dental fear..

2009-12-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

I hate going to the dentist...i never used to though, especially when i lived in Strathmore and would travel all the way into Calgary to see a holistic dentist who would sing along with opera while drilling into my teeth, .. he was cute, so i put up with it. Since then i have been to 5 dentists (all in Kamloops)..yes, 5..most of the time they never got past my first initial meeting. They were either not very nice, too rough, told me my teeth were big (um, really? 'cause i thought they were small...doesn't everyone have 2 giant chiclet sized teeth?), or still used those damned mercury fillings. And, if they got the privilege of drilling into my teeth, they had better not touch a nerve or put the needle in wrong, or they'd be fired. But now, i have a broken tooth...and i need it fixed...and it actually hurts more not going to the dentist, than going and dealing with it there for a short period of time. I have a sort of 'plan of action' when i go, i tell them how sensitive my teeth are, and i tell them not to touch them with that poking piece of metal horror..and then i pinch my hand really hard when they insert the needle. My hand has actually gone numb from me pinching it so hard. All this comes from having a dentist that did work on me without freezing me properly, it felt like i was being tortured, and he wouldn't stop...i even yelled "dish ish worsh dan childbirf!!" So tomorrow i meet yet another one, and i'm going to try and be relaxed and not give him directions, and just go with the flow....BTW, i had gotten an appointment with a certain dentist here that someone told me was the hottest guy in Kamloops, (after i had made the appointment)..so i cancelled that one...

i want to make one!

2009-12-06T10:31:00.000-08:00

I Love Anthroplogie (the store), they are always so creative in the way they represent their collections. Here are some photos of how they're displaying their jewellery this season...i'm going to make some of these with my kids this week, and then i'll post the pictures..Happy Sunday.

babycakes

2009-12-04T20:34:00.000-08:00

I love cupcakes (ok who doesn't?)....I got a super slick vintage (yellow!) cupcake holder from my mom for Jaida's birthday tomorrow. We're trying as much as possible to go gluten and dairy free for her party, eating at fancy-ish place for her party of 8 girls and i'm bringing the cake..so i want them to look good and taste good enough :) It is very challenging to bake the perfect cupcake with garbanzo bean flour and potato starch..let me tell you! There are other ingredients that most have probably never heard of (like egg replacer and xanthan gum), but i'll spare you. The important thing is that i have a Babycakes cookbook, and all of everything i've tried is amazing!! (Even for regular people with regular tastebuds!!) I'm making the vanilla cupcakes, and if you want the recipe..ask me! Those little kids better not waste a crumb...

so lovely

2009-12-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

These pictures are from one of my favorite picture blogs Froken O. So dreamy...

i'm so excited for this film!

2009-12-02T17:56:00.000-08:00

la sludge

2009-11-30T23:58:00.000-08:00

Tonight i got home after 6, didn't have that much time to prepare dinner and decided to use my Vita-mix for the hot soup option. I threw in a few handfuls of baby carrots, a beet, an onion, a couple handfuls of greens, a couple heads of broccoli, not enough water, not enough salt, and not enough spices. I turned it on and let it do its thing...after 4 minutes the soup gets hot from the friction and you're done! I was excited to eat it, as i thought about how healthy it would be (and i thought it would be tasty too)....a BIG NEGATIVE on that one...it was disgusting. I've eaten some gross things..like fresh wheat grass, but this tasted like hot wheatgrass soup. There is a reason they give you the OJ chaser shots when you buy a shot of wheatgrass...and here i was, delaying the process by having it hot with a spoon! The texture was like thick tomato paste, and i just couldn't eat it without the gag reflex. Scott ended up making oatmeal and the kids were stoked that they didn't have to eat the sludge.

i broke my tooth

2009-11-29T11:51:00.000-08:00

Last night i had a confrontation with a family member...i'm not going to say who, but it wasn't my immediate family, and we're not related by blood..how's that? I'm usually a sarcastic person when i get angry with people i'm not totally at ease with, but this time i was honest (yeah me!), which i think is a much kinder way to deal with someone than being sarcastic...but to my surprise, the sarcasm was better accepted than truth. And i was told that i "wrecked the evening"..with my honesty in private? So, at first i felt good about it, then i felt guilty, and then i felt like i was validated, and then i felt guilty. Then i clenched my jaw so hard while i was sleeping, i broke off part of my molar. The end.

Here is a super duper funny print that i retrieved from Oh Joy, this piece was made by Erin Jang as a custom print for a bride and groom...i love it.

purdy as a picture..can you eat pictures?

2009-11-27T09:45:00.000-08:00

I LOVE MACARONS!! It all started in Victoria, living downtown amongst the little italian and french pastry shops..i developed this massive love of the sweet and chewy (with a hint of almond) macaron. They come in all colours and flavours, and they were gone really fast at these shops. I looked at learning how to make my own, and how to make them healthier...but i couldn't. You could use agave nectar for the middle paste, but thats about the only thing you can do...they are not healthy, and maybe that is why i love them so much..like a little affair on your green smoothie..So, here is the recipe that i am using for my Christmas baking..(they will make an appearance at my Ovio Christmas Shindig if they turn out ;)

Ovio Organico Christmas shindig

2009-11-26T11:48:00.000-08:00

Hello...i posted this on facebook , but for some of you who are not on facebook...here is an invite:

Ovio Organico Christmas Spa

6-9pm, Dec 12

My place! There will be wine, tea and chocolate fondue, as well as your own personal foot soak where you can try our scrubs, oils and balms. Bring a friend if you wish, and i will have a table of products for sale if you're not done your Christmas shopping! please RSVP 250-376-8331

Guess who?

2009-11-25T23:57:00.000-08:00

I've been reading in my course about ultrasound, and the risks it can pose to an unborn baby (even a born one!) and today the lovely Gloria Lemay posted on her blog a conversation between two women in the birth field about those risks. It is worth a read...
I've personally had a problem with ultrasound for awhile now, before i knew there was any physical risks involved. My problem was about the lack of surprise in pregnancy these days. Sorry if i'm a little brash, but why do we as parents, want to find out the gender of our babe in a dark room with an ultrasound tech? Are we that much of an instant gratification society, that we can't wait until we meet our little furry/bald head muffins at birth? OK, before i sound like a total snob...i've been tempted for sure. In Victoria while i was getting a scan done for my (Levi) pregnancy, the tech said, "do you want to know?" ....that was soooo hard..but Scott was on the other side of that door with Jaida, and i remembered the glee of being wrong about my guess with her..and i wouldn't have had that surprise if i had found out beforehand. So i guess my problem wasn't with ultrasound per say, more of the lack of surprise ..and how many good surprises do we have these days? I've heard reasons such as: 1. 'I want to have the baby room ready'..sleep with your baby, and i'm sure he/she will be even more content. :) 2.'I don't want to have to buy everything in yellow'...don't, buy a couple of things and then go shopping afterwards...Levi wore pink and purple for the first week of his life, and he didn't seem to mind :) . 3. 'I really wanted to have a boy, so we wanted to find out'..and then what? You lose a little bit of your excitement at the fact you're haveing a girl? 4. 'knowing the sex enables me to bond with my baby better, and give him/her a name' ..when you're bonding with a little soul inside you, does the sex matter? BUT, these are just MY opinions...they go along with my personality...i hate planning too far ahead, and i'm all about surprise. If you are a choleric personality, i don't understand your view, because i'm a full on sanguine. ( Look those up if you're lost on what i'm saying:) Also, if you have different take on it, feel free to rant on me..i like different opinions!

Doesn't this picture make you think of childhood wonder? I got it from another blog and i forget which one..will post when i find out where so i can give the picture taker some credit :)

Thankyou to the friends who commented, called and e-mailed on my post from yesterday..i don't know how to set the comment section up so people can comment anonymously..so far you have to have a google account or other blog. Please tell me if you know how:)

I need your advice!

2009-11-24T23:39:00.000-08:00

I am going to do some sort of consumer research here...i have been pluggin' away with my business Ovio Organico for almost 7 years now, it started out as a soap business, and then changed into 24 different skin care products because of my love of making up new products. I quickly realized that i couldn't afford the 12 different types of packaging, and all the professional labels that my products required (especially when there is always a minimum order per label)...so because of my lack of business skills i joined up with my good friend Richard (yes a man, not gay, but we've been friends for a long time..blah blah blah)..so then when Ovio became a real business, with a real accountant, etc..i felt out of my realm...everything had become so redundant and i lost my mojo. :( We went down to 3 products for cost reasons, and began selling in some stores, but it became boring and not that fruitful...so now what?! Last weekend i was at a Christmas show, and i had decided the week before to experiment with new essential oils, new mixtures...and even bought some blank Martha Stewart (gasp!) labels so i could create whatever the heck i wanted...and it was so fun!!! The mojo has made an appearance and i'm having crazy brain storming sessions in my, well, brain. Here are a few of my ideas:

1. Carry on with Ovio, but start carrying other products as well and have an on-line shop called Eco-nomical Organical or just Ovio Organico --'the eco-nomical source for all things organic', which would offer great prices on organic labels...

2. Continue on with Ovio and develope a product range that is A. very well -priced and sold on-line and at craft fairs, home parties, etc.. or B. regular priced that is only sold in stores, since i have to consider the mark-up the store would put on the product(where would you prefer to purchase?)

3. Continue on with Ovio but make it a mother/baby range only, (and do i sell on-line, or in stores?)

And the last part: What do you use most of? What would you be interested in using? ..i would very much appreciate your comments, phone calls, or e-mails...i need some direction!

Raw food-ness

2009-11-23T15:21:00.000-08:00

I bought a Vita-Mix at Costco yesterday..without talking about it with Scott. I came home with a look of glee spread across my face and had to slowly explain why i bought it,('this will change your life Scott', 'it makes hot soup!', 'it was the LAST day at Costco', etc...) he was pretty ticked. $500.00 is not small change around here, so i understand his frustration with his compulsive wife. So i've taken it as my challenge to use it well...last night i made this super delicious soup in 5 min, ..throw all your raw ingredants in, turn it on for 4 min, and the friction makes the soup hot...ta-da!! We made ice cream last night when Scott had a DQ craving...(see all the money we're saving!), and i'm going to make some sort of mush for dinner just to prove you can use it for every meal of the day!! Anyways, i've wanted one for about 4 years since every raw food un-cook book i have requires it for something. I am starting a raw food challenge on Tuesday, and i'm going till Christmas Eve baby..i'll write a little about it, and post some easy peasy recipes.

The requirements are:

*approx. 80% of the food i eat has to be raw goodness
*no white-ness (flour, sugar, dairy,etc..)
*NO coffee..i'm trying this one again
* excercise at least 3 times per week
* no animal products..zip..nothin..

concocting

2009-11-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

Tonight i am getting prepared for a Christmas Craft show...wrapping lavender soaps, mixing sugar scrubs, and finishing off a perfume i've been working on...i'm not telling what i put in it, but it smells like coconut with lime, with a dash of cocoa maybe? I'm amazed by smells and how they tend to trick us...i can use 10 different essential oils and have the perfume come out smelling like grape candy...like the fake grape candy. I have always wanted to become a 'nose'...i already drive Scott nuts by detecting the smallest gas leaks, and when i was pregnant the smell of plastic wrap drove me crazy. Mandy Aftelier is a natural perfumer who only uses essential oils and absolutes to create her deeply mysterious potions...a true artist.

babies = hope

2009-11-17T22:21:00.000-08:00

Lately I find myself craving pregnancy, birth, and that feeling of being blissed out and in love. In reality though, i know i have a lot of 'things' (for lack of a better word) to work through before even planning a fourth babe... Scott and I have never 'planned' a baby..they just happened on random...and we were thrilled! And with those spontaneous conceptions there is always a feeling of "oh crap...we didn't think about this" mixed with "yee-haw!". So now, its been awhile since a good ol' surprise...and i'm turning 29 , and i'm feeling the weight of 'planning', and 'retirement savings', and with all the bad news in the world, a baby = hope for the future. So maybe i don't really need to have another babe..but even thinking that i might gives me enough hope that my life will not turn out just as i 'plan' it to.

a lovely mama

2009-11-16T11:34:00.000-08:00

This woman was featured in the New York magazine's Look Book, where a person with great personal style is featured and interviewed. This woman is Molly Findlay and i love how she's carrying her babe in an Ergo, and i just dig her overall look...here is the interview, and check out my Favorite Ergo...i'm definately buying this for my next baby(Scott doesn't read this, so i can say that:)...unless Liz can whip up something similar (shout out to Bloggy Mama creations).

i hate scrapbooking...sorry gals

2009-11-13T22:28:00.000-08:00

When someone says, "I'm a scrap booker" or "I'm a scrappy stamper"(someone who stamps AND uses stickers)...i shudder in my panties. I have several reasons for my shuddering:

1. I hate cutting my pictures...one of the best things about pictures is looking in the background many years later and recalling the ugly wallpaper and the size of my moms booty back in the day (hot stuff). Isn't it sort of editing memories?

2. I don't like stickers with themes..'nuff said.

3. I don't like taking so much time to save memories, because then i'll need another scrapbook of pictures of me scrapbooking...("oh, remember the days when i would sit at the table all day long and glue ribbons, and other paraphernalia into a $1000.oo book...)

4. real christians don't scrapbook...its true..ok, its not true.

5. The Guilt!! I simply do not want to take the time to do it, but then i feel guilty, so i go to Starbucks to feel better...(and us moms do not need any more guilt of not being perfect enough!)

6. I don't like being stereotyped by men...(my wife scrapbooks....wicked eh?)

7. I miss real old scrapbooks...like taking scraps and putting them into books.

8. One of the things i loved doing at my grandmother's house was digging through a massive box with a zillion pictures in it..spanning about 5 decades..and then trying to remember the memories together..with organization that wouldn't be possible.

I think that is all of the reasons....and friends if you don't hate me by now..i LOVE looking at YOUR scrapbooks..especially if they involve placenta pictures...SO, to stop the forever guilt of not 'properly' archiving my children's memories, i am going to do these things (ideas are taken from http://www.cookiemag.com/ )

From the top:

1. Memory boxes, simple yet special....i think i'm going to memory box my skinny clothes("now those honey, are the undies mommy wore before she had you...and before she worked at Starbucks")
2. I love this idea: write random letters to your kids, dogs, what have you...and then someday when they care, give them the old unopened letters...or, fill up a daytimer with your agenda and then on the next page write funny quotes from your kids..or something that happened that day. Then they'll have a full picture of what your life AND theirs looked like.
3.Write down on the calender a certain day each month to take a picture of your kids/family members..(hopefully you start this before your husband goes bald...then you'll be able to watch the process...fun!)..remember to use an old camera with real film so you'll have to get it developed and it won't just sit on your computer...then write little notes on the back of the photos about that month,etc..
4. And finally my favorite...a good sturdy pretty box to throw all the best momentos in.

And if you're still too lazy..use your imagination and become a good BS-er, so when your kids ask you questions about their childhood, you'll have some really good half-truths for them....(its OK to mix up which baby did what...does it really matter?!)

Tea please

2009-11-13T00:12:00.000-08:00

Throughout my last pregnancy i must have drank buckets full of Red Raspberry Leaf tea...i grew to like the taste, especially with a touch of agave nectar or some honey:) This brew is known for being a uterine tonic; helping the uterus contract more efficiently and reducing the risk of hemorrhage after birth. My last birth was so quick, about 45 minutes of active labor..i went from 5 cm to birth in 40 minutes! Afterwards i barely bled at all, and i fully believe it was due to the amount of Red Raspberry Leaf tea i drank throughout that pregnancy, as I did not have the same experience with my previous births. I would use a french press and fill the bottom with the loose tea, and then drink the whole litre of tea through the morning,then again in the evening. Red Raspberry Leaf is rich in vitamins A, C, E and B complex, it also contains highly absorbable forms of calcium and iron, and is rich in minerals such as phosphorous and potassium. It also assists in producing a good supply of breast milk:) A good brand of bagged Red Raspberry Leaf is available from Yogi Tea

a gooder

2009-11-11T22:21:00.000-08:00

I've been reading a real page turner today...its called 'Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife' by Peggy Vincent. It is excellent, this woman has over 40 years of experience and many stories. I'm only on page 112, and i've cried three times already...mostly good tears! She describes her early career as a nurse in a maternity ward, and then goes into how she got into midwifery, true tales of amazing woman...black, white, poor and wealthy..being confident in their ability to birth.

time to harvest the walls!

2009-11-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

I super duper LOVE this!!! I saw Woolly Pockets in my last DWELL magazine, and then one of my favorite design blogs(Oh Joy!) posted it as well....i dig anything that helps us become more self-reliant..

art-schooling

2009-11-09T15:58:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about the best ways in which my kids learn..and its either through art or fun experiments. So as we enter winter i've got an itch to make some crafts with them...some really cool crafts. HERE is some inspiration by artist Tamar Mogendorff....happy winter!

ode to java

2009-11-08T12:45:00.000-08:00

Coffee..how i love you
i think of you often
the mornings together spent
in pajamas
my favorite mug
now sits empty
she tried to commit suicide by throwing herself
off the counter
when china green tips
entered her warm bosom
tea has become
my cheap rebound.

Fernando's coffee is from Guatemala. Read all about it here ....he uses SmarTrade coffee and he says that Fairly traded coffee is basically a sham, because the farmers still get poor wages...a friend was just at his coffee house in Antigua, and came back with this terrible news about Fair Trade. I'm putting in my order:)

Pregnant women are smug

2009-11-07T10:02:00.000-08:00

i had a pretty good laugh at this: SONG

MIA

2009-11-06T16:15:00.000-08:00

I LOVE MIA just for this..she sang at the Grammy's on her due date..in this! This is braver than naked...

i fell off the Gluten-free wagon...into the Gluttonous ditch

2009-11-06T12:59:00.000-08:00

I have been gluten-free for about 10 months, as well as dairy and egg free as well...and i stopped drinking coffee about 10 days ago...and sugar is now on the choppping block...so what in the blazes must i eat when i am feeling emotionally indulgent? A girl can only eat so many apples....so today i bought these dark chocolate almond cookies, that happen to contain milk, eggs, and wheat. I can already feel the heartburn....so for anyone with dietary restrictions that must indulge(and doesn't want to feel sick)...click on the link to heaven...you don't even have to speak in tongues:)
And word is on the dairy-free street that they are coming out with coconut milk coffee/tea creamers...

oh how i love TOAST

2009-11-05T11:35:00.000-08:00

A few years ago i came across TOAST, a stunningly beautiful yet simple clothing catalogue. I have gotten it in the mail every season since and right now i am loving the new scarves. Note: Toast is a store in England, but they will ship to Canada/US...

book review: Labor of love by Cara Muhlhahn

2009-11-04T22:58:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to order this book! For my Childbirth Educator course i have many books on my booklist...but when ordering on Amazon i decided to treat myself to a couple of books written by midwives, about BEING midwives. I've wanted for a quite a long time to be a midwife someday, and even though this book made me want to be one even more, it also made me take a step back and wait...for a bit. The way of life for a midwife is anything but boring, but it comes with HUGE sacrifices. Cara Muhlhahn is honest, sincere in her passion for birth, and is an excellent clinician to boot. She shares some of the hurdles she's had to face as well as her journey to where she is now. This book does not make midwifing seem like the romantic notion so many of us have in our heads...it shares the realities, challenges, and joys of one of the most demanding pursuits i can imagine. Read the book!