So, once you have gotten your diapers you’ll need a few things to help care for them:

 To care for your diapers you will need:

Cloth Diaper Safe Detergent I have always used ECOS brand with great results, so you likely won’t need to hunt down hard to find or expensive detergents made especially for cloth diapers, unless you have difficult hard or well water. If you choose to use mainly microfiber or other synthetic cloth diapers, then you may need a cloth diaper specific detergent. Kindred Hands recommends using natural, preferably organic fibers near the diapering region of all babies, when possible!

*Or* Soap Nuts Detergent alternative (soap nuts are actually a berry that contains a gentle cleansing ingredient. I will be putting up a blog post on soap nuts soon, so keep posted! They are super economical and sooo earth friendly.

Washer- a top loader is best, but a front loader can work out too.

Either a line to hang dry or a dryer with low heat.

Preparing your brand new diapers:

When you get your new diapers they will need to be “prepped”. In the case of natural fiber, organic diapers like the type I carry at Kindred Hands Baby you will need to wash out the natural oils that are on the fibers. In the case of microfiber and bleached diapers you will need to remove some natural oils as well as many artificial products and harsh cleansing agents. All diapers will need to be washed on as hot of water as possible 3-6 times to become absorbent and remove buildup that can cause your diapers to not absorb liquids.

In prepping it is most effective to dry diapers in between each prep wash. You can line or machine dry them, both will work fine.  machine dryed diapers will feel softer. prefolds and inserts can be dryed on hot, all other diapers, covers etc need to me dried on low heat.

Only diapers and absorbent inserts need to be prepped this way. Covers or diaper shells do not. You can machine wash them once, and hang them to dry or dry in the dryer on low.

Tips for prepping:

use the heavy duty setting on your machine for higher agitation.

Add a pot full of boiling water at the beginning, especially if your machine is a top loader. Be very careful, and this can be tricky/impossible for a front loader. it is not necessary, but can cut down on the number of prep washes needed, as the hot, boiling water helps to quickly remove oils.

When prepped your diapers should easily be able to absorb liquid. Try pouring 1/2C water onto the center of the diaper or prefold. If it quickly absorbs in, you are done prepping! If it beads up or rolls off try again after another washing.

 To care for your diapers you will need:

Cloth Diaper Safe Detergent I have always used ECOS brand with great results, so you likely won’t need to hunt down hard to find or expensive detergents made especially for cloth diapers, unless you have difficult hard or well water. If you choose to use mainly microfiber or other synthetic cloth diapers, then you may need a cloth diaper specific detergent. Kindred Hands recommends using natural, preferably organic fibers near the diapering region of all babies, when possible!

*Or* Soap Nuts Detergent alternative (soap nuts are actually a berry that contains a gentle cleansing ingredient. I will be putting up a blog post on soap nuts soon, so keep posted! They are super economical and sooo earth friendly.

diaper pail (this can be a plain, large open trash can)

Washer- a top loader is best, but a front loader can work out too.

Either a line to hang dry or a dryer with low heat.

Optional:

Laundry Booster. I personally like bio-kleen bac-out, available at many major stores and through Kindred Hands Baby. Tea tree oil is more costly, but super effective as well.

Diaper pail powder (helps keep stinkies down if you have them. Most open pail users don’t have any smells until babies are older and eating solids, then smells are usually very mild/faint) You can get “sheepish grins” diaper pail deodorizer from Kindred Hands Baby.

diaper pail liner (a washable, waterproof bag to line the pail with). You wash it right with the diapers. We carry Planetwise Liners

diaper sprayer (you can buy these at the hardware store, they are often called a handheld bidet and near the toilet section. They easily install right on your toilet. You can also use a sprayer attached to a utility sink if you have one. (lucky you!)

caring for your soiled diapers:

Tips:

*Newborn babies that are exclusively breastfed have water soluble poo, and it can go directly into the pail and wash, unless you would prefer to rinse or spray it off, Once baby is eating solids, or if baby is formula fed or supplemented you will need to rinse or dump any solids. I do this by just gently shaking the diaper over the toilet, then dunking it in while flushing, which is a simple quick way to handle it.

* you should wash your diapers 2-3x per week to limit staining and protect your diaper investment, however it is not necessary to wash daily unless you have only a days supply of diapers.

Simple Instructions:

1. do a cold prewash with no detergent to help prevent and minimize staining and remove any solids.

2. do a hot or warm wash with 1/2 the normal amount of detergent, and a small squirt of back-out or a few drops of tea tree oil.

3. Do an additional hot rinse, if needed to remove soap build up. or if you begin to notice less absorbency or more stinkies.

4. Dry your diapers. Line dry extends the life of all diapers, especially ones with velcro, snaps or PUL

in my experience this routine works great and is simple and economical. There are plenty of other routines, and depending on type of diapers this may not work for you. If you have any troubles please feel free to comment, call  or email!

Gift Certificate

The winner will be chosen by having their comment selected randomly.  There are two possible entries per person:

1. Comment once here for one entry.  Please make sure you share your name and email (privately if desired) when submitting your comment so that I can contact you if you win!

2. share a link to this giveaway on your facebook wall so your friends can enter too! comment here that you did for a second entry. (If you win I will friend you and double check)

who can enter: you must be 18 years or over to win, that is the only criteria

Shipping for any products is not included. Local mamas can pickup items from Kindred Hands Baby for free as always. Mamas who are not local: www.kindredbaby.com will have an online checkout and all of our products listed by march 31st

Gift certificate is good till June 1st 2011 and the winner will be chosen and posted on Saturday March 12th after 12pm EST

 goodluck and thanks for your support!

Cheryl Kindred

Our amber necklace has been such a relief to Noah. He has worn it since he was 2 months old, when we started noticing lots of drool (seriously… how do babies produce all that drool!?!?) Immediately we noticed much less drooling, and we could again show off his cute clothes and naked body… rather then live in bibs. When he was about 9 1/2 months old and in the height of teething I did an experiment, and took his necklace off, then promptly lost it (the necklace)! Those 2 days were not fun at all, and we noticed those terrible teething signs, worst of all pain, crying and poor sleep. When we finally found his necklace and put it back on we again  noticed amazing relief . we were back to normal, peaceful sleep and a happy boy. He got his first tooth 1 week later

Here is what Inspired By Finn, Kindred Hands Baby’s Baltic Amber necklace supplier has to share about the benefits of baltic amber

 ”Baltic amber is not a stone, but a fossilized tree resin.

Historically, Baltic Amber has been used in Europe as a natural and traditional remedy and curative for many ailments for centuries. Long ago it was considered one of the leading ‘medicines’ of its time. Baltic Amber is the most esteemed amber in the world, and the healing qualities of Baltic Amber make it unlike any other type of amber found in the world.

When baltic amber is worn on the skin, the skin’s warmth releases trace amounts of healing oils from the amber. These oils contain succinic acid and are absorbed into the skin.

Baltic Amber has some of the highest concentrations of Succinic Acid found in nature, and this is what makes it so special. Succinic Acid is a natural component of plant and animal tissues, and it’s presence in the human body is beneficial in many ways.

How can baltic amber help us?

• Pain Relief -

Baltic amber contains analgesic properties and helps take the edge off of many types of discomfort associated with dental issues, headaches, joint pain, etc.

• Strengthens the body’s immune system -

In many different and subtle ways, succinic acid helps boost the body’s own natural healing ability and immune system.

• Restoring Energy –

The human body naturally produces succinic acid. The salt of succinic acid (succinate) is one of the most active substances in the processes of cellular respiration and intercellular energy creation. Succinic acid restores oxygen and energy supply to depleted cells and helps the body return to a normal, functioning state.

Succinate is a raw material and a catalyst in the Krebs Cycle which is one of our main sources of energy. During the Krebs Cycle carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are metabolized for energy.

• Maintaining Wellness -

When the human body reacts to stress, the body’s cells begin to use oxygen more quickly. Oxygen plays a central role in the intercellular creation of energy, and a lack of oxygen can result in feeling lethargic.

Oxygen is alkaline-forming in the blood and maintaining a slightly alkaline blood ph helps keep us healthy. Whenever the body functions in a state of low oxygen, it is much more susceptible to illness.

• To help break a cycle of (chronic) inflammation -

Where chronic inflammation is present, disease lurks.

When the body’s cells are chronically inflamed the human body’s immune system response is to increase production of free radicals. Chronic overproduction of free radicals results in inflammatory-related disease. Chronic inflammation is a common denominator of many seemingly unrelated diseases.

While wearing a piece or two of baltic amber jewelry may not cure all that may ail you, it has been a proven benefit to many! “  

The Kindred Hands Family: Cheryl, Rob and baby Noah

The idea of carrying products/opening a store to meet the needs of Sarasota’s natural growing families came to me overa year ago… when Noah was firstborn, and I was missing my Doula work but loving spending every second with the most amazing little boy who ever existed (hey… I’m biased!). I felt guided, or drawn to this idea, and I felt it deeply within me.

But I knew then was not the time as I was a newly postpartum mama, and despite all of my birthy/baby experience going through it was profound, intense and took everything I had. And it’s mighty hard to get anything done when you’re nursing literally 18-20 hours, even while you sleep, like I was! I firmly believe that most of the time, when we hear a call we should listen, but sometimes we need to tell it to whisper for now, and that the call is for another season.

But the idea persisted, and clung on and would make itself known at fairly regular intervals. I kept batting it off, but it kept coming back to play… so eventually, when Noah was around 8 months old I started tentatively looking into it and brainstorming. But still, I was just transitioning in so many ways, and returning to offering Doula support. Between this and a young, precious baby who was demanding all of my attention, cuddles and nurturing, the time wasn’t right. They’re only young once, and they grow much much too fast, so I was happy that my little one never wanted to be more then about 1 foot away from me (mostly!).

The dream of expanding my business never did leave the corner of my mind. Then when as Noah neared 11-12 months I found myself liberated by his new-found sense of adventure and curiosity. My darling boy was babbling constantly, and always on the move. His comfort zone grew, and he began to explore our home and his freedom. Cuddles were and are thankfully still are a big part of our day, but I find I now have a bit of time to work while he plays independently with his toys, or with my pots and pans! Independent naps, which eluded our home for a year have now become the perfect time to plan, and so I realized that this was my opportunity. At the same time, I found a willing investor to help me get this dream off the ground, and everything else just about fell into place. I’m learning as I go how to do things right, and I know that I will succeed and meet the goals I have for myself:  To carry products that are made well, and with fair labor, preferably here in the US, and to provide reasonable, safe, adorable organic items and exceptional service to the Sarasota community.

Much love,

Cheryl

Winter, as we’ve come to expect is drafty in our little home. I do love it here, but having a naked baby bum seems in-ideal much of this time of year, or at least on the cold days. Today, for example we’re having an “on” day, and that’s fine. On cooler days though, my sweet Noah’s tush is covered by a diaper, cover and pants, sometimes too. Those days it is challenging to EC, especially when we’re snuggled up in bed. I find that it is a good rhythm, and anyhow, running the dryer is always a good idea when it is chilly!

Cheryl

1.  They are soft and gentle on your baby’s bottom, unlike plastic disposable diapers that are rough and scratchy. Toddlers and older babies who are cloth diapered full or part time will tell their parents which diapers they like, and the soft ones usually win. Think about it… you don’t choose uncomfortable underwear for yourself either, do you?

2. They are SAFE. Plastic disposable diapers are full of harmful chemicals. Dioxin (which is a by-product of the manufacturing of bleached disposable diapers) is one of the most toxic cancer causing chemicals, and may contribute to the links between disposable diapers and respiratory issues in children wearing them. Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TbT), a toxin known to cause hormonal problems in humans exposed to it.  Disposable diapers, known for their super-absorbency, can thank Sodium Polyacrylate, the compound removed from tampons due to many cases of toxic shock that it caused. These are super absorbers, and are underneath the top inner layer of plastic diapers… if you’ve ever had a “sposie” (disposables diaper) erupt from being overfilled then you’ve seen them… harmful little round pellets. No large research has been done on the effects of these toxins on the reproductive effects of these toxins on your precious baby’s genitals, but some researchers have hypothesized that they are harmful, especially to male babies as their reproductive organs are in direct contact with the diapers all day for often 2-3 years! Disposable diapers have also been reported as being choking hazards (as they can be ripped apart) and they can cause headaches from off-gassing and chemical reaction burns on baby bottoms. Disposable diapered babies have rashes up to 12 times as often as their cloth diapered peers.

3. You baby’s carbon footprint deserves to be small. Parents choosing disposable diapers are putting OVER ONE TON of garbage that is estimated to take over 500 years to decompose in the landfill, just to diaper one child. That small fact about makes my heart break. We all want the best for our little ones, and making green choices helps to safeguard this beautiful planet for their generation and future generations. And remember, those same toxins that are in disposable diapers are seeping into the earth from the landfills, too. Cloth diapers, in contrast, can be used possibly hundreds of times… I personally diaper Noah in some prefolds that have diapered 3 babies before him, and probably will last many years to come. The diapers that do get tattered beyond use become handy rags for icky messes, and get washed right along with the diapers.

4. Your baby Deserves healthy Lung function.Cloth diapers have been proven safe and without the harmful emissions of disposable diapers, which have caused asthmatic mice in laboratory settings. The effects of a baby’s delicate respiratory system have unfortunately never been studied.

5. Cloth Diapered babies learn to use the potty much quicker, often over a year sooner then disposable diapered babies. Most cloth diapering parents find that their little ones are completely out of diapers in the daytime by 18-24 months. The average age of disposable diapered potty training is 30 months. The reason for this difference is multi-fold. Cloth diapers need to be changed more frequently, and often feel wet or damp to the child. This helps the baby or toddler to know and stay in tune with their elimination needs. A disposable diaper, due to the dangerous Sodium Polyacrylate keeps the baby super dry and less frequently changed, creating a lack of elimination knowledge. With disposable diapers parents are essentially training their child to ignore their pottying needs, and then having to retrain them to remember.

6. Cloth diapers are easy to use.Yep… I said it, and it is true. They go one easy, weather you choose prefolds and snappies or all-in-ones with velcro or snaps. And washing them is super simple, and doesn’t require any rinsing, soaking or harsh chemicals.

7. Cloth diapering save thousands of dollars.Yep, thousands! And that is just for diapering one baby. Many cloth diapering families diaper all of their children with the same stash of cloth diapers, maybe replacing a few lost or older diapers with each child. Disposable diapers will cost between $2900-$3500 depend on the brand, assuming that your child potty learns at the average 30 months. This figure includes wipes (more are needed for disposables) and rash ointment (again, disposable users use much more rash ointments and creams). Cloth diapers will cost between $300-$1400, depending on what types of diapers you choose. Prefolds and one size covers are the low end, and all-in-one diapers are on the higher end. Cloth diaper wipes and ointments are included, although the cost of washing is not. The cost of washing is likely about the same as the cost of those trips to the store, around 15-20$ per month. If you will only be using your diapers for 1-2 children you can probably sell them for 30-50% of what you paid for them, making the savings even higher!

8. Cloth diapers save gas and trips to the store, because when you run out of cloth diapers, you just toss them in the washer! With disposible diapers you may need to get new diapers in bad weather or even in the middle of the night I don’t imagine that would be very fun!

9. Cloth diapered babies are changed more frequently, rather then left in a yucky, wet or dirty diaper. This is much healthier for babies and teaches them that they are worthy, and that being clean is a good thing.

10. Cloth diapered babies get rashes 4 times LESSthen plastic diapered babies. And when they do get a rash, it usually is much less sever and shorter lasting. Rashes on babies bottoms can be painful and irritating, leading to lots of increased crying and discomfort for your baby. The reason that rashes are more prevalent with disposables is that they trap heat (which grows bacteria and yeast) next to your babies bottom, unlike cloth diapers, which breathe and let air get to your baby’s tush.

If you would like a free cloth diapering basics class, or to buy cloth diapers, please contact Kindred Hands Baby

Happy diapering, natural parents!

Cheryl Kindred

Time:

Took me about 75 minutes, start to table, but only about 10 minutes of active kitchen duty

Equipment:

Large pot, small saute pan, immersion blender/upright blender, oven safe dish

Ingredients:

3 cups white beans, pre-soaked* (I used frozen, presoaked garbanzo beans and white Northern beans. I pre-soak them, then freeze on sheet trays, break into individual beans, and bag then keep a stash in the freezer)

6 Cups Chicken Stock (homemade if you have it, plus then it is FREE!)

2 cloves chopped garlic

1 chopped onion

Olive oil

1 Chicken breast, shredded (I cooked it at 375 in the oven for 45 minutes, bone and skin on with pepper, garlic powder and salt, but this is a perfect use of leftover shredded chicken If you cook one, remember to freeze the bones for stock later! I keep a bag w/ onion peels & tops, carrot tops and ends, celery bottoms, bones etc)

6 ox baby spinach, fresh

Spices:

Nutmeg 1/2 tsp

Thyme 1 1/2 tsp

Garlic powder 2/3 tsp

dill 1/2 tsp, more if fresh

Salt (I needed LOTS, about 3 tsp, but salt gradually, stir and taste to get the right amount)

pepper (I used about 20 grinds fresh black pepper, but again stir and test)

Directions:

1. In soup pot on high combine beans and stock, allow to come to a boil. In saute pan cook onion till softened and translucent, and add garlic, cook 1 more minute, then dump into soup pot and lower to a simmer. Cook soup till beans are done. For me this took about 50 minutes, but I have a gas stove. Electric may take longer.

*If you need to cook chicken, do so while soup cooks, and when done put on a plate to cool. Once cool, shread chicken, discard skin, and save bones.

2. When beans are done use the immersion blender to puree just enough so that the soup becomes opaque and creamy, but lots of beany texture remains. We like ours chunky, and I used the immersion blender for about 20 seconds. If you use a regular blender puree 1 1/2-2 cups, then add back into soup. Now add spices and season to taste.

3. Stir in chicken and spinach till spinach is well wilted. Serve asap, while spinach is bright green and soup is piping hot. Enjoy the empty bowls and satisfied smiles.

 Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing if you see it as an opportunity to, hold, sing, read, rock, love, murmur endearments, groom, and caress your baby.

Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing if you remember why you chose to nurse your baby.

Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing if you just look at your baby nursing and think about how much you love him or her.

Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing if you take a rebirthing bath with baby–light an aromatic candle, put on some quiet soothing music, wrap naked baby tightly in a receiving blanket get into warm bath with baby, bathe by candlelight, slowly unwrap baby and place baby near your breast and see what happens over the next half hour.

Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing if you practice patience and persevere.

Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing if you realize that you can rest while nursing.

Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing if you realize you have one hand free to do other things while nursing.

Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing if you remember that you are breastfeeding because you want to and not because you have to.

Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing if you realize you don’t have to get out of bed for nighttime feedings.

Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing if you just cultivate it long enough.

If you nurse long enough Maybe you’ll Fall in Love with Nursing when:

Your baby looks lovingly into your eyes, pats your breast, plays with your hair or caresses your face while nursing.

Your baby laughs with joy because you are getting ready to nurse or sitting in a favorite nursing spot.

Your baby becomes efficient at feeding and is finished in 15-20 minutes and you realize there are no bottles to wash and none to bring when going out.

Your baby is 3 months or 7 months or 1 year.

Your baby is old enough to begin weaning and can have a cracker instead.

Your baby is healthy, when others are ill.

Your baby thrives on your milk and you are empowered by the realization that it was your milk and your milk alone that provided all of the nourishment.

Your baby is quickly and easily soothed by your breast when ill, fussy, tired or hurt.

Most women fall in love with nursing, some at birth, yet others must cultivate the relationship and wait for the beauty of breastfeeding her baby to unfold…

So, why then the urge to avoid a cesarean? Because the facts are clear:

1. Vaginal Birth is almost ALWAYS safer for mom, baby and the entire family.Even when the mother is not low risk, even when 1 or more cesareans have been done in the past, and even when some variations of labor are present; such as prolonged labor, irregular contractions or prelabor rupture of membranes.

2. Most babies can and should be born vaginally, without many (or any) interventions.Interventions like pitocin and other contraction stimulators create artificial labors that are often more difficult and more likely to end in a cesarean, pain medications  have many side effects, some long term and many effecting baby, and interventions often turn into the “snowball effect”.

3. Cesareans are being done WAY too often, and healthy mama/baby units are the ones who suffer for that.Here is Sarasota our Cesarean rate is 44%. No one with a brain could honestly say that nearly half of all women cannot safely have a vaginal birth, and even the OBs have said that it is too high. They often blame maternal request, high risk mothers, multiple births and breech babies for the high rates, but unnecessary cesareans, or cesareans that have become necessary only because of the high rate of interventions are largely to blame. Maternal death and complications are higher with Cesarean deliveries, recovery is longer and harder, and breastfeeding can become challenging.

So what can you do to avoid a surgical birth?

1. EDUCATE YOURSELF! No one is going to do it for you, and it take a proactive approach to make sure you know how to make an informed decision about everything. This valuable skill will help you your whole life through, especially as a parent, so start now. Read all you can, start with The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth and from there keep on reading! I also really like and highly recommend Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. You’ll find many more great books in my Lending Library.

2. BE SUPPORTED! Make every decision about who to have attend your birth wisely. Now, I’m not talking about which family members, etc…. I’m really talking about your care team. There are many options: Doulas, Licensed Midwives, Certified Nurse Midwives, Doctors, and Nurses. Doulas lower Cesarean rates by up to 50%, so that is a huge benefit to Doula support, and that is support for the physical, emotional and mental parts of labor! Be aware of how your choices in a medical care provider can limit you, or how it can allow you freedom to have a safe, healthy birth. Here in Sarasota our Licensed midwives have under a 10% Cesarean Rate, while our Doctors and hospitals are over FOUR TIMES as high. If you do choose a hospital birth, staying home to labor there until true active labor with your doula can help so much in avoiding a surgical birth.

3. Make INFORMED CHOICES! Refuse any procedures and interventions that are not necessary, especially when those choices can slow labor or put you on the clock in regards to how long your care provider can safely and comfortably care for you. Some of those things are staying in bed, getting pain medication/the epidural, breaking your waters, withholding food/water, routine IVs, etc. Typically more natural the labor, the less likely you are to need or end up with a cesarean.

4. START LABOR NATURALLY! Induction causes 50% more Cesareans, many unnecessary or caused by the interventions/induction procedure. The cascade of interventions (when one leads to another to another to another and so on) can often be avoided by starting labor naturally.

5. Have CONFIDENCE in yourself, and in your ability to give birth naturally and normally. Every day MILLIONS of women worldwide are giving birth, just as you can. It may not be easy (in fact it’ll probably be the most difficult, awe-inspiring event of your life) and when it is over you have so many rewards: a beautiful baby, a new respect for yourself and your capabilities, and the ability to appreciate everything!

6. Take GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF PRENATALLY. Good diet, fitness and peace of mind make a world of difference when it comes to birth.

If a cesarean is necessary, or does happen allow yourself to grieve the birth you had wished for if you need to. A healthy mama and baby are most important, but your experience is also a huge part of it. Get support from ICAN, and know that no matter what, you did the best you could with the tools you had.

If you sew, I’d encourage you to do the same! If you don’t there are many places to buy reusable gift bags, etsy has many cute ones. See this shop for many cute bags.

For our holidays this year I’m a busy busy bee… lots of knitting and crafting is on my list! I’m working on 2 knitted hat/pant sets for Noah, and a scarf/hat set for my husband(rob), and my sister and mother. For Noah I’m also working on a quiet book, a quilt, crocheted fruit and knitted hand puppets, and maybe a few sewn toys, if I get to them! I’ve also got a few suprises for Rob up my sleeve.

All of that has amounted to very little blogging time, but not for too long! I’ll be back each week with a crafty/mama post, and a doula post, and maybe a few yummy holiday recipes, too.

Panang Curry is a red based curry with coconut and peanut flavors. The peanut in this recipe is subtle, and is only just detectable. Overall this is a quite mild curry, as it is further diluted when you make the veggies/meat part of the curry by canned tomatoes and additional coconut milk.

Ingredients:

1 can Coconut Milk

6 cloves chopped Garlic

6” piece of Ginger, peeled and diced

2 tsp Keefir Lime Leaves

2 tsp chopped Lemongrass

1 sliced shallot

1/4 c Peanuts

2 tsp Honey

2 tbsp Soy Sauce

1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg

1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

Juice and zest of 1 Lime

2 Tbsp Tomato Paste

1 Tbsp Turmeric

2 Tsp Cumin

1 Tbsp Paprika

3 Tbsp Curry Powder

2 tsp Chili Powder

2 tsp Salt

2 Tsp Black Pepper

3 Tbsp Peanut Butter

Directions:

1. Blend all until smooth

2. Use or store

1. If you’re just interested in “seeing babies be born” know that this is probably the wrong way to do that! There are plenty of good birth videos on youtube, and most of the time at a birth the doula is FAR too busy helping mama to actually watch the baby be born. That said, it is a wonderful miracle and a blessing to be a part of, I just want you to know that watching births is a very small part of what a Doula does, seriously less then 1% of what birth Doula work is.

2. Be prepared to work LONG, HARD hours, after being called in the middle of the night after an exhausting busy day. As a Doula you will often be physically drained, and sometimes emotionally drained too. And when you get home know that if you have children you’ll still have to take care of them when all you want to do is crash and sleep. Also… it’s very possible that you could go to another birth straight away after an all-nighter, it’s happened to me! You can try to separate due dates (which are only estimates anyhow, of course) but babies don’t look at calendars when they’re ready to be born. I’ve been to back to back births where the mamas were “due” 6 weeks apart. One mama was just 36 weeks when she went into labor, and the other was 42 weeks. Thankfully it worked out, and mama number 2 was ready for me right about the time mama number 1 gave birth. It is very important to have good backup just in case!

3. Know that regardless of numbers one or two that this work is very, very special. It is an honor to be a Doula, and I love every minute of it. I know that my presence can greatly change things, and my role will never be forgotten. I have a special, lasting bond with each family whose life I enter. That also comes with great responsibility, and I take that very seriously. As a Doula you need to be able to provide support unconditionally, and you need to have no expectations, since birth can be very surprising. If you have one strong opinion of how birth should or must be you really won’t be able to give the support that a mom typically needs.

4. Start reading and researching, and don’t ever stop! DONA and all other Doula certification organizations all have recommended reading. I’d start with these few books:  Pushed , The Birth Partner, The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth, Birthing From Within,  The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding,  The Doula Book

5. Look for other area Doulas. There may be Doula Associations or a Doula willing to mentor you. Please be aware though that Doulas may get a lot of contact… I get at least 2 emails/phone calls per month from aspiring Doulas, and most don’t elicit a very positive and encouraging response from me, because they are badly written (poor grammar, slang, text talk etc), and often not personally addressed to me- meaning they’re a formed or copy and pasted letter. So if you contact a Doula make it personal and respectful, maybe even offer to take her to coffee to pick her brain. For a 4$ investment you could make a really good connection and receive a wealth of knowledge.

6. Reach out to the Birthing Community. Advocate for women’s rights in birthing, and babies rights too (gentle birth practices, breastfeeding, skin-to-skin, a respectful first hour of life and beyond). If there are area chapters ofICAN (the International Cesarean Awarness Network), Friends of Midwives, the Pushed Campaign, Birth Network, La Leche League (Peer Breastfeeding Support) and Holistic Moms Network you should join. If not, consider starting a local group! Networking and meeting moms is essential to Doula work.

7. Do a Doula Training. Having the support of a major Doula organization is wonderful. I’m a DONA trained Doula, and I think very highly of them. There are also other organizations too, and a search will bring them up. I use techniques I learned in my Doula Training in EVERY birth I attend, so the training has been invaluable.

8. Be Confident about your ability to help women right from the start. After your Doula training you already have so much to share! Yes, experience is invaluable, but you will make a difference in every birth, even your first one.

9. Spread the word! So many moms don’t know about Doulas, so get out there and tell everyone you know about them and the benefit of professional labor support.

10. Prepare for a life on call. This is arguably the toughest thing on this list… But super important too. You need to be able to drop everything and go when you get that call, so weekend trips, vacations and car-pooling all need to be forgotten or carefully planned. For me, I make sure I can get away, but I don’t give things up. I still go to movies, have fun, make commitments, I just make sure I can leave if I must. Childcare is also crutial. I like to have a good list of people I trust with Noah, ideally at least 5 people, often more. When I know I have a mama in her “due-window” (typically 37-42 weeks) I try to email my sitters and see what their availability is like so when I need to call I know who to call. Of course, often babies choose to be born in the night, or on the weekend, in which case my husband takes care of Noah. Whoever cares for him, they typically bring him to me when he needs to nurse. I’m very thankful to have a very baby friendly career.

So- I hope these 10 tips have helped you on the path to become a Doula!

Cheryl Kindred, Sarasota Doula

This is a little seed stitch boarder cap for Noah, and I tried it on him while on the needles, since the last thing I knitted was TERRIBLE in reguards to scale. I haven’t really knit since sweet Noah arrived and has stolen the bulk of my creative time, but now he’s mobile and more able to play. I’m so glad to be back to knitting.

Noah giving mama a KISS while trying on his new hat

This will make 4 bathroom cup sized pops:

ingredients:

1 medium banana mashed

1/2 c coconut milk

(optional) 2 tsp honey or agave

directions:

Mix, then pour into cups and freeze on a tray, after 1 hour stick in popsicle sticks. Once frozen solid store in freezer in zip-top bags. Tear off cup to eat.

“In fact, the way we raise our children it seems that the USA is increasingly depriving them of the practices that lead to well being and a moral sense.

• We have among the worst mother and infant mortality in the world, in part because the obstetric system is geared toward efficiency as opposed to concerns for child well-being.13

• Breastfeeding is too frequently discouraged by a medical system that routinely interferes with the establishment of breastfeeding in the first days of life.14

• Based largely on unfounded fears and extreme cases, parents are encouraged to sleep apart from their infants who often have limited physical contact with caregivers during the day.15

• Many parents believe that letting a baby cry is compatible with adequate parenting (it’s not). 16

• Instead of shared care giving by extended family members, as was typical for our species,17 many children spend their early years in emotionally suboptimal daycare facilities, with little individualized, responsive care.18

• Centers and schools typically separate children into same-age groups where they are seldom allowed to play freely with each other in the natural world, interfering with healthy development of both body and brain.19″

See the article in Psychology Today for the full story, and what we each can do to raise children who are more emotionally secure and can better adapt to our world.

Ingredients

2 C Red Lentils, well rinsed. You really MUST use the red, substitutions aren’t very good.

1 large onion, chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

2-4 tsp curry powder

2 tsp ground turmeric

1 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Salt

1 1/2 tsp sweetener (honey, sugar etc)

1 tsp lemongrass (optional)

1tsp keefir Lime Leaves, chopped (optional)

2 cloves Garlic, minced

2 tsp Ginger, minced. I prefer doubling this so the ginger is really pronounced. I love the quiet, creeping heat and smell of ginger

1 can Fire-Roasted Tomatoes (small 14 oz size)

1/2 c Coconut Milk, regular not low fat.

Directions:

1. Cook the lentils covered just with water on high. While doing that get the onions going in a saute in the oil, till nicely caramelized over medium heat (5-7m)

2. Combine all other ingredients in a bowl, except tomatoes. Mix to make a paste, then stir into the onions and allow to cook for 2 minutes, then add the tomatoes and the lentils which should be tender and nearly done.

3. Stir well, and allow to cook for 15 minutes on low, stirring often.

The group I belong to is called the “Sarasota Conscious Parents”, and the main connection is on the yahoo group . SCP is part scheduled group outings, mainly informal ones like park dates, beach time and more, and some structured events like babywearing, EC support, conscious discipline and so much more. There are also some cool mama events like movie nights and a sister circle that recharges and feeds the souls of us mamas who spend the vast majority of our time giving and not receiving. There are book clubs sometimes, weekend events that include the who family and more. It’s also a great place for advice about anything you could think up to ask about conscious parenting and our local area. Next year there is even going to be a camping trip in the spring! Group members will also often post to split shipping of some naturally minded items, occasionally sell some things, or post about cool local events like a free class on organic gardening or a discount day at a museum. I host the meal swaps I’ve previously posted about through SCP, and we’ve just started a babysitting co-op for errand running, date nights and the like.

Without my community of natural mamas I’d be lost and probably pretty lonely too. Although I consider myself a typical person, really I just wouldn’t have all that much in common with most mommy groups besides the children! From my previous experience with mom’s clubs most parent in a way that is VERY different from the way we choose to parent, so a big part of the perks of a group (the support, advice and been-there-done-that) are something I’d miss out on. For example on the SCP board it’s pretty common to see a discussion on homeschooling, a discussion on extended breastfeeding/co-sleeping, a sign up for a meal train for a new mama and posts about no TV, outdoor play and more, all in the same day.

The common vein in the group is that everyone is doing all they can to provide the best for their children, and are consciously making each decision they make with careful consideration to the emotional well-being of their child. Most of our parents babywear and breastfeed for extended periods, and many choose not to vaccinate, to give birth at home or have a natural childbirth. Some homeschool and some practice elimination communication. Discipline is usually conscious and physical violence is something that is not taught or practiced, and children are involved in nearly every aspect of family life and are seen as an essential part of life. Many of the moms in our group stay home or work only part time but there are others who work full time and can give advice and support on consciously parenting while working, good childcare and more.

Acceptance, the wish to grow more and learn from our fellow parents is the absolute best part. Although similar in many ways to each other, each one of us is different and has so much to share. If you think a group of like-minded mamas would be valuable to you then please, join the group! If you live elsewhere then maybe you should start your own! Community is so important to us a women, as mothers and as people.