Very good tip, Natalie!!

A friend of mine just had her baby at home and I was blessed to be there! The midwife used a great strategy as far as ice packs go. She took maxi pads and soaked them in the herbal sitz tea and froze them. They served double duty! Just make sure you don’t get the pads that let fluid leak out of them.

Enjoyed your post! A friend sent me the link. Thanks for the food ideas… going to check out your recipes now.

Hi, One of my clients sent this to me as something I might want to do for my clients–better than the information I give them now that is more about getting “ready” for the birth and not so much about after. Thank you so much for the ideas and taking the time to write it out there for women. I like your website too! I grew up on a farm, but have lived in “middle territory”–out in the country, but not really farming for the last 27 years. Just couldn’t seem to turn my city boy husband into a farmer and was too busy being a midwife all that time to “farm” myself. A simple garden, a few chickens and that has been about it for us. I’m going to subscribe and learn from you! Thanks!

Reheating frozen mashed potatoes – either whip in some cream cheese before freezing, or reheat in a saucepan on the stove on low heat (so they don’t scorch! btdt) so the extra water can evaporate and your potatoes will be all nice and thick. My stove has a “keep warm” burner, which is awesome for slowly reheating those potatoes. Or do twice-baked potatoes – those turn out well if you thaw ‘em first.

Otherwise, just nodding along with the rest.

Hey thanks for the food info. I’m definitely going to have to get some stuff made, I just have to decide what and how much. I also thought I’d share where I found some of birthing supplies you mentioned. When I had my first one, my midwife had me order a custom kit from here http://www.babybirthandbeyond.com/ it was really nice to have everything in one box. I also had quite a bit leftover and didn’t even have to order one for my second. I will now for my third but anyway just wanted to share that.

Also, I read one of the comments about struggling to breastfeed. Well. Oh man did I have a horrible time with my first. I too sought a lactation consultant after many visits with my midwife and after 5 weeks of painful scabbing I couldn’t take it anymore. My midwife suggested taking my son to a massage therapist. She knew someone certified in cranial sacral therapy (which is head and face). The massage therapist said my sons pallette wasn’t centered and after 2 sessions (5-10min @ $1.00 a minute) I never had an issue with him again.

When I had my second baby the massage lady (Sarah) saw him right away the next day and we nipped that in the bud immediately!! So I guess I’m saying that sometimes you have to think outside the box. The lactation lady we had just kept telling me to hold him differently. Well it didn’t matter how I held him he was still pinching.

Needless to say that with the third one coming up Sarah is now a dear lifesaver of mine and she is on standby!