The Things You Would Have Said

Growing a First Food Movement

amazing-ness

Singing to Baby in Utero

more info about this at http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=6236&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+science-sensibility+%28Science+%26+Sensibility%29

Advice from a new mom to pregnant moms

Giving Birth: You can do it - you are not sick or fragile or in danger - mother nature has this well thought out and trust the process.

Engage in any activity that will release fear.

Surround yourself with positive, supportive, nurturing people.

Treat your body gently and kindly.

Breastfeeding does not have to be oppressively suffocating - its actually pretty easy once you get the hang

Get a calendar to write baby's first and hang on fridge - the baby book never really comes out of the closet.

You don't need a lot of crap from babies r us - get massages with the money instead.

You wont kill your baby by co-sleeping

Prepare for your relationship with your family to change i.e. your own parents, aunts, uncle grandparents, partner

Go to counseling - it really helps - if you don't like who you first see don't give up

Breathe - try to savor quiet snuggly moments

DO NOT READ WHAT TO EXPECT OR ANY OTHER AWFUL PREGNANCY/PARENTING BOOK

DO NOT READ SCARY BIRTH STORIES ON THE INTERNET

ADD TWO WEEKS TO YOUR Estimated Due Date- PLAN ON BEING PREGGO TILL THEN

let people take care of you.

Keep the number of a lactation person on your fridge

-Anonymous

How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?

How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?

Each body is different. Each baby is different.

Visit: http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ to calculate your BMI BEFORE pregnancy

You can roughly follow this esimation of about how much weight is healthy to gain during your pregnancy:

25-35 pounds if your BMI was 18.5-24.9 before pregnancy

28-40 pounds if your BMI was less than 18.5 before pregnancy

15-25 pounds if your BMI was 25-29.9 before pregnancy

11-20 pounds if your BMI was over 30 before pregnancy

WEIGHT ISN'T everything, though. Eating healthy foods with high satiety will help you maintain a healthy weight during your pregnancy while nourishing your body and your baby!

Some great resources:

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

http://sites.tufts.edu/pregweight/

remarkable photographs

2012 IAPBP Image of the Year Competition - some truly amazing photos!

Tips to Prepare for a Healthy Pregnancy

Tips to Prepare for a Healthy Pregnancy

Mental/Emotional Preparation

Getting pregnant can be easy for some women, and challenging for others. Before trying to get pregnant, establish some sort of relaxation therapy and work it into your life. For example, exercise, meditate, and/or practice deep breathing. If you feel you have some personal and/or relationship issues you need to work out, find a therapist. We often think pregnancy is only physical but a healthy mind can help you have a better, healthier pregnancy.

Exercise

If you do not exercise regularly, start introducing it into your routine. Choose something low impact like walking, or yoga to start. Be realistic with your workout goals. Begin by walking or doing yoga once or twice a week. If you already exercise regularly, continue your routine, keeping in mind that you must listen to your body and honor it.

Nutrition

The importance of nutrition during pregnancy cannot be stressed enough. While keeping in mind that balance is essential for good health, there are definitely certain foods to avoid and certain foods to enjoy. It is best to talk with a nutritionist about what is right for you.

Care Providers

Learn about the care providers in your area BEFORE you are pregnant. Often times women find comfort in sticking with the same provider throughout their pregnancy which makes this tip extra important. Your gynecologist may be great but find out if he or she has the same goals you do for your pregnancy and delivery. If you don’t know what those goals are yet, just start simple. Take notice of the way you feel when you are in his/her office. Does she treat you with respect and make sure all of your questions are answered? This may be a sign that your provider may do the same thing throughout your pregnancy. As a new mom, you deserve time and concern from your provider. Additionally, learn about the different hospitals in the area. If your doctor is affiliated with a hospital where you know you do not want to deliver, that is something to consider.

Breastfeeding

Long before we are pregnant, our breastfeeding goals are often established. Educate yourself about breastfeeding and familiarize yourself with community resources such as your local community La Leche League.

Balance your life

Learning how to balance your life is something that will benefit you before, during and after pregnancy. Take every piece of advice with a grain of salt. There is no single solution to any issue. Most of all: listen to your instincts. As women, we have a powerful intuition, especially when it comes to pregnancy and mothering. Never dismiss your feelings, they are real and are there to guide you.

Mary Breastfeeding Jesus: Christmas' Missing Icon

I saw the following Huff Post article: Mary Breastfeeding Jesus: Christmas' Missing Icon and wanted to share it. The writer makes some very interesting points about the church in regards to its shift in iconic photographs and artwork over the years. There are some beautiful pictures at the end of the article as well! Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

NBC's "The Voice" Opens Season Finale With Touching Tribute For Sandy H...

First Miracle BY A.E. Stallings

First Miracle BY A.E. Stallings

Her body like a pomegranate torn Wide open, somehow bears what must be born, The irony where a stranger small enough To bed down in the ox-tongue-polished trough Erupts into the world and breaks the spell Of the ancient, numbered hours with his yell.

Now her breasts ache and weep and soak her shirt Whenever she hears his hunger or his hurt; She can’t change water into wine; instead She fashions sweet milk out of her own blood.

i just want a damn pap

Yesterday I went for my annual GYN appt. I had an appointment with a new doctor who my friend recommended. I got to the office just before the appt (which as at 4:45pm) and my first thought was "oh shit" this is going to be a while. You see, there were about 10 women in the waiting room - waiting for 2 doctors. Not looking good... So I filled out the paperwork, returned it to the woman at the desk and sat down. I grabbed a magazine and flipped through it while watching the depressing news on TV. A half hour went by...I told myself...okay...be patient...

Twenty minutes later, I decided to ask what was up. The woman at the desk said "Dr. Behindschedule is running 45 minutues behind"

"I have been waiting for over 45 minutues."

"Let me check your chart"

A couple minutes later, she came back and said "It's going to be about another 20 minutes"

Now I was about to walk out at this point, and some people may have does just that but I needed a pap and a script, plus I had waited 6 weeks to see this doctor! And my friend said she was really nice! So I decided another 20 minutes was fine.

25 minutes after the 20 more minutues had passed, I seriously contemplated leaving. But I NEEDED A PAP! and my Rx!!!!!

Finally at 6:30 a nurse called me in. When she took me into the little room and asked me to remove my sweater so she could take my blood pressure, I explained that it might be a little high after that waiting room experience. She replied "yeah, this always happens with these evening appointments..."

WHAT?????? This is normal? Okay, I guess I have to find ANOTHER GYN!

The only saving grace was that I only had to wait another 8 minutes (naked) to see the doctor who was in the room for a total for 6 minutes. And thankfully (for them) I had no co-pay because I would have flipped my shit if I had to shell out money after that.

So that saga of finding a good GYN contintues......and boy do I feel bad for all of the pregnant women who have to deal with these horrible OB/GYN offices.

Fall cold remedies

Elderberry Syrup

As the weather shifts and colds are going around try this great (and yummy!) Elderberry Syrup recipe. It helped me fight my cold!

Other awesome cold remedies:

Astragalus tea

Ginger tea

Coldcalm