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Officially in Nesting Mode: A Pregnancy Update

Monday, October 6th, 2008 by Shannon

I have to admit, I’ve been burning the candle at both ends lately. With back-to-back travel, home remodeling projects, taking care of my “boys” (big and small), maintaining the home, and keeping up with our regular activities, I’ve had very little time to take care of Number One. As a result, I’ve been a bit off balance lately and everything and everyone has suffered. I’ve been impatient with my son and my boyfriend, I’ve let my diet and exercise slip and, as a result, have been feeling less than great - sluggish, frazzled and defeated.

But, after a wee bit of a meltdown the other night, I made a declaration: “No More - I am officially in nesting mode!” I’ve enlisted the support of my wonderful boyfriend and friends and am ready for the homestretch (only 6 weeks to go!). I’m getting back on track with my diet and have taken two – yup, two – baths in a row!

I’ve also been consumed with Shannon’s manual “Raising Children Raises Us” the last few days which couldn’t have come at a more pertinent time: wouldn’t you know that a central point is how important it is to nourish yourself and your relationships and to continue to grow along with your children; that a woman unfulfilled, neglected and whose ‘well has run dry’ is incapable of properly giving and taking care of others. It’s so true, and yet so easy to forget. Not to mention “Raising Children Raises Us” is chock-full of amazing ideas and a refreshing and insightful approach to parenting!

On the physical side of things, I’m definitely getting more uncomfortable as I enter the final stretch: my sashay has turned into a waddle, my energy level has waned, and movements are slower and more difficult in general. Those maternity clothes aren’t looking so cute anymore either, and are making me look a bit more like a stuffed sausage! But I still get compliments, so I ‘spose it can’t be all that bad ☺.

Interestingly, my son has been a lot more needy lately – he must sense all this change is imminent – and has wanted to be held and to nurse a lot. Some of the “nursing agitation” I had in my first trimester has returned, although not as intensely (yet), but it’s still pretty painful and irritating; perhaps nature’s way of keeping it to a minimum since nipple stimulation can cause contractions and, if significant enough, can even bring on labor….

In other news, my boyfriend’s very lovely and generous family has decided to throw me a baby shower. I really didn’t expect one this time around and, especially since we are having another boy, we don’t really need anything. So, in keeping with my resolution to take better care of myself as well as my family, I’ve decided to “register” for some more practical things – like help with the laundry, dishes, spending time with my toddler, meals, etc. – now that would be priceless!

So, here I am, writing to you from my new king-sized bed – one babe sleeping peacefully beside me, the other tickling my ribs with his hiccups - taking deep breaths, and ready to take time to just enjoy the moment.

Tags: Breastfeeding while Pregnant, Nursing Agitation, raising children raises us
Posted in Ardis's Thoughts, Breastfeeding, Communication in the Family, Pregnancy | No Comments »

9 Tips for More Restful Pregnancy Sleep

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 by Shannon

About 6 months ago, I wrote about the benefits of co-sleeping and needing a bigger bed to accommodate my soon to be expanding family. Well, this family is finally getting its king-size bed! It will be delivered in a couple weeks - and not a moment too soon: with my ever-expanding belly and my toddler’s propensity to sleep horizontally across the bed, it’s only gotten more difficult to catch some good zzzz’s. While the bed will surely make a big difference, here are some other tips I’ve found really help to get some sound sleep during the often less-than-comfortable time of pregnancy.

1. Get sleep whenever you can. If you work, take a little catnap in your car on your lunch break, or if you’re at home with young kids like me, nap with them! Totally guilt free.

2. You are probably going to have to experiment with new sleeping positions, unless pre-pregnancy you always slept on your left side, and never moved. At some point, stomach sleeping will obviously get too uncomfortable, and it’s not advised that you sleep on your back as that can restrict blood flow to the fetus. Some women find a body pillow (I have friends who swear by ) helps them get comfortable, but, if you’re short on space like me, sometimes a pillow or two between the legs is all that’s needed.

3. Take a warm bath before bed or ask your husband for a massage to help relax the mind and the muscles.

4. Drink plenty of water during the day but not for several hours before going to bed to help avoid too many middle of the night trips to the bathroom.

5. Do not eat anything heavy for several hours before bed, but don’t go to bed hungry either. Eat something light – apples are good - an hour or so before bed. If heartburn is keeping you up, keep your head elevated with a couple pillows to prevent those gastric juices from coming up.

6. Get some exercise every day. Whether it’s prenatal yoga or hikes in nature or a little walking, regular exercise can really help to regulate and improve sleep quality.

7. Try relaxation techniques. I like to take a few moments to close my eyes and focus in on my belly, try to really connect with the baby growing within. I may daydream or say a little prayer. I visualize an easy birth and a healthy baby and happy family. This really helps to ease any anxiety I might be feeling. Deep breathing also helps to relax - during the visualization, or on its own.

8. Focus on the black. This one works for me within minutes every time! Close your eyes and look deep into the dark of the inside of your eyelids. Focusing only on the dark helps to shut all thoughts and images out, and you’ll be sawing logs before you know it!

9. Read a really boring book
Sweet Dreams! zzzzzzz

Tags: Co-sleeping, Sleep
Posted in Ardis's Thoughts, Pregnancy, Tips for Moms | No Comments »

10 Reasons Pregnant Women Should Eat More Figs!

Saturday, August 16th, 2008 by Shannon

Figs are one of the oldest cultivated fruits around, dating back to at least 5,000 B.C. Revered since ancient times for their aphrodisiac properties, in many cultures figs are considered a symbol of fertility: split apart, they are said to resemble the female genitalia, left whole, the male genitalia. In fact, the Ancients thought the milky-white substance (actually a natural latex) which drips from the cut stem represented the “universal energy” and it was used to treat infertility and promote healthy lactation. However, there seems to be some truth to the lore. Here are ten fascinating facts about these nutritional powerhouses that make them an incredible addition to anyone’s diet, but particularly to the pregnant woman’s.

1. Figs have a higher overall mineral profile than any other common fruit or vegetable. They are particularly high in calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc, key nutrients for a healthy pregnancy.

2. The high potassium content of figs may help to control blood pressure and therefore, the hypertension associated with preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy condition.

3. The mineral content of figs closely resembles that of human breast milk!

4. Figs have the highest fiber content of any common fruit. Rich in both insoluble and soluble fiber, figs really help to mitigate the constipation so common during pregnancy.

5. Figs contain a proteolytic enzyme that also aids in digestion, which is naturally slowed during pregnancy.

6. Figs are highly alkaline, and therefore alkalizing, which has been shown to help curb cravings. This may help control those less-than-healthy urges that can sabotage a healthy pregnancy diet.

7. Figs are high in vitamin B6, which has long been thought to be beneficial in alleviating morning sickness.

8. Even the leaves of figs are therapeutic: ingesting them has been shown to reduce and even eliminate the need for insulin in diabetic patients. Therefore, ingesting them may help to control or avoid a case of gestational diabetes. Furthermore, this ability to balance blood sugar levels should help to relieve a whole host of symptoms – from morning sickness to mood swings.

9. Dried figs contain significant amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to the optimal development of the fetus. Consuming ample Omega-3’s during pregnancy is also associated with a lower incidence of pre-term labor and premature delivery.

10. Psoralens, a chemical found in figs, has been used to treat many skin pigmentation problems and may be beneficial in preventing melasma, the “mask of pregnancy”.

So now that you’re convinced of the amazing nutritional power of figs…what are the best ways to eat them?

Figs are harvested in the U.S. from June to September, but dried figs are available all year long. I think figs are delicious as is, but they are also a wonderful addition to smoothies and salads: blend a handful of figs with a cup of almond milk and a large, ripe banana, for a thick, rich, and creamy “shake”; or throw some chopped figs on a bed of arugula and fennel and lightly drizzle with balsamic vinegar….the possibilities are endless. But, in my opinion, the BEST way to eat a fig is straight from the tree, warmed by the sun. Mmmm.

How do you like your figs?

Tags: aphrodisiacs, Figs, Morning Sickness, Pregnancy Symptoms
Posted in Ardis's Thoughts, Natural Fertility, Pregnancy | No Comments »

Opposites Attract: The SELNAS method for gender selection

Monday, August 11th, 2008 by Shannon

A couple weeks ago I announced that I was having another boy. This came as a big surprise ‘cause we all had a “hunch” that I was carrying a girl. Of course this hunch was based on a lot of Old Wives tales and other amusing, yet unscientific, methods of gender prediction…but it got me thinking: is there a natural way to influence the sex of your baby? In other words, can you in fact choose to have either a boy or a girl?

Baby Shoes Apparently you can by using the SELNAS Natural Gender Selection Technique.

Although relatively new (it was invented in 1985), the SELNAS method is purported to be the most accurate natural method for gender selection to date, and with the “science” to back it up. (I put “science” in quotes as some of it’s opponents say it is pseudoscience at best…).

According to SELNAS USA/BabyChoice.com, in 1933, two Russian Scientists, Koltzoff and Schroeder, discovered that it was possible to differentiate x-chromosome sperm from y-chromosome sperm by the electrical charge they emitted.

Later, scientists discovered the ovum also gives off an electrical charge. Since the charges of x-sperm (-) and y-sperm (+) are invariable, and one of the fundamental laws of electricity states that while opposite charges attract, like charges repel, how can it be, then, that an ovule is able to attract both x- and y- sperm, which have different charges? It was concluded that the ovule must be capable of alternating its charge so as to attract x-bearing chromosomes at one time, and y-bearing chromosomes at another.

This discovery had huge ramifications in terms of gender selection/prediction if a pattern to the highly irregular charge put off by the ovule could be found. In 1994, the culmination of a 15-year study by a French Scientist on thousands of mammals resulted in a complicated method for determining just this.

From these findings, elaborate software was created to interpret the data (based on a woman’s birth date, blood type, onset of menses, reproductive history, and last menstrual period, combined with the variables found on the mammalian study) to determine which days in a woman’s cycle would produce an ovule charge favorable to attracting either a boy-sperm or a girl-sperm.

It was determined that, over a 12-month period, each woman has between 70 and 80 days where the ovule attracts each polarity. This information used in conjunction with knowing her fertile days and when she ovulates allows her to choose the gender by either having sex or not having sex on the days that correspond to the gender she desires.

This software, which came to be known as the SELNAS method, was tested on 155 couples over the next two years and proved to be 98.7% accurate! 153 of the 155 couples conceived the gender they wanted.

As of 1999, the success rate of the SELNAS method, tested on over 15,000 couples, continued to be between 96 and 98% accurate!

A 12-month personalized calendar is not cheap - costing around $400 - but it comes with a 100% money-back guarantee if following this method does not produce the gender of your choice. A virtual no-risk and small price to pay if the sex of your baby is very important to you.

Statistically, if you’ve had 2 children of the same sex (like me), you are more likely to have subsequent children of that sex as well. Although it would be lovely to have a little girl (and a little more balance to our household), I’m not sure how I feel about manipulating the baby-making process to produce a certain gender; if the SELNAS method does in fact work, even though it is a non-invasive and “natural” method, there’s still something a bit creepy feeling to me about it….

How do you feel about it? Would you use the SELNAS method if it guaranteed the bambino/a of your choice? If you do try it out, let me know if it worked!

Tags: gender selection, SELNAS method
Posted in Ardis's Thoughts, Pregnancy | No Comments »

Sometimes Life Throws Us Unexpected Surprises. Be Ready To Catch Them When They Come!

Thursday, July 24th, 2008 by Tera

By Jennifer Kleinberg My story into RAW starts when I was 21 and I went out one night with some friends and someone at the club drugged me with homemade ecstasy which caused me to go into seizure. The seizures went on for months, several and often many times a day resulting in me having to move in with my parents and be under constant supervision. The neurologists told my parents that as far as they could tell the damage was permanent although they could not quite pinpoint the origin of the convulsions. I got under regular Chiropractic care as well weekly acupuncture and started to detox my highly animal protein based diet into a diet more focused on greens and fresh foods. Within 3 months I was able to get around on my own and started to care for myself a little more at a time. I found local government funding and eventually convinced them into funding my flight and part of my tuition to school. The day I left, my mother refused to come to the airport but I told her not to worry - I believed in the innate power of my body to heal itself.

After a few years in school and on / off a vegetarian diet I married my sweetheart - Adam, who cared for me while I was ill. He had been a vegetarian / vegan for 12 years and he coached me into living a more healthy, sustainable and balanced diet.

We were living in Holland when I became pregnant with our first daughter - Jana. It was in the first months of her pregnancy that I began to research the best possible diet for pregnancy which would be easy to assimilate, provide the most nutrients, and the most energy. That is when I stumbled onto the THE GARDEN DIET. A website by a family of raw foodists with remarkable health and 4 beautiful, vibrant children. (They now have 6 I believe). They inspired me and I’ll never forget my initial reaction to reading Jinjee’s story - I thought, “WOW. THIS IS ME. THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.” I shared the testimonials with my husband and together we began down the path toward live food. I researched further and discovered the Living Light Institute - the worlds’ premier raw vegan chef school. I set it in my mind that I was going to attend the school and become a Raw Vegan Chef - SOME HOW, SOME WAY, SOME DAY. I kept the image in my mind and meditated on its’ fruition.

It was nearly 18 months later that my dream was realized and, 4 months pregnant with twins and with my 18 month old daughter in tow went to Fort Bragg, CA for the two month intensive Chef Training Program. Graduating was one of the happiest accomplishments in my life. You can imagine how taxing 7- 12 hours a day in the kitchen on your feet 6 or 7 days a week with no days off for 2 months is when your pregnant with twins - let alone with an 18 month old to care for when I went back to my room and no help. BUT WE DID IT! Many of my classmates frequently commented on how much energy I had and how enthusiastic I was. I told them that I attribute my energy to my highly Raw Vegan diet and found when I ate cooked food during this time I felt PREGNANT!
Shortly after I returned from Fort Bragg I was approached by a photographer for Pregnancy Magazine and asked to do a test shoot which resulted in me being on the cover of two magazines and getting representation by FORD (as the first pregnant model they have ever hired) and also by Expecting Models - the agency for the T.V. show RUNWAY MOMS.

At 34 weeks pregnant I went into labor. Our dates were off, and we were expecting one full term very large baby. We had plans to deliver the baby at a Birthing Center in San Francisco attended by a midwife. Although we did not know we were expecting twins I had my suspicions but was reassured by our midwife that I was too small to be pregnant with twins. I had gained 28 lbs with this pregnancy at the time. My labor was long, hard and I had several convulsions due to the tremendous physical stress as my body was not ready to give birth but as we learned later - little Ananda was in distress and had initiated labor to save her life. When our Naia was born we all stared at her in shock - SHE WAS SOOO TINY! THERE WAS NO WAY THAT WAS THE ONLY BABY IN THAT HUGE BELLY!

Our midwife, who was not licenced to deliver twins or preemies in her center, called out to the assistant for help shouting “This baby is Premature - very, premature! I need an ambulance and oxygen NOW!” I felt movement in my belly and said to the Doula “There’s another baby… I can feel it!” My midwife who was giving my daughter oxygen yelled back “THAT’S JUST YOUR PLACENTA” I said, “Placentas Don’t have elbows! AHHHHHHHH!!!!” And Ananda (Bliss) was born, breach, in the sac, with the cord wrapped twice around her little neck. She was blue. My midwife didn’t miss a beat - GOD BLESS HER. She handed Naia over to her attending and dropped to her knees, ripping open her sac and unraveling the cord and when I heard a yelp, I knew my little girl was okay.

We were rushed off to the hospital, two ambulances, a fire truck, our attending friends and 7 burly fire fighters in our entourage. My poor husband - spinning around and flipping back and forth from crying to laughter went with our daughters to be sure that they were properly cared for while a friend went with me. The Doctors informed us that the babies had a twin to twin blood transfusion where Naia had sent Ananda just enough blood to help her survive her journey into the world. AMAZING.

The Doctors said that it was also amazing was that the babies were breathing on there own and seemed to be just fine! They were taken aback (and even rechecked me several times) that I had no rips or tears, and left the hospital in good health the next day. My husband later asked the doctors what the chances were if we had known we were having twins, that one was breach with the cord around her neck and with me having convulsions -of us having a natural, drug and Cesarean free birth in the hospital? They all answered unanimously “ABSOLUTELY NONE.”

My husband and I know that although to the general public and medical minded our birth story is a MIRACLE we give the credit to our lifestyle choices and practices. Highly Raw Vegan Diet + Chiropractic + Meditation + Regular Exercise = Extraordinary Healthy and Functioning Nervous System which was responsible not only for my healing from seizures but for the Miraculous Healthy Birth of my undiagnosed, premature twins.

GO RAW! GET ADJUSTED! LOVE THE LIFE YOU LIVE!

Many Blessings,
The Kleinberg Family - Adam, Jennifer, Jana, Naia & Ananda

Posted in Pregnancy, Tips for Moms | 9 Comments »

It’s A………’nother BOY!!!

Friday, July 11th, 2008 by Shannon

Wooohooo!!! I was so surprised. We all were. We were so sure we were going to have a girl, we just cracked up when we saw, plain as day on the ultrasound screen: boy parts.

We have shattered the ‘Shettles Method”. He postulates that, since female sperm outlive male sperm, having sex farther away from ovulation improves the odds of having a girl, as most of the male sperm have died off by the time fertilization takes place. Not for us! We conceived a full 5 days after the “act”.

We have debunked the Old Wives. According to lore, one is having a girl if:
• She is carrying high. Wrong!
• She has more morning sickness. False!
• The fetal heart rate is above 140. Nope!
• Her face breaks out and she’s moodier than usual. Uhn-uh!
• She craves lots of fruit. Wrong again!

I had all of the above “having a girl symptoms”. So much for that!

Then, there was our most “scientific” reasoning behind the prediction: My boyfriend gave our son two balls, one pink and one blue, and asked him to “give the one to mommy that represents the new baby”. Well, wouldn’t you know, he handed me the PINK one….

But seriously, my main hunch came from the fact that this pregnancy has just been sooo different from the last. I know (and knew) this wasn’t a good gender predictor; all pregnancies, like all babies, are different. Yeah, yeah.

Nevertheless, I had been relating so much to my belly as if there were a little girl swimming around in there, I was worried that, if we did find out it was a boy, I might be disappointed. Not a drop! To my very pleasant surprise, I just felt a huge amount of joy radiate through me: one more clue as to whom this divine little creature is stirring inside me! A BROTHER for my sweet, darling little boy to play with - how cool! No new clothes to get…well, in the beginning at least. And, who knows, maybe the next one will be a girl. Or not. Either way, it is impossible to go wrong :).

In other pregnancy news, I am happy to report that I am feeling grrrreat. I’ve got my diet almost to where I want it, enjoying lots of green smoothies, tons of amazing fresh fruit (oh the joys of summer!!), and some delicious gourmet raw concoctions I’ve been creating to avoid succumbing to less-healthy cravings. My energy levels are good although, I must admit, I’ve been taking daily naps with my son - something I didn’t often need pre-pregnancy (so grateful to have that option). And, apparently, all is going well and as expected with my active little wonder within…he’s a busy bee, frequently stirring and dancing and making me smile.

Falling ever more madly in love with all my boys each day~

Ardis

Posted in Ardis's Thoughts, Pregnancy | 17 Comments »

Welcome, Baby Leora! (Psssst… Don't tell Amy!)

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 by Tera

It wouldn’t be a raw mom site if we didn’t stop to acknowledge one of the amazing women behind this project and the fact that her darling baby daughter, Leora, has officially arrived.

Apparently, though labor was 30 hours of relatively easy going contractions, delivery itself was quick and slippery. Happened in about 5 minutes!

Amy’s off for a couple weeks and will hopefully be finding the time to relax and enjoy this new, beautiful addition to her family.

Since I’m quite sure that she will NOT be checking up on the blogs while she’s away, I thought I’d use this opportunity to suggest that we pitch in as a community and maybe get her something special.

Amy’s been moving a lot lately and hasn’t had the chance to settle into a new community to really make friends and acquaintances. I keep her so busy doing web work, accounting and design, that she doesn’t get the chance to come out and play and giggle much.

But she’s the sweetest and dearest woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and I really would love to do something special to honor her at this time. And I was thinking, since most new babes always get what they need–including love and attention, I thought that we could actually do something special for “Telly” (Etelle). Leora’s big sister. I’m sure at this time she’s feeling a little less loving toward this new person in her life.

Competition isn’t easy.

Sooo, we thought that perhaps we’d pitch in to get her a few cool crafty games or books to keep her busy. And since I know Amy is going to be itching to get out of her pregnancy clothes, I thought a gift certificate to our FAAAAAVORITE clothing store might be just what she needs to get excited about getting in shape and looking great. Although, I have to admit, she looks GORGEOUS!! Baby curves and all!!

Sooo… if you’d like to donate, we’ll put your name on the e-card we send her to celebrate this amazing event. I think sometimes at a time like this, we tend to overlook the needs of a hard-working mom for the excitement and enthusiasm of a baby. What Leora needs most right now is a mom who is thriving, confident, supported and loved.

That’s why we’d really like to do something special for her. If you’d like to contribute, please just reply to this message and we’ll get in touch and make arrangements. Or, you can send a donation and love note to Amy here: rawdiva@mac.com

Remember, no amount is too small. We’ll pool it all together for a gift of love from the Raw Mom and Raw Diva community.
She really is the woman who makes all you see happen around here, and happen as beautifully and skillfully as it does. So thank you for taking the time and a bit of pennies to help give back to Amy! I am so grateful to have her in my life and so inspired and excited by how her flair and creativity touches the lives of others!!

Tags: Amy De Wolfe, birth, community, raw pregnancy
Posted in Pregnancy, Tera's Thoughts | No Comments »

I’m Down with Downward Facing Dog!

Saturday, June 21st, 2008 by Shannon

It’s no new news that yoga is a great exercise during pregnancy, but in addition to improving flexibility, maintaining or building core strength, and otherwise preparing the body for labor, various poses, or asanas, can be beneficial in alleviating many common pregnancy complaints. Yoga, being a holistic practice - it addresses the mental, physical, and emotional/spiritual aspects of wellbeing – makes it particularly ideal during this time.

Here are some of the many ways yoga specifically helps to relieve common pregnancy woes. (Note: Please be sure to practice these poses with a qualified instructor trained in prenatal yoga, or follow a prenatal yoga program, as some of the poses need to be modified during pregnancy).

• Anemia – Downward facing dog, twists, and pranayama (breathing exercises) have proved beneficial in treating anemia, a common condition in pregnancy.

• Backache – Twists, triangle pose, extended side angle stretches, cat’s breath, downward facing dog (modified), and savasana (side-lying after 4th month) can really help alleviate backache.

• Lack of Concentration – Downward facing dog and side-lying savasana can really help with “pregnancy brain”.

• Constipation – Triangle pose, extended side-angle stretch, Warrior I and Warrior II, and twists all help to keep things moving!

• Edema - Triangle pose, downward facing dog, twists, and legs up the wall can help reduce swelling of extremities.

• Fatigue – Downward facing dog, pranayama, side-lying savasana, twists, child’s pose (modified), and seated hamstring stretch can really give an energy boost.

• Headache – Sitting twists, side-lying savasana, head to knee bends, seated hamstring stretch, and pranayama can help take a load off the mind!

• Insomnia – Downward facing dog, pranayama, and head to knee stretches can help insure a good nights sleep.

• Stress – Downward facing dog, head to knee stretches, seated hamstring stretch, and pranayama can help allay anxiety and release pregnancy-related tension.

• Varicose Veins – Head to knee stretches can help minimize varicose veins, a common pregnancy condition.

I have found much relief from practicing yoga during my pregnancy, most notably in increased energy and improved mental outlook. It has also been a fun bonding experience with my toddler – he is really good at downward facing dog and warrior I! – and it has helped me to feel more connected to the new baby inside. I highly recommend it.

Namaste~

Ardis

Posted in Ardis's Thoughts, Pregnancy, Yoga | No Comments »

What They Don’t Tell You About Breastfeeding While Pregnant

Saturday, May 31st, 2008 by Shannon

breast feeding Before I became pregnant, most of the stuff I read about breastfeeding during pregnancy was all positive. For example, it is indeed possible to become pregnant while breastfeeding and, in a normal pregnancy, it is in no way detrimental to the developing fetus; in fact, breastfeeding through pregnancy is common in many parts of the world. This was good news in that I had no intention of forcing my son to wean and really didn’t want to wait between 2.5 to 7 years (the average range of child-led weaning) to try for another baby! However, there are a few surprisingly less-than-pleasant aspects one might experience, that I don’t recall reading about….

First, when I became pregnant, my milk production took an almost instant nose-dive. I expected it to go down some, but not so abruptly. It was a really frustrating experience for both my son and me – he started wanting to nurse all the time as the meager returns he was getting from his nursing sessions were anything but satisfying (and, when pregnant, supply no longer responds to demand). It was frustrating for me too in that, thanks to those good ‘ole pregnancy hormones, my nipples had become extremely sensitive. I was prepared for and expected some soreness (they do tell you about this); however, this prospect seemed a lot less daunting when my son nursed only 2-3 times a day – not the 10 times a day plus all night long sessions that ensued!

Moreover, if you are suffering from any nausea, breastfeeding not only amplifies it, but will even trigger it.

Another thing they don’t tell you is that it is common to experience something called “Nursing Agitation”. (Okay, okay, since it’s got a name and all, it’s not that they don’t tell you…but you really have to dig for the information!). This goes above and beyond any sort of pain or soreness one might experience. One woman described it as a creepy crawly sensation, like having bugs under your skin; another, like a physical sensation akin to nails on a chalkboard. I’d have to say it feels like having every nerve in your body exposed, the slightest touch a complete shock to the system. I found myself wanting to scream at the top of my lungs, pleading and negotiating with my son for some sort of respite during his night-long feeding frenzies. And, anyone who’s tried to negotiate with a 19 month old knows how futile that was!
By 10 weeks I was only producing colostrum, no milk. Whatever nursing my son does now is completely for comfort and not nutrition. Well, unless there’s a whole lot of nutrition packed into the maybe thimble-full of colostrum he gets a day….

Like many other pregnancy challenges, this one seemed to be a first trimester phenomenon; I no longer have the nausea or agitation and the soreness has for the most part abated. My son seems to have adjusted as well, back to requesting the breast just before bed and for comfort, as needed. While my supply never went back up, his appetite for solids has increased accordingly. Nursing is, once again, a mutually pleasing experience.

Do I regret choosing to continue the breastfeeding relationship through my pregnancy? Absolutely not - I still firmly believe that child-led weaning is best. I look forward to tandem nursing as I hope it will continue to provide my son with superior nutrition as well as comfort, and help to promote a healthy bond between him and the new baby. Would I have done anything differently if I had better known what to expect? Probably not. Would I have liked to know better what to expect? Absolutely. I may not have been able to control much of the physical side of things, but it would have helped immensely with the psychological and emotional side.

I guess for now I will continue to dig for information on tandem nursing, as I have a feeling that, too, will come with a few surprises….

Posted in Ardis's Thoughts, Breastfeeding, Pregnancy | No Comments »

Well, I’ve Got Some Big News….

Sunday, May 18th, 2008 by Shannon

baby news I am pregnant again!! 13 weeks pregnant to be exact. I thought for a change of pace from my usual articles, I’d give a “pregnancy update” here from time to time.

Once again, this pregnancy, like my first, came as a bit of a surprise…though, not exactly unplanned. Since I’m still breastfeeding, my periods didn’t return until December (when my son was 14 months old). At that point, we decided we’d start “trying” for another when he was 18 months old and I’d start getting my body ready in the meantime.

I’d already been eating a pretty healthy diet: a quart and a half of green smoothies a day plus lots of fresh fruit and salads, although not entirely raw. I had hoped to optimize my diet a bit more so that I could easily carry it through the pregnancy (and since you don’t want to be detoxing while pregnant), but I never fully got there. So I’ll have to transition a little slower and play it by ear…I may still get there. Nevertheless, in preparation, I kept with the green smoothies, etc. and added the occasional Mojo Maca smoothie (see my “Raw Foods that Put You in the Mood” entry for the recipe) and began charting my cycles.

According to fertilityfriend.com, 94% of all pregnancies are conceived within the 2 days prior to and the day of ovulation, a 3-day period, which they refer to as the “fertile window”. Well, since we abstained for a full 5 days before ovulation, although still possible, it really didn’t occur to me that I might be pregnant…until my temperature stayed elevated 18 days past ovulation. At this point I took a pregnancy test and lo and behold! A couple months earlier than planned, but we couldn’t be more thrilled.

This pregnancy’s been quite different from my first so far. Somewhere around 6 weeks some pretty intense nausea hit. During my first pregnancy, I had some mild odor-triggered nausea, but not much at all. It still wasn’t bad enough this time around to actually make me vomit, but I pretty much felt gross and sick all day and night for about 4 weeks…and then it totally let up!

During the 4 weeks, however, I must say I made some pretty poor diet choices. Fruits went down great so I consumed lots of fruit and fruit smoothies, but ALL vegetables, and even my beloved avocado, became off-limits. Consuming only fruit made me shaky and light-headed and more nauseous. Sometimes a handful of almonds helped balance me out but I eventually started eating some toast, which led to more bread-stuff until I finally went on a total starch bender! It was out of control.

While the bread offered me some immediate relief, in the long run it made things worse and perpetuated the nausea cycle. Feeling completely unbalanced and a bit dejected about the whole situation, I buckled down and came up with a plan to kick this morning sickness to the curb. That’s when I started implementing the guidelines laid out in “Natural Tips for Managing Morning Sickness”. I saw almost immediate improvement but it wasn’t until I started consuming fresh young coconut water daily that I saw a total turn-around. Phew - I sure am glad to be over that hurdle!! And amazed that I got over it so fast. I’m even back on my green smoothies and loving salads again- yay!

However, I’ve still got a couple complaints I’m trying to work out; for example, my skin is not so good this time around – splotchy, dry and irritated. Last time I was blessed with beautiful, glowing skin. Not so lucky this time.

On the other hand, last time I suffered debilitating fatigue my first trimester, but this time, while I have an occasional day of feeling a little run-down, all in all, my energy levels are good. This is a godsend, considering I’ve got a lil’ toddler to chase around!

I wonder, given the vast difference in my experiences so far, if it means that this time it will be a girl…hmmm. I sort of have a feeling it is, but then, we will be thrilled no matter what!

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