Nursery of the day: Baby boy blues

This nursery is perfect for those mom to be's who dont have an extra bedroom to spare for their new baby love, or perhaps dont want a separate room for their baby because they want them to be close. Great idea!

The fear of childbirth

I have not once been scared of this whole process. Partly because i dont think about labor or what it will consist of. Ive pushed it to the back of my mind until most recently when i saw someone on TV give birth. Im not gonna lie it scared me and made me nervous. WHAT AM I DOING?! lol. So afterward i forced the thought back out of my mind....eventually im gonna have to face the reality of giving birth. I found a blog entry of a mother of two who talks about natural birth and the fear that has been placed on women. Very good read:

" Fear.

The first question it brings to my mind is, "Why? Why do we as a culture embrace that childbirth must be a scary, frightening event that we are lucky to survive?".

In my reality, this perception couldn't be further from the truth. Childbirth, even natural childbirth, can be a peaceful, gentle, safe and empowering event. I have experienced it twice myself and know countless other mothers who can attest to the same fact. Sadly, in this country, we are now in the minority. But was it always this way? Were women always conditioned to fear birth?

No. The change occurred as women lost their culture of birthing, as the tradition of women caring for women and supporting each other through birth began to diminish, so did their confidence and trust in birth. As birth moved into hospitals, the wisdom of women was lost. The culture of confidence and midwifery care was lost to fear and medical management of birth as a disease - one to be treated and feared rather than welcomed and trusted.

As the fear continues to spiral unchecked, for many women, this irrational phobia has now led to an increase in maternal request c-sections. Women once deemed "too posh to push" are actually "scared witless" - they have become so conditioned to fear birth that to escape it they select a major abdominal surgery, oblivious of the risks, six weeks of recovery, and ramifications on their future fertility, all hoping to evade their fear of childbirth." 

-credit to [http://blog.givingbirthnaturally.com]

From here on out i wont be scared. This will be a rewarding/positive experience. woooosaaaaa ;] lol

Advice of the day: Natural birth

Im surprised at how many people ask me if im gonna give birth naturally [as compared to having a c-section]. Of course im giving birth naturally, i wouldnt have it any other way. My mother told me not to get an epidural shot [numbs you from the waist down when you give birth to help reduce the pain] because she said your bond with your baby is stronger when you give natural birth, pain and all! I came across this interesting study on the topic of natural birth and your bond with your baby:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7594282.stm

Check out the link its rather interesting and good to know.

Gift to mommy: more handouts

I have been blessed with having wonderful friends and family friends who have been more than happy to give me their baby stuff because their daughters have outgrown them. Arent I lucky that so many people have girls, lol! It has inspired me to pass on my baby stuff to other mom-to-bes in the future. Its like Christmas all over again. These clothes were given to me by the wife of a man my dad works with. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Advice of the day: stretch marks

Dont Itch!

People are so kind ;] I get wonderful lil advice here and there from women who have been pregnant before and ive been learning new things every day that I would like to share with future moms. One thing ive been told, is when you start itching [yes, your growing belly starts to itch a lil on occasions] fight the urges to scratch. They cause stretch marks. Im trying to avoid those at ALL costs. When i get the urge to itch i just rub my belly with cocoa butter. I know stretch marks are genetic as well, some people believe there really arent ways to prevent them but I believe they can be avoided. Hopefully this helps if any.

;] xoxo, Cassandra

Pic of the day

"It was the tiniest thing I ever decided to put my whole life into."

- Terri Guillemets

Nursery of the day: Spring green

Green wouldnt be my first choice in colors for a nursery, however if I was having a boy and didnt want to do the typical blue design I would definitely consider green. Especially if it looked like this.