My Waterbirth, Homebirth & Hypnobirth...

My second birthing experience was beautiful, peaceful, gentle, ecstatic and enjoyable. But it wasn’t exactly as I had planned… The plan was to have a waterbirth at home, in our peaceful mountain village. I had ordered and shipped in an Aquaborn birth pool from the UK. I would be using Hypnobirthing techniques for a calm and gentle birth as I did previously. I had discussed all my requirements with my amazingly...

Making a Belly Cast: A photo essay...

Making a belly cast is a fun activity to do in the latter stages of pregnancy as a 3-dimensional reminder of your beautiful belly bump. The process can be integrated into a baby shower or blessing ceremony with your friends and family participating in the event. My previous belly casting post, with step by step instructions, has been one of my most read blog entries - a testimony to the growing popularity of belly casting....

A Blessing Ceremony...

In many cultures around the world it is traditional for the expectant mother to have a blessing ceremony to honour her and the unborn child. This is a time for her women family and friends to gather and offer love and support for the journey ahead. The blessing event provides the opportunity for women to celebrate their womanhood, share stories and pass on expertise. A blessing ceremony (also known as a Blessingway)...

How to Make a Belly Cast...

It’s amazing how much a pregnant belly can expand and I wanted to capture the memory of my bump with more than pictures. I opted to make a belly cast in the last month of pregnancy when I was feeling as round as I could possibly get. I found some instructions in the book Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation but I could not get any of the pre-plastered bandages that were recommended....