Happy Due Day and Sitz Bath Recipe

40 WEEKS TODAY!!! Its official - Jayden James is due today, March 5th. Now its just a matter of finding out how late he's going to stay in his comfy hotel. I'm trying to up my intake of red raspberry leaf tea to help, and I'm continuing with the evening primrose oil regimen as well. As a last resort (around 41 weeks) I'll try the Start It Up to get things going, though of course they won't really get going unless he's ready.

As for my postpartum healing plans, I have come across ingredients for an herbal sitz bath in a useful book called Birthing from Within by Pam England & Rob Horowitz (copyrighted of course, and all info taken from it below used purely to educate and maybe to encourage you to buy a copy - click the pic!).

             

In the book, they list "your herbal friends" and a few of their properties:

• comfrey - builds new cells rapidly which speeds healing, softens skin and soothes wounds; decreases itching and pain
• rosemary - mild antiseptic
• yarrow - astringent & antibacterial
• marshmallow root - soothes inflamed, swollen tissues
• uva ursi - antibiotic properties
• goldenseal - antibiotic properties
• myrhh - helps keep herbs fresh

So, along I went to an all-natural grocery called Harmony Farms in the area with one of my friends that just HAPPENS to also be pregnant. With the expertise of the co-owner Steve we came up with a more exact "recipe" than just the equal parts suggestion...since we all know that all herbs are not created equally, with my science background that was far too vague of a statement hahaha. There is also the fact that goldenseal is the most powerful component of the mix, and is so potent and rare that in powder form (which is the only good option for the sitz bath, a tincture contains alcohol which would obviously be a painful additive, and capsules are often mixed with other ingredients) it can cost around $200 per pound. Also a good reason we're working in OUNCES in this case!

 So, my final results are below, and I have mixed one set of it myself to judge the final mix amount. I believe the recipe below should yield about 8 cups of "sitz tea" (not to be ingested), since it feels like about 2 ounces or so of final product, and the suggestion in the book is to simmer 1-2 ounces of herb blend per 4-8 cups for 20-30 minutes, strain and save unused portion. SO in this scenario: simmer 2 ounces of herb blend in 8 cups of water for 30 minutes, or you can do it in two 1 ounce halves, but as a new parent you might not care for  the added work.
 

My recipe (which can be altered proportionally):

1. 4 parts COMFREY ROOT (leaf is better for ingestion, which we are not doing here)
2. 4 parts YARROW
3. 2 parts MARSHMALLOW ROOT
4. 1 part UVA URSI
5. maximum of 1 teaspoon MYRHH
6. maximum of 1/2 teaspoon GOLDENSEAL (powdered)
7. rosemary to preference (acts as a binder and brings out the effects of the other herbs as well...no limit)

Any questions please let me know! The owner was a BIG help, and quite knowledgeable!

***UPDATE***
Due to the work, and thought, I put into the herbs, I've decided to sell my extra!!! The finished sitz mix can be found HERE at my Etsy shop!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JaydensCraftyMom

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to MEEEEEEEEE, happy birthday to ME!

I mean honestly, who doesn't want to do that??? Hehehe...but no really, today I turn 26 years old, and my precious little one is due TOMORROW on the 5th. This is crazy! This time last year I was on my second date with the love of my life (maybe third...do lunches count? It was a cRaZy birthday couple of weeks lol) my husband Douglas (as seen below on a snow day) and the 2nd (two days ago) was our one year (dating) anniversary...which obviously we didn't get to, since we've been married since last year hahaha.

A really cute e-card from my second set of parents (aka in-laws) must love those sweet folks!

Aaaaannddd proof that dogs have no idea its your birthday and do not care :-)

And proof that I have a very sweet husband who picked these out all on his own rather than letting some silly florist do it. And they're actually in the same vase I received on 3/2/12 on the evening of our first date...that time they were full of some very cool tulips, my first ever bouquet of them. He knew he'd be buying me flowers for the rest of his life already :-)

Pregnant Body (Cast) Art!

Hey there everyone!!! So, a couple of weeks ago, my wonderful husband plastered by preggo belly and chest and we made the below cast to remember my first pregnant form :-)

Well, on Thursday 2/28/13 I finally spent a couple of hours decorating it. I'd been avoiding it because I had NO IDEA what I wanted to do, and eventually decided that, as with all of the "birth art" we made in our Birthing From Within classes, I should just do what came to me...so out came my limited supply of acrylic paints, and below is the evolution of my cast!

First came a printed ultrasound photo of Jayden that I placed on my belly button (still an inny!). I used different blues, black, and silver around his photo, which blended perfectly with the black&white computer printout. His colors represent the calm and soothing dark world where he still is (for now). And blue is both my and his daddy's favorite color :-)

 Then came browns for me, and yellows and oranges for the warmth and happiness of the sun around the breasts...especially since that will be where he finds most of his comfort (while sleeping and breastfeeding) at the start of his little life. I extended the halo-like effect of the yellows and oranges around the blue/black/silver area around his photo like an embrace. 

For the finished product, I added his name across my chest in blue. I may also add a Pisces symbol after the "n" at the end of his name...depends on how I feel :-)  

For those of you that consider having a professional do this for you, or would really like to but don't have the extra cash...its so fulfilling to do it yourself, with your significant other, or with friends! 

We bought a casting kit by pearheadTM for less than $20.00 at the local Burlington Coat Factory (but they can be found ALL OVER and in plenty of other brands! We just happened to be there.). 

Paints can be gotten from craft stores in smaller squirt-style bottles that cost less than the typical tubes, and brushes can be found almost anywhere from the dollar store to Walmart to craft stores, depending on your budget.

      

39 weeks and counting...natural labor help! *updated*

So...today I'm 39 weeks and 3 days. Jayden (according to What To Expect) is as big as a watermelon and weighing 6 to 9 pounds at 19 to 22 inches...which I will have to believe since I have midwives at a freestanding birth center and don't get a bunch of ultrasounds or "medical guesses" as to when he will arrive and how big he is. At my appointment today one of my midwives did declare that I seem to have a "long and skinny" baby boy, which I completely agree with! He seems to be too big to do the normal "fetal curl" position and instead always has his legs stretched out along my entire right side. Odd, since I'm 5'2" and my husband is 5'9" (approx....maybe a tad less).

Well, seeing as how I'm due in 4 days and this little boy seems comfy, I got some suggestions for speeding things along naturally so that he does at least show up soon, if not by his due date on Tuesday (3/5/13)...which happens to be the day after MY BIRTHDAY...crazy year :-)

The list of suggestions begins here with my personal suggestions from my midwives, I've heard, though of course consult your own professional and personal comfort when considering any labor aid...

Evening Primrose Oil

                    

Suggested dose: 1,000 mg by mouth & 500 mg vaginally (both together) daily from 37 weeks on to prevent post-dates

Helps to ripen the cervix, does not induce labor directly however we all know that without a ripe cervix labor won't get you anywhere anyhow!

***I didn't hear about this one until my  39th week (38 weeks and a few days) due to the chaos in the office on my previous visit...i.e. lots of births distracting the midwives lol.***

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

Suggested dose: 3-5 cups of tea steeped per directions in the earlier portion of the day to avoid being kept up at night by bathroom runs (from all the extra liquid) and frequent contractions.

Recommended by my midwife to get the uterus in shape for labor, and causes contractions, but does NOT put you into labor. According to my midwife, the contractions are extremely useful to finish preparing the uterus for labor, and once its ready (which may be sooner thanks to the workout) labor will come. The easiest brand to find in person is Alvita, averages around $8 or less per box. I got mine from The Vitamin Shoppe.

Start It Up by Mother's Herbal (formerly Start Up by Trilight)

Suggested dose: 1/2 teaspoon per 150 lbs every 2 hours until results occur during labor same dosage may resume following day. 

Ingredients: Pennyroyal, Feverfew, Blue Cohosh, Black Cohosh, Beth Root

Midwife suggested to help get things started for labor. Follow suggested use and increase accordingly (meaning I'll call and ask my midwife for reinforcement once I purchase it!). There is actually a suggested use for before labor as well, which unfortunately isn't on the store's website, but may be on the bottle. If not, I'll get it from my midwife and post here. They suggest increasing to the suggested use above once you past your due date.

Of course we've heard of other natural labor-inducing remedies (castor oil, pineapples, etc) but I've only listed my recent advice from CNMs. Good luck ladies!

Prenatal Massage....ahhhhhhh

2/21/13

So, this morning I had a *re-scheduled* prenatal massage that I bought on Groupon last year (site of wonders, by the way!). I'd originally scheduled it (or so I'd thought) for this past Monday the 18th when my office would be closed, but it turns out that with dear old baby brain, I'd scheduled it for the wrong month!!!

Well, the wonderful massage therapist took pity on me and scheduled me in during her day off today so that I could enjoy a massage before I have dear little one. Amazing favor that was, and a real day/week brightener.

Well, I must say I recommend it for everyone, as long as you have a therapist that is learned in the ways of prenatal massage and the accommodations that need to be met for comfort and safety. Even the American Pregnancy Association believes that the benefits of prenatal massage outweigh the past skepticism of the practice.

For any folks in the Triangle area of North Carolina, comment below if you'd like to know where I went, or would like ideas on some other places to go!