I wanted to share with you a few my favorite books for expectant and new mothers. We all know that knowledge is power and theses books offer wisdom responsibly.
When looking for resources it is always good to be wary of any books that make claims for making your baby’s schedule “conform” to yours especially when it comes to feeding. Newborns come ferociously hardwired with three basic needs: to be near you, to be fed and to suckle. These needs will shift with each growth spurt, on days when your schedule or outings shifts nap time – or whatever! There will be a “new normal” every week or so and adjusting to your baby will require time, skin-to-skin contact and yes, sometimes interrupted sleep ;-). Remember, in all the good and the tough times – “This too shall pass” so even at its most intense you will find resources deep within yourself to get up one more time, change one more diaper, burp one more burp before you, your baby and your partner can rest. They are little for precious little time! You will never regret those minutes in the still of the night nursing or rocking your little one back to sleep.
Here are some nice books for you to explore:
The Kind Mother, Alicia Silverstone
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League publication
The Nature of Birth and Breastfeeding, Michel Odent, M.D.
Rediscovering Birth (or anything else) by Sheila Kitzinger
Mind Over Labor, by Carl Jones
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth, Henci Goer
Creating a Joyful Birth Experience, by Bardsley & Cappachione
Not all of these will be at regular bookstores so try Half Price, Indy Reads, or other used store inventories too. See you soon!
Yours in service, Jean
Meditation for slowing down during hurried days: 
During our classes we have been enjoying a cooling, cleansing blend of waters to stay hydrated while we practice and rehydrate after class. Try these at home to refresh your body -an oasis in a glass!
So much beauty unfolds daily around us at this time of year it feels renewing to spend time outside walking or sitting and breathing deeply the fragrant plants, freshly mown grasses and blooming trees and flowers. Of course, if you suffer with pollen allergies you may need to increase your neti pot nasal cleansing to compensate, but deep exhalation can help to clean allergens out of the lungs and nose. Here is a nice easy practice to try the next time you walk your dog or just walk to your parking garage:
Ok, so that title could be a joke! Of course we have to breathe to stay alive, but wouldn’t you like to give your body breath that will help ward off disease? Taking full diaphragmatic breaths releases pressure on major blood vessels that run through the diaphragm muscle. Taking little chest breaths restrict the full expansion of the chest cavity and the release of those vessels. It’s difficult for us to monitor our breathing, but the more we indulge in full inhalations that expand the torso and full exhalations that contract the abdominal muscles we actually increase our oxygen intake, improve circulation between upper body and lower body which lowers blood pressure (!), and tone the abdominal muscles! In addition, complete breaths expel all waste gases so our inhalations give our bodies a real “breath of fresh air!” The yogis tell us that breathing consciously and fully can actually improve our immunity to all things viral by keeping the respiratory system clean. GIve it a try and send me results of your experiment! Of course, breathing may not be as effective as a flu vaccine but it should make you feel great everyday!
