Pregnancy

There I was standing in the living room in disbelief, again, as I lovingly looked down at my sweet daughter’s face. I could not believe that I was finally a mom, even two weeks after having her. Suddenly I had a very clear vision and my eyes got huge as I realized that I knew absolutely nothing about taking care of this tiny, defenseless little girl. In just a few heartbeats I was rocked to my core as I realized how little we are taught about how to care for the new lives we bring into this world.Isn't it funny how we long to become parents and yet it takes having a baby to actually start learning about taking care of them? Here are some of the ways that this realization impacted our lives from that point on.

What to do with your placenta……. - Have you heard people talk about consuming their placenta or having it encapsulated and thought…...What is that and WHY would you do that?......I too was surprised when I was introduced to this relatively new trend of women having their placenta processed for consumption during their postpartum recovery. Like me, you may be wondering what that looks like or even what possible benefits it may have for you as you adjust to having your new baby........

Are you ready for another baby? - So you have had your first baby and you are thinking about having another one. Maybe it has been a few months or maybe it has been a few years, it is different for all of us.........If you are contemplating whether you are ready here are some things that you might be thinking …….The biggest thing to ask yourself is .......

Can Childbirth Be Pain-Free? - If you are pregnant, wanting to start a family, or maybe you had a traumatic experience with a previous childbirth and wonder if pain-free is even possible. The answer is, yes it is possible..... I heard an acquaintance say she had a pain-free birth.....I was blown away with her story and intrigued, I WANTED that experience!!!

Gestational Diabetes: Glucose Tolerance Test vs. Alternative Options - When you are pregnant you will generally be told that you have to be tested to see if you have gestational diabetes between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. This test is generally done using a glucola drink with 50 grams of sugar for the one hour test and 100 grams of sugar for the 3 hour test. You can, however, decide that you don't want to do this test or opt for another test that doesn't require you drinking the glucola.......

How can I stay positive through pregnancy and childbirth? - I see so many posts and comments where so many women are being bombarded by other people’s opinions as they walk through the personal journey of becoming a mom. This is so aggravating and I feel for all women who have had to deal with the naysayers along the way......Here’s the thing though, you have to set boundaries because no matter how close you are or aren’t with your family this is YOUR journey and it has nothing to do with them! If you want to have 1 kid and be done or have 7 and counting, that is your decision with your husband. NOBODY ELSE GETS A SAY IN THAT!!!

Be a voice that stands out from the crowd….. - Do you realize that a lawyer, hairdresser, or even the guy who washes your car is the same as the doctor you go to for your healthcare needs?They are all paid professions. YOU pay them to provide you a service! Meaning that they work for you and that YOU are the ultimate decision maker in everything. Yes, doctors are the ones that go to school for years and have the degrees, I’m not denying that. That does not, however, give them authority over your body......

Have you ever thought.........Can I Have a Homebirth? - You were made to do this one thing without a doubt!!! Many women are more than capable of having a homebirth, EVEN when they don’t think so........If you have been thinking about having a homebirth and are wondering if it is something that you can do, I want to encourage you to seek out as much information as you can before deciding that you can’t...... 

You Decide, It’s Your Choice!! - Did you know that you have the ability to decline or delay any tests, ultrasounds, or checks that you don’t want during your pregnancy and childbirth experience?It’s TRUE!! Western medicine is trying to change this by changing the conversations and removing words that give their patients a choice..........

Are they taking your power? - One of the things that keeps coming up in conversations that I find extremely disturbing is how our medical system is dictating our care and how they are training their labor and delivery teams on how to handle having a doula attending and assisting their patients in the birth of their baby........