Taking my own advice

I am always telling my other mama friends to take care of their mama selves. Seriously. I am constantly nagging people about it some might say. (I prefer to say that I gently nudge, but that's just me.) It is important, though. We know it is. It's like on an airplane. You have to put on your oxygen mask first and then tend to the children. Motherhood is like that. We have to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of our children. Yeah, well, I learned that lesson now. I have been ignoring some nagging pain in my hips and pelvis for quite some time. Ahem, over 2 years to be exact. Yes, here and there I've sought treatment only to give it up for various reasons mostly related to the cost of said treatments. If you ignore a health problem, it tends to get worse. It got worse last week, Thursday afternoon to be exact. I simply sat down to eat lunch with my four wild and wonderful children when "Sproing!" my back started hurting. Ok, so it didn't make a sound, but I do believe sproing is the sound it would have made. I stood up only to realize that I could not stand up. Now, a normal person who takes her own advice, would think this would be a good reason to seek treatment for the nagging hip/pelvis/now back pain. I didn't. Thinking it would go away, I waited. Finally, after needing my loving man's help to get out of bed and across the hall to the toilet, I gave in and called for help. I'm on the mend now, feeling a lot better but still not 100%. I'd say I feel 25% (over the 10% I was feeling). I would like to say I have learned my lesson. I hope I have. Now I'm thinking about what else I've let go along the way, what other activities I've given up so that I can do x, y, or z for my wild and wonderful children. I'm making a list. I need to be well emotionally, mentally, and physically in order to be the mother my children need me to be. I'm working on that. What is on your list? How do you keep yourself feeling nurtured?

VBAC Birth Art Classes

Are you planning a vbac (vaginal birth after cesearean)? Do you find yourself still struggling with the emotional toll of the cesearean birth? Do you live in southeast Michigan? I am planning a six week series of classes designed to help you process your feelings from your cesearean birth and prepare for your next birth experience. In each class, we will use art projects, discussion, and journaling to get in touch with your inner birth warrior. The six classes are titled Healing Birth Trauma, Finding Your Power, Nurturing Yourself and Your Family, Opening, The Logistics of Birth, and Birth as a Rite of Passage. Together, we will equip you with a mental and emotional toolbox to help you prepare for your next journey to parenthood. The classes are $200 per six week session with a $50 materials fee. They will be held at 300 North Huron Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 beginning on July 13. Contact Jo Brown at info@a2birthsong.com for more information.

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction causes pain in the groin, hip, and pelvis area. It also can
cause hamstring pain. Experts disagree about the exact cause but hormones, misalignment
of the pelvis, and previous injuries are three of the proposed causes.
Whatever the cause, spd is painful! Walking, sitting, and sex can all be painful. Here are
some tips to keep it from getting worse.
• Sit to pull on pants.
• Avoid standing on one foot. (This includes the picking up toys with your toe trick that
all mamas know!)
• Sleep with a pillow between your legs and a pillow supporting your baby bump.
• Take care when rolling over in bed. Ask your partner to help you roll over.
• Avoid stairs when possible.
• Avoid lifting over 10 to 15 pounds.
• Ask your health care provider for temporary handicapped tags for your car and use
them!
• Try a belly band. (These can be found online or at most maternity shops.)
• Some severe cases are helped by the use of elbow crutches.
• Kegels help tone those internal muscles and are important both before and after
delivery.
Some pain coping ideas:
• Ice: Freeze a 20 ounce plastic water or soda bottle, keep a few of these going in your
freezer so you won't be without. Simply put it between your legs when you are
sitting. Wrap it in a towel if it's too cold.
• Heat: Fill a large sock 2/3 full of rice. Tie a knot at the end. Place a mug of water and
the sock in a microwave for 2 to 3 minutes. (The water prevents the rice from
getting to hot and catching on fire.) If you don't have a microwave, you can heat it in
an oven on the lowest heat setting. Watch it carefully.
• Chiropractic care is helpful to some. For others it is not helpful. It is important to find
a chiropractor who is used to working on pregnant women.
• Physical therapy or massage is also helpful to some. Again it is important to find a
practitioner who is familiar with the pregnant body.
It is good to find a chair that you can sit in comfortably. Better still if that chair can be
moved easily from place to place. Look for something that supports your back but takes
the pressure off of your pelvis. Fold up camping chairs are sometimes good for this as well
as butterfly chairs or Adirondack chairs. Avoid sitting on the ground. Avoid lotus position.
During the birth of your baby it is important that your birth team knows your limitations. It
is important that nobody spreads your legs out too far damaging your pelvis more.
If the pain persists beyond the early post postpartum days it is important to get treatment.
As stated above, many women find relief from chiropractic care or physical therapy. An
Osteopathic doctor can also help. Mayan abdominal massage has also been reported to
help many women.

Sharing a blog post called Judging Birth

I really like what this woman has to say in this blog post.