MBrannen's Pregnancy

About Me

I live in Asheville, NC.
This is my fourth pregnancy after multiple losses. Our first child, Lyla, was stillborn at around 38 weeks in March of 2011. Since that time i have had two miscarriages; one at nine weeks in which I lost a major amount of blood and another early one back in october. I tried to let my cycles get regular before trying again and after two very promising cycles I once again conceived. I dont like or use any types of medications and use mostly only herbs and natural methods. I'm a strong believer in herbs and make all of my medicines at home. I have just started up my own herbal product business called Ginger Rose Herbal (after our daughter, it was her middle names). My business can be found at www.artandherbals.com

I have a plan to go through this pregnancy as naturally as possible without any medications and I eat only organic and natural foods. I've kept my ultrasounds to an absolute minimum (only 3) and my 18 week u/s was my last one. In a future pregnancy I hope not to have any, especially with the increased awareness of the link between ultrasounds and the massive increase in Autism spectrum disorder. I have a strong belief in the womans intuition when it comes to her pregnancy and baby.

I go to an acupuncturist regularly for my pregnancy. I'm also attending birth dancing classes, which are amazing. I'm really hoping that this time will be it, but it's just a wait and see. :) I am planning a homebirth and have transfered from my amazing and supportive family doctor to a local midwife for the birth.

My husband & I are both full time students and we are hoping to do all our classes online once baby is here so that we can stay home with him/her. I am hoping to finish with a degree in eco-psychology. I also attended herb school about 5 years ago.

If anyone has any questions about natural remedies during pregnancy or for conception, feel free to contact me :)


My Acupuncturist has predicted me a Boy!

My Birth Plan

I am planning to do an At-Home waterbirth with a local midwife. I plan to use massage oils and aroma therapy to help with pain during labor. I am taking birth dancing classes that are supposed to help with movement during labor and I really hope to dance through most of my labor. I plan to be using a homeopathic birth kit created by a local midwife. I also truly plan to get as in touch with the primitive birthing brain as possible.
I will be using a Doula (who is also my midwifes assistant) and will have just me, my husband, the doula, & the midwife at the birth. The midwife is just there to hold the sacred space and will not be checking me or interrupting the birth process. She believes in the mothers intuition, so if I think that I need anything I will ask for it. The same goes for if I feel that there is something wrong. But she will not be making the decisions for me. They will also both be there to make sure that while my husband is caring for me that he is well taken care of himself. My husband will be the one delivering and announcing the sex of the baby.

I plan to keep the placenta after birth and do some placenta art . I'm also planning to possibly have my doula create placenta incapsulations. I am planning to breastfeed. I'm not going to be setting up a seperate nursery and plan to co-sleep. I will have a basinet for naps and things set up in our room, but do not plan on putting them seperately anywhere else. I think this is an important part to help the baby bond and form attachment in the early years.

	Comment from sageviolet » Posted Apr. 1, 2012 2:16pm Hey, thanks for the comment! It's neat that we have similar interests with herbs and attachment parenting. I also plan to try placenta encapulsation. Are you feeling better about the pregnancy since you've made it this far? I'm far enough along to feel movements now. It's SO reassuring. I can imagine that since you had such a late loss with Lyla you probably won't be able to fully relax until you can hold your little one in your arms, but I hope you enjoy each day of holding it inside, too!
	Comment from Samm0704 » Posted Feb. 29, 2012 10:53pm That is awesome and Im glad everything is alright <3
	Comment from Samm0704 » Posted Feb. 28, 2012 10:05pm Praying for you!!
	Comment from MBrannen » Posted Feb. 2, 2012 9:13pm I appreciate it :) luckily everything came back looking really good and healthy. I hope it stays that way! :)
	Comment from sageviolet » Posted Jan. 31, 2012 8:30am Good luck with your u/s! I'm praying for you.