Pregnant And I Know It

This video totally made my daughter's morning!

Preemie Clothing

For Preemies Only

A little Vonnegut...

Thank you Daniel!

"I never miss a chance to quote Vonnegut: "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you've got to be kind."

Why I Became A Doula

I wrote this essay for my DONA birth doula certification, and I thought I would share it with you!

My personal journey to become a doula began 13 years before I ever looked into training, or even knew what DONA was. I was very young – three weeks short of my 19th birthday – expecting a baby, and alone. I knew I wanted what was best for my child, and I saw that as a natural birth with few (if any) interventions. When I shared those hopes with my obstetrician (look back, he was amazingly supportive – if only we could all be so lucky), he connected me with an amazing birth doula.

That was the best thing he could have done for me. While the day didn’t go as I hoped – my imagined natural birth turned into an emergency cesarean when my baby boy went into distress – she was like the glue that held everything together. There are a lot of things she didn’t do “right,” but that’s OK! What she did for me is eternally imprinted on my mind, and I can’t imagine the experience without her.

A cross-country move and a slew of life changes meant I did not have access to doula care when my second and third children, two beautiful little girls, were born. Without even realizing it might be up for debate, I had a hospital VBAC, fulfilling my need for a mostly natural birth. Even so, I longed for the support I had in my first birth, and I wished for a way to make that care accessible to women in rural areas like the one I now lived in. My life situation did not lend itself to supporting other women, though, so those thoughts were pushed aside, waiting for the right time.

A decade passed, and I was blessed with the arrival of my fourth child, another perfect baby girl. This time, I was in my seventh month when I found out it was hospital policy to not allow VBACs. I was devastated. While my husband was incredible and I had a great support system in place, I felt lost and alone. There didn’t seem to be any alternatives. I followed the procedure and did as I was told, but I knew I had to be part of a change.

It was then that my thoughts went back to my first birth, and to the concept of doula care. My research led me to DONA, and I am so glad it did. Through DONA and my training with JM Birth, my eyes were opened. I learned that there really are options for women in birth. I quickly found that I was making an impact in a world with a lot to change. Becoming a doula was an opportunity to apply a lifetime of practical knowledge, and share it with women as they transition into motherhood. What could be better than that?

Helping mothers to have the birth that is right for them is not only great for them, it is empowering for me. I find great energy in the tiny role I play in bringing each new life into this world, and it is changing my life. I will never forget the feeling after my first client’s birth, when I realized – I have found what I want to do with the rest of my life.

Woman Gives Birth 7 Hours After Running Marathon

Looking to induce labor? How about running a marathon?

“I kind of was thinking it was likely I was going to have her before the race,” marathoning mother Amber Miller said of her baby girl, June, who was born after Sunday's Bank of America Chicago Marathon. But "the night before, I’m still pregnant, I’m still feeling good. I figured I paid for it.”

So she ran the marathon! Then, seven hours later, she had a baby in her arms!

(I'm totally teasing. Don't do that! Unless you run marathons often when you aren't pregnant. Then we can talk. ;-) )

Ricki Lake on Dancing With the Stars

Totally off topic and "just for fun," but considering Ricki Lake's support of the birthing community, I thought we could toss a little support her way! Check her out on Dancing With The Stars. Yay her! (And 43 years old!)

Baby in a Hurry!

This woman had a baby on her flight! That little one was in a hurry, and couldn't wait for landing!

Accepting New Clients

Did you know Crysta and Karli are accepting new clients? If you have thought about getting a doula but need more information, check out our website! We love to work with expectant parents!

Shameless Self-Cross-Promotion

Hope you don't mind a little shameless self-cross-promotion! I am the guest blogger on the Playdate Crashers Blog today, writing about foster parenting and the first day of school. Totally off-topic, but I'd love it if you checked it out!

Baby Mamas (Put a Sling on 'Em)

Hooked on breastfeeding!

16 and Pregnant

OK, this probably falls in the "just for fun" category, but the show 16 and Pregnant really disrupts my chi! And when I read BWF's blog post about it, I had to share. Oh, and I got teary in the end. But I do that!

North Dakota Baby Boom!

The North Dakota census data was released Wednesday, and there's a baby boom!

Children under 5 years old in Williams County – located in the heart of oil country – jumped from 1,135 in 2000 to 1,546 in 2010. The largest city in the county, Williston, had 764 children under 5 in 2000; there are now 1,103. Other 20 percent-plus jumps in western counties came in Billings, Bottineau, Burke, Burleigh, Divide and McKenzie and counties.

Who knew? Um, us! But it is an exciting time to be from the area!

Belly Art

This is really fun! Belly Art has become popular lately, check out these fun spins on it.