Baby blues or depression?

Having a baby is meant to be one of the happiest days of a woman's life. In our culture we see women on t.v. and in movies toting their sleeping newborns around and doing everything that they did pre-baby. When our bundle arrives we wonder why no one told us that newborn babies need way more attention than we ever expected. Is it our expectations that were wrong, or is it us we may wonder?
After the birth of a baby most moms experience emotional ups and downs. This may be in part from hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, an unfulfilling birth experience, lack of support or relationship stresses. About 80% of women experience something referred to as the Baby Blues. This generally occurs about a week after birth, and symptoms include crying easily, feeling overwhelmed, loss of control, exhaustion, feeling anxious or sad or and perhaps a lack of confidence about being a parent. The baby blues are temporary, and usually cure themselves with time, healing and support.Here is a site that differentiates between normal baby blues and postpartum depression.

I have heard many mothers express their surprise about crying "over nothing" after their baby was born. And I wondered if there is more that could be done to prepare couples for the arrival of their newborn!?

In Birthing From Within preparation classes we do a lot to educate and normalize the changes that come up in this adjustment period. The couples do a Postpartum Adjustment Plan worksheet together, and need to brainstorm. Who knows if it really works or not, but I feel that the awareness that things are going to change, and that they may need two heads to figure it out, is a good stepping stone either way!

Recipe of the day!

I have realized that it can take me some time to write a blog post. Days pass, moods change and what I sometimes plan to write about is no longer pertinent in the moment that I actually have time to write it. My plate is continuously overflowing. So I have decided to empty it here..... and offer a recipe of the day every Tuesday.
Healthy eating has been a part of my life for years now. My love affair with food started with a position as a server at L'Ecole. Part of the French Culinary Institute in New York City, this restaurant boasts a 4-5 course meal cooked by students of culinary arts. Food had to be cooked in order to learn, so it was not uncommon to end my shift with a chocolate creme brulee or my favorite tart au citron! As a mom, I need to come up with new ideas and love affairs for my palette. And they need to be fast, fresh and healthy.
So, here it goes :)

Red cabbage salad with lime vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1/2 head of shredded cabbage

2 shredded carrots or sweet potatoes

4 chopped scallions

handful of sunflower seeds

handful of cashews

6 cleaned and chopped mushrooms

Dressing:

Juice of 2 limes

3 cloves of garlic (crushed in garlic press)

3 chunks of fresh ginger (crushed in garlic press)

safflower oil (read below)

chopped cilantro

salt to taste

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.

In a smaller bowl add all of the dressing ingredients and stir. I use about 5 tablespoons of oil, I kind of wing this part though, adding less oil than lime juice. Keep tasting your dressing until you find a nice balance, not too sour, a nice citrus kick is what you're after.

Recipes for a good morning :)

Most mornings I awake and my house could use a lot of cleaning up. Its small, and full of big pre-bachelor furniture, making it cramped and appearing even smaller. For mornings that I dont want to make any more messes, I usually opt for a smoothie. They are quick, healthy, and only need one dish making it fast and easy to clean up.   



For my smoothie I use 1 banana, frozen berries, 1/2 cup of yogurt and orange juice.
 I add a tablespoon of each Hempseed oil (full of omega 3's) and Green vibrance powder (loaded up with raw greens).



Veda loves cholate milk, what 4 year old doesn't! So for her smoothie, I use 2 bananas,
1/2 cup chocolate almond milk and 1/2 cup plain almond milk and 2 tablespoons of almond butter.

Here is Veda enjoying her "chocolate milk smoothie" as she calls it.
And playing with the play dough that we also made this morning :)

Playdhough recipe:

1 cup water (today we juiced 1 beet for color, and added that to the water)

1/2 cup salt

2 teaspoons cream of tartar (found in the spice section)

food coloring, if you have it... or beet juice

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup flour

Instructions:

Combine first 4 ingredients in a sauce pan over low heat. 

Stir with a wooden spoon until salt disolves.

Once warmed up stir in the oil and flour slowly.

Keep stirring til the mixture starts looking dry and pulls

away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the heat at this

point and pinch a piece of dough between 2 fingers. If it is not

sticky, its done! Otherwise continue stiring over heat!

Recipe adapted from this book!

Open House!

We would like to thank everyone who showed their support by participating in the Secret Lotus Yoga and Healing Arts Open House! We are so pleased to provide a space in Myrtle Beach where people can share, expand and nurture themselves and the hearts of others through yoga, reiki, massage, childbirth education and doula services. Stay tuned for all upcoming events by "liking" the FaceBook page here.



I could seriously live in this room





A mix of warm and cool colors bring energy and relaxation :)





Jewelry by Bodhi Tree Birth and Om Sweet Om



Although I have not practiced Ashtanga in quite some time, I was very influenced by the three series as they were simultaneously demonstrated by four people. The look of gratitude on all of the Yogis faces mixed with an energy of great determination, ignited a spark that has been deep within me. For too long now, I have given up my practice. For no good reason really. Maybe lack of inspiration, or perhaps I am just too comfortable living what I already know. Regardless of what I have been doing (or not doing) in the past, I feel that I am participating in this venture for a much greater reason. I have been nurturing my mind and the spirits of others for so long now, that it is time to find some balance in this equation. And re-commence on a path of my own healing as well. It is not very often that one can feel so close to God, but while sharing energy in that divine space, and listening to the sacred chants.... I am sure there was a presence there greater than us all.

Todd Geiser, Karley Lott, Danny Huddle, Lyndsay Bahn-Trimble and Maribeth MacKenzie

Lyndsay and Todd

Todd Geiser, Karley Lott, Danny Huddle and Maribeth MacKenzie

Recipe for eggplant meatless balls:

(completely winging it here!)

• Roast chopped eggplant, red onion and garlic with oil, salt and italian seasoning til tender.
• Remove and pulse in food processor in small batches.
• Transfer to a large bowl.
• When all eggplant is finished, add chopped fresh basil, matzo meal, 1 egg* and shredded parmesean cheese* (*optional) consistency should easily stick together
• Season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper
• Oil a baking dish, roll into balls and bake on 375 for about 25 minutes
• ENJOY!

 

A walk down memory lane

While flipping through Barbara Harpers, Gentle Birth Choices, I came upon a great passage that disclosed many answers to common misconceptions about the safety of  babies being born in water. There are certainly too many topics to mention here, but we can skim the question most commonly asked:  "How does the baby breath during a waterbirth?" To really answer this question, one must understand that a newborn in utero only has contact with the mothers amniotic fluid, and ocean-like atmosphere and has no need to breath. The human body amazes me everyday. And learning that a baby actually "breaths" by taking the oxygenated air through the umbilical cord harmoniously shared by this perfect partnership.... WHOA! Try explaining that to my 4 year old who wants to know what bellybuttons are for! The temperature of the water is so close to that of the maternal temperature that it prevents any detection of change within the newborn. It is not until the newborn infants skin, especially around the nose and mouth, makes contact with the air, that the baby will take its first breath.

I took this picture with Barbara Harper in January of 2009, at a Waterbirth International workshop. It was the first birth related workshop that I had ever attended. Coming across this picture, taken what feels like forever ago, made me really realize that this journey is a life long one that I am blessed to embark upon. And again, I am sending gratitude to all of those who I have met and helped to guide me along the way!

(For more info check out the Waterbirth International website)

Cleanse Day 1

Day One of my fast and this was breakfast! Juice of apple, kale, spinach, cucumber, beet, ginger, garlic, celery and carrot! I decided that to only juice would be too stressful for me. I run around with a toddler and go to the pool for most of the day. I need to pack a lunch for these outings or I would lose it, and binge on junk food! So I am doing a combination of raw food and juice.

 

So this is what I packed for lunch today:

A kale salad with shredded beets, scallions, summer squash,cherry tomatoes, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. A homemade dressing of fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and pressed garlic! Yum!

 

I would love for you all to share some raw recipe ideas or links here!

I will keep you updated as I go :)

The spice of life

I can not believe how fast this past month has gone by. I have not even visited my own blog! Life has been nothing short of chaos, and I am beginning to feel that the storm is passing. With the death of my computer, returning to work, and the emergent renovations at our apartment that left us to co-habitate with friends and family, I certainly feel that, at times I lost my direction. Along with other things, like my keys, and sanity.
Throughout this ordeal I have wondered what the purpose of all of this would be. What would I learn when I came out of it? I over-pondered this question until I gave myself numerous headaches. And just like so many things in life, I could not come up with an answer, just had to wait for time to tell.
I feel that I have certainly gained a new appreciation of family time, routine, ritual, and wholesome family dinners! And working at the health food store has rekindled my love for healthy eating. With only 1 day left before we move back into our place (YAY!) I am full of excitement and ambition. As soon as I have ridden out this wave, I plan on doing a 60 day juice/raw food fast to give back to my body. As a way of showing thanks, and renewal!

 A variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is what I always recommend for families. By juicing, you are further increasing your bodies ability to digest these nutrients and super fast! For instance, garlic a common  ingredient has been dubbed "the wonder drug among all herbs". Raw garlic juice is great source of calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and vitamin B1. It is also very high in sulfur, a vital nutrient for healthy, radiant skin. During World War I, garlic was used as a natural antibiotic. Because of its anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, drinking garlic juice or eating it raw can be effective in dealing with intestinal parasites.
And that is only garlic, imagine what properties a juice of carrot, apple, garlic, ginger and lemon would provide! Interested? Find juice recipes here. Also, for expecting moms, find out more about raw juice and pregnancy here.
I would love to hear how your ventures go!
Cheers!