January 16th: ONE MONTH of Baby B

8:05am on the 16th

*One month ago* today, the waiting and growing phase gave way for untapped strength. 


Time stopped--a new person was officially introduced to the world and, as it universally does, that moment changed everything. 


Outside, new snow fell from the sky like confetti and we, warm inside our watery cocoon, we cried in relief & joy. Celebration all around!

L: The last days of waiting...41 weeks, plus  R: The first minutes of holding...after 4 hours of labor (VBA2C water birth)

Dear Baby B,

We've been staring at you for one spectacular month now. You are abundantly loved. 

We adore your squooshyface, your squeaky sighs, and your head o'red. You have 4 little people around you all day who think you are the most amazing baby in the universe and 2 doting parents who are smitten. 

In fact, we even think you are cute when you crinkle your eyebrows, give your best grouch impression and cry (except at 2am...OK even then you are super cute). We are excited to cheer on your milestones and be part of your becoming.

Be patient with us, we are still becoming too♡

Love,
Yo Mama Bee

#worlddoulaweek

Did you know

 this week is 

WORLD DOULA WEEK?

Now you know.

From World Doula Week:

The purpose of World Doula Week ("WDW") is to empower doulas all over the world to improve the physiological, social, emotional, and psychological health of women, newborns and families in birth and in the postpartum period. The World Doula Week events will take place all over the world during the same week, stating the benefits of the presence of doulas in birth and in the postpartum period:

* Reduces the incidence of c-sections      

* May shorten the length of labor      

* Reduces epidural and analgesic requests      

* Increases breastfeeding initiation and continuation     

* Increases mother’s satisfaction of birth experience      

* Can reduce the incidence of postpartum mood disorders     

* Increases new parents’ confidence in the care of their newborn

Mr. H & I have interviewed, hired, and welcomed doulas to all 3 of our births so far, and we have a fabulous friend and doula Justine (with Midwest Doulas)  who will meet up with us for the birth of our 4th! We have benefited from the wisdom, experience, education, calm, and empowering encouragement of doulas and I wouldn't have it any other way.

As a labor doula myself, I am always in awe of the perfectly primal and sweetly spiritual experience of attending and supporting a woman and her partner in their birth experience. Over the last year, I've had the opportunity to attend beautiful, inspiring births-- medicated, unmedicated, c-section, natural, long, and short. 

A woman's body is amazing and the creation of a new mother every time is a time-stopping event. 

My children are asking lots of questions about babies and birth lately (naturally, as their mother's belly balloons and birth is only weeks away!). 

#4thbump 34.5 weeks! (disregard the dirty mirror...)

Yesterday my 6 year old asked if it would hurt me when the baby "comes out". I said that it would feel very intense and even hurt at various moments in the process, but that God made women's bodies so very special & specific to do this great work and that it is a beautiful, amazing experience. I assured him I would be fine and I am so excited for the gift of being able to birth.

Let's honor the divinity of birth.

Happy #worlddoulaweek!

Hug a doula today ;)

Monday Morning Quote: Birthing

“Remember this,

for it is as true and true gets:

Your body is not a lemon.

You are not a machine.

The Creator is not

a careless mechanic.

Human female bodies

have the same potential

to give birth well as aardvarks, lions, rhinoceri, elephants, moose, and water buffalo.

Even if it has not been your habit throughout your life so far,

I recommend that you

learn to think positively

about your body.”

~Ina May Gaskin

It's World Doula Week, yo!  

March 22-28th

The purpose of World Doula Week ("WDW") 

is to empower doulas all over the world 

to improve the physiological, social, emotional, 

and psychological health of women, newborns and families

 in birth and in the postpartum period.

What Is A Doula?

Ever since I first started talking about doulas

{6 years ago when I was looking for one 

to be a member of my birth team} 

I have been asked this question:

 WHAT IS A DOULA?

Here is the short answer:

The word "doula" 

comes from the ancient Greek 

meaning "a woman who serves" 

and is now used to refer to

 a trained and experienced professional 

who provides continuous physical, 

emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

Here's a bit more detail:

Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.

A Birth Doula

• Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
• Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
• Stays with the woman throughout the labor
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
• Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level

Research evidence shows that the quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.

A Postpartum Doula

• Offers education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester
• Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying
• Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary

Information taken directly from DONA.org

It's World Doula Week, yo!  

March 22-28th

The purpose of World Doula Week ("WDW") 

is to empower doulas all over the world 

to improve the physiological, social, emotional, 

and psychological health of women, newborns and families

 in birth and in the postpartum period.

Birth Story

If you like a good birth story, 

or are curious about my VBA2C water birth...

I finally finished 

the not-so-short condensed version of

 our birth story!!

Hop right over HERE to read, see photos, and enjoy the slideshow/video that I made in February.

Have a great Monday!

Belly Busters

So my belly is growing...we're at about 48 inches at the largest girth right now (measured this afternoon)


Side Note A: Saying girth reminds me of my Dad explaining "wide girth" as part of his Drivers 101 that we all had to go through before getting our driver's license.


Side Note B: Girth also reminds me of this sketch by our favorite comedian, Brian Regan...which just makes me laugh. Love that guy.

Ok--back to my waist.

Mr. H gave up his Sunday afternoon nap to snap some maternity photos of me (bless him!)...just in case, you know, we don't get the chance to take some next weekend (Mr. H is headed out of town tomorrow).


Hopefully we'll have plenty of sunshine & plenty of opportunities for more before my belly POPS. As in...popping a baby out. 


Don't worry, I know she won't pop out of my belly.


Although I'm pretty sure that's what J thinks.

Ok--back to maternity photos.

I love being pregnant. I feel beautiful in a way that I have never felt in any other time of my life. I love the curves, the movement of the growing little one, and the changes my body makes as it co-creates with God to bring a new person into the world. Isn't it just amazing?


I love taking photos along the way to document my belly bubble growth. We took them regularly with J and N but with this baby we have a nicer camera so we have indulged in more "photo shoot" type photography....which has been so much fun!


I love maternity shoots. I have done a few for friends over the last year or so--the energy and creativity during those shoots are just fabulous. There have been people turn down my offer to do maternity shoots...they just don't feel pretty or want to document their girth units. Of course, to each his (HER!) own...

What say you?

Beautiful Belly

or

Shy About Shape

Who's Your Doula?

When we were preparing for our first baby--3 1/2 years ago--I spent a significant amount of time reading and researching information on pregnancy, labor, birth, and post partum. I learned that I didn't know much at all about the process and that there was a large divide between medicated birth experiences and natural birth choices.


Because I had experienced a rare blood disease just 2 years prior, I was aware that there was a possibility of my platelet levels being low. If that were to be the case, I would not be a candidate for an epidural during labor/delivery. This spurred my initial interest into studying and pursuing a non-medicated birthing environment and experience.


We were living in western Kentucky--the birthing "environment" wasn't very progressive, and I think home birthing midwives were illegal (?). I didn't have many options for doctors or hospitals that were very interested in encouraging someone to have a completely natural birthing experience (aka--no meds, no IVs, moving around during labor for maximum pain management, limited/no monitoring, etc)...but I did the research to prepare myself and my Mr., we made our birth plan accordingly, and arranged for the only doula in the area to be part of our 'birth team.'


This post could go on forever if I discussed the details of each birth experience, why I ended up with two c-sections, and the emotions that are connected to all of it.

I will spare you (for now).

Let's just talk doulas!

Do you know what a doula is?

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.   According to DONA International

My first doula was also a massage therapist and aromatherapist--which was very helpful during my laboring hours. She provided us with guidance and information that helped us make informed decisions (as much as we were able, given the hospital policies).  She was also the only one who took the time to tell me exactly what would be happening when we were prepping for the c-section and was the one in the recovery room with me afterwards (Daddy goes with baby).


My second doula was brilliant with her positive affirmations, quick thinking of ideas for pain management, and focusing on keeping me moving during the unmedicated hours of my labor experience. She was encouraging of our VBAC plans (vaginal birth after Caesarian) and helped Mr. H know what he needed to do to help me help my body do the work of labor. She took photos, kept notes of the 24 hour experience, and kept me focused. Again, she was the one who was with me when I was alone in post-op recovery, and helped me work through my frustration when I wasn't able to see N for those first hours.

I am now on round three of doula-ing...third times a charm, right? I met with my doula on Monday. Make that doulaS. 

I've got two this time. Bring on the labor! Mwa ha ha ha.

I found an awesome doula trainer and trainee (the Twin Cities is a very pro natural birthing area of the country...lots of support, lots of home birthers, lots of midwives, & lots of doulas!) who will be on my birth team. They came to our home, we became friends over hot apple cider and chatted BIRTH. They asked me questions and I asked them questions. We will be in touch over these next days/weeks and when it is time, they will join me for some laboring fun! I'm excited to have these two ladies on my team--with our goal of VBA2C--and ultimate goal of healthy baby & Mama.


I saw an adorable onesie yesterday at the place where I enjoyed a relaxing prenatal massage. It said:

Who's Your Doula?

I also have an amazing OB (who thinks like a midwife), and met with the hospital L&D nurses yesterday--they are also pro-vbac and very non-invasive. I might just have this baby in a tub!