My Aunt Kathi told me last year how their exchange student had a family tradition of being completely media free for December in honor of Christmas.

I loved that idea, but the boys and DH boycotted it.  It wasn’t worth the fight for me at the time, we were just getting used to being media free during the week.  So I let it slide.

I think I am ready to fight for it this December.

And even crazier, I think I am ready to be media free for a month.

• I still have to check my, because I get paid to keep tabs on the Hypnobabies Yahoo Group.  And frankly I would miss out on a lot of information if I never checked my e-mails.  But I could do it 3x a week, instead of daily.
• I also will probably still keep up on my Facebook Pages, as that is “work related”as well.
• I will also need to finish up the family calendar and make a Christmas card.  That is computer related.
• But I CAN choose not to blog or tweet for the month.
• I can choose to not read blogs in my Google Reader.
• I can choose to avoid media as much as possible.

Ahhh, imagine the liberation.  In the craziness that December means, I think it will be so wonderful to release myself from as much media as I can.

So, I will not post in December, unless anything urgent comes up.

I wish you all a peaceful Holidays!

I will be back for the New Year and let you know how it went. 

If you are new to my blog and want some birthing information – use the search box or look to the resources on the left! 

I enjoyed reading this post by Nurtured Moms about activism in the Birthing Room.  It made me think back to a few months ago when I was SO nervous about my VBA2C’s mom upcoming birth. Was I going to have to be an Activist?  Or could I just support Mom?

I didn’t know what role I was going to be playing with the staff.

When T. tried to hire me, I first said “No, don’t bother unless you change care providers and hospitals.”  No you may not hire me!

• Her OB was the one that pulled the rug out from under her for her first VBAC try.
• The hospital was not VBAC friendly.
• I thought her chance of a VBAC there was about 1% chance.

So T. tried to find another care provider.  She spent months trying to do so, but wouldn’t find anyone to support her in a VBA2C.  She finally had her records switched to another care provider (for a cesarean) and her original OB said that she would really support her in her VBA2C, so she switched back.

This whole time we were in touch via e-mail and phone.  I would give her other names of people to call, I would send her links, like when ACOG came out in support of some VBA2C. I knew how hard she was working to make it happen.

When she switched back she asked if I would be her doula.

I wasn’t sure what we would really be up against, but I had seen how hard she was working to achieve her goal and wanted to provide whatever support I could.  So I said yes, but was really, really unsure what my role would be.

I think that doulas need to be educators and activists before the birth.

Then in the birthing room we need to support the parents in choices they make.  We can certainly remind them of the pros and cons (that they should have already learned before hand – because it is hard to learn something new during birth!)

In this moms case, if we showed up at the hospital and they tried to pull the rug out from under her I would have to have really stuck up for the mom and supported her in the research and choice she had made to have a VBA2C.  Unless there was something wrong with mom or baby, why change the plans? Her OB said she was on board, so I was going to really push for her to support mom.

I was so unsure of what my role would be

I was SO nervous about this birth! I had never gone into a birth before knowing it may be very adversarial.

I would have been a STRONG advocate for her, respecting whatever the mom wanted to do along the way!    If the nurses or OB had tried to scare her into a cesarean if all was well with her and her baby, I would have helped her fight against it. In this case I would have been an activist IN the birthing room.

Luckily she had great support from all of the staff.  I got to be a “normal” doula.  Doing my normal doula things.  Rubbing backs, walking the halls, reassuring her it was OK to get an epidural when she really wanted one, being amazed by birth. Respecting the mom and HER choices!

So I don’t want to be an activist in the birthing room, I don’t think doulas normally need to be, but there are times when it is the right thing to do.

Another great post http://wonderfullymadebelliesandbabies.blogspot.com/2011/05/our-own-worse-enemy.html

Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoy reading Tsh’s blog and that is where I found out about her book. It is a great book with not only organizational tips, but also great information for living a more intentional life.

I have been busy applying what I learned and I will tell you my house is looking great and as I simplify my life is getting easier too. A pretty amazing feat with 3 busy boys and one really busy hubby.

So if you want a little less clutter, more simplicity and a more organized house, this is the book for you!

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“I hired a Midwife – so I know she will be supportive, wonderful, help me have an ideal birth.”

Take your head out of the sand!  It isn’t that easy.  Just because you hired a Midwife does not mean that she will support what you want.

Choose your care provider carefully.

Choosing your care provider carefully is just as important if you are choosing a Midwife.

Just because you hired a midwife doesn’t mean she will automatically be the right choice!

It is just as important to

• ask questions
• check referrals
• follow your intuition

regardless of if you have hired an OB or Midwife.

Certain Techniques Questionable

Here are a few interesting posts about Midwives trained in a certain technique and boy I can tell you I would NOT want one of these midwives at my birth.

I love this post by a midwife reminding moms that they need to ask midwives questions and they need to watch out for red flags.  http://midwiferyramblings.blogspot.com/2011/01/art-of-deceit.html

Followed up with

http://mandalamom.blogspot.com/2010/12/power-birth-not-to-be-confused-with.html

There are some midwives I know who are NOT trained in this method, but I still wouldn’t choose them to be my care provider – so it isn’t about methods, it is about so many different things and only you can know the important ones to YOU!

How can you know if your midwife is the right one for you?

Click here to help find out!

You Are Your Child’s First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin Dancy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this book! It is such great information for new parents and parents with kids up to age 6. I think it may be my new gift I give my doula clients! It has information that will start parents off right as they raise their kids. It covers so many different topics, in an easy to understand and apply way.




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Hi, I am Dr. Jason Richards, D.C., guest blogging from Back Pain and Pregnancy.
A little bit about myself:

I am a chiropractor based in North Haven, CT, and I specialize in pregnancy. I have a wonderful wife, and three beautiful sons. My wife is actually the reason I work with pregnant women. She had fairly severe symphysis pubis disorder during each pregnancy, and her OB, while compassionate, didn’t have the knowledge to help her. Tylenol didn’t begin to cover the pain, and it was getting worse. I was in chiropractic school at the time and started looking for a chiropractor who specialized in pregnancy and found a huge void. So, with my wife as a guinea pig, I figured out what it took to relieve pelvic pain. I have helped a lot of pregnant women through the years in my own office, and through my blog I get to share the knowledge that I have with pregnant women around the world.

How does chiropractic help with pregnancy pains?

A large percentage of pregnant women experience back pain, sciatic pain, or pelvic pain during pregnancy. Some estimate it to be as high as 9 in 10 women. Although it is completely normal and natural for the body to be taxed by the rapid growth of a baby, it can cause a significant amount of pain and disruption in normal activities for the mother.

As the baby grows and the uterus expands, the mother is forced to make postural adjustments, which in turn can result in tight muscles, stressed joints, and compromised nerve function. The goal of the chiropractic adjustment is to eliminate the stresses on the spine, pelvis, and stomach. Most adjustments will also include round ligament release and gentle stretches. Not only will this eliminate pain, it can prevent future problem by allowing the body to adjust more easily to the stress of carrying a baby.

Comfort for your baby?

Your uterus grows to accommodate the rapid growth of your little one. When your pelvis is balanced, the uterine ligaments support the uterus and help it maintain its optimal shape. If a postural problem causes your pelvis to become misaligned, these ligaments can become taut on one side of the uterus and loose on the other side creating a constrained uterus.

Imagine that your uterus is like an inflated balloon. A constrained uterus is like pinching on either side of the balloon and pulling. It distorts the balloon, making it flatter and oblong. A constrained uterus limits the space available to your developing baby which can cause problems not only for development, but can keep a baby from moving into the optimal area for birth. It can cause posterior positioning and even a breech presentation. By balancing the pelvis and relieving the taut ligaments, then the uterus can return to its optimal shape much like releasing the balloon from your pinching.

Shorter labor?

Chiropractors can help relieve a constrained uterus thereby allowing the baby to be in optimal birthing position through a maneuver known as the Webster Technique.

Performance of the Webster Technique begins by analysis of the relationship of the bones of the pelvis. Upon finding a restriction, a light force chiropractic adjustment corrects the restriction. The chiropractor will then analyze abdominal muscle and ligament tension and work to relax this tension.

The Webster Technique is very effective. In my office, 90% of my patients are able to deliver without any medical intervention such as forceps, vacuum, or caesarian. The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported in the July/August 2002 issue an 82% success rate of babies turning head down when doctors of chiropractic used the Webster Technique on breech presentation.

Not only are you less likely to have medical intervention with chiropractic care, but a shorter labor. A study done in 1990 showed that women who were under Chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy had reduced labor times. First time moms experienced 25% less time in labor and birth and experienced moms averaged 31% shorter labor times.

If your goal is a healthy, pain-free pregnancy and an uneventful labor, you should make friends with your local chiropractor. To find a chiropractor with a specialty in pregnancy visit the American Pregnancy Association at http://www.americanpregnancy.org/members/chiropractors

My friend Brittany wrote a post I loved.  Stop the Whirl:I want to get Off!  I already talked about it in reference to birth in another post.

This time I am going to post about how birth is like stopping the world for me.

But it doesn’t take a carnival ride to bring this memory back. Every time life starts getting a little crazy, a picture flashes through my mind of the five us shouting ”STOP THE RIDE!” begging to be let off and rueing the moment we decided to get on.

It reminds me of a line I heard somewhere, sometime, from someone:  Stop the world. I want to get off.

My life feels like that some times. Like maybe even right now.

Indeed sometimes I want the ride of life to stop too. I think that is why I love attending births as a doula.

It is as if my life has magically stopped for hours

When I am at a birth, my life magically continues without me in it thanks to family and friends. Thanks guys!

But my life stops for me and I can be a part of a magical moment.

During births all I have to do is connect with the family and love them and be with them.  Just BE.

• I can’t check e-mails.
• I can’t do the laundry.
• I can’t pay the bills.
• I can’t call my friend I am worried about.
• I can’t drive car pool.
• I can’t help the boys with homework.

The amazing thing is, I don’t worry about any of those things.

Because I know the ride has stopped for me.

My friends and family have taken over, so I can be here. So I actually LET IT GO!  It is magical.

It is one of the many reasons I love to be a doula.

Could I make my home like that?

Or at least a moment in my families day?

A place to connect with each other, to let the rest of life keep on spinning around us as we sit quietly in the eye of the storm with love and connection.

Maybe, just maybe we could.

photo credit: schmollmolch

I love Christmas music and am always on the lookout for a GOOD new Christmas CD.  I can’t tell you how many times I buy one and am disappointed.

Last year I discovered a good one. It’s All About the Baby

My Favorite Christmas Music Find of 2011!

This year I am happy to say I have found another great Christmas CD!  I have reviewed another Daddy Plays CD before and we enjoy it, so I was so happy to hear that he has a Christmas CD coming out.

I love it.  It is meant as a lullaby CD, so it is very soothing and calming and peaceful.  I played it in the car during carpool and it was GREAT!  The boys were all quiet and calm and T3 kept yawning. 

This is a great lullaby CD,  but even better, it is also a great Christmas CD in general.  Perfect for background music during a Christmas dinner party, or even to put on while hanging out around the Christmas tree.

I give it 5 stars, a must buy! 

You can win one!

There are a few ways to get entries to win a CD of Daddy Plays-Lullaby Christmas.

• 1 entry by leaving a comment saying you left a comment on this page after listening to samples.  
• 1 entry by leaving a comment here saying you left a comment on this page. 
• 1 entry by leaving a comment saying what tags you tagged the CD with on Amazon.  

Let me know which things you have done in the comment section!

Good Luck!

Last entry will be accepted by midnight on November 13.

Not My Type: A Single Girl’s Guide to Doing It All Wrong by Melanie Jacobson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading The List by Melanie, so I was excited when her new book, Not My Type, came out. I think I liked it even more than The List!

I loved how each chapter started with the obligatory Thank You Note , it took me a few chapters to figure out it had clues to what was about to happen.

I easily connected with the characters. They really come to life the way Melanie writes them.

The only downside was I had company in town, so it took me almost a week to finish from when I started. If I didn’t have company I probably would have easily finished it in a day or two, because I really wanted to see how it all worked out!

I would say if you are looking for fun books to read, Melanie’s books are great. I love how her female characters are strong, but normal too. (Not superhuman, just normal girls, with normal problems, but they really stand strong in who they are!)



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