NingXia Red is a wonderful product that I have used for my last 2 pregnancies. It has made all the difference for me in being able to function as a busy homeschooling mom of a large family versus lying on the couch all day with no energy at all. I’ve also used NingXia during my labors and given it to other laboring moms with great success, as well as used it myself as a doula when at a birth.

Our family has used NingXia as a supplement when someone is sick or when sickness is in the house, or pretty much when anything unusual is going on with anyone’s health. I’ve heard many testimonies about what NingXia has done for people, including increasing the immune system to keep sickness at bay, helping with weight loss, improving eye sight, improving diabetes symptoms, increasing energy, lowering cholesterol, and on and on.

Here is what the Young Living website says about NingXia Red:

NingXia Red® is a naturally delicious, nutrient-infused wolfberry drink that will energize, fortify, and replenish your body. Rich in wide-spectrum antioxidant activity, NingXia Red has the highest levels of naturally occurring, age-defying S-ORAC activity to help support immune function, cardiovascular health, and nourish the eyes. NingXia Red also contains lemon and orange essential oils rich in the powerful antioxidant d-limonene to promote healthy liver function. Ningxia wolfberry, the primary ingredient in NingXia Red, has been cherished for centuries for its health, energy, and longevity benefits. Whole Ningxia wolfberries and other nutrient-dense fruit juices, like blueberry and pomegranate, make NingXia Red the perfect choice for optimizing wellness and stepping up to a whole new level of health.

The NingXia Red Promise
NingXia Red combines the finest Ningxia wolfberries, proprietary “Nutrient-Guard” preparation, and other all-natural, nutrient-dense ingredients to provide:

• Dynamic energy and stamina without harmful stimulants (e.g., caffeine, green tea, etc.)
• Key glyconutrients that fuel vital energy systems
• Unique protein-polysaccharides that help sustain proper immune function
• Highest levels of naturally occurring, age defying S-ORAC activity
• Great taste with no sugary “junk-juices” (e.g., apple, white grape, pear, etc.)

Essential nutrients in NingXia Red also help support the following: Normal cardiovascular function, normal eye health, normal cell growth, and healthy liver function.

You can learn more about NingXia Red on their website here, and if you’ll e-mail me directly I’ll also be happy to share more information and samples with you. You can also go to my family’s essential oil website here to learn more about Young Living’s other products which have greatly benefited our family, and to sign up to buy your own NingXia Red. Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions you have!

I’m mobile in the water and holding on to the railings as my husband soaks my forehead in ice cold water.

The hurt in my back starts to ease off now that I am in the bath and my muscles begin to relax. For a split second I visualize myself in a day health spa until the following contraction announces itself.

I studied so much about water births and I love water so the idea seemed sound to me. Plus, I read that the pain is less because the water takes the pressure off your body, it’s true.

It is simple to move around in the water whilst in labor too. You are able to rock your pelvis or turn on your back or front. Just move slowly through the water, it is almost effortless. In this way you can maintain your energy for the instants you need it the most, like when having to deal with contractions. The more you can relax your muscles the easier it is for your baby to move through the birth canal.

Having passed 9 months inside you we should make the baby’s first seconds finer. The water eases him into the world. No cold, no bright lights.

The midwife will help the baby float to the surface and then guide him onto the mother. There the baby takes his first breath.

Make sure the room is warmed, the lights are dull and there is a relaxing ambience with soft music, candles and aromatherapy. A tranquil as possible start to life in this noisy and bright world gives the baby less distress.

The whole experience is not only beneficial for your baby but for you too. Once your baby is born, you can relax in the pool for a while whilst clutching your baby to your chest. In my case my daughter actually started to look for my breast and latched on!

The calm babies who sleep well are those that have had water births. The water has a major influence on them and in turn on you, as a parent.

Martine Baanvinger is one of the creators of Raising-Angels.com. For further information about Waterbirth and other Natural Childbirth methods see her website at www.raising-angels.com.

Dear little Baby
Whose life I now hold
More precious by far
Than all the earth’s gold

Eagerly awaited by
A chosen two
Who will help you and guide you
In all that you do

Be patient sweet Babe
Your time draws near
Our arms are wide open
To welcome you here.

Author unknown

This is an area of great personal interest to me right now, since I am 8 weeks pregnant and have been eating a raw diet for 5 months now. I still have so much to learn, and don’t know if this pregnancy will be all raw or not, but I do know that I am much healthier and feel much better for the changes I have made. Here are a few resources for anyone interested in reading more about this option. Feel free to e-mail or call me if you have any questions – we can learn about this topic together!

http://www.thegardendiet.com/ This woman has had more than one raw pregnancy and sells an e-book about her experiences.

When you’re pregnant, it’s important to set time aside to make sure you’re staying healthy and fit. It’s not easy. Your body is going through a constant workout each day from carrying your child. By the time evening comes around, getting motivated to move your limbs and flex your muscles may seem like a lesson in defeat.

That said, there are many reasons to exercise during your pregnancy. To motivate you to get started and inspire you to action, here are four great reasons to work out.

#1 – You’ll Feel Energized

Being pregnant can take an enormous toll on your energy level. By exercising in the morning, you can gain the energy boost you need to carry you throughout the day. Not only will the exercise release endorphins which give you an immediate energized feeling, but you’ll also be working out your cardio system. That increases your stamina allowing you to get through each day more easily.

#2 – You’ll Sleep Better

Believe it or not, while your body may feel exhausted at the end of the day, there’s actually plenty of pent-up energy inside. The problem is that it can prevent you from getting a good night’s rest. During your pregnancy, you’ll lie in bed, tired from the afternoon, but unable to get to sleep.

Exercising expends that energy. By the time you’re in bed, your mind and your body will drift easily to slumber.

#3 – You’ll Prepare Your Body For Giving Birth

Childbirth will be a strain on your body. Not only can labor last for several hours, but the entire experience will require the use of many muscles. When you exercise, you put those muscles to use. Whether you’re working out your pelvic muscles, abdominals, or thighs and hips, doing so can make childbirth easier. Many women have reported that labor lasted for a shorter time and progressed more smoothly after having exercised during their pregnancy.

#4 – You’ll Reclaim Your Figure More Quickly

Have you ever observed new mothers who have recently given birth and wondered how they managed to get their pre-pregnancy bodies back so quickly? Chances are, they were exercising while they were pregnant. When you exercise daily, your muscles grow accustomed to the activity. After you give birth, those muscles can bounce back quickly because they’re already efficient. Before long, other pregnant women will be looking at your figure wondering how you managed to do it.

There are plenty of reasons to work out during your pregnancy. Besides staying fit, you’ll enjoy more energy, better sleep, an easier childbirth experience, and a fast return to your previous figure. Speak with your obstetrician to make sure your exercise routine is safe. Then, get to work and start enjoying the benefits.

Exercise in Pregnancy

Preparing for birth should be much like preparing for an athletic event because labour and birth are indeed physical events we can prepare our bodies for. A healthy and fit mother will not only feel better during pregnancy, she will have the strength and flexibility to move during labour easily and comfortably.

After the first trimester, activities that involve lying flat on her back for long periods of time should be avoided. That’s because the weight of a developing baby may press down on and compress blood vessels that play an important role in blood circulation to the uterus, pelvis and legs.

As fatigue tends to be most common in the first and third trimesters, she may find herself less able to exercise during these periods.

Contact sports or extreme sports (for example, skiing, scuba diving, and sky diving) should be avoided because they have the potential to do harm to mother and baby.

Discuss with primary caregiver any unusual symptoms experienced during or after exercise, such as discomfort in her chest, neck, jaw, or arms; nausea, dizziness, fainting, or excessive shortness of breath; or short-term changes in vision.

Consider exercising in a medically supervised program, at least initially, if there are any peripheral vascular disease or kidney problems. Those with peripheral neuropathy should not run, jog, or walk long distances without the approval of their doctors, and those with retinopathy should check with their eye doctors before initiating an exercise program.

Preparation

A woman’s exercise level during pregnancy depends largely upon her level of fitness before she became pregnant. In other words, the more physically fit before, the more activity she can do safely during pregnancy. It is important to realize that during pregnancy is not the time to strive for exercise milestones or try to lose weight. It is a good idea to monitor heart rate, a good way to monitor optimal exercise intensity without overexertion.

Strengthening and toning torso, back, pelvis, thighs and stomach will help with the labour process. Exercise performed safely during pregnancy can lessen your fatigue, improve your self-confidence and mood, reduce backaches and bad posture, and strengthen your endurance during a prolonged labor.

Muscular Control of the Vagina and Perineum (“Kegel”)

This exercise is very important. Sitting, standing or lying down; contract and tighten the muscles of the pelvic floor (those used to stop the flow of urine flow). Think of pulling the opening of the vagina all the way up to the cervix. Hold for a count of five and slowly release. After releasing, relax and bulge your perineum down. Putting a hand over the perineum as it tightens and then bulge it out can identify this. Do four to six sets of twenty-five, spread over the course of the day. This is commonly known as the “Kegel” exercise, after Doctor Arnold Kegel, who identified the importance of this exercise.

Tailor Sitting

Sit on the floor with soles of feet together. Lean upper torso forward until a gentle pull is felt in inner thighs. Hold the stretch for twenty to thirty seconds, building the length of stretch time gradually. Repeat three to four times.  Sit in this way whenever possible; choose to sit on the floor at least three times daily.

Pelvic Rock

Kneeling on all fours (or leaning on chair seat if mother has carpal tunnel syndrome), tighten the abdominal muscles, especially the lower muscles, while tightening and tucking in bottom. This may be done frequently throughout the day to ease back discomfort and strengthen abdominal muscles. Repeat twenty to thirty times.

This is an excellent exercise to move a posterior (baby’s back is to mother’s back) baby into an anterior position (optimal position, baby’s back to mother’s front, usually with the back on mother’s left front). It is important that if baby is posterior, mothers should avoid reclining (on couch, in recliner, bucket seats in vehicles) and assume upright, forward leaning or side lying to help baby turn.

Squatting

Stand with feet and heels flat on floor, about a shoulder width apart. Face a chair or other stable object for support. Feet should point outward, not forward. Hold onto the support, and bend knees out while lowering bottom to no lower than knees, keeping feet flat on floor. Slowly build time until this position can be held comfortably for a minute or longer.

There is some concern about assuming this position during pregnancy as it is felt that it may commit a baby who is in a posterior position which is known to prolong pregnancy (non-progressing prodomal labour as baby attempts to turn prior to active labour), prolong labour and increase labour pain. However, most posterior babies do not engage (move into the pelvis) prior to labour. If baby is believed to be posterior, focus on pelvic rocking (above).

Beach Ball Hold

Sit on floor, knees bent, feet flat on floor. Holding lower abdominal muscles in tightly, tuck chin to chest, cross arms across chest, and lean back slowly while keeping feet flat on floor until upper torso leans back at approximately forty-five degree angle. Hold this position for a count of ten seconds. Return to original position by using hands on knees to support lower back. Repeat ten times and build slowly until you can repeat twenty to thirty times.

Practicing Good Posture

Stand against a door and try to touch it with the small of your back. Place hands under ribs on each side of the chest. Now pretend to lift the rib cage up. There will be an automatically straightening of the shoulders, tuck hips under, and raise chin. Hold head high and be proud to be pregnant!

Walking

Walk daily, starting slowly and building slowly until walking one to two miles in thirty to forty-five minutes is comfortable. Wear supportive and comfortable shoes, and stretch thighs and calves before and after walking to avoid muscle damage. Walk with abdominal muscles pulled in, bottom tucked tight, back straight, and head looking forward. Swing arms to increase aerobic exercise.

A “side-hitch” indicates inadequate oxygen intake; breathe slowly and deeply, slowing pace if necessary.

Important Points to Remember:

• Pay special attention to proper footwear.
• Drink lots of water and stay well hydrated before, during, and after activity.
• Warm up before a workout, and cool down afterwards.
• Skip exercising any time you have a fever.
• Exercise to the point of mild fatigue and never to the point of exhaustion.
• Mothers should avoid exercising in hot, humid climates and not get overheated (more than 100.4 deg F core body temperature).

Alert Caregiver when:

• Vaginal bleeding or spotting, abdominal cramping, absence of fetal movement, or prolonged contractions after stopping exercise.
• Light-headedness or dizziness, serious headache, shortness of breath, palpitations, fast resting heart rate (more than 100 beats per minute), and chest pain that continue past a short rest period.

This may be copied and distributed with retained copyright.
© International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

ICAN Website

What would you do if you were told that scientific studies have uncovered a way to have a shorter labor with less pain — and that method is completely natural? Would you get excited? Many women hope for a shorter, natural birth. And studies have proven there is a way for women to have this. This amazing way to help laboring women is called the doula.

A doula is another woman who stays with a mother throughout labor and birth. The word “doula” comes from a Greek word that means “servant” or “women’s servant.” A doula is a traditional role that women have been filling for centuries. Careful scientific studies in this century have proven what birthing women have always known — doulas help women to have better birth outcomes.

Proven Around the World

International studies have shown the benefit of doulas to birthing women. Women who have continuous doula support during labor have a lower cesarean section rate and a lower rate of assisted vaginal delivery (forceps and vacuum extraction). These results are consistent no matter what country the woman is giving birth in.

One to one care has been shown to shorten labor by two hours or more. A hospital in Dublin, Ireland gives all birthing women one-to-one, continuous support. At this hospital almost all mothers have labors of twelve hours or less. Studies in the United States have also shown that women who use doula support have shorter labors.

Doulas even help women choosing epidural pain relief to have better birth outcomes. A woman who chooses and epidural and doula support is less likely to have a cesarean section and is more likely to have an unassisted vaginal delivery.

Minimizing Interventions

A birthing woman who chooses to have a doula support her throughout labor is less likely to need synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin). Synthetic oxytocin results in stronger, harder contractions that many women have a hard time dealing with. The doula is full of wisdom to help a woman progress through labor, which lessens the likelihood of needing a synthetic hormone boost.

If a woman is induced or has synthetic oxytocin given to her during labor, her doula is able to help her cope with the strong contractions. Doulas are able to assist birthing women in a multitude of ways.

Helping Fathers Too

Even fathers find that doulas benefit them. Births where a father and doula are present usually result in happy parents. The fathers feel like they were given the support that they needed. A doula is able to help the father help the mother as much as possible. Doulas are also able to give continous care to each mother, allowing the father to take a break or freeing him to be there emotionally for the mother.

A True Asset

Doulas help mothers of all ages. Studies have shown that when young mothers are given doula support they have better birth outcomes and a higher breastfeeding rate. Older mothers are also assisted by a confident doula who has many ideas to help the mother through labor.

A doula is truly an asset to any birthing team. If you are looking for a shorter labor with less pain, find a doula in your community. Your doula is in infinite source of wisdom and support — no matter where you give birth, how you give birth, or who else you want with you. Allow yourself the luxury of someone focused completely on your success — have a doula on your team.

Author: Kristen Burgess

Kristen Burgess is the owner of http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com She is passionate and committed to helping women have healthy pregnancies and happy, natural births. Learn more about doulas, pregnancy, and natural birth at http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristen_Burgess

Want to know how to bring on labor naturally? If you want to get things started or you have seen your due date come and go, then you may be looking for ways to get it all over with. More than likely you really don’t want to go with the drugs available to start labor, since many of them come with side effects that can be pretty nasty.

You’ll find that various methods of bringing on labor in a natural manner are available. They won’t harm your child and you don’t have to take any drugs. The following are some great methods that can help you get labor started so you can meet your need little one.

Believe it or not, relaxation is one way that labor can be brought on naturally. When you are uptight, you may not be able to get things started. A nice massage, a great bath, or just spending some time relaxing can help. Aromatherapy can help you relax and can get things started. Try adding the visual of being in labor to your relaxation as well.

You may have heard that having sex is how to bring on labor. Well, it’s actually true. Having sex is one way that you can naturally get labor going. The hormones that end up being released have a whole lot to do with it. So, if you are feeling up to it, this may be one method that you may want to try.

Find a swing and start swinging. This can get labor started too. How does it help? Well, when you swing, it can enable the baby to get in a position that is better for birthing. When the baby is in a good position, it can start the labor for you. Bumping is another option that basically does the same thing – helping get the baby in place for the birth. Get out there on a bump road and bump your way to labor.

Taking a nice, slow walk is an excellent way to help bring on labor naturally. Often the movement of the walking can bring on contractions. When you are upright, pressure is put on your cervix. This can help it to start dilating. However, if you do this, make sure that you don’t go overboard. Drink plenty of water while walking, don’t get overheated, and if you get fatigued, you need to stop.

Acupressure is often used today as a natural way to bring on labor. It is natural and safe, and new studies have shown that this is an effective way to get labor going for many women. It’s very simple, and you can either go to a professional or even get your partner to learn the right methods so he can apply the acupressure for you. Since it’s so easy, it can b done right at home to help start labor for you.

So, you don’t have to rely on drugs to get labor going. With these natural methods of inducing labor, you won’t have to worry. They are natural and safe, and soon you’ll get to meet that little person you’ve been carrying around with you for so long.