"There are eighty-four postures of yoga, but all people, whether Westerner or Easterner, have done them in the womb of the mother. So you are yogis anyway."
-Yogi Bhajan

One of the most amazing women I know, my aunt Mary, shared this quote with me. I love it! My aunt has been on an amazing yogic journey herself. She is becoming a Yoga Instructor. She is extremely passionate about her journey and this amazing practice that has filled her life with so much joy.

Thanks A. Mary, you are a beautiful soul.

Pregnancy & Nutrition

I think nutrition is one of the most underestimated ways you can help yourself and your baby during pregnancy. It is extremely important to eat well during pregnancy. Nutrition will effect how you feel, how your baby feels, your energy level, your health, your overall pregnancy and your BIRTH.

But what does eating right really mean?

Check out the Dr. Brewer Pregnancy diet: http://www.drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/id96.html

This is a great diet to follow during pregnancy.

For what NOT to eat, read this article called 7 Foods So Unsafe Even Farmers Won't Eat Them

It is okay to give in to your cravings but try to stay eating as healthy has possible. As with any "diet" there can be challenges but it is all about self control. Try to remind yourself that everything you eat your baby is also eating...this can help you stay on track!

you are super woman!

When I met Nicole for the first time at our doula talk at Full Circle Family Care, I got feeling that her ideas and visualizations for her birth were strong and real. When we discussed positions for birth, she explained how she couldn’t wrap her head around birthing in the flat-on-your-back position. After all, she is a veterinarian and sees animals giving birth in only positions and environments that feel natural and most comfortable. So I wasn’t surprised when during our pre-natal chat she expressed her desire to have her baby in the most natural way possible.

When Nicole began contracting at 36 weeks, her midwife told her to rest and try to take it easy. Nicole explained to me in an email “I believe my body was just letting me know I needed to slow the pace and take a break, as I feel so much better now.” So wonderful that she was able to listen to her body and relax. Her contractions subsided and baby stayed comfortable inside her mommy.

At 38 weeks, Nicole called me at 1:30am on Sunday night to let me know her water had broken but she was not yet contracting. Her plan was to chill out and try to get some sleep before things picked up. But her baby was on a mission! At 3:30am Nicole called me again and explained that her contractions were 4-5 minutes apart and getting much stronger. It was a quick conversation because she was going to the hospital so we just agreed to meet there. When I arrived at the hospital at 4:15am, I entered the peaceful room where Nicole was laboring quietly and calmly, with her husband and midwife by her side. She was 7cm dilated and moving very quickly. She was doing a beautiful job managing her strong, frequent contractions. About a half hour later, Nicole got into the Jacuzzi tub. Her urge to push came fast and soon enough, she was 10cm and ready to start. The midwife told her that she might want to reach down and feel baby’s head and when she did, tears of joy and love came to her. It was a beautiful, emotional moment to witness. She was moving her baby down in a very nice, calm, natural way. It seemed as though she knew exactly what she was doing. It was very clear that she was in touch with her body and baby, and that they were all working together. With each contraction, she pushed a little bit more, resting and relaxing during contractions with a supportive team by her side.

In just over an hour, she birthed her baby. Watching Nicole reach down and grab her baby and exclaim “mi amore!” so passionately was truly incredible. Anna Victoria was born, weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces, into the loving arms of her mommy and midwife with daddy by their side. The love that filled the room was moving. She and her husband embraced one another and rejoiced in happiness and awe. I had the chance to snap a few photos of their first few moments as a new family – what precious moments they are.

Baby nursed very nicely and was content as she was just where needed to be - cuddling skin-to-skin with her mommy, falling in love. As the room was cleaned up and cleared out, the air was filled with such energy and peace at the same time. There is something about birth that just changes you...and changes the energy of the world. It is a true gift to experience it time after time.

One of my favorite parts of the birth was at the end when the midwife told mom "you are super woman!" and all mom said was..."I know."

Bonding

In my doula world, mother baby bonding is very frequently talked about and discussed. But I think it is still am important topic to discuss with everyone, not only with moms, doulas, midwives, doctors and other birth professionals.

When a mother fully bonds with her baby during pregnancy, she will gain a better understanding of what actually takes place during labor and birth and why it is important to be an active participant as much as she is able. To trust the natural process of birth, we must understand how strong a connection mother and baby have. Together, they know how to birth. When mom and baby are connected, mom has a strong intuitive knowledge of her body and her baby and what they are doing during labor. This can greatly effect her birth experience. She be able to make decisions for herself and her baby and will own her birth.

This bonding lasts forever, not just during pregnancy and birth. Mom and baby bonding lasts a lifetime and has a significant effect on both lives forever. If everyone could understand how important this bond is, there would be more respect and support for women, women's bodies, pregnancy, the natural birth process, babies, breastfeeding and parenting. After all, they are all naturally linked.

Here is another blogger post about bonding: The bond between mother and baby

The Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights

The Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights took effect May 1, 2010. This new law provides rights to mothers choosing to breastfeed before delivery, in the hospital and birthing facilities, and in the community once discharged from the hospital or birthing facility, including:

* The right to information that is free of commercial interests;
* The right to have her baby stay with her immediately after delivery to facilitate breastfeeding;
* The right to ask that no bottles of formula or water be given to her baby;
* The right to have 24-hour access to her baby with the right to breastfeed anytime;
* The right to refuse any gifts or take home packets containing formula. All hospitals and birthing centers providing maternity care services in New York State will be required to publicly post the Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights and give it to all pregnant women attending prenatal childbirth education classes.

Documentary on Prematurity

Born Too Soon

A documentary about prematurity - IMPORTANT STUFF

Birth Guru

This Dharma quote relates nicely to birth work:

"Sometimes we put our glasses in our pockets or on our heads and later we ask, "Where are my glasses?" This is quite common. We look everywhere else without finding our glasses. That is why we need the guru, who can say to us, "There are your glasses." That is all that the Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachers do: they simply point out. What they are pointing out is something that you already have.
It is not something that they give you. They do not give you new glasses. They cannot afford to give you new glasses, but they can afford to point out where you can find your own glasses.

When we receive pointing-out instructions from our root teacher, we are being introduced directly and nakedly to the reality of mind's nature. These instructions become very effective if we have prepared ourselves to receive them."

Think of your midwives and doulas as your guru - they are there to simply point out and remind you of all that you are CAPABLE of doing as a woman. Birthing is a natural capability that women are born with. If we believe in her, and remind her of what she is doing, her body will do what it knows.

If your care provider does not believe that your body can birth...consider interviewing new providers. Your OB or midwife is there in case of emergency only, and must respect the process of birth for all that it is.

There are 3 Reasons for Breastfeeding...

"There are three reasons for breastfeeding: The milk is always at the right temperature; it comes in attractive contrainers; and the cat can't get it." -Irena Chalmers

The ad above is from Australia and presents a perfect example of how other countries promote BREASTFEEDING as opposed to FORMULA-FEEDING. If this ad was displayed in public places in America, there is no doubt in my mind that we'd have people who'd feel discusted and upset. In other countries, where breastfeeding is the norm, this ad would most likely be posted without arguement and shame. Hopefully as we progress, more people will see that breastfeeding is a beautiful, natural part of life and society as whole will become more comfortable with it.