How I Wash My Cloth Diaper’s
21 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in cloth diapering, Uncategorized
I decided to use cloth diapers for a number of reasons. Mainly because I knew it would be easier on my baby’s skin without all the harsh chemicals and toxins in disposables. Secondly, it would be a huge savings financially for our family and I didn’t want to pour all our savings into diapers.
Then….I decided I didn’t want to cloth diaper after learning that you should wash your cloth diapers at least three times each time you wash. Most brands recommend a cold rinse, hot wash, and then a cool rinse. I live in an apartment complex meaning each wash would cost me $1.50 plus to dry is $1.50. So that completely destroyed any hope of saving money and would almost triple the cost of diapering!
Since I really wanted to cloth diaper, my baby has a reaction to disposable diapers, and now that I really need to save money, I have since decided to hand wash my cloth diapers in the sink and line dry them. I wash them in the washing machine every 2-3 weeks just to have a deep clean.
To start, I keep my ‘diaper pail’ which currently is just a wash bucket in the bathtub. Just because it is easy and it doesn’t need to hold a lot of diapers since I wash daily. Plus the baby is only 7 weeks right now so there aren’t any solids to wash off and it isn’t smelly at all.
Every other night I wash my diapers in the kitchen sink, just so I don’t have to bend over in the tub and hurt my back. I rinse each individual diaper and clean it off as much as possible with cold water. I squeeze out all the excess water so they will absorb the hot water and soap next.
After rinsing in cold water, I fill the sink with super hot water and 1 tablespoon of Rockin Green detergent. I let the diapers soak from 10-30 minutes, depending on what is going on in the house or how dirty they are. If they are stained badly I’ll add a little detergent or baking powder directly onto the area.
After soaking I hand wash, with gloves on, and get the diapers as clean as I can. Sometimes I will do two hot washes depending on if the diapers need another round or if there are too many for the sink. Once they are clean I squeeze all the hot water out and run the cold water over the pile in the sink.
I rinse each diaper individually in the cold water a few times, wringing it out in between. Afterwards I spray the sink and areas down with a disinfectant spray so there won’t be any worries about infection for cooking.
Then they are line dried outside or in the kitchen. It takes almost a day and a half for my Econobums and Flips to dry out, a day for the Indian pre-folds, and 6 hours for the receiving blankets/flats. It isn’t very hot out right now and we have high humidity which I assume are the factors for the slow drying. Even today it only took 12 hours (or less) for all my diapers to be completely dry so who knows that the difference is. Usually I put them outside but I’m not sure about my apartment’s rules and if my neighbors will ‘turn me in’ so I also dry them by the porch screen door.
This process takes me about ½ hour total (without the waiting time). It really is A LOT of work but in the end it is really worth it to save the money on either disposables or washing and my baby’s skin is much better when I use the cloth. In the morning he is always a little red and splotchy after the disposables and once we change to cloth it all goes away.
Things I have learned: you must wear gloves! The chemicals in the soap will dry out your hands and make them hurt badly, as well as give you chemical burns if you use too much. Plus the gloves have ridges to help get more yuck out and you can tolerate more heat.
Every other week I am adding a capful of bleach to the diapers to help with stains and any residue I may have missed. Otherwise I have been pleasantly surprised that just a few hours in the sun any and all stains are gone! So bleaching isn’t as important.
I am not perfect! We do use disposables at night and this week I took ‘a day off’ from cloth and used only disposables so I didn’t have to wash that night and be stressed about it. Plus, baby is growing so quickly that the Costco size box of diapers will be worthless in a week or so since he will grow out of them and we might as well use them now!
How I Cloth Diaper
21 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in cloth diapering Tags: cloth diaper
I feel like the luckiest girl ever to be right next door to a Cotton Babies store! When I was 5 months pregnant I decided to start looking into cloth diapering and discovered Cotton Babies. I attended their free ‘cloth diapering 101’ class and learned so much! I was very overwhelmed by all the choices and options that I got a little crazy. I would go and actually ‘visit’ the store and just walk around for an hour at least once a week, looking at everything trying to figure out what I could afford and what would work for me.
I also spent hours online looking at reviews, other online stores, comparing prices and learning as much as I could. I found out that there isn’t a perfect cloth diaper and someone will always have a ‘problem’ with what someone else considers the perfect diaper. The stress I put on myself and really the time in the store and online was such a waste. I learned A LOT but in the end it’s best to wait until the baby is here to see if you want to cloth diaper and how it will work into your life. So how do you know what to invest in?
Even more importantly I live in an apartment complex and to wash and dry in the building next door I’d have to haul my baby, toddler, diapers, and soap over there. Then I’d have to pay $1.50 to wash the diapers in three different cycles and $1.50 to dry them. Not worth the expense so I decided to handwash and line dry them all. This is so very worth the hard work and I wrote about my process here.
I started with Econobums (2 covers, 8 pre-folds) and 6 infant Indian pre-folds with a Snappi and one Flip cover and pre-fold. I had one newborn Bumgenius. I recently purchased some Flip inserts and AIO’s.
I LOVED the newborn Bumgenius. It was so easy to get on the baby and fit great underneath his clothes. It was 
easy to handwash and dried in less than a day on the rack. BUT, since he was over 9 pounds and growing a pound a week he didn’t fit in it after week 3. I wouldn’t recommend investing in these until you see how big your baby is and how much they grow! Or just have 3-6 to start with. The sun bleached out any stains immediately and the diaper was so absorbent it didn’t affect the baby’s skin at all. I wish I could get these as all my diapers but the investment is a little too much for me right now.
I LOVE my Econobums! The covers are great, no leaks, explosions or accidents even if the prefold doesn’t catch everything. I prefer to wrap it with a Snap
pi during the day since it will ‘catch’ all the poop and fold it during the night since it is thicker. Either way I use it they work great and I’m very very happy. The quality of the material is also excellent and has been holding up to vigorous handwashings. Yes, it is pretty big on my little baby but he will grow into it and I’m not worried about ‘looks’.
The Indian prefolds are great too but the baby has already outgrown the infant size at week 6 and 7 (15 pounds) so they didn’t ‘last’ as long since he grew so fast. The next size up is way too big! I have to change these much more often, at least every hour but they are very absorbent and hold up well. These dry much faster on the line than the econobums. I use my econobums for when we are outside the home and the indian’s for at home since I change the much more often.
I have also been using receiving blankets and flour sack towels as flats. I love to do this at home (but not when we go to work) since I change them every hour. They are easy to wash and dry really fast. To make them more absorbent I have tried doing the origami fold with another flat as a prefold to lay over but that was very very thick. I am now using two flats, each folded separately as origami and then fold them each up. This way they last a little longer than an hour if we go out. I am planning on trying to use a doubler or flip stay dry inside as well. I think this is a great option to have when the other diapers are drying or when I find they are still damp.
I love my flip cover and it is a better quality than the Econobums in general. It has better fabric, the elastic seems to hold tighter to the baby’s legs, and the snaps hold the baby’s belly a little better. I would buy all flip covers! 
I am NOT a fan of the Flip prefold though. Probably because I am hand washing it doesn’t wash and dry as nicely as the Econobums and folding it after line drying is not as nice either. I’m sure the baby doesn’t care but it also doesn’t hold poop as well after the line dry.
The Flip Stay Dry’s are great! They are very absorbent and soft and I love the material. Much easier to clean but they take longer to line dry. I have been using them with a doubler just to try them out. I think these will be my go-to diaper as much as possible and I will probably end up investing in these as a long term diaper!
I purchased some Bum Genius Elementals, but have yet to use them. Once we are completely out of the disposable’s that the baby is almost out of I will start using these for night time!
Cotton Babies offers free shipping and is my favorite place to buy diapers! They have some great sales going on all the time as well!
Planning for Post-Partum
20 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Birth, Diastasis, Joyful Pregnancy Resource Guide, Post Partum Adjustment, Products Tags: diastasis, Herb, peri bottle, post-partum, preparing, products
Planning for the baby is so much fun! Clothes, diapers, nursery items, and whatever else you buy (that you will probably find out you never needed) can take up a lot of time and money. Planning for the birth is also exciting! Birth plans, classes, and packing bags are very important. However, we need to stop and think about ourselves and our bodies after the birth. What will you need to take care of YOU after the birth? If this is your first baby you probably have no idea how you will feel afterwards and what to expect. If this is your second you know what to expect but might not know all that might be available to you!
First of all you need a small box of depends and maternity pads. You’ll also need a major supply of regular pads. Wearing underwear may be uncomfortable around your waist and the depends won’t put any pressure on your belly or uterus. Wear depends like underwear and change out the maternity pads. Try soaking regular pads with water or an herbal solution and freezing them. Lay the frozen pad on top of the maternity pad for backup. It is normal to bleed anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks after the birth and once the bleeding normalizes to a low level you will need a large stock of regular pads.
Potty talk: Get stool softener tablets and maybe tuck’s pads. After the birth your intestines will be moving around and sluggish due to the hormones as extra space. Going to the bathroom can be very painful and the softener will help with that. Even if you don’t have any need to go right away I would take one to two a day just as preparation. Episiotomies and tears make this much more difficult so I would strongly suggest preemptively taking these if this is your case. Flushable toilet wipes that are moistened can also be helpful to minimize pain after using the bathroom.
A peri-bottle may be supplied by your midwife or hospital. You can fill this with water, iodine solution or an herbal solution. Spray it on yourself WHILE you are peeing and after to help decrease the stinging and pain. They cost $1 or less on websites, check out the list below!
In His Hands Product
An herbal tea is a great tool to put on pads to freeze, add to the peri bottle, and put in a bath. You can get them from many different midwife supply stores online or make some on your own. This I would purchase BEFORE you have the baby and have some on hand! You can take a bath almost immediately as the herbs will help decrease swelling and increase healing time. Add some Epsom salt as well to each bath. Ingredients may include: Sage, Uva Ursi, Yarrow, Plantain, Comfrey Leaf & Root, Witch Hazel, and Sea salt.
Belly band: If you wore a band to hold up your pants while you were pregnant, this is a great place to start. The band w
ill held hold your belly in and give you support. Once the swelling has gone down get a post-partum band that will Velcro tight to your body. This will not only give you abdominal and back support but will also help prevent diastasis (separation of the abdominal muscles) and will also help you get back to a normal shape more quickly. Purchase one of these in a store so you can see what size you will need especially since you can wait 2 weeks until you are able to fit in one as well. Wear one when you exercise, going for a walk, and throughout the day, but never at night!
Sitting down: Get out your boppy! If you have a boppy pillow for nursing, try sitting on it instead. This will help cushion your bottom as you heal and you can use other pillows for support during nursing. Or get an inflatable donut. Save your money on the donut until you know that you will need one and you can send someone out to get it.
Food: Have food on hand! Either pre-make and freeze dinners or buy bagged dinners. And lots of protein bars and replenishing drinks such as protein shakes, electrolyte drinks and water. Consider that you have just endured a marathon, how would you feed your body? Keep it simple and something you can easily reach for!
Here are some links to supply stores. I am not sponsored by any of these companies but by reputation and using their products I am confident in recommending their products.
http://inhishands.com
Planning for Breastfeeding
19 May 2012 Leave a Comment
You should be prepared for breastfeeding before your little one arrives to eliminate any potential issues and complications that may arise. This way you can focus on nursing, bonding, and caring for your baby instead of worrying about the health of your breasts and body.
Initially breastfeeding can be very painful. The first few weeks of your baby latching are painful when the baby first latches on. The pain should disappear in a few seconds as the feeding continues. If the pain doesn’t subside during the feeding there are other issues at hand and you should seek the help of a lactation counselor! I say this because the pain can be very deterring from nursing and would make any woman stop right then and there. But if you can get through the first week or so the pain will subside and feeding will be easy and natural. After your first baby, you probably won’t have any pain nursing your new babies.
A few things you should have before the baby comes:
Lanolin: Most lanolin is now not toxic for the baby and can be applied directly after a feeding. The baby can still nurse if you have the cream on your nipples and not be affected. The cream will help soften your nipples, ease any issues with cracking or soreness. Lanolin is sold at most stores and you can also find some at the websites below!
Cloth diapers: Even if you aren’t cloth diapering your baby, find some good pre-folds! A large pre-fold is best as a burp cloth and much more absorbent. A smaller pre-fold can be folded up and put in your bra. The small ‘pads’ that are sold in stores do not last more than 3 minutes the first few weeks of feeding when your body is making excess milk. So you can either replace the small pads every three minutes or just use a cloth diaper. Some stores carry different cloth nursing pads and those may be more absorbent but the cloth diaper seems to be the best bet for the first month. 
Nursing pads: you can get disposable or cloth to wash. The cloth seems to be more absorbent and less wasteful but it also depends on your body and your production. Try some of both to see what works best for you. You also have an option of cotton, hemp, bamboo and many more.
Pump: if you are going to be home with your little one a full time pump probably isn’t necessary. A single hand pump might be a good idea for a few reasons. Pump on one side while you are nursing the baby on the other to catch excess milk, decrease swelling and engorgement, and have a small backup sup
ply. If you have excess milk throughout the months, you can pump a small amount of the initial milk off so the baby isn’t overwhelmed by the milk flow. If you are going to work you will need an electric pump and will probably not need a hand held pump.
Storage: If you are going to get a handheld pump you will also need a storage system. Try some bags that are sealable instead of bottles to save space. You can also get some mason jars and sterilize them. Save milk in small amounts that are similar to what your baby is eating at the time. For example, at first you will only need to save 2-3ounces since that is what your baby will eat at each feeding. If you store 8ounces and then re-heat it, you will have to use the full amount or toss it since you cannot refreeze thawed milk. 
Ice/Heat: get an cold/hot pack to help decrease engorgement and pain. You can use a regular pack or get a special breastfeeding pack like the ones by Nuk. You won’t know what feels best for you until the baby is here so make sure to have this on hand!
There are many other things you may find you need such as a nipple shield, nursing cover (you can always use a blanket), and a nursing bra or tank top (buy one but know that your breast size will most likely drastically change and you may not know what size to invest in), but wait to buy some of these items until the baby is here so you know what you and your baby need to work together.
Here are some links to supply stores. I am not sponsored by any of these companies but by reputation and using their products I am confident in recommending their products.
www.motherlove.com - www.earthmamaangelbaby.com - www.cottonbabies.com – www.midwiferymercantile.com - http://inhishands.com
Baby J’s Birth Story
18 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Birth, Home Birth, HypnoBabies, Joyful Pregnancy Resource Guide
Baby J was born March 28th at 4:15pm at 9 pounds 3 ounces and 21 inches.
My entire pregnancy I had prepared for an easy, comfortable, second hypno-babies birth. Everyone, including myself, told me that the second is always easier and since my daughter’s birth was so quick (5 hours and breech!) and I was able to have her at home with almost no pain or medication I really expected to be holding my baby in three hours (or less!). That scenario was not baby J’s plan.
I had always had some ‘birthing waves’ since I was four months pregnant and as the weeks crept by they increased to the point where I would have to stop what I was doing. Even though the baby wasn’t due until March 31rst, on March 3rd I was starting to expect him any minute! The weeks came and went and I was very frustrated always expecting labor to really start any minute. It was mentally and emotionally exhausting. But I knew it was more important for the baby to pick his day when he was most ready.
On March 27th I had true contractions on and off starting that evening. They were 10 minutes apart but after two hours they stopped. I went for a walk but nothing kicked back up and I was again very frustrated! At 3am I woke up with a contraction and decided to time them again. They were coming every 5 to 8 minutes but were a low intensity so I managed to clean the kitchen and living room so my midwives wouldn’t have to trip over anything! I went back to bed to sleep through as much as I could knowing I would need my rest.
At 6:45am I woke up with a contraction that I couldn’t relax through and it was intense and I had to get out of bed. Again the contractions were every 5 minutes but were manageable and I felt like I wasn’t sure I was truly in labor between them. My husband was home and debated going to work so I asked him to stay home until the very last minute. I put on my hypno-babies and TENS unit and by 7:30 I had to stand through each contraction and circle my hips to be balanced. I called my midwife to warn her about what was going on and she said she would be in the area around 11. My husband inflated the pool in the kitchen and filled it (lesson learned from my daughter’s birth, don’t wait to the last minute and use an electric pump not a hand held one!) and we turned on a movie. Jennifer, one of my midwives, showed up around 11:30 and at that point I had to completely lean on my husband for support to make it through each contraction. Vocalizing was the only tool that helped lessen the discomfort. I got in the pool which really helped as well but after a while I couldn’t manage the back pain that was coming with the contractions. The most difficult part was that the contractions never truly let up after they peaked and I was never able to truly rest between or get comfortable and recover. I was exhausted physically and mentally since I couldn’t lay down or calm down.
Jennifer and Barbara, the second midwife, were both coaching me through as well as my husband and they were all amazing. I couldn’t have done it without their support, encouragement, and peacefulness. I moved to the bed and kept feeling that the baby was in a bad position and worrying but they assured me he wasn’t and we changed positions a few times. Barbara only checked me once, because I asked, and I was at 8cm. Usually good news, I was devastated since it had already been 7 hours and I really expected a 3 hour birth. I got back into the pool after trying to walk and lay in the bed and my water broke! It was wonderful since it took off soo much pressure and then I remembered how much more intense the contractions can be once that happens and I panicked. Jennifer was amazing and held my hand and I buried my face in her shoulder and chest. She was like my guardian angel and kept me strong through the whole time. Barbara was rubbing my back and circling my hips for me and that took so much pressure off of me as well. They were an amazing team! On the outside I kept asking for an epidural, to go to the hospital, something to help deal with the pain and on the inside laughing because I knew I didn’t want to go and it was too late. Even Jennifer said it was too late to get an epidural since I was so far along and I knew it but couldn’t help but ask!
My husband should be a doula. He never faltered, stayed with me the whole time, always supported me and never said or did anything that dishonore
d me. He was amazingly strong and wonderful and I could never have done it without him. Just knowing that he never left my side for over 8 hours, never judged me, kept good humor with me, and loved me no matter what I said, did, or happened was the greatest gift and brings me to tears every time I think about it.
Slowly, I could feel the baby moving down and starting to crown. I was pushing some during the contractions and it took a really long time for his head to emerge. This was the biggest surprise for me, since my daughter was breech I had an episiotomy and she slid right out. Baby J took forever. I tried forceful pushing, exhale pushing, pushing between contractions and then finally gave up and let my body do the work. I know that being gentle with my pushing allowed me to not tear and I am grateful that it took so long now! Finally, he was born and I turned to sit and hold him. I couldn’t believe he was finally here and everything I had just gone through was over and totally worth every second. My husband cut the cord after it stopped pulsing and it was beautiful to see the transition of the cord. We got in bed to deliver the placenta and it took about an hour. The severe pain with the contractions never stopped until the placenta was delivered and then I felt human again, like I hadn’t just given birth. I have no idea why the placenta caused so much back pain or what the real reason was that I had the back pain.
I learned a lot from this birth and honestly I wasn’t proud that I didn’t cope as easily (or at all) as I wanted to and that I wasn’t able to utilize my hypno-babies training. The pain, yes pain that was real and not in my head, was overwhelming in my back and pelvis and with contractions that never truly stopped I know I would have gotten an epidural if I was in the hospital. Overall, I’m thrilled that I had the birth that I wanted: no interventions, no medication, at home and in the pool, with a healthy and beautiful baby.
Through the whole birth I was worried about all the life events that were going on at that time. Who was going to pick up my daughter from school that day? Why is the birth taking so long? Am I doing something wrong? Finances, family, jobs, everything was overwhelming me at that time and I couldn’t focus. I learned from this experience to be more present in my life and in every moment and that has been a wonderful gift. Seeing how the worry impacted my ability to cope and be present during the birth has made me more focused in my day to day life now. I also compared every second of this birth to my daughters. This was so consuming to me during this birth that I never just let my body do what it needed to. Once I stopped comparing the births I also stopped worrying so much about everyone else and comparing my life to theirs. That even though ‘it wasn’t like it was supposed to be’ there is probably a reason for that and it happened just the way it needed to.
Happy Parents!
Whooping Cough Natural Remedies
18 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Childhood Illness, Children, Supplements, Whooping cough Tags: Herb, natural, oil, pertussis, remedy, whooping cough
AFTER being treated medically there are many options to continue a safe and natural treatment for whooping cough at home. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a serious and potentially dangerous illness that needs immediate medical treatment. Since the outbreak of this illness in the vaccinated population and the outpouring of research showing that the vaccination may no longer be protective against the disease many people are looking for additional protection and help. Again, these treatments do NOT replace medical care for this illness and are only a recommendation for treatment in conjunction with your medical doctor.
My first recommendations are for essential oils (click to learn more) as they can be extremely effective and work very quickly within the body.
Oregano: DILUTE (since it is a hot oil and may burn the skin) with a carrier oil and apply to the chest, neck, back or reflex points. This helps kill bacteria and viruses within the body and boosts the immune system.
OnGuard: Diffuse in the air to kill bacteria and viruses. Also apply to the feet and chest.
Breathe: Put a 1-2 drops on a Kleenex or cotton ball and inhale as needed. This combination helps to open up the lungs so the person can breathe and decrease coughing.
Other general oils to try include melaleuca, clary sage, basil, cypress and grapefruit.
Herbal remedies: These are great recommendations from www.home-remedies.info
Start to give herbal teas at the first sign of coughing and do not wait for the respiratory distress that can set in with the whoop. Use steam to free the mucus. In young babies, diluted teas should be strong enough and older children may need infusions for cough. Look at these herbs, and use a blend of the most appropriate: CHAMOMILF. (Chamomilla recutita): helps to calm the person down, reduces catarrh and accompanying nausea. COLTSFOOT (Tussilago farfara): one of the best cough remedies, helping to ease the spasmodic nature of the cough. LAVENDER (Lavandula vera): a relaxing expectorant, soothing the cough and breathing and also generally calming. THYME (Thymus vulgaris): highly antiseptic, soothing the dry cough that may herald the start of the problem. WHITE HOREHOUND (Marrubium vulgare): good expectorant, loosening the sticky mucus and reducing spasm. An alternative treatment that can work wonders as whooping cough remedy is to chop or crush two cloves of garlic into 15 ml (1 tbsp) of honey and leave for a couple of hours, or even overnight. Give up to 5 ml (1 tsp) either neat or diluted in a little warm water, 4 times a day.It is very important to make sure that no herb counteracts any medication so be sure to talk with your doctor before taking an herb. I prefer to purchase my herbs from Shawnee Moon. They are a St. Louis based company and Victoria is incredibly knowledgeable. Her herb combinations and products are effective for boosting the immune system, ridding the body of bacteria and viruses as well and healing for many different ailments. Check her out!
Lastly, general recommendations include being outside for fresh air and avoiding heated and humid rooms. Keep your child away from others for at least two weeks since they will be highly contagious. Avoid milk products and any food that may be inflammatory for your child including: processed foods, dairy, wheat, cereals, and fast food. Add a few drops of an oil to hot water bowls and inhale the steam.
Post-Partum Care Package
20 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
New Service from Dr. DiBarto-Goggin!
The first weeks after you bring your baby into the world are the most exciting and the most tiring time. Care for both the mom and baby in these weeks are of the utmost important including physical, emotional, spiritual, and nutritional health. Since it is important for mom to be at home with her new baby for at least a month after the baby is born but may need immediate care and support I am now offering in-home post partum care.
Within the first four weeks after the birth I come to your home and provide the following services:
Adjustment for mom and baby
Gentle Spinal and Cranial adjustments for baby to facilitate breastfeeding, latching, and address any issues with colic, digestion, sleeping and feeding
Adjustments for mom to speed recovery from the birth and address any pain or posture issues with discomfort from feeding.
Breastfeeding counseling
Address any questions you have about nursing, I can provide samples of soothing lotion for healing, and work with your posture to minimize strain on you and the baby.
New Born Care support
A time to learn more about your baby and discuss what needs you have and the baby have and how to meet them.
Include custom Peri-bottle, tea rinse, and any other products that may be helpful for recovery for you and baby
Essential oils for post partum emotional assistance, bonding with baby and more
Herbal tonics for sitz bath
Creams for cesarean recovery
Nutritional counseling
As an introductory special this package will be offered for $75.00 until July of 2012. Please call the office at 314.647.3399 to set up a time for this appointment.
Ongoing Home Care for New Mothers:
Within the first three months of your child’s birth I am available to come to your home for treatments.
The cost is $30 per adjustment per person plus travel expenses.
When are they inducing you?
27 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Birth, Birth Plan
Once I hit 38 weeks everyone I met asked “When are they inducing you?” I tell them that I’m not due for another two weeks (or less now!) and then each person has said “They are going to let you go past your date?”. I bite my tongue, roll my eyes, and say that the baby is ready when he is ready. Even though I wish he was ready sooner sometimes!
These questions upset me so much and I can’t really put my finger on it. First of all, there is no almighty ‘THEY’ that determines when, where, and why my baby is ready to be born. There is no telling with cervical dilation, how you feel, or any other real indicator of when the baby is ready. The baby and my body know best, above anyone or any test! My midwife has been so incredibly supportive through my impatience and prodromal labor. Each morning my husband asks if today is the day before he leaves for work and I’m now telling him that unless he sees the baby actually coming out of my body, then I have no idea!
I have no medical issues, I’m clearly healthy, the baby is clearly healthy, why in the world would I induce my baby? Most people know that the baby does their greatest amount of growing in the last weeks, especially the brain!
“They are going to let you go past your due date??” Again with the ‘they’! Next with the ‘let me’. I have complete control over my body and my birth and no one will ‘let me’ or ‘not let me’ do anything I am not comfortable with. A million thank you’s again to my midwife, who at each visit has talked to me about my concerns, fears, needs, and wants during the pregnancy and labor. I have told her what I don’t want or am afraid of during this birth and she has taken the time to walk me through her procedures and assure me that this is my birth and my body and barring any serious medical issues that may need monitoring we can do what is best for me and my baby! What a great experience and comfort it is to have a birth team that is supportive of my needs, my body, and my baby and is not regulated by their own plans, calendars, and insurance requirements.
Lastly with the due date. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology state that a woman is not ‘post-due’ until she is 42 weeks. This is because there is no guarantee that the estimated due date was correct considering all women ovulate at a different time in their cycle and cycles vary. So asking about induction at 38 weeks is technically still a month early!
What about the risks of induction when not medically necessary? “First time mothers have twice the likelihood of cesarean section when induced…mom’s with subsequent births have 5 times the chances of a cesarean when induced…induction causes hyperstimulation of the uterus leading to fetal distress…induced labors are more painful….” And plenty more. Read more, get the resources and references, and learn about each induction method here. dangers of induction
Yes, pregnancy is uncomfortable. With my daughter’s pregnancy it was very very easy. I could never understand why a woman would go for an early induction or risk trying even natural induction methods like acupuncture, etc BEFORE 40 weeks. This pregnancy has been pretty difficult. I was ready to have this baby at 34 weeks after he dropped at 32 weeks! This little one is soo far into my ribs that each practice contraction forces my ribs apart and is painful…. I’ve tried acupressure, some herbs, and tons of walking to entice him to learn he has much more room in the outside world. But it isn’t fair to the baby to stop his growth before he even gets a chance, it really is selfish. All I’m saying here is that I feel your pain (literally) and we need to hang in there!
Moral of this story: barring any serious medical issues that warrant the appropriate use of induction, it is best to leave your baby to grow and be as strong as possible when he or she is born. No one can tell you your exact due date except your body and baby! Induction should be carefully considered and researched before allowing ‘THEM’ to manipulate your body and your baby.
Me and baby at 39 weeks and 5 days! Lots of practice contractions (or are they real contractions?) we will find out soon!
Bach Flower Remedies for Pregnancy and Birth
27 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Birth, Joyful Pregnancy Resource Guide, Post Partum Adjustment, Pregnancy Symptoms, Supplements Tags: bach flower remedy
This article was taken from the Bach Flower Remedy Website: www.bachflower.com. I truly believe in the power of Bach Flowers and would highly recommend having at least the Rescue Remedy on Hand for before, during, and after the birth.
Bach Flower’s for Child Birth
Child birth is one of Natures wonders and each birth is unique; it is the beginning of life of a human being. Bach Flower Remedies® have been very useful both during labor and after birth to help both mother and child to adjust to each other and for the mother to get over the physical exhaustion of labor.
Rescue Remedy® helps both mother and child during labor to get over the labor fast and easily.
Rescue Remedy Cream® can be applied to broken tissue.
Cherry Plum: Helps if the mother get in a situation where she is is afraid she may loose her sanity and is about to explode. Cherry Plum helps the mother to be calm and act rationally. (Present in Rescue Remedy®)
Elm: Helps when the mother get overwhelmed either by the responsibility of being a parent or by the labor itself.
Gentian: Helps the mother when she gets discouraged. Gentian helps the mother to remember that any difficulty will be overcome in the end.
Impatiens: Helps the mother (and father) when they get impatience in the process of labor. Impatiens helps them cope with the process calmly and good humored. (Present in Rescue Remedy®)
Larch: Helps if the mother loses confidence. Larch helps the mother to regain confidence that she can overcome anything.
Mimulus: Helps the mother if she get afraid either for the life of her child or of other reasons.
Olive: Helps the mother to overcome physical exhaustion during labor. Olive gives the mother the strength to keep going.
Rock Rose: Helps everyone involved in the unlikely event of an emergency, where there is a feeling of frozen fear and helplessness. (Present in Rescue Remedy®)
Walnut: Helps both baby, mother, father and siblings to adjust to the change a new family member requires
We thank Debs from New Zealand for this insight.
* Total panic and terrified of labor; Rock Rose, Rescue Remedy®
* For fear of a known thing; Mimulus
* Fear of loosing control, not coping:; Cherry Plum, Rescue Remedy®
* Fear that something terrible is going to happen: Aspen
* Fear for the child: Red Chestnut
* Impatient for the labor to progress; Impatiens
* Exhaustion: Olive
* Lack of confidence: Larch
* 4 drops of Rescue Remedy® in a glass of water sipped continuously throughout labor is very beneficial. Rescue Remedy®® contains Impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, Cherry Plum, Rock Rose and Clematis.
* When the baby is born; 4 drops of Rescue Remedy®® on the forehead or in the mouth and 4 drops for the mother.
THE POSTNATAL PERIOD
We thank Debs from New Zealand for this insight.
The rapid decline in the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone after birth can lead to the notorious baby blues. This depression of spirits is common and quite normal, but nonetheless disturbing. It varies from one woman to another in how severe this depression might be and how long it will last. It is usually something that lifts after a few days and some women do not suffer with it at all.
The Bach Remedies, although very gentle, can be of great help and if taken straight away, before the depression has had a chance to dig its heels in, so much the better.
Everyone has their own individual personalities and characteristics and so it follows that we should treat ourselves in an individual way, choosing the remedies as to who we are, how we are, and why we feel the way we do.
Following are a few suggestions of remedies that might be helpful:
* The blues; for no apparent reason. The mother is overjoyed to have a baby, has a loving partner and a secure home, but a cloud of gloom overshadows it. For these women it can be difficult to fathom as there is no account for it: Mustard
* The reason for the baby blues; is known. Say if the mother has had stitches and they are really uncomfortable or the baby is not behaving how you would expect him/her to. The mother feels disappointed or disheartened for a known reason; Gentian
* If the reason is of something of greater depth leading to total anguish and despair: Sweet Chestnut
* If the mother not coping very well and has a fear of loosing control; Cherry Plum, Rescue Remedy®
* For women who are constantly expecting more from themselves or feeling guilty for not doing enough: Pine
* For those who are not grounded, are in a dream world and not really aware of what is happening around them, feeling detached from reality: Clematis
* Difficulty adjusting to having a baby: Walnut
* Women who are bravely coping, but not caring for themselves: Oak
* For women who are over-anxious and fearful about the baby’s well-being: Red Chestnut
* For those who have suffered a traumatic birth: Star of Bethlehem, Rescue Remedy®
Treating Growing Pains
24 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Children, Essential Oils, Products
My daughter (4 years old) is currently experiencing growing pains and I have also treated multiple children in my office for these pains. Most children will experience them in their legs, arms, and feet. There isn’t any true medical explanation for these types of pain and the extent and reason vary from child to child.
The first treatment I would recommend is a massage with lavender essential oil. You can use doTERRA’s oil neat (applied directly to the skin) or add it to coconut oil. This will help relax the muscles as well as the child. I would always add massaging on the feet. Personally, my daughter has responded the best to this treatment alone.
Another good oil combination would be equal drops of peppermint, rosemary, and lavender in a base of olive oil. When making a combination of oils like this take a small Tupperware container (like ones used for carrying salad dressing). Put in 1 tablespoon of olive oil with 5 drops of each of the oils listed. To make more just double this recipe and keep it for future use. It would be best to keep the oil mixes in a dark container so choose your container carefully.
If you aren’t comfortable mixing your own oils, or don’t have all of them on hand, check out doTERRA’s Deep Blue oil. Wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, blue chamomile, helichrysum and osmanthus work together to
ease achy joints and sore muscles. Its effects are deep and penetrating with sustained results. Once gently rubbed into the area of discomfort, Deep Blue’s cool therapeutic benefit will be felt almost immediately. It is for topical use only. This is a great tool for relaxing muscles and taking away pain. You can get this as an oil, a cream or a roll on, depending on what is easiest for you and your children to use. I use this in my office often for low back pain, muscle strains, arthritis, and general joint pain. I have not had one person who has not experienced at least 50% relief from their symptoms within two weeks of using this oil consistently!
Try giving your child an Epsom salt bath at night before bed to add magnesium to the muscles. You can also drop the above oils in the bath as well.
The homeopathic ‘arnica’ comes in dissolvable tablets as well as creams to help reduce swelling and pain.
Lastly, getting adjusted by a chiropractor can help decrease inflammation of the nerves and muscles to the whole body and decrease the pain associated with growing.
