Planning a natural birth without using medications? Here are some tips on how to plan for a natural birth.

1. Choose Wisely

Have you heard of the saying “location, location, location”? Well in this case it’s more like “provider, provider, provider”. Your health care provider during your pregnancy should be someone that is supportive of your birthing options. And it’s more than “sure, we can do that” responses that you’re looking for. Instead, you’re looking for someone that can answer all of your questions and supports and encourages natural birthing options. Ask questions such as how many natural births she attends, what is her Cesarean birth rate, what is labor protocol during your labor (ie can you move around, will you have to have continuous and constant IV and monitoring, etc.). Interview a few birth providers in your area before making your decision.

2. Create a support network

Surround yourself with people that support your natural birth. Join online groups of women that have birth naturally. Talk to other women around you that have birthed naturally. Hire a doula to provide you with support and encouragement both before and during your labor. A doula also helps and supports your birth partner to enrich both of your experiences.

3. Take a birth class

There are various birthing classes in your community – choose one that is taught by a teacher that believes in natural birthing. This may or may not be a hospital based class for you, as there are many other classes taught at other locations such as Bradley Method, Hypnobabies, Prepared Childbirth classes and more. Choose a teacher that has trained and certified in the birthing method she is teaching. Talk to the teacher about your desire for a natural birth. Before signing up to her class ask  her give you a class overview to see if it’s a good match for you. Birthing naturally is something you can do when you know what to do. The birthing class will teach you what to expect and how to prepare for labor.  You may find like so many others before you that because of your preparation labor wasn’t painful – but powerful! If you’re not able to take a class, educate yourself through books as much as you can. Be sure to discuss what you learn with your birthing partner so both of you know what to expect.

4. Believe in your body

As you prepare for your labor give yourself affirmations that you can birth naturally. Follow your instincts. Be inspired and empowered by the goddess that you are. Your labor is powerful, the birth of your baby is amazing and with your knowledge and preparation you will be in control of every decision. You’ll birth your baby with the best birth you were able to give to your child.

They are here! Everyone seems to have their favorite GroVia shell (cover) print now that they are finally here at Granola Babies. And truth be told…so do I (watch the video!). For those that can’t make it into the store, you’ll be able to see the prints in this video so you can choose your favorite too. There’s Robot, Woodland, Peacock, and Bicycle ~ enjoy!

Parenting Books

• What Your Pediatrician Doesn’t Know Can Hurt Your Child, Susan Markel, M.D.
• The Premature Baby Book, William Sears, M.D.
• The Attachment Parenting Book, William Sears, M.D.
• Attached at the Heart, Barbara Nicholson and Lysa Parker
• Playful Parenting, Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph. D.
• Unconditional Parenting, Alfie Kohn
• Nonviolent Communication, Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
• What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations, Stephanie Cave M.D.
• The Baby Book, William Sears, M.D.
• The Discipline Book, William Sears, M.D.
• Siblings Without Rivalry, Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish

Breastfeeding Books

• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (La Leche League International Book), La Leche League
• The Breastfeeding Book, Martha Sears, L.C.
• Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding, Ina May Gaskin
• Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding During Pregnancy and Beyond, Hilary Flower

Birthing Books

• The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth, Henci Goer
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
• Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: Revised Edition, Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg

Natural Living Books

• Better Basics for the Home, Annie Berthold-Bond
• The Naturally Clean Home: 150 Super-Easy Herbal Formulas for Green Cleaning, Karyn Siegel-Maier
• Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homemade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin & a Vibrant Self, Stephanie Tourles

Free rides and did the boys ever enjoy it! Free rides as in you can sit in the car as it didn’t move at all, but that didn’t seem to matter to these two wild riders. This car is stationed right outside the Ace store on 2nd at Long Beach along with a train table. The boys didn’t want to leave! And I didn’t either as it was a moment that I wanted to linger at a little longer.

We don't care that the car doesn't move ~ it's fun anyway!

OC Pregnancy & Beyond 2012

Wow, it’s one full day after the OC Pregnancy & Beyond Fair and I still am riding high on the amazing energy that filled the OC Pregnancy & Beyond Fair yesterday. The vision I had started last year to provide pregnant and mothers a day of education and resources grew from a small gathering to a day of over 500 attending. It was a day filled with beautiful families, exhibitors with hearts and passions to serve their community and so many enjoyed what turned out to be a beautiful, beautiful day.

This year I had the joy of co-organizing OC Pregnancy & Beyond with a very special person – Stephani of Xpecting Maternity. Stephani has the most fabulous maternity store in all of Orange County. She hand selects each and every piece at her store and provides a service that is unique and so needed in our community. Thank you Stephani ~ it was fun to do this together.

Our sponsors this year were amazing. Stephani and I both thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Much thanks to ~ Fitlosophy, Blossom Orange County, South Coast Midwifery, Squarespot, Transitions in Motherhood, Couture Paintings, Berlin Wellness Group, Birdies Bakery, Lindsey Kliewer Photography, Orbit Baby, Your Doulas, The Parent Tree, Ritual Cleanse, Bumbleride, Boba Carrier, Knocked up Fitness, Bella B, Morgan Group, Safety in Motion, Erin Tukua Photography, Beco Baby Carrier, Beach Cities Midwifery, Lisa Scarsi Photography, Avanti, BuggyLOVE, Zhena’s Gypsy Tea, Silver Spoons Baby Planner, Thriving in Motherhood, Milkalicious, SoCal Moms Connect, and Sugar Free Photography.

And now last but the most fun part of the post ~ pictures!

The Baby Jogger City Mini is a stroller so quick and easy to close that I literally laughed when I first got it. It’s a patented design that is really just brilliant. We’ve all been there where we need to close the stroller quickly and get going and this one does exactly that. Here’s a video showing how to close and open the City Mini.

For my daughter’s 7th birthday we did a terrarium-inspired craft that the girls really enjoyed. I gathered rocks and twigs, bought moss and flowers from our local florist, and used the flower fairies cupcake decorations. And since we reuse glass jars in our house, I simply grabbed some of our jars to use for the craft. And being that it was a beautiful day, we did the craft outdoors.

Moss, rocks, flowers, twigs, flower fairies.

Decorating their terrarium was so much fun.

Enjoying their fairy world in a jar.

Beautiful!

Today our homeschooling art project was focused on my little preschooler, Evren. And being 3, which is such an appropriate age for pasta art he absolutely loved it. We use water colors and mix them in little small glass containers that we’ve collected over time. And I like having a mix of brushes on hand for projects. We used a new pack of pasta which was way too much so we have plenty of future projects.

Gather your supplies - pasta, paints, brushes, construction paper, glue.

Let the pasta painting begin!

Gluing the pasta...what should we make?

We made a pasta house!

guest blog post by Lindsay of This Woman’s Work Blog.

*This isn’t just a letter to myself.  But a letter to every mother. *

Dear Lindsay,

You are a firm believer in treating others how you would want to be treated.  You stand firm on practicing tolerance, acceptance, and non-judgement.  You try to see the best in people, and nothing breaks your heart more than seeing others beat themselves down when they have so much to offer the world.

So, why?  Why do you pick yourself apart?  Why do you look in the mirror and describe yourself in ways you wouldn’t describe your worst enemy?  Why do you shut your husband out when he tells you that you are beautiful?

That bump on your nose is ugly, and just look at what pregnancy has done to your hips.  Your boobs will never be where they used to be, and you never seem to have a “good hair day.”  The bags under your eyes age you and long gone are the days of your cute little belly button.   The pounds just don’t come off the way they used to, and you will never be the size you were in college ever again.

You hypocrite.  You say you want your daughters to love who they are, just as they are.  You say you never want to hear them speak negatively about themselves.  You say you want them to truly feel beautiful, just as they are.  Who do you think they will learn from?  Lula is starting to mimic the people around her.  Watch your words.  Watch your actions.

Stop complaining about your weight.

She is listening.

Stop picking yourself apart in the mirror.

She is watching.

You say you strive to find beauty in the world around you.  Start by finding it in yourself.

You say your hips are too wide.  You carried two humans for nine months…and they needed room to grow.  Is there no beauty in that? You say your boobs will never be where they used to be.  You are nursing your baby, feeding her, bonding with her.  She is building trust in you everytime she cries and you offer her your breast in comfort.  Is there no beauty in that? You never have a good hair day…well you spend your days putting your girls first.  Changing their diapers, feeding them, playing with them, the way your hair looks is last on your mind.  Is there no beauty in that? You say you have bags under your eyes.  You are up all night and sacrificing your sleep to nurse your little one, or you rock a sick toddler back to sleep.  Is there no beauty in that? Your cute belly button is gone…well your belly grew round and stretched as your precious babies grew inside you.  Isn’t that a beautiful thing?

Create your own definition of beauty.  For you.  For your daughters.  The world has turned into a very un-family place and motherhood is written off as a death sentence.  True beauty is in the life-giving scars, the selfless messy-buns, and the milk-stained shirts that are all a part of motherhood.

Mourn the loss of who you were, and then step into the light of who you have now become.  Stop comparing yourself to who you were.  Start embracing the incredible changes that are happening to not just your body, but to your life.  You have always taken great pride in any job you have had.  Motherhood is a damn hard job.  The hardest.  Take some pride in what you have done, and what you will continue to do for the rest of your life.

You are a beautiful woman, Lindsay.  Inside and out.  Don’t let yourself tell you otherwise.

Thank you Lindsay for letting us share your words.

Granola Babies is partnering with Evolue in Beverly Hills.

Granola Babies is growing! During the Pregnancy Awareness Event on May 16th at Evolue in Beverly Hills, Granola Babies will also be celebrating our grand opening in Beverly Hills at the same location. I’m so happy to be partnering with our friends at Evolue to provide the mothers and mothers-to-be of Los Angeles area with our best selections of baby carriers, cloth diapers, wooden and organic baby toys, mothering accessories, baby essentials and more. We’ll be on Robertson Blvd in Beverly Hills starting May 16th. Details on our celebrations on May 16th will be posted soon. Thanks for your support, your love and for growing with us!