Is there a current pregnant WAPF mamas thread? - Page 5

[becalive]

Originally Posted by mbravebird

I had my baby, ladies! A boy, Sullivan Emmet, born June 18th, at home, after a 27 minute labor.

Congratulations! and thanks for the advice. I am 30 weeks and I have been putting off getting some tea. So prehaps this is the motivation I need.
Hope everything continues to go well with your recovery.

[mbravebird]

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1

Was your Dh prepared to deliver the baby by himself? Did you have any other kids around? We are planning on having my 2 yr old attend and no backup help for her. I feel so amazing this pregnancy that I could imagine a much quick and healthier labor.

How far were you wen you started drinking the RRL infusions? I tried in the beginning of the pregnancy, and it made me spot and contract every time, so I am holding off till I need it. Just nettles for me for now.

Bluebirdmama, I've thought of you, too, knowing you're doing infusions as well. I was in the second trimester when I started the RRL infusions. I also did about a cup of the regular tea, just for pleasure, a day. The RRL infusions would give me BH contractions, but no spotting, so I felt comfortable continuing it. Nettle infusion would also give me contractions in the second trimester, but not after that.

Our midwives prepared us for the possibility of a fast birth, and told us what to do, but honestly in the moment I think most of it was instinct. Dh did amazingly -- he looked for the cord when the head came out, saw it around the neck, and loosened it, all without saying anything to me! Bless him. Then he helped guide the babe onto the bed with the last contraction, we unwrapped the cord the rest of the way, and we all snuggled down, giddy and in love with the babe and one another.

My five year old was there, and we too had planned to not have extra care for him, except as backup if it turned out he needed it. He did great -- he went in the closet when it got "too loud", and then dh guided him to a room down the hall where he could see what was happening in our room, but still have space from the noise. When the head emerged his dad called to him, and he came running and looked and said "wow, neat!", and then went back down the hall during the next contraction. Then, when he saw the baby was out, he came running back and we all got on the bed together.

I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well, and I'm so glad you're feeling so great this time around. I had the same experience -- I just really felt like I was thriving by the end of the pregnancy. I was also doing acupuncture the last six weeks, which I think was really helpful. All best to you and everyone on here!!

Becalive, 30 weeks is plenty of time, I think. And I did the tea, but I also did the infusion, which is a stronger brew than the tea, about a cup of herb to a quart of water, covered and steeped for 2-4 hours. Enjoy!!

[bluebell]

Originally Posted by mbravebird

I had my baby, ladies! A boy, Sullivan Emmet, born June 18th, at home, after a 27 minute labor. My dh delivered, as the midwives were on the way still. They did deliver the placenta, and said it was very healthy looking, and the cord was nice and thick -- both indicators of good nutrition, I think. The boy is beautiful and healthy .

In addition to a TF diet (including all the normal falling off the wagon, especially during morning sickness), I drank nettle infusion and red raspberry leaf infusion, a quart of each a few times a week, increasing that to about a quart a day the last week before labor. I did that for mineral content and to help with labor (the RRL). Not sure if that's why I had such a quick labor, but it's worth mentioning.

I'm so grateful for knowing about TF these past few years and during pregnancy. My body just dealt so much better with everything. Those organ pills really helped, and STILL are helping, because my adrenals are getting really tired with the sleep deprivation. I can make it through with those pills and lots of naps.

I'm also doing extra magnesium and still doing the infusions postpartum, and my bleeding has been less and my oversupply/OALD has been better this time around, so far. (The magnesium is supposed to help with the oversupply/OALD, the infusions with bleeding).

Hope everyone has a wonderful pregnancy!

oh wow! CONGRATULATIONS! thats amazing thanks for letting us know. i'm a bit worried that things are going to be faster this time around as my midwife is about 1 hour away!

what organ pills and how much are you taking?

[bluebell]

Originally Posted by mbravebird

Bluebirdmama, I've thought of you, too, knowing you're doing infusions as well. I was in the second trimester when I started the RRL infusions. I also did about a cup of the regular tea, just for pleasure, a day. The RRL infusions would give me BH contractions, but no spotting, so I felt comfortable continuing it. Nettle infusion would also give me contractions in the second trimester, but not after that.

Our midwives prepared us for the possibility of a fast birth, and told us what to do, but honestly in the moment I think most of it was instinct. Dh did amazingly -- he looked for the cord when the head came out, saw it around the neck, and loosened it, all without saying anything to me! Bless him. Then he helped guide the babe onto the bed with the last contraction, we unwrapped the cord the rest of the way, and we all snuggled down, giddy and in love with the babe and one another.

My five year old was there, and we too had planned to not have extra care for him, except as backup if it turned out he needed it. He did great -- he went in the closet when it got "too loud", and then dh guided him to a room down the hall where he could see what was happening in our room, but still have space from the noise. When the head emerged his dad called to him, and he came running and looked and said "wow, neat!", and then went back down the hall during the next contraction. Then, when he saw the baby was out, he came running back and we all got on the bed together.

I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well, and I'm so glad you're feeling so great this time around. I had the same experience -- I just really felt like I was thriving by the end of the pregnancy. I was also doing acupuncture the last six weeks, which I think was really helpful. All best to you and everyone on here!!

Becalive, 30 weeks is plenty of time, I think. And I did the tea, but I also did the infusion, which is a stronger brew than the tea, about a cup of herb to a quart of water, covered and steeped for 2-4 hours. Enjoy!!

thanks so much for posting this, it all sounds so wonderful. i also have a 5 yr old soon to be 6 and we are planning on not having anyone else with her she dosn't want to actually see the birth but she might have a peak so its great to hear that your 5yr old thought it was 'neat'!

i'm doing the nettle infusions most days i'll have 2 cups, but now i'm 32 weeks i'll start with the RRL infusions. how many cups of that did you drink a day? i did it as tea last time with dd which i did enjoy, but i guess the infusion is a better choice now. can you do nettle and RRL on the same days or should they be seperate days?

like you and bluebirdmama1 i'm feeling so much better this time around last time with dd i was surviving on sugar and caffeine!! and making everything so much worse!! this time its all so different, i'm not exhausted even though we are having a heatwave in england. i'm loving eating TF the only not so good thing i'm craving is homemade lemonade as its so refreshing in the heat so i have to find a way to make it without refined sugar! i'm just having the odd anxious moment but i think its because its getting closer to the due date and might be moving soon!

congratualations to all of you your DH sounds like he was fantastic at delivering the baby, i'd hope that my dp would be as calm as yours if it comes to it! thank you so much for posting it was wonderful to read.

[SAmama]

So I am joining and I am needing to do something about morning sickness. Bluebirdmama, I don't know anything about homeopathy. What strengths do I need for those?

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1

If you are actually throwing up all the time, I would take Nux Vomica, a few doses a day for several days, and then switch to pulsatilla, a couple doses a day for a week. Great stuff. I am serious, it really works. The bottles are like 6 buck and the best money ever spent.

And I know that the small amount of lactose doesn't even bother my dairy sensitive dd. Not sure how sensitive you are.

[mbravebird]

Originally Posted by bluebell

what organ pills and how much are you taking?

Dr. Ron's Organ Blend is what I'm taking, because it has adrenal support in the mix, along with liver and heart and brain and such. It is pricey, so in my normal life I would just do actual raw liver, frozen and cut up into pill-size chunks, but for pregnancy I needed the extra adrenal support. It was definitely worth it.

Originally Posted by bluebell

i'm doing the nettle infusions most days i'll have 2 cups, but now i'm 32 weeks i'll start with the RRL infusions. how many cups of that did you drink a day? i did it as tea last time with dd which i did enjoy, but i guess the infusion is a better choice now. can you do nettle and RRL on the same days or should they be seperate days?

like you and bluebirdmama1 i'm feeling so much better this time around last time with dd i was surviving on sugar and caffeine!! and making everything so much worse!! this time its all so different, i'm not exhausted even though we are having a heatwave in england. i'm loving eating TF the only not so good thing i'm craving is homemade lemonade as its so refreshing in the heat so i have to find a way to make it without refined sugar! i'm just having the odd anxious moment but i think its because its getting closer to the due date and might be moving soon!

I drank varying amounts of each infusion, just because sometimes I would get my butt in gear to make it and sometimes not. I drank on average 2 quarts a week of both, and I would stretch it out over a few days each time. So, 1-2 cups a day? But then there would also be breaks of several days, I know. I didn't stress too much about it, just tried to do it regularly. Do be prepared, though, for the RRL, at infusion strength, to be a bit bitter.

I know people say its best to switch weeks between each herb, but I found I did best with doing both.

So glad you're feeling better than last time! Oooh, lemonade. Will rapadura do the trick to replace the sugar??

Chocolate was my thing this pregnancy. I just decided it was a separate food group and gave myself servings each day. I found some bars with beet sugar, which seemed to feel better in my body than refined.

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by SAmama

So I am joining and I am needing to do something about morning sickness. Bluebirdmama, I don't know anything about homeopathy. What strengths do I need for those?

It would be beneficial to see a homeopath, or have a midwife that has a knowledge it or that is supportive of you using it. My mother is a homeopath so I guess that would be lucky. There is a bunch of other remedies that may be for you, but those 2 are very basic and seem to work for many people.

You may be able to find 30c at your HFS, but 6x will work. You just may need more doses.

Also I found that homeopathy worked great if I took a digestive enzyme too with each meal.

[SAmama]

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1

It would be beneficial to see a homeopath, or have a midwife that has a knowledge it or that is supportive of you using it. My mother is a homeopath so I guess that would be lucky. There is a bunch of other remedies that may be for you, but those 2 are very basic and seem to work for many people.

You may be able to find 30c at your HFS, but 6x will work. You just may need more doses.

Also I found that homeopathy worked great if I took a digestive enzyme too with each meal.

Thank you! I am in rural China, so not going to find a homeopath here. I read up about it some. Will research it some more. But I need to get it sent here as soon as possible, so wanted something to start with.

[Junegoddess]

Two things...

First, my daughter was six when she accidentally witnessed the birth of her little brother. We were NOT planning on having her there, although she did attend the hospital's weird big sibling "class" on birth. The plan was to have my dh take her to the waiting room, since both of them wanted to NOT be present. (I'd had an unassisted home birth go very badly and dh terrified.) I was going to have a doula with me, since the hospital oddly required there to be a support person in the room. Well... dh forgot to call the doula when my water broke (she'd been there for early labor, but went home when things stalled out) and she lived 2 hours away. She managed to get there about 5 minutes after my son was born. My poor daughter was hiding under a table the whole time, and the nurses were so worried about her that they called a child therapist (luckily one we'd worked with before after our first son died). It wasn't a bad birth at all, in my opinion. My son did get stuck, but it was less than 2 minutes, and while there was probably a lot of tension in the room, it had a happy ending. My daughter refuses to talk about it AT ALL, but that's not all that unusual for her. I will forever wonder if that experience is why she hates her brother.
Just suggesting that people consider it carefully.

Also wanted to say how much I love Dr. Ron's Organ Delight. I've been taking it for about 3 months now, and have felt pretty darn good so far. Didnt' need my usual first trimester naps. Which is good, because with a 4-year-old, I wasn't going to get any.

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by mbravebird

I had my baby, ladies! A boy, Sullivan Emmet, born June 18th, at home, after a 27 minute labor. My dh delivered, as the midwives were on the way still. They did deliver the placenta, and said it was very healthy looking, and the cord was nice and thick -- both indicators of good nutrition, I think. The boy is beautiful and healthy .

In addition to a TF diet (including all the normal falling off the wagon, especially during morning sickness), I drank nettle infusion and red raspberry leaf infusion, a quart of each a few times a week, increasing that to about a quart a day the last week before labor. I did that for mineral content and to help with labor (the RRL). Not sure if that's why I had such a quick labor, but it's worth mentioning.

I'm so grateful for knowing about TF these past few years and during pregnancy. My body just dealt so much better with everything. Those organ pills really helped, and STILL are helping, because my adrenals are getting really tired with the sleep deprivation. I can make it through with those pills and lots of naps.

I'm also doing extra magnesium and still doing the infusions postpartum, and my bleeding has been less and my oversupply/OALD has been better this time around, so far. (The magnesium is supposed to help with the oversupply/OALD, the infusions with bleeding).

Hope everyone has a wonderful pregnancy!

congrats!!!!!!!!

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by Junegoddess

My daughter refuses to talk about it AT ALL, but that's not all that unusual for her. I will forever wonder if that experience is why she hates her brother.
Just suggesting that people consider it carefully.

I'm wondering if perhaps that's the difference between a child who chooses to be there and one who is there by accident? I think it's a good idea to prepare a child in advance for what they're going to see (ds and I watch birth videos) and give them the space to leave if they are uncomfortable.

[Junegoddess]

Originally Posted by pampered_mom

I'm wondering if perhaps that's the difference between a child who chooses to be there and one who is there by accident? I think it's a good idea to prepare a child in advance for what they're going to see (ds and I watch birth videos) and give them the space to leave if they are uncomfortable.

Oh, surely! I really wish she'd been able to leave. I think sometimes mamas get a picture in their heads of a lovely birth with their older child looking on and bonding with the baby due to the wonderfulness of birth... and maybe don't consider what that older child wants. Or, that maybe the child will change their mind and need an escape plan.

I wasn't trying to say that no one should have their kids with them for a birth. Just... don't assume it'll be lovey-dovey.

[Eco_Ma]

newbie xx

Hi i'm a complete newbie so have been reading through all previous posts to gain more knowledge.
Did any of you worry about high amounts of vitamin A?
Sadly raw milk is banned in Scotland so I am going to try un-homogenized pasturised jersey whole milk. My daughter did show an intollerance to milk previously and has a very bad reaction to eggs and nuts so as I am nursing and pregnant I need to pay attention to not introducing allergens. I'm hoping she wont react to the milk this time.

we are eating meat/broth on a regular basis an trying to eat salmon 3 times a week.

I'm confused as I initally thought about completely staying away from dairy in this pregnancy to prevent allergies. But i'm not sure now if thats the best option or if it will even work
xxx

[bluebell]

Originally Posted by Junegoddess

Oh, surely! I really wish she'd been able to leave. I think sometimes mamas get a picture in their heads of a lovely birth with their older child looking on and bonding with the baby due to the wonderfulness of birth... and maybe don't consider what that older child wants. Or, that maybe the child will change their mind and need an escape plan.

I wasn't trying to say that no one should have their kids with them for a birth. Just... don't assume it'll be lovey-dovey.

junegoddess thanks for posting your experience. i'm definitly not planning on having my dd in the same room when i give birth as she definitly decieded she dosn't want to watch and will only come in if she really wants to. i'm happier about that as i don't want to be worrying about her, i'm really hoping it will all happen when she is fast asleep, and if not we have an aupair living with us so if she really wants someone with her in her own bedroom then she will sit with her, or if i have to transfer to hospital dp will stay with her, but other than that we have promised her a stockpile of new unwatched dvd's to watch in her bedroom and she's really more excited about that! i know that will be a great distraction. my main worry now is that if i have a fast labour like mbravebird my midwife is 1 hour away, but its also great and encouraging to hear that mbravebird's went really well. dd was a 24hour labour so i'm hoping it'll be less than that but not too quick, but of course its impossible to say and my body is so different these days and i wonder how much my TF diet will have changed things if at all? i have some friends who were eating TF and their labours and births were just as long or as difficult than pre TF but i also have a friend who had a 1 hour labour with her second after eating TF, so it will be interesting to see.

mbravebird - how long was your labour with your first ds? was there a big difference in the length of time between them both?

[Junegoddess]

I've had three normal labors, and was progressively eating better with each one. My first was 24 hours. Absolutely horrid diet, and I think about 8 hours of the end was augmented. Second labor was 12 hours of pure hell (son was facing the wrong way, so I had back labor) and a better-than-SAD diet. Third labor was 12 hours of not-technically-labor, which I really think was moving things along. The contractions were close together (about 3-5 minutes) but not intense at all. Then it all stopped, I went to bed, and my water broke in the wee hours with the first contraction of real labor. 6 hours later my son was born. My diet was MUCH better by then- lots of raw milk, no fear of fats, and a lot less junk.

But it also could just have been that my bod was figuring it out and didn't need longer labors anymore. I have no idea. I think it's funny that the time for active labor gets cut in half each time. That means it should just be 3 hours this time! LOL

Or, if my induction for my stillborn daughter counts (which I don't think it does, really), the active labor part of that was about 3 hours... so, maybe this one will only be 1 1/2. That'd be fun. The hospital is 45 minutes away... I'd love to give them almost no time to mess with me!

[leila1213]

So glad to have found this thread! Haven't read it yet, but I will!

I'm about 7 weeks along.

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by Eco_Ma

Hi i'm a complete newbie so have been reading through all previous posts to gain more knowledge.
Did any of you worry about high amounts of vitamin A?

Not particularly. I was actually looking at the list of food-borne risks I got from my midwife last night and in addition to the Vit. A I've broken just about every other one on the list.

Originally Posted by Eco_Ma

Sadly raw milk is banned in Scotland so I am going to try un-homogenized pasturised jersey whole milk. My daughter did show an intollerance to milk previously and has a very bad reaction to eggs and nuts so as I am nursing and pregnant I need to pay attention to not introducing allergens. I'm hoping she wont react to the milk this time.

we are eating meat/broth on a regular basis an trying to eat salmon 3 times a week.

I'm confused as I initally thought about completely staying away from dairy in this pregnancy to prevent allergies. But i'm not sure now if thats the best option or if it will even work

Not everyone tolerates dairy so if that's not the case for you then I don't think there's anything wrong with skipping it. There are other ways to get those nutrients.

[athenalove46]

Figured I'd join in on this thread. I am 20 weeks pregnant with my baby boy! After 2 girls we finally have our boy. I just got into the TF lifestyle and boy the past 2 months my energy and my body have changed so much! And for the better. Half the time, aside from the belly being my reminder, I don't feel pregnant. I haven't gained much weight (10 lbs total from the beginning, but weight gain was a lot more in the beginning).

I do have a question. What are you taking for prenatals/supplements? I went to our store today and I bought some Nature's Plus Prenatals and some CLO capsules. Which is better, CLO or fish oil? What else do you take? I saw today that they have grainfed beef and pastured chicken, but the price is pretty steep. I am thinking about getting some of the calf liver that they have and taking that as liver pills. Although I've never tried liver before. LOL Hubby thinks I'm insane.

[mbravebird]

Originally Posted by bluebell

mbravebird - how long was your labour with your first ds? was there a big difference in the length of time between them both?

My first labor was about 7 or 8 hours total, about 3 hours of labor after my water was broken. The other thing is, though, that once my first son moved into position, labor was only about 45 minutes more after that. I wonder if that's the key number to be looking at, in the case of my story -- the active part of labor was pretty quick, in both cases. In the case of my first son, I remember someone pointing at my belly as he rolled over and got into position -- it was like my belly did the wave! And then it was like someone jerked me to my knees, my body just started doing its thing, and first ds was there 45 minutes later. With this labor, I wonder if baby was in or very close to position when my water broke, and then got there fully after my first contraction.

I had days of prodromal labor beforehand that was absolutely painless -- I had to breathe through the contractions occasionally, but they were still not at all what I'd call painful, and not at all regular. I wonder if that's the part that the RRL infusion helped with -- making the early dilating painless and effective. Then, when my water broke, things could just move right along. But keep in mind that my body might do this kind of early, long slow labor anyway -- even with my first son, I walked around at 4 cm and 90% effaced for three weeks, not in the least bit uncomfortable. I didn't do cervical checks this time, on purpose, because I didn't want to fuss and worry about it, I just wanted to trust my body and not second-guess the process all the time.

Who knows what the birth and labor cocktail is for each women -- but I do think that the RRL infusion helped my early labor, which was really different than my early labor last time. And I didn't tear this time, which might have been helped by all the good fats. And of course a strong, healthy body produces appropriately balanced hormones, which can meet labor better, right? Good nutrition and feeling well makes a difference, for both baby and mama. So even if every woman's labor is different, it makes sense that TF eating supports what each woman's particular body needs to do.

[stilllearning85]

Hi! Congrats mbravebird on the babe!!! WOO!!!
I am 20 weeks now and still don't really have a belly at all. Is this normal? I have only gained 5 pounds thus far and started out at a pretty normal weight. Just wondering why I feel so behind?
Been falling off the TF wagon a lot lately because we had a big move to Colorado and living with my SAD in-laws makes it difficult, but I am trying!
I have a tea that I made much earlier in the pregnancy which has RRL, nettle, lemon grass, peppermint, strawberry leaf and one or two other herbs that I can't remember. I was drinking a little each day until I read that RRL should not be drunk until much later in pregnancy. Do you think 20 weeks would be a good time to start drinking that tea I made as an infusion? 1-2 quarts a week?
I also have a grass-fed beef liver in the freezer that I haven't chopped up yet, but intend to make liver pills with it! Am also taking fermented CLO capsules. 4/day. That is 2x the recommended dose, but the dose is right for pregnancy right? Should I continue on a double dose like that when I start with the liver pills? And how many of the frozen liver "pills" should I take? 3-4 pill sized chunks?
Thanks all! Enjoy those bellies!!