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The Stay at Home Dad
My husband and I run our internet business from home, and are both able to raise our baby full time. My husband made this animation while I was still pregnant, and he was still only imagining his life as a full time father. Immediately after I gave birth, my husband began his diaper changing duty.…
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Placenta Fertilizer
One of the questions I asked my midwife as I neared my due date was “What do we do with the placenta?” Her suggestions: cook it up for a nutrient-rich post partum snack that chases away after birth depression; then plant the rest of it to fertilize the earth. I had some placenta immediately after…
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Children’s Fairyland
This weekend we went to Children’s Fairyland in Lake Merritt, Oakland, an outdoor amusement park with a fairy tale theme. Created in 1950, this historic park still has the creepy allure of old-fashioned fairs. Attractions look like they are in need of a new coat of paint. The pen marked “Three Blind Mice” had a…
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Zinc Oxide for Diaper Rash
Along the lines of caring for our baby the best way we know how is the treatment of diaper rash. No matter how careful or diligent a parent one is, there is no avoiding an incident or two of baby developing diaper rash. Perhaps it’s an allergic reaction to something baby ate, or a soiled…
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Chlorine-Free Baby Diapers
Long before our baby was born, the subject of diapers has plagued my husband and me. Our midwife suggested using cloth diapers. Cotton is breathable and comfortable against babies’ sensitive skin. Reusable diapers are environmentally responsible. The problem with cloth diapers lies in the cleaning process. The right way to do it would be to…
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No Counting
At a toy store, a mother started yelling at her son, approximately four years old. The mother wanted to leave, the boy wanted to stay. The mother started yelling, “I’m gonna count to three… One!” The boy cried loudly, “Nooo! No counting!!!” It made me wonder if the boy would grow up hating math.
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My Home Birth Story
October 31 at 9 a.m. my water broke. My midwife, Kristen, came about an hour later to check on me. She suggested going on our daily walk, to help the baby descend lower and bring on the contractions. So hubby and I went to take a walk, which was the longest walk we’ve ever taken,…
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Midwifery Services vs. Obstetrics-Gynecology
Soon after I found out that I was pregnant, I set out to find the health provider who will assist me throughout my pregnancy and deliver my baby. I knew I wanted to have my child at home. Although hospitals are equipped for any possible emergency, I worry about the stress of driving during labor…