The Home Waterbirth of Abigail Glory

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since I posted, but I have a good excuse! Our 5th baby was born on February 20th!! We had a wonderful home waterbirth surrounded by family and friends. I'm still on cloud 9!!

I had contractions for about a week off and on before she was born. The real stuff began just after midnight on the 20th. I woke up to a "different" contraction and uncontrollable shivering. I went to the couch to snuggle up with a blanket and see if anything was going to come of these contractions. They were about 8 minutes apart. At around 1 am, I called my best friend so she could start the hour long drive over. I managed to sleep between the contractions. They weren't bad, but I knew it was the real thing. My BFF arrived just after 2am. She helped me put plastic sheets down under the pool then we both crashed in the living room. Contractions were consistently 7-8 minutes apart and uncomfortable. I had to breath through them, but they weren't so bad that I felt the need to get off the couch. I couldn't sleep anymore after about 530. I got my husband up to put some water in the pool. I wanted to have it at least half full. Gotta have that water!!

At about 630 I texted our friend and photographer to let her know today was the day and to get ready and head on over!! Our 4 children got up around 7am. We told them their sister would be coming that day. They were so excited to see a little water in the birth pool. They were all so sweet, hugging me and the belly. All of the activity slowed contractions down a bit. I just walked around the house and sat in my rocking chair. At around 8am, things started to pick up. Contractions were more consistent and 5 minutes apart. Another friend showed up about 815. Contractions continued to be 5 min apart. At 845, everyone talked me into calling the midwife. I was still a little hesitant cause the contractions weren't so bad, but figured I should let her know. She let her apprentice and assistant know to head on over and she would be close behind.

Just after talking to the midwife I noticed contractions picking up a little. They were about 3 minutes apart and much stronger. I really had to focus on relaxing through them. My friends were amazed to see how my belly changed shape during a contraction. I could hear them talking about it while I was off in labor land.

 
I really wanted to get in the tub around 1030.  I kept asking if it was ready.  My husband had been dumping pots of boiling water to get the temp up.  Finally it was full enough and I jumped at the chance to get in.  My kids were so excited when I climbed in. 

The midwives wanted to check the heartbeat, but were having trouble with their dopplers.  I knew she was alive though, I could feel her moving!  I laid back and tried to relax through contractions.  I could tell it was getting close because I was really starting to moan at the peak.  I even felt a little pushy.

  Then at about 1105, my water broke.  Now it's down to business.  Immediately I moved to a hands and knees position and that overwhelming urge to push took over.  It wasn't long before I could feel her descending.  I had to really try hard to slow down the pushing so I wouldn't tear.  Moments later her head was born and I had to move a bit to make room for her body.  My husband said it looked like I was Tebowing.  Silly guy!!  One last push and she was here.  At 1111 am I pulled her up out of the water and she cried right away!  I couldn't believe how chubby she looked.  I sat back and thanked the Lord that it was all over.  It was a wonderful birth.  I am so thankful that I was able to have my children present to witness the birth of their sister.  Having friends there was great too.  As I look at the pictures I am in love with the whole experience.

At my one week visit with the midwife assistant, she asked me how I prepared for my birth.  She called it "elegant" and was amazed at how well I handled it.  I prepared myself by thinking positive thoughts.  I rested on the word of God and the work Christ did on the cross.  He shed his blood to break the curse that Adam and Eve introduced to the world when they first sinned.  He shed His blood so that we could be reconciled to God!  I claimed that the whole pregnancy.  Along with my faith in Christ's victory, I also educated myself.  I watched homebirth videos, read birth stories, and flooded my brain with knowledge about how our bodies were created to work.  I had complete faith in my body and in trusting that, I could just let go and let my body work.

Bamboobies Nursing Pads Review and Giveaway!!

My! It has been quite a while since I've been on here! I have a good reason though...I had a baby girl on February 20th!!!! I will blog about the birth another time. But right now we're going to talk about one of the glorious things that comes along with having a baby!! LACTATING!!! Which leads me to a wonderful review of Bamboobies!!

I was sent one pair of regular bamboobies to try out.   

If you've never heard of them, let me explain. Bamboobies are washable nursing pads.  I am totally in love with everything about them!  They are made of soft bamboo velour, are leak proof, and are the cutest heart shape ever!!  The heart shape serves a great purpose, besides being so cute, the shape allows the nursing pad to form so wonderfully to the breast that they really are invisible when worn.  Take a look at the awesome colors they have!

Aren't they awesome!  I mean, come on ladies, HOT PINK nursing pads!!! 

Now, let me get on with the review.  I washed my nursing pads as soon as I was up and running again after baby was born.  I really couldn't wait to try them out.  After washing them, they were so soft.  This is really nice for those first days of sore nipples.  Once my milk came in, I got to see them in action.  They absorbed the milk so well and never leaked during the day.  Night time was another story.  I only have one pair, so I was wearing them 24 hours a day.  I also thought, based on previous breastfeeding experiences, that I was not a big leaker!!  Boy was I wrong about that.  I didn't invest in any overnight Bamboobies and was kickin' myself in the behind when I woke at night and was covered in sticky milk.  The regular Bamboobies, are really meant for the slow leakers.  Those of you, I mean us, who have a generous supply...get the overnights!! 

Now, for the giveaway...
 
This giveaway is open to residents of the US only.  It will run for 2 weeks ending on Saturday April 7th.  The winner will be emailed and have 48 hours to reply or another winner will be selected.  Now...Go to the Rafflecopter form below and get busy earning entries!!  Good Luck!!

Also, Bamboobies has been so generous to offer my readers a discount code to be used at www.buybamboobies.com .  Simply enter CRUNCH20 at checkout for 20% off of your order!  Happy Shopping!!

Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil Review and Giveaway

Months ago, when I found out I was pregnant with number 5, I dreaded the day when my current stretch marks would begin to stretch even further up my belly. Not that I don't "love" my stretch marks, they are a sign that I've lovingly carried 4 babies, but it had been a few years and they were faded enough and not so noticeable. I really didn't care to see those bright red lines again. So I started looking for something natural to use on my belly as it stretched, hoping that I could minimize the damage, or maybe even prevent it. Nothing had ever helped before so I kinda just let it be and accepted that I was one of those mommas that was just gonna get them no matter what I tried to do to prevent them.

But then I found Earth Mama Angel Baby!! They are a most wonderful company, dedicated to making natural products for mom and baby. Here's what their website says about their mission.

About Our Family
Earth Mama Angel Baby's pregnancy, childbirth and baby products were, ahem, born of our sincere faith in the natural process of birthing babies. Supporting the pure process naturally with nature's gifts makes sense to us. We don't think of pregnancy as an illness, merely a phenomenal process that has many wonderful and sometimes difficult stages. We trust in the wise women who have historically exalted the glories and eased the common discomforts of pregnancy naturally.

We use the highest-quality, certified-organic or organically grown herbs and oils for our teas, bath herbs, gentle handmade soaps, salves, lotions and massage oils. Our products are 100% toxin-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and free from all artificial preservatives, fragrances and dyes. Our commitment to honor the earth and her valuable resources extends to our packaging as well - we use only eco-friendly recyclable or reused/reusable packaging and packing materials. It's true - we are even the proud recipients of the BRAG (Business Recycling Award Group) for our green practices.

Just as our foremothers did, Earth Mama Angel Baby honors the ancient knowledge of natural and herbal remedies and plant medicine. The wisdom we rely on has been passed down from great-grandmother to grandmother to mother to daughter, which we combine with the safety and assurances of contemporary evidence-based research.

The mamas (and honorary-mama papas) at Earth Mama Angel Baby are a dedicated and diverse group of nurses, herbalists, labor and postpartum doulas, childbirth hypnotherapists, childbirth educators, women, mothers and grandmothers. And a father or two.

We strive to provide research, tools and products to empower women with knowledge about the earth's natural resources for nurturing themselves and their angel babies.

It is also our goal, in times of grief, to help provide real physical support, resource information and emotional and spiritual comfort to women who have experienced the loss of a baby. We created the Healing Hearts Baby Loss Comfort web site to specifically address these heartbreaking needs.

Just like most mamas, we love hearing from you! If you have suggestions about information you'd like to see included or ways to improve our site, questions about natural pregnancy or feedback about our products please write to us: Contact Mama

Growing, birthing, and nurturing babies are natural and wondrous processes. Let's care for our angel babies and ourselves - naturally.

We are proud members of:

•Natural Ingrdient Resource Center
•National Environmental Trust
•Organic Trade Association - Cultivating a strong organic industry since 1985
•Co-op America and the Green Pages Online
•American Botanical Council
•Herb Research Foundation
•International Childbirth Education Association
•American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth
•Green Products Alliance
•United Plant Savers - A non-profit education corporation dedicated to preserving native medicinal plants
•American Herbal Products Association

I contacted them and they were so kind to offer me a bottle of their Natural Stretch Oil to review.

I was so excited when I received the oil. I wanted to make sure to use it daily from early on in my pregnancy. I read the instructions and set out on my review. I wanted to do it for as long as possible, to get the best review for all of you. Here is all the info on Natural Stretch Oil, straight from Earth Mama Angel Baby's website:

Are you a mama with a sensitive nose and an itchy, pregnant belly? Looking for the perfect natural stretch mark oil? Mama knows. That's why Natural Stretch Oil is exactly what every mama needs. Your gloriously expanding belly, hips and breasts will drink up the luxurious, natural blend of oils to help deter stretch marks and relieve the itch, and the light, delicate scent won't aggravate morning sickness.


Mama starts with plant-based oils that are infused with the healing herbal goodness of organic Calendula and calming organic Chamomile. Organic Borage oil and Neroli pure essential oil help nourish and encourage skin's natural elasticity for natural stretch mark care. Natural Stretch Oil is light and readily absorbable. It's vegan, cruelty-free, and contains no nut oils. Zero toxins and no artificial preservatives, fragrance or color. It's lovely as a bath oil and perfect for perineal massage to help avoid tears and episiotomies during childbirth.


Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but don't be fooled: this is Mama's secret blend to help prevent pregnancy stretch marks naturally, perfected with loving care, with a celebrity and celestial mama following to prove it.

I am a momma who is very conscience of what I put on my skin as well as my babies. I was very impressed by just how natural all of the ingredients are! There's definitely nothing toxic in here!! Here is the ingredient list:

Vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, Simmondsia chinensis (organic jojoba) seed oil, Borago officinalis (organic borage) seed oil, Matricaria recutita (organic chamomile) extract, Calendula officinalis (organic calendula) extract, a proprietary blend of Citrus sinensis (organic orange) essential oil, Citrus aurantium dulsis (neroli) oil

You can also visit their website and read all of the awesome reviews by other happy mommas!

Now, for my review!

I took this picture at around 17 weeks pregnant. I was just starting to pop out and those beautiful stretch marks were showing their face proudly! I had a navel piercing in high school and my belly button is really a sight for sore eyes! Each pregnancy the scars from that piercing just grew upward. I figured this time it may end up closer to my boobs than ever! So I began applying the oil daily, in the morning and at night, as the directions suggested on the bottle: Beginning early in pregnancy, massage onto your lovely, growing belly, breasts, and thighs twice each day. After pregnancy, enjoy it as a rich moisturizing body oil all year long. I was totally amazed at the light citrus scent. So sweet and pleasant. I rubbed it all over my stretchy areas, the belly, boobies and my wonderful child bearing hips! My skin really soaked it up! And it felt so smooth and hydrated!

During the colder winter days, my skin would feel dry and itchy at times. I would just apply a few squirts of the Natual Stretch Oil and immediately found relief! It really saved the day many times!

Today, I am 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I am still using my nearly empty bottle of Natural Stretch Oil, and am so completely thrilled to say that my stretch marks have not extended one little bit!! I am so excited and really in shock! It really works!! Here is a picture of my belly today!!

Now that I'm a faithful believer, I am so glad to say that Earth Mama Angel Baby has offered to giveaway one bottle of Natural Stretch Oil to one lucky Mama!! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below and you are entered to win!

FuzziBunz Winner!!

I have a winner to announce!! Rebecca Orr, you are the lucky winner of (2) FuzziBunz size Medium cloth diapers in white! Hurry up and check your email and reply ASAP!!



Blessings,
Crunchy Katie

Arbonne Giveaway Winner!

We have a winner! Amy Menzies check your email!

Also, I still have a FuzziBunz giveaway going. Get your entries in cause it ends soon!!

CrunchyKatie

FuzziBunz Perfect Size Medium Giveaway

I received my first box of fluff!!  I got my FuzziBunz size XS and S in the mail about 2 weeks ago.  I opened the package and was so excited to see how tiny they were.  I imagined our little teeny baby girl wearing them and ooo'd and awwww'd about them to all my friends whenever I got the chance!  The other day I was excited to receive my 4 FREE diapers from the FuzziBunz buy 6 get 2 free deal.  They sent me the wrong size though.  I got 2 mediums and right away realized that these are not EVER going to fit a baby of mine!  My other 4 never even grew out of disposable size 3s!!  So I figured, why not just give them away!!  So, in honor of my tiny babies, who will never fit in a FuzziBunz size Medium, I am giving away (2) FuzziBunz size Medium cloth diapers in white!!  Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below!!  Good Luck!!

Crunchy Katie

Newborns and Cloth Event

Hey there followers!  You have got to head on over to Life With My Littles and One More Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and check out their Newborns and Cloth event going on starting November 11th.  They have tons of awesome reviews and giveaways for you!!  Check back here as well for an awesome FuzziBunz giveaway coming November 11th.  You can receive extra entries for the FuzziBunz giveaway for entering the giveaways on each of their blogs!!