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Mother

 by Victoria Santalesa

Natural Vs Traditional C-Section

To say pregnancy is a time of anxiety may be one of the bigger understatements one can make. Expecting mothers have a range of questions and worries, the least of which may be, “Will I ever get my bikini body back?” In a time of such uncertainty. it’s nice to know that there are people out there who understand, and want to make the experience of pregnancy and delivery as stress-free as possible. Behold, the gentle Cesarean. While still surgery, the gentle Cesarean incorporates the elements of natural birth to the procedure to make it less invasive and more celebratory. Here’s the way it works:

What Makes the Gentle Cesarean Gentle?
Un- rushed Birth
Birth is not rushed, so mommy doesn’t feel like an object being pushed through an assembly line.

All Eyes On Mom
More attention and focus is given to the mother and the birthing partner.

Relaxed Atmosphere
The birthing room is quiet and filled with calming music or music chosen by the mother. ( Metallica is not advised.)

No Sheets
Mommy can see the baby being born via mirror reflection. In most C- sections, a sheet is placed in front of the mother. Gentle C- sections invite the mother to view the birth in mirrors and doctors are encouraged to be more forthcoming about the procedure than in the conventional C-section, so the mothers can feel more a part of the experience.

vine vera banner presents Natural Vs. Traditional C-Section

Slow Hand Doc
With the goal on simulating a vaginal birth, the doctor may delay the process of pulling the baby through the abdominal incision. For example, after the baby’s head is out, the doctor may leave the body inside the uterus for a few moments longer to let baby squeeze lung fluids through its nose. In vaginal births, this squeezing occurs naturally and helps the newborn to avoid infant respiratory distress syndrome, commonly associated with Cesarian births.

The Umbilical Chord Is Left Intact For a Longer Period. In traditional Cesareans, the baby is lifted out and the cord is cut immediately. In gentle Cesareans, chorcordis not cut until the mother and child have made skin to skin contact.

Skin to Skin Contact Occurs Immediately
Skin to skin contact is a central feature of the gentle cesarean. It has been shown that immediate contact with the mother makes the experience of birth less stressful for a child; the child is less likely to cry, is better able to regulate their breathing, reaches a stable body temperature more quickly, is likely to have more balanced blood sugar levels. Skin to skin contact is also an important component of emotional bonding between mother and child and helps to reduce risk or postpartum depression.

Immediate Breast Feeding Is An Option
Mothers can choose to breastfeed baby immediately if she desires.

To Have a Gentle Cesarean
If you want to consider the option of a gentle C- Section, add a C-Section Birth plan to your original plan. Be sure to discuss things like skin to skin contact, delayed cord clamping and slow birthing with your doctor to make sure you are on the same page when it comes to the birthing experience. Note that this will not pre destine you for a C- section, but if it becomes an eventuality, you will be prepared.

What do you think of the Gentle Cesarean? Let us know!

in Expert Advice 0 comments
Little boy presenting flowers to mother
 by Mayank

Beyond Brunch: Ideas for Mother's Day

You want your mother to have a magnificent Mother’s Day but it can be hard to think of things to do. You want mom to be relaxed, but still enjoying herself. After all, this day is devoted to honoring your mother. One of the most popular activities on Mother’s Day is to take her to a delicious brunch. However, if you are tired of just taking your mom out to eat, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Mother’s Day with your mom. Below we’ve listed some of our favorite creative ideas for showing mom how much you love her.

Family enjoying a picnic lunch.

Picnic
Okay, so this one still involves food, but it adds atmosphere and fun to your Mother’s Day meal. Going on a picnic often feels nostalgic and brings back memories of playing in the sun, popsicles and the sweet smell of flowers. Find a basket your mom that you can give to your mother after the picnic and fill it with utensils, plates, napkins and any other thing you need for dining. Once that is sorted, either make or buy some of your mom’s favorite classic foods. Great foods for a picnic include sandwiches, fresh fruit like strawberries and blueberries, homemade iced tea and treats like cookies. Handpick some flowers for your mom and give them to her at your picnic.

Mother and daughter at a spa.

Pamper Mom
Normally Mother’s Day is an affair that involves the entire family, but maybe what mom needs is a little quiet and alone time. Pampering activities can include a massage or facial at her favorite spa or a mani/pedi. However, pampering your mom on Mother’s Day does not have to come with any added expense. Simply let mom take a nap while dad takes care of the kids. Let mom watch her favorite TV or movies all day long or prepare her a relaxing bath with soothing scents (like lemon and jasmine) and let her soak for as long as she wants. Because moms are constantly doing something, it can be nice to give her some time to just do things that let her completely relax.

Mother and daughter gardening.

Plant a Garden
If your mom is an outdoor enthusiast, consider heading outdoors for Mother’s Day. Start a new tradition and plant a few of her favorite flowers. To give mom a bit of a break on Mother’s Day, plant a garden a few weeks before Mother’s Day so it starts to bloom brightly on her special day. The great thing about planting a garden for mom is that it truly is a gift that keeps on giving.

The ultimate Mother’s Day activity, and gift, is one that is tailored to your mom’s specific tastes and lifestyle. A few weeks before Mother’s Day, start making lists of activities your mother enjoys or food that you know she would love. Mother’s Day is all about your mom and there are many ways to celebrate her. The best gift is one that is thoughtful and benefits your mom, such as a book by her favorite author or a new coffee mug for her morning caffeine fix. You don’t have to stick with flowers and brunch, and you also don’t have to spend an extreme amount of money, just give your mom a gift from your heart and she will love it.

in Live Well 0 comments
Family having a meal outdoors.
 by Mayank

Resveralife Eat Well: Dishes to Make for Mom

Nothing shows love and appreciation more that a home-made dish or goody. This Mother’s Day, express your deep admiration by taking time to prepare a dish you know she loves, or that you think she will love. You don’t have to be a master chef to whip up a tasty Mother’s Day treat, you just need a bit of planning and your time to create something your mother will love as much as you love her. This Resveralife Eat Well Guide from Resveralife highlights some of the best dishes to make for your mom on Mother’s Day.

Vanilla crepes with caramel sauce.

For Breakfast or Brunch
Let mom relax as she wakes up and take over preparing breakfast or brunch for her.

Vanilla Crepes
Crepes sound elegant and luxurious and this recipe ensures they taste that way as well. The bonus to this recipe is that you already have everything you will need in your kitchen, so no visiting the grocery store scouring the shelves for some specialized ingredient. For these crepes you will need:

  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 and 1/2 cups of milk
  • 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 and 1/2 cups of flour
  • 5 tablespoons of butter, melted
  • pinch of salt
  • Crepe fillings – anything you choose such as fruit or fresh whipped cream

Begin by mixing wet ingredients together, including the vanilla extract. Next, add the rest of the ingredients and blend thoroughly. Heat a pan to medium heat and pour roughly 1/4 of batter into the greased pan. Crepes are notoriously thin and delicate so tip the pan on all sides to spread the batter to the sides of the pan. Cook your crepe just as you would a pancake; when the edges of the crepe are dry and bubbles form on top, you are done with that side. Flip and cook other side. Repeat for the rest of the batter. Finish by filling with Mom’s favorite fruit and whipped cream or an indulgent chocolate filling. The filling is the perfect opportunity for kids to help prepare the breakfast.

Strawberry salad on a plate.

For Lunch
A tasty salad is always a great lunch and we’ve loaded this salad with ingredients that are not only healthy for you but also delicious.

Strawberry Salad
For a family of four you will need:

  • 1 large chicken breast either diced or cut into thin strips
  • 2 ounces of Gorgonzola cheese
  • 1/2 pint of fresh strawberries, sliced or diced
  • 2.5 ounces of your favorite nut, pecans are our pick but walnuts taste great too
  • 2 tablespoons of any vinaigrette dressing you choose (balsamic is always a great idea)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 a bunch of fresh spinach washed and dried

Begin by heating a pan to medium heat and adding one tablespoon of olive oil to the warm pan. Add the chicken and one tablespoon of vinaigrette to the pan and cook until chicken is not longer pink and is slightly browned. You can also add spices to taste while cooking your chicken, such as cracked black pepper, garlic or sweet basil. Set aside and let the chicken cool. Place spinach in a large serving bowl and add the toppings: Gorgonzola, strawberries and nuts. Again, if you have little ones sprinkling the salad is a great way to have them help make Mom’s lunch. Next, drizzle remaining olive oil and vinaigrette over the salad. Lastly, add the chicken on top. You can serve this right away with the chicken slightly warm, or you can let it cool for a bit in the fridge for a refreshing cold and crisp salad.

Pulled pork sandwiches with fries on a plate.

For Dinner
You want to make an incredible, tasty dinner for mom that reflects the amount of comfort and care she gives you. But, you also want to spend time with her on Mother’s Day instead of spending all afternoon in the kitchen. Use a crock pot to make this ridiculously easy, but delicious comfort food.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches
For this recipe all you need is:

  • 2.5 pound boneless pork loin roast
  • 18 oz bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
  • Potato (or your Mom’s favorite) rolls
  • Water, as needed

Start by putting your pork into the slow cooker and add enough water to completely cover the pork. Set on low and allow to cook for seven hours. After seven hours, remove the pork, shred it and place it back into the slow cooker. Add the BBQ sauce when you add the shredded pork and continue to cook on low for one hour. Serve with a classic coleslaw for a creamy and crunchy contrast to the richness of the pork loin.

Making a Mother’s Day meal shows your appreciation in a way that even the most beautiful card cannot. Have your kids help wherever possible and remember to serve any dish with plenty of love.

in Eat Well 0 comments
Mother with her daughter in her backyard.
 by Mayank

Stress Busting Tips for Mom

Stress levels continue to rise for modern mothers and 70% of mothers surveyed in the United States rate motherhood as “incredibly stressful.” The pressures of everyday family life not only consume time and energy, but they also consume the mind as well. Worrying about finances, success in academics and cultivating a healthier family take their toll on mothers. Below, Resveralife offers some of the most effective tips to help bust stress, if only for a few minutes, and have more peace in your day.

Beautiful woman writing in her diary in a park.

Stay Organized and Plan Ahead
It can be difficult to plan for a typical day with your children, but there are steps you can take to stay organized and help reduce stress. Your kids can constantly come up with new ways to add unexpected stress to your day and those are hard to plan for, but there are also times during each mom’s day when things are stressful. One of the most stressful times of the day is morning. Someone lost a shoe, your keys are magically missing, your child cannot decide what to wear and you’re out of milk. Starting your day this way not only stresses you out in the morning, but it makes your day more chaotic as well. Experts suggest that parents, particularly mothers, rise a bit earlier in the morning than the rest of the house. This way you get at least a bit of uninterrupted time in the morning which starts your day with a sense of calm. Leave outfits for the next day (including shoes) out the night before for easy dressing and make an extra set of keys to save time searching for them every morning.

Woman performing a yoga breathing exercise in an outdoor setting.

Learn Calming Techniques
Moms are going to experience stress each day and it is incredibly helpful to have a few strategies for calming yourself down. One way of doing so is to practice deep breathing. Experts suggest employing the 5-7-8 breathing method to center yourself. Inhale for a count of five, hold your breath for a count of seven and the exhale for a count of eight. This may feel completely foreign and uncomfortable at first, but it slows you down and relieves stress. Another method experts say is helpful is to spend a few minutes each day meditating. You may think you have no time to simply sit and do nothing, but taking just a few minutes every day can help reduce stress significantly. Start small with three to five minutes and sit in silence. If you find it too hard to shut off your thoughts, try focusing on a calming word or phrase and repeat this as you breathe deeply.

Woman trying to hold a butterfly.

Be Present
One of the biggest stresses mom face is worrying about everything that must get done each day. When you spend your time thinking about all of the things that need to be done and how things could go wrong, you are missing out on living in the present moment. Try to really focus on what is going on around you. Notice your surrounding, listen to the noises, inhale deeply and experience the smell of your area. Channeling your stress energy into immersing yourself in the moment naturally relieves stress.

Let’s face it, being a mother is not an easy job. However, it is also the most rewarding one you’ll ever have. With your day so busy it can be overwhelming to take a few minutes out to just focus on yourself, but when your stress is lowered, everyone around you experiences increased happiness as well.

in Live Well 0 comments

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