tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9978950049214693442024-03-05T23:05:05.741-08:00the conscious canopy musingsconscious musings for the childbearing year. . .from pregnancy through infancy and beyondDanielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-17940144282159235242014-02-07T10:52:00.000-08:002014-02-07T10:52:26.213-08:00delicious homemade coconut yogurtwe do lots of fermenting in our house. the standard american diet is desperate for fermented foods. fermented foods help our digestive system thrive which in turn boosts our immune system and even elevates our mood and brain capacity. making your own fermented products is cost effective and quite simple. beyond that, it's actually more beneficial to make your own fermented foods rather than buying for two reasons. one is that commercial fermented products are often not fermented for very long, which means they have less beneficial bacteria. secondly, when you ferment in your own environment, you are adding your own natural microbes to the fermented foods, in turn making it even stronger for your own immunity.<br />
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i love making coconut yogurt at home. it's so simple and so delicious. i often add coconut yogurt to savory dishes such as a dollop in soups or as a base for a tzatziki. coconut yogurt is tasty mixed with fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, maple syrup or honey. the possibilities are truly endless.<br />
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for my recipe i use the "let's do organic" coconut cream. i like this coconut cream because it's measured out into the perfect quantity of coconut butter and it's super easy to just open the package and put it in the vitamix, you can use any coconut cream you prefer. i also add a tablespoon of gelatin into my coconut yogurt so that it is firm. without the gelatin (or another thickener) the yogurt will have more of a consistency of kefir or milk, however you will still have a delicious fermented food! if you do use the gelatin, i recommend mixing your tablespoon of gelatin with a little water first to keep the consistency smooth. i also use maple syrup in my recipe instead of honey or sugar. this is all about personal preference. one note. . .if you wish to flavor your yogurt, do this after fermenting, not during the process.<br />
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a few other things to consider. . .i use a yogurt maker. i make yogurt about every ten days and to me it was worth it for the $35 investment. some people make yogurt in a dehydrator or an oven. experiment and see what works for you. also, the amount of water you use can vary depending on how rich and creamy you want the yogurt. i usually make about 40 oz of yogurt with every batch.<br />
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coconut yogurt recipe<br />
1. take one package of "let's do organic" coconut cream and empty contents into your vitamix or high speed blender. <br />
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2. add about 12 oz of hot water to vitamix and begin to blend coconut cream into milk. bring water level up to approximately 38 oz of water (this will include your coconut cream). blend the coconut cream totally, making sure it's smooth.<br />
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3. add 1 tbsp of sweetener of your choice, 1 tbsp of gelatin and 2 tbsp of previous batch of coconut yogurt or entire contents of your package of yogurt starter culture into vitamix. blend again. <br />
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4. pour your mixture into your yogurt maker and set for 15 hours or desired fermentation time.<br />
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5. once fermentation is complete put lids on your jars and shake really well. let set in fridge. . .the yogurt will firm up in about 12 hours.<br />
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enjoy~~<br />
<br />Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-20148020870423596832014-02-04T09:25:00.000-08:002014-02-04T09:25:27.899-08:00Prenatal Yoga and Meditation<br />
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Every Wednesday from 10:30-12:00 at the <a href="http://ashevilledonationyoga.com/" target="_blank">Asheville Yoga Donation Studio</a> I offer a prenatal yoga and meditation class. These classes are grounded in the technology of Kundalini yoga with a strong focus on alignment. They offer expecting mothers a safe and sacred space to prepare for labor, a conscious birth and motherhood through yoga and meditation. This class welcomes women at all stages of their pregnancy, including women who wish to conceive. We will weave a community of heart centered connection and support. Learn more at <a href="http://www.theconsciouscanopy.net/" target="_blank">the conscious canopy</a>.<br />
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The entire month of February is dedicated to expanding the heart center through releasing old emotions and beliefs. We will bring in strength and radiance~~ come join a community of like minded women in this process! <br />
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The Law of Love<br />
Love gives you power to merge,<br />
from finite to infinity. <br />
Love gives you power to trust,<br />
from nothing to everything.<br />
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Love gives you power, the powerful prayer<br />
between you and your creator.<br />
Love gives you vastness,<br />
as vast as there can be.<br />
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Love gives you the hold, the experience,<br />
and the touch with your own infinity,<br />
as beautiful, bountiful and blissful as there can be.<br />
--Yogi BhajanDanielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-91273729477976137292014-01-21T13:15:00.000-08:002014-01-21T17:48:46.517-08:00Prenatal yoga offers a way to celebrate the sacred cycle of creation while developing a community of women who are on the same journey at the same time. <br />
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Prenatal yoga adapts to the woman's changing body to assist with common discomforts such as swelling of the extremities, nausea, back pain, sciatica, heartburn, hormonal balances and general tiredness. The physical practice of yoga will tone the body, increasing flexibility and endurance to aid in the process of labor and recovery, while meditation and relaxation will prepare you for the stages of labor and the journey of motherhood.<br />
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Preparing for motherhood is the hardest and most important job on the planet, for you are imprinting a child's consciousness. The meditations we practice in class will assist you in balancing the shadow side of being a mother, allowing space for deep spiritual growth. We all contain the creator and the destroyer energy and we as mothers must learn how to work with both energies. We must learn to harness the destroyer energy and use it for productive and loving means, otherwise it can literally destroy those whom we love the most.<br />
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<i>"Woman is the molder. You are the molder of time, space, and of man: the man of tomorrow, the child; the man of today, the husband; and the men of yesterday; the ancestors. The entire society, in theory and reality, is based on the spirit of woman." --Yogi Bhajan</i><br />
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Come join our circle of women for Prenatal Yoga and Meditation Wednesdays from 10:30-12:00 at <a href="http://ashevilledonationyoga.com/" target="_blank">Asheville Yoga Donation Studio</a>, 239 S. Liberty St. Women who wish to conceive are welcomed and encouraged to attend!<br />
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<br />Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-16718341333877069682014-01-20T11:54:00.000-08:002014-01-20T11:54:43.928-08:00When speaking about motherhood and children, Yogi Bhajan taught that a mother and baby share an aura while the baby is developing within the womb. Once the baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut, the auras begin to separate. However the newborn still needs the mother's aura for the first 40 days to serve as strength and protection. From then until the child reaches the age of three the mother and child are distinctly bonded. The next three years the child develops a strong bond with the father. And from then on, the child becomes more integrated with the world at large. <div>
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My daughter turned three a couple of weeks ago, and it's amazing to note how much has already shifted. I see her growing into her own self in a deeper way, and I do truly feel that on some level she has detached from me. However, I know we will always share a strong special bond. Another teaching Yogi Bhajan shared is that as long as a mother prays for her child, that child will be protected on some level. Some believe that every child is connected with their mother through a cord of light through the navel. </div>
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Something else has also shifted. I have come to a new place as a woman, to feel my personal power in a new way and a desire to share my gifts with the outer world. Being a pregnant mother is such a sweet and special time. So much energy goes to creating life, and if you are sensitive enough, you can feel the radiance involved in growing a baby in your womb. It is truly magical. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>You are beautiful. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>You are manifesting the Divine Creative Power of the Adi Shakti.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Honor yourself: care for yourself.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>You are the Divine Mother in your most beautiful creativity.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Honor yourself: laugh and rejoice!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>You have surrendered your body to give life to your child.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Honor yourself: be grateful.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>There is no greater sacrifice and no greater honor. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>You turn your own blood into milk to nourish your child. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Honor yourself: care for yourself, body mind and spirit</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"Self-containment is the art of prosperity. It is the highest spiritual strength. There is nothing to match it."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>--Yogi Bhajan</i></span></div>
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Having a newborn also carries it's own unique radiance! The time of holding a baby so small and vulnerable and delicate is deeply sacred. And in all honesty every single step of the journey is sacred, even those days, weeks and months that feel downright intense and overwhelming, where your body feels like it's no longer yours and you are so tired, you don't even remember what deep sleep is. </div>
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Within our culture, there is an expectation that a postpartum mother will "bounce" back after nine months, maybe a year. And some do. . .however, some of us need more time. Two years, maybe even three years. And the reality is, there is no back, only forward. Your entire physiology shifts as you become a mother. Some women actually grow longer and taller, or into a new shoe size. Your cells and DNA changes. Your priorities change. And quite often your social circles shift. Your familial relationships change. And your relationship with your partner is forever changed. </div>
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We as women need to honor this process in a gentle and loving way. There is much beauty to embrace during this metamorphosis, but that doesn't mean that every step of the way feels beautiful.</div>
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In honor of my daughter's third birthday, I have made an agreement with myself to share my gifts with the world once more. I will be actively blogging again, teaching yoga regularly, and facilitating Birthing from Within Childbirth workshops. I invite you to join me on this journey. Follow my blog and share it with your friends. If you live in the Asheville area come to my prenatal yoga classes, my mama & baby yoga classes or my other kundalini yoga classes, or sign up for a workshop. </div>
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Cheers to life and all that is~~</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"The purest thing in the world is the heart of the mother. . .it can move the universe. It can cause an effect beyond limitation." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>--Yogi Bhajan</i></span></div>
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Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-15113598391909320442013-01-08T18:31:00.000-08:002014-01-21T13:18:03.856-08:00my girl is two!i can't believe i haven't posted in over a year. well, yeah, actually i can. 2012 was one hell of a year. i thought i was in the trenches at the end of 2011, but i really was just on the banks. anyways, there is so much to say about what has transpired, and i have lots of things to share with you. . .like what i've learned about food and herbs and being a mother and breathing. . .<br />
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in the meantime, i'd like to take a moment to honor the birth of my daughter. not only do i wish to honor her beautiful presence in this world, i wish to honor the possibility that more and more women will birth with love and peace and joy and that we can live in a world where birth is beautiful and sacred.<br />
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<br />Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-18765097145187023912011-11-17T07:09:00.000-08:002011-11-17T07:09:16.402-08:00the family beda recent <a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2011/11/16/milwaukee-ad-campaign-takes-a-stab-at-co-sleeping/?tsp=1">ad campaign</a> was launched in milwaukee to discourage parents from co sleeping with their babies. this is a hot topic, especially in our american culture and largely misunderstood. this ad campaign exemplifies how misunderstood the ancient practice of bed sharing is. actor mayim bialik, who is most known as <i>blossom</i> and now appears regularly on <i>the big bang theory</i> wrote a beautiful <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/07/6212018-mayim-bialik-why-we-let-our-children-sleep-in-our-bed">article</a> outlining why her and her husband share their bed with their children. the cool thing about mayim, is that she is more than an actor, she has a phd in neuroscience, and has a forthcoming book about attachment parenting.<br />
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mayim's article touches on all of the important points of bed sharing, why it's natural and why humans have been doing it since the beginning of time. what blows me away about this ad campaign is that the photos break all of the guidelines of safe co sleeping. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/files/2011/11/baby-knifead1large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/files/2011/11/baby-knifead1large.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/files/2011/11/baby-knifead2large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/files/2011/11/baby-knifead2large.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>firstly, you should only sleep with a baby on a firm mattress. no pillow top mattress, and no bulky sheets. the bedding should be minimal, as well as the pillows. the pillows should be firm. and you should never put a baby on a pillow to sleep! neither of these babies are on their backs nor is either parent in bed with them.<br />
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yes, unfortunately, some babies have died from co sleeping. this is a sad event, and no one wants this to happen. however with deeper investigation into these scenarios, usually one of the parents is obese, or intoxicated, or the baby and parent are on the couch or some other unsafe surface. <br />
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i have shared my bed with my baby since birth. we have a very firm mattress. when she was a newborn, i would dress her in warm clothing, usually swaddled and place her a little higher than my body, so the covers would not go over her. i would keep the covers around my torso and dress warm on top. we had firm pillows on the edges of the bed. as she grew and became stronger, i was less worried about covers, and now her and i share covers, although i am very careful and aware of her body while sleeping. once she started rolling and scooting, we took the bed off of the frame and placed the mattress on the floor. <br />
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the best thing about bed sharing with your baby is that when you breastfeed, you don't have to get out of bed or go anywhere. you simply roll to one side and nurse your baby back to sleep. when my little one was first born, there were lots of frequent night wakings and diaper changes, so the routine was a bit more involved. by the time she was a few months old, she woke less, and had less elimination. the best part about sharing your bed with your baby is that you always know how your baby is doing. <br />
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in the beginning of my baby's life, nothing assured me more than laying next to her and watching her breath at night. it's a totally natural fear to be concerned about your baby's breath as a new mother. if i had her in a crib, the thought of getting in and out of bed every time i wanted to check on her, would have made me mad! i was already tired from the frequent night wakings, and i would have been absolutely exhausted from constantly checking on her. <br />
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there is a ton of research on SIDS and you can find research arguing for and against co sleeping. however, an important point to note, is that SIDS is often related to chemicals and fire retardants and lack of air circulation in the room. most cribs are covered in toxic materials and the mattress itself is sprayed with fire retardants. even organic mattresses are sprayed, so one must really do research to find completely chemical free bedding. many parents with the greatest intentions are bathing, diapering, clothing, swaddling and bedding their babe's with chemicals. these chemicals are deadly.<br />
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so when it comes to your babies health there is so much to consider. the important thing is to go within and trust your heart. forget about fear mongering ad campaigns and what society tells you what you should do. each parent is the only one who truly knows how to provide for their baby. and if you do feel inclined, sleep with your baby, and enjoy it!<br />
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for more information on safe co-sleeping, visit dr sears <a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/sleep-safety/safe-co-sleeping-habits">guidelines</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ecobedroom.com/shop/bedding/images/b-cosleeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ecobedroom.com/shop/bedding/images/b-cosleeper.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inhabitots.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/jillpeteycosleeper11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://inhabitots.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/jillpeteycosleeper11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2010/10/Family_bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2010/10/Family_bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://littleheartsgpr.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/mommy-baby-homebirth.jpg?w=175&h=175" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://littleheartsgpr.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/mommy-baby-homebirth.jpg?w=175&h=175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/85263425_6409ff16cb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/85263425_6409ff16cb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-83727398478870600692011-10-28T11:24:00.000-07:002011-10-28T11:24:35.968-07:00in the trenches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/files/2010/05/workingmoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/files/2010/05/workingmoms.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>i wish i could be positively positive all of the time. yet, it's just not authentic. it's almost november here in maine, and i am becoming wildly aware that grandmother winter is setting into our bones for the next six months. yes, six months of winter. mind you, i am just recovering from our move from los angeles this past june. in los angeles, our strongest winter entailed 40 degrees and lots of rain. we were spoiled with our year round farmer's markets and trips to malibu even in january. yes, the smog was smothering and the helicopters were fierce, as was the traffic, however the elements were not sharp, shivering and windy cold.<br />
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the reality is i am already spending my days moving wood from here to there, this pile to that, just to stay warm. i sometimes spend a couple of hours juggling baby care and sweet pumpkin's needs with getting the wood stove going in the morning. and then there is the complete insanity when the fire alarm goes off from too much smoke and i have to run to grab the baby ear muffs and bat the alarm while the lady screams "fire" into my ear drums, observing my daughter's tears rolling down her face as she begs for my arms. it's cruel and crazy in some ways.<br />
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and my sweetie has officially reached the age of not wanting to sit in any of her seats which include her high chair, car seat and stroller, nor does she want to lie on her back for a diaper change. i am wrestling her in and out of clothing, keeping her dry and clean and warm. i am wondering how we will ever make it outside with snow falling and bitter winds. <br />
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this life isn't glamorous. however i have decided that if i do officially survive this winter, i can do anything. i have done lots of things in life that i am proud of, and i do consider myself a champion of my fears, so i know that this too can be faced. and i know i am not the first mama burning wood to stay warm, practicing attachment parenting and ec, breastfeeding and bed sharing, all while living out in total solitude. there have been many before me. however, what i need more than ever is to know some of those mentors, or to at the very least sit in a circle of other mamas and find my strength within the collective.<br />
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i leave you with <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2010/05/07/stay-at-home-moms-worth-118000/">this article</a>. while searching for a picture for this post i found this article, which is related to my tale. you see, if we mothers were paid for the work we did, our lives would function with much more fluidity. even when we find ourselves in the trenches, we would rest assured that our physical needs are being met.Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-25241015057675497292011-09-22T07:55:00.000-07:002011-09-22T07:55:40.968-07:00seeking a baseline<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRRX-rOtVWYSGB47IL10JjDE9iVeRQsDrR3z33qEYP_md9-HDh1LF314ttKaTIinxvpZxNcOlv-u2U4DX-UHIybk3yUudqC-fDXR5fKepb1Foz7wcnin6jt2qHhpugjYzUQCSVocnWovh/s1600/go+ahead+its+gluten+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRRX-rOtVWYSGB47IL10JjDE9iVeRQsDrR3z33qEYP_md9-HDh1LF314ttKaTIinxvpZxNcOlv-u2U4DX-UHIybk3yUudqC-fDXR5fKepb1Foz7wcnin6jt2qHhpugjYzUQCSVocnWovh/s320/go+ahead+its+gluten+free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>with a partner that has been blessed with a severe case of eczema and a number of food allergies, including gluten, eggs and dairy i knew we were gambling when it comes to my daughter's immune system. after a few months of age, i noticed a tiny patch of eczema behind her left ear and on her back. of course, i knew i needed to do something about this, and this something was going to involve my diet, since i exclusively breastfeed. <br />
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maybe i am just stating the obvious, but let me say that eliminating foods from your diet can bring up some serious stuff. food for many of us goes way beyond physical nourishment. it is comforting on many levels. and certain foods like breads and dairy can become quite addictive. i know you were probably thinking i was going to say sugar, and yes sugar is super addictive, but to me that is a given. it's one of the most sought out drugs on the planet! but what i am discovering in my holistic search for health is that we as a society are VERY addicted to dairy and wheat. dairy and wheat are everywhere. unless you hang with raw vegan folk, if you go to a potluck, i guarantee you that almost every dish will have either wheat or cheese in it. <br />
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a friend of mine mentioned that she took gluten out of her diet and gave her baby infant probiotics daily and his eczema went away. so i decided that would be my route of choice. mind you, it took a couple of months until i was totally willing and able to give up the gluten. i am not a huge bread eater, but i do enjoy an occasional finely brewed beer. i should also state that i am super health conscious and extremely dedicated to my child, (and yes, an occasional beer is healthy to me!) even under those terms it took some deep internal work to be ready to give up gluten again. gluten is in everything these days. you really have to read the labels. and it goes beyond that, as i am learning through a yahoo group that i read on a daily basis called <a href="http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/foodlab/">foodlab</a>. one must consider cross contamination as well! a gluten intolerance can affect more than the physical body. it can affect the psyche and emotional behavior of a being. it can make children hyper and ADD and certainly does not serve a child with autism. <br />
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so i've been gluten free for almost a couple of months now. and the eczema on my daughter's back and ear did go away. and then a couple of weeks ago that patch behind her ear came back to life. i knew in my heart it was time to take the steps that my gut told me way back when the first sight of eczema appeared. . .eliminate all dairy, eggs and be totally committed to a gluten free diet (which means no more oatmeal for mama).<br />
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what i've learned in my search to build a strong immune system for my baby is that if one or both parents has a history of food allergies it is best to exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first year of life. yes. just breast milk! baby can survive and thrive on breast milk alone for the first year. in fact, some <a href="http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html">sources</a> will tell you that food for babies from 6 months to about a year is mostly for play and experience. especially if mama is healthy and eats well for two!<br />
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when people find out my daughter isn't on solids yet, i get a range of reactions and judgements. mostly i get, "OH!" or "we can't wait to feed her some yummy food". my husband is a rabbi and so on saturday afternooons we are surrounded by tons of jewish grandmas who can't wait to feed my little pumpkin. i had one sweet lady ask if she could give her ice cream. ice cream. . .really? she was only 6 months old. what the hell are people feeding their babies? so i've learned i have to watch these ladies like a hawk, and smile alot, because they all think my parenting is nuts.<br />
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so as of this sunday, i am officially gluten, dairy, and egg free. i sure do hope we get to a baseline soon, and the eczema fades. then i will introduce one of the suspected culprits at a time to see if a reaction slows. yes, this is a process, but to me it's worth it. we are talking about my daughter's health here. and if i can assist her in figuring out what she is sensitive to before she is aging and showing signs of a chronic situation, why not! if the patches don't go away, next we will be looking at soy and fish. . .<br />
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once we do reach baseline, and it's time to introduce solids we will do so one by one to observe any reaction. we have consciously decided to delay all grains until the age of two, which by the way, more and more people are realizing is healthier for a young baby's digestive tract. <br />
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i've decided to share with you some delicious ideas of what i am eating these days:<br />
-creamy buckwheat cereal with coconut milk, pumpkin seeds, maple syrup and ground golden flax<br />
-coconut water kefir<br />
-seaweed miso soup with veggies<br />
-homemade chicken soup<br />
-vegetable ragu with rice pasta<br />
-sardines with lemon and olive oil<br />
-mary's gone crackers and hummus<br />
-grilled fish and veggies with riceDanielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-76029051138184463992011-09-02T10:15:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:15:52.892-07:00the fragility of lifethis past week has been crazy for me. i spent the early part of the week putting my fermenting hat back on. it's been almost 2 years since i've actively fermented foods. if you don't know much about fermentation, you should. <a href="http://www.wildfermentation.com/">sandor katz</a> has one of the best and easiest to understand fermentation books on the market, called <u>wild fermentation</u>. right now i have raw milk kefir and water kefir bubbling in my kitchen. i am also brewing kombucha and a blueberry soda. i've got some sour beets going as well. <br />
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on top of fermentation, i finally decided to dive into food preservation. given the uncertain state of the world, the fact our power was out during irene for 26 hours, and that we live in rural maine, i've decided we need to get real about having some decent supplies on hand with winter approaching. i heard from a woman at my acupuncturist office this week that she was without power for eleven days last year during an ice storm. wow! i was amazed. so, i am on a journey of pressure canning. <br />
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in the meantime, my sweet baby girl is a week shy of 8 months and sprouting her incisors. this will be her fifth and sixth teeth. on tuesday she started having sneezes and a runny nose. she also had a little diaper rash. i wasn't sure if she was coming down with a cold or a food allergy, after all i consumed a decent amount of peanut butter (which i never eat) during our power outage (we regretfully have an electric stove). by the way, i should mention that i still exclusively breastfeed. so i started dosing her up on briar rose and nux vomica. yesterday it seemed she was better, the rash was gone. . .and i found myself coming down with a cold. <br />
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on top of all of this, she is crawling all over the place and standing up against any surface she can. she gets into every corner and crevice she can. it's really amazing. sometimes i look at her and i can see her as a young toddler. and then i hear her cry and i can faintly hear the newborn still in her. and then i am bathing her from behind and i can imagine her shoulders as a young adult. <br />
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all of this got me thinking about the fragility of life. we live in some a delicate world. so many things are uncertain. and to watch my little one creeping and crawling in places, it's hard to know when to step in for safety and when to let her explore and take a bit of a risk. creating boundaries is so important, and coming from a place of respect and groundedness is key, and a bit of a struggle. <br />
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well, four days later, my baby has a full blown bug of some sort. i am sick as well. and she vomited on me three times this morning. the sensation of feeling her body heave and the fear in her eyes from that new experience was a rite of passage for me. managing to get us both cleaned up and in the bed for restoration was a journey. and so, here i lie, resting and praying for good health for both of us, and holding space for the power and fragility of all that is.<br />
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Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-62751434620170807052011-08-27T17:43:00.000-07:002011-08-27T17:43:45.275-07:00motherhood is a form of opression?i recently read an <a href="http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article7070165.ece">article</a> written by a contemporary french philosopher. elizabeth badinter suggests that women have gone from one oppressor to the next. no longer are we oppressed by men, it's now babies. i have to admit when i first read the article i was completely disgusted by her tone. it's just flat out obnoxious. <br />
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when i read it again, i thought<span data-jsid="text">, elizabeth is an example of a woman who shouldn't be choosing motherhood. if she is so caught up in her needs and pleasures and wants to promote that, why not leave out motherhood altogether. being a mother is about sacrifice. no matter what your philosophy is on parenting, you must sacrifice something.</span><br />
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<span data-jsid="text">and beyond all of that, i love germany's approach to parenting. why not devote to your baby. . .they are only young for so long, and then your child grows into an independent being. nourish that life with consciousness, as the planet really doesn't need any more people asleep at the wheel.</span><span data-jsid="text"> </span><br />
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<span data-jsid="text">and yeah, i cloth diaper, breastfeed on demand, bed share, practice infant elimination communication and all of those other "crunchy" things. i do it out of a consciousness that i am participating in a world that will be healthy and sustainable for my ascendants. </span><br />
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Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-10644364999366510692011-08-16T05:44:00.000-07:002011-08-16T05:44:21.557-07:00in the labyrinththis summer has been a season of transition for me and my little family. we uprooted our lives from los angeles and trekked to the opposite corner of the country, settling into the bangor, maine area. our new roots are still finding their way into the earth, and so much has changed since we left los angeles.<br />
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naviyah has grown from a 4 month old baby into a 7 month old baby. she has four beautiful teeth and she loves to smile all of the time, so one can often capture a glimpse! she has the sweetest laugh, and it comes easily. such a blessing to hear her laugh. she crawls and loves to be upside down on her head while standing in downward dog. yes, she is a natural yogi.<br />
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moving is stressful any time of life. it's a hard act to accomplish. and moving with a small growing teething baby is also no doubt, very challenging. there was the whole month of june, where our planet also met three eclipses, and honestly i didn't know how much longer i could hold onto my sanity.<br />
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now that we have most of our lives unpacked, and we are tuned into the maine rhythm, i feel as if i am coming into my own. a new identity is taking hold. an identity where i can call myself a mother, and also merge those bits of myself that took center stage before i was a mother. this whole process makes me think back to birthing from within, and the labyrinth we find ourselves in as new parents. once we give birth, we are just at the center, the heart of the labyrinth. but we must find our way out of the labyrinth to make our full return to the world, or society.<br />
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my labyrinth just happens to have a few extra layers to it, adding in a move, which entails a whole new community.<br />
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although i am beginning to claim my new identity and beginning to come out of the labyrinth, i can feel there is still much work to be done before i know who this new i is. this is about process. . .and there is nothing to rush. the pleasure in all of this is holding space for what is. . .the beautiful ever changing moments with my daughter as she grows and develops. as she vocalizes with sounds and laughter, as her eyes light up when we connect, as she grasps my breast while she feeds, as she flickers smiles in her sleep and as she bursts into tears to gain my attention.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfrSrhA9QEYQsX16oxkjsX60TXrtBiYNheBilbrvv3bBq2mPqHJJ8HcPOpgkORj1J2B8o6sTbX8Mc12_BRz5fdxcb7lAX_CluXEwufjEcAkTlh1VI6X5pIZ5kcmth0TG3jO1_x0NEH9A/s1600/image398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfrSrhA9QEYQsX16oxkjsX60TXrtBiYNheBilbrvv3bBq2mPqHJJ8HcPOpgkORj1J2B8o6sTbX8Mc12_BRz5fdxcb7lAX_CluXEwufjEcAkTlh1VI6X5pIZ5kcmth0TG3jO1_x0NEH9A/s320/image398.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
i am lost in my labyrinth <i>and</i> i know exactly where i am. i am here.<br />
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Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-20479833934954334452011-04-28T16:48:00.000-07:002011-04-28T16:48:26.100-07:00so much things to say. . .. . .and not enough time! being a new mother is amazing. so far, it's hands down the most exciting and rewarding experience i have ever had. to hold this being that grew within, magically was born and lives and breathes is pretty spectacular! <br />
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i have always been one to value time and realize how sacred it is. as the years pass and i age, it seems time speeds faster and faster. i think we all experience this sensation as we age. and i also think this sensation happens now because we are literally living in a faster world, with so much of our lives in a digital realm that didn't even exist thirty years ago.<br />
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since the birth of my child time has become even more sacred. every moment with her is amazing! i remember when the night she was born i laid awake and stared at her all night long. every time i closed my eyes, i had to open them again to look at her beautiful body and sweet face. these feelings often wash over me. . .she is almost four months now and so much has changed. she smiles and is so strong her body, she loves to banter back and forth, grabs, and her body holds the sweetest fat rolls. i wish i could log every moment and capture so much through photographs, journals and videos. however, i want more than anything to be present for her, as much as possible. totally present. . .not talking on the phone and holding her. . .or reading a book and breastfeeding. . .or looking at her through a lens. <br />
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however, since there is only so much time in one day, and i have to do things in the world besides be in a baby cocoon, there are times i have to multitask. it's such a challenge to find that perfect balance. and really there is no perfect, it is all just one big flow, and about being flexible in the flow.<br />
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so, back to the beginning of this post: there is so much to say and do and track and record, and not nearly enough time. so how to cope? well, i am figuring it all out as i go, but what i am finding works best is to keep things as simple as possible. to find the time to sit and enjoy the breath and squeals of my daughter, to watch her grow, to enjoy my food, to enjoy my husband, and to do less. we westerners try to cram so much into a day. doing less, putting down the phones, turning off the computers and televisions, getting out of the car and taking it slow are true ways to sit and enjoy the passing of time, and watch our children grow. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC4bbkriO7A1H3PhBAd5t_jvNLNP8u2mGgeUISQGsvNWeSpXJn0SJt3xPhkW9ZSQHWfuY1yYz7dHx9KlE8LVh3O2lQrnv_VWpHvY1MYaGmMLkNPOMoOj-bzg1oSlixcrle84nFnnfqOU/s1600/shot_1302382055944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC4bbkriO7A1H3PhBAd5t_jvNLNP8u2mGgeUISQGsvNWeSpXJn0SJt3xPhkW9ZSQHWfuY1yYz7dHx9KlE8LVh3O2lQrnv_VWpHvY1MYaGmMLkNPOMoOj-bzg1oSlixcrle84nFnnfqOU/s320/shot_1302382055944.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-10871963715391518402011-03-05T18:33:00.000-08:002011-03-06T21:58:09.357-08:00the birth of naviyah<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>eight weeks ago, my daughter was born into this world.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>let me begin the story of her birth by saying that i feel birth is an extreme intimate event. i was very careful to chose who would be present at my birth, and i feel more women should consider this. sharing my story of giving birth is also a very intimate thing to do. i have gone back and forth on whether if this is something i wish to have out on the open web forum. and my final answer was yes, because i think birth needs to be back in the home. yes, i mean more women should give birth at home, however i realize that it is not safe for all women. and i also mean something else. birth should be back at the forefront of our consciousness. it is that important. we must talk about birth more, to learn and celebrate the entry of life. i invite you into my story of giving birth. birth needs to be normalized. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>my own personal journey giving birth was so different than i thought it would be, and yet it was almost exactly what i imagined in my heart. i came to my birth as a woman who has witnessed many women give birth and heard countless tales of birth stories. what i knew more than anything is that birth is totally unpredictable. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>i often thought i would give birth well past my baby's estimated due date. i imagined myself slowly laboring, and easily taking two or three days until i saw my baby. i know that we as people are so deeply affected by how we are born, that this too can affect the birth of our children. knowing that i was born when my mother was 42 weeks pregnant prepared me for the long haul. i also knew i was born by induction, and as much as i prepared to give birth at home, i also prepared myself for how i would face a hospital birth. and yet, birth taught me like so many other women how we never truly know.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>looking back on my story, i realize the signs that my baby was coming were in some ways, obvious. however, many times a pregnant women will have signs of labor kick in, and then the body slows down, and a mother doesn't give birth until 3 weeks later. with the knowledge of a doula who has sat and watched women take days to give birth, i assumed those signs were just my body warming up.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>around tuesday or wednesday of the week i gave birth, i started feeling a sensation in my cervix, that i imagined as softening. i knew that if my guess was correct, that it didn't mean so much. a woman can walk around dilated to 3 or 4 cm for a couple of weeks. i hadn't had my cervix checked since i was 38 weeks, and then i was just a fingertip along.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>thursday evening a small ache in my low back started tingling. i had been suffering from intense sciatic pain running down my left leg for my last 3 weeks of pregnancy, so i assumed the ache in my sacrum was stemming from the sciatica pain. at one point that night i looked in my living room mirror and thought to myself that my belly looked a little lower, and then my husband said the same out loud. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>thursday night was a wild night in our neighborhood. we had cops circling our house looking for an armed man and the energy was high and intense. i had a fleeting thought i could go into labor, and prayed my baby would stay cozy inside my womb, as i wondered how the midwife would make it my home with the streets blocked off with police. the activity died down around 2 am, and i was finally able to get a few hours of sleep.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>i awoke early friday morning to attend a bris of a friend's baby. my husband and i went to the bris and then came home and went about our days. i met up with a friend i hadn't seen in months who i also served as her doula at the birth of her twins. it was great to reconnect and talk about my early pregnancy, as this was when when she saw me last. we swapped stories of her growing babes and my pregnancy. i spoke how my body was feeling a little different, and maybe things could be starting, but i really didn't think so. we did some walking, as i was an avid walker during my pregnancy. my midwife heavily suggests a pregnant women walk 5 miles a day. most people think this is nuts, however i stuck to 5 miles as much as possible, especially during the third trimester. this daily walk became a meditation. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>after my walk with my friend, i met up with another friend who gave me some bodywork to help relieve the sciatica. we had a great session, and i felt so relaxed. i ventured from that experience to see my acupuncturist. it was the first time i received a treatment at dusk, and the lighting shift made me feel as if i was in a cocoon of healing. she also treated my sciatica and used some aromatherapy to calm my heart center. there was something so magical about the energy in her space that night, that a part of me considered i could go into labor soon. a patient in her waiting room mentioned that i looked ready to give birth and passed on well wishes.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>i drove home to a beautifully clean house, and my husband cooking dinner with a friend on the way. we had a lovely meal together and enjoyed each other's company until about 10. i did my nightly ritual of sitz bath and perennial massage. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>around 150 am on saturday morning i woke up with a strong sensation in my rectum. i went to the bathroom and had a bowel movement and then went back to bed. about 20 minutes later the sensation came back, and i had another bowel movement. i began to think, okay this is different. when do i wake up to these currents? so i let justin know that my body felt different and that labor could be starting. he made us tea and we sat by the fire. then we went back to bed. i couldn't really sleep, as i was starting to feel waves about every 15 minutes. the thing was, i didn't feel them in my uterus. they were all in my rectum. i continued to clean my bowels out. around 5 am i decided that since i wasn't really sleeping, i should drink a glass of red wine and take a bath. this relaxed me, but sleep never fully came. i laid in bed dozing until about 11 am, when i decided i should eat something. after a quick trip to the bathroom, i realized bloody show had arrived!</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>i called my midwife, davi, who said this could all be signs of early labor, or they could be symptoms of prelabor. she advised i do some walking, and call her when contractions were a minute in length, every four minutes apart, for at least an hour. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>justin and i made a list for the store, as we thought we should stock up on food. i put on my clay mask and took a long shower and washed my hair. around 1 pm he went to the store and i hung out at home and did some yoga and organized a few things around the house. i wanted to make sure everything was ready for the birth. i called my mom around 2pm, to let her know that i was in the very beginning of labor. justin came home by 3 and by 330 we went on a walk to get labor more established, as i was having waves coming 8, 10, 12 minutes apart, and they were mild. all along the sensation was in my rectum each and every time. we walked down sherbourne and decided to visit our friend's house so i could use the bathroom. my waves were coming anywhere from 2.5 to 4 minutes apart and were lasting about 45 seconds long, sometimes a minute long, sometimes a little more. we arrived back home about an hour later, and looking back now, this is when active labor began for me. . .</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>at 5pm i called my midwife to share the changes. we decided she would come by in a couple of hours to check on me. i filled my doula in as well. i told her i was doing good, and she could hold out. justin was in the kitchen making chicken soup. </i><i>being the organized person i am, i had a few playlists prearranged, all of the supplies neatly tucked in the corner in the living room, and the mood set. </i><i>i was in the living room with</i><i> the fireplace dancing </i><i> candles lit, and music on. i was on my yoga mat on hands and knees rocking over my yoga ball. a krishna das song came on that brought me to tears. . .i realized at that moment that i was going to need some more support. i wanted bevin, my doula. so i had justin call her to our home, which was going to take about an hour. i rocked and swayed and then noticed the pressure in my rectum was becoming more and more intense. i had justin dress the bed for the birth, and decided a shower would be good to keep me distracted.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>i sat down on the toilet and when i stood up, i felt something shift below. it was like my vagina had widened and was forced open. the sensation was odd, however the hormones were fully taking me for a ride, so my thinking mind was quiet. the pressure really shifted, and the waves were getting really strong. i made lots of sounds in the shower to get through the sensations. finally i couldn't take standing anymore and decided to get out of the shower. i tried to get dressed, but the sensations were too intense. i went to my bed to lay down, and realized that was also too much. bevin, my doula arrived at 6 and met me in my bedroom. i so wanted to get back to my yoga mat. . .that was where i had spent most of the day, it feel sure and secure. she helped me get dressed and we went back out into the living room. i felt myself tire and went to the couch, which really hurt to sit, but oh, how i needed some rest. i just wanted the pressure in my rectum to stop for a moment! i needed to be on hands and knees, but couldn't make it to the mat. i was on the hardwood floor. bevin helped me to the yoga mat. after a minute or two i knew i needed to be on the toilet. the pressure in my bottom was so intense and i wasn't sure if i had to have a bowel movement, or what, but i was starting to feel like i was losing my mind. </i><i>i think this is when i announced we needed to call davi as the baby was low. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>we went to the bathroom together, and i sat on the toilet. i was making primal sounds and at some point my chin came to my chest. bevin asked if i felt like pushing. i said maybe. davi soon arrived, around 620. she came straight to the bathroom and listened to baby's heart. i am not sure what i said, but i remember thinking there is no time for that! baby is sooooo low. she checked me while i sat on the toilet and said my water sac was right there. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>bevin remembers, "as soon as davi walked in the door you let out this huge amazing sound that I only know to describe as the sound of a baby moving through the birth canal. davi walked in, checked you and said 'well girl, you are having a baby!' we got your pants off and davi half carried you to your bed." </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>so i needed to stand up, but i couldn't! she told me to put my arms around her, and she helped lift me off the toilet. we were waddling to the bedroom, and davi had one hand on my perineum and the other supporting my hips, both of my arms were wrapped tightly around her neck. i wasn't sure how to even get on the bed. i totally understand that place of pushing described by so many women, where the brain goes to the bottom and nothing really makes sense. i got on hands and knees, facing the wall and gave a push. since everything happened so fast we didn't have the towels or receiving blankets warmed up. in fact, there was a whole commotion about where everything was. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><i>bevin recalled,</i> "</span>you crawled onto your bed on your hands and knees. things moved so fast then. we could see the amniotic sac coming through. it was this iridescent glowing orb coming out of your vagina in pulses. truly amazing! after just a few minutes your water burst and your daughters head crowned."</span><i> </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>and my husband's memory,</i> davi said, “papa, come here, the baby is coming.” I tossed the towels or gave them to someone, and rolled up my sleeves. as i came to danielle’s rear, the head began to slowly emerge, before the mouth came out it hardly looked like a head at all, as i reached my hand towards it to touch the head, the water bag burst and my arms were covered in the warmth and wet. my hand touched the soft, silky head covered in vernix and water. suddenly, this little head, hanging out of my wife’s vagina, was screaming in my face--waling, water rushing past the face even into the mouth. davi said, “danielle, reach down and feel your baby’s head. the head is here.” she did, and said, “oh my god.” one push, two pushes, and out fell a body into my hands and onto the bed. i remember thinking, “do i count fingers and toes or look between the legs?” i looked between the legs, “it’s a girl, danielle! it’s a little girl.” </span> </span><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>i heard our baby crying and half the body was still inside! i gave another push and the entire body was born at 631, and justin said, "it's a girl"! naviyah was born! </i> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">bevin: you gave one and a half more strong pushes and naviyah was born! amniotic fountain!! justin caught her and then passed her to you through your legs. you were so fast in tearing off your shirt and bringing her to your chest! both you and justin immediately rejoiced that you had a girl! </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>i felt a rush of so many things, shock, awe, love, bliss, total spinning, high and light. i stood up on my knees and immediately stripped off my tank top and lifted her up to me. i had help crawling up to the top of the bed where i leaned back on pillows and put her to my chest. i looked down and she was so warm and pink and round. it was amazing! she looked so healthy and alive and she cried and cried. i felt higher than high.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> </span> </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>naviyah had perfect 10 apgars. she came out with clear fluid and in a perfect position. the whole experience was so magical. i just rode my body. i had prepared myself to feel such intense pain, that i think all along i was so surprised i was actually giving birth so fast, that i didn't believe it was actually happening.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfwVLAwDIG-QcNc9pVoGFT01yEFTGHglT25q3IoApY-JjQ95tX9asn85ECytMWUoKBGeSzsWQdl2y-2fMtbiqvcNiHEZ80PXHKRZvfrBCnctYQl-yquuoTazF3ApdkX7CB_oC4Ean2x0/s1600/IMG_6647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfwVLAwDIG-QcNc9pVoGFT01yEFTGHglT25q3IoApY-JjQ95tX9asn85ECytMWUoKBGeSzsWQdl2y-2fMtbiqvcNiHEZ80PXHKRZvfrBCnctYQl-yquuoTazF3ApdkX7CB_oC4Ean2x0/s320/IMG_6647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">after naviyah was born jessica, davi's assistant arrived. my birth team worked on getting us cleaned and organized and then retreated to the living room so that justin and i could have quiet time with naviyah. it was such a sweet time. it all felt so surreal. the endorphins from birth stayed with me for hours. i couldn't sleep a wink that night. i just stared at her all night long, totally amazed and in awe of the entire experience, and most of all this beautiful pink breathing body that grew inside my womb, and was now sleeping in the crook of my arm. giving birth was so fulfilling. it was amazing and empowering. i am blessed to have this life, to have this experience.</span></i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOunTMzLjrzAqtbQ_UiNcYop8iDlT-YKMi2lbk-zqJsKTDvS81p3rBqh8zCpDfMlESqbctWlgKsMxzykXASPp3-ZrxZTXIiBRiGa-DnpbxRuv4TBOsRCZf-dKDHGtroSh7kVnPY35iaM/s1600/IMG_6671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOunTMzLjrzAqtbQ_UiNcYop8iDlT-YKMi2lbk-zqJsKTDvS81p3rBqh8zCpDfMlESqbctWlgKsMxzykXASPp3-ZrxZTXIiBRiGa-DnpbxRuv4TBOsRCZf-dKDHGtroSh7kVnPY35iaM/s320/IMG_6671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-29561037350347157752010-12-19T07:18:00.000-08:002010-12-19T07:18:55.278-08:00the needs of a new mother<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.wix.com/media/464fbf7f0cb681466e2cd8d5e483de4f.wix_mp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://static.wix.com/media/464fbf7f0cb681466e2cd8d5e483de4f.wix_mp" width="246" /></a></div><br />
as i am preparing for my own postpartum journey, i have been guided to aviva jill romm's <u>natural health after birth</u>. this is an awesome read, filled with recipes and tools to get through postpartum and beyond in a holistic and loving way.<br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>here is what every new mom needs and deserves:</i></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">-- a good listener whom you can talk to about anything, as many times as you need to, and confidentially</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">--time and space for solitude and reflextion</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">--someone who is willing to guard your privacy </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">--to feel protected, honored and nurtured </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">--reassurance that you are doing a good job </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">--noncritical support and advice </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">--praise and encouragement </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">--time-out now and then for a bath, a shower, or a quiet moment </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">--good, healthy food </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> --plenty of rest </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">--respect for your emotions </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </div>Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-44850475869136695662010-11-15T10:53:00.000-08:002010-11-15T10:53:46.046-08:00a great article and resources on teratogens<h1>Environmental Exposure, Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Informed Choice and Reducing Stigma</h1><div><span title="2010-11-03T12:33:11+0000">November 3, 2010</span> <span>By <a href="http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/author/walkerkarraa/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Posts by Walker Karraa, MFA, MA, CD(DONA)"><span style="color: #0088b3;">Walker Karraa, MFA, MA, CD(DONA)</span></a></span> <span><a href="http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/2010/11/environmental-exposure-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding-informed-choice-and-reducing-stigma/#respond" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088b3;">Leave a Comment</span></a></span> </div><em>By Walker Karraa, MFA, MA, CD(DONA) with special contribution by Sonia Alvarado, MPH, University of California, San Diego</em><br />
This past week, I had the good fortune to hear former first lady Rosalynn Carter deliver the keynote speech at the Marce/PSI conference on perinatal mental health. Mrs. Carter has devoted her life’s work to helping those most vulnerable in our society, the mentally ill. While her work has been on the full spectrum of mental illness in our society, her experience speaks directly to those of us who have had a mental illness in the <a href="http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/files/2010/11/medication.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="318" src="http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/files/2010/11/medication.jpg" style="margin: 10px;" width="212" /></a>perinatal period, preconception through one year post delivery. Her message was clear: End Stigma. In her new book, <strong>“Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis,”</strong> Mrs. Carter explains,<br />
“Stigma is the most damaging factor in the life of anyone who has mental illness.”<br />
This could not be more true for women in childbearing years. I vividly remember being 8 months pregnant, picking up my medication from a local grocery store pharmacy where the clerk questioned me as to my knowledge of the “risks” of taking medication while pregnant. My neighbor was in line behind me. I was humiliated, and demoralized regarding my treatment.<br />
Mrs. Carter is quick to point out that the power of stigma to keep us from gaining the information we need to be well and potentially save our lives.<br />
We are not unaccustomed to stigma in the birth world. We have used our voices and each other to make great strides to end stigma of breastfeeding in public, and having non-medicated childbirths with doulas if we wish. And it has been reassuring, good information which has helped us fight those battles. This is where my friend Sonia comes in, and the word, “Teratology.”<br />
Teratogen Information Specialists (TIS) play a crucial role in arming childbearing women with information regarding the risks and benefits of environmental exposures, over-the-counter medications (OTC), prescription medications, and herbal supplements.<br />
Given the fact that higher than 80% of women take at least one dose of medication (exclusive of vitamins) during pregnancy<sup>1</sup>, we deserve the right to utilize teratogenic services to learn of the efficacy, risks, and benefits of in pregnancy and breastfeeding.<br />
I am delighted and grateful to have interviewed Sonia Alvarado, Teratogen Specialist, Supervisor at the University of California San Diego, as she offers how you can easily access this information and make a truly informed choice.<br />
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<strong><em>Walker: What is a teratogen?</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Sonia:</em></strong><em> A teratogen is an environmental agent that has been found to cause a specific pattern of </em><em>birth defects</em><em> after exposure during </em><em>pregnancy</em><em>. The agent could be a drug (prescription, over-the-counter, illicit, etc.), illness, chemical or radiation. Although teratogens are associated with a specific pattern of birth defects, not every affected infant will necessarily have all of the features. For example, a drug may be associated with five features, and some infants will have five and others may have only two. Finally, not every embryo or fetus is affected by an exposure during pregnancy; usually, its a percentage of embryos’ or fetuses.</em><br />
<strong>Walker: What is a teratogen information specialist (TIS)?</strong><br />
<strong><em>Sonia:</em></strong><em> Teratogen Information Specialists or counselors are trained to evaluate an exposure(s) using medical evidence, including published research, and using established scientific principles including teratology principles.</em><br />
<strong>Walker: Are you funded by pharmaceutical companies?</strong><br />
<strong><em>Sonia:</em></strong><em> No, the <a href="http://www.ctispregnancy.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088b3;">California Teratogen Information Service</span></a> (</em><em>CTIS</em><em>) is funded by the State of California, Department of Education. The funding is constant every year.</em><br />
<strong>Walker: What happens when a person calls the CTIS hotline? (800) 532-3749</strong><br />
<strong><em>Sonia:</em></strong><em> Every person who calls can expect a caring and interested voice at the other end. Risk assessments are based on the scientific evidence and teratology principles. We ask details about the pregnancy, including last menstrual period, number of pregnancies, </em><em>spontaneous abortions</em><em> (miscarriage), terminations, and stillbirths. We ask details about the exposure, including dose, timing (dates), frequency, etc. We ask for a first name and zip code, race/ethnicity only for demographic purposes, however, no one is required to give demographic information for the service as the service can be provided anonymously. We like to do an intake that includes exposures to other agents that may be a concern, such as fever, alcohol, cigarettes, etc. We offer information on recommendations such as flu and </em><em>pertussis vaccines</em><em>. Finally, a summary letter of the information we provide can be mailed or emailed to the caller. </em><br />
<strong><em>Walker: What is one of the most common calls you receive?</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Sonia:</em></strong><em> The most common calls are about hair color or other cosmetic products, and pesticides. The most common prescription call is about antidepressants. Most of our contact is through the telephone, however, we do have e-mail service available through our Website, and coming soon, we’ll have live chat available as well, during program hours (Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm). </em><br />
<strong>Walker</strong><strong>: <em>Can a mom take the</em> <em>fact sheets<strong> from the Website to her care provider/or have them call you?</strong></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Sonia:</em></strong><em> Absolutely! We welcome calls from health providers as we know that most are too busy to look up the research related to specific exposures. Additionally, by taking the fact sheets to the doctor or nurse, we help facilitate the care the pregnant woman needs and should receive.</em><br />
<strong>Walker</strong><strong>: <em>Can you give us an example of a caller’s story?</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Sonia: </em></strong><em>This service has been the recipient of literally hundreds of thousands of calls over the years and every call is absolutely important. Some women however, have stories so compelling that they stay in our memories forever.</em><br />
<em>Such was the case of a health professional who called our service. She called because she had received an emergency medication treatment for what was thought to be an </em><em>ectopic pregnancy</em><em> at the emergency department of a hospital. The medication was intended to save her life and terminate the pregnancy which was located in the </em><em>fallopian tube</em><em>. Her voice was steady, resigned even, as she explained that the treatment had been given in error. She did not have an ectopic pregnancy. It had just been too early to see her embryo on an ultrasound. We went over her exposure and we talked about the </em><em>number of birth defects</em><em> that were possible as a result of the exposure. We also talked about the potential that her baby might not be affected. She opted to continue her relationship with us through our follow up program.</em><br />
<em>During the pregnancy, she discovered that her baby did have birth defects, the range of which only became apparent after she delivered. Unfortunately for her, and her baby, the defects were devastating and her baby girl died a few months after delivery, after many medical interventions. Although this story has a tragic ending, the mother let us know on several occasions that she appreciated having the counselors on our end to talk to. She found some comfort in giving us updates on her child’s health — both during the pregnancy and after delivery. Additionally, she enrolled in one of our studies during the pregnancy, which allowed her experience to be used as part of our on-going research. She recognized that her experience was not unique and most likely would happen in the future to another woman. She wanted to contribute to the knowledge that we have about medication use in pregnancy to help us counsel more precisely and to help other women in the future.</em><br />
<em>Fortunately, most of our calls do not result in our having to deliver risk-assessments involving birth defects, and instead, most of the time, we are providing reassuring information.</em><br />
With reassuring, evidence-based information, we can overcome any societal myth or stigma regarding our choices in pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Visit <a href="http://www.ctispregnancy.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088b3;">www.ctispregnancy.org</span></a> today and see what you think!<br />
<strong>California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS) Pregnancy Health Information Line </strong>is California’s only information service that provides FREE up-to-date and evidence-based information about the possible effects of:<br />
<ul><li><strong>Medications (over the counter and prescription)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Herbal supplements (vitamins, herbal preparations)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Infections or diseases (i.e. pertussis, herpes)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Recreational substances (i.e. alcohol, marijuana)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Chemicals (i.e. hair dye, paint, cleaning products, cosmetics)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Physical Substances (i.e. X-ray)</strong></li>
</ul>These may affect the baby during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. CTIS experts are available to answer questions Monday – Friday via the toll-free hotline <strong>(800) 532-3749</strong> or online at <strong><a href="http://www.ctispregnancy.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088b3;">www.ctispregnancy.org</span></a></strong>. CTIS is a non-profit funded by the Department of Education and based at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics.<br />
The national partner of CTIS is OTIS <a href="http://www.otispregnancy.org/" target="_blank">www.otispregnancy.org</a>Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-88591430048128034932010-11-12T15:13:00.000-08:002010-11-12T15:13:05.630-08:00massage oil for pregnancymy fabulous acupuncturist <a href="http://healingcycles.net/">Yamin Chehin</a> offered a wonderful massage formula to me in order to help prevent stretch marks. i order the oils in bulk from a trusted source like <a href="http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/">mountain rose herbs</a> and mix my own concoction at home. i have been using this oil blend since i was 16 weeks pregnant. i am now 31 weeks pregnant, and so far my skin is soft and supple, and in excellent shape! <br />
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here is the recipe:<br />
200 ml hazelnut oil<br />
20 ml rosehip oil<br />
4 ml mandarin oil<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWqSH0eFXAIajD3oQhhE11_PretkoD3JC62wpWYicrtdBvxfSG470s8QynAah70fIUxsTteXdx2vgBHDjTDf1X7fNe-he-sHQ4KUI9SH9MLxJQmeTh8KDjJZT7ltWRQDFd3qjjsa-BlM/s1600/532005_091022090155_aromatherapy-massage-oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWqSH0eFXAIajD3oQhhE11_PretkoD3JC62wpWYicrtdBvxfSG470s8QynAah70fIUxsTteXdx2vgBHDjTDf1X7fNe-he-sHQ4KUI9SH9MLxJQmeTh8KDjJZT7ltWRQDFd3qjjsa-BlM/s320/532005_091022090155_aromatherapy-massage-oil.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />
i also have added a few of my favorite oils to this blend. i love kukui nut oil and tamanu oil. they are both known to be healing and beneficial oils, as they are deeply penetrating, have essential fatty acids, and can heal damaged skin. i also add lavender essential oil, as it is calming and balancing.Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-20252570990505138252010-10-26T21:38:00.000-07:002010-10-26T21:38:23.324-07:00dancing with dream time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx4QGGPHsdY1NaBdF6X6b5ascXcQ3u3F2jTEBU6gC9IHoDfoBx3yFbfxmH2HatyQ99VOlaxp7ulCukZvDokzMIaHBW1-vKK0HUGLl4cEBYr8OUfesXY_NHphI7uOvioMMRyj3RA6dIp0/s1600/aboriginal_UTPL-0015_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx4QGGPHsdY1NaBdF6X6b5ascXcQ3u3F2jTEBU6gC9IHoDfoBx3yFbfxmH2HatyQ99VOlaxp7ulCukZvDokzMIaHBW1-vKK0HUGLl4cEBYr8OUfesXY_NHphI7uOvioMMRyj3RA6dIp0/s320/aboriginal_UTPL-0015_med.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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for most women pregnancy offers a time of vivid dreams. ever since my first trimester, i've been having detailed and wild dreams. wild in the sense that i wake up and think to myself, wow, that was an adventure. some people believe the soul of your soon to be child communicates through the dream realm. some people often see the dream realm as a sacred time to listen to the spirit world, or the subconscious. to me, dreams are quite powerful. they invoke a sense of creativity into my mundane world. the brightness and richness with which i dream pregnant has inspired me to take careful note. <br />
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i sleep with a little journal and pen next to my bed. the mornings i wake up remembering my dream, i immediately write down the story and as many details as possible. i simply write. . .to enjoy the story of this narrative. i don't mull over my dreams attempting to decipher the meaning, although i do often look over the words with curiosity. <br />
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i now have a journal filling up with numerous stories, and it's fun to go back over the course of my pregnancy and reread what i was dreaming. i have had some birth and baby dreams, and those are especially important to me. i do believe the souls that choose us to communicate through many realms, and the dream realm seems like a natural medium. as i recall my dreams in writing i feel as if i am honoring this sacred time with a sense of pause and reflection before i begin my day.Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-25630871862697519402010-10-14T20:21:00.000-07:002010-10-14T20:21:19.799-07:00a birthing sabbatical<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO0CM1gE5Bi0KnKWBhKHeKMABjH81HbbZ56TvRtJN1iA1dHo5zFJb2oRVg4UcW9Mv0WHZxEEzUlg0XnrYJVg7ITtM_w9u5tfrfpI_jEIK48RN39OEyec8EpBjZfLxT5T-DJNgQZIrwKY/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO0CM1gE5Bi0KnKWBhKHeKMABjH81HbbZ56TvRtJN1iA1dHo5zFJb2oRVg4UcW9Mv0WHZxEEzUlg0XnrYJVg7ITtM_w9u5tfrfpI_jEIK48RN39OEyec8EpBjZfLxT5T-DJNgQZIrwKY/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />
hello there friends and readers! i know i haven't been the best about keeping my blog up to date. my life has been totally full of baby. . .my own baby making that is. in fact, i am officially on a doula sabbatical. i am taking this time to generate my wee one in my womb, as i am now 27 weeks along! it's such an exciting time. . .and yet in some ways a little sad. i know i am going to truly miss serving women and their families along in their birthing and postpartum journeys.<br />
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however the beauty in all of this is that i get to experience it for myself! and what is even more beautiful is that now i am surrounded by my own amazing birthing team, and i get to feel the love and support of being held.<br />
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despite the fact that i am signing off of the doula scene for an unknown amount of time (family comes first) i will continue to keep my feet wet. i will still be encapsulating placentas and teaching private childbirth sessions. if you know anyone in need of these services please do think of me!<br />
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i hope to continue to share parts of my prenatal journey with my readers. thank you for staying tuned!<br />
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with love,<br />
danielleDanielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-87850446842866400262010-09-03T12:08:00.000-07:002010-09-04T12:29:09.453-07:00swimmingly deliciousi am now over 21 weeks pregnant and truly enjoying this experience! the second trimester has been gentle in comparison to the first. i keep marveling at the difference of being on this side of pregnancy, since i've been working with pregnant women for a few years, and usually find myself on the supportive side of the prenatal journey. this time of life truly is special, and part of me is already sad that half of it has passed!<br />
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so, to honor these moments, my goal is to make the most of each day. what i take into my body, whether it is food, drink, emotions, people, places, experiences, etc. is of utmost importance. and as i am growing and shifting, at times my mind wanders to my past. growing up i used to swim competitively. i loved the freedom of moving from lap to lap, the quality of the water, the color, the bubbles and the motion of repetition. swimming was my first dance with meditation. one of my goals for the past few years has been to swim, and so with this pregnancy i finally said, i am doing this!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichXW0NUsUYrdYyJAMCfdNuQ4jyanqCveHqtNiA6g62oZRJnOx2lDgM_iLpvVKg2t6q0OLzlTjOpLX7gwdmOuF18zM-8vTRwRNg-2grmGmajn71uv98ndKetGIHis7AeQnBwclhKi7N40/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichXW0NUsUYrdYyJAMCfdNuQ4jyanqCveHqtNiA6g62oZRJnOx2lDgM_iLpvVKg2t6q0OLzlTjOpLX7gwdmOuF18zM-8vTRwRNg-2grmGmajn71uv98ndKetGIHis7AeQnBwclhKi7N40/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
i go three times a week to a local pool, and luckily i've found one that uses mostly saline and not much chlorine at all. once more i am greeted with the sensation of the water moving against my body. i love watching the bubble and the colors shift underwater. i am using my breath as a moving meditation. and for the first time, i feel truly connected to my baby in a unique way. it is quite surreal to think of my baby swimming in a sac of water in my uterus, as i too swim in a body of water. i feel like we are dancing together, breathing together and bonding in a new way.Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-68913728263655243452010-08-27T18:32:00.000-07:002010-08-27T18:35:17.140-07:00a brighter day for midwives in los angeles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">below you will find a letter written by Deborah Frank, a well known and respected los angeles midwife. her letter outlines how cedars sinai has recently granted her full permission to attend births at their hospital. a year ago, this could only happen with a physician in attendance. this is good news indeed!!!</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Dear Friends,<br />
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Almost two years ago I was granted hospital privileges as a midwife at Cedars Sinai Medical Center; this was a milestone as I first applied 27 years ago. A month later I received a subsequent communication from the hospital saying that when I was in the hospital I was required to have a physician present while I was delivering care. This was not consistent with the state laws and the guidelines of the professional organization of physicians (ACOG) or midwives (ACM). This meant that my clients needed to pay a physician as well as a midwife to have their baby with me. This presented a barrier for women wishing to have their birth at Cedars with a midwife. I received the good news on Friday that this will no longer by required. My hope is that this may serve as a tipping point for other hospital in LA to open their doors to midwives and that even more options for women to access midwifery care in LA will become available. Thank you to so many of you who have encouraged and supported this effort over many years. At last....<br />
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Best wishes to you,<br />
Deb Frank<br />
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<a href="http://web.mac.com/deborahfrank/midwives_with_women/Home.html">MIDWIVES WITH WOMEN</a><br />
Deborah Frank, CNM<br />
421 North Rodeo Drive<br />
Penthouse 1<br />
Beverly Hills, CA 90210<br />
310-275-5595</span></span>Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-6900257341620912182010-07-16T16:14:00.000-07:002010-07-16T16:14:16.599-07:00trials of the first trimester<div>i love blogging, and i used to pride myself on actively blogging. with time, this blog has become quite sleepy. for the past two months, i've found myself in a vortex of the unexpected. the unexpected being that i am expecting!<br />
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i have to admit, not only was i shocked that i became pregnant. . .i was shocked at what it means to be pregnant in the first trimester. the first trimester felt like a spiral of the unknown. most women complain of nausea during the first trimester. for me, a slew of other symptoms began to rule my days and nights around week 5. i found myself, yes a bit nausea. foods that i would normally love, like quinoa and collard greens or kale made me feel disgusted, however i was grateful that my palette still loved fresh fruit. it seemed that for a number of weeks my diet consisted of raw fruit, yogurt, kefir, smoothies, baked potatoes and an occasional green juice. my midwife kindly said that some women are lucky to keep down coke and potato chips, and that i was doing excellent. <br />
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fortunately i didn't experience too much morning sickness. i was blessed with the knowledge that eating small snacks every two hours helps to keep the nausea at bay. <br />
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being one who is educated in the realm of pregnancy, birth and infant care, i immediately felt pressured to begin my pregnancy perfectly. thank goodness my midwife, <a href="http://www.tlcwomanscenter.com/">davi kaur khalsa</a> gently explained that it was too early to go to yoga every day, walk five miles and examine my diet with great care. she said the first trimester is all about kind to yourself. when i heard this, i internally breathed a sigh of relief. . .however it took a few weeks to give myself the compassion that i so readily share with my clients. <br />
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</div><div>what overwhelmed me in the beginning of my pregnancy was the sudden lack of energy. i felt totally exhausted after waking for less than an hour. i felt as if i could sleep all day long, and go to bed before 9 pm. however, like most western women, i had work scheduled, so sleep had to wait. <br />
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i was very surprised by my new self. what surprised me the most was the emotional roller coaster i rode. i felt like i could cry each day, multiple times per day. this truly had me worried, and i think even worried my husband for a bit. not only was i a wellspring of emotions, i also felt a deep desire to stay at home as much as possible. the thought of going out and being surrounded by people, even good friends, just felt like too much. i found that taking bach's walnut essence remedy and using neroli essential oil assisted in finding balance. </div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thedailypage.com/media/2007/05/24/596Art_ZhangXiaohong_PregnancyWI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thedailypage.com/media/2007/05/24/596Art_ZhangXiaohong_PregnancyWI.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>i also found my bowels plugged up, so much that i felt i looked pregnant early on, just from constipation. my breasts were extremely tender, and rapidly grew. on some days i felt as if i could feel my pubic bone and hips shifting to create more space for my growing uterus. my growing uterus pushed on my bladder, so that i found myself arising from bed sometimes 6 times in one night. </div><div><br />
why i share these symptoms in a blog is because it is rare you find women talking about the trials of the first trimester. usually pregnant women don't begin to circle up until the second trimester. we do often associate nausea with the first trimester, but beyond that, not much else is spoken about, especially the emotions. pregnancy, for most people is a blessing and a huge gift, something to celebrate, not cry about daily. however, in the beginning my emotions ran wild, and a huge part of me felt guilty for this. i know that i am not alone, and i think it's important that we as women help support other's through this sensitive time. <br />
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relief came around week 11. my sense became open to a variety of foods. i also noticed my emotions evening out. . .although i have to admit, i am still sensitive. however, in general, i feel great. and i am beginning to see how pregnancy is one of the most amazing points in a woman's life. now, looking back on the past 2 months, i have great compassion for the first trimester. in those first few weeks, i felt totally possessed. like a force had taken over my body and claimed me for it's own. and in reality, that is what happened. so much is happening in the beginning as the fetus's framework is being laid out, and this intense work drains the mother's life force. on top of draining the life force, the mother instinctively must work hard to protect this growing fetus, creating a healthy and happy being.</div>Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-78063885316523485712010-05-05T22:56:00.000-07:002014-02-07T10:56:45.415-08:00creating time for creativity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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it's been over a month since my last post, and i am finding myself swimming in babies. from postpartum work, to impending births, prenatal yoga classes and birthing workshops, the baby season is in full bloom.</div>
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the work i do is very full and intense, and for me to find continuous balance, i must offer myself plenty of self care. self care includes anything from quality family time, to yoga, to breathing in some fresh ocean air. what is at the top of my list these days is creativity. the more i create, the more i feel connected to my core.</div>
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i used to consider myself an artist, first and foremost. since living in los angeles, i have tried on other titles and hats. regardless of which hat i am wearing, i find myself always at the source of my own creativity. i recently attended a lecture at <a href="http://www.birthandbeyond.net/">birth and beyond</a> in santa monica, ca. the guest lecturer was the gifted <a href="http://www.wondersofthewomb.com/">laura uplinger</a>, who shared an abundance of fresh and raw birthing information to roomful of doulas and birth advocates. my greatest take away from her lecture is that <i>pregnant women need creativity</i> more than anything else.</div>
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knowledge and information only take you so far in life, and birth. at the end of the day, a woman gives birth with her body, not her mind. the heart and body connection will get you through any adversity. and creativity is at the root of this. and at the root of creativity is celebration.</div>
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<i>celebration</i></div>
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<i> </i> <a href="http://www.itsablackthang.com/images/Keith-Mallett/celebration-by-mallett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.itsablackthang.com/images/Keith-Mallett/celebration-by-mallett.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
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<i><b>how might you invoke more celebration in your life?</b></i></div>
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<i><b>how might you invite creativity to become a daily part of your existence?</b></i></div>
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<i><b>how might you mentor your children to create on a daily basis?</b></i></div>
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<i><b>how does deepening your creative process bring you into connection with self?</b></i></div>
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if this discussion has sparked your interest, i suggest you read on. . .</div>
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The following article was written by Anne Lamott and appeared in the April</div>
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2010 issue of Sunset Magazine. She explores the idea of why it is important</div>
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to tend to one¹s creative life.</div>
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I sometimes teach classes on writing, during which I tell my students every</div>
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single thing I know about the craft and habit. This takes approximately 45</div>
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minutes. I begin with my core belief, and the foundation of almost all wisdom</div>
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traditions, that there is nothing you can buy, achieve, own, or rent that can</div>
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fill up that hunger inside for a sense of fulfillment and wonder. But the</div>
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good news is that creative expression, whether that means writing, dancing,</div>
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bird-watching, or cooking, can give a person almost everything that he or</div>
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she has been searching for: enlivenment, peace, meaning, and the</div>
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incalculable wealth of time spent quietly in beauty.</div>
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Then I bring up the bad news: You have to make time to do this.</div>
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This means you have to grasp that your manic forms of connectivity‹cell</div>
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phone, email, text, Twitter‹steal most chances of lasting connection or</div>
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amazement. That multitasking can argue a wasted life. That a close</div>
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friendship is worth more than material success.</div>
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Needless to say, this is very distressing for my writing students. They</div>
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start to explain that they have two kids at home, or five, a stable of</div>
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horses or a hive of bees, and 40-hour workweeks. Or, on the other hand,</div>
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sometimes they are climbing the walls with boredom, own nearly nothing, and</div>
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are looking for work full-time, which is why they can't make time now to</div>
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pursue their hearts' desires. They often add that as soon as they retire, or</div>
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their last child moves out, or they move to the country, or to the city, or</div>
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sell the horses, they will. They are absolutely sincere, and they are</div>
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delusional.</div>
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I often remember the story from India of a beggar who sat outside a temple,</div>
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begging for just enough every day to keep body and soul alive, until the</div>
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temple elders convinced him to move across the street and sit under a tree.</div>
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Years of begging and bare subsistence followed until he died. The temple</div>
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elders decided to bury him beneath his cherished tree, where, after</div>
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shoveling away a couple of feet of earth, they found a stash of gold coins</div>
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that he had unknowingly sat on, all those hand-to-mouth years.</div>
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You already have the gold coins beneath you, of presence, creativity,</div>
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intimacy, time for wonder, and nature, and life. Oh, yeah, you say? And</div>
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where would those rascally coins be?</div>
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This is what I say: First of all, no one needs to watch the news every</div>
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night, unless one is married to the anchor. Otherwise, you are mostly going</div>
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to learn more than you need to know about where the local fires are, and how</div>
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rainy it has been: so rainy! That is half an hour, a few days a week, I tell</div>
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my students. You could commit to writing one page a night, which, over a</div>
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year, is most of a book.</div>
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If they have to get up early for work and can't stay up late, I ask them if</div>
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they are willing NOT to do one thing every day, that otherwise they were</div>
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going to try and cram into their schedule.</div>
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They may explain that they have to go to the gym four days a week or they</div>
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get crazy, to which I reply that that's fine‹no one else really cares if</div>
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anyone else finally starts to write or volunteers with marine mammals. But</div>
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how can they not care and let life slip away? Can't they give up the gym</div>
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once a week and buy two hours' worth of fresh, delectable moments? (Here</div>
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they glance at my butt.)</div>
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Can they commit to meeting one close friend for two hours every week, in</div>
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bookstores, to compare notes? Or at an Audubon sanctuary? Or a winery?</div>
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They look at me bitterly now--they don't think I understand. But I do; I know</div>
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how addictive busyness and mania are. But I ask them whether, if their</div>
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children grow up to become adults who spend this one precious life in a spin</div>
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of multitasking, stress, and achievement, and then work out four times a</div>
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week, will they be pleased that their kids also pursued this kind of</div>
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whirlwind life?</div>
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If not, if they want much more for their kids, lives well spent in hard work</div>
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and savoring all that is lovely, why are they living this manic way?</div>
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I ask them, is there a eucalyptus grove at the end of their street, or a new</div>
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exhibit at the art museum? An upcoming minus tide at the beach where the</div>
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agates and tidepools are, or a great poet coming to the library soon? A pond</div>
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where you can see so many turtles? A journal to fill?</div>
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If so, what manic or compulsive hours will they give up in trade for the</div>
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equivalent time to write, or meander? Time is not free; that's why it's so</div>
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precious and worth fighting for.</div>
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Will they give me one hour of housecleaning in exchange for the poetry</div>
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reading? Or wash the car just one time a month, for the turtles? No? I</div>
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understand. But at 80, will they be proud that they spent their lives</div>
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keeping their houses cleaner than anyone else in the family did, except for</div>
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mad Aunt Beth, who had the vapors? Or that they kept their car polished to a</div>
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high sheen that made the neighbors quiver with jealousy? Or worked their</div>
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fingers to the bone providing a high quality of life, but maybe accidentally</div>
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forgot to be deeply and truly present for their kids, and now their</div>
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grandchildren?</div>
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I think it's going to hurt. What fills us is real, sweet, dopey, funny life.</div>
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I've heard it said that every day you need half an hour of quiet time for</div>
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yourself, or your Self, unless you're incredibly busy and stressed, in which</div>
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case you need an hour. I promise you, it is there. Fight tooth and nail to</div>
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find time, to make it. It is our true wealth, this moment, this hour, this</div>
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day.</div>
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-Anne Lamott</div>
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Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-58333701596147706362010-04-02T16:20:00.000-07:002010-04-02T16:20:10.610-07:00final farm musings and a passage in portland<div style="text-align: center;">i am back on the traveling road. my gypsy soul tends to keep my life in a traveling stir, no matter how hard i work to stay grounded in one space. i have a strong intention to keep my blog consistent, and yet, consistency is hard on the road.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so from portland, oregon i sit to share with you my final thoughts on my farm journey back in march. somehow it is already early april. how does our time space continuum always feel as if it is speeding up? is this just a sign of aging?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i won't be back in los angeles until mid april, so this very well might be my last blog post until then. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">when i think about the farm, my thoughts fly straight to the word gift. it was such an incredible gift to be at the farm in tennessee. i knew before i went that my time there would forever shape my life, and it truly has. i feel so proud and passionate for my love of birth, and how essential and beautiful it is for all of us, parents and parentless alike to be educated in the realm of birth. every single one of us humans has been born. it is a fact of life. so why, are we so uneducated on birth, until we find ourselves with a baby on the way? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">at this point i am wordless on how to sum up all of my farm experiences into a short story. i feel my pictures speak in a language more coherent and fluid than letters will ever form. </div><br />
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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckTwX0EsxSHW8SgHI2oEE3Dce93p547eXd6DukP-dCNf_Dqw6TYvZlsUR9RBrv-3Uga23pjvSE9tk7qzk_bKmFDYoq6k8gLYivLDtdgvJCxvk7h3TnmQITLyb3iQi4kkaE8DzZ9PKiAQ/s400/IMG_5810.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMOGt8prLUgVqP9YE2NM8ZC1M8U-wj8FMK_1ePu_5OE8t_AkWAoofldBHRTyj0IR9wpkXii9Czn7Hiel-bOxgkt9P19-7lG-3bNYvXeMSWf4AM8mP1-ggQIuOPhR20FSJqx8CNiNdTVk/s1600/IMG_5815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMOGt8prLUgVqP9YE2NM8ZC1M8U-wj8FMK_1ePu_5OE8t_AkWAoofldBHRTyj0IR9wpkXii9Czn7Hiel-bOxgkt9P19-7lG-3bNYvXeMSWf4AM8mP1-ggQIuOPhR20FSJqx8CNiNdTVk/s320/IMG_5815.JPG" /></a></div>Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-4625169905705517522010-03-21T22:21:00.000-07:002010-03-21T22:21:40.791-07:00a friday at the farm</div><div style="text-align: center;">friday was our first real day to relax at <a href="http://www.thefarm.org/">the farm</a>. mind you, the friday i speak of was march 5. obi and i took lots and lots of walks to pass our time. if you know anything about a six month old teething baby, you know how much they really love to be with their mama. so to keep obi distracted from thoughts of his mother while he was busy cutting four new teeth, we got to know the lay of the farm's land. we strolled down to the farm store, and on our way stopped by to say hi to some lovely horses. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">i traveled to the farm with two women, aka mom-friendly productions, who set out with the intention to create a documentary on midwife ina may gaskin. throughout our journey together i learned quite a bit about the process of creating a documentary film, the history of the farm, the history of midwifery, and fun details about <a href="http://www.inamay.com/">ina may</a>. what i think impacted me the most in my learning was observing firsthand what it is like for new moms to dive back into their work. sara is a mother of a two year old, and 6 month old. this is her first film since birthing both of her children. mary is also a mother to a two year old, and this too is her first film since having her son. the emotions felt so thickly layered as i grasped how excited these women were to be creative and how passionate they felt about their work. and yet, you could feel a tear in this seam of passion, as this is work means time apart from their families. </div><br />
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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor7c_5lAlESQJBCye03D5LpAbxjjUYnU4ropArTyUngYvF-ZEK2sZUScUb4p0GHeNZha-vaXEymy0h1p9S9bj8FGTBvuMKMxuFroWg7vTnxFt3i11M9tI94Tpv4aKULY1_W5gIfWxzK0/s320/IMG_5689.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997895004921469344.post-27343988816782523292010-03-19T17:19:00.000-07:002010-03-20T17:41:21.748-07:00the sanctuary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.reunionmidwives.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/hernandez-birth-47web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://www.reunionmidwives.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/hernandez-birth-47web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">are you a los angeles mother to be considering a hospital birth, but wishing you had a birth center close by to attend? in the next 90 days, there is a large possibility that <a href="http://www.birthsanctuary.com/">the sanctuary</a> will be opening a birth center with 1-2 birthing rooms initially in culver city. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <br />
according to a colleague of mine, there is an investor for this project who would like to see what the level of interest is for a birthing center in los angeles. here is where you come in! if you know of pregnant women or women who have babies and are thinking of becoming pregnant again who are interested in birthing in this way, please direct them to <a href="http://www.birthsanctuary.com/" target="_blank">www.birthsanctuary.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">once they enter the site, they can click on "Birthing Center Waiting List" in red on the right hand side. they can read about this exciting news and if they are interested in the possibility of using a birth center, please ask them to fill out the listed letter. rhis will show the investor that there is much interest!<br />
</div>Danielle Marie Goldsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954499115993830226noreply@blogger.com0