• Last updated 3/8/13 by mamazee

“I think I’m pregnant,” I told Ron a few months ago. “My breasts are sore. I’m tired. I haven’t started bleeding.” It was too early to take a pregnancy test, but I had an extra stick in our bathroom leftover from previous attempts. It would give me an answer in a few days. Ron was excited, but cautious. “Let’s keep this one on the down low.” Part of me understood where he was coming from. He didn’t want to have to explain another miscarriage. With our first pregnancy, we had shared the news right away. I blogged about my morning sickness; about... read more

• Last updated 9/12/10 by Mothering Editorial

Sept 13, 2010 News from The Huffington Post Sept 09, 2010 "Why Home Births Are Worth Considering", by Melissa Cheyney (Assistant Professor of medical anthropology and reproductive health) read more

• Last updated 3/8/13 by mamazee

“I really wanted a boy,” my mother said of her first pregnancy. We were sitting side by side at a faux Japanese restaurant where food is prepared at an enormous grill in the middle of the table. A handsome Korean twirled his spatula in the air. “And I had a boy.” My mother looked pleased. In one deft movement, the chef squirted teriyaki sauce on the tofu on the grill. “Then I really wanted a boy,” my mother laughed. The chef added a heaping portion of white spaghetti to the tofu. “And I had another boy.” The chef flipped the tofu dish onto my plate and... read more

• Last updated 3/8/13 by mamazee

Seven months ago a friend and fellow doula sent me an email which read-“we should just do it, let’s go to the farm.”  The farm she was referring to is none other than Ina May Gaskin’s Farm Midwifery Center.  And we are going-in less than two weeks.  I was a tad worried at first because my little one is still nursing and I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to pull that off. I should have known that the farm would be more than accepting of bringing little man along-of course my husband will be joining us too as I... read more

• Last updated 9/6/10 by Mothering Editorial

09/07/10 News from TIME magazine online Sept 04, 2010 Should American Women Learn to Give Birth at Home? read more

• Last updated 3/8/13 by mamazee

I took the pregnancy test and it showed the glorious two lines. We had conceived our third child. The knowledge was delicious and sweet. My husband and I had both come from families of two children, but for some reason we always knew we’d have three kids together. We were slated to go away for the weekend with my sister, her fiance and some other friends. As we drove out of town I wondered how I could possibly keep this information to myself, as I was so excited, surely, it was tattooed across my chest that I was engaged in the sacred act of growing a... read more

• Last updated 3/8/13 by mamazee

When Nicole Kidman got pregnant at 41, she wondered if swimming in the Australian Outback contributed to her sudden fertility. Is there such a thing as fertility waters? Awhile back, I met with a holistic practitioner who suggested that floating in the Dead Sea may alter the chemical imbalance of my cervical mucus, boosting fertility. I actually remember thinking, “Gee, maybe Ron and I should book a vacation to see if it works.” We didn’t go, but I love the idea of the curative power of water. Water is healing. One of the most popular Psalms in the Bible,... read more

• Last updated 9/5/10 by Mothering Editorial

Walking is one of the best ways to exercise during pregnancy or at any time. Develop a walking routine that fits into your lifestyle. Put together a comfortable outfit to wear on your walks in all kinds of weather. Choose shoes or boots that are comfortable and won’t slip. Lay out your outfit and shoes in your room so that they’ll be ready for you and go on your walk first thing in the morning. If you have a child, bring him or her in a backpack or baby jogger. Maybe the morning just does not work for you. Can you end your day with a walk or... read more

• Last updated 3/20/13 by mamazee

Ibu Robin Lim & The Documentary Film-Guerrilla Midwife My home smells of citronella essential oil – the smell is reminiscent of a local anti-mosquito oil I was given by Wayang, a friend whom I met while on vacation in Bali, Indonesia.  One inhale and I am sent back, one deep breath and my spirit is filled with the essence of all that is Bali.   It was explained to me that the land, the culture, and the people of Bali would always remain a part of me.  I never truly understood that sentiment until I left the island. While on our five-week family... read more

• Last updated 3/20/13 by mamazee

In addition to building my baby nephew’s library, I’m always on the lookout to build my own library. As I struggle to conceive, I have immersed myself in books about infertility, conception, and pregnancy. Medical and educational books can be full of useful information. I’m currently reading A Baby at Last! The Couple’s Complete Guide to Getting Pregnant—from Cutting-edge Treatments to Commonsense Wisdom by Dr. Zev Rosenwaks, Dr. Marc Goldstein, and Mark L. Fuerst. One of the things I appreciate about this medical fertility book is that the authors devote space to... read more