In today’s “Featured Mama” edition, E shares her powerful story and insight for staying flexible when things don’t go as planned! Ā E’s motivation to stay strong helped to facilitate healing and an efficient return to the higher intensity level of fitness that she’s accustomed to in her life. Ā All the effort in pregnancy paid off! As always, we are strong mamas, we are smart mamas!Ā We embrace one another with love and support.Ā Thank you, E, Ā for sharing your story …
Featured Mama: Emily Tennison
Oh my goodness, you do not want to miss Emily’s story! Read on to hear how she surmounted some major obstacles on her way to achieving a strong, empowered birth experience and entry into motherhood! We are strong mamas, we are smart mamas! We embrace one another with love and support. Thank you, Emily for sharing your story and wisdom with us all! We Love You! Tell us a bit about yourself: I’m a stay at home mom with my now …
MY BIRTH STORY AND EVERYTHING I LEARNED FROM IT
An original post from the blog, Mom Smart Not Hard.Ā Thank you for sharing with the Bodies for Birth community!Ā L was born on a late evening in early July. It was hot and I was very ready to be done being pregnant. I was so excited to have a little baby that I could actually hold after months of feeling her dancing in my belly. I diligently prepared myself for labor by trying to come up with exactly how …
PREPARING FOR LABOR AND DELIVERY: ALLIāS BIRTH STORY
An original post from the blog, Mom Smart Not Hard.Ā Thank you for sharing with the Bodies for Birth community! N was born on a Monday evening in late summer. Like many mothers, getting to the amazing moment of holding her in my arms for the first time was a long process, and quite different than I had envisioned.Ā Letās start at the beginningā¦ EARLY LABOR It being late summer, and me being very pregnant in a house without air conditioning, …
How Does Mom & Baby Gym Work?!
How Does Mom & Baby Gym Work?! Here are the nuts and bolts: Mom & Baby Open Gym (MBG) runs fromĀ 11 AM -1 PMĀ on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Ā During this time, attendees arrive on their own schedule (with the last entry atĀ 12:30 PM) to participate in a postpartum specific circuit. There are six stations set out in the group class space-each one has all the equipment needed to complete the workout. Each station also has a postpartum circuit on a …
Reiki for Mamas: A Guest Post by Stephanie Hunter-Dines
As I sit here writing to you on this stormy night in Seattle I am giddy I get to share my story about Reiki. I have the honor of expressing to you how this beautiful practice has changed my life. The wonderful thing about Reiki is that it touches everyone differently. Everyone will have a different Reiki story. Each person who chooses to explore this magical mode of self-care will experience something entirely unique. That is why Iām grateful that …
PNA Parent Spotlight: Maura Shirey
I had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed for a Parent Spotlight feature for my son, Will’s pre-school recently. Ā This is our third year attending the Phinney Neighborhood Co-Op Preschool and we have found such joy, such community and such fun through our experiences. Ā Ā It’s an honor to be alongside Will in the classroom and to witness friendships evolve, to watch parent-teacher-kiddo dynamics, the skills, struggles and triumphs! I feel loved and supported within the community from parents and …
Catherine Cram’s Review of Bodies for Birth
We recently had the amazing opportunity to host Catherine Cram for a full day of in-person, hands-on training at Bodies for Birth. Ā What a wonderful day it was. For those of you who don’t know Catherine, she is one of, if not THE nation’s leading expert in Maternal Fitness and co-authored the book “Exercising Through Your Pregnancy” with Dr. James F. Clapp III MD. Ā My well-worn copy has served as my perinatal fitness “Bible” over the past four years and …
Alli’s Birth Story: Welcome, Margaux Grace!
Sweet Margaux Grace was born on March 28, 2017. My journey to becoming a mom is an unconventional one, wrought with much heartache and ultimate joy. I would be pregnant and give birth a thousand times if I could. Finding out in my 20ās that I was in ovarian failure was a blow to the vision I had for my life. I wanted a big wedding and five children. I imagined starting a family with my husband and the excitement …
My take on prenatal vitamins + supplements, A Guest Post from Emily Tennison of Healing Corner
Pregnancy is such a special time. For me, it was also crazy-making: not feeling great between weeks 6-12, dealing with weird food aversions (red peppers!) and worrying about eating correctly while warding off cravings was a lot to handle. Doing the best I could nutritionally, while safeguarding with vitamins and supplements, helped ease my anxiety. I truly believe it helped grant me the healthy baby boy that I have today. Here are the supplements that I enjoyed while pregnant as …