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Modern Alternative Pregnancy
 

Recap and Reads: May 6th-10th

May 11, 2013 by   Faith

fertilityebooks

This week, I am promoting the Natural Fertility bundle sale. The books in this sale are not just for couples struggling with infertility, although I do believe couples who find themselves in that situation would greatly benefit from these resources. Any couple looking to grow their family, naturally or through artificial means, will find a wealth of resources for preparing the body to be a welcoming host for a pregnancy within the pages of these books. It is so important to be feeding and caring for your body the right way when you are planning a pregnancy.

Recap

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I turned 39 weeks pregnant on Tuesday this week. I had my first baby at 38 weeks and 1 day, so going this long has me feeling very anxious to see baby! My husband is in the middle of his final exams for his first year of medical school, so I have pretty much been flying solo with Julian. As much as I would love to be doing more with him, I will be honest and say that most of our day consists of me sitting on the couch and observing his play. We did manage to make is to the library for story time Tuesday morning and  went grocery shopping on Friday. We have had beautiful weather once again this week, so we took quite a few walks around the neighborhood in an effort to get him outside and to attempt to move labor along. Here’s to hoping next weeks recap includes the birth of a baby!

Reads

Modern Alternative Kitchen

Envelope Budgeting for Grocery Shopping

Locavorism: What Is It?

Modern Alternative Health

Spring Water: How to Find a Source

Vitamin D: More Than Just Strong Bones

Modern Alternative Mama

Preparing for Preservation (Price and Pound Breakdown) 

How to Find Locally-Grown Food and Support Small Businesses

Around the Web

 Postpartum Herb and Salt Bath at Creative Christian Mama

The Tired Mother’s Creed at Lisa Jo Baker

To find out all the details about the bundle sale, read this post or simply click on the banner below to purchase!

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What Did You Do This Week? Have You Read Anything Interesting Around The Web Lately?

 

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Five Common Breastfeeding Challenges

May 10, 2013 by   Hailey Miranda

6900542743_8ff57231b6Photo Credit: Beautiful Breastfeeding

I use the term “challenge” instead of “problem” when it comes to breastfeeding issues. They are challenges because they are very common things that most mothers go through at some point during the breastfeeding journey. Breastfeeding is not always the beautiful photo of the mother holding her squishy baby with the golden sun peeking out from behind her – some of these challenges are quite difficult to get through, but I’ve come to learn that the more you know about them, the better you can handle them. Remember – you are NOT alone!

Five Personal Challenges from 40 Months of Breastfeeding

1. Engorgement – You can find me waddling around on my tip toes, slightly hunched over with my arms out to the side for balance.

I’ve been there, the two lead-filled basketballs hanging from my chest – they don’t even feel like they’re part of my body anymore because, I mean, seriously – how is this even possible?! Will I ever feel normal again? YES! The first part of breastfeeding is when your milk supply comes in – boy, does it come in! At first, your milk hits you full force, it gives you everything it has – this can be scary if you don’t understand the process going on here. Your milk will not always be so uncomfortable.  Feed your baby when they are hungry and your body will get the hint and give you a break.

Read this article for a few more ideas to aid in engorgement relief.

2. Mastitis – You can find me curled in the fetal position on the floor – what floor?  Any floor. I will most likely be wrapped in a blanket – I will probably be crying and saying things that do not make sense to you.

There I was, sitting in a 3-hour pharmacology class when I started to feel sick – like the pollen allergies were kicking in. The rest of the day was a downward spiral – by the evening, I was shaking and feverish. This would have normally been quite terrifying if I had not remembered that I was breastfeeding an infant. Did you know that cold cabbage leaves in your bra will actually wick moisture out of your breast and help break up the clog causing the problem? Twenty minutes of cabbage in my bra and I was up cooking dinner. Make sure that you don’t overuse the cabbage trick, it can dry your milk supply up.

More helpful tried and true natural remedies for mastitis can be found in this article.

3. Am I making enough milk? You can find me pressing baby’s tummy and poking around on my breasts before, during and after every feeding – “Is there enough food in there?”

I get this question a lot – how do I know if my baby is getting enough food? For starters, make sure you are feeding them on demand. Then, are your breasts softer after they eat? Is their tummy full and plump? Are they urinating often and having regular bowel movements? All of these are signs that your baby is getting enough to eat. Remember, their tummies are small which means that they need to eat quite often – feeding on demand is the best way to insure they are getting the nourishment they need.

4. Nipple Issues – You can find me wincing or yelping during feeding time. I may be repeating things over and over while rocking back-and-forth with my eyes closed tight – “I can do this,” “It’s for my baby,” “I love my baby.”

Some women have a great transition into breastfeeding; their baby has a perfect latch and everything goes smoothly. Then you have the other side to this story – the baby may or may not have a great latch, which still causes very uncomfortable tenderness, sometimes accompanied by bleeding, scabs and dryness. Not so pretty, but it’s a process you have to get through – this normally goes away within the first two weeks. Coconut oil on your nipples and lots of bare-breasted time around the house. Just make sure that you keep nursing the sore breast!

More information on natural nipple creams read can be found in this article.

5. Lack of breastfeeding support – You can find me on the bed, trying to latch my baby – I’m crying and saying things like, “I can’t do this anymore!” “This hurts!” “Why won’t they latch?!” “What’s wrong with me?!” “Why is this so hard?”

Breastfeeding is hard, but it does get easier – trust me! Finding support can be your golden ticket to happiness during these tough transition periods. I can’t tell you it won’t be hard, but I can tell you that it will be worth it; a quote to live by! Please don’t be afraid to reach out for help when you are thinking of reaching for the formula – there are many support groups out there, in person and online. We’re all here to help each other!

Find a local Le Leche League International support group near you!

Breastfeeding support group on Facebook: The Leaky Boob.

This post is written by my good friend and doula, Elizabeth. She runs Sweet Release Doula Services and is a homebirthing, breastfeeding mama of two!

Do you have breastfeeding tips of your own?

 

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Overcoming Infertility: Justyn’s Story

May 9, 2013 by   Faith

fertilityebooks

 

This week, I am promoting the Natural Fertility bundle sale. The books in this sale are not just for couples struggling with infertility, although I do believe couples who find themselves in that situation would greatly benefit from these resources. Any couple looking to grow their family, naturally or through artificial means, will find a wealth of resources for preparing the body to be a welcoming host for a pregnancy within the pages of these books. It is so important to be feeding and caring for your body the right way when you are planning a pregnancy.

I already shared one couple’s story earlier this week. Today I am sharing another couple’s beautiful story. Thanks, Justyn, for being willing to share about your journey with our readers!

Justyn’s Story

Family Pic

Like most women, I assumed that I would use birth control pills until we were “ready” to have kids, then immediately become pregnant when I went off the pill. Like many women, I discovered it is seldom that easy.

Knowing what I know now, I will never take the birth control pill, again. Not only does it have the potential of preventing a fertilized egg from implanting (killing a newly formed life, which is not acceptable to us), but it also wreaks havoc on the body. I can’t say how much of my struggles with infertility stemmed from using the birth control pills, but I’m sure they played some part.

When I went off the pill, we “tried” to get pregnant for months. Months turned into one year… then two years. At that time, we had no health insurance, so I couldn’t see a doctor. I was in my mid-twenties, generally healthy and I thought I ate well. According to the food pyramid of the time, my diet was ideal. Lots of grains, some fruits and veggies, some low-fat dairy, lean meat and “healthy” fats (canola oil, vegetable oils, etc.) and not many sweets.

We had made the mistake of telling several friends at church about our plans to have a baby, so every week for over a year (until we moved to a new state), we were met with, “Any news, yet??” We were discouraged and confused. We thought that it would be so easy to get pregnant. After two years, we began to seriously consider adoption.

Shortly after the two-year mark, we decided to do a detox diet. It had nothing to do with getting pregnant, we just thought it might be a healthy thing to try. I can’t remember the name of the little book we followed, but it started by cutting out everything except fruits and veggies for a few days. Then, it added in goat’s milk yogurt. After over a week on that, we were able to add in unprocessed seafood (not fish sticks, but real fish fillets and shellfish). By the third week we added some meats (again, not processed ones like chicken nuggets, but real cuts of meat) and I believe some goat cheese. After that, we added a few gluten-free grains and then were back to our normal diet… but we were pregnant!

It never occurred to us that our detox diet had anything to do with getting pregnant after such a long time of trying. We were thrilled, but we hadn’t really learned anything. After many miserable months of morning sickness, we were right back to eating our normal diet. In spite of that, we had a healthy baby girl born in a natural birth center.

Just before our baby turned one, we started “trying” again. We were back on our “healthy” diet, according to the food pyramid. Again, we had no success for two years. That’s when I learned about Weston A. Price and “real” food. Understanding that nearly everything we ate was highly processed was a shock. Store-bought bread, crackers, canned foods, breakfast cereal… pretty much everything in the aisles of the stores had it’s nutrition stripped and was then “fortified” with synthetic vitamins.

I immediately got rid of all our processed food, which left us with nearly nothing. I began to buy organic fresh fruits and veggies, free-range/grass-fed meat and eggs, full-fat dairy from grass-fed cows, coconut oil and butter to replace all the rancid canola and vegetable oils, whole wheat berries to grind and make fresh bread from, I began making homemade stock for cooking with, rather than store-bought… six weeks later, we were pregnant! Our second healthy little girl was born at home and I believe that the easy and quick birth had a lot to do with our unprocessed diet and some nutritional herbs I drank as a pregnancy tea.

That’s when it finally clicked. It was our diet that was causing the unexplained infertility. We were eating what most Americans consider to be very healthy, but our bodies were so starved for nutrition that we couldn’t get pregnant. In both cases, once we completely cut out all processed foods and only ate foods that were full of their original nutrition, we were able to easily conceive.

Although switching to real foods may not be the answer for all cases of infertility, it is certainly the best place to start. Ditching the processed food and truly nourishing our bodies with nutrient-dense real food helps to create the perfect environment to conceive and grow a new life. After over two years of eating real food (we eat about 90% unprocessed and allow for about 10% processed), we would never go back. We are healthier and we absolutely love how we feel and how our food tastes.

Justyn has been married 11 years and has a five-year-old and a toddler. She began blogging to share what she’s learning about her passions, which include “real” foods, herbs, natural living, gardening, crafts, homeschooling, homebirth and anything else that grabs her interest. Recently, she began an online store of natural products. She sees all of these things as ways God gave us to live creatively and would enjoy sharing her journey with you. Come on over for a visit at Creative Christian Mama or on Facebook.

To find out all the details about the sale, read this post or simply click on the banner below to purchase the bundle!

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The Importance of Early Breastfeeding

May 8, 2013 by   Sara Beth Roberts

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In the excitement after a baby is born, it seems like the hardest part of your journey is over, and it may be.  However, initiating breastfeeding and creating a positive experience for Mom and baby can be one of the most difficult things a new mom faces.  Breastfeeding is natural, and is seems that it would come with ease, and for some that is true.  However, for most new moms, breastfeeding can be one of the hardest parts about having a new baby.  Not only are you likely exhausted from your labor, now you are responsible for this tiny baby, who may or may not take to breastfeeding well.  In your sleep deprived state, the task looms large, but there are some things that can be done shortly after birth that can really help establish a good breastfeeding relationship from the very beginning.

One of the most important things is immediate skin to skin contact, if possible.  For many moms the baby can be placed right on her chest—this is a beautiful moment for Mama and baby to enjoy each other and take in the new sights and smells.  Babies are often very alert at this point, especially after an unmediated birth, and usually, after a few minutes, baby will begin to root around, looking for the breast.  Some signs to look for are baby turning his or head, sticking out his or her tongue, or even sucking on his or her hands.  These are signs that your baby is ready to nurse so take advantage of them early!  Most procedures can wait, as long as baby is healthy, so enjoy this early bonding time with your new baby.

If your baby is on your chest but does not want to latch on, that is okay!  Having your baby on your skin helps to stimulate your milk supply and even helps regulate baby’s breathing, all while making baby feel safe and cared for.  Don’t become consumed with your baby nursing within the first hour—if it happens naturally, that is great, but if not, don’t stress out and ruin this intimate time with baby.  Avoid allowing family members into the room during this first hour or so—everyone is excited to meet the baby, but this is your time to bond and establish breastfeeding if you can.  You will never get those sweet moments back, so protect them and savor them.

If your baby is not with you due to a c-section or other heath needs, do not worry that breastfeeding will be a total failure—it won’t!  As soon as you can, bring your baby to your breast—this may be hours or days later and that is okay.  Have your partner push to reunite Mom and baby as soon as possible.  Again, if your baby can’t nurse, do skin to skin as often as possible.   Most importantly, seek help if you have questions or need extra support—most new moms do.  As hard as breastfeeding can be initially, establishing a good relationship early can really help mom and baby be successful.

PS: Don’t forget about the Natural Fertility eBook bundle sale! To find out all the details about the sale, read this post or simply click on the banner below to purchase the bundle!

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 What was your experience with early breastfeeding?

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Overcoming Infertility: Jenn’s Story

May 7, 2013 by   Faith

fertilityebooks

This week, I am promoting the Natural Fertility bundle sale. The books in this sale are not just for couples struggling with infertility, although I do believe couples who find themselves in that situation would greatly benefit from these resources. Any couple looking to grow their family, naturally or through artificial means, will find a wealth of resources for preparing the body to be a welcoming host for a pregnancy within the pages of these books. It is so important to be feeding and caring for your body the right way when you are planning a pregnancy.

Today I want to share with you a precious story of one couple’s journey to becoming parents. Thanks, Jenn, for being willing to share such a painful time in your life with our readers!

Jenn’s Story

Jenn Larabee

My husband and I were married in 2007. We knew we wanted to start a family immediately, so it was frustrating to say the least that it didn’t happen right away for us. I spent a year monitoring my temperature and documenting my cycles before we consulted my OB. He put me on Clomid for about six months or so, but still nothing. Our second wedding anniversary rolled around and we were still getting bombarded with that dreaded question, “So, when are you two going to start a family?”

You always hear that expression, “Everything happens for a reason.” Well, when you’ve been trying to get pregnant for years, you start questioning what those reasons could possibly be. I prayed like crazy to understand God’s plan for me, “Hey God, I know I am meant to be a mother, so what’s the deal here?!”

When I did some research I discovered that one in seven women would have struggles with infertility at some point in their lives. One in seven… so shouldn’t I know someone else having problems? It sure felt like I was the only one having any difficulty. It seemed like everyone around me was getting pregnant. Everywhere I went, pregnant women were taunting me with their big ol’ bellies.

So at that point, we were three years into the journey, and it wasn’t getting any easier. You become entirely too sensitive to anything baby related. You dread baby showers, and start avoiding pregnant friends. People you know are getting pregnant by “accident”… don’t even get me started on that. Then there’s the barrage of insensitive jokes: “Just get drunk and try the back seat of the car”, and the well-meaning advice: “Just stop worrying about it and it will happen”, which by the way is impossible to do.

My OB referred us to a fertility specialist. Now, I know there is some controversy and debate in regards to fertility treatments (are we interfering with God’s will or are we helping Him help us?), but here is my opinion on the issue: no matter what action you take or don’t take, God has a plan for you. If God doesn’t want something to happen, no amount of money or drugs or human interference is going to make it happen.

So, we went to see the specialist. After more poking and prodding and bloodwork, I was diagnosed with DOR (Diminished Ovarian Reserve), which basically meant, that at 32 years young, I had practically no eggs left (think peri-menopausal). My husband and I tried IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) once and when that didn’t work, we decided to try IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) one time. We told ourselves, okay this is it. We’re only doing this once. So, here is your chance God. If you want it to happen, the time is now. If this is not meant to be, I know You’ll let us know.

And He did. Our IVF didn’t take. Heartbroken to say the least, my husband and I had to trust that this wasn’t our path.

Fast forward to 2013 and we are now the proud parents of an amazing two year old little boy. Adopted at birth at the end of 2010, he is the most perfect child two parents could hope for. Looking at this beautiful gift, everything is clear. So you see, it’s true. Everything does happen for a reason. We made the decision in March of 2010 to adopt, and remarkably, nine and a half months later, our son was born. The “coincidence” is not lost on me that he was conceived when we made the decision to adopt. I firmly believe that he was created for us. In my eyes, he is, and has always been, our son.

Jenn Larrabee was born and raised in San Diego, where she met her husband A.J. after his stint in the Navy. She left her job in project management in 2012 to be at home, where she currently spends her time chasing one beautiful, active little boy. She is working on starting her own business in event planning, because after God and family, parties are her favorite thing.

 To find out all the details about the sale, read this post or simply click on the banner below to purchase the bundle!

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Introducing The Natural Fertility Bundle Sale

May 6, 2013 by   Faith

fertilityebooks

Infertility is a painful road to have to travel. While I cannot personally identify with that journey, I know how strong my desire to be a mommy was from a young age and I can only imagine how heartbroken I would be to discover after marriage that the path to achieving that goal was going to be a long and difficult one.

While I don’t typically promote bundle sales as much as I have been, I simply could not pass last weeks sale up nor could I let this weeks fall by the wayside. Statistics show that 1 out of 7 women of childbearing age will struggle with infertility, so the odds of several of our readers dealing with that pain are pretty high. I hope that the stories I share this week and the resources in this bundle sale will encourage and inspire you on your journey to becoming a mother.

While I do think that couples struggling to conceive will benefit greatly from this bundle, it is not just for those walking the road of infertility. Whether you are looking to grow your family naturally or through artificial means, it is of the utmost importance that you are feeding and caring for your body the right way. The resources in this bundle sale will help you to make your body the most welcoming host possible for a pregnancy. And, the best part is the whole bundle is only $34.95! You are getting over $1000 worth of books, e-courses, bonus items, freebies and potential prizes for such a low price.

What is included?

9 ebooks about fertility and health

Fertilise Yourself by Natalie Kringoudis of Melbourne Natural Fertility ($19.95)

This ebook is all about priming your body for fertility, with plenty of tips and tricks for a wellness overhaul, and the ‘how to’ steps to set yourself up to win. If you’re struggling with your fertility, or even just your general health, this ebook can help you navigate your way to being fueled and fighting fertility fit!

Making Super Sperm by Bridgit Danner of Joyful Mammas ($29.00)

The genetics of your baby are 50% from the dad, and 30 – 70 % of infertility cases involve male factor. Get a strong start for your baby by Making Super Sperm from the start!

Fertility Smoothies: Elixirs for Optimal Fertility by Hethir Rodriguez of Natural Fertility Info ($19.95)

In this book Hethir shares with you how to create a wide variety of delicious superfood smoothies to help boost your fertility naturally.

Overcoming Infertility with EFT by Sarah Holland of Fertile Mindset ($20.00)

The ultimate guide and practical workbook using the cutting edge technique of EFT for emotional healing on your fertility journey. Includes detailed but simple to follow EFT instructions, and easy to use worksheets to recognize and reverse your own negative beliefs and self-talk surrounding trying for a baby, heal yourself from traumas and damaging experiences that may be harming your fertility and much much more!

Eat Your Way to Parenthood by Gabriela Rosa of Natural Fertility Breakthrough ($35.00)

Gabriela Rosa reminds us how a balanced and nutritious diet provides the building blocks for a healthy sperm, egg and baby. This book is both a guide to the process of fertility and the basics of good nutrition, as well as a manual of recipes that cleverly combine the scientific research with balanced, tasty and nutritious ingredients.

Maiden to Mother by Stephanie Brandt Cornais of Mama and Baby Love

The Mama and Baby Love Guide to a Conscious Childbearing Year, containing easy-to-understand information about everything you absolutely must know as you begin your journey to motherhood. Stephanie gives you all the juicy tidbits, and lessons she has learned from working with pregnant couples for the past decade and from her own experience with being pregnant and a new mom.

Zero in on Ovulation by Sally Moran of Get Pregnant Fast ($17.00)

Knowing when you ovulate shouldn’t be a mystery, but many women struggle to understand when their most fertile time of month is. Learn about the different methods of determining ovulation, what can delay ovulation, what herbs help promote ovulation or cervical fluid, symptoms of ovulation, problems with ovulation (including PCOS and luteal phase defect), the effects of using Clomid or Femara, and more. Bonus sections on male infertility, baby gender selection, frequently asked ovulation questions, as well as one-on-one e-mail consultation with the author.

A Modern Girl’s Guide to Natural Fertility by Marni Hotchkiss of Bridge to Baby ($15.00)

Natural fertility in today’s modern world encompasses the foods we eat, our behaviors, and our thoughts. Take a deeper look into how tools/apps as well as the right foods and other holistic approaches can positively impact pregnancy success.

Cleansing for Conception by Donielle Baker of Naturally Knocked Up ($6.95)

There are times in our life where we need to simply slow down and allow our bodies to clear out the toxins we’re exposed to on a daily basis. One of these times is when you’re thinking about becoming pregnant. This ebook will show you the many ways that you can alter your diet and lifestyle so that your body naturally and gently cleanses in preparation for conception. (pre-release copy – no one else will see it until late summer 2013!)

Three Strategies for Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Russell Davis of The Fertile Mind ($9.97)

Research shows utilizing mind-body techniques can double your chances of getting pregnant. This ebook contains practical steps to get off the emotional roller-coaster, find a sense of peace on your journey and actively utilizing your mind-body link to increase your chances of success.

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2 ebooks that speak to the heart

Pain Redeemed by Natasha Metzler of NatashaMetzler.com ($4.95)

The author of Pain Redeemed takes you on a journey through her own walk with infertility and with honesty and raw truthfulness tells the story of God meeting her there, right in the middle.”

Celebrating Pregnancy Again by Francesca Cox of so this is love ($8.00)

This book is to encourage any bereaved mother experiencing pregnancy again, and help her embrace this bittersweet journey.

12 real food recipe ebooks

The Food Healing Recipe Book for Endometriosis by Melissa Meyer of Cure Endometriosis ($27.00)

Specifically chosen recipes to help women with Endometriosis. Having personally used these recipes and this way of eating, I decided to compile some of my favorite recipes. My partner, also happens to be a chef, so they are all tasty and nutritious!

Meal Planning Guide for Healthy Thyroid by Magdalena Wszelaki of The Thyroid Diet Coach ($17.00)

Struggling with meal ideas? No time to cook? Bored with the same menu each week? Confused what you can or cannot eat for thyroid health? Then this guide will equip you with tools to make cooking fun, easy and nourishing. Learn about evolving meals, 15-min meals, dressing ideas, get healthy snack lists and a meal plan.

Thrifty Food Plan Experience by Millie Cooper of Real Food for Less Money ($8.95)

You can enjoy traditional foods while on thrifty budget. 67 pages of thoughts, tips and ideas plus a 2 week menu plan, over 40 recipes and links to many more.

Divine Dinners: Gluten-Free, Nourishing, Family-Friendly Meals by Lydia Shatney of Divine Health From The Inside Out ($14.95)

A collection of recipes that can be paired together to make entire meals. All the recipes are lower in sugars/carbs than that of the standard American diet. Recipes are gluten free and tested time and time again on family and friends with great results.

Lacto-Fermentation by Wardee Harmon of GNOWFGLINS ($20.00)

A 155-page, 23-lesson digital book with detailed instruction on fermenting fruits, vegetables, beans, meats, dairy, and grains. The book will expose you to a variety of fermentation methods — using salt, whey, or other starter cultures. Recipes go beyond fermentation methodology and include spices and seasonings to improve the flavor of the final product.

Real Food Ingredient Guide by Kelly of Kelly the Kitchen Kop ($22.95)

Confused about which ingredients are good for you and which ones to avoid? Get a quick-reference list of what to look for at the store or farm, with many listings including a good-better-best recommendation. Also this newly REVISED edition includes bonus material: Bringing Your Family from Junk Food to Real Food!

The Everything Beans Book by Katie Kimball of Kitchen Stewardship ($8.95)

Fall in love with legumes because they’re frugal and delicious. Kimball’s recipes span everything from appetizer to dessert, and the introductory pages will help you cook dry beans like a pro, understand their health benefits, and even get ideas to reduce the…you know…flatulence often connected with beans.

Just Making Ice Cream my Marilyn Beard of Just Making Noise ($12.00)

Because we all deserve a special treat now and then – but it doesn’t mean we can’t choose to do it in a healthier way! It includes 113 pages and over 70 recipes to choose through all 4 seasons of the year… who says ice cream is only for the summer?!

Grain-free/Gluten-free Baking by Stephanie Brandt Cornais of Mama and Baby Love ($9.99)

If you can’t cook and you can’t bake – this book is for you. I taught myself how to cook, and then I taught myself how to bake. You can too. 20 easy recipes, full of tips and tricks for beginners; recipes for cookies, cakes, pies, pizza crusts and more!

Simple Food for Spring by Shannon Stonger of Nourishing Days ($10.00)

Simple Food {for spring} is a grain-free cookbook that emphasize real food and sustainable living. This 80-page edition contains all of the freshness of spring with a focus on cultured dairy salad dressings, wild edibles, and using all of those fresh greens. Each of the 28 recipes includes full-color photos.

Simple Food for Winter by Shannon Stonger of Nourishing Days ($10.00)

Simple Food {for winter} is the first of what I hope to be four seasonal cookbooks that emphasize real food and sustainable living. This 58 page book contains 30 recipes, 10 full-color photos, and three essays.

Happy Mom, Healthy Family Meal Planning Workshop and eCookbook by Lisa Byrne of Wellgrounded Life ($29.00)

A practical, flexible and enjoyable way to make peace with the task that comes every day: preparing meals. This workshop equips you with techniques to make truly family-friendly, whole-foods recipes through a webinar presentation, meal planning templates & worksheets, demo videos plus a downloadable cookbook filled with 89 tried-and-true delicious recipes. Who could want more? (Besides a personal chef perhaps!)

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6 pregnancy and birth ebooks

Healthy Pregnancy Super Foods by Kate Tietje of Modern Alternative Mama ($8.95)

If you’re struggling with how to eat healthy to prepare for and during pregnancy, simplify it with this book. There are only two rules: avoid junk, and eat super foods. Plus 30 healthy, super-food-filled recipes!

UnBound Birth by Jenny Yarbrough of UnBound Birth ($4.99)

Unbound Birth: How to Have a Natural Birth in the Hospital is an inspiring collection of natural hospital birth stories. With determination, information, preparation, and support, Jennifer offers women hope for the beauty of a natural birth within a hospital setting.

Breast to Bib by Kate Tietje of Modern Alternative Mama ($8.95)

Make feeding babies easier with this practical guide to healthy breastfeeding, introducing solids, and handling picky toddlers. The book also includes over 30 baby and toddler-friendly recipes.

My Buttered Life: Baby Edition by Renee Harris from MadeOn Skin Care ($5.00)

This ebook includes 5 recipes, each with 5 ingredients or less. The recipes include baby massage oil, baby balm, creamy baby lotion, diaper rash cream and oatmeal milk bath. Each recipe has an accompanying video, a list of where to buy ingredients and supplies, and a cost analysis to compare with store-bought products.

Forty Weeks of Pregnancy Development by Angela England of The Untrained Housewife ($9.95)

What happens during each week of pregnancy? Now you’ll hear how each week of pregnancy brings changes to both you and your baby! Enjoy the extra information about common issues such as morning sickness, back pain, and more!

Embracing Beauty: practical style for every shape and season of motherhood by Trina Holden of trinaholden.com ($9.00)

A style guide that gets to the heart of beauty, and helps women identify and embrace their personal style through all the changes of motherhood.

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Bonus Material

7 week long meal plans

To help you get started on a whole foods diet, we’ve also included a variety of meal plans to fit your needs!

  • Jess Pedersen CHHC of Be Mama Be Well The Be Mama Be Well Meal Planner is an alkalizing plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free plan that excludes highly processed foods. The Be Mama Be Well Meal Planner is meant to help you detoxify your body, cleanse your liver, balance your hormones, eliminate food-induced mood swings, and boost your nutrient intake.
  • KerryAnn Foster of Cooking Traditional Foods The Cooking Traditional Foods’ Menu Mailer covers breakfast, lunch and dinner based on the guidelines in the Naturally Knocked Up Fertility Foods Checklist.
  • Mary Vance of www.MaryVanceNC.com Autoimmune plan for those who have Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis or other autoimmune conditions. Excludes the inflammatory foods most likely to aggravate autoimmune conditions: gluten, dairy, soy, grains (for the most part, at least corn), nightshades, nuts, eggs.
  • Jill Marks of Modern Alternative Pregnancy Proper nutrition plays a vital role in fertility, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. This meal plan is gluten-free with real, whole foods to optimize your health and give your baby a wonderful start!
  • Therese Asmus of Artistta This menu plan does it’s best to include a variety of meals that aren’t only pleasing to the pallet, but are also excellent sources of the many nutrients needed for a healthy pregnancy.
  • Amy of PCOS Diva Spring Meal Plan (includes: Getting Started Guide, Recipes and Shopping List) is a whole food based, gluten-free, processed soy-free, and low dairy (or easily can be made dairy-free) plan. You don’t need a crazy diet to increase your fertility, you just need to get in the kitchen and start cooking delicious, nutrient-dense meals.
  • Joanna Steven, author of Well-Rounded. Plant based, whole foods based, with a mix of nourishing raw and cooked recipes for the vegan or vegetarian woman.

Bonus Offerings

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Giveaways worth $908.00!

But that’s not all – it’s $908.00 times two! There will be one grand prize winner who will receive each and every one of the following products/services.¹ All of which will help you on your way to growing your family. And then we’ll be giving away each of the products separately to individual winners as well, so you get more chances to win these fabulous products.

$25 gift certificate to MadeOn Skin Care ($25.00) – Choose from Simply Soothing Rash Cream, or Beesilk Jr for your baby. Or, shop for you and buy Beesilk hard lotion bars or a pack of tinted lip balms. All products are made with safe and natural ingredients. (includes free shipping)

Fertility Detox Cleanse Program from Bridgit Danner ($125.00) – Get your body primed for baby with this professionally-led detox program (food supplies to be purchased by recipient.)

Still Standing mug from Still Standing Magazine ($13.99) – Still Standing is an online magazine for those dealing with infertility and baby loss, offering resources and hope.

Making Babies DVDs from Bulk Herb Store ($75.00) – Three fun, informational, and colorful DVDs include deliciously healthy recipes, remedies and herbal concoctions that cover the fertility, pregnancy, and post-partum time in your life. At the Bulk Herb Store we want to teach you what we know and inspire you to learn and research beyond that with our homemade herbal remedies, our experiences, and the tested wisdom of others.

ibasal thermometer from FairHaven Health ($59.95) – The ibasal is a computerized digital basal thermometer that helps you maximize your changes of conceiving by accurately measuring your BBT and interpreting this data to produce a fertility prediction in advance of ovulation.

One bottle of FertilAid for Women from FairHaven Health ($28.95) – FertilAid for Women is a fertility enhancing supplement designed to help restore hormonal balance, support reproductive wellness, and optimize your chances of conceiving.

Femmenessence MacaHarmony from Natural Health International ($69.98) – Femmenessence MacaHarmony is a natural approach to hormone balance and supporting fertility without introducing hormones from outside of the body.

Medium Fertility Kit (LH and HCG tests) from Kisses from Above ($18.00) – Includes 30 ovulation and 10 pregnancy tests. Everything you need in one easy-to-order kit! Both the ovulation and pregnancy tests will come in the strip format, as shown in the picture.

Herbal kit from Mountain Rose Herbs ($56.20) – FecundiTea, Nurse-Me Rhyme Tea, “Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years” by Susun Weed, Evening Embrace Aroma Spray, and 4 oz. each of Red Clover, Dandelion Leaf and Raspberry Leaf.

One bottle of cod liver oil from Green Pasture ($44.00) – Green Pastures is dedicate to providing their customers with high-quality sacred-food oils just as they were made prior to the industrialized food and farming revolution. They are committed to providing the community with nothing but pure, unadulterated, non-industrialized wild-caught fish liver oils.

Set of six essential oils from Plant Therapy ($48.68) – Romance Set Includes 100% Pure, Therapeutic Grade of: Sensual, Peppermint, Energy, Headache Relief, Tranquil, & Invigor-Aid. 10 ml each

Natural Cycle Relaxation Program from Circle and Bloom ($59.00) – Start today to feel in greater control over your fertility success with our downloadable program which includes 28 unique guided meditations to support you in communicating with your body and tapping into your innate ability to create.

Year subscription to Fertility Flower (sympto-thermal charting) ($40.00) – Fertility charting is simple, effective and teaches you about your body. When you “chart”, you learn to recognize when you’re fertile and when you’re not so that you can target your baby-making activities at the most fruitful time.

Complimentary consultation at the Metabolic Treatment Center ($100.00 value) – Dr. Schuler or another metabolic treatment specialist at Metabolic Treatment Center will review an individual’s history, medication, supplementation, diet, and symptoms and provide an initial assessment review (phone, Skype, or at the Bloomington office).

SpermCheck Kit ($39.99) – The only at-home sperm test for men! Results in 10 minutes, 98% accurate, private and convenient!

Preseed lubricant from Baby Hopes ($21.50)- Pre~Seed lubricant replenishes your natural moisture while providing an optimal environment for sperm.

A Practical Guide to Children’s Health ebook by Kate Tetje of Modern Alternative Mama ($17.95) – A well-researched ebook on raising healthy children.

The Woman Code book by Alisa Vitti ($25.99) – WomanCode by Alisa Vitti will guide you on how to Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive, and Become a Power Source.

Naturally Knocked Up book by Donielle Baker ($18.95) – Your guide to increasing the odds of conception through natural living and nourishing foods.

Rebuild from Depression book by Amanda Rose ($19.97) – This book on depression describes the research basis for the nutrient-depression link, highlighting the nutrients with the strongest basis in research. With seven specific nutrients in mind, the authors review each of the food groups recommending how to improve the diet for the long-term.

Extra discounts for bundle purchasers

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Important fine print to read

1) All purchases are non-refundable due to the short duration of this sale and no late sales will be offered. 2) All giveaway products are sponsored by the individual companies, most of which are limited to shipping within the United States. The grand prize package will be shipped by Naturally Knocked Up LLC and is available to US and Canada, excluding the consultation which is available only in the US. ¹To enter the giveaway without purchase send a 3×5 postcard to Naturally Knocked Up LLC PO Box 26 Burnips, MI 49314 by May 14, 2013. 3) All products are downloadable ebooks and audio files. You will not be shipped any physical goods with your purchase of the natural fertility ebook bundle, but will be sent a link where you can download all of the material. 4) It is your responsibility to download all the files before June 1th, 2013. 5) Bonus offers are only eligible once per purchase, expire at midnight on May 31, 2013 and are the sole responsibility of the sponsor. 6) The above links are affiliate links, thank you for supporting this affiliate partner. 7) Please understand the information shared through this natural fertility ebook bundle is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, but rather to encourage perhaps a new discussion or conversation with your own physicians and health care providers and to inspire you to continue to research healthy alternatives.

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Recap and Reads: April 29th-May 3rd

May 4, 2013 by   Faith

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This is a new feature on Modern Alternative Pregnancy. I plan to share a recap of my week with you and give you some links to great posts both in our network and from around the web. Let me know what you think of this feature in the comments!

Recap

I turned 38 weeks pregnant this week, so I kept things pretty low-key. My area of the US experienced unseasonably warm and beautiful weather that got my toddler and I outside for most of the week. We went on walks around the neighborhood, took naps together in the afternoons and enjoyed what could possibly be the last week of just mommy and Julian time. I realized for the first time this week that I truly am the mother of a boy. As evidenced in the photo above, my son collected sticks on our many walks and refused to leave them outside! My husband was busy studying for his finals all week long, but we were able to sneak in a family dinner together on Thursday evening. Julian and I met him at our favorite restaurant on campus then played in the adjacent park for a bit before heading back home. Today we are celebrating Julian’s second birthday with a simple family gathering at our apartment.

Reads

Modern Alternative Kitchen

How To Make Creme Fraiche (French Cultured Cream) and How To Use It

I Scream, You Scream…

Modern Alternative Health

Moisturizing Oils for Your Face

30 DIY Projects to Improve Your Health

Modern Alternative Mama

Simply Divine Cocoa Body Butter

Redmond First Aid Clay and Bath Salts Review/Giveaway

Around the Web

What My Sister Taught me (& How to Enjoy Your Kids Tomorrow) at “Smartter” Each Day

Having Babies in Opposite World at Women Living Well

What did you do this week? Have you read anything interesting around the web lately?

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Tagged categories: Weekend Links

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My Birth Plan

May 3, 2013 by   Faith

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photo credit: Jennifer Borget

If you are planning a hospital birth, having a birth plan in writing is, in my opinion, essential to ensuring that you get the birth that you want. Of course, sometimes things don’t go exactly the way that you wanted them to, but the beauty of a birth plan is that you can have a plan in place for if things go wrong.

Before I share my birth plan, I want to make it clear that this is my birth plan. It is not intended to necessarily be your birth plan, but to show you how I laid out my plan and what I included. Perhaps some of the items I included don’t matter to you or are not applicable at your hospital. This is my plan based on what my husband and I want for my birth. I am sharing it today to give you a glimpse at a hospital birth plan and to hopefully encourage you when it comes time for you to write your birth plan.

My birth plan is broken down into five sections. There is the introduction, instructions regarding labor, delivery and postpartum, instructions in the event of a C-section, instructions about the care of the baby after he/she is born and instructions in the event of a sick baby.

Introduction

Our introduction says, “Our goal is to have a totally natural birth, free from any medical interventions. We have tried to prepare ourselves to achieve this goal. However, we understand that complications do occur. We trust the midwives at (name of the clinic) and the staff of (name of hospital) to help us deal with any complications that may arise during the birth of our baby. If there is a need for any deviation from this birth plan, we request that all procedures, interventions or medications be discussed with us prior to administration.”

Labor, Delivery and Postpartum

  • To be allowed to eat and drink while laboring
  • ONLY necessary medical staff be allowed in the labor and delivery room. This should be limited to our midwife and the labor and delivery nurse assigned to us (no residents, medical students etc.) We will also have a doula (name of doula) who will be present with us at all times
  • There be as little medical interventions as possible, meaning: a Heplock, intermittent external fetal monitoring via cordless monitor, infrequent vaginal exams (limited to one at admission if absolutely necessary), no medication offered, no labor augmentation (amniotomy, Pitocin and/or rupturing/stripping of membranes) and no artificial extraction tools
  • To have the freedom to move around as desired during each stage of labor, meaning: use of the birthing tub/ball/chair and/or walking the halls
  • No episiotomy. We have been practicing perinea massage and would like to use hot compresses and massage techniques during labor to care for the perineum
  • To be allowed to use any positions for labor and delivery that are comfortable with our preference being a water birth
  • If not delivering in the water, the hospital bed not be broken down when it comes time to push
  • If not delivering in the water, a mirror be strategically placed so Faith can see the delivery progress
  • To be allowed to touch the baby’s head as it crowns
  • Husband be allowed to announce the sex of the baby upon delivery
  • The umbilical cord be allowed to stop pulsing (MINIMUM of 10 min.) before husband is allowed to cut it
  • The placenta be delivered naturally without the aid of Pitocin or any other drug and packaged to go home with us for encapsulation
  • To be allowed to go home within 24 hours

 C-section

  • The rationale for the C-section be clearly communicated
  • Husband and our doula be present at all times
  • Faith receives ONLY spinal anesthesia
  • All events are explained as they are happening
  • The screen be lowered at the time of delivery
  • Husband be allowed to immediately hold the baby and bring baby where Faith can touch and see
  • Breastfeeding be allowed as soon as medically possible

Care of Baby

  • The baby is immediately brought to Faith’s chest for skin-to-skin contact and immediate breastfeeding
  • We would like to be left alone for the first couple of hours. All checks etc. can wait unless an emergency dictates otherwise.
  • All checks of the baby be done on Faith’s chest
  • The baby not be given a bath
  • The baby not be given a hat to wear or a hospital blanket to be wrapped in
  • The baby spend NO time in the warming bed
  • The baby NOT be given the Hepatitis B shot, the vitamin K shot or the eye ointment
  • If the baby is a boy, he is NOT to be circumcised
  • The baby is also NOT to be given sugar water, formula or a pacifier at any time
  • The baby is to stay in the room with us at all times
  • The baby be allowed to leave the hospital within 24 hours of the birth

Sick Baby

  • We be allowed to care for the baby as much as possible
  • All medical decisions be discussed with us prior to any action being taken
  • Faith be allowed to transfer to a different hospital as well if it is deemed that the baby must move hospitals
  • The baby receive nourishment exclusively from Faith’s milk, preferably through direct breastfeeding, but a bottle with expressed milk will be acceptable if circumstances dictate such

Other Resources

We have written a couple other posts about birth plans that you can read here and here. Another great resource, especially for those of you planning a hospital birth, is the eBook Unbound Birth: How to Have a Natural Birth in the Hospital. You can read a review of the book here. This book has an entire chapter dedicated to birth plans and was highly informative for me as I wrote my plan for my upcoming birth. It is available for individual purchase here.

 

Have you written a birth plan before? What did yours include? Any questions about my birth plan?

 

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Tagged categories: Baby Care, Birth

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Pregnancy and Baby Care Resources + A Giveaway!

May 2, 2013 by   Faith

With all the amazing resources available in this eBook bundle this week, it is easy to get overwhelmed and gloss over some of the best ones that are included. Since this is a blog dedicated to pregnancy and babies, I thought I would highlight the resources that specifically pertain to those topics so you can see how beneficial it would be to purchase the bundle even just for those books alone!

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Unbound Birth: How to Have a Natural Birth in the Hospital by Jenny Yarbough. I wrote a review of this book a little while ago. You can read that here.  I am a huge advocate for natural birth and firmly believe that that can happen for every woman, regardless of where she chooses to deliver her baby. This book affirms that and gives practical suggestions on how to best achieve that goal in a hospital setting.

First Bites by Hilary Bernstein of Accidentally Green. From Accidentally Green, “Filled with understandable explanations of scientific research, practical solutions, and lots of stories from real-life moms, First Bites is a fantastic resource for new moms who simply don’t have the time to do all of the research by themselves but want their babies to reap the rewards of a healthier start.” I have not read this book, but you can read reviews of it here or here.

Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert by Erin Odom of The Humbled Homemaker. This is THE book on cloth diapering. I spent many, many hours reading blogs, wading through forums and attending cloth diaper classes when I was pregnant with Julian. If this had bee around then, I would have saved myself so much time and effort! If you are interested in cloth diapering your babies, you will want to read this book!

Stress-Free Baby Shower by Sara Shay of Your Thriving Family. This book is perfect for those of you who want to bless an expecting mama with a baby shower, but don’t want to spend exorbitant amounts of money or time on the party. I know my mom would have loved to have this resource when we were expecting the first time around as she felt very pressured to have everything just so. I enjoyed my shower, but it was a stressful even for her!

My Pregnancy Journey by Mindy of Creating Naturally. This is a beautiful journal to help you remember and cherish your pregnancy. There are 100+ printables, belly stickers for adorable photo opportunities and much more. Even if you aren’t currently pregnant, perhaps save it for your next baby or gift it to an expecting friend!

My Buttered Life Baby Edition by Renee Harris of MadeOn Hard Lotion. Do you want to stay away from commercial baby lotions and bath products? Then you will want to read this little book! It includes 5 recipes for homemade baby products with instructional videos, tips on where to buy ingredients and much more!

The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year by Rachel of The Minimalist Mom. Are in the stage of pregnancy where you are trying to figure out what exactly you need for this new little on joining your family? Or perhaps you have several little ones at home already and are drowning in baby stuff. This book will help you streamline what you already have or save you from buying that which you do not truly need. I read this before registering for baby gifts when we were expecting our first and it helped us tremendously with knowing what to register for and what to skip.

Redeeming Childbirth: Growth & Study Guide by Angie Tolpin. We ran a post written by the author of this book a while back that give a great peek at her heart for women and their childbirth experience. You can read that here. While the resource that comes with the bundle is not the book, but rather the study guide that goes with the book, it is still a great resource that will help to encourage and inspire you during your pregnancy.

The value of these books alone is $50.91. That means that even if these are the only books that interest you from the entire bundle, you are still better off buying the whole bundle and gifting the books you don’t want to read to others!

The Giveaway

In addition to this great bundle that you can purchase for only three more days, we are running a giveaway of some of Kate’s books that are not included in the bundle.

We are offering a package of three of her eBooks: Against the Grain, Real Food Basics, 2nd ed., and Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts to three lucky winners!  There are many ways to enter, and if you do “something” with this bundle, you get extra entries!  Enter it below — you have all week to do so (until the bundle sale is over), and we will choose the winner next Monday.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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What I Am Taking to the Hospital

May 1, 2013 by   Faith

Anytime I leave the comfort of my own home, whether for a quick trip to the grocery store or a week long visit home, there are certain items I make sure to bring along. Going to the hospital to have my baby is no different. Since I am now 37 weeks pregnant, I have the majority of these items packed and ready to go. I certainly don’t want to be scrambling to gather them together when I am finally in labor!

The List

  1. Clothes for mama and baby. I am planning a water birth in my local hospital’s low risk birthing unit, so I have a water-proof bra packed to wear in the tub. I also have a pretty and functional gown to wear after delivery, large underwear and an outfit for going home packed for myself. I packed three onesies and one outfit for going home for our new baby, although since we don’t know the sex of the baby, I will have to send my husband out for other clothes if we have a girl! 
  2. Cloth for mama and baby. No, that is not a typo! I am planning on using mama cloth for my postpartum bleeding. I did not do this after my first baby and I can vividly remember the discomfort I experienced from the disposable pads. I am also bringing cloth diapers and wipes to the hospital this time.
  3. Personal care items. Taking a shower shortly after giving birth is high on my priority list. I don’t want to get stuck using the soap and other sundries provided by the hospital, so I made sure to portion out my favorites in travel sized containers. I also packed a towel of my own because the one provided at the hospital when I had my first baby might have covered half of me.
  4. iPad. I have a birth playlist ready to go on my iPad. I plan on having my husband or my doula set this up as soon we get settled in our birthing suite. I am looking forward to relaxing while I labor to the tunes that I have been listening to throughout this pregnancy. This serves a dual purpose as my husband can also use it to take photos of our new baby.
  5. Snacks. If you thought you were hungry when you were pregnant, just wait until you have just delivered that baby! I was famished after having my first and, unfortunately, had not made the switch to eating a whole foods diet. I am pretty sure I ate three bagels and drank several glasses of apple juice before I even moved into my postpartum room. I am much better prepared this time around! I have a container full of cocoa dusted almonds from the local co-op store and some dried cranberries ready to go. For drinking, I will be bringing along some water kefir and coconut water to stay hydrated while I am in labor. I am also excited to bring along some postpartum tea that I will be reviewing later this month!
  6. Nursing necessities. I have nursing pads, a nursing pillow and a few nursing bras in my bag. I have no qualms about nursing in front of others, so I am not bringing a cover or anything like that. You might want to if it would make you feel more comfortable.
  7. Baby’s car seat. In the state where I live, you are not allowed to leave your hospital room unless your car seat has been inspected and deemed safe. My husband is loading our infant seat in the car this weekend so we don’t have to worry about leaving that behind.
  8. My doula. Although she doesn’t fit nicely in my bag, I will not step foot into the hospital without her! I did not have a doula with my first birth and I believe the thing that didn’t go as I had hoped could have been prevented if I had. I have so much more confidence going into this birth knowing that my doula will be right there with me, advocating for me and allowing my husband to have his full attention on my comfort.

What did you take to the hospital? Anything to add to my list? 

 

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Tagged categories: Baby Care, Birth

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