green shakes and giggles: October 2010

I'm just going to give you a heads up here. This post is about pregnancy and childbirth. Don't say I didn't warn you. Okay, having said that, I have to admit that I'm in no way, shape, or form, an expert on either topic. My background consists of 3 previous pregnancies (which resulted in 3 rambunctious kids) and one fetus who has recently taken up residence in my uterus. Experienced? Yes. Duggar status? No. Thank you very much.

Ahem.

If you've been reading our blog, you'll know that I'm definitely the less strict one when it comes to diet and nutrition. Still considered to be a Nazi by friends and family but compared to Jenny, I'm totally the Homer. Since becoming knocked up, however, I've had to re-think pretty much everything. See, I had this vision of how my next pregnancy would go. Organic, vegan, heavy on the raw, diet that would lead to that radiant pregnant glow. I was so sweet and so stupid. It wasn't a week after I saw those two little pink lines that I became permanently sprawled on my bathroom floor (most often with my head in the toilet). Food? What food? Oh, you mean the 25 boxes of saltines? Or something like that. For 12 weeks! My dream, my green organic vision, gone. Or so I thought. But little by little my desire for fresh food began to return. There were a few times that I became too eager only to have my green shake end up in the toilet. But by the time I hit the 15 week mark, I had exited vomitville. The produce section was my canvas (except for that week I was in Boston and ate so much lobster I became part crustacean). And by the way, it doesn't matter what I eat while I'm pregnant. I don't glow. I swell.

As of today, I'm proud to report that I've been able to ditch the saltines and clean up my diet. Not to the point that I had imagined, but I think that's my point here. Pregnancy is one of those unpredictable times in life when you just have to roll with it. Attempting to control every little detail is a surefire way to set yourself up for disaster. And it still kills me to think about how different all my pregnancies have been. You JUST CAN'T predict how it's going to play out. I'm 19 weeks into my 4th pregnancy and I've been surprised by just about everything. Especially at my ultrasound last week when my baby appeared to be either giving me the thumbs up or flipping me off. The hubs and I seem to have perfected the recipe for temperamental offspring.

And here's where I'm REALLY going to grab your attention and change the subject while I'm at it. I've recently become interested in the possibility of attempting a drug-free birth. I have to guess you either just rolled your eyes (in which case I would completely understand and kind of agree), or you swooned over my incomprehensible courage (but don't, because I haven't really done or committed to do it yet). I know. I'm all kinds of awesome. Okay I'm not. But you know who is? Jenny. She would never be all soap-boxy about it but she totally birthed her last baby without the help of an epidural. Or a friggin Tylenol for that matter. SUPER. WOMAN. And a bit of an inspiration if you ask me. At some point I'll get her to tell you all about it but trust me on this one. Her story will leave you wondering, "hey, maybe I could do that". Which is kind of a delusional thought in my case because I just so happen to be the queen of epidurals. No, I'm serious. When I had my last baby I demanded an epidural before I would even allow the word pitocin to be uttered in my presence. Yep. I'm totally that woman.

So why the drastic change of heart you ask? Well, for me it's complicated but I'll try and condense it for you. I've gone through three childbirth experiences, two of which were short, sweet, and fairly painless (let's not talk about the 32 hour one, after which I sat on a doughnut for like a year). But I've always had that feeling that I might have been missing out on something. I've never even been able to accurately describe it. I just felt like something about the experience wasn't quite complete. Well, that and those excruciating headaches I got after having had an epidural. Not to mention the fact that that epidurals also make me swell up like the stay-puff marshmallow man on 'roids. Come to think of it, it might be more that than the "missing out on something" I mentioned. But also, haven't women been doing this for like a zillion years?

According to suite 101 there exists a lengthy list of reasons why drug-free births are the superior choice:

1. Mothers who labor naturally can move freely, go to the bathroom, walk and change positions throughout labor. According to the Cochrane Review, recent studies have shown that getting medication makes changing positions even after birth more difficult.

2. Since you can feel your body's reflexes in natural childbirth, mothers can push better and generally faster. In fact studies show that getting an epidural prolongs your pushing time.

3. The pain during labor serves a purpose by guiding the mother to seek certain positions. For example, if her back hurts, she will naturally seek positions off her back which can help to turn her baby. Having back pain is one sign that the baby might be posterior and needs to rotate.

4. Mothers often describe that their recovery after a natural childbirth was faster and easier since they could get right up and walk and shower. Usually they eat right away and their appetite is normal.

5. Endorphins secreted during a natural childbirth have been found in the placenta and umbilical cord. This may serve a purpose to help the baby adjust to life outside as well as make the journey more comfortable for baby.

pre-breastfeeding behaviours

I also happen to know that there exists a lengthy list of reasons why a drug-free birth may NOT be the superior choice. I could rattle off at least 5 that I've personally experienced (hellooooo 3rd degree tear). No wool over these eyes. Believe me when I say I'm a FIRM believer when it comes to modern medicine. I don't judge or look down upon ANYONE for how they decide to give birth (did I mention that I'm the official president of the epidural club? Just sayin'). Like I mentioned earlier, you can't control everything. But you CAN make a plan. I'm simply entertaining the idea of doing things differently this time around, and maybe surprising myself a little.

And so I ask you now. What are your thoughts on the topic? Is it something you would ever consider? Why or why not? Have you ever done or attempted to do it? If you have, did your doctor try to slap some sense into you or did he/she respect your decision? What method did you use? And here's the tell all. If you've done it successfully before, would you do it again?

Lay it on me people. I've got a decision to make!

The other night, my family and I went to pick out pumpkins at Farnsworth Farms in Sandy, UT. It was so fun!! The best part was that the owner gave us samples of his RAW apple cider that he makes from the apples in his apple orchard. First of all, I HATED apple juice as a child, and I don't give my kids fruit juice because I would rather they eat the whole fruit. However, being a special occasion, and given the fact that the cider was SO delicious, I couldn't help myself and bought a half-gallon of it. The owner told me that he chooses the best apples, and juices them on the spot. Then he simply bottles it. He can't sell the raw version of the cider in stores because it isn't pasteurized, so if you get the chance to go to Farnsworth Farms, buy some raw apple cider. You won't regret it.

Anyway, after we carved our pumpkins, we had lots of seeds hiding in the pumpkin guts. As a child, one of my fondest memories was of my mom roasting the seeds after we carved our pumpkins, and it is a tradition that I have carried on, even when it was just me and my roommates in college. So, of course I continue this tradition with my own family. And let me tell you, homemade roasted pumpkin seeds are like no other seed you have tasted before. They are so divine, you just don't even know until you taste them.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

1) Separate seeds from pumpkin guts and wash thoroughly.

2) Place seeds on a parchment paper lined baking dish.
3) Sprinkle Real Salt on the seeds to taste.
4) Bake in oven at 325 degrees for about 30 min.

*Baking time depends on the quantity of seeds, so be sure to check on them every 15 minutes or so. When they are a deeper color of yellow, then they are ready.