When I became pregnant with my first child a sense of panic washed over me. I am now responsible for growing another human! Pregnancy perfection became my mantra as I took a long hard look at everything I put into or onto my body. All of the junk and toxic chemicals had to go!
Next, I dove down the internet rabbit hole of information overload, only to come out even more confused. So much information to sort through, which is the correct blog post or ebook to follow? So, I started reading books recommended by my crunchy Mama friends and soon I started to get some real direction.
Now after having four amazing natural births, I want to help others navigate all of the information too. I have a close group of friends who are crunchy like me and they have been an amazing support and source of information! I wanted to put the “best of” on one page so other Mama’s and Mama’s-to-be would have resources right at their fingertips.
If you want to see one of my births, check out My All Natural Hospital Birth
*Update to this page: I suffered a loss of a 4th pregnancy and decided to share my story HERE. I want everyone who has suffered a loss to know that my heart goes out to you Mama, you are not alone in your grief. Love yourself.
Before I dive into all of my favorite tips/tricks/finds/favorites, I want to give to give you a checklist to start with, to make things easier!
1. Follow my Real Food Pregnancy Pinterest Board
2. Check out these birth courses, that REALLY helped me to have the natural births that I dreamed of:
✿ First Course: A natural birth online course that my friend Genevieve over at Mama Natural put together. Let me tell you, she is amazing! Her birth program is amazing! Everyone needs to take her course!
✿ Second Course: Another natural birth course that focuses a lot on the preparation for birth through movement, breath, relaxation, and the whole mental game. The course was created by another crunchy nurse too! The course is called Kopa Birth.
✿ Third Course: this one is for strength and body mechanics for birth! I did this program throughout my 4th pregnancy and I really think it helped keep my hips and pelvis in good working order for an easy natural birth! The course is called One Strong Mama
✿ Fourth Course: this one is also for strength, but it focuses on the core and pelvic floor. I had diastasis recti after my births bad, I mean really really BAD! I tried to correct it myself with strength training and yoga, but found out I was doing it all wrong and actually making things worse! A blogger friend of mine recommended MuTu, saying it was the only thing that worked for her. So I gave it a go!
✿ UPDATE: Mama Natural added another course to accompany her birth course: The Mama Natural Baby Care Course! It’s the very best way to learn how to care for a newborn naturally and with calm & confidence. Learn more HERE.
Let’s first start with nutrition during pregnancy, because this is the foundation. You cannot make a healthy baby if you don’t put healthy foods into your body! You and your baby literally are what YOU eat! Grab these books and start reading. There are also recipes further down the page. If you need help actually finding some of these healthy foods at affordable prices,
If you need help actually finding some of these healthy foods at affordable prices, HERE is my favorite healthy online shopping resource that is catered specifically to Moms! They have the absolute best prices around (believe me, I have checked many times!) plus free shipping!!!
Click on the images and links below to learn more.
Next, it’s time to get rid of the chemicals that you put onto your body. Your little one soaks these right up! Studies have shown that babies are born with over 200 chemicals in their cord blood. That’s alarming! So, I started making my own stuff. You can find my recipes HERE. I also threw out all of my makeup that is filled with so many bad ingredients! I did my homework on this one because I had tried the “natural” make ups and they didn’t work as well.
I started a Safe Skin Care Facebook Group where we talk about this in great detail and offer solutions, you can join the group HERE.
I started making my own cleaning products too. Everything went into the trash and I basically started to clean with three things: vinegar, baking soda, and coconut oil! You can find my DIY recipes HERE. You can also get the step by step on removing the toxins in my book “Detox Your Life”
First, there are a few essential items that I could not have survived pregnancy without:
First, pack your suitcase early so you are prepared. When labor starts you can easily forget important things. I pack two bags: one suitcase for everything I need to stay overnight in the hospital, and one bag that is strictly for labor — all the essentials! Here is what I packed:
Labor bag:
Suitcase:
Postpartum is a magical time and also very terrifying! You are now responsible for a little human who is completely dependent on you! Not to worry, your instincts will kick in. But, it can’t hurt to be prepared. I learned so much from these books and still reference them regularly. I highly recommend reading them BEFORE baby arrives though. This way you will not be scrambling for information if you run into issues with breastfeeding or making decisions about vaccinations when they are new and you are tired and sleep deprived!
If you want to try samples of a ton of different “crunchy” mom and baby items, I HIGHLY recommend getting your hands on monthly Ecocentric Mom boxes! Each month you get to try out new items for yourself and for baby. I have learned about so many different products via my monthly boxes! Check them out HERE
I can’t tell you how many messages and emails I have gotten from Mama’s who are having difficulty breastfeeding and are ready to give up. No, don’t give up! Troubleshoot. I have some of the most resourceful friends on the planet, and let me tell you, they seriously know how to navigate motherhood and all of it’s up’s and down’s. Here are some of their best resources.
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I am an RN, not an MD. The information on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice. The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. You can find out more in my Terms of Use & Disclosure.
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