Just as pain does not equal suffering...

The absence of pain does not equal the absence of suffering! This insightful article from Birth Sense outlines some interesting research on the experience of birthing with an epidural. A birthing woman's need for labor support does not end if she has an epidural!

If you are planning an epidural, or even if you are not planning an epidural but plan a hospital birth — do yourself a favor and hire a doula for continuous labor support.  It can make a huge difference in your satisfaction with your experience.  I think the fact that continuous support influenced birth satisfaction more than pain relief  explains why many studies conclude that women who had unmedicated births (most often these are women who have doulas and/or midwives during labor) were happier with their experiences than those with medicated births.  It’s not the medication or the absence of medication that made the difference, but the presence of someone there to give continual support.  A partner may give excellent support, but partners need support, too!  Partners get tired, need to eat, go to the bathroom, get discouraged, just like laboring moms do.  A doula is there for both of you, and a good doula will give you your space when you need it, time for just the two of you when you need it, yet be there with just the support you need at the right moment when it is needed.

 Read the entire article here >>

Archive Site for Hypnosis Recordings

There are two pages that exist for the Hypnosis Tracks.

First is the Day of Birth Recordings:
http://www.archive.org/details/HypnosisForDayOfBirth

Second is the page for practice before birth:
http://www.archive.org/details/HypnosisForChildbirth

Recipes from class!

Ambrosia

from John and Brynn

1 1/2 C. Raw Cashews
1/3 C. Nutritional Yeast Flakes
1/4  C. Olive Oil
1/4 C. Sunflower Oil
1/4 C. Raw Sesame Seeds
Several Pieces Roasted Red Pepper
1/4 C. Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 C. Water
1 Tbs. Bragg Liquid Aminos
1 Tsp. Salt
1-2 Jalepenos
6 Cloves Garlic

Blend and Serve!

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

from Maggie and Heal

1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chunks (roughly one 4-ounce bar, chopped)

Stir together the first six ingredients. Fold in the chocolate chunks. Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. They should still be quite soft and just flecked with bits of brown. Allow them to set up on the baking pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.

Iowa City Babywearers March Meeting

The Iowa City Babywearers group meets the first Saturday of the month from 1:00-3:00 at Fair Grounds Coffeehouse (345 S. Dubuque St.) Next meeting is Saturday, March 5.

IC Babywearers on facebook

This group is for people in the Iowa City area who are interested in the benefits of wearing our children in cloth baby carriers. Experienced babywearers and those merely testing the babywearing waters are equally welcome. Join us for monthly meetings and learn about the art of babywearing using carriers such as slings, wraps, mei tais, and traditional carriers!

Birth Plan Workshop

For those wanting additional in-depth and personalized guidance through the process of creating a birth plan for hospital birth, Jun Nicole Matsushita of Bamboo Birth will be offering a Birth Plan Workshop at Heartland Yoga on Saturday, March 5 from 11:00-1:00.

To register: call Jun-Nicole at 319-430-6736 or email her at junnicole88@gmail.com
Cost: $25 for Mindful Birthing students
Please bring a draft of your birth plan!