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Titus’ Homebirth Story

By Lindsay on March 8, 2009 in bellies & babies, news & updates

Titus Christopher Edmonds
Born at home: March 4, 2009
(now we have three birthdays on the 4th – Karis is May 4th and mine is September 4th!)
5:10 pm after a good days work!
Weighing in at 7 pounds 4 oz, 21 inches long
Birth team: Mary Bernabe (midwife), Peta (Mary’s daughter and assistant midwife), Amber Langeliers (bradley instructor & doula), Aaron (wonderful supportive husband and daddy)

Written addressed in part to my firstborn son on the occasion of his birth.

What a precious gift of life we are celebrating as we welcome our firstborn son! You would not imagine our utter delight at this privilege that God has given us to raise a boy. With tears of joy you were proudly announced. Daddy and Mommy were crying up a storm in our excitement. We loved the surprise and wouldn’t change anything for the world to the pleasure of waiting to find out your gender.

Labor began slow and steady on Tuesday afternoon with some mild but consistent contractions happening every thirty minutes. I was teaching piano at the time. I continued managing my home, making dinner, while taking brief breathing breaks. Oh the joys of laboring at home! It was incredibly restful. Ignoring the contractions with other activities is the best method.

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Preparatory Resources for a Natural Pregnancy & Birth

By Lindsay on February 26, 2009 in bellies & babies

childbirth

What books and resources do you recommend on the topic of natural pregnancy and childbirth?

I am currently reading The Christian Childbirth Handbook by Jennifer Vanderlaan and what a huge blessing it has been to me! I cannot more highly recommend this resource for any couple preparing for birth (yes, a good read for husband and wife!). It is solidly based upon Scripture and covers every topic in relation to making wise birthing decisions, the process of birth, preparing your heart with Scripture, etc. It has an excellent section on dealing with the fears that most ladies experience with the thought of giving birth and counteracts a lot of the lies that our culture presents. God has beautifully designed women to give birth, and so establishing a biblical understanding of the process and preparing for it is wise. This resource is excellent to accomplish both goals!

Bradley Classes - I recommend anyone desiring to prepare wisely for giving birth to take a bradley class! This class was such a huge help to both my husband and me. It gave both of us the tools to understand and manage the different aspects of birth. I love how it encourages and promotes the husband to be the main coach in childbirth. My husband is my number #1 assistant and this course supplied us with the knowledge necessary to know how to do that. This second time around we took the last two classes as a refresher. Relaxation and abdominal breathing practice is so important! If you live in my area, I recommend Amber Langeliers as a bradley instructor. She also served as my doula and it made a great impact upon me to have her knowledge right beside me during my birth. Visit here to find a class near you!

If you cannot take the course, I would encourage you to borrow or buy the books based upon the course: Husband Coached Childbirth and Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. These are excellent reads whether you take the class or not. You can also purchase the Bradley Method Student Notebook.

Naturally Healthy Pregnancy by Shonda Parker is another excellent resource written from a Christian perspective naturally-healthy that has been recommended to me on multiple occasions. It answers all questions in regards to nutritional and herbal medicine for optimal health during pregnancy. Beginning with God’s design for health and nutrition, the following is covered in detail: how to eat for a healthy baby, which herbs are safe and which are dangerous during pregnancy, and the best ways to minimize those times of nausea and discomfort.

The Wise Woman Herbal to the Childbearing Years by Susan Weed has been a very helpful resource for understanding what natural herbs and supplements are useful during this season of life. It also has numerous recipes for homemade tonics, teas, and various baby problems. I recommend removing pages 11 & 12 for some strange New Agey materials.

Lastly, I would recommend you check out Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. Although I have not read it myself, it has been recommended to me by both my midwife and other friends as a solid read on natural childbirth.

Next week I will be sharing some rich quotes and verses to have on hand for preparing for birth and to use in labor…

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The Skirt that works for it all!

By Lindsay on February 20, 2009 in bellies & babies, frugal & simple

skirt1 I love this skirt! Do you know why? It is one of those pieces that can work with everything. Brown is a wonderful color! But not only that, it is the most comfortable skirt I own and it works beautifully for when I am pregnant and also when I am not. The best investment of my money on clothing has been to find items that work for both regular and maternity use. This skirt has a fold over waist that can pulled up over your belly, giving such wonderful support especially during pregnancy. It is fun and cute for everyday wear! Plus…this skirt is available through the clothing business, Christa-Taylor, that my sister and family started two years ago. Just a little plug!

So when you think you need maternity clothes…consider all the wonderful options out there that can work for both seasons of life.

Empire waist tops are another excellent choice. I have one non-maternity empire waist top in particular that is long and cute and still fits me at 37 weeks! Tunics are a fun multi-purpose addition as well. You can use belts with your tunics prior to pregnancy and then either remove the belt or let it rest above your expanding belly. See how my sisters use belts here. I also don’t bother with maternity pajamas…a large shirt and some sweat pants will do! It may not work for everyone, but I have definitely been able to save a few dollars by thinking in advance before every clothing purchase. Could this be multi-purpose?

That’s my frugal tip for the day!

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BumGenius cloth diapers are redeemed!

By Lindsay on February 19, 2009 in bellies & babies, frugal & simple, natural & green

BEFORE

I have been a faithful fan of BumGenius one size pocket diapers for the duration of the 18 months of usage they have received at our home (read more about cloth diapering and my review here). It keeps my diapering simple, convenient and easy for everyone to use (even the grandparents)! My only complaint…the elastic around the legs of the diapers wore out relatively quickly, within the first year of use. Thankfully, Cotton Diapers (the manufacturer) offers a one year warranty on these diapers. They have amazing costumer service! I returned seven of my diapers within that one year warranty and received replacements in just two days. For more information on making returns/exchanges, visit here and check out the BumGenius FAQ page. Recently, the remainder of my stock was beginning to show wear in the elastic.

They remained in excellent shape beside the legs (velcro is working perfectly and fabric is still very soft), which was leading to more frequent leaking. I was not sure what to do, and was disappointed to think they were reaching the end of their life. Thanks to my friend, Chalon, my diapers have been redeemed! With the use of some new 1/4” elastic, small safety pins and a seam ripper (costing me a total of $2), I have been able to easily replace the elastic in my diapers and they now look brand new! Praise the Lord! You don’t know how excited I am! The Lord is providing all our basic needs…isn’t that awesome?

Find a step by step picture tutorial of the process of replacing the elastic here. The only requirement is very basic sewing skills, and then again, you can do it easily by hand as well!

AFTER

So if there is any other fellow BG diaper users out there, don’t give up too quickly! If you are considering cloth diapering, I give another vote to these diapers if you are willing to put a little effort into them (hanging them to dry is a good way to preserve their life as well). They are the second cheapest option for diapering beyond prefolds while remaining more convenient and softer on the babies bottom. I still have yet to see how well they fit on a newborn, as we started Karis on them at four months (thus the reason I have prefolds for our baby). They will fit your little one all the way through to potty training! Karis can wear one of diapers for at least 3 hours (often times up to 5 hours) without any leaking problems! I have tried a few other one size diapers (Happy Heiny’s, Haute Pockets), and BG diapers surpass them all!

Further Resources

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Developing a Bedtime Routine

By Lindsay on February 11, 2009 in bellies & babies, building the family

child-sleeping Do you struggle getting your toddler or preschooler to lay down peacefully to sleep at time? If so, I encourage you to consider developing a bedtime routine. I have been blessed to find the resource, The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Gentle Ways to Stop Bedtime Battles and Improve Your Childs Sleep by Elizabeth Pantley recently. Karis has always been a good sleeper, but has never been peaceful at actually going to bed. I had been really praying that God would direct me as to how to make this process more peaceful, especially before the new baby arrived. He directed me to this resource. Since adopting a few simple ideas from this resource, we have been experiencing a real transformation.

We have gone from bedtime being a stressful time of the day, to being really peaceful and actually enjoyable. I feel like this time is ever more precious in investing in my daughter’s life. I have found it is never wise to rely too heavily on any one particular method, but there is a lot of wisdom available to be learned with some discernment and prayer as to how to apply it to your particular situation.

How are we making progress in this area? Here are a few practical steps we have learned…

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Natural Diaper Rash Solutions

By Lindsay on January 29, 2009 in bellies & babies, natural & green

baby Who likes to see their baby suffering with a diaper rash? We have been plagued with frequent diaper rashes on my little Karis’ bottom for a long time. I have been determined to find a natural solution to this issue. I have tried a lot of various natural cremes (Weleda, Burt’s Bees, etc) without too much success…

UPDATE: Why look for a natural alternative in the first place? Your traditional Desitin and other store brands (including dusting powders) contains methylparaben, talc and fragrance (which is a friendly alternative word for phthalates). Studies link these ingredients with bioaccumulation in humans and wildlife, cancer, endocrine disruption and hormone mimicry, allergies and skin toxicity, tissue irritation, and toxicity to various organs, to name a few. Talc especially is known for being commonly contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen.

Two keys I have found to avoiding and dealing with rashes is to change diapers frequently, and making sure the bottom is dry completely after changing. I recommend having a hair dryer near your changing table to speed up this process!

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Homemade Pregnancy Tea

By Lindsay on January 28, 2009 in bellies & babies, recipes & kitchen tips

Red raspberry leaf tea has been used for centuries as a folk medicine to treat canker sores, cold sores, and gingivitis in persons of all ages and anemia, leg cramps, diarrhea, and morning sickness in pregnant women, and as a uterine relaxant. Brewed as a tea it is the best known, most widely used, and safest of all uterine/pregnancy tonics. It tones the muscles of the pelvic region. It also contains vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorus and potassium. It can increase fertility, prevent miscarriage and hemorrhage, ease morning sickness, reduce pain during and after birth, and also increase milk supply.

For a delightful and frugal homemade pregnancy tea, try this simple recipe:

Fill a quart size glass jar with boiling water and 1 ounce (which is approx. 2 handfuls) of red raspberry leaf. Cover and allow to steep for 4 hours. Strain the leaves, sweeten as desired, and enjoy! Refrigerate the remaining tea for future use. Recommended dosage is usually 2-3 cups per day.

Another helpful herb that you can add to the above combination or to alternative with would be nettle leaves. It is known to have more chlorophyll than any other herb. The list of vitamins and minerals in this herb includes nearly every one known to be necessary for human health and growth. Nettle is beneficial in aiding the functionality of the kidneys, nourishing mother and fetus, easing leg cramps and other muscles spasms, preventing hemorrhage after birth and reducing hemorrhoids, in addition to increasing the richness and amount of breast milk. According to the Wise Woman Herbal, “some pregnancy women alternate weeks of nettle and raspberry leaf brews; others drink Raspberry until the last month and then switch to Nettles to insure large amounts of vitamin K in the blood for the birth.” Nettle leaves can be brewed in the same manner as raspberry leaf described above or try a combination of 1 handful nettle and 1 handful raspberry leaf.

You can find quality organic red raspberry leaf and nettle leaf in bulk through Mountain Rose Herbs.

It works for me!

Thanks to my friend Mandy, and the excellent resource of Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed. This book has some wonderful ideas for all natural brews and remedies for pregnancy issues, before and after, and natural remedies for infant related problems.

Other Homemade Varieties:

Tammy’s Pregnancy Tea

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Entertaining Littles with a New Baby

By Lindsay on January 23, 2009 in bellies & babies, building the family

Amber asked:

I am expecting a new baby girl in May and I also have a daughter that will be two years next month. I am trying to think of some things that will keep my older daughter busy and not bored for those couple months after the new baby’s arrival when it will be hard for us to get out of the house and my attention can’t be on her 100%. Any suggestions?

Sounds like you are in the same boat I am, Amber. For me, I am always seeking to give my daughter plenty of time to explore and learn how to entertain herself. I think this is a place to start, removing ourselves from the mindset that we must provide them with entertainment. Karis has lately been entertained for quite some time with the large cardboard box that we received in the mail the other day. This may just very well be a new season to allow them to explore and develop their creative abilities.

I am thinking it may be wise to have a good supply of books and crafty things (simple paper, crayons, playdough, etc) on hand that she can explore with without much supervision. I would imagine they will also just want to spend a lot of time with the new baby, so it may not be so necessary to find other entertainment. Knowing my Karis, she absolutely loves babies and I want her to have time to really nuture her sisterly and motherly instincts. I have no doubt she will want to be near me when we change diapers and take care of our baby.

We would love to hear from our readers on this one! I would love to hear thoughts on how to remain on top of being consistent with discipline as well during this new baby season?

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Prepatory Herbs for a Natural Delivery

By Lindsay on January 8, 2009 in bellies & babies

Who wouldn’t be interested in a few recommendations that might just speed along a natural delivery? No guarantees, but it is definitely worth a try.

These vitamins are extremely helpful for preparing your body to go into labor, getting the cervix and uterus ready to go. I used these faithfully in preparation for my first delivery. I think there is no doubt that they were very helpful for me. I had a pretty smooth six hour labor, which is often unheard of for a first pregnancy. I can’t say for sure, but I am highly suspicious that these supplements were key to my early (Karis arrived at 39 weeks) and shorter delivery (considering my mom’s first delivery was 21 hours)!

Dr. Christopher’s Pre-Natal Formula - this is a 6 week formula to be taken in the last six weeks before your due date. You start by taking one a day the first week and increase to two the second week and so on, until you are taking six a day in the last week. It is formulated to aid in giving elasticity to the pelvic and vaginal area and strengthening the reproductive organs for easier delivery. My mom swears by these vitamins as she took them with her last pregnancy and low and behold the twins arrived in 2 hours! This formula contains: Squawvine Herb, Blessed Thistle Herb, Black Cohosh Root, Pennyroyal Herb, False Unicorn Root, Red Raspberry Leaf & Lobelia Herb.

Evening Primrose Oil – Evening primrose oil is an excellent source of prostaglandins, which readies your cervix for labor. My midwife and doula recommended taking this from 38 weeks on at 6 tablets a day (500 mg each). Choice a cold pressed version.Nature Made Herbs Evening Primrose Oil is available through Amazon.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea /Pregnancy Tea -Traditional Medicinals Organic Pregnancy Tea is the highest quality option I have found for getting a good supply of raspberry leaf. It is a delicious tea! They also sell a basic raspberry leaf tea as well.

Red raspberry leaf tea is a uterine tonic used first by Native Americans. It tones your uterus and helps it do more effective exercising while you are pregnant. It does not “cause” contractions and can be safely used throughout pregnancy, although most seem to recommend waiting till 36 weeks before consuming raspberry leaf. It helps to tone the uterus after delivery as well, shrinking it back to size more quickly and reducing bleeding. It can also help strengthen cesarean scars.

As the Dr. Christopher formula has Red Raspberry leaf, I usually just stick to the Prenatal Formula and Evening Primrose Oil in the final weeks before delivery. I have already ordered by stock for this second pregnancy and am ready to go here in a few weeks!

We are at the 10 week countdown!

As always, make sure to run these ideas by your doctor or health care practitioner before consumption.

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Natural Insomnia Help

By Lindsay on December 20, 2008 in bellies & babies, health & nutrition

Praise the Lord I have been able to sleep well the last two nights, thanks to some helpful tips from some of my readers and my midwife. These are helpful suggestions for those who deal with insomnia in or outside of pregnancy. The top two suggestions are what I have been doing primarily and seeing a vast improvement!

1. Calcium/Magnesium – regulate relaxation, especially with muscle tension and physical restlessness. Take approximately 2000 mg of calcium and 1000 mg of magnesium before going to bed (they are usually balanced properly in a cal/mag supplement). Best in a liquid combination form. If you take in tablets you will have to drink a large glass of water to swallow that many pills which results in an increased amount of times having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night (at least for the pregnant ladies).

Foods rich in magnesium include: legumes and seeds, dark leafy green vegetables, wheat bran, almonds, cashews, blackstrap molasses, brewer’s yeast, and whole grains. Food rich in calcium include: dairy products, canned fish with bones, nuts, fruits, vegetables, dried beans, rice beverages, molasses, and some leafy greens.

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