{guest post by Samantha Bice} When did you first hear an explanation of your menstrual cycle? Apart from asking my mom or step mom what pads or tampons were upon seeing them in the cabinet, I don’t have a memory of an explanation until third grade. We all had to get a permission slip signed so that we could learn…
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Reflections on Extended Breastfeeding {One Mother’s Journey}
Today I was struck by the beauty of my breastfeeding relationship with my son. The light filtered through the window after our nap, the new crisp white sheets I had just put on the bed felt heavenly and looked so pure. My son’s hair – a golden blond – was moving in the breeze from the window and shining like…
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To My Little Sister
To my little sister, You’re 38 weeks pregnant now, and as you approach your ‘due date’, there are some things I want you to know. This time is sacred. I bet you hate hearing that, but it is. Right now your baby is listening to your heartbeat, sleeping and moving and safe within you. Women look at you, and envy…
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From The Darkness Into The Light {A Story Of Postnatal Depression}
Here is my PND story. Well, the early days. If someone had sat me down and told me that the days and weeks following the birth of my baby were going to be harder than giving birth to a 4210g baby at home, drug-free, I’d have told them they were crazy and sent them on their way! We made it though…
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‘Roommate Wanted’ {Going from One Child to Two!}
As I was washing laundry the other day, listening to my boys playing happily and giggling, it dawned on me that we had finally found our groove. My eldest son came into the kitchen where I was folding with an activity book and instantly started asking an array of questions, most of them irrelevant and having nothing to do with…
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“Infertility is a funny beast.” | Thoughts On Infertility, Loss, Pregnancy And Motherhood
Thank you Sarah, for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Infertility is a funny beast; it affects your life in so many different ways. We had issues conceiving our first child, spent almost 30 months trying to conceive and had begun the testing process that had showed up a few issues. Miraculously I found out I was pregnant only two days…
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“I figured this was just how things were supposed to be.” {A Story Of Postpartum Depression}
I know that postpartum depression isn’t something that people LOVE to talk about. It’s uncomfortable for so many reasons. Some people like to carry on as if it doesn’t exist and harass and insult women struggling with it. For some reason, there is an extra stigma attached to it. Having depression is ‘acceptable’ but having postpartum depression isn’t, apparently. People…
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My Postpartum Body {A Poem}
Once upon a time, My skin was smooth. Unscarred. It stretched trimly Over firm muscles And created soft dips down between bones. My hips were tight and narrow. My breasts were small and neat. But with the energy of new life, Every cell in my body was changed And forgot the old ways of being. Things became displaced… My skin…
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The Strength of Words
“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” – George Orwell I woke up in a daze and headed to go to the bathroom for the 3rd time that morning. I couldn’t believe it was already the 3rd trip this morning, come on, I was only 12 weeks pregnant. The baby isn’t that big. I finish and go…