Weird and Spooky, But More Weird Than Spooky

Last night I had a nightmare about changing the sheets of the family bed.

Our family bed is a large waterbed. When the Guppy was born we took the water mattress out and put in a nice firm conventional mattress in order to co-sleep safely. So with this odd configuration, and the fact that the bed is up against the wall, changing the sheets is no easy feat, and something I do not look forward at all to doing every week.

In my nightmare, every time I changed the sheets, as soon as I would go to put the comforter back on, I would look down and the sheets would be dirty. So I would have to change them again. Then again. And again. Then the pillowcases began to wrestle with me when I began to change them, as if they were alive and were trying to eat me.

It seems like a silly dream now, but at the time it was very scary and frustrating. I remember thinking, "What kind of mother am I where I can't provide my family clean sheets to sleep in?". It was absurd.

When I woke up, the bottom sheet on my half of the bed had been undone at the top corner. Also, my pillowcase was completely off my pillow.

Weird.

Anyways, it is probably due to the fact that I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately because I haven't been getting anything done, mostly because the Guppy is teething and extremely clingy. Then it hit me: I had slowly begun to stop wearing her as she had begun to get more mobile. In fact, I basically forgot for a while that I even had this nice collection of baby carriers sitting in my closet, waiting to be used.

Duh.

So, today the Guppy was still teething and still clingy, but I dug out my Mai Tei and threw her on my back. I am amazed at how much I was able to get done so far today, all the while attending to the needs of my child.

So, what kind of mother am I? A friggin' awesome one, thank you very much!

Weird and Spooky, But More Weird Than Spooky

Who Needs Sleep?

Who needs sleep?

You know you're never gonna get it.

Who needs sleep?

Now tell me what's that for.

Who needs sleep?

Oh be thankful for what you're getting

There's a guy who's been awake since the second world war.

(Barenaked Ladies).

The Guppy is teething. Again. I feel like she's been teething since she was born. She is cranky, angry, and extremely clingy. Now, I know she is in pain. I get it. I have no problem holding her all day, nursing her, etc. But when she stops crying only if I hold her in a certain specific way, and only if I am holding her in that specific way while standing (as in, as soon as I try to walk or sit down she screams), then my nerves get a little rattled.


Twice this week I've had to put her down and walk out of the room to save my sanity.

She isn't sleeping, either. Last night she woke up four times to nurse. This was an improvement, as lately she's been waking up six times.

I am literally a walking zombie.


This too shall pass, this too shall pass, this too shall pass....

Who Needs Sleep?

This is Labor Without Fear.

I wish every pregnant woman out there could watch this video. I wish they could all realize that this is what labor has the potential to be like: without fear, without intervention. Just pure heart and soul.



This woman is about to give birth to her ten pound son. She is having contractions while she is singing. Amazing.

I found this video through another birthing blog, but for the life of me I can't remember which one. I haven't been sleeping much.

This is Labor Without Fear.

Delurking Week: Better Late Than Never

I know I'm late with this, but I am insanely curious. Make me feel loved, people, and leave a comment! :o)

p.s the great graphic is from here.

Delurking Week: Better Late Than Never

Prenatal Workshop

My favorite part of being a Doula? Having the ability to reach out the community.

Remember how I mentioned that a dear friend of mine and I were planning a prenatal workshop? Well, it's all set up. Now we just have to get women to sign up. So, feel free to spread the word ;o)

Presenting the Buddhaful Movements for Pregnancy and Birth Workshop Join us for a day of relaxation and movement!

· Explore techniques for deep breathing and relaxation tailored towards pregnancy.

· Experience yoga techniques proven to help you relax and relieve muscle soreness and common discomforts during your pregnancy.

· Learn positions and movements to help make your labor a shorter and smoother process.

No matter what type of birth you are planning, these techniques will help keep you relaxed, flexible, and toned throughout your pregnancy and focused during your labor. The cost for this workshop is $35.00. Light refreshments will be served.

Childbirth experts and recent research agree that positioning and movement can result in a more comfortable pregnancy. Research also agrees that positioning and movement can result in a smoother and more comfortable labor, and can even help to shorten the labor process.

For more information, feel free to email me or contact me through my website.

Prenatal Workshop

Unassisted Childbirth on Good Morning America

Good Morning America recently did a story on Unassisted Childbirth.

You can read the article here. I'll keep my opinion of the "expert doctor" to myself, but I'm wondering what you think of his statement. The article also states:

The baby could be born in a breach position, or with the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. The mother could suffer from significant tearing or from a maternal hemorrhage and bleed to death in as little as five minutes.

As for the baby being born in a breech position, the fact is that doctors nowadays are not really taught how to vaginally deliver breech babies. Only in certain situations is it not possible to vaginally deliver a breech baby. Many women give birth to breech babies at home, without any complications. As for having the cord wrapped around the baby's neck, in some situations that can present a problem. But in most....just unwrap it.

Rixa wrote a great post with a response from Gloria Lemay concerning the doctor's concern that women "could bleed to death in as little as five minutes".

There's also a video available to watch.

I believe I've stated my own personal opinion concerning Unassisted Childbirth before, but I'll state it again. Unassisted Childbirth is not for me, however I understand why a woman would choose to go that route. When I was planning my homebirth with the Guppy, the Knight and I very briefly considered doing a UC before deciding that we felt more comfortable with a midwife present. Personally, I love having a midwife, an experienced woman, at my side. I am definitely not a lone birther, I love to be surrounded by loving and supportive people. While I do feel that it is a little more "risky" giving birth without at least a midwife there, I do acknowledge and respect the fact that most women who choose Unassisted Childbirth are not taking their decision lightly: they are serious about educating themselves about the risks and how to act if an emergency does come up.

I'm interested in hearing what your views on Unassisted Childbirth are.

Unassisted Childbirth on Good Morning America

Belly Dancing During Pregnancy

Good Morning America recently did a great story on the benefits of belly dancing during pregnancy.

I think belly dancing is a great way to stay fit while you are pregnant. Not only does it work the core muscles and prepare muscles that you will be using during labor, but it is fun! And like the article says, many of the dance moves can help to make labor a smoother and shorter process.

The article states:

According to one anthropologist, belly dancing actually originated as a ritual of childbirth as well as seduction.
One doctor said the sway of belly dancing actually can aid during childbirth by helping to position the baby.

You can watch the video for the story here.

So, if you are carrying a belly bean, look into taking a local belly dancing class.

Belly Dancing During Pregnancy

Soundbites From Our Life

My goal was to start posting to this blog more often, at least once a day. Unfortunately the Guppy has been teething like mad and a teething baby = a very clingy and cranky baby! I am still going to strive for posting once a day. I love this blog, getting all my thoughts and opinions written out in such a way is very therapeutic to me.

So, quickly before the Guppy wakes up, some little soundbites from our life:

~ I'm on week two of my diet. I'm doing a combo of Arbonne Figure 8 products and Weight Watchers. Last week I lost 3 lbs, my official weigh in is on Mondays. Woot woot!

~ My dear and lovely Sister-in-law is getting married this spring. I am a bridesmaid and the Mermaid is going to be the flower girl! We're going to get her dress today and while I know she is going to be an adorable flower girl, all I can picture in my head and her screeching and running down the aisle throwing her petals everywhere!

~ The Knight and his family run a Fantasy Football every year. The members take it all very seriously and put a lot of time and effort into it. This year the Knight did not win the Super Bowl, and so he is upset that the lovely trophy will not be gracing our living room this year (me, I'm more relieved than anything. I personally can't stand the damn thing).

~ In the past two weeks I have taken big steps to get my Doula business and my Direct Marketing business going strong. I am planning a prenatal yoga/positioning for labor workshop with a dear friend of mine who teaches yoga. I'm very excited and will keep you updated.

~ The Mermaid has been thriving through homeschooling and each day I am more and more sure that we made the right decision. We are trying hard to keep her on a consistent routine and to give her lots of productive attention. She is becoming much calmer as a result and much more willing to listen when we ask her to do something.

That's all I have for now, as I can hear the Guppy stirring in the other room. Hopefully I will be able to post again tomorrow.

Soundbites From Our Life

A Heartfelt Cry for Help

Most of you know that the Guppy was born at home, in a birthing tub in my living room.

During my labor, the birthing tub and the water it held was a godsend. While in transition, sliding into the warm water, I felt relieved of much of the pressure and intensity of the contractions. It truly was Nature's Epidural.

The water held me buoyant, helping my mind as well as my body float through each contraction and relax between pushes. After only thirty minutes of soft, gently pushing, the Guppy emerged softly and sweetly into the water and into our hearts. For me, choosing to give birth in the water was the best decision I ever made. I loved it. She is forever my water baby.

During my pregnancy, there was one wonderful website that I kept referring to time and time again for some birth inspiration. I would spend hours reading peaceful birth stories and studying the facts surrounding waterbirth. I was amazed at what such a wonderful resource this organization was, not only for pregnant mothers but for the entire birth community as a whole.

I am, of course, speaking about Waterbirth International. What an inspirational and badly needed organization. Unfortunately, Waterbirth International is now in trouble, and needs a miracle.

I was forwarded this email today:

Barbara Harper wrote:.

I cannot yet imagine a world without the voice and work of
Waterbirth International - we get calls and emails every day from women who need help convincing one hospital or another to let them labor or birth in water. If we die - a big part of the movement dies. Waterbirth has shown us all that women know how to give birth and babies know how to be born. Waterbirth gave us "hands-off", sit back and let the baby out. I see waterbirth mentioned on Blogs every single day, not to mention Baby Story on the TV. I took Waterbirth International to ACOG two years in a row - and was the ONLY booth showing birth
films to obstetricians and especially to student physicians. There were tears, laughter and outrage - just the thing to stir up those young crop of doctors.

I am finally realizing a life's dream.But now I am faced with letting this dream go.

Perhaps I have done enough.Perhaps it is time to quit.

About 18 years ago, maybe it was longer, when Mothering Magazine was facing bankruptcy Peggy did a heartfelt plea asking their readers to consider ordering a Life-time subscription. I think the subscriptions were $1000 or$1200, I can't remember now. I do remember that I couldn't imagine not reading my Mothering. So, I bought two and gave one to my obstetrician's office.

How can you help us stay open to take the next phone call? - to convince the next obstetrician to incorporate waterbirth into his/her practice - to work with the nurse midwives to install
pools in their facilities? To educate an entire hospital on the benefits of allowing women freedom of movement in the water. How much is it worth to see waterbirth become the norm in the US, like it is in the UK? I think we only need a few more years to make that happen. Do women really want waterbirth to be an
available choice in every hospital? I think so.

Can you help us by getting the word out on blogs and lists? I had to let goof all of the staff except one person to process orders. Miraculously, we made payroll today, but we can't hang on much longer. We need a miracle.

If I need to call every single waterbirth parent personally, I will. I don't want 25 years of work to end over a measly $200,000.

The work that we have done the last few years has been phenomenal. How God arranged for me to teach in hospitals and medical schools around the planet- Taiwan, Venezuela, Turkey, Mexico, Canada, Holland, Portugal, China, Trinidad, Croatia - I'll never figure that out. I laugh out loud sometimes when I get up in front of an audience of physicians in a medical school overseas - who all want to hear about waterbirth and the incorporation of Gentle Birth practices and principles into their routines.

Think about what you can do and call me if you want to chat or if you have some great ideas on how we can quickly move into the
black and keep waterbirth alive and thriving.

We need your help. Barbara Harper needs your help. The waterbirth/gentlebirth movement needs your help.

Blessings,

Barbara

Barbara Harper, RN, CLD, CCEFounder/Director Waterbirth
Internationalwww.waterbirth.org

503-673-0026 -office (out of US or in Portland)

Please, get the word out. Let's keep the waterbirth movement going strong. Let's give them their miracle.

A Heartfelt Cry for Help

Year of Action

The year of 2007 was a great year for our family. The Knight and I call 2007 the "year of enlightenment." It was the year that we realized that life could be different, that we could live however we wanted, and the way that we wanted to live was with as much freedom as possible.

Our first area of learning was in finances. We decided that the only thing between us and financial freedom was debt. After the Mermaid was born, we got into some serious credit card debt, on top of our student loans. We learned that getting out of this debt was the key to being able to set aside money for a savings, and to being able to afford a house on just one income. So, we went on the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover Plan. From March to December, we paid off about $12,000.00 worth of debt and saved up for a down payment on a house. Our goal is to be completely free of debt, except for a mortgage, by the end of 2009.

Our second area of learning was in health. We did some research on nutrition and decided to become vegetarians. We are seriously considering going vegan. Being vegetarians is simply healthier: in fact, eating meat is seriously detrimental to your health. Books that we read in our research include The China Study, You Don't Need Meat, and The Mad Cowboy. The science is there, we just accessed it.

Our third area of learning was in lifestyle. First, we made a conscious decision to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. While we did take some positive steps in this direction (switched to cloth paper towels/napkins, set up a recycling center, etc), I still think we need to work on this one. Second, we decided that we did not want to live the traditional 9-5 lifestyle. We want to both work from home and be home with our kids. We want to homeschool them, be there for them, and raise them with our values, so that they learn the importance of family. Since right now we are relying on the Knight's income, we decided to take steps to allow me to work from home first. This decision led me to starting two of my own home-based businesses: the first was my Doula business, the second was my Direct Marketing business. I adore doing both businesses, and have a blast with each one. Once we are more out of debt, the Knight wants to open his own business as a financial advisor for the Dave Ramsey plan. Then we will both be home to raise and school our children.

Now that 2007 is over, we know that we have definite goals in all three areas and we also have plans laid out to reach those goals. So, for us, 2008 is going to be the year of action. We are both going to work to develop and build my businesses, to help us get out of debt. We hope to get even more out of debt in the spring, and get a house. We've started homeschooling the girls. And we are gazelle intense on reaching all of our goals, and getting the lifestyle that we want.

Will we succeed? We have to. We have officially removed the option of quitting from the table. It is this or nothing. And we are determined.

As for personal resolutions, I do have a few. My general resolution is to improve as a person. The specific ones I have are:

~ Find value in myself, and know that I am worthy of the all the blessings I receive.
~ Don't let other people's opinions rule how I feel about myself
~ Be more positive/optimistic (including doing some positive affirmations about myself and my life every morning)
~ Move forward in both my businesses
~ Yell less (I hate it when I lose control of my anger and yell at the Mermaid)
~ Lose weight (kind of cliche, I know, but the Knight and I are going to TTC in September/October and I want to be as healthy as possible for the pregnancy.)

So that is our outlook for the year. I would love to hear what your goals for 2008 are!

Year of Action