crunchy parenting

Today, I finally got around to seeing my favorite pregnancy chiropractor. Yes, indeed, there are chiropractors that specifically treat pregnant women, and yes, it is safe.

I go for a chiropractic massage, which is 45 minutes of targeted massage done by the chiropactor himself. This time, it was for sciatica-like pain in my right hip, possibly from all that weird sleeping you do when you’re pregnant. (Left side, right side, slightly tilted on your back, left side pillow between your knees, etc.) I’ve been meaning to see him for months now, but you know how life is with a toddler.

I go in, lie on the table and he gently nudges both sides of my hips. “Ow,” I say as he digs in a little on the right side. “Yeah,” he says, “that side’s much more mad than the other side.” It’s a strange feeling, since unlike other muscle aches and pains, I hadn’t even realized the muscles in my hips were sore until he poked the exact spot.

He starts in on the non-sore side. Just as it occurs to me that the other side is going to be really uncomfortable once he gets there, he beats me to it. “Let’s put some heat on the other side to start, or you’re really not going to like how it feels.” The heat on my butt and hips is oddly divine and I make a mental note to put a heating pad or hot watter bottle on it at home once in a while.

The chiropractor gets going on the sore side and the heat has helped tremendously. Now, the massage just feels good, and I’m day-dreaming of my future free-range of movement when I get home. Before I know it, he’s done and I go into his adjustment office. I lie in various posed positions and he cracks my hips, back and neck. There’s that moment of heightened soreness and then relief, as he has me go through some walking motions while he checks my alignment again. I feel like a new woman, even pregnant.

I tend to go to him throughout the pregnancy as long as something hurts or aches and he does a magical job of fixing it. While I was expecting Spice, I saw him in the last few weeks for more hip-opening adjustments, and I swear it helped her drop down on time and get labor going well.

Have you ever done chiropractic while pregnant, or considered it? Curious minds want to know.

More on chiropractic care while pregnant:

• Chiropractic: Can chiropractic care help during pregnancy? [iVillage]
• Pregnancy and Chiropractic Care [American Pregnancy Association]
• Berlin Wellness Group [Pregnancy Chiropractic, Los Angeles]

Grab a cup of tea, set your timer for a 15-minute break and enjoy some linky goodness below. (Cookies optional.)

* “*Set a Course*”:http://www.chrisbrogan.com/set-a-course/ // Chris Brogan’s excellent post on making sure you know where you’re going in life.
* “*Homemade Liquid Hand Soap*”:http://tipnut.com/homemade-liquid-soap/ // An easy-peasy recipe for making your own. As soon as I get some glycerin, which is also handy in “making your bubble solution”:http://www.creativekidsathome.com/activities/activity_5a.html.
* “*When Pro-life is Anti-family*”:http://www.bella-kai.com/christian-parenting-toddlers/ // An insightful article on Florida’s “Choose Life” license plate fund and how funding is skewed towards would-be mothers who choose adoption over parenting.
* “*What to search when you’re expecting*”:http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-to-search-when-youre-expecting.html // Hilarious Google-produced clip on a new parent-to-be researching their future life with a baby. [1 min.]
* “*The Occasional Dad-O-Graphic*”:http://dadographic.blogspot.com/ // Simple yet entertaining graphics of one father’s summary of the highlights of parenthood.
* “*Five Myths About Drinking Water*”:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89323934 // Do you really need 8 glasses of water a day? How about “more water = less toxins”? Answers here.

p. Think about it. *They spend nine months curled up in a ball*. Sure, it’s nice to be able to stretch a little once they’re out, but if you’ve ever gently tugged on a newborn’s limbs, you probably noticed the spring effect. Their little arms and legs bounce right back into that semi-curled state.

Photo by davidsilver

p. For a purely comfort factor, this is one reason that the Baby Bjorn isn’t good for babies; *they’re suspended in this near-cruxifiction state where they can’t easily pull their arms or legs in close to their bodies*. Compare this awkward position to being carried curled up in someone’s arms, or hugged close in a hammock-like sling carrier.

p. Another point is that *I see so many parents carrying their tiny babies in the Baby Bjorn facing out*. Young babies are not supposed to be carried facing out in baby carrier. Small babies have no way to tune out excess stimuli from the world around them, and facing them forward gives them no way to escape being overstimulated. You might think that you’re on a quiet, peaceful walk, but this is a tiny creature that’s been shut in the safe, muffled dark for nine months; your bedroom wall contains plenty of excitement for such a tiny brain.

p. *Please, please, Baby Bjorn owners: if you’re going to insist on using it, please face your little ones inward.*

p. The last reason is one that I would love to see more research on, as it’s a cross between comfort and physical health. *There’s some concern among babywearers that the way a baby sits in the Bjorn isn’t good for hip or spine development.* If you look closely, you’ll see that the babies in the Bjorn have most of their weight on their crotch (ouch!), compared to babies fully supported from head to butt in sling-type carriers, or even babies supported fully from underneath when wrapped against the parent’s chest. I can’t help but think there’s a reason indigenous cultures carried their babies in certain positions at certain ages.

p. I should point out that *I really do like the Baby Bjorn brand*, aside from the carrier. We have three of their potty seats, their stepstool, and some bibs — all excellent products with great quality and well-thought design. But the carrier itself and others styled like it are a massive fail. There are much better carriers suited for taking your baby on walks, running errands, putting them to sleep, nursing or bottle-feeding them.

p. I love the idea, history and practicality of babywearing, but *there are much better options for both babies and parents than the Baby Bjorn carrier*. Please, do yourself and your child the favor of carefully “*comparing baby carriers*”:http://www.peppermint.com/choosing.html before purchasing a Baby Bjorn, or adding it to your baby registry.

Photo by amcdawes

Photo by rabble

Photo by medigerati

p. *What’s your favorite baby carrier? Do you have thoughts on the Baby Bjorn carrier?* Please share – I always love to hear from other babywearing mommas!

p. I have been struck down with a cold. Or maybe it’s a flu. (I haven’t gotten around to taking my temperature, but I seem to have chills and fatigue of some sort.) I blame the spouse-unit for bringing something into the house, since Spice and I have been pretty homebound with all the heat lately.

p. The tough part is being pregnant and not want to take ANY medicine-like. So I’ve been in the kitchen, whipping up all kinds of herbal remedies to ease my symptoms. Thankfully, they’re pretty easy to make, so it’s mostly been a few minutes in the kitchen and then back to the couch with my sniffly self. Here’s the ones I’ve had success with.

p. *For sinus congestion:*

* 2 tbsp organic (or at least unpasturized) apple cider vinegar
* 2 tbsp organic honey (or to taste)
* hot water

p. Mix all ingredients in a mug and sip it down. Doesn’t taste like the greatest, but my sinuses were clear within 10-15 minutes.

p. Also, if my sinus congestion was really keeping me up at night, I’d be using our “NasoKlar”:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002EA3NBM?ie=UTF8&tag=littlefeet-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002EA3NBM thing. It’s like a neti-pot, a little mini teapot thing for your nose. You fill it with warm saltwater and pour it through your nose. More than a little gross, but it gives instant, chemical-free results. Hard to beat that.

p. *For a sore throat:*

* 2 tbsp lemon juice
* 2 tbsp organic honey (or to taste)
* hot water

p. Mix all ingredients in a mug and sip. The more honey, the better here.

p. I also have great results with strong black licorice. It’s really the only thing that will calm those hysterical throat tickles that have your eyes watering while you gasp for air. Another one is lozenges with slippery elm, but I don’t like how it tastes.

p. *For coughs:*

* 3 inch chunk of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
* 1 cup of coriander seeds
* 4 cups of water
* organic honey to taste

p. Mix the ginger, coriander seeds and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer for 10 minutes, or until the color changes to that of black tea, a dark brown. Strain a portion into a mug, add honey to taste and sip.

p. I also got a little brave and tried a recipe for “tomato tea”:http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/tomato_tea.html, since that’s a really popular cold remedy. It was spicy and good, but since I don’t used “canned goods (BPA risk) “:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/09/shanna-swan-bpa-exposure_n_606141.html, I had to puree the tomatoes myself and the result was something more chunky soup-like than tea. Between that and the work involved (hey, I’m sick, cut me some slack!), I think I’ll pass on it until I can find a healthy AND convenient solution. (Maybe pre-pureed & frozen tomato juice? Hmm…)

Just about every pregnant mother has heard about the importance of exercising when you’re pregnant, but how many mothers truly commit to it over nine months? Pregnancy and childbirth is just like a marathon, and while you can never guarantee the outcome, you have the best chance of finishing well if you train well. Like any other athlete, this means proper nutrition and solid exercise. Check with your midwife or ob/gyn if you have any conditions outside a normal pregnancy, like hypertension, etc.; they can give you suggestions for starting exercise safely. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re five months along and have yet to get started; it’s never too late to start. Here are three easy pregnancy exercises you can start right now.

• Stretching. Yes, this counts! Stretching regularly throughout your pregnancy is a great way to enhance your flexibility in preparation for the Big Event, and is a proven way to loosen up and relax anytime, anywhere. Try shoulder circles for a tense back, or slow waist twists to ease middle-back tension. Stretch slowly and frequently, but be careful not to overdo it – increased amounts of the hormone relaxin during pregnancy are already at work to loosen up your joints.
• Walking. I know, I know you’ve heard this one before, too, right? Well, that’s because walking is great cardio for a pregnant body, low impact on those loosening joints, and absolutely free. If you’re in the market for new walking shoes, search out your local running shoe store; they’ll likely have someone qualified to watch you waddle walk and fit the best shoes for your changing body. But if you’re on a budget, or can’t find a running store, don’t let that stop you — lace up your most comfortable walking shoes and get walking! Start small, with 5-10 minutes a day, and work your way up. Also remember that speed isn’t important, but watch your form, keep your back straight and mind you footing. Walking is not only something you should do throughout your pregnancy, but is a MUST in labor, so get started now.
• Yoga. Not just for hippies anymore, prenatal yoga is a great way to stay in shape during pregnancy. Try to find a local yoga studio that offers prenatal yoga and feels right to you. Not only are the movements tailored to your new form, but often good prenatal instructors will start a class by asking how everyone’s feeling and what areas they’d like to work on. This is where you would raise your and complain lightly about how awful your lower back is feeling. More than likely, other mothers are feeling your pain (literally), and there are all kinds of pregnancy-safe exercises that can give you relief. Plus, it’s an amazing way to meet other mothers on the same journey. And in a pinch, don’t forget to look up online prenatal yoga routines or YouTube prenatal yoga exercises you can do at home.

Trust me, I know how hard it is to drag yourself out of bed, or off the couch when you’re feeling tired and blah, but if you can just get over the hump of the first few times, you’ll start to feel better and set the groundwork for a great healthy pregnancy.