Happy New Year!!!!

Birth Quote

‎"If women lose their birthing rights, they have lost all their rights. Really, if a woman cannot choose where and with whom she will birth, what else is there to lose?"
Carla Hartley

Epidural Deaths on the Rise

While it's still a rare occurence, the possibility of death from spinal anethesia is a real and growing concern for women opting for this type of pain relief. What's even scarier is that many women don't realize it's even a risk.

The epidural is often touted as the "Cadillac" of pain relief, yet rarely does a woman in labor truly understand the risks.

What's more is that if the epidural is avoided during labor, the risk not only decreases, it ceases to exist. So we have to ask, is the pain of labor so truly unbearable that this is a risk worth taking or is it possible women can make it through labor with no need for pain medication and we just don't believe we can because we've been lied to?

This is why doula work is so close to my heart. If a woman can be supported through her birth and she remains comfortable and fear free, her need for pain medication is going to be very low to nonexistent.

I believe the greatest kept secret from women is the fact that labor isn't all that bad. Most women simply have no idea that labor can actually be estatic, even orgasmic. If women believed this was truly possible, who wouldn't want to sign up for that?

Source: http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/27/epidural-related-deaths-in-childbirth-on-the-rise/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-w%7Cdl3%7Csec4_lnk2%7C192278

The Other Side of the Glass

There is a film coming out called The Other Side of the Glass. Hopefully, it will be out by next Father's Day.

This film is geared specifically towards men and their outlook on birth. It looks great!

So often, I hear women who talk about how their husbands made them get the epidural because they couldn't handle seeing their wife in pain or they weren't comfortable with a homebirth, so the woman had to birth in the hospital.

While these husbands mean well, it's important even for men to be educated about birth. Once they are, some of their fears surrounding birth can be put to rest and they can then support their wife in birthing however she needs to birth. This is what this film seems to be about.

You can watch a very in depth trailer of the film here:

http://www.theothersideoftheglassthefilm.blogspot.com/

Now Offering Professional Birth Plan Development Assistance

I've included a new service in my list of services that I believe will be helpful for many couples. More and more women are understanding the importance of having a birth plan for their birth. This ensures they will be educated on the choices they may be faced with making and from this their outcomes will improve and the entire experience can be more pleasant.

While my assistance with developing a birth plan comes standard with my doula package (as it does with most doulas), I am now offering my help and expertise with birth plans from anyone needing assistance.

I have termed this service "professional birth plan development assistance." As a doula and a labor and delivery nurse, I know what things should be included in a birth plan, what choices you will need to make, and how to choose the proper words for what you're desiring.

For some people, I understand it may not always be feasible to have a doula at your birth, but it is important to have a birth plan. Why not let a professional check it over?

Included in my service is helping you to explore how you feel about various issues regarding your birth, research for these issues if necessary, explanation of the risks and benefits of each issue, and editing and revision of your birth plan until it is exactly how you want it.

All of this is available for only $25.00! Please visit my website for more information.

http://azbirthdoulas.com/Services.html

T Shirts

I ordered some custom T shirts today from here: http://www.spreadshirt.com/create-your-own-t-shirt-C59/productType/210/productColor/1.

They turned out really cute and fun and there was all types to choose from. I'm excited about them. I think I'll upload some pictures when they get here, which could still be a few weeks.

Soapnuts- Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

I have found the coolest cleaning product ever. They're called Soapnuts.

Yes, they look strange...

                                     
But they work amazingly.

Soapnuts are a type of fruit that is harvested and dried. This makes them completely natural and chemical free. They have natural cleaning abilities and can be used for laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner, etc.

Here's how you use it for laundry detergent. It's super easy.

The soapnuts come in a bag like this. This is a two pound bag. It's got a ton of soapnuts in it- I don't know the exact count.

The soapnuts come with a little bag. Put 3-4 soapnuts into the bag. This small amount will last 3-5 loads or possibly more.

Put in 4-5 drops of tea tree oil into the small bag and tie closed twice. Now, simply throw that little bag into the washer.

I can't believe how clean my cothes come out smelling. They smell very fresh with subtle hints of a linen type smell.

Make sure you find the little soapnuts bag before you dry the clothes. Drying the bag will cause the soapnuts to dry out and not be as effective.

Using the soapnuts saves tons of money! The way I calculated what we spend on regular laundry detergent versus what we spent on the soapnuts, we're saving over $150.00 just by using the soapnuts! That's amazing. I totally recommend these awesome little fruits.

You can also make a cleaning spray that is so delightful to use. It cleans really well- a little goes a long way.



For more information or to order soapnuts, http://www.buysoapnuts.com/. They also have a good blog on their site.

Isn't it cool how nature truly does provide us with everything we need? I just find it so awesome that there are natural and healthy alternatives to just about everything.

*I am in no way affiliated with soapnuts, nor do I benefit from their sale. I just really like them and think they are cool. 

How to Make a Rice Heat Pack

Here is a tutorial on how to make a heat pack. I used rice in mine and really like the way they turned out. They are very easy to make.

Materials you will need:
Sewing machine or needle and thread
Fabric
Scissors
Rice/Corn/Beans- something for filling
Essential Oil
A funnel or something to help fill the pack

1) Once you have your fabric picked out, cut it into desired shape. There is not a standard measurement, they can come in any size you want.

2) Put the nicer sides towards the inside facing each other as shown so that you can begin to sew.

3) Sew all four sides together, but leave about a 3 inch area unsewn so that you can put in the rice.

4) Now turn the bag right side out.

5) Fill with rice. You don't have to stuff it too full because you want the pack to still be somewhat moldable. The amount of rice will differ based on how full you want your pack and how big your pack is.

I just used a jar to fill my pack. It was all I had around and I got creative. I scooped up rice into it and poured the rice into the pack. Simple.

6) If desired, you can put in some essential oil to make it smell pretty. Some people use actual dried herbs and such in their packs, but the oil works fine. You only need about 3 drops. I know that doesn't seem like much, but believe me, it is plenty. I used lavender in mine. Lavender is useful for relaxation.

7) Now finish sewing up the rest of the bag. This can be done by hand or with the sewing machine.

You now have your very own rice heat pack! Pretty simple huh? Most heat packs will stay warm for about 20 minutes and are great for relaxation, sore mucsles, a calming presence, or just if you're cold.

You can use any type of material you desire. The one in the picture is a flannel. Cotton also works well.

Enjoy!

Eats on Feets

I found another milksharing resource. It's called Eats on Feets. I'm still a big fan of Milkshare.com, and Eats of Feets seems to have a similar philosophy.

Eats on Feets has gone global and there are now local chapters in many cities around the world!

This is a great resource for mothers trying to find milk for their babies and also for mothers who have extra milk to share.

To learn more, visit http://www.eatsonfeets.org/.

Birth Quote

“Every woman needs someone in the room who believes in her more than she believes in herself.”

Quote

“Birth is not only about making babies. It’s about making mothers; strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.”

Hysterical Pregnancy Photos

I came across this blog post today and had to share. It is absolutely hysterical!

Do yourself a favor and check out this blog. Read all the comments- they're the best part!

http://pregnantchicken.squarespace.com/pregnant-chicken-blog/2010/12/10/awkward-pregnancy-photos.html

The Breast Crawl

This is an excellent video! I've always heard of the breast crawl, but have never actually seen it in person. This video is beautiful.

Birthdays

Yesterday was my daughter's birthday! She's two. Where does the time go?

The cake didn't turn out quite as I hoped, but I think she liked it!

Milksharing? What's that?!

I'm a big fan of mothers donating their breast milk to babies in need. I feel all babies deserve to have mothers milk, yet there are circumstances in which a mother is unable to breastfeed or make enough milk for her baby.

Milksharing is simply an informal sharing of milk between mothers who have extra and those who have a need. Milk that's suitable for one baby is most often suitable for other babies as well.

I wish this was more accepted in our society. Many women have plenty of milk and sadly, large amounts of that milk get thrown away or dumped down the drain because women aren't aware that donating is an option.

I've written lots of information on milksharing on my parenting website. Here's a link to the page: http://www.theholisticparent.org/milksharing.html.

I also absolutely love the resource http://www.milkshare.com/. This is a platform for mothers to donate their own milk for free and other mothers to receive desperately needed milk for their babies.

I have a lot of quams with milk banks. I personally wouldn't choose to donate my milk to them for several reasons.

1) There's an extremely high mark up on something that should be free.
2) The milk is pastuerized. I know many people believe this makes it safer, but really what it does is kill all the magical nutritional properties in the milk.
3) Some milk banks sell their milk to pharmaceutical companies so they can study it. Yeah, my milk isn't going towards that!
4) Often the milk at milk banks aren't available to all babies who need it- there must be special circumstances.

Milkshare.com is a non profit organization and doesn't support charging fees for breast milk. It's truly a great resource and helps so many moms and babies during what can be a very difficult period for them.

If you're a mom in need of milk or a mom that has some extra to give away, check out http://www.milkshare.com/.