Great video talks about the role of doulas

I found this little gem this morning. It's a great introduction to doulas and what they do!

Celebs talk about their midwife-assisted births

From Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, the producers of The Business of Being Born, have launched a new website dedicated to "taking back your birth!" : mybestbirth.com.

Their newest addition is a video in which they discuss celebrities' birth experiences. You'll get to see what Cindi Crawford, Laila Ali and Christy Turlington have to say about giving birth.

Here's a preview, definitely worth checking out!

Ecstatic Pregnancy

I've had a great month of repose and reflection. As I write this, the dear little baby inside me now makes known that from here on out, space will be at a premium- if I don't sit up straight this baby is stretching into my ribs and taking my breath away!

Last week, I had a good listen to baby with the fetal stethoscope. Not for reassurance, mind you: my growing belly and the acrobat within help me to say with confidence that this baby is healthy and strong. I listened for pleasure, and for fun. The sound of a baby's heartbeat through an ultrasound Doppler machine is nothing like hearing it through a fetal stethoscope. When I listen to the heartbeat through the stethoscope I hear ancient drumming, not a swishing, electronic sound. Our baby is big enough now that my partner, Joe, could hear it loud and clear, a nice occasion for this wonderful daddy.

I have yet to undergo any routine prenatal testing, and I find that I feel stronger and healthier than either of my other two pregnancies. Keep in mind that I had an excellent doctor with my first pregnancy and a midwife with the second; what they didn't provide me with was a wholehearted trust in birth, so I had to provide it for them and everyone else involved in those two births. How tiring!! This time around, I am surrounded by people who trust the process, who trust my body, and who trust me and my intuition. I receive respect, even from those who fear my choices, and I don't have to waste my energy trying to convince them of the deep-seated truths I hold inside.

This pregnancy has been a sweet, wonderful process. I feel blessed and loved, and isn't that what it's supposed to be all about?

Reflections on happiness

My friend Toni had the sweetest comment for me yesterday. She told me that I look so lovely pregnant, that I'm glowing and seem to have this determination that I'll be happy and healthy, and won't let my pregnancy slow me down. Since Toni's known me for about the same amount of time I've been pregnant, she doesn't know that I have actually felt like this for a long time! It got me thinking about what contributes to my happiness.

I see that a lot of my personal happiness has come about as the result of gratitude. In the past few years, I've escaped depression, ended a bad marriage, discovered my own worth, taken responsibility for my choices, become a better mother, found a loving partner and more. I have so many blessings in my life!

The other thing that contributes to my happiness is an absolute acceptance of myself. I appreciate that I am here to live and love and learn. I am here to be uniquely ME. I now live with integrity because I'm connected to my true self. I think that Toni is just seeing a woman who is happy and comfortable in her own skin, someone who is uncompromising. I want to continue to grow as that woman, to live the life that's mine, and to encourage others to do the same.

Are you happy in your day to day life? Do you seek change? If you do, you might want to try the following:

1) Do less. Seriously. Take ownership of your daily choices, and give yourself permission to slow down.
2) Sleep more. If you can't get up in the morning without an alarm clock (at least in the summer when the sunlight should help you wake), you might not be getting enough sleep.
3) Go for a walk.
4) Commune with God/dess, the Universe, Nature, the One. Ask your questions and be prepared to listen.
5) LOVE yourself. BE yourself.

There are lots of great resources on the internet. From time to time I share those that enrich my life, and I trust that you will find exactly what you need at exactly the right time. Your happiness will be a beacon to lead other people to the same. I pray to see the whole of humanity radiating JOY!

Happily yours,

Doing Less

What a concept! I got an update from a fellow Twitterer that blogger Magpie Girl is officially starting a "Do Less" campaign tomorrow....Goddess bless her!!

I am definitely on board, although I must admit to indulging in relaxation and long periods of doing less on a regular basis. I find I've even increased my practice of these time-honoured techniques since finding a man who appreciates them, and finding out I am pregnant with baby #3.

I think we all can gain something by sleeping more, eating better, working less, spending less, and so on. Taking care of ourselves is always a great idea because it actually increases the energy we have available for our friends, family and the world.

So here's to doing less! Thanks Magpie Girl for focusing on such a worthy cause (seriously)!

Yours in rest,

This and that

The last couple of weeks have been good to me... first of all we took five days off and headed to Nova Scotia to visit family. There we laughed, talked into the wee hours, played games and just enjoyed each other. We returned home tired but renewed.

I joined a Huna study group last week. The amazing, positive energy in the air was palpable! I got to meet a very cool group of people who want to enrich their lives with positive thinking. I am ever the optimist, and sometimes I am told I am not "realistic" enough. What a blessing to share some space and time with like-minded people.

This past weekend there was a huge family fair/expo here in town. Lots of great companies and service providers were there but there was something missing: natural birth support. I was shocked! I've been taking it easy this year, after moving, but now I'd really like to network with doulas and natural birth enthusiasts here in town and see what can be done. Adding to the "to-do" list.

A bright, beautiful discovery I made at the fair was a local henna artist, Larissa Reinders, owner of Dragonfly Designs. In addition to traditional mehndi, Larissa does beautiful belly designs for expectant mothers, infusing them with love and energy that moms can carry over into their birth and postpartum time. She also facilitates "Mother Blessings", a great alternative to traditional baby showers where the focus is on honouring and encouraging the mother to be in an intimate, loving gathering. You can check out her work here.

This coming weekend I am doing a private birth workshop for my dear friends who are also expecting a little one. I am so excited as this is in preparation for a homebirth, so we can talk about all of the things that are important to this couple, instead of focusing on hospital procedures and protocols. Although we will be talking about what will happen in the event of a transfer, for the most part we can focus on how to keep the energy good and how mom wants to be supported so she can feel safe and secure. They are planning a waterbirth for this first baby, and although there is always some fear of the unknown, I hope I can help them to feel excited more than anything.

The buds have popped on the trees today and the sun is shining, adding to my already high energy level (I slept so well last night!). My biggest goal today is to get my house super clean, it always makes me feel really great. So I am off...wishing you lots of love and light today :)

And the BINSI winner is....

Sarah Zooker! Thanks to everyone who entered. Sarah will be receiving her choice of an in-stock BINSI skirt or top.

Remember to wear what makes you feel comfy the next time you give birth.

In sisterhood,