Consent is something that many people in society now talk about when speaking in the sexual sense but consent has so many facets and doesn’t just relate to having autonomy over your body as it relates to sex. It is also important to remember that you have autonomy over what happens to your body while your are pregnant, in labor/giving birth and postpartum. You can always ask questions to your provider if you need clarification or if your intuition tells you something isn’t sitting well. You have choices and ultimately all decisions are up to you!

In my childbirth education classes that I teach, I always discuss “using your BRAIN”. The word BRAIN when used in that sense is an acronym meaning:

B – Benefits

R – Risks

A – Alternatives

I – Intent

N – Not now and maybe Never

When being told by a provider to do something during your pregnancy, birth and postpartum it’s ok to ask questions and use your BRAIN. Ask your provider what are the benefits and risks of what they are recommending? Are there any alternative things that could yield the same result? Why is it that the provider wants you to do “said thing” (meaning why are they recommending it) and remember that you can always say not now or never. You have choices! I can’t Express this enough!

You decide what happens to your body. Everything from vaginal checks, inductions, medications and medical procedures for you and baby, testing, etc… is YOUR choice. No one has the right to do anything to your body without your consent and unless it is an emergent situation there is always time to talk about options. You have a voice and it deserves to be heard.

The tips that I have for you are:

– Education is KEY! You must be educated on your options if you are to make informed decisions. A childbirth education class and a doula can really help educate you on your options and provide evidence based research! Others opinions are great but when making informed decisions its important to know facts.

– If you have a partner, make sure they are aware of your wishes so they can advocate for you if you are unable to. Also, if you have anyone else present at your birth (i.e. a doula, family members, friends) make sure they all know your wishes too!

– Have many conversations with your providers and have them document your chart so that the practice and providers are aware of your wishes too!

– Design a birth plan. Make it less than a page, bulleted and straight to the point. Even though you may deviate from your birth plan it’s still important that the nursing staff also know what your wishes for your ideal birth experience are so that they are able to assist you in achieving those as long as its medically safe to do so.

In closing, please know that your body is just that…it’s YOURS. You have more power over your pregnancy, birth experience and postpartum period than you may believe!

If you feel you may need help understanding your choices, we would love to help educate and guide you as well as help advocate for you and your baby!

Many people say: I wish I would have known more before I had the baby! There are several things that you can do to prepare yourself and your home for baby’s arrival! Here are a few of the things that I feel are super important.

 Pre-made Meals

Ok, so let’s get real! The last thing you want to do after having a baby is cook! Yet, you need healthy and nourishing meals in order for your body to recover and if you are breastfeeding to provide breastmilk to your little one! So, start around 30-32 weeks! Make a meal or two a week and freeze them (make sure to label them too)! Stay away from gassy foods like cabbage and broccoli and spices like curry. That may make baby gassy and that won’t be fun for anyone involved! Making meals is really helpful because all you do is literally take it out of the freezer and pop it in the oven! Not only is it easy but it’s also healthy! It’s the best of both worlds!

Stock up on healthy snacks

Healthy snacks purchased before baby comes – You are going to be hungry!! Maybe even more hungry than you were when you were pregnant (especially if you are breastfeeding). Get snacks in bulk! I promise you won’t regret it! Not only should you get them in bulk but get a few baskets and some snacks in each one and place the around the house where you think you will be nursing. Add a couple bottles of water in the basket too just in case you forget yours! It’s very important to be drinking water while breastfeeding and if you can get a snack in, even better! Nourish your body often and with healthy foods and it will be kind to you in return!

Tucks Pads

After you push a baby out, the struggle can be real south of the border! Many women get hemorrhoids after giving birth and tucks pads are a great thing to have on hand. They cool and sooth your bottom! They are really inexpensive to which is an added bonus! I do recommend getting the name brand tucks pads and not an off brand. For some reason the name brand ones just work better.

Sitz bath

Sitz bath is LIFE after you have a baby! Your vaginal area and perineum will be sensitive, sore and swollen so a sitz bath with help heal and sooth that area! To prepare a sitz bath you can simply mix the following herbs (or as many as you can gather) with approximately 1.5 cups of Epsom salt in a large bowl:

1/4 cup Comfrey Leaf

1/2 cup Lavender Flowers

1/4 cup Plantain Leaf

1/2 cup Red Raspberry Leaf

1/4 cup Yarrow Flower

1/4 cup Calendula Flowers

1/4 cup Uva Ursi Leaf

Once you have stirred up the mix, please 4-5 tablespoons in little sachet bags. Tie the bags up and when you want to take advantage of this amazing blend you simply fill the tub up with warm water 2 inches or so and throw a sachet in. Let the herbs steep into the water for 5 minutes or so and then get in, sit down and let them do their magic! Do that as often as you need to for relief.

Overnight Maxi Pads

Go to a store where you can buy these in bulk. You never know how many you will need. After you give birth you may bleed for quite some time. So having these awesome things will be a benefit! Trust me! There are overnight pads that you can get that are thin and much more comfy yet still very absorbent. You don’t have to wear the huge overnight diaper pads if you aren’t comfortable.

Pad-cycles – It’s a super funny name, I know! But…they are awesome and super easy! All you do is take some of those overnight pads you purchased in bulk and squirt Witch Hazel, Aloe and if your daring some Lavender Essential Oils on them. You then stack them on top of one another in the freezer and use them after you have baby for the first few days. The pads are super absorbent so they are helping because your bleeding, the Witch Hazel is keeping everything clean and disinfected, the Aloe is healing and Soothing and the Lavender is healing also. It’s the TRIFECTA!!

Mesh disposable panties – People don’t realize how incredibly comfy these things are until they wear them for the first time! Typically if you birth at a hospital they have these for you to use while you are there. I always recommend to my clients to ask for more before they go. They cover your whole tummy and just hold everything in place. Plus you can throw them away and not have the hassle of washing them AND you don’t have to worry about ruining your own undies! Don’t worry… if you need more you can always purchase some from Amazon or other retailers!

Breastfeeding Bra or Tank & Pads – Breastfeeding is tricky enough without having to fight with your clothing or constantly leak all over the place. So do yourself a favor and purchase a few breastfeeding tanks and bras as well as pads to place inside the bras to protect against leakage. You will thank me, I promise you that! Plus…they are super comfy! Bonus!

Coconut Oil – No need for fancy nipple creams! Use coconut oil! Apply a small amount to your nipple and areola before and after every feeding to help sooth your nipples! Coconut oil is an antibacterial, anti-viral and an anti-fungal. It’s ok for baby to ingest so you don’t have to worry about washing it off after every feeding like you do with many other nipple creams. And it’s super inexpensive!

Breast pump – I don’t recommend pumping until 4-6 weeks after giving birth unless for some reason you need to. It’s important for your milk to regulate and for baby to get used to breastfeeding (should that be what you choose to do). Introducing another nipple before 4-6 weeks can make breastfeeding more difficult. But, some people aren’t able for one reason or another to breastfeed so making sure that you have a pump on hand (preferably before baby comes) will just have you a step ahead of the game. You never know when you will need it so having it as a just in case just gives you peace of mind! Who doesn’t want peace of mind as a parent!

So… now… you have prepared yourself for your postpartum period! Being prepared for when baby comes home will allow you to enjoy your postpartum period that much more. There will be less to worry and stress about and you can just enjoy time with your little one! You will be able to be still and allow your body time to heal too. So you win, your baby wins and your family wins. You can’t ask for much more than that.

Many people say: I wish I would have known before I had the baby! There are several things that you can do to prepare yourself and your home for baby’s arrival!! Here are a few of the things that I feel are super important!

• Pre-made Meals – Ok, so let’s get real! The last thing you want to do after having a baby is cook! Yet, you need healthy and nourishing meals in order for your body to recover and if you are breastfeeding to provide breastmilk to your little one! So, start around 30-32 weeks! Make a meal or two a week and freeze them (make sure to label them too)! Stay away from gassy foods like cabbage and broccoli and spices like curry. That may make baby gassy and that won’t be fun for anyone involved! Making meals is really helpful because all you do is literally take it out of the freezer and pop it in the oven! Not only is it easy but it’s also healthy! It’s the best of both worlds!
• Healthy snacks purchased before baby comes – You are going to be hungry!! Maybe even more hungry than you were when you were pregnant (especially if you are breastfeeding). Get snacks in bulk! I promise you won’t regret it! Not only should you get them in bulk but get a few baskets and some snacks in each one and place the around the house where you think you will be nursing. Add a couple bottles of water in the basket too just in case you forget yours! It’s very important to be drinking water while breastfeeding and if you can get a snack in, even better! Nourish your body often and with healthy foods and it will be kind to you in return!
• Tucks pads – After you push a baby out, the struggle can be real south of the border! Many women get hemorrhoids after giving birth and tucks pads are a great thing to have on hand. They cool and sooth your bottom! They are really inexpensive to which is an added bonus! I do recommend getting the name brand tucks pads and not an off brand. For some reason the name brand ones just work better.
• Sitz bath – Sitz bath is LIFE after you have a baby! Your vaginal area and perineum will be sensitive, sore and swollen so a sitz bath with help heal and sooth that area! To prepare a sitz bath you can simply mix the following herbs (or as many as you can gather) with approximately 1.5 cups of Epsom salt in a large bowl:
  • 1/4 cup Comfrey Leaf
  • 1/2 cup Lavender Flowers
  • 1/4 cup Plantain Leaf
  • 1/2 cup Red Raspberry Leaf
  • 1/4 cup Yarrow Flower
  • 1/4 cup Calendula Flowers
  • 1/4 cup Uva Ursi Leaf

Once you have stirred up the mix, please 4-5 tablespoons in little sachet bags. Tie the bags up and when you want to take advantage of this amazing blend you simply fill the tub up with warm water 2 inches or so and throw a sachet in. Let the herbs steep into the water for 5 minutes or so and then get in, sit down and let them do their magic! Do that as often as you need to for relief.

• Overnight pads – Go to a store where you can buy these in bulk. You never know how many you will need. After you give birth you may bleed for quite some time. So having these awesome things will be a benefit! Trust me! There are overnight pads that you can get that are thin and much more comfy yet still very absorbent. You don’t have to wear the huge overnight diaper pads if you aren’t comfortable.
• Pad-cycles – It’s a super funny name, I know! But…they are awesome and super easy! All you do is take some of those overnight pads you purchased in bulk and squirt Witch Hazel, Aloe and if your daring some Lavender Essential Oils on them. You then stack them on top of one another in the freezer and use them after you have baby for the first few days. The pads are super absorbent so they are helping because your bleeding, the Witch Hazel is keeping everything clean and disinfected, the Aloe is healing and Soothing and the Lavender is healing also. It’s the TRIFECTA!!
• Mesh disposable panties – People don’t realize how incredibly comfy these things are until they wear them for the first time! Typically if you birth at a hospital they have these for you to use while you are there. I always recommend to my clients to ask for more before they go. They cover your whole tummy and just hold everything in place. Plus you can throw them away and not have the hassle of washing them AND you don’t have to worry about ruining your own undies! Don’t worry… if you need more you can always purchase some from Amazon or other retailers!
• Breastfeeding Bra or Tank & Pads – Breastfeeding is tricky enough without having to fight with your clothing or constantly leak all over the place. So do yourself a favor and purchase a few breastfeeding tanks and bras as well as pads to place inside the bras to protect against leakage. You will thank me, I promise you that! Plus…they are super comfy! Bonus!
• Coconut Oil – No need for fancy nipple creams! Use coconut oil! Apply a small amount to your nipple and areola before and after every feeding to help sooth your nipples! Coconut oil is an antibacterial, anti-viral and an anti-fungal. It’s ok for baby to ingest so you don’t have to worry about washing it off after every feeding like you do with many other nipple creams. And it’s super inexpensive!
• Breast pump – I don’t recommend pumping until 4-6 weeks after giving birth unless for some reason you need to. It’s important for your milk to regulate and for baby to get used to breastfeeding (should that be what you choose to do). Introducing another nipple before 4-6 weeks can make breastfeeding more difficult. But, some people aren’t able for one reason or another to breastfeed so making sure that you have a pump on hand (preferably before baby comes) will just have you a step ahead of the game. You never know when you will need it so having it as a just in case just gives you peace of mind! Who doesn’t want peace of mind as a parent!

So… now… you have prepared yourself for your postpartum period! Being prepared for when baby comes home will allow you to enjoy your postpartum period that much more. There will be less to worry and stress about and you can just enjoy time with your little one! You will be able to be still and allow your body time to heal too. So you win, your baby wins and your family wins. You can’t ask for much more than that.