Sweet Potato Coconut Soup… whoaaaa yummm!
By Kitty | February 7, 2010
Soups and stews are among my favorite dishes to make during cold winter nights. The fact that they include tossing a bunch of ingredients in ONE pot, thereby decreasing the amount of resulting dishes is an added plus for us non-dishwasher-owning folks. We have a few standard soups and stews that we make often, and of course we don’t shy from the clear-out-the pantry/fridge stews that include just about anything we can find. However, every so often it is nice to find new recipes to add to our culinary arsenal, especially when we have visitors.
This weekend Garrett’s parents from Maine came down to visit so it was the perfect time to find a new recipe to try. Gare being vegan, I first checked the VegNews website, which I know has tons of wonderful vegetarian and vegan recipes. It was an immediate victory, since it didn’t take me long to stumble across this recipe for Sweet Potato Coconut Soup. A pretty simple recipe, it contains ingredients that we almost always have stocked at home, so it will DEFINITELY be a frequently prepared dish in our household from this day forth. Especially since it was so delicious!
Doesn't it look delicious?!
Here’s the recipe with my comments in italics:
What You Need:
2 large onions, diced
3 stalks of celery, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/4 cup ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium carrot, cut into 1/4-inch slices
3 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes One very large sweet potato ended up being more than 3 cups once it was peeled and cubed
1 can of coconut milk
1/4 cup maple syrup or sweetener of choice We used maple syrup–it’s a great natural sweetener. Agave nectar would probably work great as well!
Salt to taste
Hot pepper sauce and scallions (garnish) Not having a favorite hot pepper sauce, I just put 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in with the soup instead of using the sauce as garnish. It was DELICIOUS!!
What You Do:
Saute onions over medium heat until they become caramelized. Add celery and ginger and sauté for one minute. Add the carrots and cook for 10 minutes.
Add sweet potatoes. Cover with water and simmer until the potatoes are soft. Add the coconut milk, maple syrup, and salt and bring to a boil. Pour until very smooth. (“pour” didn’t seem to make sense, so I interpreted this to mean “puree until very smooth”… we used our immersion blender and it worked great!) Garnish with swirl of your favorite hot pepper sauce and chopped green onions. As I mentioned in the ingredients, I put 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in with the soup instead of using the hot sauce. Scallions (aka chopped green onions) were a beautiful (and yummy) finishing touch!
The ginger really gave it a spicy kick and supplemented with the dash of cayenne pepper, this not only was a savory and deliciously flavorful dish, but it also cleared the sinuses! We ate it with a side of crusty bread and a garlic-rub herb oil and we all went back for seconds! In fact, I think Gare and I are going to make it again tomorrow!!
To visit the VegNews website and the full recipe, click here.
Topics: Healthy Eating | No Comments »
Feature in POE Mosaic Monday: Into the Blue
By Kitty | February 6, 2010
This past Monday one of my photographs was included in a the gorgeous blue mosaic shown below…. the Mosaic Monday on the POE (Photographers of Etsy) blog. Mine is the photograph shown here, and on the mosaic it’s the third one down all the way on the left. The photograph is entitled Soft Cascades and it’s a photograph I took early one morning of an Ithaca waterfall.
The colors work absolutely wonderfully in this mosaic, and I’m honored to be included among such talented photographers! To see the actual post (and further peruse the POE blog) click on the mosaic or click here. Special thanks to Pam from Always Artistic for compiling the mosaic!
Here are the other artists included in this mosaic (click the artist’s name to visit his/her Etsy shop and to see more of each artist’s work):
01. Blue - davita
02. As I Floated Through The Galaxy - urbandesign
03. Metallic Blue - catludwigstudio
04. Winter Moon - silverhorsephotos
05. Winter, Wrightsville Beach - joannbristol
06. Twilight Unveils the Secrets of the Sea - xenya
07. Soft Cascades - heartofnature
08. San Diego sunset - lazyfish
09. My Heart is Light - allieart4children
10. Spring Rains - lizgrandmaison
11. Float - yvonnecatterson
12. Life Began in the Sea - melissabeach
Topics: Heart of Nature Fame | 1 Comment »
Winter Walk
By Kitty | February 4, 2010
Maddie was 6 weeks old yesterday, and today the sun shone brightly and warmly to celebrate. My mom and sister came over and all four of us gals took a lovely walk around the neighborhood. Since it was so gorgeous out, I brought my camera and was able to get back into taking… you guessed it… nature photos!
Both my Etsy and 1000 Markets shops are back up and running (more on that later), so I figure my camera should get back to being another appendage of mine.
Baby? check.
Diaper bag? check.
Camera? check.
My arms are quite full these days… which is where family comes in handy! Here are some of the pictures we took today (the ones with me in them were taken by my sister Lucy)… It was a glorious day, indeed! I can’t wait until the weather is warmer so that Maddie and I can go out exploring more often.
Although Japanese Knotweed is a horrible invasive exotic plant that has wrecked havoc on the local woodlands, I can't help but take pictures of its seedpods in the winter sun.
My beautiful bundled baby Madeline!
Bold red holly berries with resilient green leaves looks great against the bright blue sky.
Here I introduce Maddie to the huge and ancient copper beech tree in our front yard... and to the fine art of tree hugging!
Topics: Daily Update, Pregnancy & Mommyhood | 1 Comment »
Heart of Nature Favorites: Lucy James Photography
By Kitty | January 31, 2010
Photography is an art that I enjoy pursuing, as long as it includes lots of trees, dirt, plants, fungi, animals, creepy-crawlies, or rocks… the wilder and nearer to the heart of the wilderness, the better. I’ve never considered myself “good” at portraiture or pictures of people. Granted, I do think that I have a decent “eye” for composition, but I prefer to stick to my photographic windows into the heart of nature.
That being said, there are certain experiences in life that really should be documented… and what better way than through photography? After all, a picture is worth 1,000 words. Lucky for me, I stumbled upon an up-and-coming photography star right as those life experiences were getting ready to happen for me.
Brittany of Lucy James Photography has been coming to my Ashtanga yoga class at Alluem Yoga studio in Cranford pretty much since day one. She’s married to a very talented musician, Charlie of Shayfer James (who happens to be producing a fantastic new album… AND who happens to have gone to my high school just a year ahead of me), and they both attended Ashtanga quite often. Through yoga, I got to know both Brittany and Charlie a bit better, and soon realized that not only were they a sweet couple who rock at yoga, but they also are awesome people!
Anyway… back to my story. I was lucky enough to mention to Brittany how I would love to get some maternity photos or yogi maternity photos taken, and lo! She informed me that she was a photographer! No way!! A few weeks later, we had our first photo shoot. It was great fun and she took some amazing photos (as seen here, and above!)
I somewhat jokingly asked Brittany if she’d want to come take pictures of the birth, too (I mean, who wants to see that if they don’t have to?)… but she excitedly said she’d love to! When the magical day finally came, we sent her a text message along with our doula and OB when it was time to head to the hospital, and she again got some amazing shots (as seen here!)
A few weeks after our darling Madeline was born, we asked her again to stop by (this time she and Charlie both came and we had a fun dinner date first.. mmm Thai!), and then we had a baby photo shoot right in our bedroom! I was amazed at the professional set-up Brittany was able to create in our mess of a bedroom, and the photos are just… well… a photo is worth 1,000 words. See for yourself. AMAZING (as seen here!)
I HIGHLY recommend Lucy James for all of your photography needs… and good news! She has a website HERE, and a new blog: Lucy James Photography’s Blog. Check them out, give her a call… and photo document the amazing moments in YOUR life. Tell her Kitty sent you. Enjoy!
Topics: Artsy Fartsy, Pregnancy & Mommyhood | 2 Comments »
Burning the Midnight Oil
By Kitty | January 25, 2010
One of the benefits (benefits?) of being a new mommy is the amount of reading I finally actually have time to do. I have always been an avid reader… that is, ironically, until college got in the way… and then grad school… and then the “real world” jobs. Now that I have a 1 month old darling daughter and am home on maternity leave, I am often up in the middle of the night. I have been able to breeze through a few books particularly on those nights (or days, for that matter) when Maddie will only sleep while being held. There’s not much one can do with a slumbering baby in her arms, but holding a book can be accomplished quite successfully (although the page turning is at times precarious).
Paperbackswap.com has also been a priceless tool in getting a variety of books delivered to my doorstep. I love the part along the bottom where it says, “Members who requested this book also requested:” and then it lists a bunch of suggestions. Here are some of the books I’ve recently obtained through paperbackswap and read:
Just this morning, I finished a book I have had on my “wish list” since it was recommended to me almost a year ago by a fellow yogi friend: Enlightenment for Idiots by Anne Cushman. I must say it was quite an entertaining read, as Publisher Weekly said, “a hilarious take on the quest for truth”. There were many hidden wisdoms woven throughout the story, and I couldn’t put it down. Yogis attending my Ashtanga yoga class will probably be hearing some of those hidden wisdoms in future classes, since many are directly applicable to everyone’s life. I loved the descriptions of various yoga poses scattered between chapters throughout the story, since they effectively described each pose, but with deeper or twisted meanings within each description that complemented the mood of the story at each point. The pace and premise reminded me somewhat of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, although Enlightenment for Idiots was purely a work of fiction and therefore had a bit more wackiness included (which made it much more fun to read in my opinion–I LOVE Devi Das!). Throughout the story, while the path to enlightenment is not exactly illuminated, there is a lot of insightful advice given from the most unlikely characters along Amanda (the main character)’s travels. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun light-hearted read, especially if you are a yogi in search of your own secret to enlightenment. Although I don’t see myself reading the book in entirety again, I’m debating whether to repost it on paperbackswap since there are many little quotes and tidbits of wisdom within the story that I certainly would like to hold onto. We shall see….
Before hitting the path to enlightenment, I read the book Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. It was an amazing historical fiction novel about an era (Great Depression) and lifestyle (traveling circus) I knew next-to-nothing about before reading. I was hooked from the beginning in the wild travels of Jacob Jankowski, and laughed and cried as I found myself pulled deeper and deeper into the story. The story is told in a flashback-style manner by 93-year-old cantankerous Jacob, who is “stuck” in a nursing home that he despises. The ending, although criticized for being predictable, made me smile and left me feeling thoroughly satisfied with the story. I definitely will be reading more by Sara Gruen!
Before the wild ride with the traveling circus, I read the moving, inspiring, yet disturbing book The Freedom Writers Diaries: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them, by the Freedom Writers and Erin Gruwell. As a teacher, this book was especially inspiring since it was a reminder of the immeasurable power teachers have to help inspire their students to change themselves and the world for the better. The Freedom Writers Diaries is the truly inspiring true story of a fiercely determined first-year teacher and her amazing students, deemed previously as the “unteachable at-risk” students. The book is a compilation of journal entries from the students and from Erin Gruwell, beginning on her very first day ever teaching in an urban high school in Long Beach, California. This book moved me to tears, opened my eyes to the horrible violence that probably even occurs in my own neighborhood, and renewed my inspiration to teach. Teachers have the power to inspire their students to change the world for the better, and Erin Gruwell proves it. I have her book Teaching Hope on my wish list, and am eagerly looking forward to reading it. What a great read and an inspiration to teachers everywhere. Fellow teachers, let’s do this!!
Before these three novels, I also read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon… and next on my list is probably The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards. If you have any good suggestions, please let me know, since I actually have time to read these days! Also, if any of these books look interesting, you can click the pictures to buy them on Amazon (and if you do, I’ll get some credit! woo hoo!). Either way, happy reading!
Topics: What are you Reading? | 1 Comment »
The Call of Nature
By Kitty | January 23, 2010
Today, on Madeline’s 1 month birthday, we went on her first hike in “nature”… more than just a walk around the block. It was a gloriously sunny 40 degree January day in New Jersey, and we headed up to Watchung Reservation, where I spent much of my childhood exploring the local wilderness. Since Garrett (aka Daddy) is visiting family in Pittsburgh this weekend, I (aka Mommy) went with Maddie, my mom (aka Grandma), my dad (aka Pop Pop), my sister Lucy (aka Auntie Lulu), my brother Bob (aka Uncle BoFro), and Bob’s fiance (aka Aunt Justine). We did a relatively easy hike around the reservation that began with a steeper-than-ideal incline down a muddy slope, but ran along a stream with a waterfall next to an icy pond and back up to the car. Maddie was snoozing most of the time in the Moby wrap, which is one of the best baby inventions ever.
Just in time to finish the hike, the call of nature called for Maddie… as we were walking up to the car, stopping to examine a mysterious coniferous tree with no needles but lots of cones, there was a rumble heard a mile away and felt vibrating throughout the park. That rumble was Maddie… literally, I felt the vibrations in the Moby all the way around my back (Maddie was in the front). It was perfect timing, and a perfect end to a wonderful first hike. As I took Maddie out of the Moby, we made another discovery–It was to be Mommy’s (my) first experience doing a full wardrobe change in the backseat of the car on a cold winter’s day, since it ended up being an explosive diaper quake. I somehow managed to get the poopy clothes off and the clean ones on, fed her so she’d be happy for the ride home, and we were off to the Fromtling household for some hot chocolate–quite a fun and successful first hike!!
Topics: Pregnancy & Mommyhood | 1 Comment »
Things You Should NOT Be Putting in Your Mouth
By Kitty | January 20, 2010
I saw this post on the Olive Bites Blog, who saw it on aol news… and I just felt inclined to repost it and pass the info along. After all, as Olive Bites notes, Knowledge is Power!
The Endocrinologist Won’t Eat Canned Tomatoes
Fredrick Vom Saal, Ph.D., is an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A.
The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. “You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,” says Vom Saal. “I won’t go near canned tomatoes.”
The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles.
The Farmer Won’t Eat Corn-Fed Beef
Joel Salatin is co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming.
The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. “We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure,” says Salatin.
The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers’ markets and nationally at Whole Foods.
The Toxicologist Won’t Eat Microwave Popcorn
Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., is a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group.
The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize — and migrate into your popcorn. “They stay in your body for years and accumulate there,” says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.
The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes or soup mix. (My additional note: Nutritional yeast and fresh (or dried) dill with a bit of olive oil or melted Earth Balance makes for DELICIOUS stove-top popped popcorn!)
The Farm Director Won’t Eat Nonorganic Potatoes
Jeffrey Moyer is the chair of the National Organic Standards Board.
The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes — the nation’s most popular vegetable — they’re treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they’re dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. “Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won’t,” says Moyer, who is also farm director of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc., the publisher of Prevention). “I’ve talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals.”
The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn’t good enough if you’re trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.
The Fisheries Expert Won’t Eat Farmed Salmon
David Carpenter, M.D., director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, published a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.
The problem: Nature didn’t intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. “You could eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer,” says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. “It’s that bad.” Preliminary science has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals.
The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it’s farmed.
The Cancer Researcher Won’t Drink Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones
Rick North is project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society.
The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate and colon cancers. “When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract,” says North. As it turns out, the casein in milk protects most of it, according to several independent studies. “There’s not 100 percent proof that this is increasing cancer in humans,” admits North. “However, it’s banned in most industrialized countries.”
The solution: Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or buy organic milk.
The Organic-Foods Expert Won’t Eat Conventional Apples
Mark Kastel, a former executive for agribusiness, is codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods.
The problem: If fall fruits held a “most doused in pesticides contest,” apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don’t develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it’s just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. “Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers,” he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson’s disease.
The solution: Buy organic apples.
Topics: Healthy Eating, Loving the Earth | No Comments »
A Natural, Medication-Free Birth Story… the Bradley Way!
By Kitty | January 10, 2010
Almost ten months ago when Garrett and I first found out we were pregnant (Yahooo!) we had no idea what was involved in giving birth… other than having a baby at the end of 9 months. Fortunately, a colleague of Gare’s from work gave him the book “Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way”, which opened the floodgates to all that there is to know about preparing for and giving birth.
After reading the book and making the decision that we wanted to give birth as naturally as possible, we signed up for Bradley Birth classes in our area and started researching more. We then got “Husband-Coached Childbirth”, which is actually written by Dr. Bradley and Dr. Sparrow, another “expert” on natural childbirth. Reading these two books and taking the Bradley Birth classes really did a fantastic job in preparing us both for what we were in for.
We both read up on all of the emotional and physical stages of labor, and we practiced the husband-coached guided relaxation every night for months before the due date. I did all of my exercises diligently, including tailor sitting at every opportunity, pelvic rocking (which also worked wonders for relieving digestive issues and indigestion/heartburn), squatting, butterflies, and lots of walking. I also maintained my usual level of fitness, practicing yoga (primarily Ashtanga) 2-3 times a week and swam with my mom about once per week for the two months leading up to my due date. I attribute our fantastic birth experience to being so prepared, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Both of us knew (as much as possible without having already experienced a birth) what we were getting into, and we both were vowed to work together to have as natural and medication-free of a birth as possible.
One last side note before I share our birth story. Dr. Bradley compares giving birth to swimming quite often, which was awesome for me since I have been a swimmer since age 2, and was a competitive swimmer from age 8 through college (with the competition much more serious in high school and college). Imagine this: You don’t know how to swim and someone tells you that in 9 months they are going to throw you in deep water. Only a fool wouldn’t go out and learn how to swim in those 9 months. However, many women get pregnant and then do little or nothing to help prepare themselves for the experience, despite the fact that they have never before given birth. Dr. Bradley explains that if you make every effort to prepare, educate yourselves about giving birth, do your exercises, and practice before the “big day” (when you will be thrown into deep water for the first time in your life), then you will be able to keep yourself afloat. The same is true with giving birth. If the effort is made to prepare yourself and educate yourself about what the event will be like and what to expect, it will allow you to, at the very least, keep yourself afloat during the birth. If you practice diligently and train enough, who knows–perhaps you will smoothly sail across the deep water with a strong, even freestyle, and be able to have a wonderful natural birth like I did. Either way, it makes complete sense to me to make every effort to prepare yourself for an experience as life-altering as giving birth. And without further ado, here is our birth story (Please note that I go into detail describing the birth, so if you are not interested in the details of a live, natural birth, please do not read further):
Madeline Joyce Wilkin was born on December 23rd at 9:51pm. She was 7lb 5oz and 20.5 inches long at birth. I was able to have a completely natural birth and even got to pull Madeline up and out into my arms! My husband Garrett cut her cord and was an amazing coach throughout. Maddie came out with her eyes wide open, and has been alert and active since!! The holidays were busy with lots of family visiting, but now we are starting to get the hang of being a family of 3. We are loving being parents!! Here’s the story about how it all happened…
I went 5 days past my due date. I had an appointment with my OB, Alissa, on the morning of the day that I went into labor. During the appointment she found that I was dilated 3cm. This showed progress from a week earlier when I had been 1 cm dilated. At this point I still really hadn’t felt any of the practice contractions (just a questionable hardness of my belly). So my dilation began super early, without me feeling anything at all, really.
My labor started (real contractions) on the 22nd of December at around 11pm, but I didn’t wake up Garrett because the contractions weren’t too strong yet and I knew if I told him something was starting, he would never ever get to sleep. This turned out to be an excellent decision because it would have been much harder on us if he had also been without sleep. I should note that my labor started ‘coincidentally’ after trying one of those natural labor inducing methods with my husband. Wink wink nudge nudge.
I slept between contractions and got a bit of sleep that night, and nothing was really too bad at that point. It just felt like a tightening sensation, and I had absolutely no trouble breathing through the contractions comfortably and sleeping between. When Gare woke up for work at 7, I told him that I had been having contractions through the night. Although I thought he should go to work just in case these contractions went on for days, he stayed home. I’m glad he did!! He coached me through the contractions, and started keeping track of spacing and duration by around 8 o’clock in the morning. At the time, I thought it was way too early to be doing either of these things (the contractions were really easy and manageable) but hindsight, I’m glad he did what he did. His voice ended up being a guiding light throughout the rest of the day and birth experience. Starting with his calming guided relaxation so early set the stage for the rest of the day. The contractions were regular, but around 10 min apart and lasting around 30-45 seconds for most of the day. We ate breakfast and lunch, but mostly just relaxed in bed with Gare coaching me through each contraction. I’d say that the day was characterized by a kind of relaxed anticipation. We alerted our family members, OB, and doula through text messages as the day wore on.
Here we are eating lunch five and a half hours before leaving for the hospital.
At 3pm we thought it was as good a time as any to venture out since the sun would be setting soon. After being cooped up in the house all day, we knew it would be good to get up and move around a bit and even get some fresh air. We didn’t walk more than 200 or 300 feet from our door and it was very slow going. As soon as I was walking, the contractions became much closer together, and strong enough to demand my attention. When they came, I would put my arms around Garrett’s shoulders and we’d sway until the tension subsided. We thought this was a sign that labor had really kicked up, but when we got back in the house, the contractions slowed down again. They were back to 7, 8 , 9, and up to 14 minutes apart. I had so many plans for the rest of the day, and even asked my mother-in-law, who was staying with us, to get the frosting ready so that I could frost our gingerbread cookies! Somehow those plans fell through! I had been sitting at the computer after the walk, but the contractions were particularly hard while sitting upright. After some persuasion from Garrett, we moved back to the bed so that I could more fully concentrate and relax through the contractions.
By around 5pm, the contractions were about 7 minutes apart and lasting a full minute or more. They still were manageable though, so we didn’t ask our doula to come over yet. We had been in contact with her over the phone along the way. She encouraged us with each new development saying “This is what we want. This is a good sign. It means that labor is moving along!” The advocates of natural childbirth say that for your first birth, you should labor at home as long as possible. My OB also suggested that I labor at home as long as possible, and only go to the hospital when my contractions are 5 minutes apart lasting at least a minute each for an hour. I wasn’t yet at this point.
Just a little while later, the contractions began to come on quickly enough that Garrett was no longer able to check the stopwatch to effectively time them while also rubbing my back and helping me to relax. He tried to get his mother involved in helping to time them, when all of a sudden they kicked it up a notch and were rapid fire, double peaking with very little rest between. It was constant work trying to relax through them. We had about 7 or 8 contractions lasting a about a minute spaced about 5, 5, 2, 3, 5, 2, and five minutes apart. Before we knew it, my body had decided that the baby was coming and coming soon! In hindsight, the start of transition was marked by a distinct sensation. I turned to Garrett and said “I feel tingly.” It wasn’t just a little tingly, either… it was my entire body. My face, my chest, my arms, hands, belly, legs… everything felt tingly! Those magic words caused a sudden and clear realization in Garrett: “I need to get this woman to the hospital!” He told his mother that it was time to go and she started gathering our things. This part of the night was a little worrisome for Garrett, but he got me to the car and coached me non-stop from our walkway to the doors of Overlook hospital without missing a beat. During the ride, he told me things like “Everything will be okay. We’re going to be fine. We’ll be there soon.” At this point, I was not really with it, since my entire body was still tingly and my eyes were pretty much closed the whole time as I tried to relax and manage the rapid-fire contractions. All I heard was his voice, and the steady even words helped me tremendously. He told me later that these words were as much for him as they were for me! When we were about a quarter mile away, I told Garrett that I was ready to push. He tried to sound reassuring and said “Not yet honey, but soon!”
We got to the hospital at around 7:30pm, and I was still all tingly and going through crazy contractions. Garrett offered to get a wheelchair for me so that he could whisk me up to the maternity unit. The thought of having to sit through more contractions ruled out that option for me, and at the time I imagined myself walking much more quickly than he would wheel me. So I insisted on walking there on my own. I went through several contractions on the way to the elevator, causing concern on the faces of passersby. One woman asked Garrett if I needed a wheelchair and he gave her the honest answer saying “She wanted to walk, thank you.”
When we arrived at the maternity unit, the nurses and technicians still had to get all my medical history along with vital signs and even start a hep lock. This whole rigamarole took around 40 minutes but before all that, the on call obstetrician (Gary Kaye, my doctor’s father and the guy who delivered my 3 siblings) examined me as soon as I got to the bed. He told me I was fully dilated: ready to push, cleared for take off!
After about 40 min of getting the basics down and getting me “settled” it was time for active labor. It was pretty intense. There were 2 points where my dr suggested things, like first… after a while Maddie wasn’t dropping as much as she should, and my water was still intact, so my dr thought that if she broke my water, things might move more quickly. I had read that when your water breaks, the contractions hurt way more so I didn’t want her to do it. We remembered our discussions about this from our birthing class as well! Gare and I decided to use the strategy we had talked about and ask to try a few more pushes and see if I could get her to come down more on her own. On the second push, my water exploded! It seriously popped like a water balloon and sprayed 3 feet all over my dr. She was drenched. It was gross but what are you gonna do? She just took it in stride as if nothing had happened. Then, after some more pushing, my dr said that my hymen was holding the baby back, and with the mirror she showed me what she was talking about. She said that if I wanted, she could cut it so that the baby would come more quickly. I asked insistently several times “But will she come out right away?” (at this point I was very ready to have my baby in my arms and have the labor end)… and my dr replied, “Well Kitty, I left my crystal ball at home….” This made me smile (I think) despite the intensity of labor. Either way, I didn’t really want her to cut, so we tried a few more pushes and I was able to get the baby down past that point. I asked her a couple contractions later if the cut would be bad, and she said, “Well you are doing fine now so you don’t need it”. Throughout the labor, I was really thankful and trusting of my OB. She knew exactly what type of birth we wanted, and she knew exactly what to say to motivate me the right way. She really was fantastic, which is great since I was a little bit doubtful of an OB being fully into the natural birth, despite how much I trusted her from the start. She went above and beyond my expectations and was a key contributor to my successes in having a natural birth.
During active labor, it was determined that Maddie was “sunny side up”–back labor! After all my months of tailor sitting and avoiding leaning back at all costs, she was back labor anyway! For this reason, my dr (or maybe it was our doula?) suggested pushing on all fours for a while. I had started out in the traditional stage 2 labor position of reclined with knees up, then switched to all fours, then eventually went back to the reclined knees up position. All fours I suppose did the trick, although it was a lot harder to relax between contractions that way. I ended up resting in child’s pose, a yoga pose, between contractions when I was pushing on all fours. It must have helped, though, since the labor wasn’t nearly as long as I thought it would be with back labor. Then, push, push, push… and finally I popped the baby’s head out. What a RELIEF!! My dr pulled out her arms and said, “Kitty, reach down and grab your baby”… I was like “I can’t!” and she said, “Yes you can. reach down and grab your baby!” So I reached down and grabbed her slippery body under the arms and pulled her the rest of the way out and onto my chest. Like whoa. It was a truly amazing experience. It was awesome.
Here Garrett helps coach me through the contractions in the hospital.
Honesty, at least from my experience, anyone who says a natural birth is crazy is completely wrong. I wouldn’t do it any other way. Maddie came out with her eyes wide open, alert and awake… I was tired, but completely fine and alert enough to actually deliver my own baby… and well, it was just all amazing. At no point did I even think about having any pain killers and each intervention that was suggested, we were able to discuss it and decide upon it (and ended up not needing any). Garrett was an awesome coach, and without him I really don’t think I could have stayed as focused throughout it… but it all went wonderfully. I ended up tearing at the end (2nd degree tear, I think)…. so I have a bunch of stitches, but they are completely better now, and weren’t all that uncomfortable even the few days afterward. I was slow moving and sat gently, but it wasn’t too bad. We are slowly getting the hang of the parent thing, but loving every minute!!
Here are we are gazing lovingly at our darling baby only minutes after delivery.
Okay, so it was a looooong story, but the whole thing just happened so perfectly, we really wanted to share all the details. We are very glad we chose the Bradley method, and also proud of ourselves for sticking with it no matter what. I wouldn’t change a thing about it, and am even more proud that I actually was able to pull my daughter out. Garrett cut the cord, and between the two of us, there weren’t more ecstatic love-filled people alive that night. After having a completely natural birth, I wouldn’t dream of doing it any other way.
Here are some pictures of our lovely daughter and us, her doting parents. We definitely will want to have more children (at least one more… maybe more?), and I know that I will have a natural birth for them all. It’s the way birth was intended, in my opinion, and it was a miraculous, awe-inspiring experience!
Some Daddy-Maddie bonding time.
Here are some of the many faces of Madeline at 6 days old.
Note that all but the first (eating lunch) and last (Maddie at 6 days old) photos were taken by Brittany Irwin of Lucy James Photography. She’s a fellow yogi and friend and we were lucky enough to have her at the birth to help document the miracle. Her photos are amazing and I highly recommend her to anyone in the NJ area looking for a photographer–for anything! Check out her site at www.lucyjamesphotography.com.
Topics: Pregnancy & Mommyhood | 1 Comment »
Mad about Madeline… and Motherhood!
By Kitty | January 8, 2010
I’m a mom!! Madeline Joyce Wilkin was born on December 23rd, 2009 at 9:51pm. She weighed 7lb 5oz and was 20.5 inches long at birth. She is an absolute JOY! When I say I’m “mad” about her, of course I mean the definition that means crazy-in-love, and not the one that means angry… She is such a miraculous gift!
Everything about my pregnancy, labor, and birth were fantastic. I was able to have a completely natural unmedicated birth, thanks to the Bradley Method and a wonderful husband-coach (and OB). I will put up a post with our birth story at a later date for those of you interested. But for right now, I introduce Maddie Wilkin. Here she is 9 days old and already smiling in her sleep!
Madeline Joyce Wilkin at 9 days old
Topics: Pregnancy & Mommyhood | 2 Comments »
Waiting…. peacefully waiting….
By Kitty | December 21, 2009
Today is day 3 past my due date, although it feels like so much longer. 40 weeks, 3 days gestation. Wow! Today is also the Winter Solstice… when days begin to get longer!! I thought that might be a nice day for a birth day, but it doesn’t appear that my daughter agrees. Oh well. I am trying to peacefully wait, but am finding it much harder than I thought it would be!! I know that she will come when she is ready. I know that there’s really nothing I can do to speed it along. So, lo…. I will wait!
Here I am at about 31 weeks... peacefully waiting. Photo care of Brittany from Lucy James Photography.
“Smile, breath, and go slowly.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Pregnancy & Mommyhood, Yoga | 2 Comments »
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