39 Weeks

For Japan with Love

Joining today's blogger's day of silence.

Started by two big hearts Lydia and Lucia.

Donate HERE.

Jason Schwartzman Picking Albums for Baby

Spending these last days of pregnancy, well, doing a lot of things! But, dreamily assembling some play lists to soothe, inspire, stimulate & make my baby smile. Sharing music you love with your little ones is such an amazing and easy means of bonding and education. One of my earliest memories is of my dad playing Rolling Stones on vinyl and singing along for my brother and I. Lately I've been thinking a lot about my parents and how they seemed so intuitive in their roles of exposing us to the world. We didn't have a lot of money, but we had killer road trips, awesome craft parties, marathon reading sessions, and...music. My love of a wide range of tunes is something about my parents, and particularly my dad that will always be a part of me. And now my son.

This video of Jason Schwartzman sorting tunes for his new daughter Marlowe Rivers has some great picks I wouldn't have thought of, but am certainly game to add now:

Brian Eno - Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks
Bob Dylan - Desire 
Alain Goraguer - La Planete Sauvage 
The Beatles - Beatles ‘65
The Rolling Stones - Their Satanic Majesties Request 
Donovan - Wear Your Love Like Heaven 
Donovan - Barabajagal 
Soundtrack - Gulliver’s Travels: Beyond the Moon 
Leonard Cohen - New Skin for the Old Ceremony 
Harry Nilsson - Harry

via daddycomplex

Back to the iTunes store (with hopes of vinyl again one day)!!
xoxo, ~mama e

Ganbaru--'never ever ever ever give up' in Japanese

print by adam

Many ways to help in the little ways that we can:

JAPANESE RED CROSS
SAKURA BLOOM RAFFLE/GIVEAWAY w/proceeds to American Red Cross
THE PREM RAWAT FOUNDATION

::ECOSALON has posted a great article on 11 WAYS YOU CAN HELP FROM YOUR HOUSE::
check it out. we can all do one thing.

Mama Alanis

My husband tells me "Just wait and you'll see..."
"How different a person you'll feel from one moment to the next."

He's talking about the very first moment we see our son.

It's funny. I'm not afraid of childbirth. Not in the least. But I am so afraid of that moment, about the intensity of my heart leaping out of my body. Afraid of not being able to stop crying in gratitude, awe, responsibility.

I love what new mama, Alanis Morissette posts about this feeling:

"Ever has cracked open a door in my heart that i had been dusting off for years in anticipation of this kind of opportunity to love. and what i have found on the other side is no less than a golden healing balm and celebration....

and a responsibility that i feel blessed to take on...privileged. inspired. ready.

the softest and cuddliest sucker punch."

final stretch knitting

pom pom pattern available here

eagerly checking my inbox for the arrival of this adorable cap pattern

that i just ordered from rocketclothing in the uk.

feathering the nest

floating away in long naps

waking up with incredible surges of energy

stetting the stage

final touches

::the baby's coming soon::

wishing i was back in nc...

so i could curl up on a couch and listen to some old friends at the white horse's show on tuesday...

Hydration During Labor

My stocked fridge...ready for labor!

This past week I've been looking into the importance of hydration during pregnancy, and in particular during the hours of labor so it was great that last night's childbirth class also touched on the subject. The short and sweet of Jane's points were that:


A) Adequate hydration is the keystone to a properly functioning uterus (much like any other muscle in the human body)


B) Inadequate hydration lends to maternal exhaustion--the number one reason for home birth transfers to a hospital.


*There is also a study from the American Journal of Obstetrics ( 2000 Dec;183(6):1544-8) that concludes hydration during labor is correlated to more effective and shorter labors, along with a lesser likelihood of inductions and/or cesareans. 


On the very first visit to my OBGyn, she said "Labor and childbirth is the ultimate cardio challenge. You want to keep exercising throughout your pregnancy!" So imagine doing a run or a run/walk for 14+ hours, the average time first time mothers spend in the first stage of labor alone. 


If you've ever competed in or watched a race of any kind, at very strategic points you'll notice booths where runners can grab a quick drink. But it's not just water! It's usually some form of glucose (to balance blood sugar) and electrolytes (to balance sodium/potassium ratios of the blood). 


 One of the very first things I learned while studying Anatomy and Physiology in college is that "water follows salt." After a tough workout, sweating all along you can often smell or taste that your sweat is salty. In order for the body and muscles to keep functioning optimally, sodium and other lost electrolytes need to be restored to the cells. And there to the rescue is most commonly Gatorade. This is perfectly fine to have on hand to sip during labor.* However, there are plenty of natural options as well. 


By 36 weeks, I recommend stocking your refrigerator with whatever liquids are most appealing to you, with at least 1-2 electrolyte options. Here's what I have in my fridge:


Recharge: An organic alternative to Gatorade by RW Knudsen
Coconut Water: Naturally full of electrolytes. My personal favorite!
          Other electrolyte options include packets such as those by Ola Loa or making your own Labor Aid.
A bag of ice chips in the freezer
On the day of, I also plan to make several large batches of fresh green juice and red raspberry tea. 


*In the heat of the moment, remembering to drink your liquids may be the last thing on your mind, so this is something very caring that your birth partner or doula can help you with.


You'll also notice several drinks that are not related to the need for rehydration:
Orgain: an organic protein drink, should I find myself not wanting to eat solid food. 
    &
Prune Juice: loaded in fiber and a natural laxative. Childbirth places immense pressure on the rectum, so what's in that little passageway is going to come out. Yes, that's right, POOP. So...I'd rather be prepared to get that out of the way as quickly and as easily as possible!


Not Pictured:
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea: to tone uterus
Cranberry Juice: to ward off uti's


:: For more information on Hydration throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period visit here and here::