Happily After Giving Birth – 10 Things They Don't Tell You

You know in the movies when the woman gives birth and they hand her a perfect, clean 3-month old movie baby? The husband puts his arm around her and they gaze lovingly into each others eyes? Ahhhh, the end. Well, here are just a few of things that can happen after the credits roll. Most of them aren't movie friendly so sadly, the don't get discussed unless you have really good friends that let you in on these little secrets. Not all of them happen to everybody but, chances are, one or more will be added to your new role as motherhood so don't be alarmed.

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13 Ways To Include Your Partner in Your Pregnancy

Posted by laurenhartmann on Babble.com

One thing I’ve noticed about pregnancy is that it is a very individualistic experience in many ways. I am the one growing a tiny human inside of me and I will be the one to birth said tiny human. I alone experience the symptoms of this pregnancy: headaches, bloating, nausea…. It is up to me to remember to take my prenatal vitamins and to remember that I can no longer eat that scoop of raw cookie dough (blasted raw eggs!). It’s hard not to feel like you’re going it alone sometimes.

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Sleep Why Do You Torture Me?

A Note From Carri:
If you are struggling with sleep issues during your pregnancy, you are not alone! I too struggled with sleep issues, especially in the middle of the night, and it was not fun (see this post from my last pregnancy). I kept hearing people telling me that it was all for the good of preparing me, but frankly with 3 other kids, it didn't help. Why it happened, I will never know. However, it did end and I did have a beautiful baby in my arms that made it all fade away and I barely remember the problem now. So hang in there mamas - it is all worth it and it won't last forever. Please read this post below, and know that you are not alone in this. The majority of BINSI on-line sales are purchased in the middle of the night, so if you're reading this in the middle of the night - just imagine all the other mamas reading along with you! :)

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By Alyson Brown

This morning my eyes popped open at 4:30 am and would simply not close. I lay in bed, watching the minutes tick by on the clock wondering if this was the end of my blissful night’s sleep. Pretty soon after tossing and turning for a good 45 minutes, I gave up and decided to get out of bed. The sun was beginning to come up anyway, why not get a head start on my sleepy day? Now it’s 10:00 am and my eyes are already feeling heavy. Oh sleep… Why do you torture me?!

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The Essential Ingredient - a Doula!

Both Kim and I are certified Doulas with DONA and are very proud of it! You deserve the best care and support during your labor and birth. Make sure you look into a doula - you deserve one.

Happy Friday!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I will try to post a favorite picture of mine every Friday to show the beauty and love of birth.

Home Births Under Fire

Babies born at home make up a tiny fraction of U.S. births, but their numbers are growing—and mothers are fighting back against a recent study that calls the practice three times deadlier than hospital labor.
New York mother Tamyka Booth gave birth at home with a midwife. She pushed out baby Martina in a bathtub, then Booth and husband Shane Smith of Vice magazine “crawled into bed with her to bond and nurse and have—what we all needed—a nice, long family nap,” she said.

Please read the entire article at http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-10-02/home-births-under-fire-amid-outcry-over-wax-paper/

Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Consumed For Three Months Before Pregnancy Reduce Chances Of Baby Being Born Undernourished

New research published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology reveals the key risk factors associated with babies being born undernourished or small for gestational age (SGA). Findings reinforce the importance of eating a balanced diet before and during pregnancy, with consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables being associated with better outcomes for the baby.

The SCOPE (Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints) study comprises a large database of pregnant women from four different countries (New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, UK). It aims to develop screening tests for pre-eclampsia, SGA infants and spontaneous preterm births. In this particular study, researchers looked at the outcomes associated with the two main groups of SGA infants: those who had mothers with normal blood pressure and those whose mothers had high blood pressure in late pregnancy.

To read the entire article please go to: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/203684.php

Posted by Tink, friend of BINSI

Did I tell you the name of the baby since we wouldn't find out the gender until it is born?
DJ Baby Z. Isn't that FUN? Thought of that myself since some girls at the gym I teach at have nicknamed me something similar.

Wishin' and hopin'...that's about it these days. Still trying to relax. I'm an information hog which is my problem. (Didn't you already figure that out?) I've already begun to shop (well, window shop) for stuff I would want/need. It sure is fun looking around!

Sure is funny how as soon as you become interested in something you realize it is all around you. And it's probably already been all around you. Like never did I notice before how many pregnant women are out there right now! Also, you realize how many people have not-so-happy pregnancy stories. My cousin and her husband were unsuccessful for a long time then did In-vitro. 2 eggs implanted. Twin girls 9 months later. Happy ending!

Pregnancy - The Waiting Game

This post was written by Carri on Tuesday, one day before the birth of Carri's first baby girl (with three older brothers)! We were so excited to add sweet baby Emery Grace to our family! Congratulations to Carri and Brent and their three wonderful boys!!!

Posted by Carri

This is a very common game almost all women play at the end of their pregnancies. This is a first for me. All three of my previous children were born exactly 11 days early (without being induced). I would plan on it and rejoice when it happened. However, this baby continues to insist that everything is different - including when he/she will arrive. So I am about a week past my 11 days early "exit date", and getting more frustrated, irritated and uncomfortable by the minute. I just got even more irritated when I saw that the pregnant man has even given birth before me - ugh! My children are also becoming impatient. My oldest has chided me several times saying that I told him the baby was going to come last week - sorry! I have so much more sympathy for all of those women that go 2 weeks past their due date! I really hope I do not! I am 3 cm and 80% effaced and the baby is at 0 station, so I hope that means that it will go quickly again. I will not hold my breath about this, because again this baby likes everything to be different! I have already tried all my "tricks" for bringing on labor, but have had no success.

Pregnancy - Oh My Aching Hips!

Posted by Carri:

I am in awe of women that have more than 4 children! I am on baby number 4, and the final baby for sure! My body feels like an 80 year old. I waddle everywhere (and by the way, no I do NOT want your comments about it). I have to shuffle after lying or sitting down for too long because my hip joints are locked up. The baby has found the nerves in my hips and brings me to my knees when they are touched. Last pregnancy the nerve pain was so bad that one time I fell to the floor and my 3 year old told my 5 year old that "mommy is dying". Funny now, but it sure isn't funny when it happens! I'm not sleeping well and overall I'm exhausted. I'm sure there are more complaints, but I will stop here.

So how do women do this over and over and over again? My personal opinion is that they have super human strength. Some would say that I am a wimp, but frankly I think they really are amazing. Like the Duggar family - 18 kids?!?! First I can't imagine managing that many people, but I am certain my uterus would fall out and my body would disintegrate if I tried to carry more than 4 kids.

So hats off to those superhuman amazing women that love being pregnant and do so again and again! I wish I were more like you!

Pregnancy - I Love My New BINSI Skirt

Posted by Carri:

So I'm not sure if it it's OK to brag about your own product, but I'm going to anyways! I am now 33 weeks and I can't tell you how much I LOVE my BINSI skirts. The baby dropped 2 weeks ago, and since then I have not been able to wear anything but my knit yoga pants and my BINSI skirts. The baby's head is deep in my pelvis and anything with elastic is very uncomfortable (both for me and the baby). I get a lot of unhappy punches and kicks when I try to wear anything else. So for anyone who thinks BINSI is a one time wear for birth - I am hear to share that it is very much untrue! I can't tell you how happy I am to have something comfortable to wear. Not to mention that wearing a skirt just makes you look like you tried a little harder to dress nice and look good (which is not at all what my plans are when I struggle to get my puffy self dressed in the morning!). So think twice before sticking your skirt in your bag to go to the hospital - your body will thank you for it!

Pregnancy - Swim Aerobics

For the last two pregnancies I have gone to my pregnancy swim class. It is in the therapy pool at the hospital - and is wonderful! My body feels awesome in the water, and the exercise is both good for me and baby. My hips seem to enjoy the class most. I often feel very uncomfortable most of the time, but after that class - I feel great! There is something about the warm water, movement, and weight being lifted off my hips that is nothing short of amazing! If you haven't tried a pregnancy swim class - I highly recommend you do so! It's also a great way to meet other pregnant moms (though I am sad to report this time around there haven't been many women in my class this pregnancy - or else I would have included a picture). If you're pregnant and live in the Longmont area - come join me on Monday nights at 5:30 and Longmont United Hospital - you'll love it and I'll love having some company!!

This great picture came from http://doctoradhi.com/blog/2008/11/pregnant-moms-try-water-aerobic/ They also reference that one of the benefits of swim aerobics during pregnancy is less pain medication needed during labor - woo hoo!

Pregnancy - Insomnia and Pregnancy

Posted by Carri:

Well it is is 2:34 a.m. and I am awake, but tired. I can't seem to sleep, but I feel exhausted - sound familiar? I usually get this a bit later in my pregnancy (I am only 27.5 weeks), but what can you do? For me the answer is check e-mail, Facebook and blog. I figure if I can't do something productive and helpful like sleep, I might as well do something somewhat productive and not physically exhausting (like cleaning). I can't say I have any tips at the moment for this very inconvenient problem, but I will certainly ask my midwife next week. So for those of you reading this in the wee hours of the night - know you are not alone! :)

Pregnancy - Constipation During Pregnancy

Posted by Carri:

No one wants to talk about this, but it is a very common and irritating part of pregnancy. The reason behind this problem is that our digestion slows down during pregnancy to accommodate the pregnancy. Another common reason is because of the synthetic iron in many prenatal vitamins and iron supplements. So here are a couple simple and natural ways of helping this very uncomfortable problem. My favorite and most effective and easy solution is a large fruit smoothie with 2 tablespoons of ground golden flax seeds. My smoothie is usually just frozen fruit and apple juice. I use a coffee grinder to grind down the flax seeds. You don’t have to grind them, but they absorb better and easier. Make sure you get the golden flax seeds. They taste better and work better too. Another simple solution is to start taking a natural prenatal vitamin. You can get these at any health food store. Other helpful solutions are to drink a lot of water, eat healthy greens and foods, and exercise.

Product Review - Crocs

Posted by Carri:

One of my favorite items during pregnancy is Crocs. Besides the obvious comfort issue, I love that I don’t have to bend over to put them on or tie them. They now have very cute styles so I don’t feel like I’m wearing anything else to make me feel more awkward or large. Not that I don’t also wear my regular Crocs around the house and in the yard, but for the sake of vanity, I prefer to do whatever I can to look a little cuter whenever possible – but still comfortable. My favorite style as of late is the Celeste Canvas style, and as it gets warmer I look forward to trying some of their other super cute sandal styles. Check them out at www.crocs.com.

Pregnancy - Chiropractic and Massage During Pregnancy

Posted by Carri:

One of my favorite things during pregnancy is to have an adjustment at the chiropractor and then get a massage. The chiropractor I see, and believe in, does not use the typical “cracking” method. She uses a gentle tool called an activator that gently adjusts your spine. This method is much more gentle and safer for your spine and overall is much less stressful for me. I used to see a regular chiropractor, and always found myself stressed before and during any adjustments. I have found that this gentle adjustment, along with massage is the perfect fix once a month throughout pregnancy. I feel better and my body and baby love it. Make sure you talk with you doctor about your health before seeing a chiropractor, and make sure you do your research. Make sure they are skilled in prenatal care, and get personal recommendations.

Pregnancy - Pregnancy with 3 Kids

Posted by Carri:

One amazing thing about having a large family is how you are able to handle other kids while being sick, tired, and just plain out of sorts. I can’t say that I have any answer to this, other than we are all given just enough to get through. I have found that guilt and frustration only made the experience worse. I had to keep reminding myself that I was giving my children the gift of another sibling, rather than my damaging them by not being engaged with them all the time. I am also blessed with an amazing middle child who is the best big brother to my 2 year old. They love playing together and entertained each other, which gave me the freedom from having to come up with activities or be the activity most of the time. This is another blessing of a large family - playmates!

Product Review - Bella Band

Posted by Carri:

With this being my 4th pregnancy, I have many clothes left over, and many that have been loaned to me. However, I did make a purchase this time around that I had not made before – the Bella Band. It is great! I have a couple pairs of pants that are super cozy for winter (fleece lined!) and I couldn’t think to part with, and Bella Band made that possible. It is just a simple tube of spandex material that fits over your belly and pants. It reduces the exposure of the buttons flaring, and it keeps people from seeing my underwear – which are all good things! It was a fairly inexpensive and worth while purchase.

Pregnancy - Spotting during the 1st trimester of pregnancy

Posted by Carri:

One part of my pregnancies is spotting during the 1st trimester, and is easily one of the worst and most stressful parts. Starting with my 2nd pregnancy, I would start spotting during my 5th week and usually spot until 12 weeks. I found with this current pregnancy that it was often worsened by stress and doing too much. I always had ultrasounds early to check the viability of the pregnancy, and even though once they found the heartbeat my chances of having a miscarriage went down significantly, I never stopped worrying until I was out of the 1st trimester. I did suffer one miscarriage, but there was no spotting beforehand. I just woke up with a lot of bleeding, and it only increased from there. There seems to be no cure to spotting, it just seems to be what some women’s bodies do, and others do not. All I can say is that I learned from my miscarriage that I knew how short and precious life was and I vowed to love these tiny babies as much as I could, for as long as I could. I also found this was a great opportunity to challenge and rest in my faith. For those of you who are also experiencing spotting, I hope and pray that you are made stronger and that your pregnancies end with a healthy happy baby in the end.

Pregnancy - Carri's Pregnant!!

As part of a series we are beginning in Carri's 2nd trimester, she will be giving us her input as a pregnant mommy with 3 boys already!

Posted by Carri:

I’m finally returning to the world after a very long and sick start to my fourth pregnancy. This pregnancy was a big surprise, but very welcome none the less. My husband and I went to Chicago to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and a friends’ wedding, only to bring home more than the guest chocolates. I had a lot of doula births lined up for the fall and before I had even missed my period I started showing signs of pregnancy. Fatigue and nausea – ugh. On our actual 10th wedding anniversary we took the test and found out that I was indeed pregnant! To make things even more wild, it turned out my due date was the exact date I miscarried last summer. This news was very exciting, overwhelming, daunting and humorous all at the same time. However, I proceeded to get more and more sick, which is bad enough on its own, but with three other children, a business, and many doula clients it was near impossible. Morning sickness is such a strange phenomena. Why some women get it and others don’t is unfair and mysterious. I did have it with the other three pregnancies as well, but this one out did them all. I ended up depending on Unisom – yes the sleeping pill. It was the ONLY thing that helped, and helped does not mean cured. I tried the prescription meds, even IV meds when I went to the ER for fluids. I do not recommend taking Unisom, because it is not recommended for pregnancy, but it was my saving grace. I do also have to give a shout out to my amazing husband during this time. Not only did he work a lot during this period, but he would come home, cook, clean, handle the children and get them to bed every night for many months. Without him it would have been disastrous! So now at 20 weeks, I’m back and will gladly share my weekly journey along the way!