Home Grown by HomeGrown Parenting in the North

HOME GROWN Parenting in the North

Liz Lott Of Snapdragon Photography

March 2012 - Issue #8 Volume 2

Interview with

705.264.0232 136 Claimpost Trail Schumacher Timmins On 2 www.sweetface.ca

Dry mornings are happy mornings. Wake up happy with Barnyard Bummz available at Sweet Face

Inside: ZEN ZONE

Pg 11

Sew Simply

Pg 14 -17

If all else fails.... just breath

the crayon sushi roll

Lady of the House

Pg 18-19

10 ways to encourage moms

Bellies&Babies

Pg 32-33

What is a doula?

Attached Mama

Pg 22-23

Are your children good?

GTop TenAPg 25

Product Review

Pg 40-41

Ginger Bombs

Songs to keep things shaking

TAX TIPS

Pg 26-27

Children's fitness credit, Medical expense credit

HOME GROWN Parenting in the North

A FREE Magazine For Northern Parents Make Sure You Never Miss An Issue http://eepurl.com/e8ktY

Would You Like to Advertise in

HOME GROWN Parenting in the North

We Offer Inexpensive Options And A Growing Readership Throughout The North Two Page Spread Available Great Deals on Full Page Ads 1/2 Page 1/4 Page E-mail info.homegrown@gmail.com For more information. 5

Interview With

Pg 36-39

Elizabeth Ann May Lott Double Check !

Pg 42

Children's routine

Living Green:

Pg 44-45

Upcycled - the old is new again

KIDZ KORNER

Pg 46-48

St Patrick’s Day activities

N atures Recipes

Pg 49

Make your own finger paint

Art On Ice

Pg 50-51

Birth Announcement Wall

Pg 52

Photo’s From our Readers

Pg 53

A Northern Birth Story

Pg 56-57

LITTLE LAMB IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE ITS NEWEST ARRIVAL!!

Little Lamb is proud to announce the arrival of our new on-line store, born March 1, 2012! Now order all of your favourite baby products and have them delivered right to your door!

Visitors are welcome to visit the new arrival at www.littlelamb.ca Mention this ad and receive 10% off all purchases for the month of March!

264 Third Avenue Timmins, ON P4N 6P3

705-264-2225

www.littlelamb.ca

Editors Notes Signs of Spring

We can tell by the longer days that spring is almost here. The cold weather, tall snowbanks, and dark evenings are sure to disappear shortly. Soon we will be turning our clocks forward (March 11th at 2am) and be packing our picnic baskets for an afternoon outside. We hope you enjoy this issue, as we spent our time putting it together for you. Be sure to check out the birth story at the end of the magazine, Rachel is inspiring as well as a strong woman. Thank-you Rachel for submitting your story, I’m sure you will move many women. Happy St. Patricks Day Everyone! -Kayleigh May p.s please feel free to e-mail us photo’s or story’s for us to publish.

Kayleigh May, As a Photographer, Mother, Wife, and the Editor of Homegrown- Parenting in the North. Kayleigh has many hobbies that include sewing, writing, photography and running after her two young boys.

Editor in Chief : Kayleigh May De Cecco Editor: Chantal Warren

Writers Top Ten - Christine South Christine.homegrown@gmail.com Lady of the House - Julie-Anne Mauno Julieanne.homegrown@gmail.com Living Green - Chantal Warren Chantal.homegrown@gmail.com Attached Mama - Sarah Blackwell sblackwell@cogeco.ca

Love And Learning - Tessa Morrissette Tessa.homegrown@gmail.com Sew Simply -Pamela Pilon pamelapilon.homegrown@gmail.com Bellies and Babies - Kayleigh May De Cecco Kayleighmay.homegrown@gmail.com

Interested in writing? Here at Home Grown we are always looking for Writers. If you have an interesting topic that you think would benefit the magazine please e-mail either Kayleigh May or Chantal and we will be happy to review your idea.

Meet This Months Writers Chantal is an eco-conscious entrepreneur who splits her time between being a mom

to two and operating a natural baby boutique in the City of Timmins. Her desires to live a more natural life have provided her the knowledge, experience and contacts to

reduce her family’s carbon footprint on the planet.

Chantal Warren Editor

Julie-Anne is a stay-at-home mom to six beautiful children in rural Northern Ontario. Her adventures include large family mothering, homeschooling, and rural living. As an experienced childbirth educator and doula, she desires to encourage other mothers, especially through the childbearing years. She also writes at www.fruitfulvines.blogspot.com.

Julie-Anne Mauno Pamela is a mom of one who juggles her work as a Graphic Designer with

her hobby as a seamstress. She is the face behind Bibmababy - an

online boutique that brings chic, funky and unique styles to babies and toddlers.

Pamela Pilon

Sarah Blackwell, M.H.S., B.A. (CYC) is a Parenting Consultant who lives in North Bay with her partner and 3 children. Sarah is a trained facilitator of the Make the Connection parenting class series and oﬀers parenting classes, support circles, and individual parent coaching based on an approach to parenting that empowers both children and parents. Sarah is an activist, child advocate, homeschooling mother, breastfeeding advocate, knitter and yogi.

Sarah Blackwell Christine South is a married mother of four beautiful children, She is a qualiﬁed teacher and works occasionally with the NCDSB in Timmins. She spends most of her time with he family enjoying the roller coaster ride of being a mother. Her husband works out of town as a mechanic 4 weeks at a time so she holds down the fort at home, juggling a 9 year old, a 5 year old a 2 year old,

Christine South

as well as a newborn. If there is one thing this lady is good at, it is multi-tasking

Should have used a bib.

Available online and at Sweet Face

www.bibmababy.com use code

HOMEGROWN

for 10% off

ZEN

ZONE

Meditations by: Natalie Rocheleau

If all else fails... just breath The importance of breathing is something that we have forgotten about. As we’ve grown into the people we are today many things have shaped us and how we deal with situations, including how we breathe. The majority of people breathe shallow, short quick and incomplete breaths. By breathing shallow, short and incompletely, various conditions can arise such as anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, sleep apnea, fatigue and constipation (just to name a few). Long Deep Breathing (LDB) is a wonderful way to bring awareness back to your breath. To practice LDB sit in a comfortable position either on the floor or on a chair. (If you are on a chair, make sure your feet are flat on the ground). Elongate your spine, relax your shoulders and relax your jaw. Begin breathing naturally and just take note of how you are breathing. Now begin to inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. Exhale slowly and completely through your nose. LDB is done always through the nose, however if you have a stuffed nose then it’s okay to breathe through your mouth but keep trying through the nose. As you inhale through your nose, imagine that you have a red balloon in your stomach that is inflating as you inhale. Your abdomen will expand/protrude on the inhale, filling up your lower lungs with air moving upwards to your upper lungs. As you exhale though your nose, imagine the red balloon is deflating, first by the air escaping your lower lungs then finally your upper lungs. This technique is also knows as a 3 part breath. Practice this Long Deep Breathing any chance you get. If you’re at work or home with the kids and you feel like you are about to have an outburst of frustration, anger or emotion, remind yourself to come back to your breathing. Slow it down, lengthen it and practice Long Deep Breathing…it can save you from overreacting in all sorts of situations. *LDB is a great technique to practice with your baby (right from birth), children, family and friends.

Join us on Friday March 30th @ 12pm for open house Northern Lotus Yoga Studio will officially open it's doors March 26.

1 705.465.5432 46 Pine Street South, Suite 3, Timmins, ON P4N 2J8

Sew Simply by: Pamela Pilon

Crayon Sushi Roll Tutorial

HG What you Need

Throw away the ratty boxes and keep these art sticks neat and organized. Great for throwing in your purse, in the car or tucked away in your art box at home.

2 x 0.5 meter of coordinating fabrics 0.5 meter of flannel (or Pellon fusible fleece) 1 coordinating hair elastic 1 button Needle and thread Disappearing ink fabric marker 15 crayons Home Grown - Parenting in the North

Sew Simply by: Pamela Pilon

1. Cut out all 4 pieces of fabric: • 2 pieces for “Outside” and “inside” – 5″ x 16 1/2″ • 1 piece for “Pocket” – 6″ x 16 1/2″ • 1 piece for “Lining” – 5″ x 16 1/2″ 2. Fold “Pocket” fabric in half lengthwise and iron flat. 3. Lay out “Lining” and place “Inside” on top with wrong side down. Note: If using fusible, iron by following instructions of package. 4.Add “Pocket” on top of the sandwich, lining up all bottom edges. 5.Pin at the both ends. 6.Mark the mid-point of the pocket with a fabric marker. 7. Use a straight edge and mark the middle line. 8. Draw a line at every inch, working from the middle out.

Sew Simply by: Pamela Pilon

9. Straight-Stitch your drawn lines only on the “Pocket”. Don’t stitch the edges yet. Make sure to backstitch for durability! 10.Clip any loose threads. 11.Stitch down elastic on the right edge of the crayon roll, between the “Pocket” and “Inside” fabric panel. Make sure to stitch over the elastic several times to ensure its placement. 12.Lay the panels right sides together and pin in place. Note: Make sure to tuck the elastic inside both panels as to not accidently stitch it to the outside of the crayon roll. 13.Stitch with a ¼ inch seam, starting at the end without the elastic and leaving a 3 inch opening to allow you to turn the roll right side out. 14.Clip your corners. 15.Turn right side out and poke out corners.

Sew Simply

by: Pamela Pilon

16.Press all the edges flat and tuck in the edges of the opening. Note: if your marker pen locks in with an iron, wet the pen marks first to allow them to disappear before you iron. 17. Hand stitch the hole closed. 18.Topstitch at Âź inch seam for a clean, finished look. 19.Add crayons into pockets. 20.Roll your project closed and gently stretch the elastic to where a button should be placed. Mark the area to allow for button placement. 21.Firmly attach a button. 22. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re done! 23.

Lady of the House 10 ways to encourage moms

By Julie-Anne Mauno

Being a mom is one of the most timeintensive, energy-demanding, lonelyhearted seasons in a woman’s life. I’ve often thought what a difference we could make if we encouraged each other just a little bit more! Not only does giving and reaching out to others feel great, it also teaches our children by example to live a giving, generous, and less self-focused life! So, don’t wait until your children are all grown to help out a mom in need. We can all make a difference in our mom-friends’ lives now! Here are some practical ideas on how we can reach out to each other! 1>>Give her the gift of Food! Food is an amazing way to bless moms! There are times of need like when a mom is sick or just had a baby. Maybe she’s had surgery or is caring for a family member who is not well. In times like these, setting up a Meal Train can be an incredible support to a mom! But, don’t wait for a special need to give some edible love! A good habit to start is to double some of your casseroles or muffin batches and store the extra dish or baking in the freezer. Then, you’ve always

got a meal or some goodies to share with another mom! Imagine your friend coming over with a casserole for you for supper (or a dozen muffins just as you’re running out of snacks for the kids) just because she wanted to bless you! (A great resource for setting up a Meal Train with friends and family for a mom in need can be found at: www.mealtrain.com) 2>>Offer help with Childcare! Finding and paying for babysitting can be a huge burden on a family. Not everyone has a grandma just down the street always willing to come over and watch little ones. There is so much potential for blessings when helping each other with childcare. I’ve heard of moms taking turns watching each other’s children so they could run errands and buy groceries. Another great idea is offering each other a date night once in a while. Many parents of young children rarely get to go out alone on a date! Giving parents this special time is a great way to invest in each other’s families. 3>>Don’t stress over her mess! Many times I’ve had people come over who have commented on a my child’s pockets

Lady of the House 10 ways to encourage moms

sticking out of his pants, or a mess one of my little boys left on the toilet seat or a runny nose that didn’t get wiped right away. If you want to be a blessing to a mom, look past all those details and IGNORE them. Don’t point them out to her. She already knows about them! 4>>Love her for her! These days there is so much information on what kind of mother we should be. There are different “styles” of mothering and different social groups for each style. As if the pressure we as a society puts on each other wasn’t enough, you’ll find that the older generation has plenty of opinions on what moms should be like too. If you want your visit or phone call with your mom-friends to be an encouraging and refreshing time for her, all you need to do is accept her for who she is and resist the urge to give her advice or correct her. Like most moms, she probably already knows her faults. We are all still learning. She doesn’t need to be under your microscope! Propose to be one of those friends who is uplifting and nonjudgemental. 5>>Get to know her! Everyone is wired differently. And, everyone has a different love language. For some, it’s practical help that really makes the difference. Others

would rather sit with you and chat over a cup of coffee. For another mom, it might be a hug and just providing some emotional support. Or, it might be a word of encouragement or affirmation! When we get to know each other, we learn each other’s love languages and we can truly be a blessing to each other. I remember going to a friend’s home and offering to wash her dishes. While one of my love languages is practical help, I soon found out that hers is spending quality time with loved ones. Now, when we get together, we might do some things together like prepare food or tend to the children but we often let the dishes sit and enjoy each other’s company over tea! 6>>Fill a gap. Meet her need! If you’re good at something that one of your momfriends isn’t good at, offer to help her with it. For example, she might not be good at sewing while you might be a pro. You can offer to do some mending for her or help her sew those curtains that she’s been talking about getting done for months now! Or maybe you could help her plant some seeds for her greenhouse or share ideas for decorating her living room! We all have gifts and talents we can share.

Lady of the House

10 ways to encourage moms

7>>Don’t compare yourself to her! Every mom has her own unique circumstances that she has to live with. Some moms might have lots of family nearby, others might be quite isolated. Some moms might have a partner who helps out with housework quite a bit and others might bear that load alone. Some might be dealing with illness or financial pressure. I have a friend whose husband does all the laundry. Another friend’s husband washes most of the dishes and enjoys tidying the house. Their reality is very different from mine. On the other hand, my husband (whose love language is gifts) loves to buy me beautiful things and blesses me with gifts like a new dress for mother’s day or a pair of expensive winter boots so I can have both syle and warmth! Many of my friends have shared that they wish their husbands would buy them gifts and I have wished my husband would help me with laundry! In the end, we should all strive to be content with what we have and stop comparing ourselves.

9>>Take chances! I recently became friends with another mom who has a farm and loves horses. I, personally, don’t love horses. Although we clicked right away, at first I was a bit hesitant. I kept thinking, I really want this new friendship but I don’t like horses and she’s passionate about horses! Maybe it can’t work out. Then I heard someone share how they look for friendships with people who are different from them because they find it’s so enriching and it provides so many opportunities to learn new things from each other! I realized how silly my apprehension was! I could learn SO much from this new friend. As it turns out, we have become very close and I can’t imagine life without her friendship. I can already think of ways in which we have learned from each other and helped enrich each other’s lives! It’s worth it to take chances and offer your friendship to another mom who might be different from you. Life can be so boring if we only stick with people who are just like us!

8>>Don’t impose your beliefs on her. Live by example! Maybe you believe in breastfeeding and your mom-friend bottle feeds. Or maybe you cook everything from scratch while another mom relies more on processed foods. Maybe you practice babywearing and your friend uses a stroller. Whatever your convictions, don’t push them on your mom-friends. Just live out your choices with contentment and grace. Only then can you be a positive influence on others.

10>>Be an ENCOURAGER! I hope you’ll make a personal commitment to become an ENCOURAGER to all your mom-friends. We need each other. We can enrich each other’s lives simply by helping each other out in small ways, by overlooking each other’s faults and by fostering a more giving lifestyle. It’s the only way to live!

Attached Mama

Are your Children Good?

By: Sarah A. Blackwell, M.H.S., B.A. (CYC)

Attached Mama Are your Children Good?

Every parent wants well behaved children. Whether your children are babies, toddlers or teenagers we have a vision in mind of what defines a ‘good’ or well behaved child. Do you recall being asked if your newborn was a ‘good baby’? I sure do! I was often confused with the question the first few times I was asked. I thought to myself, “of course my baby is good, she is a baby, how can she be bad?” But now, after 3 children, I realize that when grandparents, strangers and other parents ask this question there are some underlying meanings. What people generally want to know is if the baby sleeps well, does not cry and generally is not fussy. The same holds true as children grow older and more people are involved with their upbringing and assess their behaviour in comparison to their peers. Have you ever stopped to reflect on the type of adult you want your child to grow up to be? What are your long-term goals for your children? What type of husband or wife do you want them to be? Alfie Kohn has asked similar questions to parents all over the world and concludes that most parents want to raise self reliant, responsible, socially skilled, caring children. In addition, parents want their children to willingly question and think in a creative and critical way, to be confident with unshakable faith in their own worth, but also be open to criticism and new ideas. In my parenting sessions, I will ask parents to make a list of goals for their children, and keep it handy or post it

somewhere they can see it. This type of list whether, mental or written down or posted in an iPod, serves as a good reminder when it comes to talking about discipline. All parents are challenged to find the best possible solution when their child misbehaves. It is not an easy thing to achieve, especially since parents are required to think very quickly on their feet, and often are running short on time. Parents are bombarded with opinions about how to discipline a child, whether it’s in magazines or extended family members that offer their opinions on how you should deal with your child’s negative behaviour. What most parents get confused about is that discipline needs to ultimately help you and your child reach the values and goals you want for your child. Often, parents get caught up in the latest research or a certain religious viewpoint or extended family members viewpoint on how children should behave, as well as, how they should be disciplined. I post this question for you to examine. What are the underlying values you wish to teach your child through discipline? Are you dealing with your children’s negative behaviour in a way that will help you reach the long term goals and values you have already thought about? As a parent, you must be clear if you want the discipline measure you use to achieve short term compliance from your children (obedience), or if you want it to teach the values that will help achieve the long term

Attached Mama Are your Children Good? goals you have set. The next time your child (toddler, preschooler, pre-teen or teenager) does something that would usually elicit your regular routine of discipline, you can ask yourself these 3 questions. Will my (insert use of discipline) result in the ultimate goal of my child becoming a caring, compassionate adult? Will my (insert use of discipline) teach my child how to become self reliant? Will this disciplinary measure teach my child to be confident in their own abilities? Will the relationship between my child and I remain intact and based on mutual respect, love and security afterward? There are no shortcuts to creating the leaders we want our children to grow up to be. When it comes to discipline, these three questions

may make our jobs as parents seem more difficult, but it will pay off in the long run. A discipline measure that is carefully considered and not simply reactionary will build our children into caring, compassionate self reliant members of society. So the next time someone asks you if you have a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;goodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; baby or child, or makes a comment about your child misbehaving in school, you may want to really think about what the question means to you. You may want to take fifteen minutes to write down the values and goals you want your disciplinary actions to teach your child. It may be the hardest fifteen minutes of your life, or the easiest, but either way your child deserves it and will appreciate the efforts you are making in becoming a better parent.

GTop TenA Songs to Keep Things Shakin’

By Christine South

Whether you are having a dance party in your kitchen before dinner, or you are running on a treadmill, or just tidying up around the house…music is one of the best ways to keep your body moving! It can keep you motivated, elevate your mood and aid in shedding those added pounds that can sneak up on you in the cold winter months. Here are some songs from all genres to add to your collection and get you moving in the right direction!

A J 10. Leann Rimes – Nothin’ Better to Do 9. Madonna - Vogue

8. Destiny’s Child – Bootylicious

7. Shania Twain Featuring Billy Currintion – Party for Two

6. C & C Music Factory – Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) 5. LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem 4. B52’s - Loveshack

3. David Guetta Featuring Nicki Minaj – Turn Me On 2. The Black Eyed Peas – My Humps 1. Pitbull – I Know You Want Me

TAX TIPS:

by: Suzanne Lafond

Children's Fitness Credit

Get the Kids Active and Claim a Tax Credit. Parents can get a little tax credit for their active children. The Children’s Fitness Credit is a non-refundable credit and allows parents to claim a maximum of $500 paid towards an eligible program. The cost covers registration for each child under the age of 16. It does not cover the costs of things such as equipment or travel expenses. An eligible program is defined by Canada Revenue Agency as “an ongoing, supervised program, suitable for children, in which substantially all of the activities undertaken include a significant amount of physical activity that contribute to the cardio-respiratory endurance, plus one or more of muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and balance.” Or simply, your kid needs to sweat for the activity to qualify. The program must last at least eight weeks at a minimum of one session per week. For children under the age of 10, the session needs to last at least 30 minutes. For children 10 – 16, the activity must last an hour. Children with disabilities are eligible for an additional $500 credit up to the age of 18, provided that a minimum of $100 is paid for an eligible fitness program. The additional credit takes into account the extra costs that children with disabilities encounter when they become involved in programs of physical activity such as specialized equipment, transportation and attendant care. It is important to obtain a tax receipt from the organization that provides the programs.

Fields of Wisdom

Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning Expanding Human Potential through Way of the Horse For Centuries, this majestic and powerful animal has existed in relationship with humans, and like so many of us, we have always been in awe of their beauty, grace and mystical wisdom. Fields of Wisdom is a place that allows for profound inner healing, personal growth and leadership through the heart centered interactions of humans and horses. This supportive and transformational process of working with the horses enables you to:         

Learn the art of active listening and non-verbal communication To gain a healthy sense of self Deepen the connection to your own body's intelligence and inner wisdom Understand the messages behind your emotions Enhance self –awareness, self -esteem and deepen your intuition Set healthy boundaries Deepen and improve relationships through heart centered interactions Learn the art of being present and the power of being in the moment Improve leadership skills and abilities. We provide private sessions or group workshops for youth and adults of all ages. Visit www.fieldsofwisdom.com, email Jackie@fieldsofwisdom.com or call Jackie at 705-267-2587 for further information on our programs.

TAX TIPS:

by: Suzanne Lafond

Medical Expenses Credit

Claiming medical expenses, on your tax return, may provide a substantial tax savings. Medical expenses cover a wide range of healthcare related costs such as: •

Pharmaceutical prescriptions

•

Eye exams, glasses and/or contact lenses

•

Dental and orthodontic work

•

Chiropractic costs

•

Hearing aids and their replacement batteries

•

Massage therapy

•

Medical travel insurance

•

Medical plan deductibles

The list is extensive so it is worth checking before you throw away receipts that could be valuable. To claim medical expenses, the total costs must exceed three percent (3%) of your net income and only the portion that exceeds your net income is claimed. Example: if your net income is $30,000, your medical expenses have to exceed $900 ($30,000 x 3%) and you can only claim the expenses over $900. Taxpayers may claim qualifying medical expenses they paid in the taxation year, or in any period of twelve months ending in the taxation year. Any twelve-month period ending in the year may be selected to determine the most advantageous total for medical expenses. This could mean reporting expenses from June 2008 to May 2009 to give you the largest total to claim. Even if you have medical or dental insurance that reimburses you for your health costs, you can still claim the portion of expenses that the insurance plan does not cover. And the premiums you pay for private health insurance, like that which is deducted directly from your paycheque, can also be included as a medical expense.

All Things That Grow% Photography( By Kayleigh May

28www.allthingsthatgrow.smugmug.com

E-Mail: dececco.km@gmail.com

W E N

Watch Baby Grow Plan

$200.00

Includes: 4 one hour photo sessions with one 8x10 print from each session, and an 8x8 storyboard print.. Session 1 - three months old Session 2 - six months old Session 3 - nine months old Session 4 - one year old.

All additional prints sold separately Offer does not include newborn sessions. Limited time offer. Payment must be made in full.

All Things That Grow% Photography( By Kayleigh May

Miracle in serenity doula services will be hosting a free screening on Monday march 26th at 6:30 pm Location: the Child & Family Services of Timmins & District building 707 Ross Avenue East Timmins ON P4N 8R1 (in front of the Timmins Hospital), ( main entrance)

Bellies & Babies Hiring A Doula

What is a Doula What is a doula? This is a very common question. A doula pronounced /doo-la/ is a professional woman who will help provide emotional, physical, and informational support for the expectant, labouring, or postpartum mother. Types of Doula’s Antepartum doula: the antepartum doula is there for you during your pregnancy, helping you with household chores, she may have a lending library, as well as tips for a smooth pregnancy.

discuss your expectations and options for the birth. A labour doula is not there to replace the father/partner. she is there to help the father participate in the birth to the extent that he will feel most comfortable. Some labour doulas provide other services, such as photography, writing out the birth story, massage. Find the doula that is right for you.

Postpartum doula: the postpartum doula is a support for mothers after they have had the baby. She may help the mother by doing laundry, light Labour doula: the labour doula housework, making meals, or is the doula that is most entertaining older siblings. She common. She will be there while can help with breastfeeding, you are in labour, she will often demonstrating newborn care arrive before the midwife/ such as bathing the newborn. A doctor. A labour doula is great to postpartum doula is especially hire whether you have a planned good for those moms who have c-section, want to labour had a c-section and won’t have naturally, or want medication their partners at home. during labour. She will meet with you before your due date to

Why Hire a Labour Doula? Doulas have been at births before, they work for the parents. A doula will make your birth experience as comfortable as possible. women who hire doulas are (according to Hodnett and colleagues 2011).; • • • •

28% less likely to have a cesarean section 31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to speed up labor 9% less likely to use any pain medication 34% less like to rate their childbirth experience negatively.

http://childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10174 The Doula Advantage - Rachel Gurevich Home Grown - Parenting in the North

Bellies&Babies

Top 12 Reasons to Hire a Doula 1. You want a natural home birth, with no medical or unnecessary interventions. 2. You are having a c-section and want some additional support when you come out of recovery with breastfeeding. 3. You want someone who can help the father/partner participate fully in the birth. 4. You want someone who is knowledgable and about birth to ask questions to, who can explain your options without bias. 5. You want someone who respects your birth plan present. 6. You want someone who can advocate for your wishes present. 7. You have had a previous negative or traumatic experience in birth. 8. You want someone who can help you manage the pain during labour. 9. You are a single mother, or has a partner who works out of town. (i.e. partners who work in the mine on a fly-in, fly-out schedule may not be able to make the birth) 10.You want a positive birth experience. 11.This is your first birth and you have fears and concerns. 12.You have read about how doulas can benefit your birth experience and want one present.

For more information about Doulas be sure to check out the free screening of the movie DOULA!

Find Northern Doulas on Facebook

FACEBOOK Home Grown - Parenting in the North

Childbirth Resources S

Other

Movies The Business of Being Born Gentle Birth Choices Websites Books

Husband-Coached Childbirth - Robert A. Bradley, MD Natural Childbirth the Bradley® Way Susan McCutcheon Active Birth The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally - Janet Balaskas Your Best Birth- Rikki Lake and Abby Epstein Gentle Birth Choices - Barbara Harper R.N. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin Silent Knife - Nancy Wainer Cohen

www.inamay.com http://www.mybestbirth.com http://spinningbabies.com/ http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/ http://www.choicesinchildbirth.org/ choices/birth/labor www.powertopush.ca Local Doulas

Kayleigh De Ceccodececco.km@gmail.com Julie-Anne Mauno ramoredoula@yahoo.ca Karine Hayes doula.info@miracleinserenity.com

Bailey Kasner kasner.bailey@yahoo.com Sherri-Pearce Matthewsbirthservices@gmail.com

•

ICAN

•

The Unnecesarean

•

I had a VBAC in Canada

• •

Your Birth Coach Dr. Nancy Birth Source Inc.

Save 2 tons with Cloth D Diapers: iapers: A ton of waste from landfills & A ton of Cash

Visit our booth at the

Timmins Square March 8th - 10th www.sweetface.ca

E lizabeth Ann May Lott

Home Town: Powassan, ON What is your favourite thing about living in the North? Living in such close proximity to lakes, rivers, forests - the incredible and inspiring northern wilderness.

fashion, accessories, art and eco goods. The space has also a studio area equipped with large tables where members of the collective create goods on the premises. What locally made products can we expect to find at the FARM? Clothing, jewelry, leather handbags, knitted goods, pottery, herbal tea, paintings, drawings, woodworking, textiles and home decor. You are also a wonderfully creative photographer, what is your favourite thing about taking pictures? Oh, thank you!!! That’s a great question! I think my favourite thing about taking pictures is connecting with people and families during my session time and then capturing the individual uniqueness or familial connections between people - the Love, I suppose! This, in turn, makes people pretty pleased with the results and I find this incredibly fulfilling.

Work: What is your day job? It really depends on the day. My main job is my photography business, Snapdragon Photography, then one or two days a week I work at the Farm, a shop located in the heart of downtown North Bay. You started one of the first eco boutiques in North Bay, what drew you to opening Hibou? A long time friend, Christine Charette moved back to North Bay and it was actually her idea - to open a shop. Be both created products, had lots of experience selling our goods at craft sales and farmer’s markets, and had a passion for the environment. We put our heads together and Hibou Boutique was born in June of 2007. In the spring of 2009 I became sole proprietor, then in the fall of 2010 Hibou Boutique moved into the Farm.

What are some of the number one product at the shop? Our handmade soap by Simply Suds - made right here in North Bay, then also our locally made clothing and accessories. Can you explain what the FARM is? The F.A.R.M. stands for Fashion Art Retail Market. It is a unique retail space and collective that celebrates both local and Canadian made

When did you decide that this art form was more than just a pastime? I’d say through taking pictures of my newborn son, Tobin. My camera, which I had purchased for doing art documentation of my paintings and drawings, quickly became an important tool for documenting his life and his growth. I likely took far more images than a normal mom, as he had a challenging start as a newborn. At two and a half months old, he became a cancer survivor. It was a surreal and very frightening experience. Taking photos of him was not just an important visual recording tool, but also a creative outlet for me at a time of incredible stress and worry.

You have been asked by a lot of people to teach them about photography, what is a tip you can share with budding photographers? Photograph what you love and your own unique style will shine through. What other projects do you have on the go right now? A few of them are; developing my downtown photography studio space more, helping L’Arche North Bay day programme clients develop a line of pendants to raise money for their programmes and also creating new hand painted, hand thrown pottery pieces. You are a major supporter of local artists, why is it so important to you? I strongly believe that both the arts and artists, are essential to a healthy and happy society. People have a primal need to express themselves and art is an important vehicle of expression. I support local artists specifically because our local artists are an important voice, a voice of our local beauty, our local stories and our local experiences. Do you want to give a shout out to some of your favourites? Visual artists; David Carlin, Jaymie Lathem, Roberta Haviland, Dennis Geden and Lawrence Nickle.

Family: What is the makeup of your family? I am predominantly a single parent involved in a long distance relationship. I have a great and positive relationship with Tobin’s father, his partner and their 1 year old son, Noah. Tobin has two loving homes, just 4 blocks separate them. Tobin stays with me 1/2 to 3/4 of the week. What ‘style’ of parent would you say you are? I’m a really involved parent who practiced the attached parenting approach when my son was a baby. My son is a healthy, happy eleven year old who loves life and to have fun. How do you help your son deal with peer pressure? What would be the most important life lesson that you wish for your son to walk away with? That life is what you make it and to always believe in yourself, no matter what. How does having a child that had cancer, affect you as a parent? To this day, I still find it strange and almost unbelievable that Tobin had cancer. I would say that I am more careful about his diet. I always choose organic foods over non organic, and as local as possible. I am even more environmentally

conscious and have done activism work with his health as a motivator. One example is presenting to the mayor and city councillors about the dangers and cancer causing links of pesticide use and lobbied to have a bylaw established for cosmetic use of pesticides within the city. Also, I'm very careful about what kinds of sports he engages in, as he only has one kidney.

Other: If you could meet any person, past or present, who would it be and why? Hmm...likely Mahatma Gandhi. Through strength, gentleness and wisdom, he helped to change the world and continues to inspire countless people to this day. His quote is one of my favourites: “Be the change that you want to see in this world.”I did luckily get to visit Ghandi's ashram (now a

What are some activities that you and Tobin enjoy doing as a family? We love to read, cross country ski, travel - especially to natural, wild and exotic places, canoeing, camping and doing art. Tobin has recently debuted in his first stage production.

museum) in Ahmedabad, India though! While I was looking through a door window into his bedroom there, a museum staff person threw me the keys so that I could enter his room! That was quite a special experience!!

What benefits do you believe the arts provide kids? A strong sense of self and instilling confidence. Do you have any tips for parents who are looking to live a more natural lifestyle with their children? Just making the time to enjoy the more simple things in life; walking, singing, laughing, eating/growing simple fresh foods (local if possible), exercising and being silly! What benefits do you think you`re giving your son by living in the North? Fresher air (I hope!), smaller, closer knit communities, access to a smaller community school, closer to nature and to family.

Who inspires you? Locally, Brennain Lloyd, Peggy Walsh Craig, Murray Sweetman and Harriet Madigan. Individuals who work hard to change the world in a positive way. Why? Because there are many challenges and injustices in the world, both human and environmental and people have the power to make a difference, to change things for the better. Have you read any good books lately that you’d recommend? I just started “Your Money or Your Life“ by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez and it’s really good!

Product Review GINGER BOMBS. By: Kayleigh May De Cecco

As a stay at home working mom, I understand the need to support other stay at home working mothers. These are women who work twice as hard to help bring in a little income to support their family as well as a little extra that will allow them to stay at home and raise their own children.

Home Grown- Parenting in the North

I recently found a product called Ginger Bombs; Ginger Bombs are bath bombs made in Timmins by Mary-Anne Pratt. She handmakes each Ginger Bomb in her home, and sells them online, from her home, and in various locations around Timmins.

Product Review Being homemade we know that the products are going to be less processed, less chemical, and way more natural. My personal favorite Ginger Bomb, First Kiss, ingredients are listed as : olive oil, baking soda, citric acid, shea butter, jasmine, patchouli, orange, sandlewood, & ylang ylang pure essential oils with rose petals.

bathroom and enjoy your bath with the beautiful scents, the scent sticks nicely to you. After the bath your skin is nice and soft. smells great, and you feel great. Why spend a lot more on bath bombs from a specialty bath store when you can get beautiful bath bombs made locally and support a local stay at home mom as well.

When using the bath bomb I first noticed that the bath bomb actually disintegrated very fast, unlike the bath bombs that i had previously purchased from the store that take forever to disintegrate. The smell that is released is either relaxing, or in the case of the shower bombs, stimulating. Not only do you smell it in the

Home Grown - Parienting in the North

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Double Check !

By: Chantal Warren

This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s checklist is for the little ones. Children are great at routines and will pick them up with ease. Establishing them at an early age fosters the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sense of security and confidence. A bonus for you, mornings will run like clockwork when your child knows what comes next and what is expected of them.

Activity

Eat breakfast

Get dressed

Make bed

Brush teeth

Comb hair

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

TUPPERWARE Classic Butter Dish! $9.50 (limited time) Large Salt & Pepper Shakers $14 Impressions 4 Pc. Bowl Set $36.50 (these nest for easy storage!) Impressions Microwave Plates (set of 4) $22 Tupperware Impressions Drip-less Tumblers, set of 4 in 11oz. ($16.25) or 16oz. ($27) Impressions Mini Bowl (set of 2) $12 Snack Cup (Set of 4) $9.00

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Living Green: UPCYCLED- the old is new again By: Chantal Warren

According to the groundhog, spring is on its way sooner rather than later. Along with the fresh new season comes the desire to clean out closets and purge all things old that have been collecting dusk over the last few years. If you’re like me, you have a box (or two) of articles that you just aren’t ready to part with. Things bought and never used, gifts from loved ones, souvenirs from childhood accomplishments, the storage boxes are many and varied. Why do we save things? Most people save for one of two reasons: 1. You might need it someday. and 2. Sentimental warm and fuzzy memories. Most of the items kept because “I know as soon as I get rid of this I’ll need it” have been waiting in the wings for 5 years for their moment in the spotlight. These are the easy items to purge and donate. The items that are harder to let go of are the ones that bring you back to a moment in time; when your babies were born, when you met your spouse, when you graduated. All these cherished items are doing you no good collecting dust in storage or taking up room in your closet. While purging, decide what items you truly need to keep and honour them and the memories they represent by displaying them in your home or using them in a new way. Here are some ideas for those sentimental souvenirs:

•

Baby Clothes: The biggest offender on the sentimental list is the mountain of baby clothes saved by all mothers. Tiny socks, adorable outfits worn once or twice before being outgrown, enough onesies to dress a maternity ward. Mothers save these with the idea that one day, all these items will be passed down to her child in hopes to someday be worn by grandchildren, however, in reality what ends up happening is after several years , the boxes are opened to reveal severely stained and outdated clothes that are now no longer wearable. A beautiful keepsake that can be cherished for years to come is to sort through the clothes and keep about 10-15 ‘special’ items and have them turned into a quilt. This is an item that can be displayed in your home and cherished for years before being passed down to future grandchildren. This allows you to donate all the remaining clothes to children who are in need without feeling guilty. Here is a great sample of a memory blanket from Ann at A Girl in Paradise. http://agirlinparadise.blogspot.com/p/ quilts.html

Living Green: UPCYCLED- The old is new again By: Chantal Warren

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The Band Shirt: You have all witnessed it; Sunday morning and your spouse is in none other than that shirt. You know the one, it’s yellowed and full of holes, but you have been threatened with divorce if you ever throw it out. Turn that unflattering, eye-sore of a garment into a work of art. All you need is a staple gun and 4 pieces of wood and you are now the proud owner of a keepsake that you can decorate the man cave with. Other ideas with old t-shirts that hold less sentimental value is to turn them into quick, no-sew baby bibs. Cut off the sleeves and back leaving just the neck and front and you’re done.

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Other Ideas: Not everything you keep needs to have a sentimental hold over you. Sometimes we have odd things that we have kept over the years ‘just because’. One of the easiest uses for almost anything is to turn it into a shelf. Old books, wooden ladders, even rustic barnboard can easily be repurposed into useful shelves that become great conversation pieces instead of cluttering the garage.

So stop saving your stuff and start enjoying it. For more upcycling ideas for your keepsakes, check out sites like www.pinterest.com or www.etsy.com. •

KIDZ KORNER

Marc h

17th

2012

*TIP- Instead of using artificial green colour, use a spinach puree to dye your kids favorite food green

Game: Irish Hot Potato Supplies: Potato Celtic or Irish Jig Music How To Play: Sit the children in a circle. Hand one child the potato. Explain to the children that when the music begins they will pass the potato to the person on their right. When the music stops whoever's holding the potato scoots out of the circle and playing resumes.

Fun Facts: According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14! One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover. Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

Lunch/Dinner For Lunch try this yummy Green mac and cheese from foodwithkidappeal.blogspot.com Recipe • One 14.5 oz box of whole wheat pasta shapes (shells, elbows, spirals, etc.), cooked and drained. • 8 slices Horizon American Cheese Singles • 1/3 cup + 2 TBS organic milk • One bag prewashed baby spinach. • Salt and Pepper to taste • 2 cans (5oz) cans of tuna (not albacore-it has more mercury) Over medium heat, drizzle a bit of oil in a sauté pan. Add spinach and wilt until it reduces in size, turns bright green and is soft. Add wilted spinach to a food processor and puree. Add a bit of milk if you need some liquid to get a smooth consistency. Cook and drain pasta according to package directions. Add 8 slices of Horizon’s American Cheese Singles to the empty hot pasta pan along with the 1/3 cup milk. Stir until combined. Use up to 2 more TBS milk if needed to get the right consistency for sauce. Add spinach puree and mix until combined. Add salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste. Return drained pasta, and drained tuna to pan and coat with spinach cheese mixture.

To Drink: Instead of the usual green soda, why not have a healthy yummy blend green smoothie, Kale-Strawberry-Peach 1 bunch green kale 1 pint strawberries 3 small peaches 2 cups water Apple-Kale-Lemon 4 apples ½ lemon juice 5 leaves of kale 2 cups water

Shamrock Template

Template Please Print Out

CRAFT Cut out the shamrock and decorate, using glue, glitter, markers, crayons. Hang them up as decorations. Remember to HAVE FUN!

atures Recipes Make your own finger paint

Cold weather usually means kids spend a little more time indoors; keep them occupied with this simple easy to make finger paint recipe. Cold afternoons will fly by and your fridge should be filled with works of art in no time. •1/2 cup cornstarch •3 Tbsp. sugar •1/2 tsp salt •2 cups cold water •food coloring

1. In a medium pan, mix all the ingredients together. Cook over low to medium-low

heat 15-20 minutes. 2. Keep stirring the mixture until it is smooth and thick. A whisk works great for keeping the mixture smooth. 3. Once the finger paint has thickened remove from heat and let the mixture cool. 4. After cooling, divide the white paint into containers depending on how many colors of paint you are planning to make. Add a few drops of food coloring to each container. Recipe courtesy of www.homemademamas.net

Art On Ice

by: Chantal Warren

It's a misconception often stated: there's no culture up north. Well, I beg to differ after having the opportunity to check out this year’s winter follies live art show held on lake Nipissing in North Bay February 18 -20, 2012. The art show, named ‘Anaamimikom’ meaning ‘Under the Surface’, is co-produced by North Bay’s White Water Gallery, Near North Mobile Media Lab and Aanmitaagzi. Artists, both local and international, came together to create environmental works of art. With a blank canvas of fresh snow, the show’s opening ceremonies were held on Lake Nipissing. The theme of the show seemed to focus on the world of ice fishing with structures scattering the waterfront made from all sorts of materials. Definitely an interesting lure for locals enjoying some fresh winter landscapes. No need to Head south to see culture, in fact, I challenge that you'll likely never witness art showcased in such a manner anywhere other than the North ;)

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What a great way to spend an afternoon in Northern Ontario

Pat and Maks playing in the snow

A Northern Birth Story Overcoming Postpartum and becoming a mommy! Rachel Gervais

My story starts almost five years ago, it was our wedding day and after a few months of me trying to convince my husband Pat, we were ready to start trying to have children he finally agreed. We lived in the small northern town of Wawa, Ontario. It is a beautiful place, a wonderful place to raise a child. My husband was starting out his career as a police officer there and I was working at a daycare. Things couldn’t be better. We tried for approximately 6 months there and nothing happened. We did not have a family doctor there, so discussing any fertility issues just didn’t happen. Pat was given the opportunity to join the Timmins Police Force in Jan 2008, so we embarked on our new journey; although Pat is originally from Timmins, we were starting our life in this new town; I was more than happy to move where he grew up, where his family is. We continued to try, but nothing. After being referred to a specialist, Pat and I both did various blood work and test. Test revealed I suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome which could sometimes lead to infertility. I was crushed. I wanted to be a mother. How could I explain this to my husband? I would not be able to give him any children; all he ever wanted was to have children, to be a dad. After talking with the Ob/GYN he had given me a prescription for Clomid, a fertility drug known to help women with PCOS. After taking it the first month and going for more blood work, the doctor was optimistic that this would work!

Fast forward three more months, I found myself pregnant. It was a few days before Valentine’s day in 2009. So I figured I would wait to tell my husband; I bought a bib that said “I love daddy”, some little booties, a rattle and left a positive pregnancy test in a box. I couldn’t wait and my husband has never liked early gifts… lol I just couldn’t wait, I told him that he needed it the day before and that it was so important. When he opened the box he had the most confused look on his face, he did not know what a pregnancy test looked like and didn’t realize what I was giving him until I said I was pregnant. We both shared tears and we so thrilled to finally have this happen for us after trying for 2 years. I had some morning sickness, just nausea really; I was excited because if you felt nauseous that was a good sign. I had an early ultrasound to date the pregnancy; it was so amazing to see the little life inside me, the heartbeat of this new being that my husband and I created! I was helping this little baby grow. We told everyone, we were so ecstatic to finally have the chance to be parents! Everyone was very so happy. We were all just so happy. I was about 11 weeks and had very very lite spotting, and no other symptoms, I called my midwife Amy and told her, she said she would be right over to see if we could hear a heartbeat although it was still early, I told her it was okay and that I would see if it continues, I really didn’t think that anything was happening. I had no other symptoms of miscarriage, and this couldn’t happen to me! That night I

A Northern Birth Story

Rachel Gervais

started to have back pain and some mild cramping, I finally told my husband, who tends to be a worry wert, he immediately told me to go to emerge. I did reluctantly; something like this was not going to happen to us. They did some blood work and a pregnancy test and told me they would call me as soon as a spot opened up for an ultrasound. I went to work that morning, told my boss that I would need a couple hours off but I would be back after my ultrasound. She insisted I take the day off, I was kind of mad because I didn’t want to miss work. I was fine… I really was sure nothing was happening. Going to the ultrasound I felt fine, the spotting and back pain were very little; the ultrasound tech told me I was not allowed to see anything, that’s when I got nervous. I then had to go and wait in emerge again to get my results. I called my husband to let him know that I was waiting; he asked if I wanted him there, I said no that I was fine. Everything was fine, he had just finished a night shift and he hadn’t had any sleep and was supposed to work that night. He showed up five minutes later! I am so thankful he did! We waited in the little room; the doctor came in with the report and had to leave but left the report. I looked at it and couldn’t understand a thing. As I am looking at it the doctor walked back in and asked if I understood anything. Of course I didn’t, the page was all these numbers and abbreviations, we sat down and he just came out and said sorry there was no heartbeat… We were crushed, we saw the heartbeat, how could it no longer be there? Why would this happen to us? We both grieved at the loss of our unborn baby; we went from being on top of the world to the bottom of a muddy pit. Getting out was going to be the toughest journey yet. Of course I saw the specialist again and he just said sometimes these things happen. (These things weren’t supposed to happen to me) I started clomid again as soon as I could, I needed to be pregnant again, the month came and gone and no pregnancy… I couldn’t do this. You are always let down every time you start your period and you are reminded that you lost that baby. I took the clomid another month and told my husband that if I did not get pregnant this month I didn’t want to try again. It was too hard. When

the time came for my period; it wasn’t there… I reluctantly took a pregnancy test. I was pregnant! I didn’t tell anyone, not even my husband… I wasn’t sure if it was worth telling my husband. I couldn’t carry a child… so why bother him with the grief if we lost another, I would do it alone. He came home that night and I felt extremely guilty but did not tell him. I couldn’t keep it in after 3 days I just sat beside him and showed him a pregnancy test. I didn’t say a thing, we hugged, and I think we both felt the same way, happy but very scared. We kept this pregnancy a secret from everyone until I was 4 months. Everyone was overjoyed. We were terrified that something was going to happen, that this baby would be taken away from us. The pregnancy was great, no complications, everything was wonderful, at the end of my pregnancy, all I wanted was to hold my baby. I felt like a whale, like I couldn’t possibly grow any larger. At 40weeks 4days I went to see a naturopath to have acupuncture to try to induce labour, I was fed up! The day went on and at some point my water broke. At first I was in denial, but was getting contractions every 5-8 minutes. We went to the hospital because I was group B Step positive and needed antibiotics during labour. Contractions continued every 3-4 minutes for 12 hours… My midwife checked my cervix, I was only 1cm. I was devastated, I couldn’t possibly go any longer, the pain was intense and my hopes of having a natural labour was given up, I requested an epidural. At this point my labour had stalled and was having some relief, once the anesthesiologist came and left I finally felt great. I tried to rest a bit knowing I had a long time to go, then the pains started again, My epidural was not working, or strong enough but I continued to pull through, breathing through each contraction focusing on what was to come, my little baby! Contraction continued for another 14 hours, Amy and Pat right by my side the whole time, after being there with me for 26 hours Amy had to transfer my care to the on-call ob, as soon as she told me this, I asked for a c-section, I couldn’t possibly go on without her and I was physically exhausted, emotionally exhausted and disappointed. At this point everything becomes fuzzy; I had given up and lied there in the hospital bed waiting to be rolled into the OR.

A Northern Birth Story Rachel Gervais

When they pulled my little boy out of me I was so drowsy, I just remember them saying it’s a boy, and then he was gone and I went to recovery. I was in recovery for awhile and when I was allowed to go into my own room to see Maksim he was tired and didn’t want to nurse. I was feeling sick, tired and sore, so he went to the nursery, my husband kissed me goodnight and that was it. Maksim was brought to me in the morning and I looked at him like he was a stranger, who was this child and what was I supposed to do with him. As time went on I developed post partum depression, I truly believe that it was because I didn’t have a natural birth and was ripped of the opportunity to bond with him right after having him. All I wanted, was to be able to nurse him, knowing that this was the best I could give him, but with the PPD, I had given up on breastfeeding and pumped instead. I thought that this would help but it didn’t, I felt like I wasn’t able to bond with my baby. I pumped for 5-6 months and quit. I still feel bad to this day for doing this but am grateful for the breast milk he did receive. There were many days I just did not want to be a mother, I never felt the urge to hurt my child but I didn’t want to be around him, I wanted my old life back, I wanted someone else to take care of him. I saw a

counselor and this helped a bit, I went back work and things seemed to look up. Maksim was almost a year old and my husband mentioned wanting to try for another, at that time I only wanted another baby to experience a vaginal birth, to nurse my child and to be a mom. Again I needed to go on fertility drugs as my cycle was not regular and I was not ovulating. After two months of the clomid I was pregnant. I called my husband right away, he was training and couldn’t come home so I told him over the phone, you could hear the happiness in his voice. This time we waited about a week and started to tell close family and friends, then really made it known to everyone at 12 weeks. I still wasn’t sure about wanting another but the pregnancy was here I just went with it. This pregnancy was so different, I had a lot of morning sickness that lasted all day, at 14 weeks I had a bleed, unexplained bleeding. At 20 weeks the baby was showing two cysts on his brain. At 30 weeks the ultrasound tech said he was a really big boy! At 40weeks my water broke, I did not have any contractions and the ob did not want to induce because of my prior c-section, so after 24 hours of ruptured membranes I was given another cesarean.

A Northern Birth Story Rachel Gervais

This was different! My midwife Amy was in the room with me, she let my husband hold the baby close to me right after he was taken out, I saw him for some time before they took him away. I wasn’t in recovery long this time and my little Feliks 7lbs 6oz was brought to me as soon as I entered my room, I was able to have skin to skin time with him and he ( with help from Amy) latched on no problem. My doula, Kayleigh DeCecco was there to capture those moments and to assist with breastfeeding when Amy left. What a different experience! What a positive experience. I healed so much faster and was so happy to be a mom.

Now fast forward three months, I still long for that vaginal birth, but feel very blessed to have two healthy and happy children. Having a positive birth experience the second time around has made me love being a mother and appreciate the little things so much more. That first smile, those 3am feedings and when your toddler says Je t’aime maman, you couldn’t ask for more!

Rachel Gervais Proud mommy of two handsome little men!

Our Treasure Box Of Links www.inamay.com http://www.mybestbirth.com http://spinningbabies.com/ http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/ http://www.choicesinchildbirth.org/

http://www.preschoollearningonline.com/preschoolkidsongs.html

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/easy-stuffing/detail.aspx

http://www.dinnertool.com/article?id=654 http://southernfood.about.com/od/sweetpotatodess/r/bl1109d.htm www.divinedinnerparty.com http://www.marthastewart.com www.familyfun.go.com

http://www.nheri.org/Latest/Homeschooling-Across-America-Academic-Achievement-and-Demographic-characteristics.html

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Home Grown Parenting in the North

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