by thebirthhour | Feb 27, 2017 | Blog, Motherhood, Postpartum
Note: My body looks nothing like these models and I actually tried to get some real-life pictures for you but failed miserably! You’ll just have to trust that these undies look amazing on me and my post-baby pooch!
After giving birth, for most women their tummies just aren’t the same as they were pre-baby. Even when (if!) you lose all the pregnancy weight, you are often left with what I fondly call my postpartum pooch. Due to this pooch, I’ve become a diehard fan of high waisted pants that hold everything in and don’t cut into my belly. Lucky for me, high waisted pants are in style! If you’re curious, my favorites are these jeans and these leggings.
Once I started wearing high waisted bottoms every day I realized just how annoying it was to have a low rise bikini panty and began my search for high waisted underwear that don’t look like granny panties. When I told one of my close friends that I would send her a list of my favorites she said that compiling a list would be a public service to moms everywhere and that I should share it with the world, so here we go!
Most Flattering – Knock Out
The Knock Out brand is my absolute favorite and my latest discovery. They offer high waisted underwear that feel supportive without looking like granny panties AND without squeezing you so hard you have diarrhea (side eye at girdles and some types of Spanx).
Most Support: My favorites are these high waisted bikinis which come in black or nude. I recommend sizing up one for reference I wear a medium in Hanky Panky and a size 10-12 dress and order a Large in these. They also come in plus size.
Thongs: They also offer this style in a comfy and supportive (HIGH WAISTED!!) thong if that’s your thing. I have one nude and one black thong for the rare outfit that looks better without a VPL (visible panty line).
Light Support: They also offer a high waisted option with a little less support—just thin stretchy lace on the top instead of multiple layers of fabric. These are insanely comfortable but I did put a hole in the lace with my thumb pulling them up so just be careful there! They come in a lot of colors if you’re the type that likes variety in your underwear drawer! They also come in plus size up to 3X.
Most Comfortable – Hanky Panky
Hanky Panky is known for their skimpy one size fits all thongs but they’ve actually expanded their line quite a bit and have some lovely high waisted options worth trying out. While they aren’t quite as high waisted as the Knock Out brand, they cover the parts that matter if you know what I mean. I like them because they are super stretchy, look sexy on and off (as in they don’t look like huge granny panties when they come out of the wash) and they come in tons of gorgeous colors and patterns.
Bikini: My go-to from Hanky Panky is the Retro line specifically the Retro V-kini. It’s super comfy, doesn’t squeeze you and make love handles and doesn’t roll down. It also comes in plus size up to size 24! I’m in love with the leopard print because why the hell not!?
Thong: I also have the Retro thong for those rare occasions when I need a thong. They are actually crazy comfortable (as far as thongs go) and offer the coverage you want with a post-baby pooch. They also come in plus size. I’ve been lusting after this rose pattern!
Most Feels Like You’re Going Commando – Spanx
My days of squeezing into Spanx are long gone but they do have a newer line of underwear that’s less supportwear and more just supportive. It’s called the Spanx UndieTectable line. My favorite style is this one and it comes in a handful of different colors. The only caveat here is that the sizing is way off in my opinion. I typically wear a medium in underwear and I wear an XL in these to keep them from squeezing me into a muffin top. Luckily Amazon has free returns so you can try a couple sizes if you want. They also make a plus size option in tons of fun colors.
For That Time of the Month – Period Panties
I finally invested in some period panties from Thinx this year and love the hi-waisted option. When I bought mine the side panels were made of lace and they’ve since changed the style to be mesh but I’m assuming the fit is the same.
I ordered mediums and they fit but I wish I’d gotten large because there’s a tiny bit of muffin top with the mediums. They also go up to size 3XL.
I’m totally a period panties loyalist now (also a menstrual cup loyalist!)—it’s so nice to not have to worry about a leaking tampon overnight (or during the day) and I especially love them for the last day or so of my period when I’m really just barely spotting and don’t want to deal with panty liners. I could see them being really helpful for pregnancy as well when you’re producing so much extra cervical fluid.
* This post contains affiliate links and if you click a link I will receive a few cents at no cost to you. As always all opinions are my own and I have personally tried all of the products mentioned and use them daily!
by Austyn Smith | Feb 10, 2017 | Blog, Motherhood, Postpartum
Upon becoming a mother, I really worried about being a good one. I wanted to fill my child’s life with happiness and comfort, to teach him, feed him, love him, and float from one blissful moment to the next. I’d read a lot books, talked to friends, babysat, and I felt ready. I naively thought the best way to achieve these high expectations was to give everything I had to serving the baby. Isn’t this how “good” mothers do it? After months and months of striving for these unrealistic expectations, I hit rock bottom. One day I found myself in a blubbering mess while on the phone with my boss (poor guy). I couldn’t stop crying. I felt like my soul had been sucked out of me and a hollow robot shell was left going through the motions. Worst of all I was filled with resentment toward my baby and husband, like this was somehow their fault. I knew something was wrong but had no idea how to fix it. The only reasonable explanation I could come to is that I wasn’t cut out to be a mother, and I wish I’d known beforehand.
Valuing Self Care as a Mother
It took several more years of life experience to learn the invaluable lesson and secret to enjoying motherhood and life—The value of self care. In order for me to become the best version of myself I needed to invest time in, and practice loving myself.
I received quick validation as I first started trying this out. I had an obligation fall through one morning and found myself with 2 hours of unexpected free time. I initially started running through my to-do list in my mind and then remembered I was going to start trying more self-care. It was a beautiful sunny day (sometimes a rare occasion in Portland, OR) so I called my good friend to see if she wanted to join me in a walk. She did. We walked and talked and connected on so many levels. I came home completely energized, and felt so good that I wanted to do something for someone else. I thought of my friend *Jenni who just had major surgery and I decided to make her dinner. I surprised her later on and she was so grateful. I was full to the brim. I learned that self-care does not breed selfishness (as I had feared), but rather it breeds a greater capacity to love.
The airline safety advice to secure your own oxygen masks before helping children is a good analogy. If you you pass out while helping your child, due to lack of oxygen, you are no good to anyone. The same goes for motherhood and self-care. You can’t give from an empty bucket; and if you are trying to, what you are giving out is low quality and pretty useless. This is a great children’s book about filling your and other’s buckets.
I adopted this new affirmation from Melody Beattie. “I am a gift to myself and the universe. Nurturing self-care delivers that gift in its highest form.”
So, how can a mother invest in herself and still be a useful, productive woman, wife, and mother? I have a few suggestions.
Things to keep in mind when first starting out
Drop the guilt
Guilt serves one purpose, to alert us when we’ve done something wrong so that we can make restitution. That’s it. It is not helpful to let it creep in where it doesn’t belong and tell us lies about not being enough, or that we are selfish for leaving the children to do something for ourselves. Dismiss the guilt and stick to your guns. Write down some positive statements and read through them at the beginning of your time. Like these:
- When I take care of my needs first, I am a better mother.
- If I fill my bucket, I will be refreshed and ready to face my responsibilities with more energy and joy.
- I am teaching my children that my needs are important. When they are parents they will understand that investing in themselves is worthwhile.
Start with some ground rules
Boundaries are your friend. Set some for the children and for yourself. These are the rules I follow.
- No bothering mom allowed. If my kids disturb me during my “quiet time” they get to lay in their beds for the remainder of the time. More on how to occupy children during Mom’s Time later.
- Set daily and weekly appointments with myself and treat them as such. If I receive an invitation or am asked a favor that overlaps my scheduled time, the answer is usually no. I have an unbreakable appointment…with myself!
- No to-do lists allowed. No running errands. I am only allowed to do things that rejuvenate my soul. I keep a list of ideas handy (more on that later).
- No “vegging out” on social media. Not only is it a time trap, but comparison to social media “perfection” can be a quick recipe for depression. Right now, I need something to recharge me.
Learn to say no
We all love to be “team players,” help out friends, and volunteer ourselves. These are all good things, but they have to be done in balance. I think of the balance as a pendulum. On one side is service to others, and on the other side is selfishness. It can take a lot of practice to understand what it feels like for the pendulum to rest in the middle; a nice balance of meeting my needs and helping when it would fill my bucket to help. I remember the mantra “Just because I can, doesn’t mean that I have to.” I also like to Brene Brown’s philosophy to “choose discomfort over resentment.” It can be uncomfortable to say no to making 60 cupcakes for the PTA fundraiser that’s tomorrow, but if you will be aggressively whipping that batter with resentment, it’s better to decline.
Ask for help
This can be very hard for someone who is used to being a “people pleaser.” Guilt may creep in, but remember the purpose of guilt? To remind us when we’ve done something WRONG! Asking help of people is not wrong. In fact, accepting help provides an opportunity for others to show their love for you. Let one of your friends drive a carpool, or come and fold your laundry when you are sick. Let them love you and your children.
How to logistically make time for self care
Make a plan
Childcare: If you have young children at home, it can be tricky to get some time, but can also be the phase with the most urgent need for self care. You might need to get creative. Here’s some suggestions:
- Set up a babysitting co-op with some friends. Sit down together and assign a few days a month for each of you where you will watch everyone else’s children for a few hours at a time.
- See if your community or rec center offers babysitting. Some will give up to a few hours at a time for a small fee. Remember, no errand running allowed!
- Take advantage of gym time. Many gyms offer a few hours of childcare at a time while you exercise. Use the extra hour after you are done working out to sit in the hot tub or sauna, take a long leisurely bath, do a mediation, or even just sit in the lobby with a magazine or book.
- Swap with your partner. Choose one night a week that you have “off.” Hand off all responsibilities to your husband, while you go have some fun for a few hours. He gets another night for himself. This has worked great for my husband and me. I sometimes choose Saturday morning instead of an evening (because I’m usually exhausted by 4pm). That’s awesome too!
- For some daily peace, instigate quiet time. I have been doing this for years. Right after lunch, the kids know they go up to their rooms for an hour. I usually pull out some activities that are reserved only for quiet time, so it’s exciting for them (books, puzzles, building toys—things that occupy their minds), and they have to play quietly.
They know they have to stay inside their room and I come to get them when their time is up. I get an hour to myself to take a quick nap, read, meditate, connect spiritually, or work on a hobby or project. It’s the perfect break I need to recharge and then I’m ready to see my kiddos and tackle the afternoon. This can also be particularly helpful when you have a new baby. You can even do it a few times a day in smaller doses.
Give yourself an allowance
It makes quite a difference to have money set aside that is just for you. Add it into the budget. Buying something nice for yourself is an act of love, and it makes you feel really good. It is much easier to say “yes” to fun activities, lunch dates, or nights out with friends when you have some money set aside for that exact purpose.
Get to know yourself
- Make a list of things that bring you joy. If you are not used to having this time to yourself, you may find yourself wandering around wondering what in the world to do with your time. Take some time beforehand to write down a list of things and activities you love to do. You might have to think back to before motherhood!
- Think about your personality and your needs. Are you energized by being with people (extroverted) or does that drain you (introverted)? What phase of life are you in? What do you want and need the most right now? Some good girl talk? A massage? To sleep for 3 hours? A combination?
List of ideas for Self-Care
- Gather a support group of friends that can have “real talk,” and get together regularly. I credit this one thing for my emotional health the past several years, and those girls are my most prized gifts. Our get togethers are safe places where there is love and acceptance, healing and support.
- Keep it well rounded. Make a list of physical activities you enjoy, things that uplift you spiritually, and things that are healing emotionally.
- See a therapist regularly. Even if it’s once a quarter. My college psych 101 teacher stated, “Even the healthiest person will benefit from seeing a therapist.”
- Meditate. Listen to guided meditations, long or short. Light a candle. Do it while some tea is steeping. Indoors or outdoors. Meditation classes can also be fun. Keep a list of affirmations handy. Statements about you as a woman, a person, a mother.
- Yoga. It doesn’t have to be a physically challenging class (unless that’s what you want!) to be effective. Even some gentle yoga stretches or poses can rejuvenate your body and soul.
- Listen to an uplifting podcast, book on tape, or music.
- Take walks in different environments. Get to know your city. Find a peaceful garden, a country road, or a neighborhood with stunning houses.
- Schedule regular massages.
- Take a bubble bath. Add some bath salts or essential oils, light some candles, play some music, read a book. Really use your senses as you soak.
- Sleep. Make your nap really restful with cozy blankets, temperature, clothes, lighting, and quiet. You’ll awake completely refreshed.
- Create something. Draw, paint, sew, decorate, write. A friend once said she tries to do one thing everyday that cannot be undone (by the kids!). It makes her feel like she accomplished something.
- Discover a new hobby. Take a class, go to a craft store, take up a new sport, make some plans.
- Do things that enliven your senses. Light aromatic candles, use essential oils, discover new music/soothing sounds, gaze at beautiful or interesting art, snuggle with fluffy blankets or buy a new sweater. Taste new flavors at a restaurant, sample new drinks—seasonal flavors are fun.
- Write. Start a self care journal. Record your recent thoughts, dreams, and ideas. Include things you are grateful for.
- Ask yourself, “What do I need to do to take care of myself today, or for this moment?” Truly listen to yourself, and trust the answer that comes.
Learning to love and care for yourself leads to the best version of you. It’s a very worthy and worthwhile investment. Best of all, you’ll find an increased capacity and love for your family and others.
This guest post was written by Austyn Smith.
by thebirthhour | Jan 23, 2017 | Birth, Blog, Motherhood, Postpartum, Pregnancy
As a childbirth educator, there are a couple of topics that fill me with dread when addressing a group of soon-to-be parents, and one of them is circumcision.
If you’ve spent any time at all on the internet as it relates to parenting, you may have noticed that this topic can spark some very heated discussion, so much so that it can be hard to wade through the rhetoric to find solid information. Folks hold some strong opinions on this topic—and for good reason! The decision whether to circumcise or not will carry into every day of a boy’s life. So, how to give accurate information that will help parents decide? Here’s how I do it:
There are basically 3 things for parents to consider in deciding whether or not to circumcise their baby boy:
Religious or cultural reasons
On this point, I don’t figure I have too much to contribute as a childbirth educator, though occasionally I have helped Jewish clients who did not want to circumcise to explore the idea of holding an alternate ceremony (known as a brit shalom).
Aesthetic reasons
These usually fall under the headings of: “wanting him to look like Daddy” or “wanting him not to be bullied in the locker room.” Again, I don’t feel that I can speak to one person’s sense of what looks right or wrong, and I particularly don’t need to know which of the fathers in my class were circumcised or not. But I can note that since the rate of infant circumcisions performed nationwide in the US is around 55%, there is a high probability that there will be another boy in the locker room whose penis looks like your kid’s, whichever route they choose to take.
Health benefits and risks
Since I work very hard to research and present information based on current research evidence in my classes, this final category is the one to which I can really speak. And it can be surprisingly hard to sift through the claims that are out there about risk and benefit!
The American Academy of Pediatrics has been equivocal, to be sure. Their current statement on the one hand seems to endorse the practice, and on the other hand it doesn’t. This statement can be found on their website for parents:
“The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that circumcision has potential medical benefits and advantages, as well as risks. Evaluation of current evidence indicates that the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks and that the procedure’s benefits justify access to this procedure for families who choose it, however, existing scientific evidence is not sufficient to recommend routine circumcision.
Therefore, because the procedure is not essential to a child’s current well-being, we recommend that the decision to circumcise is one best made by parents in consultation with their pediatrician, taking into account what is in the best interests of the child, including medical, religious, cultural, and ethnic traditions.”
Their longer policy statement can be found here and the very detailed and long article from the task force behind the policy statement is here.
So, according to the AAP, the benefits outweigh the risks, but not so much as to become “essential to a child’s current well-being.” Which leaves us where, exactly?
I did my best to dig for solid numbers, and came up with this handy chart to compare benefits and risks. Let’s work our way down the list together, shall we?
Yes, Circumcision is painful
First off, circumcision is painful, and medical professionals recommend adequate pain relief both during the procedure and during the healing process (which takes about a week). The choice to circumcise your baby means he will feel pain, and there is always a small risk that he will have an adverse reaction to the pain medication.
Complications can occur
Further, the choice to circumcise means incurring the risk that there will be complications to the procedure. It is basically impossible to get hard numbers on this, since there is no universal reporting standard on complications. The numbers in my chart are a good guess. Mild to moderate surgical complications include: irritation of the glans, infection, excessive bleeding, painful urination, or scarring of the urinary outlet. The much more rare severe surgical complications include: hemorrhage or having too much skin removed. Some babies will need to have the procedure redone, either because the first attempt was inadequate, or because the skin re-adhered while healing.
For a small number of babies whose parents chose to leave them intact, they will develop a medical reason (often phimosis) that will require circumcision in adolescence or as an adult.
Perceived benefits of circumcision
Now we get to one of the benefits of infant circumcision: the reduction in risk of UTI. It is important to note that most UTIs in males occur in the first year of life, but overall incidence is still low at 1%. Baby boys who are circumcised do have a three to ten-fold reduction in risk of contracting a UTI in the 1st year of life.
Sometimes a reduction in the risk of penile cancer is mentioned as a benefit of circumcision, but the overall incidence of this type of cancer is so low, that the slight reduction in risk for circumcised men is barely statistically significant.
Finally, the other major purported benefit of circumcision is the reduction in the risk of contracting HIV and some other STIs. There have been several high quality studies done in Africa that show significant reduction of these risks. Whether their findings can be generalized to the population of American men is debatable.
It is important to note that rates of contracting sexually transmitted infections are affected to a high degree by socio-cultural influences. For example, the rates of circumcision in Northern Europe are much lower than the United States, but their STI rates are much lower as well. Regardless, the reduction in risk for circumcised men would not be completely protective. In other words, parents would need to teach their sons to wear condoms.
And on the somewhat uncomfortable topic of considering one’s baby boy’s future sex life, it is debatable whether adult men who have been circumcised experience diminished sexual satisfaction and function. I’m not sure whether this could ever be definitively proven, but there are certainly plenty of people who like to argue this point.
And that’s it. The risk/benefit ratio for circumcision as it regards to health concerns. You can see why the AAP has had a hard time making a definitive recommendation in favor of circumcision. It is, as they wisely put it, a decision that parents must weigh for their own sons. If you want to read more science-based conclusions, check out The Informed Parent: A Science-Based Resource for Your Child’s First Four Years.
This guest post was written by Stephanie Spitzer-Hanks. Stephanie gave birth to her first child in the Netherlands, where the nurturing and encouragement she received from so many women there inspired her to become a doula. Now she strives to give unconditional support and evidence-based education to families so that they can be confident in making the choices that are right for them. She is an ICEA certified childbirth educator, an Evidence Based Birth® Instructor, a DONA certified birth and postpartum doula, a StillBirthday certified bereavement doula, and a certified lactation counselor through Healthy Children’s Center for Breastfeeding. On the side of all of that, Stephanie is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and she serves as a chaplain at a hospital and writes and speaks about birtheology when she gets the chance. You can find out what she is up to at www.revdoula.com.
by thebirthhour | Nov 23, 2016 | Blog, Motherhood, Postpartum, Pregnancy
Need some ideas for gifts for the pregnant or new mom in your life. We’ve got a great list of fun, sweet AND useful things that she will love!
1 Herschel Backpack // 2 Mama Bear Papa Bear Mugs // 3 Icebreaker Bliss Wrap // 4 Crystal Click n Seal Tumbler // 5 Changeable Black Letter Board // 6 Mother Baby Elephant Necklace // 7 Hot Chocolate on a Stick // 8 Memphisto Sandals
1 Herschel Backpack – Stylish option for a hospital bag or diaper bag that will last forever.
2 Mama Bear Papa Bear Mugs – These are just adorable and would be so cute to use for a pregnancy announcement!
3 Icebreaker Bliss Wrap – Seriously the most cozy and versatile cardigan/wrap of all time. Perfect for a growing bump, postpartum pooch, and staying warm while nursing.
4 Crystal Click n Seal Tumbler – Whether you know it or not yet, pregnant and nursing mamas are ALWAYS thirsty. We are basically camels. this tumbler is perfect for at home or on the go. Having a straw makes it easy to drink in any position and the click top protects it from wagging tails and wild toddlers.
5 Changeable Black Letter Board – I love these old school letter boards for doing weekly bump pictures, monthly baby pictures, birth affirmations, or just plain funny stuff when you and your partner need a laugh during the sleep exhaustion!
6 Mother Baby Elephant Necklace – This is the sweetest thing ever. Did you know the bond between a baby elephant and its mother is often considered the closest of any animal on earth. If the baby is a girl, she will typically remain with her mother into adulthood and will likely never be separated from her until the mother dies in old age. Heart bursting! Perfect mama gift fellas – think push present, Christmas or Mother’s Day! It’s on my list (hint hint Richard)
7 Hot Chocolate on a Stick – Lots of pregnant and nursing mamas cut caffeine out of their diet so having a decadent treat like these is so great for those days when mama needs a little something extra. Great stocking stuffer idea!
8 Memphisto Sandals – My favorite sandal of all time. I wear a pair of these every single day. I have them in brown and black but they come in about 30 colors so I’ll likely be getting more soon. I get compliments on them every time I wear them and always tell people how much I prefer them to Birkenstocks because they aren’t as wide and clunky and have an extra layer of cushion that Birk’s don’t. Even if it’s cold out (never is here in Austin!), these are great for wearing around the house for extra support when your feet get tired.
by thebirthhour | Jul 25, 2016 | Blog, Motherhood
Today’s guest post is written by Casey O’Roarty who is a mama, Positive Discipline Trainer, Coach and Host of the Joyful Courage Parenting Podcast. At the end of this post she shares a course she is currently offering.
Help Your Older Child Adjust to the New Baby
Remember when you decided to have another child, and then you brought that baby home, and your older child became a crazy person? Maybe the older child was hurtful to the new baby? Or the older child became really needy and clingy? Did that happen to you? Are you concerned that it may happen?
It is so common for older children – toddlers all the way up to school agers – to have a hard time when a new baby joins the family. And it may not be for the reasons that you think…
One of the assumptions that grown ups often make about the behavior, is that kids have an ulterior motive. The reality is, children are navigating the world they find themselves in, with the skills they have developed over the course of their short lives, despite the fact that the emotional and survival parts of their brain are ahead in development.
Is it any wonder that they have a hard time?
It is so important to remember the power of perception here… While you and your partner may have spent many a night considering adding a new baby to the family, your older child might be content to keep things just the way they are. Life is pretty good as the only kid in the family….
Now, you may be spending lots of time talking about the baby growing in your belly with your child, and reading children’s books or looking at pictures of how that new baby is developing and how they will be born.
However, while you say there is a baby in there, it is a really tough concept for your child to fully understand.
Then the baby shows up, in the flesh.
It is glorious, and overwhelming, and exhausting.
Being a parent to a newborn is no joke, add an older child (who, by the way, will seem HUGE) and the level of overwhelm and exhaustion can go up a notch.
Here are some of the thoughts that can show up for parents:
- Was my child always this needy?
- Can’t they see I am busy?
- Don’t they know that the baby needs to be fed/diapered/held?
- Why are they whining so much?
- But she KNOWS how to use the potty – what is with the accidents?
- They just want my attention!
- Why are they so mean to the baby?
But here is what our children may be feeling and deciding:
- To belong in this family, you have to be the center of attention or act like a baby
- My grown ups don’t have time for me anymore
- Maybe if I have accidents, they will help me
- I am hurting, it is the baby’s fault
- I feel power and control when I am the boss or proving they can’t boss ME
The arrival of a new baby changes our older children’s world – and it is confusing. Human behavior is based on the needs of a sense of belonging and a sense of significance. So our goal when bringing a new baby into the family, is to remember to do what we can to stay connected to our older child, and offer them experiences to let them know they matter.
Here is the thing – just like you, our kids are doing the best they can. They have limited life experience to teach them how to handle the variety of intense emotions that show up when a new human joins the family. The lens they see the world out of is pretty egocentric and narrow — because they are young children — and their experience is really the only one they are skilled enough to consider.
Here are some ideas that may make the transition to four smoother
Even though it is a pretty abstract concept, do talk about the baby in your belly. Include your child in lots of conversation about the new baby. Conversation about “new baby” will begin to be the new normal. Read lots of books about it.
When the baby comes, and your older child gets whiny, remember that they are doing the best they can, and their frustration tolerance is really small. Just repeat their request in the voice and tone that you want to hear, as an invitation for the older child to try again.
When it seems like your child is being unkind towards new baby, draw them in close and whisper “I love you” into their ear. They aren’t sure about how they fit in the family, with this new dynamic, so your reassurance will do more for how they are feeling about the new baby, than any reprimand you want to give for their behavior. In fact, do this any time you think about it, they can never hear this enough. It also helps to offer other positive phrases like “I’m proud of you”.
And most important, make sure you spend at least 20 minutes each day connecting one on one with your older child. Time that is all about them and spending time together. This is one of the most powerful tools, because it is all about relationship strengthening and connection building.
A connected child feels safe and secure, and much more likely to be easygoing and cooperative.
And even when you do all the things mentioned above, remember that challenges and meltdowns and tears are all a part of the journey. Their behavior, at the root, is a bid for connection, for love, and to know they matter. Your work is to stay level headed enough to remember this, and notice when you are making assumptions and taking things personally.
Books to read with an older sibling to prepare for new baby!
Hello in There!: A Big Sister’s Book of Waiting
Babies Don’t Eat Pizza: A Big Kids’ Book About Baby Brothers and Baby Sisters
You Were the First
The Big Sibling Book: Baby’s First Year According to ME
by thebirthhour | May 7, 2016 | Blog, Motherhood
Setting up the Perfect Work Station for Podcasting Workflow
I thought I would share a little bit today about the process behind creating a podcast today since many people have asked me where and how I put The Birth Hour together. I have suffered from back and neck pain as well as carpal tunnel for the past decade which is really sad considering I’m only 30 years old. The good news is that I’ve had many years to test out all of the ergonomic products available and know the value in putting together an ergonomic work station.
Recording a Podcast
I record using the Blue Yeti Microphone over Skype (audio only) with ecamm call recorder. Previously I used the Blue Snowball mic which was great as well but it didn’t have a mute button or a headphone port so I couldn’t hear my own voice when recording. The mute button is also really helpful for my podcast recordings because often when a mom is telling her birth story, she will talk for 10 minutes straight without me saying anything so I love being able to mute the mic and take a drink of water or whatever without her hearing me gulp.
I used to sit at the dining room table while I recorded but now I use my sit stand desk from Ergotron that I’m obsessed with. I love this desk because it just sits on top of the desk I already own and it can be adjusted up or down really easily. If I decide to upgrade to a bigger desk one day (like when I have an actual office), I can just move this desk wherever it needs to go. I also got the screen mount so that I could have double screens which is really helpful when editing.
Many of my recordings last an hour or more so being able to get up and move around a bit is so helpful. I have a stool that can be table height or bar height and an anti-fatigue mat that helps with circulation in my legs when I am standing for long periods of time.
Editing a Podcast
Editing is the most time consuming aspect of podcasting and can take anywhere from 3-8 hours to edit a one hour episode so again having the sit stand desk option is so essential. My husband helps a lot with editing as well so having the adjustable desk is amazing because we can adjust it for his height as well. We edit using Garageband which comes on all macbook computers. Most of the editing is just cutting but there are also some sound adjustments that we make as well. We’ve also learned to split the tracks at the beginning of the editing session so that if there is background noise on either end, we can cut it out completely while the other person is talking.
