Author Archives: juliebyers

Statistically Speaking

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At yesterday’s Blessingway, we had 11 women who had given birth

Out of those women, 4 had VBACs (vaginal births after cesarean).  That may not sound like a big number but it is challenging to find support for VBAC.  I only recommend one OB group and even then it can be tricky.  With VBAC, you are guilty until proven innocent.  Any blip on the screen or any hesitation in dilation seems to give license to perform a repeat cesarean. 

It is interesting to note that all 4 of these VBAC babies were born out-of-hospital. 

Also, out of the 11 women, 2 were pregnant and planning VBACs.

If you want more information on VBAC, join our local International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) forum.

Win / Fail

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Win:  Cadbury’s bestseller, the Dairy Milk Bar, is now fairly traded.  The packaged cocoa is also certified fair trade.  This change means the cocoa beans were not picked using slave labor.  This change means that very small children were not exposed to pesticides or forced to perform dangerous tasks.  This change means that workers received a fair wage.

Fail:  Everything else made by Cadbury is not fairly traded.  Yes, that includes the famous egg.

Remember my post asking why we can have dolphin-safe tuna but we can’t have slave-free chocolate?  Learn more about slave-free products and stay mindful as you prepare Easter goodies.

Such incredible yumminess

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I tried this raw chocolate mousse at Earth Fare.  The gRAWnola guy was doing a “cooking” demo although, of course, there is no cooking required and he let me scrape the bowl.  This recipe is beyond yum.

  • 3/4 cup dates soaked until very soft with pits removed
  • 2 avocados
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 3/4 cup cacao powder
  • 1/2 cup agave

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until very smooth.

The recipe card I picked up doesn’t credit anybody so apologies to the raw chef I’m not crediting.

Upcoming Class

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My next Hypnobabies childbirth class will meet in Anderson beginning in May.  The class is 6 weeks long.  I have a couple of spots left if anyone is interested!

Hypnobabies is a wonderful choice for any type of birth experience and any birth environment.   

You can email me for more information:  j_byers[at] bellsouth [dot] net

I’m planning a Greenville class to begin in June but I will begin it sooner if there is need.  Email me if you’d like me to hold a spot for the Greenville class.  Hypnobabies requires a low teacher-student ratio so I can’t take more than 5 couples per class.

Why you might want a doula

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Snip snip sneakiness

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On Friday, the mommy alarm bells were going off.  I felt Norah was up to something but couldn’t put my finger on it.  As usual, I nursed Cedar to sleep for her afternoon nap.  It took around 10 minutes.  When I returned to Norah, I noticed she was wearing a hat but didn’t think much of it.  I swept up some playdough and opened the trashbin to dump it when…

Oh my.  The trashbin was full of blond hair.  *don’t react strongly, don’t react strongly*  Her friends, Maris and Clementine, have also recently cut their hair so I knew it was a possibility.

Me:  Norah, you cut your hair.  Let me see. 

Norah:  Removes hat with an impish grin.

Whew!  No scalp showing.  Wow…she did a pretty good job.  Still, I’m sad that she has bangs now.  What a hassle.

I didn’t find a single blond hair anywhere except in the trash and the kitchen scissors were neatly returned to their drawer.  We’re calling it “chunky layers.”  And look how much she looks like my preschool self:

I didn’t know about this sneaky side.  A new characteristic for the journey.

Spring Fever

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The amazing Tracie Birch is doing Spring Mini-Sessions at the Clemson Botanical Gardens.  Have I mentioned how much I love her photography?  And her way with children?  And altogether how much I love Tracie?  Here are the details.  I bet the slots will fill extraordinarily quickly…

Whatcha waiting for?

The Sling Controversy

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You can read my thoughts on the CPSC’s recent warning against slings at our babywearing blog.

Not much that a hot bath won’t cure

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I do have birthy things to say.  But this post is again gonna be about a darling child of mine.  So to satisfy the birthy folks:

I’m in the middle of a Hypnobabies class and thoroughly enjoying the couples attending.  We keep running out of time which I hope means we’re having mindful dialogue and not that I’m rambling on.  I’m also excited that 3 of my next 4 births are repeat clients.  It is such a compliment to be contacted as soon as a former client finds out she’s expecting.

Ok, now to the real purpose of my post. 

Doesn’t she look like she wants a glass of wine and dim lights?  We don’t have a baby tub.  Cedar and I started out bathing together and then when she could sit, we moved her to the kitchen sink where she splashed with abandon.  Now, she has decided that when placed in bubbly warm water, she must lean back and stretch out–her feet usually propped against one end, her head against the other.  She doesn’t splash.  She relaxes.  Sometimes she has the water up to her chin as she wiggles down to submerge.  A girl after my own heart.   

And since I gave her a banana to mutilate while I blogged, we’re off for bathtime now.

Simple Diapering

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I attended the Greenville Cloth Diaper Group yesterday.  I could not believe how many mamas were there!  Even a first time pregnant mama with her mother came to learn about cloth diapering.   I think there were around 15 women there! 

I love cloth diapering.  There are so many choices available.  Really the sky is the limit on creative options for different lifestyles.  My “go-to” diaper is still the bumGenius one-size.  But around the house, I do love a simple prefold with a snappi.  I love the simple look of it.  It makes me think of summer and clothes-lines.  It is close to the way my grandmothers diapered.  Of course, I’m clumsy and would never attempt to use a safety pin anywhere near a wiggly baby so the snappi it will  be! 

It isn’t waterproof which is great because I am trying to learn Cedar’s elimination cues.  And sometimes the snappi comes undone and snags on a towel or bedspread.  I remember Norah crawling across our bed and getting stuck by her snappi.  According to the snappi instructions, they are not meant to be used without a cover.  Call me a rulebreaker.

The prefolds I use were given to me before Norah was born and were purchased by another mom (who also used them) at a yard sale from a family (who also used them)!  Needless to say, a quality prefold holds up well! 

When your baby grows out of prefolds, they make wonderful cleaning rags. 

They are also an inexpensive option.  A good prefold costs 1.50 (you’ll want a dozen) .  And a snappi costs 3.95 (you only need one).  To make them waterproof, you can add a 10.00 cover (you’ll need at least two).

As I think about my sister and her husband diapering in a developing country without hot water, I think prefolds might hold up the best.  Of course, where they are going, the babies don’t wear diapers at all and they might find that practice suits.