"Consuming Kids" Movie

Wow, I'm really interested in seeing the movie "Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood" which sheds light upon the disturbing, pervasive, and unregulated industry of marketing to children in the United States. Thanks to Ginger for the head's up!

Also take a look at the Consuming Kids Special Feature Video "What Parents Can Do":

An Important Birth Film for Dads

"The Other Side of the Glass" is a birth film for all fathers-to-be to watch. The ten minute preview of the movie is available on line. Featuring interviews with many fathers, as well as amazing birth professionals from around the world. Check out Hospital Debate Blog to get your own copy. 

Child of Wonder

If you are interested in encouraging your child's artistic expression, imagination, and creative intelligence, than Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative and Naturally Curious Children  by Ginger Carlson is the book for you. An experiences educator and mother, Ginger peppers her book with inspirational quotes from creative thinkers, artists, and musicians throughout her book, providing parents with hundreds of practical and creative ideas for projects and exploration, and seeds for thought. 

As a mother myself, I'm always trying to provide creative opportunities for my son to explore with art, paint, nature, theater, paper, and more. However, it can be a challenge, especially with work, obligations, and schedules. That's why I'm grateful for Carlson's book, which takes the effort out of planning for those wonderful magical creative moments of childhood.

Child of Wonders offer numerous suggestions for parents to create creative zones around the house, that are kid accessible, so that creativity and exploration can happen on the go, in every room or nook of your house. She offers suggestions for musical play, messy play, cooking experiments, rainy day fun, and outdoor exploration. 

This book will be helpful to parents of children both young and school-aged. Whether you have kids at home, are looking for weekend fun ideas, summer vacation activities, or homeschool resource book - Child of Wonder will delight.

Online Birthing Classes for 21st Century Parents

Announcing....

The Co-Creative Birthing Circle

Online Natural Childbirth Education Classes for 21st Century Parents

at the Maia Institute of Co-Creative Healing

 

The Co-Creative Birthing Circle is a new, multi-media, comprehensive, online childbirth education class for expecting parents. This comprehensive class features an additional Birth Story Collection and Birth Circle Forum. The Deluxe Birth Circles includes private email and phone birth consultations, essential birth books, and a free bonus gift.

Learn to co-create the best birth possible for you and your baby with nature and spirit. Discover proven ways to natural ease labor pain. Empower yourself with traditional birthing wisdom and evidence-based maternity care research. Trust in birth, your body, and your baby.

The Co-Creative Birthing Circle features: 

• Natural Childbirth Education 24/7
• 7 Multi-Media Online Lessons
• Articles, Pictures, Videos, & Resource Links
  
• Over 40 videos on birth and natural parenting
• More than 150 links to the best articles and resources on natural pregnancy & birth
• Recommended Activities
• Birth Circle Discussion Forum
  
• PLUS: Birth Story Library
• PLUS: Birth Humor

The mission of Co-Creative Birthing is to create healthy mothers, babies, and families worldwide through trust and love for Birth, Nature, & Spirit.

Co-Creative Birthing Circle Facilitator Training & Sage Femme: Women's Healing Arts Circle coming soon!

  

 

Placenta Encapsulation

When I was pregnant, I heard about the benefits of consuming one's placenta after the birth to replenish energy, facilitate a speedy recovery, and to prevent postpartum depression. I knew that placenta was an ancient remedy used for a variety of conditions for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

However, the few articles I read about it mentioned unappetizing recipes such as stir-fried placenta with onions and garlic, blending raw placenta into smoothies and drinking it, or even just eating it raw and plain. None of these methods appealed to me. I happily planted my son's beloved placenta in the garden behind the home he was born in.

I wish that I had the information then about placenta encapsulation. I am delighted that now I have been guided to Placenta Benefits - www.placentabenefits.info - an informative website about the powerful benefits of placenta medicine for postpartum health and more. The founder Jodi Selander offers placenta education and encapsulation services. You can also order a kit with instructions and tools to dry, powder, and encapsulate your own placenta.

The reported benefits of placenta consumption include increased breastmilk, increase energy, prevention of postpartum depression, and less postpartum bleeding. Your own placenta capsules are also excellent to save in the freezer for menopause. Small amounts of one's own dried placenta can be given to the baby or child for separation anxiety, such as the first day of school.  

I believe the placenta is a powerful healing remedy for the mother and baby and I am glad to see more modern methods of bringing this free and safe home remedy back to women and families. Placentas have been honored by cultures around the world since ancient times. In fact, the word placenta comes from old English placent and it means a round, flat cake. Thus, every year on our birthdays, we gather round and celebrate around a cake - known in olden days as a placenta - and eat it.