10/16/09
I finally found the perfect mattress for my chestnut’s crib. I say perfect because it met my two most important desires:
1) If my baby is going to spend 16 hours a day doing something, it should be in a nice, healthful atmosphere.
2) I’d rather support an ethical, small business, than a large or conglomerate company.
With those criteria in mind, I decided on an organic cotton and wool innerspring crib mattress made by Organic Grace. Unoiled springs are covered with layers of organic cotton and wool; the wool is both flame-retardant and antibacterial. The mattress comes with a 10-year warranty and, at $259, it’s still cheaper than its Naturepedic counterpart. Knowing all this, I should sleep as well as my babe.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
One Breath at a Time
10/12/09
The continuation of my birthing class this weekend had us diving into breathing techniques. We practiced several, including the Bradley Method, which is steady and evenly paced, and Lamaze, which tends to have quicker and shorter breaths. The best technique to use is of course the one that works best for you. Also, keep in mind this may vary as your labor progresses.
One of the universal breathing practices at the beginning and end of every contraction is to take a cleansing breath. This consists of a long and deep inhale, followed by a similar exhale. Benefits of this breath is to offer extra oxygen to the baby, and to help you and your partner know when a contraction is beginning.
The explanation of why we do any breathing techniques at all, was the most interesting to me:
The main purpose is to keep the mother focused on something besides the pain, which is achieved with the rhythmic pacing of the breathing, as well as the mental distraction of trying to remember what to do. There’s nothing like a little diversion to keep your pain at bay.
The continuation of my birthing class this weekend had us diving into breathing techniques. We practiced several, including the Bradley Method, which is steady and evenly paced, and Lamaze, which tends to have quicker and shorter breaths. The best technique to use is of course the one that works best for you. Also, keep in mind this may vary as your labor progresses.
One of the universal breathing practices at the beginning and end of every contraction is to take a cleansing breath. This consists of a long and deep inhale, followed by a similar exhale. Benefits of this breath is to offer extra oxygen to the baby, and to help you and your partner know when a contraction is beginning.
The explanation of why we do any breathing techniques at all, was the most interesting to me:
The main purpose is to keep the mother focused on something besides the pain, which is achieved with the rhythmic pacing of the breathing, as well as the mental distraction of trying to remember what to do. There’s nothing like a little diversion to keep your pain at bay.
Must Remember to Relax
10/9/09
Many of us barrel into our third trimester like we’re Lynda Carter with a magic lasso and a pair of deflecting bracelets, but now, more than ever, is the time we should be slowing down to smell the roses.
Rather than getting caught up in the approaching deadline or the ever-growing discomforts, let me suggest taking a moment each day to contemplate the amazing occurrence happening right under your nose.
And as those pleasing thoughts calm your mind, why not lengthen that moment into a restful retreat. Consider taking a warm bath, getting a massage, or just kicking up your feet to read a favorite poem or book, or listen to your favorite music.
Many of us barrel into our third trimester like we’re Lynda Carter with a magic lasso and a pair of deflecting bracelets, but now, more than ever, is the time we should be slowing down to smell the roses.
Rather than getting caught up in the approaching deadline or the ever-growing discomforts, let me suggest taking a moment each day to contemplate the amazing occurrence happening right under your nose.
And as those pleasing thoughts calm your mind, why not lengthen that moment into a restful retreat. Consider taking a warm bath, getting a massage, or just kicking up your feet to read a favorite poem or book, or listen to your favorite music.
Class is in Session
10/5/09
I was so excited yesterday to finally begin my birthing class and learn more about my magical upcoming event, and it did not disappoint. My instructor, Judy Chapman, a RN, certified nurse midwife, certified Lamaze Childbirth educator, and founder of the Chapman Family Center, had our cozy group of seven couples engaged right from the start.
In the first three-hour session we learned all kinds of crucial stuff like smart pillow placement for better sleeping; things to bring to the hospital that can make a difference when you’re in labor, including a tennis ball for back massage; and the importance of doing Kegel exercises to build up your pelvic floor muscles for an easier delivery.
Judy also focused on the fear of giving birth, wanting to quickly dispel any myths or unwarranted worry. Apparently, all the Hollywood birth scenes with incessant screaming have tainted women’s view of labor. Go figure. There’s nothing like the calm, cool head of experience to convince expecting mothers otherwise.
I was so excited yesterday to finally begin my birthing class and learn more about my magical upcoming event, and it did not disappoint. My instructor, Judy Chapman, a RN, certified nurse midwife, certified Lamaze Childbirth educator, and founder of the Chapman Family Center, had our cozy group of seven couples engaged right from the start.
In the first three-hour session we learned all kinds of crucial stuff like smart pillow placement for better sleeping; things to bring to the hospital that can make a difference when you’re in labor, including a tennis ball for back massage; and the importance of doing Kegel exercises to build up your pelvic floor muscles for an easier delivery.
Judy also focused on the fear of giving birth, wanting to quickly dispel any myths or unwarranted worry. Apparently, all the Hollywood birth scenes with incessant screaming have tainted women’s view of labor. Go figure. There’s nothing like the calm, cool head of experience to convince expecting mothers otherwise.
Hitting the Big 3-0 Weeks
10/2/09
With only 10 weeks more to go, my peanut is more like a chestnut these days—at least it’s keeping seasonal. The baby’s new size and weight has ushered in frequent bouts of heartburn, simply due to the fact there’s more pressure on my stomach and intestines. To help keep this malady at bay the American Pregnancy Association suggests eating smaller meals, waiting at least an hour after eating before lying down, and avoiding spicy and fatty foods.
I’ve also found that allowing a good three hours between my last meal and bedtime helps a lot. As for the salsa and hot sauce, I’ve stashed it away for another day, but the restrictions have also inspired me to find some new, delicious recipes, including this one: Chilean Corn and Un-turkey Chowder at vegetariantimes.com.
With only 10 weeks more to go, my peanut is more like a chestnut these days—at least it’s keeping seasonal. The baby’s new size and weight has ushered in frequent bouts of heartburn, simply due to the fact there’s more pressure on my stomach and intestines. To help keep this malady at bay the American Pregnancy Association suggests eating smaller meals, waiting at least an hour after eating before lying down, and avoiding spicy and fatty foods.
I’ve also found that allowing a good three hours between my last meal and bedtime helps a lot. As for the salsa and hot sauce, I’ve stashed it away for another day, but the restrictions have also inspired me to find some new, delicious recipes, including this one: Chilean Corn and Un-turkey Chowder at vegetariantimes.com.
Natural Products Go Ga Ga
9/29/09
This past week I attended the Natural Products Expo East in Boston, and although it was a bit smaller than last year, it had no shortage of baby products. Here’s a highlight of a few companies I discovered to help save you some time on finding the perfect eco item for the one you love:
Green Sprouts has a wide range of eco friendly gear, from cornstarch hand teethers to adorable organic cotton wrist rattles.
I Play carries cute babywear items like organic cotton layettes adorned with forest friends and fruits and veggies. They even have an Itsy Bitsy Yoga line, which contains colorful animal print rompers and bodysuits, as well as matching yoga mats.
Jackson Reece makes an all-natural flushable and biodegradable baby wipe, which at the moment is only available in the UK, but they’re working on getting it into America soon.
I didn’t see any eco diaper products there, but rest assure I will be searching through the available options tout de suite to determine the best way to deal with the inevitable, mess of—baby output. Until then, enjoy the pleasant scents of autumn.
This past week I attended the Natural Products Expo East in Boston, and although it was a bit smaller than last year, it had no shortage of baby products. Here’s a highlight of a few companies I discovered to help save you some time on finding the perfect eco item for the one you love:
Green Sprouts has a wide range of eco friendly gear, from cornstarch hand teethers to adorable organic cotton wrist rattles.
I Play carries cute babywear items like organic cotton layettes adorned with forest friends and fruits and veggies. They even have an Itsy Bitsy Yoga line, which contains colorful animal print rompers and bodysuits, as well as matching yoga mats.
Jackson Reece makes an all-natural flushable and biodegradable baby wipe, which at the moment is only available in the UK, but they’re working on getting it into America soon.
I didn’t see any eco diaper products there, but rest assure I will be searching through the available options tout de suite to determine the best way to deal with the inevitable, mess of—baby output. Until then, enjoy the pleasant scents of autumn.
Eco Design on a Dime
9/21/09
The baby’s room is finished and by finding everything on Craigslist I’ve avoided the further manufacturing of products and saved myself a lot of cash. One really big score was the pre-shopping of a yard sale that had a ton of kids’ furniture. Not everyone is willing to let prospective buyers shop the day before, but if they are, it’s the way to go. Not only do you have first pick of everything, you also don’t have to fight through a crowd.
The walls of the room got a new look too. Since I don’t know the sex of my baby, I opted for gender-neutral colors, and used a combination of theLittle Yolo Sprout paint, with zero VOCs, and Tierrafino’s Ipaint, an all-natural clay paint. The clay paint added a wonderful texture to the room and was a breeze to put on, and the bright orangey-yellow of the Sprout paint adds a bit of sun, even when there is none.
I’m waiting on bringing a crib in until my babe outgrows the cradle that I found. According to its previous owner the cradle has rocked over 25 infants to sleep (although you’d never know it from the great shape it’s in). Now I just need to replace the vinyl mattress with an eco friendly option to avoid any harmful chemicals near my baby—an investment which can easily made, since I saved so much on the other stuff.
The baby’s room is finished and by finding everything on Craigslist I’ve avoided the further manufacturing of products and saved myself a lot of cash. One really big score was the pre-shopping of a yard sale that had a ton of kids’ furniture. Not everyone is willing to let prospective buyers shop the day before, but if they are, it’s the way to go. Not only do you have first pick of everything, you also don’t have to fight through a crowd.
The walls of the room got a new look too. Since I don’t know the sex of my baby, I opted for gender-neutral colors, and used a combination of theLittle Yolo Sprout paint, with zero VOCs, and Tierrafino’s Ipaint, an all-natural clay paint. The clay paint added a wonderful texture to the room and was a breeze to put on, and the bright orangey-yellow of the Sprout paint adds a bit of sun, even when there is none.
I’m waiting on bringing a crib in until my babe outgrows the cradle that I found. According to its previous owner the cradle has rocked over 25 infants to sleep (although you’d never know it from the great shape it’s in). Now I just need to replace the vinyl mattress with an eco friendly option to avoid any harmful chemicals near my baby—an investment which can easily made, since I saved so much on the other stuff.
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