Focusing in on the Due Date
It’s Called An “Estimated” Due Date For A Reason… Today, I wanted to dive into more information on estimated due dates (or “guess dates” if you are a Hypnobabies student). There are a few different ways to calculate the time frame in which your baby will be born, but the most important thing to remember is that this date is just an estimation. Only about 5% of babies are born on their “due dates,” and this estimate includes inductions. My own boys completely ignored their due
Do You Utilize Chiropractic Care?
Today’s post is actually a guest spotlight from Dr. Marilyn at Milestone Chiropractic in Murfreesboro, TN. October is National Chiropractic Health Month, and I could not imagine a better way to celebrate than to share about the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy, infancy, childhood… basically every stage of life. And I am so happy that Dr. Marilyn took time to write this post out for us! My family and I have been seeing a chiropractor since 2011. We have witnessed
That First Period Postpartum
The time between the end of my lochia flow and the start of my first cycle felt like a lovely reprieve from the world of periods and menstrual products after every birth. Of course, I had new challenges to master during those months, like breastfeeding, learning to be a mom, and adding in new children. That time sans period, for me, increased after each subsequent birth. With Waylon, my period resumed 8 months after his birth (which led to a surprise pregnancy a month later).
Increasing the Chances of Conception
It is true that fertility affects all of us. Once we enter the reproductive years in elementary school and travel until we arrive at menopause, we are surrounded by fertility. We are learning about our bodies, trying to avoid pregnancy, or trying to achieve pregnancy. And the more we know, the healthier we can be. We are also more likely to achieve our fertility goals. My current fertility goal is avoiding pregnancy. I track my cycles each month to pinpoint my fertile window,
Fertility Services
I have had a busy week (as you can tell since my normal Monday email is arriving on Wednesday…), and it keeps getting busier! My fertility offerings are now in full swing, and I can’t wait to talk about them below with you. Since opening those options, I have been adding lots of classes to my schedule. This week, I had the absolute privilege of speaking to a high school class about the birth process, being a doula, and fertility awareness. One question that was asked, “Do you
Baby Led Weaning Basics
My husband and I have weaned and introduced foods to three little ones in our parenthood journey. With each one, we learned so very much, made mistakes, and made it through to the other side. With our first son, we started purees right at six months. I spent SO MUCH TIME cooking and blending our own baby food. I left the lid off the blender more than once, and accidentally destroyed a silicone spatula in the blades. He stopped nursing on his own at 13 months. With our second
I Blinked And School Started...
I don’t know how your summer went, but mine was insanely fast. One moment, I was preparing for a summer of house renovations and lazy pool days and suddenly I am getting reminders for back-to-school sales and pumpkin spice lattes. I accomplished almost none of my summer goals, but sometimes life decides to throw some unexpected things in our way. So I am trying to be gentle with myself, and remind myself I am doing the best I can. One thing I did accomplish that I am really p
A Little Summer Reading
Summer is not here officially, but the weather has my household ready for sprinklers, backyard cookouts, lightning bugs, and SUMMER READING LISTS! As a kid, I lived for those summer reading lists. I was never more excited than when I came home from the library with a stack of books I could barely carry (think Gus-Gus from Cinderella and his stack of corn), and I could lay under a specific tree to read for hours at a time. I am a little bit older now, but I still keep a stack
What Makes a Good Birth Team?
When I say “birth team” I am not talking about your care provider. I am talking about the direct support that you will receive during your pregnancy and birth. The people who will encourage you, uplift you, pray over you, weep with you, rejoice with you. They are the people in the birthing room with you. For many people this team consists of a partner, a family member, and/or a doula. Studies and surveys show that women with a good, encouraging, helpful support system describ
Pelvic Floor Health After Baby
Talking about incontinence, pain during sex, or heaviness in the pelvic floor region can be uncomfortable. But living with these symptoms is even more uncomfortable. So buckle up, friend! I was told during my first pregnancy that kegels would increase the health of my pelvic floor. After the birth of my second son, I began experiencing some issues with urgency to urinate, some pain, and just a heaviness in my lower body. I began doing research and found out that unending keg
