Bamboo Magazine: Conscious Family Living

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premier issue

Pamela Anderson talks homebirthing

Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein on more business of being born

Conscious Close-Up with Ina May Gaskin

Anna Getty pregnancy awareness month

also: bamboo baby cloth diapering home, naturally harmonious habitat in anniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conscious kitchen 4 delicious recipes

from the editors

notes welcome to bamboo! We are so excited to start this journey with all of you and want to take a moment to thank all of the contributors, advertisers and subscribers who have already thrown so much love and support into this magazine. We are blessed and hope you enjoy what you find in the depths of these pages. We have searched high and low to bring you intriguing articles, fun projects, resources, hot product picks and so much more. We sincerely hope that you enjoy your experience with us and keep coming back for more.

photo: andrea taylor

When we started Bamboo, we wanted it to be the hub of all things special, earth friendly, simple and conscious rising. We have created a community forum for you to share ideas and thoughts and make like-minded friends. We will have the Bamboo Beeline coming soon, where moms and dads can publish their own Bamboo newsletter to let others know about what is happening in their community and make money too! In addition, our website will have our â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weekly Wins,â&#x20AC;? B-Blog and Green Room news, so please check back with us on a daily basis to see what is happening in the community. Our premier issue, focusing on conscious pregnancy, is dear to our hearts. We have really tried to create our debut to be full of amazing, helpful information to help those of you on your pregnancy journey. With spring comes new life and we have honored that in so many ways in this first issue. There is something for everyone and all-thingsconscious is our foundation. So grab a cup of tea, relax and enjoy this premier issue. Welcome to the Bamboo family! In gratitude, Anni & Ashley

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spring bamboo features 6 Free-Spirited Mama: Pamela Anderson

on homebirthing, intuition and motherhood as a balancing act

- Ashley Ess

10 Conscious Conception

the ultimate invitation

- Sahaja Douglass

17 Peaceful Parenting

pregnancy: preparing the inner space for parenting - Andrea Danneker, M.A.

46 The Red Tent

women circling together during pregnancy - Christy Funk & Alisa Starkweather

74 More Business of Being Born

with Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein

78 Increasing Birth Satisfaction

ensure a joyful birth experience - Ana Paula Markel

also in this issue

9 are you homebirth material? 25 visualize your perfect birth 83 pregnancy awareness month

photo: ginny sheller

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bamboo magazine is released quarterly online at: www.bamboofamilymag.com

the team

in every issue

bamboo baby cloth diapering

20 root + stem

editors: anni daulter & ashley ess Design & Layout: Thought•Squad Cover Model: Aleksandra Evanguelidi Cover Photography: Alexandra DeFurio

spring editorial contributors:

living with passion

Sara Buscaglia Andrea Danneker, M.A. Anni Daulter Tim Daulter Sahaja Douglas Lauren Elliott Ashley Ess Aleksandra Evangelidi, LM, CPM Lauren Feder, M.D. Chrsity Funk Ina May Gaskin Anna Getty Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein Isadora Leidenfrost Ana Paula Markel ICCE, CD(DONA) Elena Rego Nanci Shandera, PhD Ginny Sheller Alisa Starkweather Carrie Vitt Kelly Wels

in anni’s conscious kitchen

bamboo photographers:

handmade with love, natural egg dyeing

38 shoots + leaves

fun eco-fashion for the kiddos, eco beauty bar

40 home, naturally

harmonious habitat

50 show + tell: conscious family living hot picks

pregnancy picks, family faves, bamboo baby picks

58 body + mind + spirit

sacred pregnancy & childbirth, homeopathy for morning sickness

63 practicing happy

four delicious recipes for a pregnant mama

farmers rock

spring on the farm

bamboo book recommendations

conscious close-up

with Ina May Gaskin

Alexandra DeFurio Tnah DiDonato Cristy Nielsen Leon Ortiz-Gil Elena Rego Robyn S. Russell Andrea Taylor

For contributor info click here

eco-足living | indoors and out

bambeco.com 866.535.4144

free-spirited mama Pamela Anderson on homebirthing, intuition and

motherhood as

a balancing act

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Pamela Anderson on homebirthing

by Ashley Ess

Pamela Anderson is best known for her sultry roles as an actress (Baywatch, VIP, Barb Wire) and model (Playboy), as well as her unconventional lifestyle. Behind the persona of the proverbial blonde bombshell, however, sits a remarkably thoughtful intellect; a long-time animal activist; vegetarian; philanthropist; art connoisseur; and avid reader with a penchant for metaphysics. She has dedicated much of her time working with charities such as PETA, The American Liver Foundation and Waves for Water, among many others. Her celebrity has certainly proven to not only have staying power but should be considered anything but a superficial fifteen minutes of fame.

I sat down with Pamela to learn more about a role that few people know exist: conscious parenting and natural birthing advocate. While some celebrities are choosing C-sections or epidurals, she has unabashedly shunned the norm by choosing the natural childbirth route. She is fiercely proud of her decision to homebirth. Pamela is also passionate about raising her two sons, Brandon and Dylan, as consciously and intuitively as possible. As a single mom, she does her best to support their bodies, minds and spirits, with the hope that, as whole children, they will one day become conscious adults. By her own admission she has made mistakes along the way. But at her core, Pamela is an intuitively aware mother… and the conscious family and birthing community welcomes all of those we can get!

out I was pregnant I wanted a better life for my children than I had. During my pregnancy I read The Continuum Concept by Jean Leidloff and subscribed to Mothering Magazine. I loved the idea of having a water birth. Natural and at home was the best way to go! I convinced my family that this was a far better choice than a hospital birth and they supported me.

…choosing natural childbirth- to home water births with a midwife:

… making early parenting decisions, consciously:

… her birthing experience: I had a wonderful midwife. I remember foolishly saying, “I can handle pain… I have tattoos!” The wake up call was the first contraction. I was screaming, “If this is what a contraction feels like I can’t do this!” But of course, I did. And I did it again with my second child.

Pamela on… It amazes me that I chose natural childbirth. It wasn’t the way I was raised. And I wouldn’t say the circle I kept was filled with the most healthy people – not exactly natural living types. Actually, they were quite the opposite. But I’m a voracious reader. I love learning and researching and always want the best. I apply all I learn to everything I do. When I found

I chose not to circumcise my sons. I believe we need all our body parts. They were also vaccinated at a much slower rate, with only the crucial ones (still not convinced that any are crucial, but I made sure they weren’t over-vaccinated when so small). I chose to spread them out over time. My mother had Polio as a child and couldn’t walk until she was 5. She begged me to

vaccinate my kids. We had many conversations about it. And I trusted her. But I also trusted my gut -- as moms we always need to tune into that. My kids are thriving healthy young teenagers now. … mothering: I have never done nannies. My mom is the best grandma there is -- she and my dad helped me. My kids are wild, free-spirited handfuls… typical teenagers. All because of me! I am hands-on. I do have a few regrets though. We all make mistakes. I wish I could have given them a traditional family. It burns me to the core that we are not a family of four. But I have tried to be the best mom I can be. And I’ve tried to bring responsible men into their lives ... consistently. But it’s tough. Lets just say I have good intentions! This time in their lives – adolescence -- is even harder for moms. Especially single moms. This is a time when we have to sort of disconnect … and all they’ve had up until this time is us. We have to put them first, and give them space. Detach. It’s very hard. They know they are loved … they will prevail. We have to know that. As parents it’s important to nourish our kids’ dreams... without banging them over the head with false hope. You can be anything you want to be but you have to work your butt off. Enjoy hard work. And know that you’ll only succeed if you apply yourself.

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… philanthropy: I just returned from Brazil. I took my oldest son on his first humanitarian/surf trip. We went with Waves for Water, an organization whose goal it is to bring clean drinking water to everyone who needs it. We spent two days in the slums giving clean water to children that don’t have it. Something as simple as water we take for granted here. We then spent to days surfing. I know this trip resonated in him. It’s a balance. Doing good things are just natural extensions of humanity. I’m proud I’ve included my kids in my philanthropic journey.

I didn’t start off brilliantly to end weak. I will persevere and be a pillar for my kids. That, I HOPE, will be appreciated one day.

Pamela on…

Fingers crossed.

… how her decisions to birth naturally and parent alternatively has affected her and her children: We’ll see. That’s the mysterious part of having children. How will they turn out … despite personal obstacles. I’m happy I gave birth naturally. And I did and am doing the best I can. I don’t have to be their best friend or even be liked sometimes. I’m their mother. And they will get the best education I can supply for them. They can fight me all they want. Education is key so when they are on their own they can make well thought-out decisions.

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As parents, it’s important to nourish our kids’ dreams...

are you?

homebirth material by Aleksandra Evanguelidi LM, CPM Aleksandra Evanguelidi, LM, CPM, has been a California Licensed Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife since July 2006. After she received her midwifery license she co-founded a home birth practice and midwifery training program. Her vision for The Sanctuary Birth & Family Wellness Center is to create a new model of integrated care that meets the complex needs of today’s family. Aleks with Juli Anderson and Dr. Stuart Fischbein Courtesy of The Sanctuary

Look, I’m a magnet to bellies. When I see the pregnant woman on the street, I must confess, I get super excited because I know a little part of the future of our world is being carried around inside. Sometimes I get brave enough to say hello and inquire as to where the mom-to-be is giving birth, always letting her know that I am a midwife and a mom myself. I usually get a few reactions from that. The first is, with a glowing smile, she tells me that she has a midwife, and proceeds to talk about her care provider while looking like she is talking about her high school crush. Second, a wistful look falls across her face, perhaps a sense of longing, and then she inevitably tells me that they really wanted a homebirth but couldn’t afford it, or she and her partner decided if the first birth goes well, they will do a home birth next go around. And then the third most common reaction is, “You mean, without drugs? At home???” So, I thought I would offer some clarity to you readers about why YOU might consider an out of hospital birth. As midwives, we only care for “low risk” clients. What constitutes risk varies from provider to provider depending on the criteria that a) they feel most confident and comfortable working

with, and b) what their license dictates. So, for us midwives, we don’t look at age or weight as risk factors. There are some complications that run in higher numbers with age and weight factored in, however, we prefer to assess individuals based on their whole complexity rather than just a number attached to a drivers license. Some conditions that we would qualify as too high risk for out of hospital birth are: heart disease, kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, seizure conditions, high blood pressure, prematurity, HIV positive status, and other chronic health problems that existed before pregnancy. Twins and breech pregnancies MAY NOT disqualify you from having an out of hospital birth as long as a trained care provider has experience in taking care of these unique pregnancies AND you have been assessed with ultrasound to make sure babies are healthy and your pelvis is adequate. So, if you are a healthy woman, you have been taking care of yourself throughout your life and suddenly you become pregnant, can a high risk condition suddenly appear and thwart your plan to have an out of hospital birth? Yes, it could, but it is unlikely. The nature of midwifery care is such that women receive far above and beyond the quality of standard obstetric care that we can spot risk factors developing in enough time that s p r i n g 2011

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we do prevention. We spend on average an hour at each prenatal exam and we are able to see factors that contribute to high risks before they develop. That beats the 7 min average in standard obstetric appointments. So who really is the ideal candidate for an out of hospital birth and why would you want to choose this option? Let me tell you about MY ideal client: she takes responsibility for her life and trusts her body. She wants to be a part of all conversations regarding her health and is willing to do the research and educate herself about all of her options. She exercises, eats well, drinks water, doesn’t smoke, is willing to be coached and supported. She wants autonomy, doesn’t want to be restricted from eating, drinking or be attached to belts and stuck in bed during labor. She understands that birth is probably going to be one of the hardest, most beautiful and profound life experiences she and her child (and partner) will ever go through and is willing to give it her all. She wants to have a say in how and what is done to her child the moments following birth and every moment thereafter. Does this sound like you? Taking applications…

Often, when people ask me how I became an advocate for conscious conception, I paraphrase Plato and say, “Necessity, is the mother of invention.” Twelve years ago, when my husband and I decided to invite a child into our family, I enthusiastically sought information about the most conscious way to prepare for conception and pregnancy. There was not much information in print, but I came across Jeannine Parvati-Baker’s Book, Conscious Conception, and Laura Huxley’s magnificent book, The Child of Your Dreams. I was practicing Hatha yoga during this time and meditating, and so with a mixture of eagerness, love and some anxiety about getting it all just right, my husband and I began “trying.” My intentions were noble, yet in hindsight I understand that my focus was too much on finding the exact astrological moment and not enough on the love between my husband and myself. Nonetheless, my deep yearning to nurture a child resounded in the Universe and our son Liam rushed in.

CONSCIOUS CONCEPTION the ultimate invitation by Sahaja Douglass, MA, LMFT, and Certified Yoga Teacher Over the years, my understanding about the importance of preparing for conception evolved. Before inviting another child to join our family, I asked my spiritual teacher for guidance and I read about Tibetan and Hindu preparation rituals. Couples from other cultures prepare themselves physically and spiritually for many months in anticipation of inviting a child into their family, because they understand that this time of purification and fortification will attract a soul of higher consciousness and allow for an auspicious pregnancy and birth.

preparing myself for conception. I practiced specific yoga poses and sequences for optimal health and fertility, I ate foods that would nourish me, I retested for toxins and worked with both my homeopath and my nutritionist with preconception in mind. I spent more time doing spiritual practices. While we ultimately decided that the time was not right for inviting in another child, my own personal journey was the springboard for the Conscious Conception Workshops and my work with clients in private practice.

According to the Tibetan Art of Parenting, “The environment at conception is important; it is recommended that a couple meditate on love, compassion, consciousness, or gentleness and avoid anger, attachment, jealousy, aggression or fantasies.”

When someone is interested in learning more about conscious conception, typically, I will get a call (usually from a woman) seeking advice. The preparation for conception lays the foundation for a healthy, vibrant pregnancy and many of the things I recommend for conception are continued throughout pregnancy. During an initial meeting with new clients, I gather information about the couple’s lifestyle, spiritual practices, goals, work, relationship, vision for their family. Usually, I recommend that both partners prepare themselves, physically, emotionally and spiritually for four to six months before even making love with the intention of inviting in a child. I suggest that both parents have a physical exam by a health care practitioner. Their blood should be tested for heavy metals and other toxins that may hinder fertility and the optimal health of their baby. If heavy metals and toxins are present

I applied what I learned to my own preparation. My husband was more skeptical about the importance of preparation, however, he took a leap of faith and stopped drinking alcohol and coffee for several months before conceiving our second son, Viśwa. As our children grew, my husband and I often discussed the possibility of inviting another child into our family. For years, as our conversations and contemplation of what was best for our family continued, I became passionate about

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reproduction for fish) and sourced from cold, clean waters, like Alaska.

I recommend using this time before conception to purify the body by eliminating alcohol, coffee, processed foods, and any prescription drugs that are not mandatory (itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to consult with the prescribing doctor first). If a couple wants to become more physically fit, I recommend starting this process before conception.

The preconception period can be an emotional time for couples, eliciting feelings of intimacy, as well as feelings of anxiety about their ability to nurture and raise a child. It is usually a time of redefining roles in the family, and it is important for the couple to acknowledge and discuss their hopes and vision for how their roles may change. Will one parent stop working? If not, who will they choose to love and nurture their infant while they are at work? If they plan in advance, would it be possible for one or both parents to take a leave of absence from work? When couples come to see me, often I help them unveil, process and communicate their feelings and concerns. Sometimes, they realize that more time is needed to realize their vision of how they ideally want to care for their child. During workshops, I facilitate particular exercises that encourage couples to express their hopes and fears surrounding conception, pregnancy and parenting.

The preconception months are an important time to make certain that there are no toxins in the home environment (see www.healthychild.org for great information). I recommend eating organic food, grass fed meats, and drinking purified water. If the couple eats fish, I recommend small varieties, (i.e salmon, sardines, halibut) wild caught, (farm raised fish often carry parasites that kill many wild populations, wreaking havoc with salmon spawning and other aspects of natural

The time leading up to conception is ideal for deepening spiritual practices. I highly recommend meditation for most couples. With proper guidance from an experienced teacher or spiritual master, meditation purifies the mind and aligns one with the rhythm of the Universe. During conception and pregnancy, an atmosphere filled with love and harmony is ideal. Like attracts like; thus, a coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pure heart vibration will attract a soul with a pure heart vibration. For many

(as they are for most people due to chemicals in food, water, air and especially the chemically fertilized soil in which most food is grown) there are many reputable detoxification programs. A local naturopath, homeopath, acupuncturist, or other health practitioner can guide this process, and make sure that the released toxins have been eliminated from the body before a couple tries to become pregnant.

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couples, I recommend writing as an excellent way to discover and express their feelings, dreams and intentions. During workshops, one of the first things I ask couples to do is set an intention for inviting a child into their family. The intention is a higher-consciousness thought, created with clarity, purpose and faith that the Universe can provide what we need despite our inability to understand how manifestation truly occurs. An intention I share with the Conscious Conception Workshop group (and now with any reader who wants to invite a magnificent soul into their family) is: “May each person here invite in and receive the child of your dreams. May this exploration today bring clarity and an expression of divine love. May parenting awaken and deepen your compassionate heart and inspire spiritual uplifting.” A clearly worded intention, created from the heart, with the highest good for all as it’s premise, will call forth enormous support from the Universe; a cascade of God’s Grace. Yoga, tai-chi, qi-gong or other holistic practice is also a great way to prepare for conception. As the ancient sages have pronounced for eons, and science has validated, our thoughts create reverberations throughout our bodies, so any practices we do that quell the mind and encourage good thoughts, will positively effect our bodies, and spirit and create a wonderful environment for conception and pregnancy. After months of preparation, the time for uniting and inviting in the couple’s dream child arrives. Many cultures have rituals for conception: a blessing from the couple’s spiritual leader, family or community, a purification bath, an astrological reading that determines an auspicious time for conception, prayers, mantras, mandalas and dances. Depending on a couple’s spiritual tradition, they may want to create their own ritual. Sometimes couples write an invitation to the child, and recite it as part of their ritual, sometimes their ritual is as simple as lighting candles and

acknowledging their love for each other. However a couple expresses their loving union, the months of preparation leading up to conception has paved the way for an auspicious manifestation of their dream.

photo: cristy nielsen

Sahaja Douglass can be reached by e-mail at sahaja@consciousconceptionandpregnancy.com or by phone: 310-455-0713 For more information about conscious conception, visit Sahaja’s website: www.consciousconceptionandpregnancy.com

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photos: alexandra defurio

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why choose? cloth diapers

by Kelly Wels

Kelly Wels is a leading cloth diaper expert and advocate who has a passion for helping parents make informed decisions when it comes to how they diaper their babies. www.KellyWels.com

Reason #1: It’s Best for Baby

Reason #4: Cloth Is Convenient

Many disposable diapers are made using a variety of chemicals and bleaches, potentially exposing babies to harmful chemicals. These chemicals have been linked to allergies (and sometimes asthma) in babies and children. Research has also indicated that lowering a baby’s exposure to chemicals can benefit a baby’s skin. In fact, some studies say that cloth diapering may lower a baby’s incidence of diaper rash.

As silly as it sounds to some parents, cloth diapering really can be a convenient diapering option. Imagine not having to run to the store every time you need more diapers. Imagine never having to lug a heavy box of diapers home and then finding a place to store them each and every time. Instead, with cloth diapers you simply put in a load of laundry at night and have clean diapers in the morning.

Reason #2: You Can Save $2500 Per Baby Want to save a couple thousand dollars or more? You can. The economics of cloth diapering can be astounding for a family on a budget. From newborn to potty training you will change your baby up to 8000 times. Disposable diapers can cost up to $0.36 per diaper change.

Reason #3: You Can Be Eco-Friendly It is cool to be green and it really is good for you, your baby, and mother earth. Did you know that it takes up to 500 years for a disposable diaper to decompose due to the chemicals inside the diaper? When you choose cloth diapers you are saving approximately two tons of landfill space. (approx. 8000 diapers = 2 tons of landfill space)

photos: alexandra defurio

Reason #5: Cloth Diapering Is Fun Many moms love cloth diapering, and some are even addicted to it! They love the fashion-forward colorful diapers and talking about cloth diapering with other moms. Modern cloth diapers are as easy to use as a disposable!

peaceful parenting

Pregnancy:

Preparing the Inner Space for Parenting by Andrea Danneker, M.A. Becoming a parent, where two become three or sometimes more, invites a myriad of things, doesn’t it? Mama’s belly grows round, relationships change, imaginations run deep, hearts fill with wonder and awe, and, of course, a special nest is made for the much anticipated homecoming. Who will this person be? What will she look like? How will it feel to be his mom or dad? What will her big brother think? How will things change? As new parents, we learn on the job, as we go. So much is unknown yet we embark on the journey of parenting with great optimism and hope. And of course, we try, as best we can, to be prepared.

When I was pregnant with my first child, like most new moms, I went to my scheduled prenatal visits, took a birthing class with my husband and, as expected, headed off to register for all the baby “must haves.” I already had the mindset that I wanted to keep things simple and not fill every nook and cranny of our house with baby stuff, but there were a few basic things we “needed”…or so I thought. There we were at the front of the store, excited and eager, waiting to begin, when we were handed a four page list (yes, 4!) of

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“must haves” for the baby… just to get us started. Gasping for air, I wondered, how could one little baby “need” so much stuff? It was ridiculous and quite honestly, overwhelming. I felt an immediate sense of inadequacy – a feeling I didn’t expect while “registering”. Of course, the truth is, a child doesn’t need that much stuff (we can look at this issue another time), but what really concerns me is the message sent to parents these days, as subtle as it may be. As expecting parents – during a time when we are feeling the most excitement and appreciation for our new arrival – the message sent is “You are not enough for your child and what your child really “needs” is lots of stuff and things to do (to stimulate their brain, earlier and faster!).” Trust me; nothing could be further from the truth. Don’t get me wrong, I agree that there are a few basic items that a baby will need; something to eat, a safe place to sleep and play, some clothes and warm blankets preferably made of natural fibers, and a few choice toys. But the care of a newborn, a child, and even a teenager, requires something other than

Prior to getting pregnant, we may have been living our lives in a constant state of doing, in a relatively unconscious, achievement driven manner. And while the approaching birth continually pulls our thoughts and imaginations toward the future, the natural inward focus of pregnancy draws us more and more into the miracle of what is happening in the now. We slow down. We notice. We become in tune with our thoughts, our feelings, our body, and our baby. We are in – maybe for the first time – the present moment. If we ignore these changes during pregnancy and push on with life as usual, we may not only miss out on a rich opportunity to experience the world in a different, slower, and conscious way, but we may skip over the groundwork for parenting that nature has so brilliantly provided for us – a chance to experience what it is like have our mind, our heart, and our body, all together in the same place at the same time. This is what our children will need. They need us to slow down enough to notice and accept the full range of our experience and work with it as best we can.

Parenting asks us to find and express

The less we have, the less we do, the less

what is most nourishing, most caring, and most wise in ourselves. stuff. Parenting requires an inner space – our soul space – where genuine care for another, parental intuition, and authentic availability can be found. Parenting requires us to slow down, to notice, and to trust – trust in our own instincts as parents and trust in our child’s own developmental pace.

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we watch, the simpler our life will be. With simplicity, we create more inner space, both for ourselves and for our children, which deepens our capacity to connect and enjoy one another. So much of the world today overwhelms our inner world as well as our child’s. It swallows up the very nature of who we are, our sense of self. It trains us to

look outside ourselves for refuge and strength. Kim Payne points out in his popular book, “Simplicity Parenting”, that since the pressures and busyness of life today are so universal, we are “adjusting” at a neck breaking pace. It has become the new normal. “If the water we are swimming in continues to heat up, and we simply adjust as it heats, how will we know to hop out before we boil?” asks Payne. Parenting is a calling. It calls us to recreate our world so that we may connect to another human being on a very deep level. It is in actuality nothing less than a rigorous spiritual practice. Parenting asks us to find and express what is most nourishing, most caring, and most wise in ourselves – to be, as much as we can, our best selves. And all of this is growing inside of Mama’s belly, right now.

Andrea Danneker, M.A., Simplicity Parenting Coach, helps families design and implement the changes they’d like to make in their home life and family interactions. To inquire about current Simplicity Parenting workshop or to invite Andrea to speak contact her at andrea@simplicityparenting.com and visit www.yourparentingjourney.com.

photos: robyn s. russell

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natural egg dyeing Ginny Sheller lives in Virginia with her husband, five children (and a new baby due May 2011), and too many animals. They fill their days working and playing in a very old house on a work in progress homestead. Armed with her camera, Ginny documents their life and adventures on her blog Small Things : www.gsheller.com My children absolutely adore dyeing and decorating eggs during springtime. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fun way to celebrate the season! This year we decided to try something new and make our own dyes using all natural ingredients easily found at the market or in our own pantry. Instructions and dye recipes abound online, but I came up with a system that would suit dyeing the eggs with children, allowing them to stay involved with the entire process. While we had some of the necessary ingredients on hand, we made a trip to the market for additional supplies. My oldest son shamelessly cleaned out the red onion bin, stuffing his cloth bag with the abundant loose skins. I grabbed a head of red cabbage, a couple of cans of beets, and a large jug of vinegar and we were set. Once we arrived home, we turned our kitchen into a natural dye lab and the fun really began.

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Onion skins were mixed with water and vinegar and set to boil, cabbage was chopped, and jars were gathered and labeled. While I remained vigilant by the stove, my children ran in and out of the kitchen, periodically checking my progress. After several hours of mixing, boiling, and straining, our dyes were ready. My oldest son very seriously added a piece of string to each jar, to demonstrate the color of the dye within. In a move motivated by self preservation, I moved our egg dyeing party outdoors. My older children poured the dyes into smaller jars and the dyeing began. Chubby two year old fingers carefully, and sometimes not so carefully, dropped boiled eggs into the dye baths. Older children began checking the eggs to find out what colors they were turning, almost immediately. But hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the big difference between those store bought dyes, and the all natural homemade kind: there is no instant gratification when you go all natural. And in my opinion, a lesson in patience is always a good thing.

An early check of an egg soaked in red cabbage dye revealed a pale blue egg. The longer the eggs soaked, the deeper the colors became, so we brought the jars inside at the end of the day and let

our eggs soak overnight. The following morning, that pale blue egg was the most beautiful deep blue. Good things come to those who wait, right? Onion skins, turmeric, beets, blueberries, paprika, and red cabbage produced a rainbow of beautiful color. Our eggs were a bit cracked and the color was scratched from eager children yielding metal spoons, unable to contain their excitement over the changing colors, but our eggs were beautiful nonetheless, imperfections and all.

My children loved the blue produced by the cabbage, but my heart went with the wonderful shades of green produced by combining cabbage or blueberry dye with turmeric. The best part of the process for my children was the lack of predictability. Who would have guessed that a jar of deep pink liquid could produce a deep blue egg, or an orange mixture a green one? My oldest son asked me to promise that we will only use natural dyes to dye our spring eggs from now on, and I gave him a quick and easy, “yes.”

Recipes and instructions: There are many techniques and recipes available online, but I will share the recipes, and technique we used. We boiled our eggs ahead of time, and made and cooled our dyes before beginning the dye process. I felt that this was the most child friendly route, both for safety and for maximizing their involvement. My children helped assemble the dye ingredients, but I did most of the cooking with occasional help from my older children. I did not treat the creation of the dyes as an exact science, so your results may vary. I would consider my recipes as guidelines. Each dye mixture was brought to a boil, and then I reduced the heat and simmered them for varying amounts of time, depending on the specific dye. My final amount of dye in each case was about 1 quart. We let them cool before straining them into jars. Part of the fun for my children was the discovery of what color was produced by each dye, so we were sure to label the jars as we transfered our dyes to them. Red Cabbage: 1 head chopped and combined with 2 quarts of water and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Simmer for a couple of hours, with the addition of water necessary to keep the water level at about 1 quart and then strain into a jar. This dye produces a deep blue egg. Turmeric: 3 tablespoons spice mixed with 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 quart of water. I only simmered this for a few minutes before removing from heat. We didn’t strain the powdered spice from the liquid so there was a good bit of

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settlement in the bottom of the jar. This dye produces a lovely yellow egg. Paprika: identical to the turmeric instructions. This dye produces an orange egg. Red Onion Skins: We mixed approximately 4 cups of packed outer skins with 2 quarts of water and 1/4 cup of vinegar and simmered for hours, adding water occasionally. This dye produces a really beautiful deep sienna colored egg. Blueberries: approximately four cups of frozen berries mixed with 1 quart of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar and simmer for about an hour before straining into a jar. This dye produces a violet egg. Canned Beets: 2 cans of beets with liquid included were combined with 1 quart of water and 3 tablespoons of vinegar and then simmered for about an hour.

We were hoping for pink, but this dye produced a golden brown egg, pretty nonetheless. Blueberry dye mixed with turmeric dye produces an olive green egg. Cabbage dye mixed with turmeric dye produces a very beautiful deep green egg. We also tried soaking an egg in the blueberry dye for a couple of hours and then moving it to turmeric dye for overnight and this produced a lovely spring green.

There is a lot of room for creativity here!

with love

handmade simple bunting doll tutorial by Lauren Elliott Soon after my oldest daughter was born, I stumbled across the image of a Waldorf-inspired doll. I was immediately taken by the dollâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural materials, simple features, and unique qualities inherent in a handmade object. Any toy, handmade with love, carries an almost magical quality. This is especially true with dolls.

A simple doll, lovingly handmade with natural materials makes a wonderful first toy for a baby. Natural materials enhance the quality of a doll. A doll stuffed with wool retains heat when cuddled and also takes on the scent of the environment in which he lives. A doll with simple features allows a child to imagine and experiment with emotion.

The bond a child shares with a beloved doll turns the doll into trusted confidante, co-adventurer, and playmate. More importantly, a doll allows a child to imitate and process the adult world, especially the actions of his/her parents. I have had the privilege of listening to my daughter coo and sing to her dolls, sweetly carry them about the house, feed them and put them to sleep. To my chagrin, I have also heard my daughter admonish her dolls and boss them around a bit. When I have the chance to overhear this type of play, it gives me incredible insight into how she perceives my actions. When my oldest daughter was a baby, I pulled my sewing machine out of the back of my closet, dusted it off, and made her a simple bunting doll. Three years later her doll still receives a lot of love. As a young toddler, my daughter cuddled her dollâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soft body, using him as a pillow and comfort. Later her doll became her baby, a playmate, and a continued comfort. The first doll I made was far from perfect but my daughter has never noticed. Even if you have never sewn or do not own a sewing machine, I really encourage you to try making a doll for your child. The pattern and tutorial at the end of this article give instructions for making a simple bunting doll with or without a sewing machine. If you would like to find a doll for your child and do not want to attempt sewing your own â&#x20AC;&#x201C; etsy.com has a nice selection of handmade Waldorf-inspired dolls for sale. Lauren Elliott lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two lively little ones. When everyone is in bed and the house is quiet, she loves to stay up too late sewing, knitting and making dolls. You can find her work at: www.duckduckgoosetoys.typepad.com and www.etsy.com/shop/duckduckgoosetoys

Click here to download pdf tutorial

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Visualize your perfect birth create your own experience

ideas

by Anni Daulter

• Write down exactly how you want your birth to go. This will become your manifestation tool over the next few months while you are mentally and emotionally preparing to give birth. • Choose a couple of words to act as a mantra for you during birth that will immediately take you to your “perfect birth“ scene. • Book Recommendation: The Creative Visualization Workbook: Second Edition by Shakti Gawain

Your mind has tremendous power. If you are able to train your mind to imagine the perfect birth scene for yourself, you are far more likely to be able to form the birth experience that you want. This can include having a painless birth, short labor, and a healthy baby at the end of it all. If you do not have much practice with visualization, take time to research a little bit about it, as it truly can serve as a wonderful tool for you during the birthing process.

ref l ections

Do some meditating on how you want the birth experience to go. Who is there? What does it look like? Sound like? Smell like? Answer these questions in the form of a visualization narrative for yourself that you will be able to replay time and time again in your mind until it becomes second nature to you. Here is a short example of a lovely visualization for the birthing mama: “Picture yourself in warm water, with your favorite soft music playing in the background, your loved ones all surrounding you, candles lit and your belly bursting with life. You know that you are getting so close to meeting your

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baby for the first time and you are excited and confident. The sun is going down and the soft glow of the sunset is upon your cheek and you look outside to see some wild flowers growing in your garden. The colors are vibrant and the flowers look full of life. You are holding your belly, talking to your baby knowing that you will be able to hold and kiss your newborn very soon. You notice each surge as it comes and goes, and you welcome each one, as you know it brings you closer and closer to meeting your baby. You breathe in and out with each surge, releasing your tension into each one. You know that there is something amazing about what you are doing and something familiar about it. You realize that you are a part of the sisterhood community of women who have birthed before you, and who are now standing in their power for you. In a short while, you will step over that threshold from maiden to mother and will know that you are a part of the tribe. You feel strong and confident and know that you can do it. Remember, you can birth your baby. You are strong and power-full and you know inherently how to do this. Stand in your power and welcome your brand new healthy child into your clan.”

shoots + leaves free spirited eco-clothes for kids

welcome to farm day with silly kids, ridiculously cute clothes, chickens, eggs, smiles and even Auto the dog!

photos by tnah louise

www.handfullkids.com

Handfullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothes are made of a blend of hemp and organic cotton & they are handdyed with low impact dyes in a variety of

red wagon, carrots and bed-time to name a few!

rich colors inspired by all things kidâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Handfull clothes are created with playing and comfort in mind. Intentionally zipper, snap and button free, they are roomy and comfortable and made to grow into, out of and passed on. Pants become capris, dresses become shirts, and all of the clothes are designed to be layered and interchanged.

free spirited eco-clothes for kids

The details are the first priority at Handfull. With purposefully unfinished edges, triple-stitched appliquĂŠs, and whimsical hand-embroidered stars, every piece is created with both precision and

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love.

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The designs on the clothing reflect Rebeccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passions: a chocolate lab, bicycles, trees, flowers and even a camper.

free spirited

eco-clothes for kids

Handfull clothes can be purchased at www.handfullkids.com

Ethically sourced Made with love

Beautiful hand-made organic cotton soft toys, Teething Bonbons and baby linens. dressmeuporganic.com Toll-free 1-855-2MY-BABY

Natural + Organic comfy clothing for modern kids.

The Green Goat was born in October 2009. Having fun, playing with color, and using safe and eco-friendly materials is what

The Green Goat is all about. Enjoy!

Hand printed with eco-friendly non-toxic water based inks! www.etsy.com/shop/greengoat

photos: tnah louise

designer Mary Cobb Mary LOVES experimenting with vibrant color combos and is excited to offer one-ofa-kind products to conscious families!

Low impact dyesâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Visualize

eco beauty bar

the danger in your cosmetics: going natural is the only option! by Christy Funk eco-beauty expert for bamboo magazine

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Christy Funk is the owner of Belly Sprout, Orange County, CAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first natural parenting store and resource center. As a professional makeup artist for over 12 years, Christy has been researching natural options for the last 8 years and is helping women not only make the switch but continues her artistry work with her clients. She shares a home with her husband and two boys, aged 5 and 7.

When I was pregnant with my first son I decided to dump all of my fancy designer makeup and go for healthier alternatives. I started to read about the toxic chemicals residing in all of the brands I used for years and knew that the change would be healthier for me and my unborn son. As a professional makeup artist for years prior to getting pregnant, this was a difficult shift for me. I had worked in the industry with the nations leading makeup artists and loved the professional color palette and quality of these products. From celebrity to editorial and film my work required both professional and quality cosmetics, much like any other type of artist. Once I did the research, I often fantasized about providing women with makeup lessons using all-natural skincare and cosmetics, but at the time the products out there were not at all comparable to the professional brands. The colors were out-dated and the quality was poor. In the last few years this has drastically changed as new companies emerging are gorgeous and non-toxic. Women no longer have to compromise our beauty options for our health.

According to Skin Deep, a report by the Environmental Working Group, Europe has banned over 1,100 toxic chemicals in cosmetics. The United States has banned only 10. Ruth Winter writes, “The FDA cannot require companies to do safety testing of their cosmetic products before marketing. Neither cosmetic products nor cosmetic ingredients are reviewed or approved by the FDA before they are sold to you” (A Consumers Guide of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter). You must do the research to protect yourself from accumulating unsafe toxins into your bloodstream. Remember that the label “natural” does not always mean pure. I was astonished to find out that a “natural” mascara I was using a couple of years ago contained lead! Be safe and go for truly natural companies who have women’s health in mind.

Here is a basic listing of harmful ingredients lurking in your makeup bag: Lipstick: typically petroleum-based (non-renewable resource and allergy causing), benzophenone (hormone disrupter), phenol (can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness and kidney and liver damage).

Face: paraben and formaldehyde (skin irritant and carcinogenic), synthetic fragrances (hormone-disrupting phtlalates), nanoparticles (absorbed into the bloodstream and found in leading “natural” mineral makeup).

Eyes: talc (irritating), mascaras can have mercury-based thimerasol (a neurotoxin), nylon and polyester can set off contact dermatitis. s p r i n g 2011

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home, naturally

harmonious habitat

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“As parents, we try to make conscious choices when it comes to our children’s health as well as our own.”

decongest and detoxify your home by Ashley Ess Creating a non-toxic home may seem like quite a task. Many families don’t have the funds to rid their homes of every last piece of building material that is still off-gassing or to rewire their electricity in order to cut down on EMFs. On the same note, many do not have the resources to research every morsel of information about what might be lurking behind the drywall or underneath the floorboards. But we do have choices that can make the task of detoxifying and decongesting less daunting and more attainable. As parents, we try to make conscious choices when it comes to our children’s health as well as our own. We exercise, feed our pregnant bodies the best nutrients for our growing baby, and strive to give our children the most wholesome foods. Many of us embrace a spiritual practice that involves our kids as a way of honoring the realm beyond the physical and fostering a

healthy mind and spirit. We even try to bring only the best, non-toxic products and items into our house and choose natural materials as much as possible. But is this enough to keep our home environment as healthy as it can be? A home is a whole, living, breathing entity, not merely a physical structure. It consists of humans, pets, plants, and yes, even bugs and bacteria -- each with their own energy emissions! We create new energies when we clean the house, put on some music, dance, laugh, cry and yell. We bring furniture, appliances, clothing and food into our house. Some of this can contribute to the energetic, electromagnetic and allergenic/toxic congestion that affects our harmony negatively. The following are some sources and solutions to physical and energetic toxicity and ideas on how to harmonize your home.

Smudge Your House with Sage Creating a non-toxic home isn’t just about clearing out physical toxins. We are also exposed to toxic energies or “vibes” that can disturb our psychological states as well. The Native American tradition of smudging the home with sage helps to clear stagnant, negative energies that make an otherwise happy home feel heavy. Smudging every room in the house with conscious intention (don’t forget windows and doors!) and then releasing the smoke will promote a home filled with peace and clarity.

What you can do:

Purchase a bundle of dried sage from your local health food store, metaphysical bookshop, online or make your own. Simply light the end of it, blow on the embers to create smoke and wave it around the rooms, in corners, etc. Then get ready to feel uplifted!

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Wireless and EMF Congestion There is a great deal of published research and data on safe amounts of electromagnetic field (EMF) frequency and radiation. The problem is that the average consumer may only consider the data on a single device at one time; a cell phone, computer or microwave individually only emits a certain acceptable amount of radiation. In that case, if each individual device is deemed safe there should be nothing to worry about, right? Not necessarily. Have you considered all of the electronic and wireless items in your home and their cumulative effects? The National Institutes of Health considers EMFs to be potentially carcinogenic, as they may elevate risks for certain cancers. Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association cites a link between increased brain cell activity and the position of a cell phone’s antenna. Some may say the jury is still out on actual long-term health effects of EMFs and the use of wireless devices, but this data certainly gives enough reason to consider changing the way we invite these technological invaders into our homes. The quality of indoor air has been the subject of the US Environmental Protection Agency studies. Dust mites, allergens and toxic chemicals among other elements pollute our home air, rendering it at times worse than the air outside. With ailments like asthma in children being on the rise, it’s imperative we do what we can to eliminate these elements from wreaking havoc on our family’s respiratory health.

Breathe Easy...

What you can do:

Check out the EPA’s guides on improving the quality of air inside your home here: www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/index.html Let your house breathe -- open the windows! Placing plants like Peace Lilies, Weeping Figs, Rubber Plants and English Ivy throughout the house can help clear the environment from toxins such as formaldehyde, which leaches from carpeting adhesives and particleboard, among other housing materials. Formaldehyde is just one home toxin known to trigger asthma and may cause cancer.

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The “chatter” that occurs when so many wireless devices are pulsating through your home may be disruptive to human cells. Even the notion that all this electromagnetic radiation might have ill effects on our health is enough to cause unneeded stress, and that’s not exactly conducive to a harmonious home.

What you can do:

Consider purchasing an EMF meter. This is the only way to find the most congested sources of EMF radiation in your home. Keep all electronics at an average of at least 4-6 feet away from your bed and limit electronics in your child’s room to only the most essential. Never let your child use your cell phone, and keep her away from microwaves, computers and other wireless technology. Keep only the essentials plugged in. Unplug as many electronic devices as you can, especially at bedtime. Why not give your nervous system a break and eliminate all wireless technology from your home? Test it out to see if you notice a difference!

Consider Going Shoeless Going shoeless in your home is more than being about keeping simple dirt off of your floors. Some cultures even do this as a form of respect for the home. The bottoms of your shoes carry dust filled with bacteria and viruses, fertilizer residue, chemicals and pesticides, among many other toxins that don’t belong indoors. It simply makes sense to de-shoe before walking into the house. Your respiratory system and your crawling baby will be thankful for it!

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De-Clutter Your Space! Clutter can impose on the harmony of a home. It collects dust and allergens and obstructs the beauty that a simple home can inspire. Have a yard sale or donate unnecessary items, and recycle the rest – but do get rid of the clutter! Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be performed just once a year. A periodic de-cluttering throughout the year will help release stress, too.

A Word on Cleaning Products There are many non-toxic cleaning products on the market that work just as well as their toxic counterparts. Using products that contain chlorine bleach, petroleum-based chemicals, and other highly toxic ingredients is not a healthy, viable option. There simply is no reason to use harsh chemicals in the space where family members eat, sleep, crawl and play!

What you can do:

Purchase only natural and non-toxic cleaning products. Health food stores carry good options. Many mainstream stores now carry them as well, but beware of certain labels that claim to be all-natural or eco-friendly that may not actually be. Read, read, read labels!

An alternative to commercial products is to create your own cleaning solutions. Have these ingredients on hand to create basic toxin-free household cleaners: castile soap white vinegar baking soda borax lemons

Mixing simple ingredients like equal parts liquid castile soap and borax with the juice of one lemon in warm water will produce a non-toxic, pleasant-smelling cleaner that won’t harm your family.

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GROWING

P L AY I N G

LEARNING

WEARING

LIVING

Imagine the sweet pleasure of eating a pea right from the pod, reading an engaging book, or watching a child immersed in creative play. We encourage your family to create simple moments every day. Visit us for natural toys, craft supplies, and items for your home.

novaNATURAL.com

877 668 2111

The Red Tent By Christy Funk

In most cultures around the world, women are supported throughout their pregnancies and during the post partum stage. The village literally takes care of them offering much needed help in terms of physical and emotional support. Many countries even honor the 40 days and 40 nights postpartum, allowing a woman to bond deeply with her baby while the village takes care of the mother and household duties. Meals are served and in India women are even bathed while the babies are taken care of. Needless to say, women in other countries are more prepared to enter motherhood with grace and ease.

Photograph courtesy of Donna Santoa

In this country entering motherhood can be quite shocking. The only communal ceremony before the arrival of the baby is a baby shower, which focuses primarily on preparing the mother with material goods. A mother goes into labor and if not educated beforehand, can view her labor as challenging or difficult. She goes home with her baby and has become a mother. Her partner may give as much support as he knows how, but ultimately the mother is alone with her new baby in her home, save some visitors that come in the beginning to see the baby. The Red Tent was arranged by mothers at Belly Sprout as a means to offer nurturing love and support in a safe environment. All women

are welcome including pregnant women, new moms, veteran moms, grandmothers and even those without children. Women gather to share their birth stories without being

all women are welcome censored in a community of women who listen without judgment. The stories can be empowering tales of joy and for some healing stories of painful journeys. There are tears, laughter and most importantly a community is created weaving the lives of women who are seeking their â&#x20AC;&#x153;tribeâ&#x20AC;?. It is truly a touching event complete with a draped Red Tent to gather underneath. Transformation unfolds within the dynamic energy of the women involved.

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Red Tent: a great symbol

For those of you unfamiliar with the book, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant it is a must-read. It is a fictional story set in biblical times and chronicles The Red Tent where women gather when menstruating, pregnant and birthing. The village men understand the power of it and stay far away from the tent. The Red Tent is a rite of passage for the village and is a wonderful example of how women, once supported, are strong enough to handle motherhood with grace and confidence. What comes to mind is how post-partum depression could potentially be avoided if our mothers were genuinely supported. Although the actual Red Tent is a great symbol to the community of how women can congregate and share the most magical aspect of their womanhood, the tent is not really necessary. Women gathering, sharing and becoming empowered is.

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Isadora Leidenfrost is the filmmaker of the documentary, Red Tent Movie; Things We Don’t Talk About. Wide support is welcome in all ways that support the film: screenwriters, fundraisers, transcribers, filmmakers, editors, and women dedicated to making Red Tent consciousness available to all. There are a thousand ways to contribute to building a more womanhonoring culture and in doing so, our worlds are changed. www.redtentmovie.com

Photograph courtesy of Soulful Media. Red Tent Temple at Alisa Starkweather’s yurt

Red Tent Temple movement by Alisa Starkweather Much like Christy Funk’s, Inspired Red Tents amongst women are being raised in various places all over the country and offer women safe havens. In 2007, the Red Tent Temple Movement was founded to create a cohesive grassroots initiative among women so that we would feel our collective momentum in bringing this to our local communities worldwide. There is a great desire for women to act in this moment of history and be the change we want to see. Women share tea, soup, bodywork, meet in circle, mentor our young, and generously support one another with our innate gifts inside this symbolic red womb. The movement welcomes women of all beliefs to a place where our many life choices are respected. As Judith Duerk’s, author of Circle of Stones writes, “How might your life have been different if there had been a place for you, a place to go to be with your mother, with your sisters, and the aunts, with your grandmothers, and the greatand great-great grandmothers, a place of women to go, to be, to return to, as woman? How might your life be different?” Join the momentum and be part of women rising. Join us on our FB page: www.facebook.com/RedTentMovement and visit our website: www.redtenttemplemovement.com where our monthly teleconferences, RTT and Q&A are listed. If you start a Red Tent in your area, be sure to let us know so we can include you.

Belly Casting Kit celebrate your pregnancy with a little belly decorating! Have your women friends circle around and cast a permanent art piece for you to remember your beautiful belly bump! www.bellygifts.com/Proud-Body-Belly-CastingKit-p/182.htm

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Trust Your Body Birth Decal love it! www.cafepress.com/+trust_birth_ labyrinth_decal,293644580

show + tell

conscious family living

pregnancy picks

Organic Kapok Body Pillows amazing

HypBirth CD/DVD Program painless

support for your growing belly! www.northernnaturals.com

birth is possible and this CD/DVD set will help tremendously! www.hypbirth.com/fr_home.cfm

Birth Ball by FitBALL these balls can be

After-Birth Sitz Bath the perfect healing

amazingly helpful during labor!

herbal combination for your body after birth.

www.doulashop.com/products/birth-balls/birth-ballby-fitball.html

www.homebirthsupplies.com/After-Birth-Sitz-Bath.215

Motherlove Fertility Necklace from Wild Mother Arts what a beautiful gift for a pregnant mama!

healing and soothing products to support your pregnancy

www.motherlove.com

www.etsy.com/listing/69981715/green-aventurinepregnant-goddess?ref=em

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Prairie Girls Designz brighten up any

Sloomb Diapers

outfit with these colorful adorable handmade crochet leg warmerssoftness www.etsy.com/shop/PrairieGirlDesignZ

the perfect fitted cloth diapers and longies for day time use and the answer for nights. www.sloomb.com

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baby Double Cream Blanket, Cloth Ball & Teething Bon-Bon from Dress Me Up Organic blanket:

picks

Sleepy Baby Wrap the best place after the womb, close to mama and daddy! www.sleepywrap.com

heirloom quality, made from organic cotton. ball: natural take on a classic toy, ideal for imaginative play. teether: gentle and safe solution for babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teething pain www.dressmeuporganic.com

Mela Bamboo Swaddles from Aden + Anais the ultimate swaddler for breathability and softness www.adenandanais. com/shop/itemdisplay. aspx?ID=167&SKU=9201

Petunia Pickle Bottom Organic Sashay Satchel from Rosie Posie Baby lightweight and earth friendly, crafted from organic cotton canvasâ&#x20AC;Śa baby bag that also makes a great purse!

Boba Carrier unique footstraps make this the ideal carrier for complete leg and spinal support for your baby www.bobababycarrier.com

SewFunky Ring Sling adjustable, one size design, perfect for sharing with a partner and snuggling your baby close! www.sewfunky.ca

www.rosieposiebaby.bigcartel.com/product/ petunia-pickle-bottom-organic-sashay-satchel

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show + tell

family faves Upcycled Wool Sweater Balls fun pillow balls made from a rainbow of recycled sweaters www.naturalfamilysupplies.com/products/ upcycled-wool-sweater-ball-for-play-or-decor

Dria Dolls

handmade from natural materials in the waldorf tradition www.etsy.com/shop/driaa

select photos: leon ortiz-gil

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Down to Earth Toys Balance Scale introduce mass measurement

Two Hip-Peas in a Pod Feminine Eco-Pads

with this simple wooden scale www.downtoearthtoys.com/BalanceScalep413.html

safe and absorbent mama cloths www.facebook.com/pages/ Two-HipPeas-in-a-Pod/118179538259009?sk=wall

Bamboletta Dolls handmade with wool, cotton, and lots of love www.bamboletta.com/shop/content. php?content_id=1006

Earth Mama Angel Baby

Tomboy Knits Doll Clothes hand-knitted doll clothes that are soft, sweet and lets face it, something you may want to wear yourself! Rainbow pants... ADORABLE!! www.facebook.com/pages/ Tomboyknits/178226868877984

delicious products for EVERY body! www.earthmamaangelbaby.com

Bass Natural Wood Brushes & Combs beautiful and long-lasting natural hair care for the whole family. www.thehairdoccompany.com/ products/naturalCollection/

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celebrating the Pregnancy and childbirth may be the most profound experience you will ever have. When you think about it, it’s miraculous that there could be a Soul readying itself to come into the world...through you! As a new, or seasoned, mother, your role is far greater than you might suspect. You are the vessel through which nature’s creative and regenerative forces flow. You are the living cradle for an incoming being. You, in your essential and vital role as mother, can expand the potency of this experience by focusing on the numinous process of which you’re a part. You are not only nurturing and birthing the child to be, but your own spiritual nature as well. Just as Persephone was transformed from maiden to woman after returning from her powerful experiences in the underworld, the process of giving birth matures, ripens, and empowers you like nothing else you’ll ever experience.

in pregnancy and childbirth by Nanci Shanderá, Ph.D. Dr. Nanci Shanderá is a spiritual teacher in northern California and author of Bridge to the Soul: Unconditional Self-Acceptance as a Path to Wholeness and Spiritual Awakening. For more information visit: www.EarthSpiritCenter.com/wordpress photo: cristy nielsen

Since even beyond Paleolithic times, the feminine, the mother, was honored and revered in matriarchal cultures. It was common practice - and still is in some indigenous societies now to perform powerful, meaningful rituals and ceremonies to celebrate a woman’s pregnancy and childbirth. The concept of “giving birth” meant that the woman was offering something of ineffable

body + mind + spirit

sacred

value to the tribe or group. These cultures would also initiate young girls who were beginning their entry into womanhood through their moon cycles, honor elder women entering menopause through deep ritual, and consecrate and release women at their hour of death as a sacred passage. In our so-called modern era, the feminine is downplayed and largely misunderstood as we’ve moved away from ceremonially seeking the mysteries of the Great Mother Feminine. Why would a contemporary woman think of her body processes as sacred if she’s been encouraged to believe that her moon cycles are a messy inconvenience? And attitudes toward menopause lead us to believe it’s something to be feared, when in fact, it is a powerful and important stage of life, heralding in the onset of deep wisdom and nurturing compassion for family and community. The good news is that women can override this cultural misinformation and experience the miracle of pregnancy consciously and joyously by various practices, such as yoga or meditation. These disciplines focus the mother’s mind and body so that she can more fully participate in the composing of a deeper, more spirituallybased life for herself and for her child-to-be. This can affect the child positively, allowing it to begin growing into what its Soul intends. When the mother is serene and filled with a positive outlook, she is offering her child a foundation of confidence, deep support, and courage that builds strength in this new being even before emergence at birth. One of the most effective ways I know to secure the emotional and spiritual well-being of your child-to-be is by talking to it, not only from mommy to baby, but from Soul to Soul. This

honors the incoming being as evolving and intelligent, who may be more developed than we usually give babies credit for. This practice embodies respect, which does wonders for any relationship, and especially that of parent to child...and later, by example, of child to parent. During the physiological changes in a pregnant woman’s body, her intuitive-instinctual nature is enhanced and even reborn. So it’s a powerful time to meditate and reach levels of awareness that are ordinarily not necessarily available. Using the insights gained in meditation, you can perform rituals sacred to your own spiritual preferences, and engage in physical exercise such as walking, chanting, drumming, and yoga. All of these keep the channels to the sacred open. The actual birthing process is an act of such physical and spiritual intensity that it’s best to create the birthing arena as if it were a symbol of the womb. Protect this magical nest by not allowing others’ attitudes to undermine the power of the experience for you, your child, and your loved ones who are present. Don’t invite in anyone who would trivialize or disregard your deep emotions and intuitions. Your birthing arena should be uninhibited so you can experience everything fully. Keep in mind that the uterine contractions during labor not only open the birth canal, but the heart as well. As a representative of the Divine Feminine, you influence everyone present to experience a deeper level of awareness. You are your child’s model for love and compassion from this moment and throughout her life. Your pregnant body, your emotions, your intuitions, your self, and your child are divine mysteries. Celebrate them!

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Homeopathy for morning sickness by Lauren Feder, MD

vomtiing during pregnancy. I believe it is always best to consult a homeopathic practitioner for relief.

Pulsatilla This remedy is good for morning sickness if you feel worse in the late afternoon/ evening and after eating rich foods. You may also lack thirst, have an aversion to fats, spicy, rich foods (may also crave rich foods). Other conditions: common cold/cough remedy. Sepia For morning sickness/nausea that is worse in the morning. You get nauseous at the smell and sight of food and are sensitive to odors, perfumes. You also may crave vinegar, pickles, sour foods. Other conditions: PMS, vaginitis, cystitis, genital herpes, painful intercourse, varicose veins, hemorrhoids. Ipecacuanha This remedy is helpful for persistent, constant nausea with no relief from vomiting. You may have increased saliva, lasting all day. Your mood is irritable and you feel worse lying down.

Q: I am currently pregnant and have tried countless over-the-counter remedies for nausea. I don’t like the idea of using chemicals and although I have tried ginger, it simply doesn’t work for me. Is there anything else to take that is effective in treating morning sickness and safe for pregnancy?

A: For many women, being pregnant is a major life changing experience. To add to this, feelngs of queasiness, nausea or vomiting can impact a woman for the first trimester and sometimes lasting up to several months thereafter. Fortunately homeopathy has many remedies that could be of great help during this time. The following is a partial list of some of the more commonly used remedies for nausea and

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Nux Vomica This remedy is good when vomiting relieves your symptoms. You may also have vomiting with retching. Your nausea is worse in the morning and your mood is irritable, angry and touchy. Lauren Feder, M.D. specializes in homeopathy, pediatrics and primary care medicine. Known for her holistically minded approach and combining the ‘best of both worlds,’ Dr. Feder is a frequent lecturer for parents and professionals and is the author of Natural Baby and Childcare and The Parents’ Concise Guide to Childhood Vaccinations. DrFeder.com is your resource on homeopathy, holistic medicine and natural parenting information.

practicing happy with Tim Daulter

Tim Daulter is a recovering chemical engineer and management consultant. Currently a father to four great kids, husband to an amazing spouse and Finance Director at Highland Hall Waldorf School, he is the author of the Practicing Happy Blog and offers talks and workshops about the Happiness Workout: timdaulter.wordpress.com I am honored to be a part of the inaugural issue of Bamboo: Conscious Family Living magazine. The focus of this column will be on the “conscious” part of Conscious Family Living. Practicing Happy is an approach to life that is very simple, but incredibly profound. That is, that true happiness and peace are accessible to us only when we are living our passion. This means that none of the other things that our culture defines a s important (money, power, fame, reputation, etc) will bring us true and lasting joy in and of themselves. We all have a very specific goal (or goals) encoded in the DNA of our souls for what it is that we are born to do – the meaning for our particular life. The only true meaning for our life is to figure out what this deeper purpose is and to live it fully and fearlessly. So this means that all of the other things that we worry about (making a living, getting health insurance, gaining the respect of our peers, etc) should not be the end focus of everything that we do, but are what happens along the way to us living out our true destiny. Luckily have a very effective built in mechanism that tells us if we are on the right track, and that is our emotional state. For example, if you feel fulfilled, happy and passionate about your life, then you are in the flow of living the life for which you were born. However, if you feel unfulfilled, depressed or angry, then you are on the wrong track. This seems so simple because it is. However, just because it is simple doesn’t make it easy. For those of us who aren’t on the right track, there are very strong forces that keep us distracted and/or afraid of doing things differently. We have developed very deep subconscious programming, emotional wounds and habitual ways of thinking and acting that tend to keep us where we are

rather than support us changing. I’ve developed a set of exercises that I call the “Happiness Workout” that when practiced every day can provide a gateway to being able to live in your joy and follow your passions. In this issue’s column I will offer a practical tip that you can start with and will expand on it and other aspects of the Happiness Workout in future issues. The first step to making any change is to decide to do it. This sounds ridiculously obvious, but I know from my own experience that there are plenty of times when I knew that I should change something (like the kind of food that I eat) that would be beneficial to me, but I never decide to actually do it. Sometimes this comes from lack of belief that it is possible, but sometimes it comes from some sort of fear about my ability to make the change or live the new way. A simple first step towards living your passion is each morning when you first wake up to say to yourself, “I will live my passion today.” When you do this, make sure that you carry a strong intention to actually make choices and take action during the day that will make this statement true. If you find yourself feeling resistance when you make this statement, then examine it more deeply and change your morning mantra to something like, “I believe that I can live my passion today” or “I am worthy of living in joy”. Once you have truly decided to make this change you immediately begin to see a difference in your life. New opportunities will arise, new people will come into your life, and new worlds will come to your awareness. It will take courage and persistence to look deeply into your own feelings and decide to think differently, but I promise you, it will be worth it.

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in Anni’s conscious kitchen

4 cooking authors offer 4 delicious recipes for a pregnant mama! Being pregnant means eating! You and your growing baby need delicious, healthy food that will satisfy both baby’s development and mama’s cravings. Four top natural and organic cookbook authors come together here to give pregnant mamas a menu they wont be able to refuse!

breakfast Carrie Vitt: Author of Deliciously Organic www.deliciouslyorganic.net photo: alexandra defurio

Tomato Basil Quiche This is a scrumptious and simple-to-prepare quiche. It’s best to use pastured eggs as they contain more carotenes, fat-soluble vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids than conventional eggs. Pastured eggs can be found at your local farmers market, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), or health food store. This quiche can be baked in either a pie dish or a 9-inch tart pan.

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1⁄4 cup (30 gr) shredded mozzarella 1 pie shell, baked and cooled, or baked and cooled in 9-inch tart pan as shown in photograph 3 cups (540 gr) ripe Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced (about 4 tomatoes) 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) fresh basil leaves, slivered 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives 3 large eggs, beaten 1⁄3 cup (80ml) heavy cream 1⁄3 cup (80ml)whole milk 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt 1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions: • Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and adjust rack to middle position. • Sprinkle mozzarella over baked and cooled pie shell. Layer tomatoes, basil, and chives over the cheese. •

Whisk eggs, cream, milk, mustard, sea salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Pour custard over chives and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.

8 ounces soba noodles (1 package), cooked as directions indicate 3 1/2 ounces extra-firm tofu, cut into 1/4-inch cubes 2 scallions, chopped (white and green parts) 1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/4-inch cubes 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons tahini 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 teaspoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Serves 6 Combine the soba noodles, tofu, scallions, cucumber, and cilantro in a medium bowl and toss to combine.

lunch Anna Getty: Author of Anna Getty’s Easy Green Organic www.purestyleliving.com

Instructions: •

To make the dressing, mix the tahini, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, sesame oil, and soy sauce in a small bowl with 2 tablespoons water.

• Mix until creamy and smooth.

Cold Sesame Soba Noodle Salad

• Pour the dressing over the noodles and toss until well coated. • Add the sesame seeds and toss again.

This refreshing salad perfectly meets those pregnancy cravings. It’s great to make ahead and then store in the fridge for up to 4 days. The cucumber is fresh and crunchy and helps with the lessening of water weight we tend to get during the later months of pregnancy, the dressing is creamy but not too high in fat and the amount of tofu is not overwhelming but adds a little bit of needed protein. The cilantro, toasted sesame oil and scallions add great flavor. This recipe is excerpted from my cookbook Anna Getty’s Easy Green Organic.

• Cover the salad and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight before serving.

Serves 6

dinner Anni Daulter: Author of Organically Raised & ICE POP JOY & The Organic Family Cookbook (coming in September) www.bamboofamilymag.com/shop

Grilled Lemon Caper Halibut When I am pregnant, I want comfort food, and this recipe does it for me! Halibut is a light and flakey fish that has a wonderful subtle flavor that lends itself well to a variety of flavor profiles. This recipe is tasty and easy to prepare and goes nicely with a simple spring salad with a vinaigrette dressing. 2 Alaskan halibut fillets 2 whole lemons, squeezed 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced Sea salt & pepper to taste 1 pinch cayenne pepper 1 Tablespoon capers 1 Tablespoon butter

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Instructions: Cooks Note: Halibut is somewhat delicate, so make sure your grill pan is very oiled so it wont stick, because it will fall apart somewhat easily if not. • Heat up your grill pan and oil it well. • Season your fish with lemon, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and cayenne. • Begin cooking fish and add capers and butter to the top. • Flip the fish after about 4 minutes and add more if you like. • The fish should be fully grilled after about 10 minutes. • Add more lemon juice to fish if desired. • Serve with simple green salad.

Serves 4

dessert Elena Rego: Food Practice www.foodpractice.com

Instructions: • Preheat your oven at 400 F

Baked Apples and Ice Cream There is really nothing in the kitchen that smells more like comfort, home and safety then baking apples slathered in cinnamon. I’m really not sure what this is about, but its almost imprinted on us before we are even born... baking apples, like apple pie, always announces that we are home. Pregnancy is like that isn’t it? The nesty, safety of home and the feeling that being nurtured is very much tied into being comfortable, well nourished and in the cocoon of a pleasing environment. A good dish will only add to this feeling and that’s why this dessert fits the bill so perfectly. Not only is it ridiculously yummy in the winter or summer months, but it’s also gluten free, which makes it a plus for mamas that have gluten intolerances. 4 organic Gala or Fuji apples halved crosswise and cored (if these aren’t available in your area, get whichever red apple is the sweetest) 2 tsp. lemon juice 2 tbs dark brown sugar 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1 cup grade B organic maple syrup 1/8 tsp salt 1/2 cup whole raw walnuts

•

After halving and coring the apples, brush with some of the lemon juice to keep from browning. Then arrange apples, cut side up in a baking dish like a corningware dish.

•

Combine cinnamon and brown sugar in a small bowl and mix. Sprinkle them over the apples in the dish, covering as much of the cut apple surface as possible.

•

Pour maple syrup into the bottom of the baking dish, then cover with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Uncover, and bake for another 15 minutes or until apples are soft.

•

Remove apples and place them on a serving dish. Take remainder of lemon juice, salt, and syrup left from the baking dish and pour into a sauce pan. Boil and continually whisk until its reduced to a thick syrup – about 2 minutes. Stir in raw walnuts and then spoon over apples and serve warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Serves 8

photo: elena rego

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spring on the farm by Sara Buscaglia Every time a new season presents itself I proclaim that it’s my favorite! Right now it’s early spring on our small sustainable farm. When I first noticed spring coming on I was hesitant to welcome it, as I always am. It’s hard for me to bid farewell to the slow and restful days of the winter farm. Winter offers our family lots of cherished time together. Time to do the things we love besides farming like art, and music making, learning new things, and for me sewing, spinning and knitting. I cherish every hour of winter. I love her mellow mood, but in no time our days of hibernation come to an end and spring is at our door again. The first sign of spring is the smell. The smell of melted snow and cold wet earth, of mud, manure, and of freshness on the very verge of bursting forth. The smell is invigorating to the redwinged blackbirds. It inspires them to sing their spring song which begins with on little blackbird in the top of the cottonwood tree, followed by hundreds of them welcoming spring in unison. The fusion of spring smell, and spring birdsong triggers something in my brain. It’s a timeless feeling which brings me back to last spring, and the many springs before, and the many more yet to come. It inspires me enough to set my knitting aside and embrace the strong March wind, and just like that the farm work begins. The early spring days are still short in that the light hasn’t fully returned, and this helps our bodies ease back into work mode. We begin in the greenhouses planting salad and spinach and other hardy greens which can germinate in the cold weather. Once the beds of spring greens are planted, we move on to mixing up soil and begin

planting the farms next generation of tomatoes and peppers. As soon as I sink my hands into the soil, my work energy seems to return to me, and I can lovingly say goodbye to winter, and warmly welcome spring. The farm kids never hesitate to say goodbye to winter, they’re wonderful examples of “living in the now”. They don’t hold on to yesterday, they’re not overly concerned with tomorrow, and they’re certainly not bothered by the biting March winds. When planting is complete, the farm boys usually begin to clean out the barn so the Mama goats have a clean place to give birth. They take wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of manure out of the barn and bring it to the compost pile and some of it will be used in their personal gardens. When their gardens are ready for planting, they go through their seeds stashes and plant them. The farm kids know which crops to plant in March and which ones to plant in May and September. They know when their gardens need to be watered and when they might need to dry out a bit. They know how to care for plants and bring them to harvest, and collect seeds for the next generation. The hard

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work and love that they put into their gardens gives them a true appreciation and connectedness to the food that nourishes them, and they find it very rewarding. Nature is an amazing teacher, a more honest teacher you may never find. The fresh new energy of spring is so strong. With fresh life bursting up from the ground and greenhouses, the cute little goat kids hopping around in the barn and escaping from the fences, Mama hens sitting on soon to hatch eggs, and sheep nearly ready for shearing, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surely an exciting time of year. Indeed my favorite season!Sara is a farmer, farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, and Mama to four kids that also love to farm. Sara and her husband Tom own and operate Ancient Future Farm, a small sustainable market farm in Southwest Colorado. Besides farming Sara enjoys homeschooling her kids, sewing clothes for their family, and spinning and knitting the wool from the familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small flock of sheep into garments. farmama.typepad.com

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More Business a film by Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein by Anni Daulter with Ashley Ess A couple of years ago, when the first Business of Being Born film came out, I was so moved and thrilled that Ricki and Abby had made a movie about today’s birthing culture that I wanted to be involved with their movement. I started telling everyone I know to watch the film and support the movie, and then was honored to be a co-producer of the Los Angeles premier of the film. Compelled to explore the subject after the delivery of her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruited filmmaker Abby Epstein to question the way American women have babies. The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights, as well as shocking statistics about the current maternity care system. I sat down with them to find out what inspired them to make the first film and see what they are up to next!

What was the inspiration for The Business of Being Born?

Abby: [The film was inspired by] Ricki’s passion for shedding some light on this childbirth information that’s sorely inaccessible and unavailable to most women. I actually thought we were pretty tame in the film considering some of the information we found, because it’s pretty horrible what’s going on now in a lot of hospitals. Since we released the film, we’ve had so many upsetting emails

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from women all over the country who are so traumatized by their experiences giving birth. A lot of them don’t even realize they were abused or disempowered through the experience in some way until it’s long over. Something sparked it, and all of a sudden they realized they didn’t even know they had these options. We started doing screenings all around the country, and it was clear how much misinformation there was, and how much more the cause needed to be illuminated.

What is your response to those who insist hospital births are far safer than homebirths?

Abby: First and foremost I feel this is a matter of choice. I would never advocate homebirth or even natural birth to any of my friends. I would only advocate they have as informed and empowered a birth as possible. This is a deeply personal choice that couples need to make on their own and it’s none of anyone’s business to tell them what is “safer” or “better.” It’s akin to the abortion issue in the sense that this is a reproductive right, where all mothers should have the right to choose where they feel safest giving birth. The statistics just do not exist to say that hospital birth is safer. In fact, the studies show the opposite – that homebirth is just as safe as hospital birth for low-risk women. So we need to pay attention to the studies that are published in medical and midwifery journals and not use fear tactics and anecdotal evidence to discourage homebirth because it frightens some people or adds competition to the marketplace.

of Being Born What would you like for women to take away from The Business of Being Born?

Ricki: I think Abby and I are both on the same page about this — I want to empower women and educate women so that they can make the best choice for them. We’re not telling women, “Oh, you should do this. I had a home birth so you should too.” I think today’s modern woman needs to know what the true statistics are and what the risks are, both for a natural, unmedicated birth and for a hospital one.

What is next with More Business of Being Born? Ricki and Abby realized that many couples were influenced by The Business of Being Born, but still had more practical questions than they could address in an 85-minute documentary. So in October, 2011 the filmmakers are releasing a new DVD series, More Business of Being Born, that will entertain

and enlighten parents-to-be in the same provocative and humorous style as the original film. More Business of Being Born is a series of four DVDs that begins with Abby and Ricki’s hilarious pilgrimage to pioneer midwife Ina May Gaskin’s celebrated Farm birth center in Tennessee, where the conversation ranges from episiotemy to breech births to “overdue” babies.

The second DVD in the series covers everything you need to know about VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean,) following the stories of several women who attempted VBAC deliveries, including director Abby Epstein. Additionally, the series offers birth-planning guidance around key topics such as the role of doulas, the advantages of birth centers and the alarming escalation of c-section rates in the US and Brazil. And for some birth-spiration, each DVD in the More Business of Being Born series features an intimate birth story told by celebrity women including Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Alanis Morissette, Gisele Bundchen, Molly Ringwald, Melissa Joan Hart, and more. The series concludes with a powerful collection of celebrity birth stories, a candid and compelling celebration of the journey to motherhood that will be eyeopening for a new generation of mothers-to-be.

Doula Resources:

Chiming In:

mana.org

I am very excited to see the footage at The Farm, and see Ina May Gaskin in full swing. I had the fortunate experience of having my first child in a birthing center and all three after that at home. Every birth was empowering and amazing. Feeling like you can accomplish ANYTHING after you have given birth is what I hope every woman experiences with their own birthing.

photo: cristy nielsen

doulanetwork.com doulas.com childbirth.org intuitivedoula.com fullspectrumdoulanetwork.org Midwife Resources: midwiferyzone.com midwiferytoday.com cfmidwifery.org inamay.com Natural Childbirth Resources: mothersnaturally.org naturalbirthandbabycare.com dare-to-give-birth-naturally.com naturallyborn.net birthintobeing.com Special Note: When the DVDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are released, Bamboo will be having a special giveaway to promote the films, by offering the set to a lucky winner!

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The secret formula for creative development.

thoughtsquad.com

increasing birth satisfaction

ten tips to ensure a joyful birth experience by Ana Paula Markel

Through national studies and surveys, we know that women who feel good about their birth experiences are not necessarily the ones who have give birth naturally. Women who feel good about their experience feel they are part of the decision making process. Women remember their birth with satisfaction when they feel they were heard, respected and validated. Now my question is, shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t this be a basic human right? Why are not all women being treated with kindness and compassion? There is a lot about labor and birth that we cannot predict. There are also a lot of options increasing the chances for a joyful birth

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experience. So, what is the recipe? How can a first time mother who has a mind full of to-doâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and who is busy growing a human prepare for a joyful birth? As experienced mothers know, there is nothing rigid about parenting. We, as mothers, are constantly being humbled by circumstances, surprises and the astronomical will our babies have. There are no guarantees that you can have a perfect labor. There are some very important steps, though, that a couple preparing for their first baby can take to ensure a healthy outcome as well as a healthy memory of the lifechanging experience of birth.

1) care provider The most important decision a woman will make is who her care provider will be. The choices are obstetricians, certified nurse midwives that practice in hospitals or midwives with homebirth practices. It is imperative that the mother-to-be feels safe with her care provider. The visits should

“Women birth better when they feel safest” give the mother time to ask questions and, mostly, improve her confidence in her abilities to birth and mother her soon-to-be-born child. During labor and birth, this care provider is the person that will make all final decisions about both mother’s and baby’s health as well as the course of labor.

2) place of birth The location of the birth will highly impact how a woman feels in labor. The options are at a hospital, a birth center or at home. Hospitals vary a lot in policies and protocols. When choosing a hospital it is important to tour the facilities; ask the staff questions about their policies on doulas, monitoring, women’s ability to move in labor, who goes in the O.R.; and any other factor that is important to the mother and her cultural, religious, and personal needs. For a birth center it is also important to tour the facility, meet the staff and also ask people about the center. As for homebirths, there are specific questions that are important when interviewing midwives, such as how many clients they take a month, who is the back up doctor and how it is handled if two people are in labor at the same time. Women birth better where they feel safest! One option is not better than the other. They are simply different.

3) ask questions A woman and her partner should not be afraid to ask questions. It is absolutely normal for a first time mother and partner to have an extensive list. Being open to communication creates a great opportunity for parents-to-be to learn where care providers stand on important topics such as natural birth, epidurals and

breastfeeding.

4) childbirth education and preparation There is an old belief that childbirth education is overrated, outdated and boring. Some even think that by doing internet research, reading books and hiring doulas couples do not need to take a childbirth class. However, there are amazing, contemporary professionals that make childbirth preparation fun, interactive and a very positive experience for parents-to-be. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about birthing options and to reflect and discuss with partners. Couples learn a lot about themselves and each other during a childbirth class. It is also a wonderful chance to meet other couples that have the same questions, worries and joys!

5) selective hearing People love to share tips and advice with a pregnant woman. Although some information may be useful, pregnant mothers need to stay away from bad stories. Each birth experience is unique, each relationship is unique, each child is unique. There is no need to expect that one’s experience will be just like a friend’s, sister’s or mother’s, because it won’t. Each experience is a brand new one -- fresh and neutral.

6) nourishment and exercise Eating well will ensure healthy growth for the baby and well-being of the mother. Also, did you know that one effective way to prevent vaginal tearing is to eat a healthy diet? A skin that is nourished with vitamins and healthy oils will be hydrated, lubricated and stretch beautifully during the baby’s passage. Nourishment is important not only physically but also spiritually and emotionally. Pregnant women need to enjoy this time in their lives. Taking walks, getting massages and pedicures, and gathering with people that are inspiring are wonderful ways to get nourishment. A woman that can exercise will always feel better during pregnancy and more prepared for labor, birth and postpartum recovery.

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Ana Paula Markel is the mother of four children. Having experienced two cesarean births, a medicated vaginal birth and a natural birth (in that order), Ana Paula discovered a passionate interest in the childbirth process. In 2008 Ana found BINI Birth, a center in Los Angeles dedicated to the childbirth education field, doula training and green pregnancy retail. www.binibirth.com

“It is known that women remember their birth experiences for the rest of their lives” Penny Simkin

photo: cristy nielsen

7) fall in love Pregnancy, as well as labor and postpartum, brings a wonderful and beneficial hormone cocktail. Both mother and baby produce and release an array of hormones that induces loving, caring, protective behavior and facilitates bonding. The hormone oxytocin assists the mother and baby to fall in love with each other. It is also contagious, so partners don’t miss on the love fest. It feels wonderful, as it promotes a delightful sense of connection and belonging.

8) doulas Studies have shown that by hiring a doula a mother will decrease chances of unnecessary interventions, thereby improving birth satisfaction. Doulas work directly with the mother-to-be and her family while preparing for the birth, during the birth and after the baby is born. When a couple arrives at a hospital with a doula they send a message of being informed and educated.

9) safety As mammals we birth better where we feel safest. Each mother can explore for herself what makes her feel safe. Who

makes her feel safe? It may be helpful to the mother to think of childhood memories and what she remembers as safe; the sounds, smells and overall atmosphere. The tools we use for coping in life are going to come in handy for labor and the skills we have already developed from childhood will also assist the mother in coping and thriving during labor, birth and postpartum.

10) trust Birth is all about trust. Visits with care providers, time spent sharing dreams and wishes, meeting with doulas, doctors and midwives -- all are part of the journey into parenthood. Couples have the opportunity to reevaluate their own lives, childhood and dreams. This is an opportunity to learn and grow. There is no way to prevent and plan how long labor will last and if you will give birth squatting or in water. There are a lot of things we can plan and a lot that we can’t. This is probably the most beautiful thing about birth: the surrender of embracing the unknown with confidence, nourishment, support and safety.

recommendations book

book reviews What Does It Mean To Be Present by Rana Diorio Little Pickle Press puts out these sweet and thoughtful books for kids that are fun to read and naturally raise their consciousness. This book talks about the importance of appreciation and living in the moment. It is a great book for kids and even a gentle reminder for us moms and dads.

Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross These two authors have teamed up to create a book to help families realize the joys of simple childhoods that are not overwhelmed with busy schedules, consumerism and piles of toys. Payne, a Waldorf educator, helps parents by giving them tips and tools on how to down-size and implement rhythm, peace and creativity into the home. This is a super must have!

These books are now available in the Bamboo Bookshop!

www.bamboofamilymag.com/shop

Ice Pop Joy by Anni Daulter Your kids will savor these delicious ice pops any time of the year! With beautiful photos to entice your taste buds, Ice Pop Joy delivers easy-to-make recipes for deliciously unique frozen treats. You won’t find processed sugars and chemicalladened ingredients here – these pops are created with love and nutrition in mind. The only things hidden in these treats are healthy additions such as tofu, vegetables and herbal tea (yes, tea!). Pops like Rockstar with strawberries and kale, Protein Bar with kidney beans, mango and pineapple, and Goo Goo Ga Ga with yogurt and apples are sure to please even the pickiest eaters.

Birth Matters: A Midwife’s Manifesta by Ina May Gaskin Known as “the mother of authentic midwifery,” Ina May Gaskiin tells the history of midwifery in great and fascinating detail, and helps raise consciousness and confidence in a woman’s ability to birth. Birth Matters is also a call to every woman and man to become educated about the serious deficiencies present in US maternity care and to get involved in creating an environment of tolerance and conscious action. Gaskin weaves fascinating and essential information with enlightening and touching birth stories.

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pregnancy awareness month co-founded by Anna Getty & Alisa Donner

Bamboo sat down with Anna Getty about Pregnancy Awareness Month and was excited to learn about all the new and exciting developments that are evolving with this very important initiative.

What is Pregnancy Awareness Month (PAM) and why did you start it? Pregnancy Awareness Month was founded four years ago with my business partner and cofounder Alisa Donner. The goal of PAM is to both celebrate this special time in a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life (pregnancy) while supporting her and her family with education. The campaign itself lasts the entire month of May and includes four key initiatives, one for each week. Education- week 1, Exercise-Week 2, Nutrition and Wellnessweek 3 and Nurturing- week 4. We chose these key initiatives as we thought them to be very important during our own pregnancies. How does PAM help women? Many women go into pregnancy feeling unsupported and alone. We (Alisa and I) wanted to create a platform where women could create their own community and support each other. We have done this through grass roots events around the country, through our various partnerships and through our online social media network via our blog, online radio shows, Facebook and Twitter. What are your goals with PAM?

supporting pregnant women and their families. I also hope that the women will kind of take over and continue creating one big international community of guidance and support of one another during this sacred time. No woman should ever have to feel alone during pregnancy, birth and motherhood. I hope that every woman can feel confident, uplifted, supported and connected to her own divine inner wisdom. How has it grown over the past three years? This year we have over 10 events around the country as well as amazing contests and giveaways every week through mid-June. In the past few years we have grown from smaller and fewer events and less outreach to a much wider platform. All very exciting. Please check back with www.pregnancyawareness.com frequently to find out about all the fun events and discussions.. Please join our Facebook and Twitter communities. On Twitter we are Pregawareness. On Facebook Pregnancy Awareness Month. Please share!

I would love to see the campaign evolve and grow and truly become the leader in guiding and

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conscious close-up with Ina May Gaskin by Anni Daulter

Why did you want to become a midwife? The birth of my first child in 1966 taught me how crazily unscientific obstetric practice in the US had become. I was forced to have a forceps delivery simply because this was my first baby. Later research taught me that the forceps rate in the US was a shocking 65 percent thenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a fact that was unknown to US women at the time. Dr. Joseph B. DeLee, one of the two most influential obstetricians of the early 20th century, called for every first baby to be delivered by forceps in 1920 (an idea which was considered extremely radical at the time, but because he wrote many textbooks, his recommendation became standard policy before many years had passed). I was struck by the fact that he still had more power while he was lying in his grave than I did as a healthy, living, breathing woman expecting a baby. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fair to say that I was pretty angry about that.

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After the birth of my baby (I had a great labor, by the way, as long as everyone was leaving me alone), I wanted to understand why

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a profession that was regarded as scientific could have made a normal physiological event seem like torture (the delivery room even looked like a medieval torture chamber). About two years later, I heard a couple talk about the planned home birth of their third child. I was too shocked to remember it until I was prompted 25 years later, but I did remember the second, third, and fourth home birth stories that women told me. Every one of these women talked about the ecstatic experiences they had. Hearing those stories made me know that not only would I have any future children at home but that I wanted to be a midwife. A favorite birthing story? My next door neighbor was very small, and her husband was enormous. So was her belly by the end of her first pregnancy, and I had to wonder how she was going to be able to accomplish such an impossibleseeming task. Off she went to what turned out to be her last prenatal visit. She came home with her baby in her arms. “What happened?” I asked her, incredulous that her baby’s birth had already happened. “Well,” she said with a big smile of accomplishment, “the doctor decided that it would be good for him to examine me internally, and that exam started my labor right then and there. My baby was born right there on the examining table twenty minutes

later. I couldn’t even get my socks off!” What is “The Farm” and how long has it existed? The Farm is a community of about 200 people (our peak population during the 1970s was about 1200) that is located in mostly wooded land in central Tennessee. It was founded by my husband, Stephen, and almost 300 young people who had accompanied him on a 5-month lecture tour during the fall and winter of 1970-1971. We were part of the “back to the land” movement that was very widespread during that time, and we, unlike some thousands of other communities started during that time, survived to tell the tale. Regarding technology, we were not Luddites, but we did stand for appropriate use of technology. We noticed that overuse of technology had already caused a lot of problems for the environment and for other species. We thought that living in an appropriate way in the 1970s would give us an opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds: we could recover the wisdom of the past in birthing (for instance) at the same time that we could enjoy the benefits afforded by modern communication and transportation and the ability to get women to hospital quickly whenever complications developed. We were able to learn that most complications could be prevented; we had reason to

transport less than 5% of the women in labor, and less than 2% actually needed cesareans. Education, a good amount of exercise, and good nutrition did the rest. How many midwives do you train every year at the farm / is there a shortage of midwives in the US? There is a great shortage of midwives in the US. This is because this essential profession was virtually eliminated during the first quarter of the 20th century—a social experiment that was a first in recorded human history. Even today, about 60 years into the revival of the midwifery profession in our country, we only have about 8,000 working midwives to serve the maternity care needs of a country of 310 million people. What challenges do women face today with birthing in hospitals? Despite the fact that giving birth in the US is more expensive than anywhere else in the world, our maternity care outcomes do not compare well with those in many other countries. Maternity care here has come to prioritize ways of profiting from birth rather than doing the best job possible of creating and maintaining a maternity care system that is women-centered and produces good outcomes. Yes, neonatal mortality is an important measure, but maternal mortality and morbidity cannot be ignored. We shouldn’t have high

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My favorite comfort foods are… Japanese rice balls and a dish I make with shitake mushroom, goat and ricotta cheeses, and spinach. My passion is…

rates of “near-misses” (women who narrowly missed dying), cases of long-term injury or illness, and we should have high rates of breastfeeding. We have a long way to go to remedy these horrific shortcomings in maternity care. Today’s high cesarean rates speak to some of the challenges that face women giving birth in US hospitals today. As strange as this may sound, relatively few maternity staff members have had the chance to witness a healthy woman’s labor from beginning until end. Lack of chance to witness this biological event from its beginnings until its conclusion—whether during training or everyday experience on the job—means that too few doctors, nurses (and sometimes midwives) have developed the skills necessary to help women during labor. Fear of malpractice litigation has led most hospitals require continuous electronic

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fetal monitoring, a technology that has not proved up on its early promises to greatly reduce neonatal death but has instead been shown to increase the cesarean rate. The difficulty with this is that for EFM to function up to par, the laboring woman usually must remain on her back. This position creates a more painful and less efficient labor than that which a woman can experience when she is able to move about freely during labor. Women who have a good understanding of how their bodies work, who are healthy and well informed, and who have a doula beside them have the best chance of overcoming the challenges that I have outlined above. Get to know Ina personally… My favorite place to re-juvinate myself is… My garden.

Teaching women to respect their bodies and teaching men of the ways in which women really do need protection, and teaching medical professionals about sphincter law and certain ingenious ideas and techniques that they could learn from indigenous peoples around the world. My all time favorite book is… Huckleberry Finn. My hero / heroine is… Mrs. Margaret Charles Smith, author of Listen to Me Good: The Story of an Alabama Midwife, Dr. Tadashi Yoshimura of Okazaki City, Japan, and Dr. Alfred Rockenschaub of Vienna, Austria. My own life quote would be…. Never stop learning and never give up.

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