Being pregnant can feel like dietary purgatory. No sushi, no raw dairy, no deli meats (although, not a fan any ways), and of course, no alcohol.
In fact, according to one study, 1 in 13 women drink alcohol while pregnant. Should we be concerned about this?
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Nattō is a traditional Japanese food that has a reputation for being stinky, slimy and foul. This humble breakfast food can be so offensive that some restaurants have a “nattō only” seating area.
So why do I want to try it? It’s a super food! Nattō is a fermented soybean that contains valuable enzymes and nutrients. It has the highest vitamin K2 content of any other food on the planet. It also contains beneficial bacteria which is great for digestion and bowel health.
Watch as Emmy walks me through the first bite and see my reaction.
PS – here’s the video that Emmy posted on her channel today where we talk about our natural childbirths – mine in the USA and hers in Japan 
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Beyonce just told Oprah that she gained 57 pounds while pregnant with Blue Ivy. And the interwebs are aflutter with speculation on how much is too much to gain.
See what I think about this in the video above. And then tell me: How much did YOU gain? Was it more or less than expected? Is there a limit to how much weight we should gain?
Click that Facebook “Like” button if you liked the informal style of this show 
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I often get asked what I recommend having on hand for the big day. No, not your wedding. I’m talking about the day you go into labor.
I learned so many things from my first labor and can’t wait to do it again so I can change some things.
For example, I can’t stress how important it is to replenish during labor…. and I know, it’s the LAST thing we want to do but it’s so vital. I went nearly NINE hours without food/drink, which only made things worse. I will never forget when my doula gave me some apple juice and the change that took place. All of a sudden I had ENERGY. I had glucose running through my veins and an instant boost to my delivery. So, I will be sure to drink lots of fluids during labor next time… I think liquid nourishment is probably better than a lot of food since it’s easier on the body and we’re pretty preoccupied to stop and eat.
So, whether we give birth at home, in a birthing center or at a hospital, here are 10 helpful tools which can promote a natural and smoother delivery.
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Mama, Papa and Griffin are off on vacation this week, but rather that let the weeds grow around here, we’re bringing back an old chestnut you may have missed. It’s from waaaay back when Griffin was growing inside Mama, and we needed to decide once and for all who had the biggest belly in the household.
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Watch Genevieve go from skinny to baby-bumpin’ in this time-lapse video. We took photos every week during her pregnancy, and what you see here is the progression from nine to 39 weeks pregnant… and beyond!
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This is part three of my three-part birthing story:
What does a new, natural mama think of her 27-hour labor and everything that followed? This video pretty much sums it up.
Bonus: A slideshow of our baby boy at the end!
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I feel a little scared and self conscious to post this video, but hey, after childbirth a woman can face anything, right?
This is part two of my childbirth story.
In case you can’t see the video, here’s the gist…
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Buckle up everyone, here’s my birthing story! It’s a big one, so we’ve divided it into three parts.
This is part three of my three-part birthing story:
Labor began at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept 10 and lasted through the night and into the morning. I was unable to sleep, but managing fairly well. We called our doula over around noon and soon it was time to drive to the alternative birthing center at a nearby hospital. When the midwife checked me out I was 5cm dilated. Yeah for the rookie mom! We were worried I’d be at a 1 or 2.
I continued to labor in the birthing center – mainly in the shower and down on all fours with the birthing ball – till 4 p.m. When my midwife rechecked me I was at a 7! Life was good. I had hope! I labored for 2 more hours… very intense, very painful and thank God for Mike who literally held my back together with every contraction to help offset the pressure. I was rechecked at 6 p.m. and was making progress.
We labored for another half hour and then filled the birthing tub…
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My chiropractor suggested that, starting at 38 weeks, I climb stairs to prepare my body – and my baby – for an easier birthing experience. The technique is to climb two stairs at a time with a wide legged stance.
So I’m off and climbing. And I’m starting to feel like Rocky.
Does it work? I’ll find out in a week or so!
Did you do stairs or any other exercises to prepare your body for labor?
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