Pregnancy Podcasts

I found some great podcasts at PregTASTIC.  I listened to Barbara Harper, founder of Waterbirth International, discuss the chemical effects of buoyancy and Dr. Jack Newman  talk about breastfeeding.  I loved the two-series podcasts with Maria Mongan who developed hypnobirthing.  I have several more loaded in my ipod and hope to listen to them when Norah is sleeping in the car.      

Ride the Water

Tonight we loaded up for a quick paddle and picnic.  It was Norah’s first time in a kayak.  She loved the canoe last summer so we knew she would have fun.  She’s been asking to “ride the water.” 

 

Aside from the difficulty in getting her out of the water and saying goodbye to the geese (she had to blow kisses to each of them), it was a sweet time!

Wedding Ring–Found!

For those of you who commiserated with me over my lost wedding ring–I found it! 

I knew my ring was on the bathroom counter.  An hour later, it had been absconded.  The culprit:  an adorable 2 year old.  When asked where mommy’s ring was, Norah confidently and immediately pointed to the air vent saying she “put it there safe.”  When we looked in the air vent, we discovered that she had indeed put a few things in there (another one of her sneaky packrat places).  But no sign of the ring.  Then Scott thought he saw it down the sink drain and commenced to taking apart pipes.  No ring. 

I searched every hiding place I could think of.  I found her hairbrush (she hates that instrument of torture).  I found some money.  I found an energy bar.  I FINALLY found my ring.  It was in a tiny drawstring bag inside a bathroom drawer.  Whew.  Lesson learned and crisis over.

Go Hug a Midwife!

Today is International Midwives Day!  Hooray for the babycatchers.  Sal wrote a great post on midwives.  Go check it out. 

Here is one of my favorite midwives:

Feel Like Stretching Your Mind a Bit?

Really?  You’re really at a place in which you can open up to a perhaps unfamiliar idea? 

You’re sure?  Alright…head on over here and watch the promo. 

As mentioned in the end of the clip, more and more mindful couples are following this map and rejecting the old stories and images of fear.   

Pigs Anyone?

I’m talking “Pass the Pigs.”  Best game on the planet.  Have you passed some pigs? 

I’ll never forget evenings around the Nicewongers’ dining room table; all of us “camp folk” stuffed from Judy’s feast and Dick’s pork tenderloin grilled on the Weber.  While we tried (successfully) to find room for Judy’s peanut butter pie, Dick would bring out the pigs.  We leaned forward in our chairs, some even stood, as the electric charge of competition lit the room.  It was on.  Each of us with our own special technique–pig kisses, the wrist flip, Dick’s special cup toss, the hand roll–we passed pigs late into the NY night. 

Don’t know about the pigs?  Hang in here with me, it gets complicated.  You have these two tiny pigs and you throw them.  The positions in which they land give you points.  The piggies touch and you lose it all.  Toss a Double Leaning Jowler and you hit the jackpot.  I told you it was complicated. 

So the next time you’re planning a camping trip, pack the pigs.  The next time you have some friends over, bring out the pigs and the peanut butter pie. 

Pig out.     

The Absurd

Today’s absurdities:

• The “Breastfeeding Resources” kit given to expectant moms, grandmoms, and anyone in the vicinity by Enfamil (my neighbor table at the Seneca Baby Fair).  The boxes of 1st Trimester Gift Packs stacked several feet against a back wall.
• A flyer from Bi-Lo titled “Make Mother’s Day Memorable” advertising tampons, deodorant, dish detergent, dog food, and potato chips.  The outside flap claims “Great Ideas for Mother’s Day” showcasing personal lubricant, hair coloring, shaving gel, more deodorant, and acne cream.
• A NICU nursery insistent on giving a very newborn formula because the mom’s pumped colostrum is “not nearly enough.”
• My wearing of a baby doll all morning at the baby fair and the La Leche League leader who borrowed said doll for her breastfeeding demo.  At least the baby was attached and well-fed.

Ah but there was beauty today, too–sweet friends who joined me at the Enfamil Fair, ahem, I mean, Baby Fair.  Kelly, Jenny, and Denise made the time pass quickly.  Kelly’s sweet sleeping 30lb’er in the ring sling was excellent marketing!  And Jenny kept changing carriers–she was like a runway model for babywearing.  A lovely newborn nursery RN who took all my babywearing fliers to give to her moms and wished for slings at the hospital.  And my amazing husband who took his daughter and his mom on a breakfast date to Panera, caulked the shower, washed my car, and watered my garden.  But the highlight of the day–a family nap with daughter snuggled between us and the beginnings of rain watering my garden…again.     

Extraordinary Ordinary Birth

I was up all night so forgive the choppiness.  I share this with permission from a new mama and daddy. They wanted to encourage someone else as other stories encouraged them.

I am honored to be the doula for an amazing couple.  This pregnancy is their first.  While taking a childbirth class (before even finishing the class), they met another expectant couple who didn’t speak English.  My couple invited them into their home, taught them what they had learned, and the non-English speaking couple had a lovely natural birth.  My couple did this before having experienced childbirth!  So, I knew it would be an extraordinary birth. 

Well, they experienced birth last night and this morning.  I labored with them through the night in their home–quiet, peaceful, beautiful.  They were so affectionate with each other.  I sometimes felt like I was eavesdropping.  She was quiet through her labor and the emotional cues were simply not there–she remained calm and relaxed the entire time.  Her pattern never changed:  contractions on the dot every two minutes.  Several times I asked if she wanted to go to the hospital (her planned place of birth) and she wanted to wait…and wait…and wait.  Finally, I encouraged her we needed to go.  It took some coaxing.  She was completely dilated when we reached the hospital! 

And a very short while later, a new little boy was welcomed to the world.   

Not to Deliver You

Ani DiFranco talks about her homebirth.   

Quote:  “To take birthing out of women’s hands and deny us the continuum of eons of wisdom and experience is to eject us from the very seat of our power.”

but my job here
is not to deliver you
but to hold a mirror
till you see how

Grace

Just thinking about God’s grace today.  Ho-hum.

Like the repairman who gave me a quote of 1200.00 for unexpected and unavoidable work we have to do at our home.  And then the out-of-the-blue check from the tax collector’s office; a refund for misassessed property taxes in the amount of, oh, 1200.00.

Yeah. 

And Grace, my fears relieved.