Not sure what a Blessingway is? Imagine being in your final weeks of pregnancy surrounded by the women you love – fellow moms, sisters, friends (I decided to have my two daughters attend mine). They are gathered to celebrate you and encourage you on your journey to motherhood. As opposed to a shower where the…read more >
Parenthood Articles
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How Babywearing Older Children Makes Life Easier & Sweeter
People usually explore babywearing (using a baby wrap or baby carrier) for the first time when their babies are itty bitty newborns. Being able to keep your new baby close and bond during those first few months of life is priceless. I’m not sure what I would have done without babywearing in the early days. Once…read more >
Need a Positive Birthing Boost? Sing Out!
One of my favorite YouTube homebirth videos features a laboring woman singing. You can see on her face when she’s having contractions and it’s beautifully clear that her song is helping her work through the tension. I find this video wonderfully calming. It’s an affirmation in itself. The birth process can be full of faith,…read more >
10 Positive Affirmations for Homebirth and Unassisted Birth
Making the decision to have your baby at home isn’t as radical as it was 15 years ago but there will still be a few people who cock their heads and look at you like you’ve lost your mind. If you’ve ever seen a birth reenactment or portray on television, it’s not hard to understand…read more >
Pregnancy and the Nutrition of Our Experiences
When we are pregnant, it is easy to think of feeding our bodies a diet rich in clean, healthy foods. We try to avoid processed foods for the most part, instead choosing whole foods to keep our own bodies strong and healthy, and to keep our absorption and digestion functioning well. The quality of water,…read more >
Top Five Gentle Parenting Baby Shower Wish List
At sixteen weeks pregnant to date, I’m feeling my baby move a bit and getting a little more horizontal in the belly region. We’ve interviewed a great doula, are considering midwife-assisted vs. unassisted birth, and starting to talk about the stuff we might need before the baby arrives. In pondering baby shower registries and requests…read more >
How To Explain Co-Sleeping to Family and Friends (and Keep the Peace)
As my partner and I prepare for the arrival of our first child (due in July), it’s becoming more and more apparent that our preparation requires a little preparation of others, namely my partner’s Chilean family. While there are a few very small pockets of families who practice a natural parenting style (i.e. attachment…read more >
Five Fun Responses to Critical Parenting Questions
Every parent knows that always-someone out there: friend, relative, even the passing stranger, who feels as if they need to critique the choices you’ve made for your family. Instead of getting angry or defensive, I’ve created a few snappy responses! Use at your own risk Breastfeeding: “When do you plan on stopping nursing?” Response: “Not…read more >
International Travel: 10 Tips to Traveling With a Baby
As a family with the “adventure bug,” I will admit that having a baby put us in a bit of an upside-down state. Gone were the days of randomly getting in the car and getting lost somewhere, leaving for the weekend on a whim or even spending the day in the mountains with little to…read more >
Breastfeeding Brings Out the “Mama Bear” In Moms
The Daily Mail reported recently that scientists have discovered that breastfeeding mothers protect their young in a way that mirrors how grizzly bear mothers protect their cubs. Apparently, moms who nurse their babies are more fearless and maternally aggressive when it comes to looking after their young. “In what is thought to be the first…read more >
