A Lil Bit Crunchy, A Lil Bit Rock 'N' Roll

My 2nd Homebirth

2011-01-26T14:47:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I updated this! Well I just gave birth to my 4th child and first little boy a few months ago. It was an uncomplicated homebirth and everything went pretty well - except that my water broke on my bed at 1 a.m., so I didn't get much sleep. He was a couple weeks early but maybe my due date was wrong because he was a healthy 7.5 lb guy. Oh, and the lil bug took 18 ENTIRE HOURS to come out! That was my longest birth yet. Usually births get shorter each time, so I guess I'm the exception that proves the rule.

Honestly? It didn't hurt that bad this time. I learned to dance and bounce and sway and breathe through it. It was a little bit like running until it hurts. I TRIED to do the whole hypnobirth thing and tell myself it was just pressure. It did help some, but then in the back of my mind I'm thinking, "Screw that - if this is pressure than a tornado is just a lil ole bit of wind!"

Towards the end I started dozing in-between contractions. I couldn't believe it. I thought, "Am I actually sleeping through my labor?? AWESOME!".

The only thing I would've changed is that I would've liked to be alone with my husband. He got called to work but told me he'd come home the minute I called and asked him to, so I had some older ladies I know come by. Being a religious person, I didn't want them to hear the language I used during the pushing stage. It would've made a sailor blush. In fact I'm pretty sure all the neighbors heard me, and are still blushing.

But I love my little gentleman, oh how I love him!! Isn't he a lil cutie? I just wanna kiss those fat lil cheekies all day! And those big ole ears too!

My "Carbon Footprint"

2010-06-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Let me just say once again that I believe global warming is a crock and that reducing our carbon rate is not going to stop pollution. We need to be focusing on what we CAN do for the planet. This is just a distraction. Because if the Earth is getting warmer, NOTHING we can do is going to change that.

However, since people often criticize the "carbon footprints" of large families as being too big, here is more proof that it is not always the case.

I just did a little carbon footprint calculator for my family of 5. Here are our results:

Your footprint is 1.88 metric tons per year

The average footprint for people in United States is 20.40 metric tons

The average for the industrial nations is about 11 metric tons

The average worldwide carbon footprint is about 4 metric tons

The worldwide target to combat climate change is 2 metric tons

Doing my part to reduce "global warming". How about you?

The Great Sling Controversy

2010-06-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

The media has had a field day lately with the recent recall of 2 Infantino brand baby slings. These bag-type slings CAN be dangerous.

This has led to some very misleading articles however. Articles with titles like "How Safe Are Baby Slings?".

The truth is, most are very safe. Not only are they safe, but they have a lot of benefits for baby - especially when it comes to bonding. Just because one company made an inferior product, that's no reason to give up the benefits of babywearing alltogether. You just have to be careful what you buy. (This is true with anything!).

A FEW SAFETY TIPS -

Proper fit prevents a lot of trouble. The 1st big thing to remember is - avoid letting baby sink down to the point where his/her mouth and nose is covered by you or the sling.

Don't let baby get too hot. There needs to be some air circulation. On very hot days, a sling may not be the best choice for outdoor activities.

Support baby's neck. If baby is slumped backwards, or even forward to the point where her chin is against her chest - that's not cool. That's a huge no-no.

Baby should be secure. If you feel like baby is about to pop out, you might be right. Try switching positions.

Newborns up to 4 months sometimes just aren't ready for certian types of slings.

Trust your instincts when looking for a baby carrier. You know when it doesn't fit right or baby looks uncomfortable. It also never hurts to do just a little research on the correct way to wear it.

I think most moms know when they're sling doesn't seem safe. I've used a couple of different slings, but I've never been a fan of Infantino carriers. I had one and it was so complicated, I threw it across the room. It landed in the closet and has lived there ever since. Then I got my Snugli and we lived happily ever after!

Home Remedy for Earaches

2010-05-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not a doctor of course, but my husband got this idea from his family doc the last time he had an ear infection. It relieves the pain but will not cure an infection.

Every time I have tried it for an earache, it has worked beautifully.

Yesterday I had a terrible earache after going swimming. It felt like there was water in there that just refused to get out!

So I did this:

1. Mix equal parts vinegar and cold water (I used apple cider vinegar but white will also work).

2. Lean head to other side and pour about a T full of it directly into affected ear.

3. Quickly bring a washcloth or towel to affected ear and tilt so that all liquid drains out.

4. Rest, bad ear down, on your side for at least 10 minutes.

Viola! No more earache! My ear feels fine today!

If pain persists or returns, see your doctor. An ear infectin if left alone can cause deafness. I once even heard of a king who died from an ear infection!

Lifestyles Are Toxic, Not People!

2010-05-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

One thing that really gets me is when people accuse me of single-handedly causing global warming and destroying the planet by having more than the "normal" 1.5 kids. They tell me this while they are simultaneously eating a double cheeseburger, watching a DVD on one of their 3 big screen t.v.s, uploading songs to their Ipods, and planning their next cell-phone purchase. Right.

I'm not saying all small families are like that, but many small families (and without exception every small family that has criticized us) are. I believe you CAN be eco-conscience no matter what your family size. But you cannot deny this: often the main reason people choose to have a small family is so that they can BUY MORE.

I will tell you what I'm seeing. I'm seeing the young couple across the street living in a house that is at least 200 square feet bigger than ours. And we could fit 4 more kids (at least) into this house comfortably! I'm seeing the beautiful field that was there when we moved here being turned into multiple condos for spoiled college students whose parents are paying their tuition, food, cars, and rent. (I know how much they cost, and college kids could NOT possibly make enough to live there!) so that they can live by themselves without roommates and have lovers over, party all night (I hear them) and leave beer cans on their lawn. Their parents never gave them siblings so they could afford to give them this instead. Nice.

I can pretty much guarantee you that our family has a smaller "carbon footprint" than these people. (Nevermind that global warming is a complete hoax anyway). Pollution IS real even if global warming isn't. So who is polluting more? My kids - just by breathing, or theirs - by being spoiled rotten money-grubbing consumers?

Two of the biggest causes of pollution on this planet are cows and airplanes.

Now I don't know about most moms of large familes (and since when is 4 large anyway??) but we cannot afford beef more than once a week or so, and that's IF it's on sale. There are many good protein sources which cost less than meat, and most large families take advantage of them. As meats go, beef is one of the most expensive and the worst for you. Yet apparently the average American family has to read articles telling them how to eat "only" 2-3 servings of beef per week. Are they serious??

In the pre-birth control pill days Americans ate 5x less meat. I doubt there were 5x less people in the country.

As for airplane travel, large families are very unlikely to do it. They certainly aren't doing it every 3 months just for fun! When they do, they travel alltogether and use up any empty seats which would've otherwise gone to waste.

We don't and have never driven a car. Everything we need can be easily reached on foot or by bus. I've never had a problem with me and my kids not fitting on a bus lol. I've seen people (and it's always 1 person, in a mini-van) pull out of a home on one street and into a parking lot on the next. I call that wasteful! These are the same people who shake their heads in disgust at me when I walk by with my double stroller (aka the baby bus).

For large families who do drive, it doesn't take more for a full car to run than one with less people.

We recycle. We buy used. We don't put chemicals on our lawn because they could harm the kids. We buy in bulk. We make crafts out of empty boxes and containers. We teach our kids that it's a normal part of life not to waste things and that they can't buy every toy, gadget, and packaged snack they see. It seems SOME people have the mindset that we are doing our children a disservice by not giving into this STUFF every chance we get. Our children are far from deprived. They spend more time in the fresh air than playing expensive video games, and they like it. They spend more time playing with each other than sitting in front of the t.v., and they prefer it!

Small families can be eco-conscious too, but many of the things I've listed we do we've learned to do BECAUSE we have so many kids. Not despite it. Because clearly, most of the things which cause pollution also cost a lot of money. And conversely, most of the things that are good for the planet save money.

My Hospital (Horror) Birth Story

2010-05-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

Only 1 of my 3 children was born at home. The 1st time, I would never dream of having a baby anywhere but in a hospital or birth center. I thought women who gave birth at home were like the pioneer women who died in childbirth by the hoardes. Little did I know how wrong I was!

During my 1st pregnancy, I spent a lot of time reading birth stories. It became kind of an addiction. One website I saw troubled me. It listed the births along with their respective number and type of intervention(s). A cursory glance told me that with a hospital birth, the chances of going natural was slim to none!

I'd read up on a lot of those interventions and had come to one conclusion - avoid if at all possible!!

Under the home birth stories category, I saw no interventions. None. Not even a c-section listed, while fully 1/3rd of the hospital births were! Hmm...

But I didn't let it bother me. It wouldn't happen to me. After all, I had a birth plan. I'd told my doctor exactly what I wanted and didn't want. It was all covered. Can you spell n-a-i-v-e??

Shock of all shocks, after about an hour in triage, all 5 copies of my birth plan were "lost" by the hospital staff. Hmm... But it didn't bother me much. I was going all-natural. I'd been in labor 8 hours already with no drugs. I was unstoppable! Nevermind that my water had also broken 8 hours prior - with light meconium staining, and I was therefore lying flat on my back with an IV and external monitor strapped to me.

Waiting for the triage nurse.

I remembered how much I hated hospitals. And I was wondering why no one told me that labor hurt so much. I was screaming. Why hadn't I taken a breathing class or something?? There was nothing to do but stare at the cieling and yell at people. This sucked!

Then a nurse came in with a syringe. She sneaked up on my left side so I don't even see her. But my husband did.

"What do you think you're doing?" He interrogated. But it was too late. Whatever was in the syringe was now in my IV and shortly to be in my veins. It was a narcotic (I can't remember the name now) that when I researched later on, I learned is riskier than an epidural, and MUCH less effective. "It will take the edge off," the nurse replied.

I informed her that I'd already said no to drugs. She shrugged and walked off. The fact that she would do that without my consent really ticked me off. But I also lay there thinking, "I hope this works!". It didn't. I felt worse. I felt kind of hot all over and suddenly very agitated.

Time passed. Suddenly the monitor on my belly started beeping. Nurses rushed in to fit me with an internal monitor - intervention that I specifically didn't want #2. Baby was fine. The external monitor was bought on sale at Kmart, apparently, and had had a false alarm.

More time passed. It was now 10 hours since my water broke. One of the 18 zillion people who came in to painfully check my cervix every 5 minutes told me I was still only at 1cm. (And no wonder, I hadn't gotten off my back in 8 hours.) I'd been fitted with a catheter - intervention #3 that I didn't want - and told it would make things faster "Just in case there's a problem".

It was then another beeping sound was heard, and 20 people in scrubs rushed in with panicked faces to wheel the bed I was laying on into the operating room. Oh crap.

"What's wrong?" I yelled to them but they didn't answer me. I was scared to death, and they were banging everything all around, ripping my catheter and IV painfully against my skin.

In the OR I was told that the heartbeat was no longer to be found on the internal monitor. I was going to need an emergency c-section.

No no no. This was exactly my worst nightmare!

Now either baby was going to die or I was going to bleed to death. I had never bought the common myth that c-sections are safer. It always made more sense to use the hole I've already got!

I begged the surgeon to wait and try again. After all, one machine had messed up, who's to say another couldn't? He agreed. We waited and I prayed while they fitted me with an epidural. Intervention #4.

Then I heard it. The miraculous beep beep of my baby's heartbeat. It was back on the monitor, and I was outta there. 'Thank you, God. I totally owe you one!'

But there was still the problem of me being stuck at 1 cm. And now I could feel nothing from the waist down. Out comes the pitocin. Intervention #5.

The contractions start coming faster than I imagined they could. One side of my body hurts so much I feel like I'm being run over by a truck, which backs up and runs me over again every other minute. Why isn't the epidural working??

The anesthesiologist comes in and ups the drug in the epi. Then he does it again. It takes them hours to figure out that it's in wrong. They take it out and re-do it. Unbenownst to me, they tell my husband that because of their lousy epi job, it's possible I'll never be able to use that leg again. But I don't hear this. Finally the epi is fixed and life is good.

7 hours and 40 minutes pass while I stare off into space, totally trippin' from the epidural drugs. "This is awesome. I like drugs." I told my husband. I'd never even taken so much as a prescription pain pill before in my life, but suddenly I completely understood drug abuse. Then I slept.

All drugged-up and no place to go
All the while my contractions were coming like a map of the alps on my chart, but it didn't phaze me until transition hit. Then for some reason I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was going to die. I started shaking violently and my teeth rattled. They told me I was just in transition and it was normal.

It passed and before I knew it I was ready to push. Except that I couldn't. The Dr. wasn't there yet. So I had to wait and try to grit my teeth and bear it. It was like trying to hold back when you have to puke. When the doctor still didn't show up after several minutes, the nurse told me "Honey if you feel like pushing just push!" So I did. Except that I didn't know where my butt was. "Push what? Push where?" I could feel nothing from the waist down. I was buttless and legless.

I pushed what I thought might be the right body part. It was more like imagining I was pushing. It took about 20 minutes. During this time I noticed that they had left the door to my room wide open, and any curious hospital guests, nurse, or janitor could peer right in and see all the parts the sun had never seen! I was vaguely pissed but too distracted to say anything.

The doctor arrived just in time to cut the cord and fling my baby to the nurse, who flung her thru a sponge bath and finally into a little bassinet thingy. My husband brought her to me.

Not the gentlest of introductions to life outside of Mama.

It was a magical time, perhaps enhanced by how stoned I was. My baby was soo adorables. I cuddled and kissed all over that soft lil face. Amazing. I wanted to breastfeed her, but she was too tired (or drugged up) and wouldn't even open her mouth to yawn before she drifted off.

Giving up on trying to breastfeed while baby's sleeping off her drug buzz.

I told my husband I just wanted to get some sleep. Our insurance required that I stay in a tiny lil depressing room with a window that didn't open for 2 days, so that if I was fixing to bleed to death they could possibly prevent it. They gave me awesome things like pads that were bigger than my baby's diapers, lovely ice packs that went right where it hurt, and a spray that made it possible for me not to feel the excruciating sting from my tiny, stichless tear when I peed.

The best thing was, I left a gnarly bloody trail all the way from the bed to the bathroom and didn't have to clean it up. They sympathy points with the husband were immense. The worst part was, I could barely walk. My leg was swollen to twice it's size by intervention #4 gone awry.

And there I was with a tiny t.v. and nothing else in a hot room that smelled like bleach. The nurses came in with blood pressure cuffs every few minutes to make sure I wasn't getting any sleep. One of them heard my baby cough, turned her upside down and hit her, hard, on the back. I was no expert, and apparently she was, but I was pretty sure babies ought not to be treated like that! I'd never seen it in any baby care book!

Being in the hospital was depressing. I mostly sat there bored stiff, sleepless, and crying. They brought me milk after I'd specifically said I'm lactose intolerant, so they brought me a soda and white bread and pork and all other sorts of crap I didn't eat. They kept wheeling my baby out and back again, but at least she had a sign on her bassinett that said "DEMAND FEED". I guess if they can bottlefeed your baby, they will.

After 2 days, I went home. I was so happy - overjoyed, ecstatic, to be out of there!! I hadn't seen the light of day except through the window of my lil prison in 3 days!

Finally escaping the hospital woohooo!!

I knew that if I ever got pregnant again, there was no way in heck I was stepping foot in a hospital unless one of us was at death's door.

I always think how differently her birth would have gone if I'd been at home. I know that I would've dilated on my own. I did it with baby #2 with no problem. She was my homegrown baby.

Her story is coming up next...

Cringe-Worthy

2010-05-24T09:23:00.000-07:00

This is the FIRST non-homebirth video I've seen without a ton of interventions. Of course what do I know, that could be pitocin and a cocktail of other drugs in that IV. But oh my gosh!! I feel so sorry for this woman! I'm sure she chose to have all those people there BEFORE she was in labor, but during the video she looks like she wants to scream at all of them to get out. I know I would be! I don't know why she doesn't!

Now I understand why some women want to do unassisted births! Leave the poor gal alone she's not a monkey in a zoo!

But seriously this is what I mean about how hospital births are almost never "natural". No matter how hard they try to make the rooms look like home or let the woman go without interventions (one hospital I went with was really great about respecting my wishes on that) it's still a very unnatural and uncomfortable environment.

Commence cringing:

Scary huh! I need to post my home birth story for my daughter Rachel. Maybe I will do that today or tomorrow. I don't have video but I do have some pics. Much less disturbing than this!! :)

How to Naturally Remove Smoke Odors From Clothing

2010-05-17T20:32:00.000-07:00

Normally I love anything scented: incense, scented oil, the works. But there is one thing I avoid - Febreeze!

I know a lot of people love it and I certainly used to. Until one day I took a glimpse at the warning label. Not very reassuring. It basically says right on it that it's extremely hazardous to you, your family, and your pets. How is that even legal?? But darn it, it works! *Pouts*.

So how DO you get nasty smells out of clothing safely and naturally?

Well I stumbled upon an answer one day after buying some used clothing off ebay. This "smoke-free" seller never mentioned the fact she had stored the box of clothes at Granny Marlboro's house for several months. I didn't want to return it because it was such a good deal, but I also didn't want to keep it - not smelling like that.

So I searched the Internet for some way to remove smoke smells from clothing. I tried everything, even a site for helping people salvage their clothes from burned down houses. Even those tips didn't work! It was starting to look hopeless. That half-used bottle of Febreeze on my laundry room shelf was calling my name.

Then I thought of something. Baking soda is an odor-eliminator, right? It sure keeps those strong onion smells from haunting the fridge. But no, it was way too easy. It wouldn't work, would it? Well, no harm trying.

It worked!! With a little less than 1/4 cup in the washing machine, it took that smoke smell COMPLETELY out in one wash. I was so happy, I was like beauty queen happy where you enthusiastically hug people you don't like. I think I even did a little dance. It totally worked, and it didn't damage the clothes!

Who knew something so easy would be the solution? It's funny how we've abandoned simple things for more complicated (and expensive) ones. Baking soda is so cheap and almost everyone has it in their house already, but we don't realize it's potential. It's also great for absorbing grease stains, putting out grease fires, easing indigestion, scrubbing tubs and stove tops (without scratching!) and deodorizing just about everything!

Someone even published a book called 100 uses for baking soda or something like that. It is definitely on my "to read" list.

Throwing It All Away

2009-02-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

Well it has taken me a while to get back to this blog as I've been preoccupied with other things. For one, I just had a baby girl on Thanksgiving day! We are breastfeeding and that's taking up a lot of my time (not that it isn't worth it!) so it's hard to find a free minute to sit down and write.
Do you know what bugs me though? All these new disposable cleaning products! I was horrified when these started coming out, just thinking of the enormous mountains of chemical-soaked waste they would create.

As the first products became popular, more and more flooded the market. Now we have disposable versions of just about everything; from ammonia-soaked wipes to disposable toilet brushes. They even sell disposable mops!

I can just imagine the big corporate executives sitting in their offices trying to come up with new ways of charging people more $$! They had to know this plan was a gold mine!

Oh let me count the ways this is a bad idea!

First, lets compare the environmental cost of reusable with these one-use wonders. When you buy disposable disinfecting wipes, they may last only one week, and then you'll have to buy more. This means more packaging, more materials, more chemicals, and more waste.

When you use a rag or dishcloth to wipe your table, you can just throw it in with your towels when you're done. It takes no more water or soap to clean than if you hadn't thrown it in!

I make it my goal to use the LEAST amount of disposable products possible. I use cloth napkins, wash cloths, diapers, sanitary pads, etc. I have even heard of people using cloth rags as toilet paper. Umm...not sure I would go that far, but to each their own.

Cloth items not only save resources and prevent landfill waste, but are softer and much stronger. You can't scrub anything with disposable wipes! Reusables are more convenient too, because you always have them in the house when you need them.

And sometimes, you don't even have to buy ANYTHING. I cut up my old ratty clothes or towels that have irreparable tears or stains, and use them to clean with.

What if you just really LOVE the convenience of ready-to-use cleaning products? I know a lot of people who rave about their Swiffer sweepers. Some even reuse the disposable cloths. If you're really into that, there are mops that use washable micro-fiber cloths. They work just as well but last much longer. I recently bought one from Libman, and it was actually cheaper than Swiffer.

When it comes to reusable disinfecting wipes, there are lots of greener alternatives on the market now. Most use plant-based cleaners and biodegradable materials. These definitely won't save you any money, but they are better for the environment. They're also not necessary. It's really not that much harder to spray a rag with cleaner. Really.

Crash Course In Natural Family Planning

2008-03-27T12:36:00.000-07:00

I’ve tried to put as much info as I can in a short amount of time here.

First, let's put some myths to rest:

1. This isn't your grandma's rhythm method. There were no thermometers involved in the original rhythm method, which is why it was so inaccurate. Used correctly, NFP is over 97% effective for preventing pregnancy. That beats SEVERAL types of artificial birth control, including condoms.

Used in reverse, it's also one of the most effective ways to get pregnant! This is why many people don't find out about it until they are trying to concieve, then thier doctor reccomends it. Odd.

2. You don’t need to have a 28 day cycle to do this. You don’t have to have a regular cycle at all. It's nice if you do, but it's not necessary. I don't!

3. You don't have to spend endless weeks restraining yourself in order to avoid pregnancy. The average amount of abstinence needed each month to prevent is 3-5 days.

Things you’ll need:

A good thermometer (I use a $12 digital one and it works fine, but most experts recommend a BBT thermometer.)

A calendar

I’ve been doing this for years so I no longer bother with a calendar, but for the first 6 months or so, you’ll need one. Pocket calendars work nicely. It just needs to be big enough to write on. Keep it somewhere where you will be sure to see it first thing in the morning, such as on the bathroom counter.
Here's what you do:

Take your temperature (by mouth) every morning first thing when you wake up, before you eat, drink, or work out. It helps if you keep the thermometer right next to your alarm clock.

Take your temp at the same o’clock every morning. If you get up an hour later than usual, no worries. Just subtract 0.2 degrees from what it says.
The rule is: subtract 0.1 degree for every half hour you sleep in, and add 0.1 degree for every half hour you get up early.

For example: If you normally get up at 8 a.m. but today you slept in till 8:30, and lets say your temp says 97.4, it’s actually 97.3. Write down 97.3 on your chart. Trust me, this works. Body temp slowly rises throughout the day.

You won't be able to use this effectively for the first month or two, so it's best to start now. And remember that birth control pills and other hormones can mess up your cycle, so if you're using them, this won't be very effective for you.

Ideally, you should start charting on the 1st or 2nd day of your period. You should notice your temperature go up and down a little bit day by day. Make a note of the highest temperature you see after 2 or 3 weeks. That number is your "coverline".
When you ovulate, your temperature will spike to at or above your coverline number, and, this is very important: it WON’T dip below that until you either have a period (or miscarriage) or are a few months into pregnancy. It may rise a bit, but it won’t go back down.

Here is an example of what my typical temperature chart for 2 weeks looks like right before I ovulate (when I’m not pregnant lol):

Week 1 - Mon. 97.5 Tues. 97.2 Wednes. 97.9 Thurs. 97.3 Fri. 97.9 Sat. 98.2 Sun. 98.2
Week 2 - Monday 97.9 Tues. 98.1 Wednes. 98.2 Thurs. 97.9 Fri. 98.1 Sat. 97.5

Do you see what happened here? My temperatures went up and down, but they always stayed either at or below 97.9, until Friday. So, 97.9 is my coverline. This means I ovulated on either Friday or Saturday of week ONE. I know I ovulated because my temperature went up to it’s highest point, and then went higher and/or stayed the same for at least 3 days.

The days when I might actually be fertile are in bold, and the first day of my period is underlined.

If I want to get pregnant, I would have relations on any day that I get a 97.9 in the morning. If you want to use this as birth control, avoid making love during these days, and for 2-3 days afterwards. (That’s 3 or 4 days out of the month, people. I just do not get all the complaints about the abstinence part. It’s 3 measly days!! Sounds like a nice lil break to me! Finally I can get some reading done!).

An egg lives for only 24-48 hours, and sperm lives for up to 5 days. So you can see that even if I ovulated on Saturday, the latest I could still be fertile would be Sunday night.

But let’s say I’m trying to get pregnant. I wouldn’t wait till Sunday to have relations, earlier is better. If we had relations on Friday of week 1, I would probably conceive.

You can see my coverline is at 97.9, but I got a 97.9 temp Wednesday too, so how do I know I didn’t ovulate on Wednesday? Simple! My temperature went back down the next day. At LEAST 2-3 days of high temps signals ovulation. By day 4 you can be sure you have ovulated and are no longer fertile. Your temperature should stay up for 9 or 10 days of high temps. These days are called DPO (days post ovulation).

At this point, I already know that a temperature of 97.9 one week after my period means nothing. I don't worry about it until about day 14. If your cycles are shorter or longer than normal, you will either want to avoid sooner or wait longer than that.

Most women will have the same coverline temperature every month. I've been doing this for years, and I always have. But every woman is different. Don’t expect your temps to be exactly the same as mine. The number is unimportant, the pattern is what counts.

It may take a few months before you can see what is going on. But after a while you'll be an old pro, and you may find out things you never thought possible!

For example: I always know I’m pregnant when I see 3 days of 98.4 temps in a row. 98.4 is my normal pregnancy temp. I find out long before any test could tell me! On the other hand, I always know I'm NOT pregnant if my temperature drops after 8 or 9 days, even if aunt flo is a little bit late for her visit. This can be a huge relief!

The tip to remember most is that if you do ovulate, your temperature will either stay the same or higher, until your period. Normally your period will come at 10-14 DPO. If you have the patience, you don’t even need to buy a pregnancy test. 18 straight days of high temperatures (assuming you aren't deathly sick) means you are pregnant. If you suddenly see a low temperature after about 9-14 days of high temps, put on a pad because aunt flo is on her way!

If you chart for a few months and never see any of this happen, then most likely you aren’t ovulating. See your doctor about possible infertility. Even if you don't want to get pregnant, it's important to get checked out in case it's something that threatens your health.

If your temperature is going up and staying up for at least 9-10 days every cycle, it’s a pretty safe bet that you are fertile, regardless of what the doctor says. One doctor told me he didn’t think I was ovulating at all, and was about to put me on Clomid when my daughter showed up and proved him wrong. This can also tell you if your fertility has returned after birth or not. Sometimes it takes a while.

Trust your chart. Remember that as much as doctors like to put it all on us, the fact remains that with 2/3rds of infertile couples, it’s the man, not the woman who has low fertility.

It's amazing to me that most people do not even know that a woman can only get pregnant 3-4 days out of each month. It's ridiculous how ignorant most people are!
I know you are probably thinking wait...if sperm can live up to 5 days, you could do it on a day you had a low temp and still get pregnant. True! But remember you won’t be dry down there if you’re fertile, so keep an eye on that, and your ovulation should be happening at least 14-19 days after your period. If you need to be really really safe, then wait only 10-12 days after your period, and abstain for 4 days of high temps. That's still not that much abstinence, and it's almost impossible to get pregnant like that (unless you lack self-control or your husband is extra hot).

Accidents can happen with anything, but I believe it's all fate anyway. All I can say for that is after 4 years, it has never happened to me. All of my kids were due either to my wanting them, or plain old forgetfulness, the gateway of divine providence lol.

Boobs...Not Just For Decoration

2008-03-04T10:56:00.000-08:00

To be honest, I liked breastfeeding, but I'm kind of glad that's all behind me for the time being. I got so tired of people's attitudes about nursing that I'd bring a bottle of pumped milk almost every time we went out. Of course finding the time to pump the milk was an incredible pain...and when the baby drank it all and wanted more what else could I do! My in-laws are the worst of all on this matter. They changed the subject whenever I even mentioned that the baby needed fed, like it was something too shameful to speak of! What is the matter with people!

A friend of mine wrote recently about 3 people who wrote angry letters to the editor of her local paper saying that "breastfeeding in public should be a crime". Half the time these are the same people who let thier children watch R rated movies and listen to pop rock. One woman said she wouldn't want to have to explain to her young children what that woman is doing under that blanket...oh yes, that would corrupt them so much to know the natural function of a mother's body. Nevermind what they are exposed to just in the checkout lines at the supermarket on all those Maxim magazine covers! I don't see anyone writing angry letters to the editor about that! Where is the outrage when the tv shows almost completely naked women gallovanting about on almost every channel...night after night after night?? Where?

Our society has become so twisted, so backwards, that seeing a woman's bosom almost in it's entirety on a billboard in a black bra is no biggie, yet seeing a woman breastfeeding under a shawl...why that should be a crime! How shocking! Oh my poor delicate sensibilities lol! I think I'm going to faint!What kind of world is it when the overt sexualization and marketing of women's bodies is normal and acceptable, yet the natural and beautiful mothering function of her body is spoken of as if it is shameful? I'll tell you. A society which exploits and devalues women! And not just women, but children as well.

Do women breastfeed in public to prove a point, to flaunt their breasts, to make themselves look holier than thou, or to FEED THIER HUNGRY BABIES? From my experience it is at least 99.9% the latter, in every case.

So many women are so uncomfortable about breastfeeding in public, they introduce the bottle too soon and end up damaging or ending their nursing relationship, which in the end hurts no one as much as the baby, who is missing out on all those golden breastmilk ingredients which scientists have yet to reproduce in a lab!

Let me tell you something. I am all for modest breastfeeding. There are plenty of ways to do this whether it be through blankets or shawls or nursing clothing. But there is an art to it. If you're brand new at breastfeeding, latching on and off can be extremely difficult under a blanket or while holding a shirt open with one hand! So if someone catches a glimpse, hey, you know what, it's not on purpose to make you hot! But nursing in public is sometimes the only option when you have a screaming baby who needs fed NOW. Nursing in a car or the toilet of a public restroom is unhygenic and uncomfortable, and the former totally impossible for those of us who don't drive. And even for those who do, is mom supposed to leave a cart full of groceries to run out to her car? Children are developing unhealthy attitudes towards breastfeeding when they are given toy bottles and tugged away from a mother and baby before they see anything "scandalous". What most moms don't seem to get is that children are not bothered at all by breasts! They are as innocent as Adam and Eve before the fall. It's grown-ups who impose thier own sense of shame, shame on them!

My 3 year old has seen me nurse her younger sister many times in the past. She knows that a mother's breasts are for nursing babies and that babies are hungry for mother's milk. She knows that if she has a baby someday she will make milk with her own body and breastfeed as well. This thought makes her feel happy and powerful as a future woman! She often cheerfully chirps, "My baby doll is fussy, she needs to nurse!" And there is not a single thing wrong with that!

What happens to women and children when you tell them that nursing is shameful? They lose thier sense of empowerment, the sense of pride in themselves that is entitled to them as being beyond anything man can replicate! And it's hurting the child, sentencing them to more infections, more colds, higher risks for diabetes and psychological disorders, and possibly even a lower IQ!Ladies, here in America you do have rights, or rather, your baby has rights! In almost all of the 50 states, you have the right to breastfeed whenever and wherever your baby wants. Despite what society may wish for you to believe, no one is going to haul you off to jail! You may get the occasional odd look, but in my experience, that's about the extent of it.

Creating a false and exaggerated sense of shame about motherhood is damaging to our society in general, we need to respect and honor our mothers for their God-given role as nurturer and co-creator!

I don't have a problem with women nursing in full view, but I personally am modest just in general, that is just my own personal preference. I would love it if all places were required to have nursing rooms the same as they must have restrooms, just so the option would be there, but until that happens don't be intimidated! We mother's need to fight for our children's right to eat!

And don't be ashamed! Mother Mary nursed in public! There are several beautiful paintings of this which were created hundreds of years ago, back before the days of bottles and underwire push-up bras, when people understood what breasts are for! As you can see, I've included a few of them in this post. Aren't they beautiful!

Healthy (And Cheap) Homemade Baby Food

2008-02-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

Home-made baby food is healthier because it has no additives or preserv-atives, and is usually lower in salt and sugar. When you make it yourself you can be sure that the vitamins occur naturally, instead of being "fortified", which is like taking a vitamin - it isn't absorbed as easily. Jarred baby food has also contained some scary things from time to time, leading to quite a few recalls.

You can't even rely on a baby food brand to give you the right foods for your child's development. Many of those baby snacks contain strawberries, which allergists reccomend you not feed to your baby until they are at least one!

My happy baby with ground peaches on her bib

This great site is pretty much my Bible when it comes to feeding babies. I used to think that in order to make baby food you had to get one of those fancy grinders and cook and mash food to make it look just like the jarred variety. In fact if it wasn't for my own crunchy mom, I probably would have thought it was illegal to feed a baby anything that didn't come from a jar with the Gerber baby on it! I had no idea that a 6 month old could eat an avocado.

Yes, an avocado! It's a wonderful first food because it's already pretty mushy and is safe for babies 6 months and up. You can just mash it up with a fork. It has over 22 natural vitamins and minerals right in it! Talk about a nutrient powerhouse! You'd think a baby might not like it, but mine certainly did!

Both of my little ones also LOVE canned pumpkin mixed with a little milk (I used breastmilk before the baby turned 1) and you can add mashed banana for sweetness.

There are lots of other great recipe ideas on the site so check it out. It's free!

Their new toddler food site is pretty neat too!

Babywearing Benefits

2008-01-30T09:40:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest things we whine about as new moms is not being able to go anywhere and feeling stuck at home. Well you CAN go a lot of places, just bring baby along! That's where babywearing comes in.

A Few of the Awesome Benefits of Babywearing:

- Mini weight lifting workout for mom
- Baby cries less and does not feel abandoned
- Baby feels safe and secure
- No lugging heavy stroller around or trying to maneuver over bumpy ground
- No need to avoid stairways
- Can double as an emergency cushion, changing pad, burp rag, or blanket
- Allows for discreet public breastfeeding
- You can breastfeed in a sling while walking around so you don't feel like your butt is permanently glued to the couch!
- Research shows touch can help preemie babies gain weight faster
- Toddlers can ride around in slings too!
- Slings promote parent/child bonding
- They are less costly than strollers and you can make them yourself
- Unlike many strollers, slings are completely washable!

I've also often wondered if there were ever a fire in our home, how would I get the baby down the fire ladder? I decided it would be safest and easiest just to keep the sling upstairs in our room, that way I could grab the baby and put her in the sling and just walk down the ladder without fear of dropping her!

Okay, I admit, I still use my stroller a lot for mall walking and stuff too. And you don't necessarily HAVE to use a sling to have these benefits. There are also many good front carriers and baby backpacks on the market nowadays. I LOVE my Snugli - and actually find it more comfortable than my sling for the newborn period. The only problems I have with it are it takes longer to get on and off, and really only works until baby is about 20 lbs.

Homemade Laundry Soap

2008-01-29T21:07:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
2/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap (equivalent of 1 cup grated)
½ Cup 20 Mule Team Borax
½ Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda.
Container large enough to hold 2 cups of laundry detergent
Directions:
Grate the Fels Naptha soap. Approximately 2/3 of a bar of soap will make 1 cup of grated soap.
Add the ½ cup of Borax and ½ cup of washing soda to the grated soap.
Mix well

Use:
One T of detergent per load.

Yield:
The recipe yields 2 cups of laundry detergent, which should be about 32 loads.

Cost: (Note - it may cost you a bit more than this!)
20 Mule Team Borax: $2.50 for 70 oz.
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda: $2.50 for 55 oz.
Fels Naphtha: $1.24 per bar.
Total cost to make: $1.15 to make 2 cups, which translates to 3.5 cents per load.

Yes, I actually have made and used this recipe! It works just as well as All liquid laundry soap, though the key is to put it in FIRST, before your clothes, turn on the water, and mix it around a bit. I used about 1/3 less of the bar soap than it said to, as the smell is really quite strong. It's also nice to have a little Fels Naptha left over, because it is a pretty good stain pre-treater. I sometimes use it on my cloth pads. Sorry if that's TMI!

I have also heard some people will make this into a liquid soap by adding a ton of boiling water and stirring it around...that seemed like too much work for me though!

Toxic Cosmetics

2008-01-29T20:54:00.000-08:00

Did you know...

- The FDA does NOT approve or disapprove cosmetics.

- Ingredients listed on cosmetic products are listed voluntarily by the company. In other words, they can put dangerous stuff in there and just label it in vague terms like "fragrance".

- In a recent study, 61% of lipsticks on the market contained LEAD, which is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and can cause miscarriage.

- The FDA has not set a limit on lead amounts in lipstick.

- Many cosmetics contain parabens, which are shown to cause breast cancer.

- Mascara often contains parts of marine animals, such as whale blubber.

- Products labeled "natural" are not necessarily safe. The FDA has NO requirements for products to be labeled "natural" or even "all-natural".

- Most health professionals agree that cosmetics should be thrown out every 3-6 months, or after an illness, because of bacterial build up. Most women do not do this.

- Because of it's PH level, eye shadow in particular is a breeding ground for bacteria.

- Women have had severe infections and some have actually DIED from getting pedicures.

- When customers open and use cosmetics in the store without buying them, many stores simply reduce the price and sell them anyway...that is IF they even notice.

- Used cosmetics can spread a host of illnesses from pinkeye to mono.

- Toxins found in cosmetics are absorbed through the skin. In one recent study in the UK, it was discoverd that these toxins then appear in breast milk and urine. Levels returned to normal after discontinued use.

- Dibutylphthalate or D-B-P is a chemical found in many nail polishes that is shown to cause birth defects in animal testing.

- You can find a list of safer cosmetics here. However, most cosmetic companies, including Avon, Estee Lauder, L'Oreal, Revlon, Proctor & Gamble and Unilever are NOT on the list.

- You should NEVER buy cosmetics used or off websites like Ebay, where you can't be sure if the seller has used and repackaged them or not. Always buy new and sealed, try making your own, or just don't wear makeup at all...right? One less thing to worry about!

A Hard Pill To Swallow

2008-01-21T06:36:00.000-08:00

The more I've seen and learned, the more I'm convinced that doctors are quick to prescribe medications not because it is necessary, or even the most effective route, but because it's the EASIEST and more people will follow it.

Many ailments can be cured, managed, or at least eased through a healthy, balanced diet and exersize. However this is not what people want to hear when they go to the doctor. They want to hear that all they have to do is swallow a magic pill and be all better. Some even complain and switch doctors if they aren't given any and every medication option on the market for their condition, regardless of the side effects. I have had one doctor tell me a patient DEMANDED to be written a prescription for antibiotics which she did not need. It was a simple virus and time alone would've cured it. She simply did not want to hear that.

And most people with type 2 diabetes do not want to hear that losing weight, exersizing and changing their diet may be all the cure they need. Why? Because these things are hard to do! Healthy living does not come naturally for people living in a society of packaged candy bars and fast food hamburgers, who are used to parking as close to everything as humanly possible, and taking the elevator. They don't want to have to change their lifestyle, so even needle pricks are preferable, to them.

It's time to take control of your body yourself. There are plenty of pills to lower cholestrol which claim that "sometimes dieting and exersize is not enough." Baloney. If people actually stuck to it, and don't lie about their diets and exersize, I think you'd find it is extremely effective!

If you choose to go the medication route with whatever ailment you have, and this is totally your choice, just remember that the root problem is not solved. If you are not taking care of yourself, more health problems will keep popping up until you do!

Natural Cures For Depression

2008-01-21T05:53:00.000-08:00

Did you know...

*30 minutes of daily exercise is as effective as psychotherapy or anti-depressants for the treatment of depression? Yes, this is true! (And a lot cheaper too!)

* A deficiency of vitamin B12 (found only in eggs, meat, and dairy products), B6, and/or folate can mimick depression symptoms? Think you are getting enough?

* Thyroid dysfunction should always be ruled out before a depression diagnosis is made.

* People who attend a religious service weekly are more than 40% less likely to be hospitalized and overcome depression faster than those who do not.

* You can cure your own depression through changing your conscience thought patterns from helpless, passive, and pessimistic, to optimistic and hopeful.

* There is no scientific test to prove whether or not you have a "chemical imbalance" causing your depression.

*Seratonin levels can be permanently altered by constructive talking and learning.

*Some healthy foods and activities increase seratonin. Conversely, some activities (like watching violent television) decrease it. Seratonin levels are never permanent, heridatary, or deplete.

*A 3 hour dose of daily sunlight can significantly improve depression symptoms.

* Reading motivational or "self-help" books is comparable to cognitive therapy.

No one can change you unless you WANT to change. I will forever be convinced that some people just enjoy wallowing in self-pity and negative attitudes. I used to be that way, myself. I also believe that although talking things out with a trusted therapist can be helpful, a good friend can do the same thing...for free! Although most have good intentions and truly care about their patients, I feel psychiatry can be harmful in that it can encourage a view of yourself that you are "ill" and can't help it. You are NOT a victim! There is SO much you can do!

Take my advice because I am one success story. I've gone from attempted to suicide to a happy and productive life WITHOUT medication. For me as well as others I have met, I found that it did NOT in fact all come from me. The people I was around and the situations I was in contributed to my negative feelings and hopeless attitude.

Here is some of my own personal advice from experience:

*Get out of the house! You feel caged in...maybe you ARE caged in!
*Make friends who support and encourage you. I know this can be hard, but a good way to do it is join a group for people with similar interests. For example, just going to church may not help, but going to a small group study is more intimate and easier to talk to people.
*List your hobbies. Can't find any interest in life? U sure can! What are you good at? What do you enjoy? Find a way to do it! You don't have to do it professionally, or be the best, just have fun!
*Let go of perfectionism. No one is judging you as harshly as you judge yourself!!
*Eat healthy!! I cannot stress this one enough. Junk food provides only temporary consolation, starving your body for nutrients and leaving you feeling weak, tired, and irritable!
*Don't wallow! When you have a bad day do NOT sit down and stew and ponder over it. Chalk it up to bad luck and go do something relaxing.
*Don't gripe! This is a good way to lose friends and make yourself miserable. If you want to complain about life, keep it short and sweet and focus on solutions instead of just the problems.
*Forgive!! This is another big one. Holding onto resentment is POISON. Literally. There have been scientists who've studied this and unforgiveness can actually cause stress hormones that will ruin your health! You especially need to learn to forgive yourself and stop comparing yourself to others!
*Believe that you are in control of yourself and your behaviors. No one can MAKE you feel or do anything without your consent!

I hope this helps. Any questions or problems just ask!

Nursing During Pregnancy - Why I Weaned

2008-01-16T09:00:00.001-08:00

Well my baby finally weaned (though my milk isn't 100% dried up yet) last month at 13 1/2 months old. I had wanted to make it to 2 years like WHO reccomends, but I got pregnant!

Now, there are different schools of thought on nursing during pregnancy, but most health professionals advise against it. I do have a few friends who have done it with no problems for all 9 months, so I know it CAN be done! However I would not recommend it unless you are committed to a very healthy diet. Your body is going to be providing nutrition not only for your nursing baby, but for your growing one and YOU as well! So getting enough vitamins is key, there is no room in your diet for junk if you're going to do this!

Plus, make sure you can take the pain...because breastfeeding can be uncomfortable already when your baby is teething, and for me at least it hurt all the more when my nipples were sensitive from pregnancy hormones.

For various reasons, I chose not to continue nursing during pregnancy. Unfortunately, I had a very early miscarriage which ended that. I would've liked to start up breastfeeding again after that, but my baby refused. She'd had enough time without the boobies that she just wasn't interested anymore...and what with her occasional biting, it was kind of a relief!

However, I support women 100% if they want to continue nursing during pregnancy. As long as they take good care of themselves and their babies, I admire their commitment!

How To Wash Cloth Diapers

2008-01-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

This is how I do it, anyway! My kids both have very sensitive skin, so we only use dye/perfume free liquid laundry soap or the kind I make myself. (I will post the recipe for that soon!).

* First, I fill the washer up about halfway with HOT water and add the laundry soap. You really don't need a lot of laundry soap, it will not get the dipes cleaner, it will only leave soap buildup which STINKS! So I use about 1/3 - 1/2 the reccomended amount.

*Then add the dipes. For wet diapers, they can go straight in the wash.
For soiled ones, if your baby is solely breastfed they can go straight in the wash too. That butter will come right off lol. My baby is on solids, (and we just weaned last month at 13 1/2 months!) so I shake the poo into the toilet (I've heard of people using a spatula for this) and if it doesn't come right off, I use a spray hose or dunk it in a bucket, then rinse the bucket and dump it in the toilet. We use the spray hose on our kitchen sink and a bucket, but you can get one that attaches right to your toilet. Some people even use their detachable shower heads.

This may sound like a really gross, inconvenient process, but it actually goes very fast and isn't hard at all. Plus, it gets the poo out of your house right away! No stinking dirty dipes lying around until trash day! And better still, no poo in the landfill!

* Okay, now that all the dipes and covers are in the wash and relatively poo-free, just let her run. After it's done you wanna do an extra rinse cycle, add a little baking soda or vinegar to the rinse if you want, now. NEVER use fabric softener or bleach! These will destroy your covers!

* Then just stick them in the dryer or if it's nice out, hang them on the line. The sunlight will kill bacteria too and leave them smelling VERY fresh, as well as bleach them naturally!

What's the Deal With Organic Foods?

2008-01-14T11:05:00.000-08:00

If you aren't sold yet on eating organic foods, you will be!

(Kind of annoying how she keeps disappearing and coming back, but stick with it, there is a lot of good information in these videos!)

My favorite quote, "Are you ready to trade your health for a lower cost product?" Cancer is not cheap!! Plus the more people buy organic, the cheaper it will become because of the law of supply and demand.

I personally am glad to see so many brands coming out with organic options.

My Favorite (Green) Household Product

2008-01-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

With 2 small children running around the house, I don't want a bunch of nasty toxic fumes when I clean. I also don't want bottles of bleach sitting around for them to try to get into.

That's why this is one of my favorite things for the house. It's called castile soap. I use it for just about EVERYTHING!

I've used it as a handsoap, baby bath, all purpose cleaner, cloth diaper pre-wash, even used dilluted to mop the floors because it doesn't sud up too much. It can also be used as a shampoo or bodywash, and I'm sure there are many other uses I haven't found out about yet! It's gentle but it WORKS! It's the same stuff they gave me in the hospital to wash my breastpump. It's the same stuff they give you in the doctor's office to wipe off before giving a urine sample.

It's also a key ingredient in a lot of make-it-yourself green cleaners. Mix it with sterilized (boiled and cooled) water and a little borax, white vinegar (a great natural disinfectant), and about a teaspoon of washing soda, and it makes a great bathroom cleaner.

It's organic, biodegradable, nontoxic, You can even use it as a vegetable wash!

It's so biodegradable, you could take it with you camping and bathe in a stream, and it won't hurt the wildlife. Plus I think it smells really good. I bought the vanilla almond scented kind, but you can find it in a lot of different scents or add your own essential oil. It's become a staple at our house, and although it costs more than some cleaners, it lasts a really long time. That one bottle is only half empty, and we've had it several months. I'm hoping for a good sale (I've only ever found it online) so I can stock up. I think we will be using this stuff for many years to come.

My Diaper Stash

2008-01-14T09:16:00.001-08:00

JUST A FEW OF THE ITEMS FROM MY (PINLESS) CLOTH DIAPER STASH

A little explanation of what we have here:

Left-hand side, WonderWraps Diaper Covers. I really like these because they are one-size fits all and adjust to babies from about 10-25 lbs. The bright pink one is the original, and the others are the newer style. The original ones are smaller, lasting till only about 20 lbs, but other than they're about the same. The thing I like about these is you don't need to use pins or even a Snappi. You just put a prefold cloth diaper on around baby, and fasten the cover on with the velcro straps and you're done. It really stays on! However these are a bit spendy so some people still like to go with the old Gerber rubber pants. I use them for my older child (who only wears a diaper at night) with an Indian prefold fastened with a Snappi, and they work fine.

Moving on to the middle of the picture:

On top I have a couple of diaper doublers. These really hold wetness in without the bulk of an extra diaper. I put them in with the prefold for my big girl and they keep her through the night without leaks! They feel softer than diapers, too.

On the bottom I have a lavendar Kissaluvs diaper, which can also be used as a postpartum menstrual pad. I think these work OKAY. I like how they fold around the baby easily, but they can also tend to leak, unless you use a doubler! You need to use covers for these, too.

And finally, on the right-hand side of the picture:

On top I have some indian prefolds in two different sizes. These are my favorite kind of prefold cloth diapers because they are SOFT and work really well. They get softer and fluffier the more you wash them.

On bottom I have some chinese prefolds These are OK but you really need to use 2 or add a doubler unless baby's just going to be in them for a short time.

So that's about it, and this is mostly all we've used! I have about 3 dozen of the prefolds, 6 covers, 2 Snappis and 3 rubber pants, and that's enough to get us by washing them every couple of days!

Birthing Problems - Prevention Is The Best Cure

2008-01-14T07:56:00.000-08:00

Much of the time, when doctors tell women they "need" a c-section right away, he's right. It's too late. And this is how prenatal care in the U.S. goes. They don't tell you to watch your sugar until you have gestational diabetes. They don't tell you which foods are high in iron until you're anemic. They don't even tell you that you need to drink more water until you have a urinary tract infection!

However, a good midwife looks for signs of a problem long before it gets to that point. A lot of the time, just taking good care of yourself can prevent a c-section or induction. Yet women are not told this by their doctors. I know this because I too have been there. Because of insurance problems, I had to see many different ob/gyns while pregnant with my 1st. The visits with each were always the same; very short and consisting of routine physical exams and lab tests, and that's about it.

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This is what people are referring to when they talk about the "midwife standard of care". It is a higher standard!

How shocked was I when my midwives sat and TALKED with me at prenatal visits (with my 2nd child). I was even asked to write down everything I ate for a week, which my midwives then analyzed for nutritional content and possible problems. I was told I was not getting enough calcium, which I didn't even realize! Nutrition is SO important in general, but it's VITAL during pregnancy. Proper nutrition can prevent a host of pregnancy complications!

Too much sugar and simple carbohydrates (like white bread) can cause gestational diabetes. A healthy diet and daily walk can prevent it from ever happening to begin with. That daily walk is especially important. Even a simple 20 minute walk can burn off excess glycogen stores, and keep your blood sugar from spiking. But by the time your doctor brings this up with you, it's most likely because you're already having symptoms, your baby is already on the road to being 13 lbs., and it's just flat out too late!

What about preeclampsia? Again, diet is the key. Too little protein, too little calcium, too much salt, and not enough exercise can cause problems. Change your diet and you change your life! Now you may be thinking you're already getting enough protein, but have you ever sat down and listed what you eat? Have you had it checked over to be sure? I thought I was getting enough calcium, (in fact my best guess would've been maybe TOO much!) But I was wrong! And pregnant women need a LOT of protein. Many dieticians recommend that high risk women eat about 70 grams per day. That's 20 grams more than normal!

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It's NEVER too early. Good diet needs to start even before you concieve, since for the first few months, that baby is going to be getting nutrition from your body's reserves. If you're overweight, lose the weight you want to lose now so that you're NOT tempted to lose during pregnancy. Get at least 5 fruits and vegetables per day, and make sure you're getting your calcium (equivalent to about 4 cups of milk per day)! You can take a multivitamin, just don't expect it to make up for poor eating habits. Your body is not going to absorb vitamins from a pill the way it would from food, so when it says 100% your are actually absorbing more like 35%!

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DO NOT EAT FOR TWO! This is a common misconception. Your baby only needs an extra 200-300 calories per day in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, NOTHING extra in the 1st. Gaining too much weight will only cause your baby to gain too much weight...and possibly not even fit through the birth canal! I can also attest to the fact that being overweight while pregnant in general (even if you don't gain too much while pregnant) can cause baby to be huge, as can too much sugar!
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This is what bothers me: women are simply NOT BEING INFORMED.

For more on how nutrition can prevent pregnancy complications:

Here is a wealth of information: The Blue Ribbon Baby site.

An article on the importance of calcium in preventing major complications in pregnancy.

The do's and don'ts of eating during pregnancy.

The important role Vitamin C in correct amounts plays in pregnancy.

The importance of safe exercise during pregnancy.

Incredible Waterbirth Video

2008-01-13T09:02:00.001-08:00

A pregnant friend of mine has one of these midwives right now, so she posted this in her blog and I'm stealing it haha. I hope you all enjoy it.

Look at how amazingly calm and chilled out and aware this baby girl is! What a gentle and wonderful way to come into the world!

Warning: there is some female nudity in this video, so if that bothers you...GROW UP! LOL.

The Birth of Henrietta

The Business of Being Born

2008-01-13T08:34:00.000-08:00

I'm so stoked that someone has finally made this documentary! I can't wait to see it. Hopefully this will help get some FACTS out there so women can make an informed decision!

I've done it both ways, hospital with all the drugs with my 1st, and an all-natural homebirth with my 2nd. I would definitely choose homebirth again. Unfortunately it is not for everyone, but I definitely reccomend it for healthy, low-risk women who have that option.

A Note On Judgementalism

2008-01-11T09:44:00.000-08:00

There is a very harmful parenting book floating around out there (I won't write the title since I don't want to give it more publicity!) which claims that "women only breastfeed so they can brag about it". This is so wrong!

Breastfeeding moms are simply doing what is right for their baby and their family. We aren't perfect, nor are we looking down our noses at you!

I feel it's important to keep a positive attitude about our commitment to breastfeeding, to support each other to keep going even through all the hurdles. Yes, there are many benefits to breastfeeding which you simply can not get from formula. Most of the time, problems which may tempt us to throw in the towel can be solved! But I think we all understand that, for some women at least, breastfeeding can be very difficult! And still for others it may actually be impossible! Nobody is judging as long as you've given it your best try!

And by all means, if you feel that breastfeeding is ruining your life, and before you start to resent your baby, STOP! I would much rather see a happy, stress-free mommy with a bottle-fed baby, than hear about one that's gone berzerk on the news! Your child is very sensitive to your feelings and will copy your attitude, so if you've tried everything but all the support and advice in the world can't keep you positive about your breastfeeding experience, you do what is best for you and your situation. Remember that your feeding choice is exactly that, your choice.

Breastfeeding Painlessly

2008-01-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

A lot of moms have told me the reason they discontinued breastfeeding was because dang it, it HURT! I've been there! There are several reasons why pain during breasfeeding may happen, so let's take a look at what might be going on:

1. The Most Common Problem: Improper latch. In order to latch the baby on properly, you need to bring her to you, not lean into her. That's bad for your back anyway! Wait until baby's mouth is opened widely and then bring her to the breast. Tilt her head back slightly so her chin is pressed into you . You want to make sure she is getting as much breast tissue as possible in her mouth, not just the tip of the nipple. If you can't fit the whole areola in her mouth, don't worry! Just make sure she gets as much as possible. Her upper lip can just barely cover the nipple but her bottom lip needs to covering most of the areola. For more on proper latch, click here.

2. Unlatch properly. When taking the baby off the breast, be sure to gently slide your finger between her mouth and your breast. You may think you don't need to because it doesn't always hurt to do it wrong, but it CAN hurt later! I'm saying this from experience!

3. Thrush. Yikes! This can be a big problem for nursing moms. The best way to prevent it is to let your nipples air dry as much as possible, and eat plain, unsweetened yogurt. You can also put a little yogurt (unsweetened!!) directly on your nipples and in baby's mouth. A little will not hurt baby. Do this as many times a day as you want. You don't have to wipe it off but you can rinse it off with clear water. I've even mixed it with acidophilus powder to make it extra potent and it worked!

4. Baby may be sucking too hard! If you have slow let down like me, or it's been a while since baby last fed, baby may get frustrated and try sucking very hard to get that milk out. To prevent this, throw out your clock and try to always feed at the first sign of hunger. You can also try putting a little heat on your breasts and massaging downward before breastfeeding, or just cuddle and sniff your baby haha. Sense of smell is very powerful!

5. Dry nipples are painful nipples! Try a little Lansinoh, it works! NEVER wash your nipples with soap, your breastmilk is naturally very clean and even antibiotic, so clear water is enough.

6. When worse comes to worse, you've tried everything but nothing is helping you, you can try using a breastpump for a few feedings. Just remember that too many bottles may cause your child to reject the breast. Also make sure that someone else is feeding the baby that bottle! Baby needs to see you as booby-only zone!!

7. Sometimes it just hurts! They tell you that breastfeeding should never hurt if you do it right, but from my experience I can say this is not always true! My midwife supervised my breastfeeding and said I was doing it perfectly, but it still hurt! She said if you have very large nipples and your child is still itty bitty, it can be painful. All you can really do is grin and bear it. Just keep in mind that, in just a few months, it's about to get MUCH easier!

8. A note on afterpains: I know it's no fun, ladies, but it's SO much better for your body to get these over with NOW. You don't want a womb that is permanently saggy for life! All those contractions while you breastfeed are firming and tightening that uterus up, and actually helping you. They are preventing hemorrhage (which could save your life!) and helping get your tummy back into shape. It shouldn't last more than a couple weeks. Don't bother with Tylenol if you can take Ibuprofin. It's the only thing that helped me! Just don't OD on it by taking it every time it wears off (I was tempted to!).

My Reasons For Using Cloth

2008-01-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

My Personal Reasons for Cloth-Diapering

1. My mom cloth-diapered me and all 4 of my siblings, and we were fine! The only major illnesses I can ever remember us all getting was chicken pox...NOT diaper coodies!!

2. I do not wash them in the toilet. I use an ole bucket and dump said bucket into the toilet to cut down on germishness.

3. Poo ends up in the wash anyway. Even the pricey diapers sometimes don't hold when Mt. Baby errupts, lol!

4. I ain't made of money! Who wants to spend 40 bucks a month on diapers? If I had an extra $40 a month I'd be buying carmel soy lattes 3 times a week haha.

5. Cloth is better next to baby's skin. It breathes better and causes less diaper rash. My baby had a rash once, but it turned out the laundry soap was the culprit. We ditched the villanous brand and voila: healthy tush!

6. It's better for the environment... who wants to live next to Lake Dirty Pampers!

7. You never run out at 3 in the morning and have to rush to the store in your p.j.s and curlers. Just toss 'em in the wash. Whew!

8. It's better cause I say it is. The Mommy sayeth!

9. You're not cool if you don't. Everybody's doing it *peer pressures you into it haha*

Why I Made This Blog

2008-01-09T11:58:00.000-08:00

It's hard to find everything in one place! For someone living a semi-crunchy lifestyle, you can end up spending a lot of time trying to find information about breastfeeding, co-sleeping, cloth-diapering, and green living. You find yourself wading through a sea of junk websites and trapped in link circles.

My intention is to put helpful, relevant information for those of us trying to parent in a more natural style in an unatural high-tech modern world. I hope to meet some other crunchy (or semi-crunchy) mamas through this blog.

And don't worry if you aren't 100% granola-fied, I'm not either. I won't force you to listen to folk music or refrain from shaving your legs...promise!