Ideas and Thoughts on Carrying a Baby - June 16, 2016

The experience of carrying a baby is a rewarding and amazing gift. It continues to bless you as the months carry on, first with tiny thumps, then to an amazing force coming from within the womb. It is a transitional time for a woman. I urge you to honor this time. It is sacred. Our society tells us “do more, work more, be more” and I am asking you to look inside. You need rest, you need to prepare, you will reap great rewards for honoring this time with your body.

I could not have imagined the movement in my body of this little one. Everyday that I am pregnant I am amazed at its awesomeness.  It goes without saying that every woman knows what I mean, you cannot deny the joy it brings you. You are anxious, excited and nervous. Other times you experience symptoms, yet all the time you know they serve a purpose. As my sister told me “The pain is worth it for the joy that it brings.”

I took this last month of pregnancy for myself and for my baby. I fill this incredible time with appreciation and gratitude. I have waited a long time to be a Mom, but I wouldn’t change the waiting for anything in the world. It all makes sense now. Often times that is the most difficult, the allowing things to be just the way they are. Our need for control gets out of hand and emotionally it takes a toll on us, physically and mentally. When we allow the Universe to provide us with our gifts, it is ultimately better than we could have ever imagined.

This is one pregnancy and I know there will be more. This one was delightful. The seasonal changes from winter to spring and spring to summer kept me eager to discover the next phase of pregnancy and honor each trimester.  It also added to seasonal eating and kept me anticipating foods in season.  Finally, strawberry season has arrived!

Exercise has helped me immensely, I cannot say enough good things about getting those endorphins flowing on a regular basis. I participated in pregnancy yoga, which involved gentle stretching and postures and also enjoyed walks in the fresh air throughout the seasons. Sometimes it was short walks, but most of time it was longer distances.  When we first moved to our new house I found a walk that felt comfortable. It wasn’t until I walked the entire loop of the country road (2.5 miles) with my husband that I realized I could do it and it pushed me to go the longer distance regularly. As the months progressed, the longer walks took an hour or more, but the rush ofit all felt good and I slept well from the exercise. I used this time to clear my head of worries and to talk to my baby. He or she was probably sleeping, but my messages were that of love and preparation for our peaceful birth.

I adjusted to side sleeping which took some time and I hijacked all the pillows to use all around my body in order to be comfortable. It is what this time is about – adjustment, transition, learning to let go…

Your body changes in incredible ways…if you don’t think its incredible, look again! I know the weight gain can be unnerving, but you must look at the greater purpose, you are nurturing and sustaining a human being inside of you – it is miraculous!! Enjoy it!

I traveled for work while I was pregnant and I always tried to listen to a calming meditative cd about how to have a healthy pregnancy. It was full of positive affirmations and soothing visuals to allow you to relax around the constant changes that were taking place.

Apparently, according to my husband I was not that moody. I attribute the positive emotional state to exercise, nutrition and trust. My body knows how to do this, women have been pregnant and giving birth for centuries. I allowed the process to flow through me and with that came a great sense of peace and happiness.

Some days you will feel tired, try to drink more water, get fresh air, eat healthy and nutrient dense foods.  If you can’t stop the craving, go after it! I remember when I had to find chicken salad one day or the hunt for salami was on! The next week it was soft serve ice cream. It wasn’t everyday that I had cravings and it subsided as the second trimester continued, but I allowed my body to signal to my brain what to eat. I realized the importance of protein intake and good fats. My doctor and midwife were reasonable about suggesting that the “do not eat list” not be forbidden for it will only tempt you more. Sure, I ate deli meat, soft cheeses, and smoked salmon, but I at them in moderation.

My Mom says “I glow and I am all baby!”. I gained 24 lbs in 9 months and I feel so good about that! I remember one growth spurt in the second trimester, I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks, no joke!

I have to say that I will miss being pregnant! My excitement though to nurture and love this baby allows me to be ready for this next stage; motherhood.

2 days until my due date – a healthy, peaceful, quick, graceful and loving entrance into this world is what I hope and pray for my baby!

Signing off at 39 weeks and 6 days 

Way Back in January...A New Year!

I am a spirit, cyclical and bright. As you start this year, I urge you to live in your spirit. Each day set an intention and see it through to the best of your ability. You have a year, you have a beautiful life, and you are whole.

“To become and to be a mother
A woman must stand
Strong and steady
Moving, imperceptible
As a mountain;
Yet she must flow,
Yielding around obstacles
As a river does –
Sometimes slowly and gently,
Oftentimes with turbulence
And still be true to herself.”

— The River and Mountain Midwives philosophy

Happy New Year! A wonderful event occurred over the holidays, I found out that I am pregnant! It is very exciting for my husband and I as we have tried to conceive a child for 7 years. I was inspired to tell my story by my sister-in-law. Thank you, Rochelle!

I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in high school and knew even when I married that conception may be difficult. Emotionally, it was heartbreaking. We tried the fertility route after we married and both of us felt very uncomfortable by the invasive treatments and lack of emotional understanding by the doctors and staff. It wasn’t until I met a wonderful midwife who reminded me…”these doctors, this route, they are all your choice. If you feel uncomfortable in any way, then honor that feeling. You are hiring them, not the other way around.” She reminded me in a gentle way of my choice in the situation. So, we decided to give it a rest.

As my husband and I enjoyed our marriage, forming a strong partnership over the years many changes took place.  We bought and renovated a house, the place we thought would be the perfect place to raise children. Were we ready though? We always questioned it…are we fulfilled? How can we raise children when we haven’t even given our dreams a chance? I look back now and I feel blessed that only God knew the best time. Oftentimes I laugh thinking that Patience is one of my life lessons. I watched as all of my friends and family members had babies and often times it hurt. Sometimes it was the unknowingness that it would happen, other times it was selfish as in why couldn’t I have that? It taught me so much about trust and faith.

At a certain point I changed my story and realized that Yes! it would happen, no I do not have control over it. I let it go and I lived my life. I let those that were pressuring me know that when it happened it will and pcos or not, if its meant to be it will be…motherhood that is. Sometimes it engulfed my world, but now I know why and the strength that my dis-ease in my body offered was what has taught me the most. It is what drives me today to help women in my health coaching business. I had to find my teachers and follow my instincts as to how to heal my body. I did not have the typical period in the early teenage years nor the baby after you marry. No, I was given the gift of illness in order to now take what I have learned and help others.

Our perspectives changed on having babies and slowly my husband and I both found our focus and our passion. Then, we moved. The move was good for both of us. It was a fresh start after 6 years of marriage and the timing felt right. Our community was different, open and kind. We met new people and we love where we live! We realized…this is the place we want to raise our children!

In the last few years with all of these changes our food philosophy and supplementation changed too. I began an herbal supplement regimen at the advice of an herbalist and during a summer studying at an herb farm. I began taking Gaia Herb’s Vitex (Chaste Berry) and then about a year later added evening primrose oil. The synergy of the two in conjunction with our new lifestyle and food habits is what I believe was the key to our success.

I never tracked my ovulation or my body temperature as I so diligently did many years ago early in our baby dream days. I enjoyed life and I had faith. My lifestyle now is so different than the pressures and expectations that I placed on myself back then and I feel grateful that I am now at an “advanced maternal age”. In the past, I struggled with expectations of others and myself and the looming black cloud of “timing” according to society. Now, I am so much more aware of who I am and what I want to create for this miracle inside of me than I ever was 7 years ago.

Please remember if you and your partner are trying to conceive or if you need support, please reach out. I have been there and I know how it feels at all levels, emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually.

I can help you to balance your hormones, update your diet to achieve pregnancy and find lifestyle solutions that will support you as you join the great tribe of women in motherhood.