Birth

Holly Mae Murray was born on Sunday March 7, 2010 at 12:30am to Nick and Sarah Murray

The first time I saw Holly Mae I was overcome by tears.

I looked into the eyes of my best friend Sarah, her radiant mother, "This is Holly," she quietly said and motioned to the tiny babe asleep in her arms. They both looked so peaceful, so healthy, both glowing with something otherworldly. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was dizzied by the amazing twittering of my mind around the fact that less than a week ago, in the living room that we were standing in, Sarah had given birth to little Holly without drugs, without surgery, without doctors, without a hospital. This was not accidental, no, this was part of a very well thought out plan. And like she planned, Sarah was the first person to hold her baby, she scooped her in her arms and has since not let her go. Now here they were standing before me, a blushing, incandescent testament to the thing that caused us all to be amazed and quite honestly, a little nervous:
giving birth at home with a midwife.
So what exactly is a midwife? And what's wrong with hospital birth anyways? Isn't it sort of dangerous and medieval giving birth in your house without doctors and nurses and beeping machines and without DRUGS?? Especially DRUGS?? You mean you gave birth without DRUGS? You, like, felt all that pain and stuff and saw all that icky liquid without DRUGS?!?

So I was a little doubtful at first. But, the more and more I listened to Sarah and Nick tell me about all the facts that they were discovering about birth in our country the more I began to realize that this idea isn't as crazy as I thought.

So first, what exactly is a midwife? For this I'll take a definition from a midwife herself, Sarah's midwife Yelena. Her website (www.tobirth.com) says:
Midwife means “with woman” – it is an ancient, woman-centered practice which honors a woman’s right to be informed, respected, honored, and nurtured–not only during childbirth, but throughout her life. Midwives are the guardians of normal birth.
Midwife's educate and encourage soon to be mothers on how to take control of their own health care. They offer prenatal care and guidance, they assist during the birthing process and "guard" the mother and child in the postpartum period.
Borrowing from Yelena's website again,

"Birth is a rite of passage for mothers and babies - an initiation. It is the ultimate expression of a woman’s physical, emotional and spiritual power."
A midwife recognizes and respects this and helps guide the mother through the time in her life when this manifests.

So, why a midwife? Lets look at some not so well known facts:
-The percentage of U.S. births attended principally by midwives: 5% The percentage of European births attended principally by midwives: 75%
-America has one of the highest infant mortality rates than any other country.
-Drugs to induce labor, drugs to subdue the pain caused from the induced labor and surgical removal of the baby are all "normal" parts of hospital birth.
-1 in every 3 births in an American Hospital is a C-section
-Average price of a US hospital birth $9,000-$14,000
-Average price of a midwife's service $4,600

These of course are only a FEW of the alarming facts about birth in our country.
Hospitals are wonderful institutions that can offer emergency care and save lives. Period. But, it simply isn't necessary for all women to give birth in a hospital. Lets face it, pretty much every facet of our society has been taken over and manipulated by a pursuit for money. This is definitely true in the food industry and sadly it is no different here. A birth in a hospital costs a lot of money and the more medical intervention needed the more money made and the quicker the birth happens the quicker a new patient can get seen and cycled through like clockwork. This isn't to say that hospitals, and more importantly the nurses and doctors working there, are simply trying to milk you for your money with no care for your well being. But there are very solid procedures that have been set in place on the assumption that birth is a terribly dangerous, frightening occurrence that requires drugs, surgery, lots of pain and distress and is definitely not something that a woman can handle on her own. I just don't buy that. Certainly not after hearing Sarah tell me about her birthing experience and speak about it with wonder, awe, excitement and reverence. "I feel like a warrior," she said.

She told me about how she got to listen to her body and move around in positions that helped her with the pain, which isn't something that is possible in a hospital. She walked, sat, laid in her birthing tub and eventually gave birth on a "birthing stool". Something that she could squat on! Doesn't that just make sense? Helloooo?? Gravity much? Why would I lay on my back when I gotta push something out? Not to be crass, but anyone take a crap laying on their back? Let me know how that works out.

She recalled with wonder how her body let her know that she had to push, how she could feel it change. She told me about her deep breathing and how she fell into a rhythmic dance between her breath and contractions. She got to have her amazingly supportive husband, Nick, right by her side the whole time. Her midwife was right there with her as well, not forcing or manipulating the situation but being there as a guide and a well of experience and wisdom. She was in her peaceful and comfort filled home. She got to take her time and let her body do what it knows how to do. And, so beautifully, she got to "catch" her baby girl as she came into the world. The first hands that touched that baby were her mothers.

Oh, and little Holly Mae. She is such a sweet and quiet baby. She hardly cries, only when she is getting changed, when she's away from Mama or Papa, does she let out a few whimpers. It's not surprising though. That child has never experienced anything but comfort and love in a loving environment. In a hospital she would have been pulled or, literally vacuumed into the world, wiped down, poked with needles and prodded with tubes in a loud, bright room full of anxiety. Eventually she would have been given to her mother, but not for long. There would be a separation, rooms apart. How can that be anything but traumatizing for a baby that has never known anything but her mother and the love that surely she can feel? Holly has had a different experience. She has known nothing but the care of her mother and father and the amazing love that bellows between them onto her in a safe, friendly place. Call me crazy but I think that can make an immense difference in a child's life.

Nick and Sarah did plenty of research before they decided on home birth. They spent a lot of time with all the fears and uncertainties that I'm sure we all have on the subject. I asked Nick, but isn't it scary giving birth at home?
"But the whole thing is pretty scary, you're bringing a life into the world. But I'm more afraid of not getting all the research about how to give my wife and my baby the safest experience...when I first heard about midwife's I immediately got this image of a witch doctor in a cave biting off the umbilical cord,but the more information I sought about what goes down in hospital birth, the more confident I felt about midwifery."

I asked Sarah if she could give one bit of advice to soon to be mothers and she said, "do your research. Question everything, because these companies are not about your health. They're about making money, fast."
Both of them watched a documentary called
"The Business of Being Born"which I just saw and HIGHLY recommend to anyone who EVER plans on having a baby.

So. Do your research, I know I'll be doing mine. Again, it seems to come down to that little thing of personal choice and the immense power that resides there. There isn't a more important thing that we could do for our lives or the planet than bring a loving and balanced human being into the world. It's a major choice with many implications-a hospital or home? For me, it is reminiscent of my decisions when it comes to food-conventional or organic? fast food or home cooked? What, with my choice-my support-my vote, do I want to create more of in the world? One day I'll be blessed and trusted with a life to guide through this world and the choices I make today, and especially this one down the road, will lay the bricks on the path that my child will tread. It's definitely something to think about...something to dream about...


"What happens in the womb and how we are born is significant in our lives" www.tobirth.com

Just so ya know, Sarah has been a vegetarian her whole life and, consequently, so has Holly. During her pregnancy there were no complications or lack of nutrients, protein or calcium (and she doesn't drink milk) at all! But, that's a whole other post all together. I know it's important for Mommy's to be to get loads of calcium so here's a recipe for a calcium rich treat free of any dairy. It's made with a sea vegetable called arame. It's surprisingly sweet.

Arame with Carrots and Onions
1 Handfull of dried arame
2 teaspoons sawflower oil
pinch fine sea salt
1/2 cup onion diced
1/2 cup carrot diced
Braggs liquid Aminos or Shoyu to taste

Soak the arame in water for 5 minutes, remove and set aside
Heat oil, salt and onion in skillet for 2 minutes.
Add the carrot to to the skillet and scatter arame on top. DONT STIR.
Add enough water to the skillet to cover veggies, leaving arame above liquid
Add 1 teaspoon braggs, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover
Simmer for 25-30 minutes, add a bit more braggs and cook for 5 minutes
Uncover, stir together and let liquid evaporate

Energy in a cup without the caffeine

I remember a time when I used to go to bed looking forward to my morning cup of coffee. Oh man, there really is nothing like that first cup. So comforting, so energizing. Mmmm coffee. Just how I liked it. Soy creamy delicious. How could I start my day without my familiar friend here, sharing my morning with me, giving me a pep talk for the day, filling me with the energy that-God knows-I needed? Gulp and boom I was ready to go! Weeee!!

Until about a few hours later. My lids would get heavy, my body cranky. Or maybe I didn't have time for breakfast and I would get the coffee-on-an-empty-stomach shakes and near crack head like behavior. Oh and heaven forbid I miss a cup cuz those withdrawal headaches are hell! And the crankiness, the dependency, the crash and burn. How could you coffee! I thought you loved me. Dirty bastard! I'll never go near you again...never...um...until...maybe...well maybe just one more cup. Damn you.

Coffee. That is one hard addiction to break. Or just caffeine really. Energy drinks, oh yeah I dabbled in those too. Anyone remember TAB the energy drink? Crack in a cute pink can for us girls! Yum yum I love the taste of cancer causing sugar substitutes. I remember drinking this one energy drink called Redline. You actually had to be 18 years old to buy this thing. Seriously. I decided to give it a rest when I woke up with what felt like a hangover after drinking it the night before.

But what do we do? In a world that demands so much movement from us, so much energy and attention where do we go for that needed lift? Chances are the diets that most of us partake in are robbing us of energy instead of offering it to us and any new found vegan or vegetarian will tell you that the energy you gain from a simple switch of your diet is incredible. But a lot of us aren't ready to take that step. So, lets take another route, perhaps a more comfortable one, towards a healthier, more energetic life style.

You can experience the vast energy of your own health by exploring the different options of what you put in your cup.

Please let me introduce you to, if you have not already been so blessed to have met, my dear friend Kombucha.
Kombucha is the nectar of the Gods.

It's known as a Chinese tea, but more precisely it is a living culture of beneficial microorganisms. It is cultured for 30 days, a process likened to fermentation, and bottled. The benefits of drinking this "tea" are incredible. During the 30 day process essential nutrients form like active enzymes, viable probiotics (which are hard for a vegan to get otherwise), amino acids, antioxidants and poly phenols. It creates balance in the body, aids in detoxification and works wonders. And I have found, during my long love affair with the stuff, that it offers me SO MUCH ENERGY. In fact, I drink it in the morning now instead of coffee. It's a different sort of energy than caffeine. It's smooth and shiny and when I drink it I get the sense that whatever this energy that I'm experiencing is, it has been released from within my body by this drink and not forced upon me like caffeine can make me feel. There is also no crash. There is no burn. It simply gives you more energy because it restores balance in your body and allows it to operate at a better efficiency. I love to drink it before I step on set or on stage because it makes me feel so clear headed, so alert and open to what's happening. And it's tasty! Well...most people think so. It can take a little getting used to, some people say it tastes a little like vinegar, but I find it 100% delicious.

The picture above is of the Kombucha I drink, "GT's Kombucha". GT is a fella who began bottling Kombucha after his mothers success with battling cancer while she was drinking it. He's started a liquid revolution. The stuff is beautiful, made with love and AMAZING for your health and energy. It comes in all flavors too! Whole Foods sells it and the other day I made the happiest discovery. I was at the Whole Foods in Glendale when my husband and I stumbled upon...are you ready for this?...GT's Kombucha on tap!!

I had to have my husband restrain me from jumping over the counter, sticking the nozzle in my mouth and hoping up into a keg stand. I hear that it's also on tap at the Whole Foods in Pasadena. Run don't walk!

Another new discovery in my life has been Kangen Water.

My sweet hubby tried it and came to me enthusiastically about all the health benefits of drinking this super water. I said "what in the world is Keggle Water?" And he summed it up for me:

Kangen Water is water that has gone through a process of electrolysis which causes it to become alkaline and a very, very powerful antioxidant (I've heard it said that a glass of Kangen Water has more antioxidants than a glass of fresh orange juice). Basically, we eat foods that are bad for us, drink water that is bad for us, breath in toxic air that is...well...bad for us. All of this lowers our bodies pH levels to levels that can be dangerously acidic. Kangen Water works to restore the body to it's proper pH level and perhaps become even more alkaline.

Also, Kangen Water has smaller molecules, which means it is more readily absorbed by the body. Ordinary tap water or unprocessed bottled waters have larger water molecules which tend to pass through the body without reaching individual cells. Without proper re-hydration, these cells can suffer from a form of cellular dehydration and either die too soon or fail to function efficiently. Kangen Water has the ability to rehydrate these cells before they dry out. It's oxygen packed water.

I'm not really one for believing a thing unless I have a direct first hand experience of it, so I was a little doubtful of all of this silly water business. But, Jimmy asked me if I would drink nothing but Kangen Water for one week and see what I thought then. So I did. And honestly, I had SO much more energy. I was amazed. I'm a very energetic person as is and the fact that just drinking this water increased my energy to the extent that it did blew me away. There must really be something behind all of this. I remember being amazed that I didn't have a problem getting out of bed in the morning. I usually play tag you're it with my snooze button forever, but after drinking Kangen Water I could just pop to. And I remember cooking rice with it one day and in half the time it usually takes the rice was done! Don't ask me how cuz man I ain't got no idea. But isn't that cool?

Jimmy and I have found a Kangen Water store right near our house and we fill up a big jug of it every few days and it's all we drink. It's inexpensive and pretty miraculous. Kangen Water stores are popping up all over the place, bet there is one near you. Give it a shot! What do you have to lose?

There's nothing wrong with drinking caffeine, enjoying a little coffee or green tea. But, it's good to know that there are options out there that can help fuel our busy lives in ways that are full of benefits for our health, are addiction free and encourage us to let our best selves flow in and out into our world, making waves where we wish or just sailing steady. It's salvation to know that you can turn your whole life into a loving act beginning with the smallest of choices. Just asking, "what do I put in my cup today?" can have transformational effects on you and your journey and on all of those thirsty souls who follow close on your heels.