tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28072062439519037602024-03-20T02:18:15.526-07:00Mississippi MammaPursuing health and happiness for my growing familySarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03417387351766624152noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807206243951903760.post-41685138063984671912013-04-03T14:53:00.000-07:002013-04-04T12:09:15.900-07:00Birth Story<div style="text-align: center;">
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</span>Baby Milo, born at home Sunday, March 10, 9:30 pm</div>
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7 lbs. 4 oz.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> On Saturday, March 9th, I was 39 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I was still working full time and the long days of sitting at a computer were exhausting and miserable. I had an easy and healthy pregnancy and enjoyed it even at the very end, but I did NOT want to go back to work on Monday.</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">My son's 3rd birthday party was that day. We had planned to have his party at a nearby park. We didn't want to worry with entertaining at the house since we were getting ready for a home birth. It was a beautiful, sunny day and Ollie had a great time with his friends. </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I took a nap that afternoon, then Drew had to
go into work for a little while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before
he left, I asked him to have a talk with Milo and tell him it was okay to come
whenever he was ready, and he was welcome to come this weekend so Mamma
wouldn’t have to go back to work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That night after Ollie was in bed, Drew and I
watched a movie. I sat on my birth ball and noticed I was having cramps every
ten minutes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These cramps felt different
than the BH I had been having. They were definitely uncomfortable, so I was
suspicious something might be up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
texted Norma, my midwife, at midnight to let her know what was happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew false labor could go on for days
before the baby came, so I went to bed without getting my hopes up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cramps continued all night, 6 to 10
minutes apart, but they spaced out the next morning. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel and by
the time we got home, the contractions had stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around noon, we decided to take Ollie to the
park and walk for a bit to see if they would start up again. We walked about a
mile and I had 3 or 4 contractions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got
home, took a shower and laid down for a nap, still contracting, but they were
spaced out too far to time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The cramps continued after my nap and were
getting closer together. Drew cooked dinner while I piddled around the
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cramps were starting to get
more painful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Drew I was worried
because they were really hurting and my Hypnobabies techniques didn’t seem to
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought about calling Norma
before dinner, but wasn’t sure I was really in labor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept reading some handouts she had given me
describing how actual labor contractions would feel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It said real labor pains would start in your
back and wrap around to the front. I never felt any pain in my back, just
intense crampiness in my lower belly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After dinner, the cramps were consistently
about 5 minutes apart, so I called Norma and she said she would get her things
together and be on her way. She lives an hour and a half away and there was a
big thunderstorm coming. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At this point, we were pretty sure this was
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drew started filling the birth pool
and I called my mom to come over and watch Ollie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked around the house and would stop to
lean on the counter and sway my hips when a contraction would hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent some time laboring on the toilet,
just needing to be alone and quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Things were starting to happen fast. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 6 pm I stopped timing contractions. They
were 3 minutes apart and there was no point in timing them now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had started to rain and I was excited that
we going to meet our baby that night in the midst of a thunder storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was also starting to worry that Norma was
not there yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was quickly entering Laborland now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was lying on my side on the bed and
breathing through contractions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in
between the bed and the toilet to keep my bladder empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just took each wave one at a time and
breathed slowly and deeply through each one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had imagined that I would have an easy and
somewhat pain free labor and birth. I studied Hypnobabies and watched a lot of
birth videos. I loved the ones where the moms were happy and chatty and would
quietly go in and out of contractions. I thought that would be me. But that’s
not how it went down. I really needed to fully concentrate on relaxing in
between contractions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My eyes were
closed most of the time and it was like I was in my own little bubble. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Drew kept telling how great I was doing and
made sure I drank water in between the cramps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During a contraction I needed his hands to squeeze and at some point I
started to “Ooohh” as I breathed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Norma arrived at 7 and started to set up her
birth supplies, while Drew made me a smoothie so I could keep my energy
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Norma checked me and said I was at 4
cm; she could stretch me to a 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
could feel my bag of waters bulging and said I would have a few more
contractions and it would break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
that’s exactly what happened. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I felt a pop, then water gushed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in the bedroom by myself at that moment
and thought, “Crap, my water broke and there’s no one to take care of me! What
do I do?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost immediately, I felt a ton on pressure
pushing down at my bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the
worst part of labor, that yucky, awful pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Norma came back in. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her what happened and we decided I would
get in the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">my playlist </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I waddled to the pool and Drew helped me
undress and get in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kneeled sort of
froggy style over the side of the tub, gripping Drew’s hands when a wave would
come. Things got really hazy at this point as I was nearing the pushing stage.
At one point Drew left the room to get a cold towel for my head and my mom came
in. I needed hands to squeeze so she filled in for Drew. (She told me later she
was surprised how strong my grip was. Sorry Mom!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t in the pool long before I felt like
pushing and I said so. Norma told me not to push, but my body was pushing
anyway. She quickly checked me and said I was complete. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">More intense pressure now, like the universe
was building up inside me and coming down at my bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t painful, just immense pressure.
Wow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Norma and Drew kept saying how good
I was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just let my body take
over and breathed and pushed, squeezing hands, eyes closed, pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The contractions were coming farther apart
now, so I was able to rest in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Norma said the baby would be here soon, so I told Drew to get my mom
(she was in bed with Ollie and didn’t want to leave him. She didn’t make it in
time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drew was back now and soon the
baby was crowning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Norma kept telling me
to reach down and feel his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
in the middle of a contraction and couldn’t move. When it was over, I felt his
head. It was soft and squishy and had lots of hair! I told Drew he had to feel
it too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another contraction and Milo was
born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned around and Norma
unwrapped the cord and put him on my chest. He was perfectly pink and wonderful
and had lots of handsome, dark hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t know how long I pushed, but Drew says it was only 4 pushes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Milo was born at 9:30 and weighed 7 lbs. 4
oz.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I made my way back to the bed to nurse Milo
and deliver the placenta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This took
awhile because Milo had trouble latching on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Norma mixed up some herbs for me to drink to help my uterus
contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I eventually had to sit on the
toilet to get it to come out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a
small tear, so Norma put in 3 stitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My mom cleaned everything up and after Norma left, we all sat on the bed
and admired our sweet boy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All the reading and preparation paid off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it would be hard work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it would be intense and painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I was mentally prepared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not able to have a pain free labor, but
I do think I benefited from Hypnobabies in practicing positive thinking and
relaxation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My home birth was wonderful
and empowering, just as nature intended. </span></span><br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03417387351766624152noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807206243951903760.post-65943085103185511842013-02-27T09:17:00.000-08:002013-04-03T14:45:31.529-07:00Preparing for a home birthMy first birth with my son was a typical, medicated hospital birth, complete with pitocin and epidural. It wasn't terrible, but I felt so out of control and it was not what I had wanted at all. I knew there was a better way to birth, that our bodies are made to deliver babies without drugs or medical intervention. <br />
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I started researching options for natural childbirth long before my husband and I even decided we were ready for another baby. I knew a home birth was right for me. Being in my own environment, walking, eating, letting things progress at their own pace, using water for relaxation, no purple pushing, delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin and breastfeeding with baby - these are all the things I want for me and my baby. <br />
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I trust my body and my midwife. I've been eating healthy foods to stay low risk and to help my body prepare for labor. With my estimated due date 2 weeks away, I am ready for my home birth and so excited to meet my baby!<br />
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Lots of towels you need for a home birth!</div>
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The Birth Tub</div>
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The hose</div>
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Birth kit</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbJRV739Tm7xzNjtEEsq-lJE3SaTnxTIS6mUil9HMxpE-AaX95yVhiRfN7Re3nLPVBmMnpK8MLeydhR9evkpl6oAi77E6jtgIBplfY24EFKH70tJ7CSw_6tObZXoZcFOX7yoS0uaiuqM/s1600/DSC_0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbJRV739Tm7xzNjtEEsq-lJE3SaTnxTIS6mUil9HMxpE-AaX95yVhiRfN7Re3nLPVBmMnpK8MLeydhR9evkpl6oAi77E6jtgIBplfY24EFKH70tJ7CSw_6tObZXoZcFOX7yoS0uaiuqM/s640/DSC_0381.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wee baby clothes!</div>
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cloth and disposable diapers</div>
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more wee baby clothes!</div>
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Me - 38 weeks</div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03417387351766624152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807206243951903760.post-78565509605948502302013-02-26T18:41:00.000-08:002013-02-27T06:43:38.220-08:00Project: Dresser RedoFINALLY got around to finishing this project. I started several months ago, sometime last fall. I wish I had taken pics of all the steps involved, but I only have a before and after. It was quite an ordeal, but all the hard work paid off!<br />
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I started with this dresser a friend had given me in college. It had several coats of very stubborn paint on it that needed to be stripped. I started with CitriStrip, which did a decent job on the first few layers, but still left a lot of paint on some areas. I ended up buying an orbit sander and recruited my husband to sand the rest of the paint off. He used 250 grit sandpaper, then I did some more sanding with 400 grit for a finer finish. <br />
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Once it was nice and smooth, I began to apply wood oil using a soft cloth (an old cut up t-shirt actually). First I applied several coats over an hour, making sure not to let it dry during that time. Then the wood got an additional coat of oil every day for about a week. <br />
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After all that coating, I brought the dresser back outside for additional wet sanding. The theory is that wet sanding creates a wood oil "sludge" that penetrates the pores of the wood, making it super smooth and slick. So I applied a thin coat of wood oil and sanded with a fine 500 grit paper. Once that was dry (after several days), it got another coat of wood oil. <br />
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Really there's no way you can apply too much wood oil. The more you add, the more it penetrates the wood and the smoother your piece becomes. Just make sure it dries completely between each coat or it will get tacky.<br />
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Here's what it looks like now! I think it's quite handsome!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf54rqFupdzXX6GchcWZNUORxJUPE_5OG2DfSg96bP3rt3mXZMSDiq2RIU9WRHNReggtwJq-l9tQirP6v8K-NSNc34AKKzPqqn1uT3s7bck770mkIQF1mLbISqdzeCqozKMYMklQlEXg/s1600/dresser+redo+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf54rqFupdzXX6GchcWZNUORxJUPE_5OG2DfSg96bP3rt3mXZMSDiq2RIU9WRHNReggtwJq-l9tQirP6v8K-NSNc34AKKzPqqn1uT3s7bck770mkIQF1mLbISqdzeCqozKMYMklQlEXg/s400/dresser+redo+(6).JPG" width="292" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidauaNV7y8FdZvCH22KjmwrS2erKqMo0ycwqb5Nv0BzMp9XDEFytnA4BQVgYvC_DuJI2k8lE6xAOwgc-XPDN-6FSZmMzJZt3Lr62dsS9Xq069wUnrySeOWpOUmLlb3TUpX7RmcEa9OCz4/s1600/dresser+redo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidauaNV7y8FdZvCH22KjmwrS2erKqMo0ycwqb5Nv0BzMp9XDEFytnA4BQVgYvC_DuJI2k8lE6xAOwgc-XPDN-6FSZmMzJZt3Lr62dsS9Xq069wUnrySeOWpOUmLlb3TUpX7RmcEa9OCz4/s400/dresser+redo+(2).JPG" width="282" /></a></div>
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My husband had the idea to customize the dresser by adding some art on the top drawer. We asked the very talented Chrissy Valentine to do a wood burning of a hummingbird. Isn't it awesome?!? This was done before the wood oil was applied.<br />
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You can see more of Chrissy's work <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/ValentineBurning" target="_blank">here.</a></div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03417387351766624152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807206243951903760.post-46438525045879124822012-04-26T20:18:00.001-07:002012-05-03T13:56:20.664-07:00Superfood Trailmix<h3 style="text-align: center;">
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Superfood trailmix</h3>
<strong>Goji berries</strong>: <em><span style="color: black;">filled with powerful antioxidants and other compounds that may help prevent cancer and other illnesses, including heart disease</span></em><br />
<strong>Pumpkin seeds</strong>: a <em>good source of nutrients including essential fatty acids, magnesium, iron, zinc, protein, and fiber</em><br />
<strong>Cacao nibs</strong>: <em>high in antioxidants and a good source of magnesium</em><br />
<strong>Sunflower Seeds</strong>: <em>packed with vitamins, including vitamin B1 and B5, vitamin E and folate. provide a healthy dose of copper, magnesium, selenium and phosphorous</em><br />
<strong>Cashews: </strong><em>heart heathy, rich in copper & other minerals, contain proanthocyanidins, which help prevent cancer</em><br />
<strong>Pecans: </strong><em>high protein and fiber content, antioxidants, and essential vitamins and minerals</em><br />
<strong>White Chocolate</strong>: <em>eh, not really good for you, but those little sweet morsels are so yummy! you could use milk or dark chocolate, this is just what I had on hand.</em><br />
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<em>This post is linked to Kelly the Kitchen Kop’s </em><a href="http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2012/05/real-food-wednesday-4252012.html#comment-115114" target="_blank"><em>Real Food Wednesday</em></a><em> blog carnival.</em></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03417387351766624152noreply@blogger.com0