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....

The Baby Guessing Game - Enter to Win!...

I love surprises and I can’t think of a bigger and better surprise in life than at the moment of birth to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl! Even though we have no idea what our current belly bump is going to be, that hasn’t stopped everyone guessing! People in town stop me and tell me with certainty that ‘it’s a boy because I’m carrying all up front’ or ‘it’s a girl because my tummy is round’. With...

The Business of Being Born...

I finally got to watch this movie last night and just had to write about it. ‘The Business of Being Born’ was released in 2007 and is highly recommended for any woman who is pregnant and wants more information on the personal and political implications of her birthing choices. The film was the idea of Executive Producer Ricki Lake who, after receiving unwanted (and un-needed) medical intervention during the...

Adventures in Tandem Nursing: A Book Review...

Firstly let’s get things straight, tandem nursing has nothing to do with breastfeeding on a bicycle! Instead it is the choice to nurse your child/children whilst pregnant and/or when the newborn arrives. I first heard about ‘Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding During Pregnancy and Beyond’ by Hilary Flower, on an online forum and was immediately intrigued to find out more. I became pregnant with my second...

Writing a Natural Birth Plan...

With the unpredictability of the birthing experience, many people wonder if they should really bother making a birth plan. My friend and Hypnobirthing facilitator, Etta Deschamps, sums the answer up nicely as she explains to her clients that they would not consider turning up on their wedding day without having made the necessary plans and preparations so why do the same for giving birth?! Even though you cannot control...

Online Pregnancy and Birth Media – 3 of the Best...

As an expectant mother it is normal to want to saturate yourself with information. I know I did. I wanted to read every book and be well informed as to what was happening to my baby and my body and how I could enhance the health of both. Because I was often busy, there were limitations on time to sit and read all the books I wanted to. Instead I used the internet to find online radio stations that I could listen to whilst...

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....

A Pregnancy Meditation...

Taking time to meditate is beautifully beneficial at any stage of our lives but it is especially valuable whilst nurturing a young baby in the womb. Calming our emotions, which can fluctuate wildly with hormonal changes, helps us to be clearer, happier, more focused and prepares us for giving birth. The baby also picks up on the vibes and is likely to be calmer and uplifted on a subtle level. During deep relaxation our...

Welcome to the new ‘Nature Isle Child’ blog!...

Greetings! I’m so excited to be starting this new blog and having the opportunity to write and share information about healthy pregnancy, natural birthing, holistic parenting and the many ways to raise a child with ecological consciousness. For a number of years I’ve been doing my best to live a natural, healthy life with a low eco-footprint and contribute to the wellbeing of people and planet. I am continuously...