The second time around, mentally preparing to have a baby can be especially worrying, since you’ve never loved two children before. If you can’t focus on her now, how much worse will it be when she is out and demands so much more of your time? We are here with wonderful ways to help you trust the process and take good care of your self during your second pregnancy. Continue reading

Discover the Healing Power of Passionflower! 

Want a calming tea recipe you can make at home and a gentle herbal remedy to support your child’s rest and relaxation? Plus, learn how to wild harvest Passionflower. Plus learn was used by Native Americans for first aid! From soothing stress to helping your little ones unwind, this herb has it all.

 

Read more to get the recipe and explore more ways to bring Passionflower into your daily life!

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The high rates of cesarean sections (C-sections) worldwide stem from various factors, including medical indications such as fetal distress or maternal health conditions, technological advances making C-sections safer and more accessible, cultural and litigation concerns, financial incentives, and maternal choice. These factors contribute to overuse or unnecessary use of C-sections, leading to increased healthcare costs and potential risks for mothers and babies. Preventing unnecessary C-sections involves attending regular prenatal check-ups, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, educating oneself about childbirth, discussing birth preferences and concerns, staying flexible during labor, considering labor support, and discussing VBAC options if applicable. Doulas can also play a crucial role in preventing C-sections by providing continuous support, advocacy, and guidance during labor and childbirth. Additionally, natural remedies and herbs like St. John's Wort, arnica, and calendula may aid in C-section recovery by promoting healing and reducing discomfort, but it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider before use. Continue reading

For the laboring mother, the work of birth is internal. You’re focusing on breathing and your baby as you move toward that moment when her velvet skin will be on your chest. Meanwhile, the birth team is busy with their own tasks, which aren’t so self-contained. They'll use tools and supplies from beginning to end to help you move through birth as comfortably as possible. Though birth will happen no matter what, some important supplies can help your team support you in safe and comforting ways.

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Learning to develop heart-centered life/birth/parenting decision-making is an art and a skill that requires cultivation.  Cultivating the full-body-yes feeling leads to living/birthing/parenting authentically and courageously. Continue reading

The blessingway ceremony is the perfect opportunity for the pregnant woman to connect with their community as they prepare for birth. It is so important to honor each family as they embark on this incredible life-changing journey through pregnancy, birth, and parenthood. I encourage you to take some of these ideas and get creative to come up with your own ways to plan your blessingway.

 

A blessing way is a Navaho tradition that honors the woman’s transformation from maiden to mother. I used to shy away from the word blessing way because it has a religious affiliation. But the more blessing ways I perform, the more the word blessing feels appropriate. Our childbirth class blessing way is not religious in any way. But it is a soulful experience that couples appreciate.

 

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Motherhood is a journey, pregnancy is an effort, and labor is a marathon. It only makes sense to prioritize fitness and become an active part of the process rather than a passive participant. The “range of normal” tends to be wide whenever humans are involved, and you may find major differences in your body and habits from pregnancy to pregnancy. Today, we’re going to refocus fitness, away from physical shape and form and instead look at what it really means to be fit in pregnancy and how you can stay that way from beginning to end. Continue reading

Spring is blooming and the urge to create, be productive and generative is potent. Some of us want to create a new life for ourselves, a new identity, some of us are making art, reinventing our business or careers, some of us are growing gardens, others are making babies. Continue reading

I want to take time out and acknowledge all the awesome dads out there. Today's post is dedicated to the beautiful men in our lives. We will explore loving ways to communicate and how you can include and involve your partner in meaningful ways during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

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