 My Pregnancy in a Peanut Shell By: Emily L My husband, Ben, and I started taking pre-conception pills the last 2 weeks in August of 2018 and I stopped taking my birth control pills. “I am ovulating on September 14th, we will start trying then!” I yell from the living room, while I am counting the days on my calendar. We were so excited! September 14th, 2019: ovulation day! “I am really nervous, what happens if it works on the first try?! Are we really ready for this?!” I say with an excited look of nervousness to my husband. “Yes! This is something we have talked about, and something we both really want. Sure it can happen on the first try, but we have to understand that it also may take some time,” my husband calmly says to me, in some words or another. September 27th: the day we found out about our little bean! We made it happen on the first try! ON THE FIRST TRY! We were beyond excited, we were nervous, we were beyond over the moon happy, we finally felt like we were on the right track to begin our family. It was all very clear that this was meant to be right now in our lives. We began looking at all things baby related. Looking up pregnancy tips, reading all the books, looking for the best of the best materials. Was it too early? Should we wait? We can’t be this excited yet, what if something happens?! We need to wait until our ultrasound…but it’s ok, because right now, we were pregnant.  A few weeks later, we found out that our due date was June 8th. We were SO excited throughout our pregnancy! We “felt” like it was a girl. I felt like the baby was a girl. Was it because we both wanted a girl as our first? We instantly knew a name, we knew that we both wanted, Aurora, for a girl. We loved the Aurora Borealis, we haven ever been, but just loved everything about it. We also are HUGE Disney fans, and loved how different Aurora was. We didn’t tell anyone of our name choice because, “oh you will change your mind when she is here.” (One of the many pieces of “advice” we were given.) November 30th: “I don’t have any cravings or weird food aversions…but I can only eat these foods all together.” Check out my smorgasbord!  The further I was getting into pregnancy, the more “real” it was starting to feel. I had morning sickness, but it was at night. This was great because I was able to work just fine during the day, relax in the bathtub at night and go to sleep when my nausea kicked in. I had lost 5 pounds due to nausea and not feeling hungry, and solely living off of saltines for dinner. (Side note: I never ONCE vomited during my pregnancy, it was so strange and not what I was expecting. ) HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019! Our last New Year’s Eve just the two of us!  January 17th: the sex reveal ultrasound We knew that we wanted to find out from the start of our pregnancy, because we had that hunch that it was a girl. We knew we would love our son or daughter no matter which sex they ended up being, and if they decide that one day that isn’t what they want, we are still going to love them regardless.  I say “our” and “we” because this pregnancy was just as much my husband’s as it was just the baby and I. “Don’t you mean your BABY’S due date?” “YOU are carrying your daughter, not your husband.” “This process is what YOU are physically going through.” “He doesn’t understand what you are going through.” “I hope he is doing everything at home, because you can’t.” “He doesn’t fully understand what you are going through.”  Just a few of the things that I got when I phrased my sentences with “our” or “we.” You are right; he wasn’t carrying our child physically. BUT, he was working two jobs so we could save money for when the baby arrived because I was granted UNPAID leave. UNPAID. While working two jobs, he would come home to do all of the housework; the cleaning, the laundry, the dishes, taking out the trash, make dinner (yes he is the cook of the household), all while having to assist his pregnant wife. Because, that’s what he is supposed to do, right? “I hope he is doing things at home, as he should be,” the midwife would say in reply to anything we discussed during prenatal appointments. “I am a feminist, in case you didn’t know,” the midwife said at our 24th week appointment, as she only looked me in the eyes to say it, ignoring my husband’s presence. The appointments my husband came to and sat idly by, as he was talked about like he didn’t exist, from the midwives. He attended EVERY appointment. EVERY appointment he brought questions. EVERY appointment he would leave work, no matter how long the appointment would be, and not complain. He supported the process because this is something we wanted for a long time.  Here is my husband and I at our childbirth class, which he WANTED to attend to learn as much as possible to raise our daughter.  Living through the pregnancy process during a time when “males/men” are looked at negatively as a whole, was challenging. All of those “Miss Independent” ladies would come out of the wood cracks and speak their minds, only to not include my husband during MY pregnancy stories, in a positive way. I got to a point in the pregnancy where I REQUIRED my husband’s assistance. I did absolutely depend on him the last trimester, especially after I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes on March 22nd. I struggled very hard with this diagnosis, only because we had been having an amazing pregnancy. So, I needed him. Not because I couldn’t do it myself, but I needed him for his loving support because I was too “blue” to pull myself up to do it myself. I needed the encouragement and support from him to help me through that change. To not feel like I failed my baby, my husband, and my own worst enemy, myself.  We worked together to make the 3rd trimester a breeze. Considering I am not generally a candy, dessert, or sweets of any kind type of person, the whole “NO” thing, made me want it even more. This added challenges to the final countdown, when all I cared about at times, was how delicious that brownie would taste following an ice cream M&M cookie sandwich, while eating some jujyfruits. At first, it was easy to switch up my diet, there wasn’t much to eliminate that was “horrible.” I was told that anyone no matter how big or small their bodies were, could get gestational diabetes. Since I didn’t have diabetes prior to the pregnancy, but was overweight, and didn’t want that to be the main focus of the diagnosis. I got depressed and it was challenging to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy without the constant worry. I was recommended to go to a nutritionist, but it was basically mandatory for the first time so I could get a basis of foods to use as a resource. The nutritionist said, “Well with your weight, gestational diabetes was probably to be expected.” Call me sensitive or a pregnant monster, but I instantly shutdown and started snapping back at everything she said, in a rude and snippy way. How could you say that my weight was to blame, when it is common for any pregnant person? I had lost weight throughout my pregnancy and had only gained 3 pounds! What is going on?! Now, I felt like the last few weeks were going to be worse than I thought, as I watched her cross off all things delicious with a bright red sharpie as if I failed a spelling test in the 3rd grade. She told me I needed However, this delicious strawberry poppyseed salad was exactly a perfect divide to a sweet and healthy treat that kept my numbers in great shape!
Our Baby Girl’s Baby Shower/Name Reveal! AURORA LEIGH My husband and I have always loved the Aurora Borealis, the northern lights. We always watch the live feeds of the Aurora Borealis and always say, “Someday we will go see them live.” We have never seen it in person, but we just love its natural beauty! We are also BIG Disney fans, and love Aurora as Sleeping Beauty. When we found out that our little bean was a girl, there was no doubt in our minds that Aurora was going to be her name, Rory for short. It was a name no one we knew had, and it wasn’t widely popular on the “Most popular name,” lists. We chose her middle name, “Leigh,” after my sister’s middle name. Our baby shower was held on Saturday, April 6th at my parent’s condo. It was well attended with my closest family and friends and it was storybook themed. I am a Children’s Librarian, so it was only fitting.   After the baby shower, things went by quickly. Before we knew it, we were having our last ultrasound. The last ultrasound to determine her size and make sure everything was going well. Below is a pic of our chunky-cheeked little bean! If you tilt your head to the right, you can see her looking right at you! It was so crazy!  Our little Rory Bean was measuring at 6.5 pounds! We still had a little was to go, and if she continued to measure ½ pound a week until her due date, she would be 9 pounds. NINE POUNDS! WHAT?! The ultrasound tech shrugged her shoulders and said, “She could be give or take one or two pounds from that.” All I could think about was trying to control my sassy eye roll and lip pout out loud. Since she was measuring large, the midwife thought it was best to do weekly non-stress tests, to be sure she was doing alright in there with her growth and wasn’t getting too squished. It was scary at first, being hooked up to machines and laying in a hospital bed watching the lines jump up and down with a beeping noise. Then suddenly I heard her heartbeating loud through the speakers. When she moved, I could hear her over the machine squirming to the other side of my belly. It was magical to hear her heartbeat for the 20 minute non-stress test, and everything turned out just fine.  Days flew by and the weeks were coming to a close, the non-stress tests were going great and the baby was doing fantastic. My husband and I decided to do an impromptu maternity photoshoot, with our own camera and tripod. Here are two of my favorites!  My last duty of pregnancy was to schedule a pedicure, so I was “delivery room ready.”  Our last appointment was on June 6th, with our due date being on Saturday, June 8th. We were told that I wasn’t very dilated, but they didn’t want me to go too much past my due date. At the end of that appointment, I was scheduled to be induced that Monday, June 10th! The look on my husbands face was hilarious and I wish I got a video of it! But by the feeling of a skip in my heartbeat of excitement, made me realize that mine probably looked similar. Saturday, June 8th: DUE DATE! We can’t wait to meet our little Rory Bean!  Monday, June 10th: Induction Day! Our pregnancy journey was filled with so many exciting moments. As we were walking into the hospital for induction, I thought back to all of the key moments of our pregnancy. The highlights of the good and what we thought was “bad” at the time. It was all an experience to remember and in the moment there were times of worry that took away from the experience. Though those worries are inevitable for any soon-to-be mom, whether it is your first time or your 5th time, there will always be some worry. Please try to relax and enjoy each and every moment. It is a magical time that everyone should experience fully.   Emily is a wash-a-shore on Martha's Vineyard. After many years of vacationing on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard as a child, Emily met her husband in college who was born and raised on Martha's Vineyard. Small world! Right before getting married, Emily and her husband relocated to Martha's Vineyard to settle down and start a family. They are new first time parents to their daughter, Aurora and cat parents to their gray and black tiger cat, Baby T.
Emily is a Children's Librarian on the island, as well as a kid's mindfulness and yoga instructor, and a former teacher. Being a life long and continuing learner, reading, being thrifty, crafty and fun is her specialty! Emily is always looking for new events and programs to get her and her family involved in the community. She started an advice and experience instagram page, called spillthebeansmom, at the end of her pregnancy to help use as an outlet to reach other moms and listen to what moms had to say based off of their experiences.
0 Comments
With the Cape Cod Parent Resource Fair rapidly approaching we will be sharing blog posts on our participating sponsors, vendors and nonprofits. You will find out more about these amazing businesses and what they offer to our community. They will be sharing their services, advice, what challenges face our community as well as upcoming events they will be having. Make sure to check out our virtual program and resource guide ahead of the event so you can plan for what you want to see! Childcare is available as well for use during speaker panels. If you preregister for the speakers or childcare you will earn extra raffle tickets-just email us and you will receive tickets at the door! We hope to see you at the Resource Fair!
Monumental Beginnings Doula Services 1. Tell us about your business/non profit and how it benefits local families? I provide birth & postpartum doula services for growing families. This means I provide: -in-home prenatal education -holistic care for families seeking a less invasive birth -hand-picked resources based on your needs as a family -on-call 24/7 attention within 2 weeks of anticipated due date -physical presence in early labor lasting until delivery of baby -In-Home Postpartum Care modified to suit the needs of each family. -Education for Safe Sleeping, Baby Wearing, Bathing, Feeding & Swaddling -Screening for Postpartum Mood Disorders -Overnight Baby Coverage -Light Cleaning, Cooking & Errands -Sibling Childcare Doula involvement in childbirth has been shown to decrease the demand for medical pain relief, risk of c-section, and postpartum depression. The support of a doula benefits the entire family by reducing a women's time in labor, increasing confidence as a new parent and providing emotional support in an overwhelmingly medicalized field of childbirth. 2. Where is it located? Located in Falmouth; serving families throughout Cape Cod, Boston area, South Shore, North Shore & Rhode Island 3. What is your favorite part about our community? I love the loyalty of families and their commitment to including others. 4. How else do you get involved with the community? I am the Vice President of BNI Sand Dollars in Falmouth, and I also work at Shuckers World Famous Raw Bar in Woods Hole during summer. I provide childcare to many local families and you may see me at the Cape Cod Children's Museum, Woods Hole Aquarium, or any local playground with children in tow. 5. What are the biggest challenges facing parents in our community? Feeling isolated! The cold weather can make it hard find ways to keep kids busy. Events like the Parent Resource Fair are an amazing way to get out of the house, explore something new and find out what exists for families right in our own back yard. 6. What is your favorite memory or story over the years involving you and your business? The first birth I attended as a doula, was quickly followed by my second! The babies arrived within 48 hours of each other, which was a whirlwind and made me feel very experienced! 7. What advice would you give parents and care givers in our community? Trust your instincts!!! You are the expert on your child, and your intuition is incredibly valuable. 
With the Cape Cod Parent Resource Fair rapidly approaching we will be sharing blog posts on our participating sponsors, vendors and nonprofits. You will find out more about these amazing businesses and what they offer to our community. They will be sharing their services, advice, what challenges face our community as well as upcoming events they will be having. Make sure to check out our virtual program and resource guide ahead of the event so you can plan for what you want to see! We hope to see you at the Resource Fair!
Monumental Beginnings Doula Services 
1. Tell us about your business/non profit and how it benefits local families?
I provide birth & postpartum doula services for growing families. This means I provide: -in-home prenatal education -holistic care for families seeking a less invasive birth -hand-picked resources based on your needs as a family -on-call 24/7 attention within 2 weeks of anticipated due date -physical presence in early labor lasting until delivery of baby -In-Home Postpartum Care modified to suit the needs of each family. -Education for Safe Sleeping, Baby Wearing, Bathing, Feeding & Swaddling -Screening for Postpartum Mood Disorders -Overnight Baby Coverage -Light Cleaning, Cooking & Errands -Sibling Childcare Doula involvement in childbirth has been shown to decrease the demand for medical pain relief, risk of c-section, and postpartum depression. The support of a doula benefits the entire family by reducing a women's time in labor, increasing confidence as a new parent and providing emotional support in an overwhelmingly medicalized field of childbirth. 2. Where is it located? Located in Falmouth; serving families throughout Cape Cod, Boston area, South Shore, North Shore & Rhode Island 3. What is your favorite part about our community? I love the loyalty of families and their commitment to including others. 4. How else do you get involved with the community? I work at Shuckers World Famous Raw Bar in Woods Hole during summer. I provide childcare to many local families and you may see me at the Cape Cod Children's Museum, Woods Hole Aquarium, or any local playground with children in tow. 5. What are the biggest challenges facing parents in our community? Lack of community! We feel like parents need to do everything on their own, which is simply not true. Parenthood is hard, and deserving of support! 6. What is your favorite memory or story over the years involving you and your business? Every baby that is born under my care and assistance is important to me. My business is extremely personal, and results in deep relationships with parents, children & families. 7. What advice would you give parents and care givers in our community? Trust your instincts!!! You are the expert on your child, and your intuition is incredibly valuable. Self-care is incredibly valuable. Time away to take care of yourself, is beneficial to your entire family. Do not neglect your own needs! You, and your family deserve a happy, healthy, and present parent. 
We were lucky enough to attend one of Adviser Lamperti's Intro to Essential Oils classes hereon Cape Cod and we learned so much. Tracy was nice enough to share some of the amazing benefits of working with essential oils. Check it out! For more information please visit Adviser Tracy Lamperti's Essential Oil site. 
Nutritional Help for Children
· NingXia Red-Super high in Anti-Oxidants, freeze for a fun healthy treat · Balance Complete-High in fiber, great for digestion · Super C-great tasting chewable vitamin · KidScents Mightyzymes, Mightyvits · Life 5- if you have given your children anti-biotics (mix with yogart, applesauce or in a smoothie) · MultiGreens-if you child doesn’t eat enough leafy green veggies (mix in a smoothie) Toxin Free Cleaning · Thieves Cleaner-cost effective, cleans everything from granite, toilets, wood floors to fruits and veggies, car seats, training potties · Lemon Household Scrub-for extra cleaning power · Diffuse oils-plug ins, air fresheners, candles are FULL of chemicals that disrupt brain function · Purification-diaper pails, cloth diapers · Thieves Spray-must have for mommies! Spray on shopping carts, public restrooms, changing tables, great for sore throats. For more information please visit Adviser Tracy Lamperti's Essential Oil site.  What To Expect Wednesday
Let’s talk about one of the dirty little secrets about pregnancy that no one wants to tell you. You know the stuff they don’t mention in Mrs. B’s 11th grade health class covering sex education. The stuff you find out the first time you are pregnant and you don’t dare tell anyone else except maybe months later in a sleep deprived haze to some moms in your support group during an infant playdate. Oh yes those little secrets. Would have been nice had you mentioned those little things during our “woman chat” mom! And seriously public school, you could really do a better job of giving people, especially young women the real facts. So to kick off our weekly What to Expect Wednesday column we are tackling the uncomfortable topic of urinating in your pants. As soon as you find out you are preggers, go out and buy lots of underwear, whatever kind you want. I recommend purchasing at least 2-3 extra packs. Pack away your nice stuff, break out the old stuff, the granny panties, whatever you have that you don’t mind ruining. Then buy yourself a few extra nice pairs for post pregnancy or maybe encourage your girlfriends to present you with some at your shower. Do you know why you need all these extra underwear????? Because….. YOU. WILL. PEE. YOUR. PANTS. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY….. Okay maybe not every day, but definitely the majority of them especially during the 3rd trimester. You will ruin your underwear and honestly who wants to wear them after knowing you have repeatedly peed in them. Nothing screams sexy post baby more than crawling into bed with your pee panties. What are some of the things that caught you off guard when you were pregnant the first time? Do you have a topic you want us to cover for What to Expect Wednesday? If so comment below and tell us! By: Ryan Beck I wrote this poem a few months after I had my second son. I think it resonates with me still today. As women we put so much pressure on ourselves to return to our previous physical within an unrealistic timeframe. For me it helped me realize that it is a process. It is a season. I hope this helps new moms. I am a healing body. It is my round hips that shake and groove to the music with my children. My plentiful breasts that have nourished two preemies and kept them healthy. My strong arms that lift, carry, swing and rock my boys. My thick thighs that bounce my babes all while I watch their faces stretch with a smile. The pinches of skin they grasp with their little fingers, the indentations my supple body produces when pressed by their strengthening legs, the smile that these little moments produce, and the giggles that result are the things that make me a happy mama. I have a man who loves me. His gentle caresses translate between the two of us. He understands the journey. I am a healing body. My strong legs that can run for miles will return. My plentiful breasts will shrink. It will be only moments until my firm thighs, stomach, arms, and cesarean scar will only whisper the memory of these early times with my little ones. My body will return. I have to remember. But right now, I am a healing body. I have partnered with the doctors that created ProActiv on their new clinical skin care line Rodan and Fields. They are now doing for aging what they did for acne. I like to call it my “nap time job.” It has allowed me to continue to stay home with my children and still significantly contribute to our family’s bottom line. All sharing, emailing and social media. No parties, no inventory. The products and business are backed by a 60 day money back guarantee. I am looking to train 3 motivated individuals this month. Please email me to learn more: ryancc.beck@gmail.com;  Disclosure: Cape Cod Mommies was sent a complimentary copy of Belly Books in order to facilitate an honest review. We recently had an amazing opportunity to check out the first book in the Belly Book collection: Can't Wait to Show You! Local Cape Cod Moms & Authors Jacqueline Boyle & Susan Lupone Stonis collaborated on this book which seeks to bring literacy to our children right from the beginning! Recent research from the University of Helsinki have found that newborn babies learn and remember words that they heard repeatedly in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Belly Books are great because they help deepen the connection between the new baby to be and the family. The babies will remember the voice and rhythm of the story after they are born and it will help soothe them.  Local Cape Cod Mom Lauren had this to say about the Belly Book she reviewed from a mom's point of view to her baby. "The book fits well to belly and is a comfortable size and weight. The majority of the book rhymes nicely with upbeat and positive whimsical images of childhood such as first experiences of sun beams and snowflakes. The babies vary in appearance throughout the book and it is a great bonding experience to have with baby to be. I look forward to rereading it once the baby arrives." Below, Amy was able to interview both Jacqueline & Susan regarding this awesome venture. Check out the video below for some great insight from the authors, their backgrounds, how they balance their families and this project and where they are heading!
 Overall the Belly Book Collection and Authors get big thumbs up from Cape Cod Mommies. We love supporting our local moms especially when they have a great product!
Stay tuned for our giveaway being featured soon on our blog for our lucky readers! You can check out and connect with Belly Books below: http://belly-books.com/ http://thereadingwomb.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bellybooks Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/BellyBooks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Belly_Books By: Maurene Merritt, RN & Yoga Teacher There was no blood or tears, but plenty of sweat to help me remember how difficult the process was. I pick up my heavy, wet, brown terry cloth towel off of my yoga mat that feels like I've just taken it out of the washer after it has been spun dry. That's how much sweat drips off of me in the 90 minutes. In my first class, I was forced to my knees several times with nausea and light headedness. It's the closest experience I've had of pushing my baby out of my body 25 years ago.  Through the years, I've struggled with how to prepare women for the second stage of labor. I'm sure it helps your body to remember the ancient process that coils in your DNA, panting lively with every baited breathe for a chance to unravel, when in prenatal yoga we practice creating a deep, bellowing sound while resuming a wide-thigh, open stance. And I'm sure the list of do's and don'ts that I once created on how you may feel and what you can do to help yourself provided a familiar frame to manage the unknown. But it's clearly not enough. It doesn't help either that many of us (including myself) skim over this part of the experience, like we do with cesarean sections. It's the part of the story that either is not going to happen to us or that we don't need, believing that if we've gotten that far, surely we can make it to the finish line. It's too late once you’re pregnant, to do Bikram yoga. The combination of heat and exertion is in my opinion way too demanding at a time in a woman's life that calls for a gentler, slower more moderate form of physical movement. However, if you are not yet pregnant and are thinking about it, consider trying Bikram yoga as a practice to help you prepare for the demands of the second stage of labor. It's no surprise to me that I find myself continually drawn back to Bikram. I certainly do not envision myself becoming a staunch supporter, for there are threads of the practice that I do not condom (for another blog!). However, there is nothing like a process that demands your entire focus to leave you feeling deeply satisfied, and hungry for more. Together, Maurene By: Maurene Merritt, RN & Yoga Teacher I did not give birth the way that I had imagined, in a full, wide open squat like the 21st century contemporary hybrid creature that I was, half hippie and the other, a high-heeled, disheartened business woman. I tried, with one of my arms wrapped around Candyce's father, and my other one around Maura, my doula. But the force moving my baby out of my body was so strong that my spine arched back like a running, overextended fishing rod! So instead I squatted by baby out with a fully extended spine behind me, like the unintentional leaning tower of Pisa! I didn't know it at the time, and wouldn't find out for at least another decade, but I had just performed one of the ultimate class of poses in yoga called, "backbends". It makes perfect sense now, of course, that my body would take the form of something so vital and beautiful and outrageously untamed with such rare, cosmic force moving through my body.  When we give birth to our babies, I believe that the release is so powerful that the spine has no choice but to move into extension followed by a springing action back into forward flexion. It is here, if we wait and allow our attention to be expansive coiled in our origins, that we are privy to experience all of the energy accumulated in our bodies from giving birth before it dissipates into space. It's why backbends are highly sought on a yoga mat, because they provide for the same energy release except in a much less exaggerated form; there is not approximately 8.5 pounds of substance moving out of the body! However, if one chooses to remember their experience by journaling, contemplating and articulating, they'll deepen and enliven the newly opened pathway created in their nervous system. Then, more and more, opportunity will exist to strengthen and intensify the energy, clarity and happiness that backbending provides for. It is with this in mind that I have created "The Star Gazer", a sequence of poses that simulates the actual birth experience and the subsequent release of energy. We will soon be celebrating my daughter's 25th birthday. It feels like yesterday, that I had her in my arms and all to myself. And although she has left my arms, she will forever remain in my heart, along with my longing to recapture and live those rare precious moments, over and over again.
Together, forever, in our hearts, Maurene *reprinted with full permission from http://www.birthblessingsyoga.blogspot.com/  By: Maurene Merritt, RN How do you handle intense frustration? Do you give up at the first sign of difficulty, or lean more towards the opposite end of remaining steadfast to the very end? Or maybe you tow the middle ground in fall somewhere in between? I recall in my formative years, this feeling was so uncomfortable for me that I would give up at the first sign of difficulty. Often it was with math problems or writing, endeavors that require so much fortitude and tenacity to remain in times of not knowing, and to push past giving up. It wasn't until childbirth that I was able to change this very disheartening, debilitating pattern. I dilated like a model for an OB or midwifery textbook to 9 centimeters. Then, gradually my contractions slowed to waves that served children on the seashore and not the tidal wave ones that I needed to open up my body!  I remained there, walking, showering, talking, breathing for 6 hours to no avail. Finally, my doula encouraged me to get back into a position that I found extremely painful hours prior. It worked, and I gave birth to my daughter 20 minutes later. Over time, I found myself returning to the physics problems and more recently creative writing, actually enjoying the tug-of-war it takes to get to resolution. It's been such a huge shift for me, it makes me feel sometimes like a puppet on new, golden threads that moves me down camouflaged pathways that I wouldn't have dreamed of going down before giving birth. Often they hold the most pleasant surprises - one in particular, as big as my birth! When I'm pushed to tears for the words to flow, I remember the words of one of my teachers, Bonnie Bridge Cohen of BodyMindCentering. She says that when there's a block and you remove the block, that there is this huge release of energy. I love this teaching, and like to imagine my frustration a dam that holds back water, and that when I release the dam, there is a flood of movement. In my mind, I can hear the roar and feel the spray of joy and satisfaction that comes with the release. Consider the following; *When you give birth to your baby, you very well may experience frustration since "failure to progess", often a benign category is, according to the World Heath Organization, the number one reason for a 30% ceserean section rate in this country. *Birth, like any art demands a commitment to the process. You may practice the discipline required of continously coming back to something by establishing a daily, regular meditation practice.  *Childbirth is a highly charged experience that touches the very heart of a woman. It's a golden opportunity to revisit those patterns established at a time when belief and hope reigned high and rekindle their power. If you want natural childbirth, and you get stuck, try the following; 1. Make sure you have the privacy and quiet required for the intense focus required of any serious artist. In other words, keep your door closed and noise and family and staff to a minimum. 2. Whatever you are doing, if you have been doing it for a time, do something different. Remember, your perception of time is very different then those around you. Take your cues from those you trust. 3. Keep your flame of intention high, your very deepest desire.  4. Let go of outcomes and stay present in the moment with your breath. It's such a dichotomy, but birth requires the perfect balance of yielding while moving towards a definitive goal.
5. Change happens in a moment. Never give up, until the very "sweet" end. Together, forever and our hearts, Maurene *reprinted with full permission from http://www.birthblessingsyoga.blogspot.com/ |
Parent Resource GuideTravel & VacationsCape Cod BirthdaysCape Cod Family
|
Cape Cod Moms Blog Mommies Mom Blog Parenting Blog Product Reviews, Stories, Resources, Calendar, Local, Support, Events
- Home
-
Mommy Blog
- The Parent Pod
- Cape Kids Cast
- Dads' Den
- Family Climate Series
- Family Dynamics Series
- Navigating Separation & Divorce Series
- Travel & Vacations
- Sex Abuse Series
- Book Reviews
- Interviews With ShopLocal Bussinesses
- Babysitting Safety Series
- Etiquette Series
- Home-School Series
- Love Series
- Infant Sleep Series
- PTSD Series
- About Us
- Calendar
- Parent Resource Fair
- Resources
- Directory
RSS Feed
