fresh obessed

want the freshest laundry?

try adding a few drops of lemon, lavender or any of your favourite oils

to your wool dryer balls. (I use Norwex brand dryer balls)

 

want to know about young living oils?

drop me a line info@nestedbirth.com

essential oils

like many I have fallen hard for essential oils as part of my everyday life. 

I had dappled in them before but after discovering Young Living at an information session earlier this year, I was hooked. It was clear to me that all oils are not created equal and  the oils I had used previously were not pure, therapeutic grade like YL. The proof was in the immediate results! 

As I mentioned in the previous post, I am certifying to become a labour, birth and postpartum doula. My intention when I started learning and using essential oils was to incorporate them as a comfort measure in my doula business. I have been doing a lot of research and webinars about oiling and I can't wait to share all sorts of tips and tricks of how to incorporate oils into your pregnancy, postpartum and beyond!

If you are looking for more information on oils and doula services please contact me at info@nestedbirth.com and if you are interested in starting your oiling journey with me please visit Young Living

Besides diffusing individual oils and blends for aromatic benefits throughout your home, you can easily make the most wonderful DIY items. This is a sample of the postpartum spray I whipped for my sister... who due any day now!

Postpartum Spray
in a glass bottle mix the following:

- 6 tbs witch havel

-6 drops of  frankincense oil 

- 3 drops of lavender oil

- 4 tbs of filtered water

- 3 tbs aloe vera

more tips and DIY coming!

did you know?

this kind of just blew my mind... 

I thought I was just being lazy when I put the whole lemon in the juicer, 

turns out I was just being smart!

 

via Food Inc

first bath

this is so incredible, 

and makes me wish she would give me a bath!

a much different visual then we see in North America.

conversations with Oliver

a couple of weeks ago we got a rooster names Stripes.

Oliver "are we farmers now"

Me " well, we only have 1 dog and 1 rooster. So not really "

Oliver "just pretend farmers?"

Me "yes, is that ok?"

Oliver "sure, but we should think about becoming real farmers"

celebrity home birth

I don't normally post things like this, 

nor would I make this kind of decision based on what a celeb was doing or did but

good to see home birth getting some positive press 

here's 14 celebrity mom that had home births

“I had the opportunity to experience the natural process of birth and it was one of the most life changing experiences for me and very very special!,” she said. “I believe it’s a woman’s right to make the decision about how she’s going to give birth to her child. And it’s also her right to have access to the information she needs so she can make that decision from a place of awareness, and not a place of fear.”

                                                                           - Gisele Bundchen

also happy to see a couple of Canadians made the list!

live a kick-ass life

because sometimes we need a reminder...

Charles Bukowski's top 10 tips for living a kick-ass life!

read the full article here

1. Don’t settle.

2. Love yourself.  

3. Live life to its fullest.

4. Don’t fear pain, without it, you can’t experience happiness.

5. Be your own unique self and shamelessly express it in all you do.

6. You’re stronger than you think.

7. Don’t fear death.

8. Have confidence in yourself.

9. There are much worse things than loneliness.

10. Life happens, don’t always take it so seriously.

don't let this happen to you

feel the purge

Now that it's officially spring, I've got the urge to purge. 

No room in the house will be spared, no drawer overlooked. 

Clutter totally stresses me out. When things are super messy or unorganized which is all the time since having kids, I'm feeling like we need to get ruthless and let go of so many, too many things. 

here are a few of my rules Get Real. Get Rid- if it takes you like 5 or 10 minutes to dream up a scenario of when you could wear it or use it, lose it. If you utter the words, "I forgot I had this" then clearly you have lived your life just fine without it. Move on. Get organized and find it a home- if you can't then chances are it needs to go. Lastly, instead of mindlessly donating it to the closet bin, choose an organization you feel would benefit the most from it.

So I'm committing the rest of April to shaping up and cleaning out our house- so far I've packed up and donated 2 car loads of clothes, toys, books etc. And I'm excited to hit up the remaining rooms... especially the kitchen and pantry. This is an excellent time to take stock, re-arrange and move older items to front to get used up!

can't afford organic?

you may have heard of the dirty dozen before, 

 how about the clean fifteen?

navigating through the world of organic foods can be challenging and expensive

but these are the safest non-organic foods to enjoy anyway!

via

why do women give birth on their backs?

This is an interesting article exploring why 85% of UK and 90% of American women

(no stat on Canadian women although I'm guessing it would be inline with these figures) are still giving birth on their backs! It's true though, when you think of a woman giving birth most of us envision a women laying on her back in a hospital bed. Anything and everything else is considered  'alternative'...

I have to admit, I was one of them- during my pregnancy with Oliver I knew I wanted a natural birth (because the thought of samurai sword of a needle inserted into my spine was far more terrifying than pushing a baby out of my vagina), I gave some thought to different positions to labour in but not really about what position I would birth in and for the majority of my pregnancy I felt that hospital would be safer and I would feel more confident and comfortable there. Then my midwife asked me a simple question WHY, why did I feel this way? and I couldn't answer it, not very coherently anyway. And so I went home and thought about it. The answer was because I didn't know birth any other way. My mom gave birth to me in a hospital and her mother gave birth to her there too presumably both on their back. While I didn't have a fear of birth or of having a terrible, painful experience but when I thought about birth I pictured a woman in the hospital on a bed. That was just what you do, part of our culture. 

It wasn't until after that conversation that I really explored the option of home birth, watched births online, movies etc and created a new vision for myself that I could really open myself up to it. And then came time to pre-admit at the hospital. Ugghh, from the second I stepped foot in the door the misery at the front desk taking my information managed to put me in my place. Rained on my I'm a soon to be first time mama  parade and treated me like I was a waste of time, an annoyance and so my conviction of a hospital birth as the place I would feel more comfortable and confident
birthing at quickly changed. 

While home birth may never be the right choice for some and vice versa for hospital, let's get back to birth positions and changing our cultural norms of the vision of what birth looks like. Having done it both ways, I would always opt  and encourage other woman to go for upright! Let gravity work for you instead of fighting against it, yes my pushing stage was likely to be shorter regardless of position for my second and third child but coming in at about 7 and 5 minutes compared to 1.5 hours the first time is saying something!

It's reasons like this that I share my birth stories, not for accolades or praise or to one up anyone. But to help change the vision of birth for anyone that might be interested. To let woman know that if birthing on your back in a hospital isn't right for you, it doesn't have to be.

and so I'll end with a link to this birthphotography site,
with the most beautiful photos of all different types of births.
The new vision of what birth is or can be.

green juice a day

Cucumbers are the fourth most cultivated vegetable in the world 

and known to be one of the best foods for your body's overall health!

They are easy to snack on, taste great on sandwiches and of course prime to juice.

on the night you were born

everything about my pregnancy with Finn was different. 

From the false negative pregnancy test, his "due" date, his positioning in utero. 

Everything felt so different from the other two. 

The ultrasounds dictated the due date and since the first ultrasound was later than the standard 12 week, I never felt confident in its prediction. December 15th came and went without any signs of baby and I knew it wasn't to be anyway so we waited. Baby was moving lots and I felt good despite a nasty cold, then December 21st came and went and still no signs of baby. So with recommendation of normal protocol I went for a non stress test at the hospital on the 10th day of being "overdue". Other than my blood pressure being elevated since hospitals do that to me every time! baby was great and no need for concern (my bp was normal throughout my entire pregnancy). That was on a Monday and by Thursday the 26th there was still no baby and so the recommendation was for another NST and bedside ultrasound consult with an OB. My gut told me no, it wasn't necessary since I was still feeling lots of movement and I was feeling fine. But when I woke on that Thursday morning and didn't have any signs of labour I felt the pressure of what ifs and just to be on the safe side.... let's do the consult. 

Of course the typical, routine NST and consult turned into much more. My elevated BP (which goes up as soon as I take a step into a hospital) and wacky ultrasound was cause for concern from the OB although the baby was not showing any signs of distress, blood work and urine samples followed and I waited and waited with talk of induction swirling around from the nurse and the OB was no where to be found. I took lots of deep breaths, stretched and walked around trying to keep calm and hold my belief that this was not our birth plan. That things were going to happen on its own... at home!

Thankfully one of my midwives was at the hospital, supporting me and monitoring the situation. 

Knowing that she was there advocating for me was everything. It allowed me to keep calm, keep focused and not burst into hysterics. After nearly 3 hours from when I walked into triage, the OB came in to say my blood work was fine, the baby was active but that I had low fluid and I would need to be induced either later that day or tomorrow. I obviously said "tomorrow" knowing that at least I could go home, regroup and form a "new" plan.

So I bolted out there like a bat out of hell, swung by the pharmacy and picked up a bottle of castor oil. 

I am a big believer in letting nature do its thing, it worked brilliantly with my other two pregnancies and deliveries but now I felt like I was racing against the clock to avoid an induction. Desperate times call for desperate measures. As soon as I got home I downed the recommended dosage from the midwives. My midwife came out around dinner time to do a stretch and sweep and help keep me focused. I had progressed to 5 cm from 3 cm that morning and my blood pressure was completely normal. It was the extra boost I needed! Once she left, Oliver, Georgie and I had a massive dance party for like an hour. It was a win win, tired them out and helped get some contractions going for me. Let me tell you those contractions were so glorious and so welcomed! Then the castor oil kicked in and whoa! does it really kick in. The contractions were sporadic and not promising of imminent labour but they were something and so I happily rejoiced for each one. We put the kids to bed, I did a few more things around the house still having mild contractions and cramping and then I went to sit down and rest. Everything STOPPED. No contractions, no cramping. I knew if I kept walking around things would start up again but I also knew I would exhaust myself trying to keep it going. So I went to bed and held hope things would happen on their own and I would avoid the pressing 8 am induction at the hospital. 

At 12:30 am, I woke up to strong rhythmical contractions (cue Angels singing!). Guy was asleep next me so I decided not to wake him until I knew this was the real deal. I downloaded a contraction app off of itunes and started timing! They were coming about 2 mins apart lasting about 45 seconds. My water hadn't broken so I wanted to make sure the contractions were staying on course before I paged the midwives, which in hindsight I should have called a little sooner. By 2 am the contractions were definitely stronger and intensifying so I woke Guy up and called the midwives while doing a happy dance! Things progressed quicker than I anticipated, I was already feeling the urge to push when my midwife came in around 2:30. She quickly setup the supplies and paged the other midwife although we knew she wasn't going to make it in time for the birth. Maybe three or four pushes later at 3:05 am,
Finn Ezra was born. Healthy, handsome and on his own.

Just like his brother and sister before him, he was born in the same spot in our kitchen- a makeshift bed near the woodstove. I'm not sure why I chose to birth in the kitchen with Oliver other than it's a very spacious room but I did and so it became tradition and therefore Georgie and Finn were born there too. I did rent a birthing tub again but with the way things went we didn't have time to set it up and to be honest I didn't really need it. So we hung out on the bed in the kitchen, Finn latched immediately and nursed for close to 40 minutes. I happily chatted with my midwives, had a bite to eat and snuggled our new little babe. Despite the dramatic events earlier that day (well technically the day before) Finn's birth was anything but. He came swiftly and with purpose. After he was weighed and measured, Guy prepared the herbal bath (that I had previously prepared and stored in the freezer) and Finn and I enjoyed a nice soak together.

I was back in bed by 5 am and managed to get a few hours of sleep before Oliver and Georgie woke up. Oliver was up first and seeing his smile grow as he walked into our bedroom and realized his baby brother had finally arrived was one of the best moments of my life. He was a proud big brother when Georgie was born but he was only two and this time he knew just what it meant.

And so on the night Finn Ezra was born we became a family of five. 

green juice a day

when i first started juicing i was quite surprised at how powerful certain fruit and veggies were, 

especially what flavours blend together and which ones don't. I typically follow the colour rule, 

juicing fruit and veggies of the same colour family but not always. 

So don't be afraid to experiment and use ingredients you might not normally eat! 

So chances are you probably already eat celery, its pretty basic but it's health benefits are anything but.

Only start off slow, maybe 1-2 stalks, I was very surprised at how it potent it tastes! 

So in honour of St. Patty's Day instead of guzzling green brews and irish car bombs shots,

do your bod a favour and down one of these instead!

planting roots

with spring just around the corner and although we still have ginormous snow banks 

(hopefully withering away with a few days of milder temps) I am happily forming our plans for an organic garden!

 this will our first year planting and I'm so looking forward to reaping the benefits of eating and juicing homegrown food. 

It just can't get any more local than that and I'm so excited for the kiddos to get involved too. 

this year will be a learning year and probably won't yield as good a crop as what we will get in the years to come but I can't wait to get started! 

I'll be sure to post our progress.... when we can see land again!

green juice a day

 Chard  also known as Swiss Chard or Silverbeet is a leafy green packing a powerful punch!
I often use this instead of kale or just to mix things up a bit in my green machine juice 
and I do juice the whole shabang but you can start with just the leafy part (as the stem is often bitter).
using lime definitely masks any other flavours at least that's what works for me!

variation of the green machine:
1 bunch of swiss chard (either 4-5 stalks or just the leaves from)
2 granny smith apples
1/2 cucumber
2 celery stalks
1 lime (optional)

green juice a day

it's obviously no secret that 'greens' are a crucial part to our diet. 

the benefits are o'plenty, it's just how to incorporate them into our daily diet and enjoy  them. 

I've started drinking a green juice a day, mixing up my recipes slightly... it's a little trickier in Canada in the dead of winter to have access to fresh greens (obviously not in season here) but I'm starting pretty basic and hopefully by summer when we have access to more varieties I'll be able to experiment a little!

 in this new series, I'll give you the health benefits for different green foods and also new recipes to try. 

I mean it's kind of great to know exactly what each food is doing for your body right? 

so let's start with Kale which I used in the green machine juice I posted a couple of weeks ago

this post

attention all pregnant, soon to be pregnant or maybe sometime in the future to be pregnant ladies. 

this post is a must read for a healthy pregnancy and delivery! 

that's right what got you into this will also benefit you throughout, well the rest of your life but definitely improve the next nine crucial months!

Benefits of sex for a healthy pregnancy, labour and delivery

Pregnancy

- boosts immune system

- you are less likely to have many GBS outbreaks since semen 

contains anti-biotical properties effectively killing the GBS!

- it helps you sleep and not just from the physical act tiring you out but the release of oxytocin mixed with any melatonin present brings on the sweet slumber!
-prepares your perineum by encouraging good circulation and elasticity of your perineal tissues
- healthy PC muscles allow for a more controlled pushing stage and less chances of tearing. Having sex throughout pregnancy will mean well oxygenated, more toned and conditioned PC muscles. Also be sure to do lots of squats (how to add squats to your life coming in another post!) or better yet squats while having sex... ensuring the muscle is toned, long and elastic not bulky and rigid
-the prostaglandins in a man's semen help to soften and ripen the cervix which will mean its prepped and ready for dilation when the time is right.
-keeps the intimacy alive! beside the science of releasing specific hormones and their effects on the body, a loving and healthy relationship is so important as you embark on the next chapter ... parenthood.

Labour and Birth
- being sexually active in pregnancy will allow you to reap the benefits during labour, your toned pelvic floor will be aligned with the pelvic basin, your perineum will be sinewy and relaxed. Your cervix will be prepped and soft, your immune system at its best and you'll be ready to embrace the hormones of labour.
-create an ambiance as you would in the bedroom, low light, gentle sounds, music.
-touching, kissing, nipple stimulation, skin to skin contact are all beneficial during labour
-movement is key, allow your body to open up just as you did to create the baby,
use it to help get the baby out! Going on all fours, squatting, forward bend,
move your hips to help align baby into the right birthing position

to read the full post click here

green machine

on this day of love, I'm opting for a little green. 

1 bunch of kale

2 celery stalks

2 pears

1 lime

microbirth

Please take a moment (or nine minutes rather) and watch this trailer. 

it's about a feature length documentary looking at birth through the lens of a microscope. It explores the latest scientific research into the microscopic events that occur during and immediately after birth. 

"This compelling, brand new science is starting to indicate that if the natural processes of childbirth are interfered with or bypassed completely, this could have devastating consequences for the long-term health of our children. Just to be clear, this film is not calling for an end to interventions as many times they are essential and they can be life-saving. But as this new science is starting to indicate, the use of synthetic oxytocin to induce or speed up labour (Pitocin / Syntocinon), antibiotics, C-section, the routine separation of mother and baby immediately after birth and formula feeding, could significantly raise the risk of our children developing serious disease later in life. And as the film shows, the medicalisation of childbirth could even be contributing to a potential global human catastrophe predicted to happen by the year 2030. 

This catastrophe could have a devastating impact for the future of our species.

The clock is clicking down to an event that we have been describing as "global warming for the species".

But there is hope. "MICROBIRTH" suggests a potential solution. For this new science is presenting us all with a golden opportunity. For if we act now to make change happen, we could improve the life-long health of our children and we could even put the brakes on this impending global disaster.

This is a factual, scientifically rigorous documentary featuring academics from, amongst others, Ivy League universities and leading institutions from the United States, Canada and Europe. 

We believe this film is the most important film we will ever make. But we need your help to get the film finished and seen around the world. So that together, with your help, we can make change happen. 

We believe this is a moment in history.

The choice of what happens next is a choice that belongs to all of us."

 via One World Birth

Please check out their indiegogo campaign to find out how you can support this incredibly important film!