8/7/09
I’ve read that I’ll never feel this energetic again (during my pregnancy, that is), which means it’s time to act. There’s much to do before the baby arrives, and it only makes sense to do it when I’m feeling ambitious.
Making a list of what I think I will need to do or buy seems like a good start. Luckily, there are plenty of resources out there to help me figure this out. Experienced mothers are a great resource. And talking to at least one newish one will be helpful for the latest, greatest inventions.
I’d already gotten advice on a few must-haves, including a nursing pillow to help carry the weight, a baby monitor to keep an ear on my cherub, and a rocking chair to help ease the baby back to sleep when I can barely stand myself.
I’m still taking notes, so please share any must-have items that have made your mothering experience easier.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Furry, Howling Child
8/4/09
It’s true that I’m going through my first pregnancy, but my first “child” was a beagle-mix I got from a dog rescue. Rusty is 5-years old now and very well tempered, but I still want to make sure the small gurgling addition to the family doesn’t incite any unexpected behavior. That’s why I took some time to talk with Neil Sattin, a professional dog trainer schooled in the practice of Natural Dog Training.
Neil had many helpful suggestions, including avoiding any big introductions, and instead being low-key about the baby’s arrival. He also suggested that if we had an opportunity before the baby comes home to bring a baby blanket for Rusty to sniff to help familiarize him with the new scent.
Dogs love structure, and nothing can disrupt this more than a new baby. Which is why Neil recommended thinking about what kind of structure we could stick to, to make the transition a little less difficult for Rusty. I promised to continue my daily morning walks to keep his tail wagging.
Another good tip I got is for when the baby creates stress for Rusty. Neil said to take the dog outside and play tug-of-war for about 15 minutes, making sure to let him win. This should release any energy that has built up from the stressful indoor atmosphere.
To find out more about Natural Dog Training, check out Neil’s Web site, which has a good basic introduction to the philosophy and practice.
It’s true that I’m going through my first pregnancy, but my first “child” was a beagle-mix I got from a dog rescue. Rusty is 5-years old now and very well tempered, but I still want to make sure the small gurgling addition to the family doesn’t incite any unexpected behavior. That’s why I took some time to talk with Neil Sattin, a professional dog trainer schooled in the practice of Natural Dog Training.
Neil had many helpful suggestions, including avoiding any big introductions, and instead being low-key about the baby’s arrival. He also suggested that if we had an opportunity before the baby comes home to bring a baby blanket for Rusty to sniff to help familiarize him with the new scent.
Dogs love structure, and nothing can disrupt this more than a new baby. Which is why Neil recommended thinking about what kind of structure we could stick to, to make the transition a little less difficult for Rusty. I promised to continue my daily morning walks to keep his tail wagging.
Another good tip I got is for when the baby creates stress for Rusty. Neil said to take the dog outside and play tug-of-war for about 15 minutes, making sure to let him win. This should release any energy that has built up from the stressful indoor atmosphere.
To find out more about Natural Dog Training, check out Neil’s Web site, which has a good basic introduction to the philosophy and practice.
Milking the Cat, Cow, and Camel
7/31/09
You might think I’m starting an animal sanctuary with such a title, and although I’d love to, that’s pretty far from the case. These are actually names of a few poses in this DVD I found: Yoga for Your Pregnancy. I thought it would be a good idea to be armed with some proven yoga poses for my health and birthing, in addition to whatever birthing class I take.
Kristen Eykel is the instructor of the DVD, and is a proven veteran, having used the techniques in her own delivery, as well as teaching them in prenatal yoga classes. The running time is close to 105 minutes and includes two workouts, one geared toward strengthening and the other toward relaxing. There are also bonus chapters that offer tools for meditating, poses for the birthing room, and postnatal yoga practice.
Overall, it’s an informative source that is extremely accessible since you can just pop it into your computer or DVD player anytime. I don’t know about you, but I plan to start doing my cat, cow, camel and more, beforethe cow comes home, because being over-prepared is better than the alternative.
You might think I’m starting an animal sanctuary with such a title, and although I’d love to, that’s pretty far from the case. These are actually names of a few poses in this DVD I found: Yoga for Your Pregnancy. I thought it would be a good idea to be armed with some proven yoga poses for my health and birthing, in addition to whatever birthing class I take.
Kristen Eykel is the instructor of the DVD, and is a proven veteran, having used the techniques in her own delivery, as well as teaching them in prenatal yoga classes. The running time is close to 105 minutes and includes two workouts, one geared toward strengthening and the other toward relaxing. There are also bonus chapters that offer tools for meditating, poses for the birthing room, and postnatal yoga practice.
Overall, it’s an informative source that is extremely accessible since you can just pop it into your computer or DVD player anytime. I don’t know about you, but I plan to start doing my cat, cow, camel and more, beforethe cow comes home, because being over-prepared is better than the alternative.
Seeking Class
7/27/09
I’m in my 21st week now, which is just past the halfway mark, and I can feel my natural instincts kicking in. I’m starting to think maternally. So much so, I’ve begun looking into all things birthing—techniques, classes, and a birth plan. I never knew there were so many choices out there until I started looking.
Childbirthing classes run the gamut from a few hours over one or two days, to 12 classes with 36 plus hours of training. The techniques and teachings vary greatly too, although some classes teach a blend of them. The four primary techniques are Lamaze, The Bradley Method,Hypnobirthing, and Birthing From Within. Each has a Web site explaining their methods, but if you want the Cliffs notes version check outamericanpregnancy.org, which has an article that concisely explains each one.
I think I’m leaning toward the Lamaze style, because it worked for my mom and seems to best fit my personality, but I’m still looking into the other options. One important benefit of any couples class is that it can help the father feel more closely connected to the pregnancy. Also, any teamwork activities create a shared experience, which should deepen the bond between the preggo and the partner. Two reasons enough to go.
I’m in my 21st week now, which is just past the halfway mark, and I can feel my natural instincts kicking in. I’m starting to think maternally. So much so, I’ve begun looking into all things birthing—techniques, classes, and a birth plan. I never knew there were so many choices out there until I started looking.
Childbirthing classes run the gamut from a few hours over one or two days, to 12 classes with 36 plus hours of training. The techniques and teachings vary greatly too, although some classes teach a blend of them. The four primary techniques are Lamaze, The Bradley Method,Hypnobirthing, and Birthing From Within. Each has a Web site explaining their methods, but if you want the Cliffs notes version check outamericanpregnancy.org, which has an article that concisely explains each one.
I think I’m leaning toward the Lamaze style, because it worked for my mom and seems to best fit my personality, but I’m still looking into the other options. One important benefit of any couples class is that it can help the father feel more closely connected to the pregnancy. Also, any teamwork activities create a shared experience, which should deepen the bond between the preggo and the partner. Two reasons enough to go.
Morning Fix
7/24/09
When I decided to quit my green tea-in-the-morning routine (luckily, I had already kicked coffee a few years earlier), I started looking for a tea that would both warm my mornings and help with my nausea. An internet search led me to Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics.
They have a cute name with pleasing design, but was the tea any good? Well, I’d just have to try. For us blossoming belly women, they offer Morning Wellness Tea, Peaceful Mama Tea, Heartburn Tea, and Third Trimester Tea. I’ve now had two of the four, and gladly report I really enjoyed them. There’s no caffeine, so no need to worry about hyping your fetus, and the flavors are mild enough to be both soothing and satisfying. Not a bad substitute for the ole’ caffeine boost.
When I decided to quit my green tea-in-the-morning routine (luckily, I had already kicked coffee a few years earlier), I started looking for a tea that would both warm my mornings and help with my nausea. An internet search led me to Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics.
They have a cute name with pleasing design, but was the tea any good? Well, I’d just have to try. For us blossoming belly women, they offer Morning Wellness Tea, Peaceful Mama Tea, Heartburn Tea, and Third Trimester Tea. I’ve now had two of the four, and gladly report I really enjoyed them. There’s no caffeine, so no need to worry about hyping your fetus, and the flavors are mild enough to be both soothing and satisfying. Not a bad substitute for the ole’ caffeine boost.
Embracing Needles
7/20/09
No, I’m not talking about the large, sharp kind they use for the amnio test (speaking of which, I got the all-is-well results on Friday. Yeah!). No, I’m referring to knitting needles. You know, that enduring motherly tradition that has produced many a lovely and less-than-lovely sweater, hat, and blanket. I decided I should try to keep the practice alive, rather than relying on “grandma” and knitting friends to do it for me.
Luckily, I had some help from my mom to get me started. She already had a pattern for what I was looking for (an earflap hat) in Erika Knight’sKnitting for Two, so all I needed was the right yarn for my peanut’s little head. As it turns out, Patons yarns has a wonderful new product called Bamboo Baby that is super soft and eco-friendly because of the pesticide-free bamboo, which fits my needs perfectly.
Set with all the ingredients I needed: pattern, yarn, and needles, I faced the actual task of doing it. I cheated a little, with my mom starting me out on the earflaps, but from there it was all me—flaws and all. At times knitting felt a bit tedious with the small repetitive movements, but I also found that eventually I would get into a groove and do it without much thought (although, sometimes chanting knit or pearl so I wouldn’t forget which one I was doing).
Knitting turned out to be a perfect activity to pass the time when I was taking it easy after the amnio. And oddly, it seemed to bring out a motherliness in me that felt a lot like natural instinct.
No, I’m not talking about the large, sharp kind they use for the amnio test (speaking of which, I got the all-is-well results on Friday. Yeah!). No, I’m referring to knitting needles. You know, that enduring motherly tradition that has produced many a lovely and less-than-lovely sweater, hat, and blanket. I decided I should try to keep the practice alive, rather than relying on “grandma” and knitting friends to do it for me.
Luckily, I had some help from my mom to get me started. She already had a pattern for what I was looking for (an earflap hat) in Erika Knight’sKnitting for Two, so all I needed was the right yarn for my peanut’s little head. As it turns out, Patons yarns has a wonderful new product called Bamboo Baby that is super soft and eco-friendly because of the pesticide-free bamboo, which fits my needs perfectly.
Set with all the ingredients I needed: pattern, yarn, and needles, I faced the actual task of doing it. I cheated a little, with my mom starting me out on the earflaps, but from there it was all me—flaws and all. At times knitting felt a bit tedious with the small repetitive movements, but I also found that eventually I would get into a groove and do it without much thought (although, sometimes chanting knit or pearl so I wouldn’t forget which one I was doing).
Knitting turned out to be a perfect activity to pass the time when I was taking it easy after the amnio. And oddly, it seemed to bring out a motherliness in me that felt a lot like natural instinct.
The Preg Veg: Pass it On
7/17/09
The Web site Zwaggle is a perfect example of how the internet can connect hordes of people for the greater cause of sharing. We no longer have to depend on local mommy groups, but can branch out to a nationwide network of parents to find and give, and recycle and reuse, things for our kids. It’s pretty simple too. You just sign up and post something that you have to give, which will earn you Zoints (these are points, that are equivalent to dollars). Once you have those you can find and “buy” whatever it is you need, and thereby keep the cycle going—and the landfills clear. It’s never been so easy to be green.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
The Web site Zwaggle is a perfect example of how the internet can connect hordes of people for the greater cause of sharing. We no longer have to depend on local mommy groups, but can branch out to a nationwide network of parents to find and give, and recycle and reuse, things for our kids. It’s pretty simple too. You just sign up and post something that you have to give, which will earn you Zoints (these are points, that are equivalent to dollars). Once you have those you can find and “buy” whatever it is you need, and thereby keep the cycle going—and the landfills clear. It’s never been so easy to be green.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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