tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:38:17 +0000getting enough sleepmenstruationslow movementDiva CupThe Red Tentbreastfeedinghealthy eatingfamilyhomebirthcloth padseconomics of birthcheap and healthybabymoonvegan/vegetarianSARKPMSstem cellssafetymidwivesself careLiving life, loving it.http://amygow.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)Blogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-3293690997168475961Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:25:00 +00002011-07-09T20:34:09.858-03:00cheap and healthyvegan/vegetarianI love hummus. Tonight I made Spicy Veggie Burgers for supper and was left with 2 cups of beans. I figured if I didn't so something with them right away, I'd forget about them in the fridge so while the burgers were under the broiler, I threw the ingredients in my food processor (if you make the burgers first, you don't need to bother washing the food processor...just go ahead use it!) You can http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/aDvB5kELRXE/basic-hummus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/aDvB5kELRXE" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2011/07/basic-hummus.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-6972207004759683152Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:13:00 +00002011-07-09T20:30:54.544-03:00cheap and healthyvegan/vegetarianI wasn't sure what I wanted for supper tonight. Then I remembered the veggie burger recipe I Stumbled upon last week: Ezra Poundcake Veggie Burgers Well, I didn't have all of the ingredients, and I wanted to try making it vegan and gluten-free, so I made some substitutions. This made a fairly spicy burger, I'd suggest cutting back a bit on the red chili flakes and doing a taste test before you http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/nBFeVhe31lM/spicy-veggie-burgers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/nBFeVhe31lM" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2011/07/spicy-veggie-burgers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-1190326881507106863Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:48:00 +00002011-02-08T15:50:26.501-04:00 I am an absolutely fanatical birth junkie.  And a failed blogger.  Which is funny, because I constantly formulate opinions about birth, life, and the general state of the cosmos, but I am reluctant to share those thoughts in the public sphere. And I sit here and wonder, why is that? I think it comes down to fear. I’m so scared that other people will disagree with me. The idea of someone http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/ra7tK1wAH0M/birth-and-life-why-noones-opinion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/ra7tK1wAH0M" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2011/02/birth-and-life-why-noones-opinion.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-4254009898916283522Sat, 04 Dec 2010 15:43:00 +00002010-12-04T12:53:34.778-04:00I was unable to post my response to the above blogpost due to space issues, so here goes: I think you bring up some important points Yolande and I would love to share with you my thoughts on them.  First of all, breastfeeding is not “bestfeeding” or “superior” or anything like that- it is simply NORMAL.  Human milk is the most basic, whole food for human babies.  All artificial milks are “http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/xMmJ5gYMrKo/response-to-milkshake-breastfeeding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/xMmJ5gYMrKo" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2010/12/response-to-milkshake-breastfeeding.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-8919218823283391521Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:59:00 +00002010-12-01T11:59:00.274-04:00Breaching the Breech Protocol Risks of informal milk sharing vs formula feeding Midwife Barbara Herrera on vitamin D supplementationhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/pzlRik708Mg/interesting-reads-of-day-december-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/pzlRik708Mg" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2010/12/interesting-reads-of-day-december-1.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-988430963585533912Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:14:00 +00002010-11-30T12:14:44.986-04:00Pamela Hines is an outstanding midwife in Oregon who needs your help. Pamela was serving her clients for a year without a licence, and during that time she was paid $45,000 by the Oregon Health Plan. They now want that money back: techinically they won't pay out to unlicenced midwives (keep in mind that Pamela performed the work and has happy, healthy clients).  Now they've made a deal that http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/nPaZjpjXrVc/help-midwife-pamela-hines.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/nPaZjpjXrVc" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2010/11/help-midwife-pamela-hines.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-4103159952007322231Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:11:00 +00002010-11-30T12:11:37.542-04:00Discussing the safety of peer-to-peer milk sharing A Physiological Explanation of Breastfeedinghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/DVveCK1EQug/interesting-reads-of-day-november-30.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/DVveCK1EQug" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2010/11/interesting-reads-of-day-november-30.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-7596641497280943183Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:59:00 +00002010-11-29T21:59:53.935-04:00What Feminists Should Know About Birth Rape Infusions for Healthy Conception and Pregnancy Birth Story of the Day: Vaginal Birth of Breech Twins :)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/NuvLC2mj4Cw/interesting-reads-of-day-november-29.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/NuvLC2mj4Cw" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2010/11/interesting-reads-of-day-november-29.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-7268634529291921426Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:45:00 +00002010-06-13T22:45:35.696-03:00In her latest blog entry, midwife Gloria Lemay provides the recipes for two wonderful teas that can be taken in the immediate postpartum period.  I made sure to bookmark the page and thought I'd share with you an easy way to nourish your body, whether you are pregnant, lactating, male, female, child or adult: red raspberry leaf tea (RRL). This wonderful herb has long been prescribed as a "http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/frr3SaY6WTk/nourishing-red-raspberry-leaf-infusion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/frr3SaY6WTk" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2010/06/nourishing-red-raspberry-leaf-infusion.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-5523906910610685505Fri, 28 May 2010 23:42:00 +00002010-05-28T20:42:02.472-03:00I often get inquiries from mothers about how to write birth plans.  Today as I was contemplating this issue I remembered reading independent midwife Lisa Barrett's views on the subject.  (I really enjoy Lisa's blog, Homebirth: A Midwife Mutiny.) After three births, one at the hospital, one at home with a midwife, and one  at home unattended, the following is basically the birth plan I'd pass inhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/UPwAq-hMuIc/write-birth-plan-like-you-mean-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/UPwAq-hMuIc" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2010/05/write-birth-plan-like-you-mean-it.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-8331582107159627113Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:39:00 +00002010-03-24T09:39:07.083-03:00The "mother" of modern doulas, Penny Simkin, explains the doula's role in childbirth: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/81rgUZyjYtU/penny-simkin-on-doulas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/81rgUZyjYtU" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2010/03/penny-simkin-on-doulas.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-3273729649533152919Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:25:00 +00002010-03-15T19:43:32.342-03:00Today's title has been shamelessly borrowed from a bumper sticker offered by DONA (Doulas of North America).  I've been debating getting one from my own car.  I can envision it evoking many different responses:1.  What the heck is a doula? I get asked this all the time.  Here is a basic definition:doula (do̵̅o̅′lə) noun a woman trained to give nonmedical assistance to a woman during labor, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/9zsi5wuTPBU/pregnant-you-deserve-doula.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/9zsi5wuTPBU" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2010/03/pregnant-you-deserve-doula.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-6087436848405653634Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:35:00 +00002010-03-12T09:47:14.688-04:00I vow to support women as they walk the path to motherhood.I vow to protect the sacred space that surrounds birthing mothers and their new families.I vow to educate and empower women in their childbearing years.I believe in the transformative power of birth and parenting.I believe women are strong and powerful.I believe babies are born perfect.I believe fathers can be tender, and mothers can be http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/IiZzoURI0gk/doulas-manifesto.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/IiZzoURI0gk" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2010/03/doulas-manifesto.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-8247226049840549323Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:54:00 +00002010-03-15T19:35:06.713-03:00 I came across these the other day. These natural, vegan-friendly soaps are absolutely beautiful, and something that I'll be recommending for the mamas on everyone's list! Bloomin' Belly Soaps(TM) creator, Marcie Macari, has this to say about her soaps: "I know this sounds cliché, but one night I had a dream...about soaps. I saw these beautiful pregnant torsos, and I was smitten! I began http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/wotkIIRSOWA/celebrate-birth-goddess-in-you-with.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/wotkIIRSOWA" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2009/02/celebrate-birth-goddess-in-you-with.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-6788075638855732586Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:05:00 +00002010-03-15T19:35:19.801-03:00A poem so graciously shared by its author, Cindy: BIRTH GODDESS I am a birth goddess. My body, the holder of life; cradled and caressed in my womb. I am a birth goddess. My skin radiates and glows, my breasts full of milk so magical that man nor nature can duplicate. I am a birth goddess. My belly grows beyond boundaries seemingly impossible, to accommodate this little stranger growing within. Ihttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/aJZxA0Lb6uo/birth-goddess-affirmations-for-goddess.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/aJZxA0Lb6uo" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2009/02/birth-goddess-affirmations-for-goddess.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-483224110171156451Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:27:00 +00002010-03-15T19:40:15.551-03:00Of course women give birth easier when they are upright. A hospital in Ecuador has taken this a step further, with a room designed with horizontal bars that encourage women to work their way through labour standing and crouching. I have many times used the sides of hospital beds and my own arms for a similar purpose when supporting a mom in hospital!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/7zoQ0VWuA1A/ancient-wisdom-inspires-vertical-births.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/7zoQ0VWuA1A" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2009/02/ancient-wisdom-inspires-vertical-births.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-3467351138581826251Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:45:00 +00002010-03-15T19:40:50.253-03:00 Blessed be my brain that I may conceive of my own power. Blessed be my breast that I may give sustenance to those I love. Blessed be my womb that I may create what I choose to create. Blessed be my knees that I may bend so as not to break. Blessed be my feet that I may walk in the path of my highest will. From the poem "Network of the Imaginary Mother" by Robin Morgan. The pendant may be http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/GH3vBlA4amg/blessing-prayer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/GH3vBlA4amg" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2008/11/blessing-prayer.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-6944583344733461301Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:49:00 +00002010-03-15T19:41:16.783-03:00Now that the cold weather has set in, I want to sit by a roaring fire, curled up in a blanket, coffee in hand. I am reminded of a birth I attended last winter. The birth tub was set up in the kitchen and the wood furnace pumped wonderful heat from the basement. We were hot and sweaty, in t-shirts, but we hoped to have the perfect temperature for mom and baby. My trust in birth is so strong http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/VhnY_IaNc2g/stoking-embers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/VhnY_IaNc2g" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2008/11/stoking-embers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-423739442060592376Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:24:00 +00002010-03-15T19:41:40.268-03:00Today my boyfriend stumbled upon "The good wife's guide", published in 1955. This list placed the burden of a happy marriage firmly on the shoulders of the woman, a problem that happens even today, over 50 years later- except that we don't admit it any more. When my house is a mess, instead of acknowledging that we all need to work together to clean it up and maintain a tidy environment, I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/vrJxseUrlOk/equality-in-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/vrJxseUrlOk" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2008/11/equality-in-home.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-2480969159567210494Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:22:00 +00002010-03-15T19:41:55.608-03:00 I was so happy to watch last night's address by President-Elect Barack Obama. I actually got chills listening to this speech and had tears in my eyes by the end of it. Sen. Obama's words are inspiring and speak, not just to Americans, but to all people. They speak of the possibility of change and empower each and every one of us: YES WE CAN. These words can transform individuals, families, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/auN0KZtyW40/yes-we-can.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/auN0KZtyW40" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2008/11/yes-we-can.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-5712278985501393005Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:06:00 +00002010-03-15T19:42:49.248-03:00breastfeedingI often wonder why there is such turmoil over weaning babies, with worry and guilt and pressure from many sides and many agendas. I can remember defending my choice to nurse both of my children beyond a year. I remember the patience it took to educate others about toddler-led weaning. Believe me, I am a pretty open book about my life and experiences, and share a lot with others. I always do http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/_tMhgeDSKJM/full-term-breastfeeding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/_tMhgeDSKJM" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2008/10/full-term-breastfeeding.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-5402659223389550780Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:18:00 +00002010-03-15T15:27:25.616-03:00Although I have helped mostly first time mothers, I have some women who hire me because their first birth did not turn out the way they wanted. Some of these mothers have ended up with instrumental births or c-sections and feel sad that they didn't have the birth they dreamed of, or feel like a "failure" because they didn't have a natural birth. Sometimes it's helpful with these moms to have http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/lolF0-nnBiQ/understanding-your-birth-experience-by.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/lolF0-nnBiQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2008/10/understanding-your-birth-experience-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-3287998078466594364Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:43:00 +00002008-10-29T18:49:56.177-03:00slow movementhealthy eatingI have a wonderful recipe to share! This is from a friend of mine, Maggie, and is great for those nights you crave "real" food but feel you only have time for takeout. It makes a wonderful, vegetarian pizza rich in nutrients, especially iron due to its high spinach content. Enjoy!Maggie's Pesto Pizzalarge flatbreads of your choice (I like to use "naan" bread, but any pre-cooked pizza bread or http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/yqe7YXTh1-s/maggies-pesto-pizza.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/yqe7YXTh1-s" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2008/10/maggies-pesto-pizza.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-1354791597706589192Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:49:00 +00002009-02-27T18:51:09.284-04:00slow movementself careIt's been a fun, rainy day today. Usually I would be going crazy with kids climbing the walls, but we made out relatively well after school. I credit this to the fact that my youngest only watched about half an hour of television, then when his sister got home she didn't go straight onto the computer. Instead, she made bran muffins while I made supper, and he drew pictures. After supper http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/CSr6XTlvehE/slow-down-already.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/CSr6XTlvehE" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2008/10/slow-down-already.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115574384086883892.post-7127724284895350141Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:06:00 +00002010-03-15T15:29:02.566-03:00SARKPMSself careI've just returned from a lovely weekend in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Annapolis is a magical place, I do believe....my soul feels nurtured and my creative side is screaming that it oh so wants to come out.This weekend was a bit of a challenge. This past weekend was my time for PMS. I get tired. My body gets soft and round, I am so thankful that I packed comfy skirts and my favourite, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~3/ev0zCemJoxg/ive-just-returned-from-lovely-weekend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy Gow)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AmyGowDoula/~4/ev0zCemJoxg" height="1" width="1"/>http://amygow.blogspot.com/2008/10/ive-just-returned-from-lovely-weekend.html