A while ago, I did a blog entry about some of my favorite baby carriers, but it’s now buried deep in my blog, and with me having a newborn again, I frequently get asked where I got my ring sling… so I thought it’s worth doing a “re-blog” on the subject! 

I believe that a good baby carrier is an essential for any new parents, and there are SO many options available that it can often be overwhelming!

My personal favorite for a newborn carrier, is an Iowa-made lightly-padded ring sling.   Currently, this sling is being made on a referral/ custom-order basis only, so you can contact Tammia directly (ltprotts @ juno . com) with questions and requests.** She asks that you provide the fabric (2 1/2 yards (for an average-sized woman) of light-weight 100% cotton fabric).  A great Iowa City fabric store is Home Ec, or if you prefer buying online (like those of you outside Iowa who I keep referring), you can buy it & have it shipped directly to Tammia; www.quilthome.com is a good source.  (Some of her favorite fabric designers are  Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner, & Heather Bailey.  If purchasing online, it’s best to check with her before purchasing to make sure the fabric is suitable.)  Her cost is $60.00, with you covering fabric and shipping costs.

I don’t believe all ring slings are created equal- with the little differences being very important.  I like the adjustability and versatility of ring slings, and have found them very convenient to breastfeed my baby when I’m out and about.  While some parents prefer non-padded slings, I’ve found the lightly-padded slings to be much more comfortable for me.  But keep in mind:  there are some padded slings that are not as adjustable as others, which is one reason I am particularly fond of Tammia’s slings.  I also like the pocket she puts on the tail of her slings.  Perfect for tucking in a diaper or small blankie or toy, or for turning inside-out and tucking the rest of the sling into so it will fit compactly into your diaper bag.  **Please remember that Tammia is NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES that may happen with this product.  It is your responsibility, as a baby wearer, to practice safe baby-wearing techniques, and to always check the stitching that holds the rings and the integrity of the fabric before each use to ensure your baby’s safety.

Here are some other sling websites to check out.  (These are some lightly-padded ring slings that I’ve personally tried and liked quite well):

www.kangarookorner.com -much baby wearing info available here!
www.poshpapoose.com - cute designer fabrics & matching baby hats, diaper pouches, blankets

Best of luck finding that perfect carrier for you & your baby!  The benefits of wearing your baby are numerous.  If the first carrier isn’t the perfect match for you, don’t despair.  There is likely another one that will work for you.  See my earlier post about the Beco Butterfly II carrier for older babies…  ]]> http://purelyborn.com/ring-slings-2/feed/ http://purelyborn.com/protandim/ http://purelyborn.com/protandim/#comments Sun, 13 Mar 2011 22:04:00 +0000 sonya http://purelyborn.com/?p=403 Happy Spring!  :)  For those of you who are new to my Purely Born blog, I taught Bradley classes in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Sioux Falls, South Dakota areas for about seven years.  And now, with my Norwex home business flourishing, I have chosen to pass the baton to new teachers in the Cedar Rapids/ Marion area, John & Sarah Halsrud.  The Bradley Method classes are so amazing and empowering- I congratulate you for seeking them out!!  They will not only make a difference in your birth… but in your life. I have been so incredibly blessed to impact many babies & families through my Bradley classes.  Call Sarah and John today! Email them at: sarah_j182@bradleyteacher.com or juhl.halsrud@gmail.com or phone them: 319.545.2393.

Within our busy, modern lifestyles, we’re constantly trying to find the somewhat elusive “wellness”, “balance”, and “simplicity”.  I know with a household of busy little guys, a full-fledged home business, and simply coordinating around schedules, achieving these three can sometimes be challenging.  I have been so blessed that Norwex provides me a way to be home with my children during the day, while still making an excellent income that really makes a difference for our family!  In fact, we don’t usually talk money, but when I replaced & surpassed my full-time PT income, I realized to a whole new extent what a gift this business can be.

So because of my passion for improving the lives of others, I am SO excited when I discover things that truly make a difference!!  And we have certainly found one!  This will just take 10 short minutes, but can seriously improve your life.  Watch this ABC Primetime Investigative Report- (do it right now while you’re at your computer- you’ll be so glad you took the time!) and then give us a call & share what really resonated with you.  Willie & I can’t wait to hear from you!   605-271-1814

Blessings!

Sonya

www.lifevantage.com/agewithgrace
Willie: 605-951-1593   eckelclan@gmail.com

Protandim & True Science by Lifevantage
Go to www.pubmed.gov & search for “Protandim”.

I’m super excited!  John and Sarah Halsrud will now be teaching in the Cedar Rapids area (located between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City)!  Here is their contact information.  Email them at: sarah_j182@bradleyteacher.com or juhl.halsrud@gmail.com or give them a call: 319.545.2393.  They are planning to begin a series on November 16th- contact them directly for the class details and upcoming classes!! 

Welcome Sarah & John!  We’re excited to have you taking the Cedar Rapids Bradley baton!

And now I’ve recently discovered Thirty-One Gifts- a fun thing to combine with Norwex for the perfect New Mom gift!  If you haven’t yet heard of 31 Gifts, check it out here:  http://www.mythirtyone.com/lisalocker/.  They are fun and reasonably priced (& easy to personalize, too!).  I discovered this company when I was searching for the perfect diaper bag/ Mama-of-Four purse!  And the Cindy Tote fit the bill.  A Norwex baby towel set or Antibac Baby Body Cloths with some Organic Shea Butter are the perfect diaper bag stuffers/ baby gifts!  I also find that the baskets & bags are a fantastic solution to better organization…. another thing that most moms are grateful for!  These help you to establish “a place for  every thing” in your house-  a key to getting & staying organized!  Check it out!  :)  Happy gift-giving!

Sonya Eckel

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

IA / SD

But with our growing family and a successful Norwex business to fill my schedule, I am needing to let something go.  So I am hoping to pass the Bradley baton to someone else here in the Cedar Rapids area so we can continue to get this incredibly empowering information into the hands of more expectant couples!  So stay tuned and check back at the site–I’ll keep you posted!  :)  In the meantime, you can contact the Iowa City teachers, Kara & Marcus Seaton at Kara@YourNaturalBirth.com.

All the best to you during your pregnancy and wishing you a beautiful birth experience!

As a Bradley Method® Childbirth Educator, I’d like to briefly cover why doulas can be such an excellent adjunct to Bradley Method® classes when you are wanting to birth your baby naturally.  I’ve had several couples in my classes who choose to work with a doula.  They have been very grateful for the extra pair of hands, encouragement and expertise!  Here’s what Elisa, mother of Isla, has shared about their birth experience with the combination of Bradley® classes and an excellent doula:

“They say that the only things we fear are the things we don’t understand and nothing proved that more to me than labor. One of the most asked questions to pregnant woman (behind “When are you due?” and “What are you having?” of course) is “Are you nervous?”.  I never was. People thought that was funny, but it was true. I was never nervous or fearful of what was about to happen. The Bradley classes had prepared me so well on what would happen during labor, I only felt excitement. I understood the process of labor, therefore I wasn’t afraid of it.

A doula provides continuous non-clinical support to a woman and her coach during pregnancy, birth, and the early weeks of parenting. A doula at your side during labor is focused solely on you and your partner to provide emotional support, practical assistance, and a calm, consistent, objective presence. Part of a doula’s role includes suggesting appropriate comfort measures such as position changes, performing light massage, and assisting with guided relaxation. She may make suggestions to help your coach best support you, while yet allowing him/ her to fully experience the birth as a loving participant. Throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period your doula can help you understand basic terminology, procedures and medical practices to further your efforts to make informed decisions. Your doula should be part of a whole team, where each member has a special role to play in supporting you for your birth.

“Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth. Review.” 2007. The Cochrane Collaboration. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. “Results: Sixteen trials involving 13,391 women met inclusion criteria and provided usable outcome data. Primary comparison: women who had continuous intrapartrum support were likely to have a slightly shorter labour, were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth and less likely to have intrapartum analgesia or to report dissastisfaction with their childbirth experiences…. Authors conclusions: All women should have support throughout labour and birth. “Social Support by Doulas During Labor and the Early Postpartum Period.” Hospital Physician, September 2001. Bruce A. Meyer, Jane A. Arnold, and Debra Pascali-Bonaro.

In summary, doula support can also result in:

• reducing the length of labor by 25%
• reducing your chances of having a cesarean birth by more than 50%
• reducing mothers’ requests for epidurals by 60%
• reducing mothers’ requests for other pain medications by 30%
• reducing the need for oxytocin augmentation or use of a vacuum or forceps by 40%
• a higher incidence of breastfeeding success
• a mother and partner who consistently report high levels of satisfaction with their birth experiences.

(In my Resources section, you’ll find the Iowa City Doulas link- to date, I’m not aware of a comparable link for all of the Cedar Rapids doulas- please let me know if you know otherwise!) I wish you the best in finding that perfect doula match for your birth!)  Also nationwide, you can find local doulas at www.doulanetwork.com.

In class, we talk often about removing chemicals from our homes and being cautious about what we’re cleaning with, to protect our growing babies.  However, the problem has always been that the “safe” cleaners aren’t always the effective ones… not to mention that they’re expensive!  I have countless number of partially-used “natural cleaners” that aren’t worth beans!  Vinegar & soda are always a good way to be “green”, and that’s what I was largely using, however they don’t always do the job, either.  So when I heard about Norwex cloths recently, I was skeptical.  But once I started using them, my skepticism quickly vanished.  These things really work- they WILL save you time & money. And the company stands behind them with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee!  Here’s the company website:  www.Norwex.com

Because the Norwex mission, “to improve quality of life by radically reducing the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning”, resonates deeply with me, I’ve become a consultant.  As a gift to each of my customers/readers, I’m offering a free gift with your first Norwex phone order when you mention that you read about Norwex on my PurelyBorn blog!  You can check out my Norwex website for more info:  www.SonyaEckel.com.   :)  Happy Cleaning!

Heads Up! Study on Breech Pregnancy and Birth

If you gave birth to a breech baby, or if your baby was breech at some point during pregnancy, Stand & Deliver would like to invite you to participate in a research study. Please share this announcement with others who might be interested in participating.

Research goals:
Breech research is often aimed towards health care providers and tends to focus on maternal and fetal health outcomes. This research explores women’s experiences and feelings about carrying a breech baby; their decision-making process when discovering that their baby was breech; their care providers’ recommendations and protocols for breech birth; and the birth options available to them, from vaginal breech birth to elective cesarean section. The researchers will present the results at the Second International Breech Conference in Ottawa, and also hope to submit an article to a peer-reviewed journal. Participation is confidential.

Who can participate:
All North American women who have had breech pregnancies or births are invited participate in an essay-response survey, which takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. They are interested in participants who had breech pregnancies (breech babies who turned head-down before birth), and would also like to hear from women who have given birth to breech babies, whether vaginally or by cesarean section; with midwives, physicians, or unassisted; at home, in a birth center or in a hospital. The researchers welcome input from both singleton and multiple (twin, triplet, etc) breech pregnancies and births.

How to Participate:
To take the survey, please visit the Breech Pregnancy and Birth Survey.

About the researchers:
Dr. Rixa Freeze has a PhD in American Studies and focuses on childbirth and maternity care. She blogs at Stand and Deliver. Julie Searcy is a PhD candidate at Indiana University with interest in the cultural discourse around birth.

Questions?
Please contact them at breechbirth.study@gmail.com.

We use cloth diapers, and in general, that alone has helped to dramatically decrease diaper rash occurence.  However, when a dirty diaper doesn’t get noticed right away, and the skin starts to get irritated, I find that Grandma El’s Diaper Rash and Prevention Remedy works wonders.   And, unlike many other diaper rash creams, Grandma El’s is safe to use with cloth diapers! 

It is a patented, natural and preservative-free, soothing and healing ointment that can be used for prevention and treatment of diaper rash.  It creates a skin-softening, protective barrier to prevent urine and stool enzymes from coming in contact with baby’s skin, while still allowing the skin to breath (therefore speeding the healing process). 

Grandma El’s Diaper Rash Remedy and Prevention is intended to:
-prevent skin breakdown.
-promote healing through promoted growth of new skin collagen.
-soothe and soften baby’s skin, making it more comfortable.
-allow sking to “breathe” while still protecting.
-stop/reduce redness, itching, pain, & soreness.

Grandma El’s is available on Grandma El’s website, and at Amazon.com and Target.com, just to name a few.  If you’re seeking a safe and effective diaper rash ointment, I’d encourage you to give Grandma El’s a try!  (Update:  Now receive $3.00 off your purchase at Grandma El’s website by entering the coupon code:  “purelyborn”.)

Leafy greens are a rich source of minerals (including magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium) and vitamins, including many of the B vitamins, C, E, & K. Greens also provide a variety of phytonutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of ultra-important Omega-3 fats.   There are a variety of “greens”, including but not limited to spinach, kale, collard greens, beet greens, dandelion greens, arugula, romaine lettuce…

We were previously most familiar with salads and cooked greens.  So here’s a little snapshot of what we’ve learned about raw green smoothies since our blender purchase two weeks ago (I’m sure we have much more to learn!):

First of all, a powerful blender like the VitaMix or BlendTec is a wonderful aid in making whole-food smoothies.  Another good rule of thumb (for someone new to green smoothies) is to blend 60% fruits/ 40% greens.  We’ve found that just about any combination of apples, grapes, blueberries, kiwi, pineapple, banana, strawberries, pear, blackberries, mango, or lemon all make great fruit choices.  Then we cut up and add kale, collards, spinach, or dandelion greens.  (A friend has recommended lacinato kale, which I’ve not yet been able to find in our local grocery store, but hope to try at some point.)  I personally like to cut my fruit up in fairly small chunks and freeze some of it before making my smoothie.  Most of the fruits I’ve tried have frozen very well.  And then you can just grab what you need from the container instead of feeling like you need to use the whole fresh pineapple that day!  I don’t freeze large amounts, however, to keep them as fresh as possible.  You can also add some ice to your smoothie if you wish- less necessary if using some frozen fruit &/or greens.  One of the great things about a VitaMix or BlendTec is that you can leave the fruit skin (i.e. apple, kiwi, pear…) and it will blend it all right in.  It is definitely optimal to buy organic fruits and greens, especially if they have edible skins. 

Have a wonderful time experimenting with how you can increase the amount of green, leafy veggies in your diet!