Now, I don’t like to promote tabloids nor celebs, but I couldn’t help but pick up the latest issue of People while standing in line at Gelson’s check out. As a birthing blog writer and mother, I can’t resist reading a birth story, celeb or not. When I saw Nicole Richie with her new babe, I was admittedly curious. Thankfully, I was not disappointed - for several reasons (in no particular order).

1. Nicole was quoted as saying, “I feel like a superhero. I have such a newfound respect for my body.” I’m so glad that she not only realizes this, but said it for the world to hear. It grates at my nerves when people say, “You don’t have to be a superhero.” Because, as women, that’s what we were made to be.

2. She’s breastfeeding - and we all know by now how beneficial that is.

3. When asked how long she was in labor, she said she didn’t know. I love that. I don’t like when people ask me how long I was in labor because I don’t exactly know either. I just know how long I pushed, because that’s the important part. Nicole was quoted as saying, “I don’t what time I actually went into labor, but I pushed for 10 minutes. Three pushes and she was out.”

Everyone’s labor progresses differently. Some women wear their badges of honor by how long they were in labor. It’s assumed that they were writhing and gnashing their teeth for all those hours. And if you don’t know me by now, I’m all about focusing on the positive – it’s more powerful.

For me and those whom I coach and others who know how to control and overcome fear, we can’t really mark a time when labor actually begins. We can notice when the contractions coming on more regularly. But it’s not an exact science, for anyone I’ve ever met anyway. Contractions may come every ten minutes, then five, then three, then you might have a seven minute span, then three, then five, then three again. It’s all relative. And while we’re talking about contractions… They shouldn’t hurt, unless you’re resisting them in fear. (Read more on this topic in the Prepare Your Mind section.)

4. Little Harlow Winter Kate Madden, baby girl of Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, is adorable - and I personally love the name. It’s classic, but unique.

Cheers and Blessings,
Jennifer

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Over the holidays, my husband went with a friend to the movies. He came back so excited to tell me, not so much about the movie he saw, but about the trailer for a new film executive produced by Ricki Lake, the former talk-show host, who made a documentary about the business of hospitals and doctors in delivering babies. “It’s right up your alley, Jen,” he said. So, I checked out the film’s website for myself and it seems interesting. I’d like to see it. In a nutshell, it’s Michael Moore meets the delivery room. But thank the Good Lord, it doesn’t include Michael Moore. Check out The Business of Being Born and let me know what you think in the comments area. It’s theatrical opening is January 13 in NYC.

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Just so you know, pregnancy hormones cause the tissues of your cervix and perineum become extremely thick and elastic. This is a good thing. To prevent tearing or an episiotomy during birth, you’ve got to encourage that elasticity as much as you can. Of course, as you near birth, your cervix will efface (thin) but it will retain the elasticity you worked on during the pregnancy.

One: Good nutrition and hydration are vital. Make sure you get plenty of protein and Vitamins E (at least 1,000 mg per day) and C. Nuts and seeds, cold-pressed oils, and all types of beans are good to keep your skin healthy and elastic. Food sources of Vitamin E are: Wheat germ, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, safflower oil, peanuts, corn oil, soybean oil, and lobster. Blueberries, cherries, citrus fruits, pears, grapes, cabbage, legumes, plums, and onions are good, too.

Two: Prenatal exercise including yoga and Kegels. It is great for circulation, which keeps tissues elastic. A Kegel is the name of a pelvic floor exercise, named after Dr. Kegel who laid claim to the benefits of the exercise. These muscles, attached to the pelvic bone, act like a hammock, supporting your pelvic organs. Studies suggest that we shoud do about 200 Kegels a day. There are many variations of the exercise. An alternative is the

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