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Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
Inside Look: FlexiStash
| Posted on October 19, 2016 at 10:08 AM |
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I am pleased to introduce you to FlexiStash, every babywrapping mamas dream!! If you love wraps, or if you love the idea of wrapping your baby, read on!! Have you ever wished for all the wraps? These ladies can literally make your wrap stash dreams come true!! From their website:
I had the pleasure of interacting with the founders of FlexiStash at the Babywearing International of Phoenix "Main Event" in celebration of Babywearing Week. They were kind enough to take the time to share more about their company...thank you so much, Nadia and Elyse! Tell me about FlexiStash. Elyse and I love babywearing. For each of us, it transformed our together time with little ones in different ways. We wanted to share it with as many people as possible, and learned that the high cost of entry, combined with the variety of options available, meant many caregivers may never find the wrap that fit their needs or might never babywear at all. We wanted to change that. Late night messaging and working on it piece by piece led to the creation of FlexiStash. Elyse is an engineer, whereas Nadia is a finance person. Elyse is tall and fair; Nadia is short and dark. Elyse is one of those fiercely independent and loyal once in a lifetime friends; Nadia is a social butterfly who will connect you with random people. We are very different yet we both love our children fiercely and believe anyone can do anything with the right support network. That's what we are to each other - great friends, amazing mentors, and champions of saving a joy or overcoming a challenge motherhood, one moment at a time. Who would use the service/products that FlexiStash provides? Any caregiver can benefit from FlexiStash. Social babies who cannot hold their heads up completely can get outdoor walks and learn to begin appreciating the world in a woven wrap. A fussy baby who needs cuddles can get quality skin to skin or hugs while the caregiver continues on their day. A toddler who wants to see things at the level of adults can get lots of "ups" (pick-ups, how children refer to being carried) without tiring out a caregiver's back or arms. A parent who needs to get some errands done after a long day of work can wear their child and share their world without getting slowed down. A hiker can enjoy a mountaintop sunset without trying to figure out stroller logistics. A daycare provider can offer comfort to a child missing their parent while also feeding or attending to another. We have seen stories of successful naps, workouts, gardening, travel, and so much more because of babywearing. What are the benefits of using wraps for babywearing? Scientifically speaking, from Elyse's world, babywearing is great for any caregiver and child. With similar results of skin-to-skin studies, babywearing studies demonstrate that children who are given affection and physical reinforcement or reassurance are often more emotionally intelligent and more independent as they mature. Elyse's baby was born a month early (100% healthy and awesome), and babywearing was essential for his first month of getting used to being in the real world a bit earlier than planned--he needed more mama cuddles. Financially speaking from Nadia's perspective, babywearing works well for those who do not have a car or a stroller or the means to get there, since all you need is one wrap to secure your baby to you! Nadia recently moved and is now a carless public transportation urban dweller. She has traveled thousands of miles with a backpack and a wrap and her baby successfully! As we answered earlier, children get more exposure earlier and often are able to acclimate or socialize as a result. Nadia began her baby outings on Day 3 of her son's birth. Notably, people are much less likely to lean into your personal area near your chest if your baby is worn than they are to lean into a stroller and touch your baby, which can be a concern in the early days pre-vaccination. Those are only the benefits for the children! Besides the caregivers being able to get other mundane tasks done, the freedom offers so much mental relief. Elyse could enjoy her social life or doing more than being a portable baby bed. Nadia could get out into the fresh air and get rid of her cabin fever. Although maternity leave is fantastic, when you do not have others with which to share it or if your friends are all at work full-time, you need to develop your own activities or events--babywearing helps facilitate that and so much more! How do you counsel someone who loves the idea of babywearing, but is too intimidated to try wrapping their baby? This question is perfect because we both were exactly in this place at one time! Meet your local VBE (volunteer babywearing educator). Babywearing International (BWI) is an amazing worldwide group of caring people who are willing to help you try! Types of carriers, types of carries, types of ways to soothe or comfort your baby...they are the experts! They showed Elyse how to enjoy all of her baby time and to share the love of babywearing with her family. They showed travel-addict Nadia how to enjoy travel WITH her baby so she could show him her favorite places and people in different places. We were both SO SO intimidated and now look at us! We also LOVE meeting people and learning more, so please feel free to connect with us on any social media. We will happily tell you about our favorites - carriers, methods of carrying, moods of carrying - we could go on for hours! ;) What age-range of child does this wrap-stash service work for? How old is "too old" to be carried in a wrap? Love this questions because the true answer is never! Certain wraps are designed to be easier with more or less weight, and we note where sensitive skin would very much benefit from a wrap (for example some of our silk and cashmere blends are perfect for those early days of soft soft newborn skin). Thicker twills and cottons are sometimes described as toddler-worthy, but honestly are good for any wiggly or very active or heavier child (Nadia's son loves to try to lean as horizontal as he can get, so he is a perfect test of this even though he is still a newborn). We have actually seen VBE demonstrations for adult caregivers who use wearing as a means of comforting their charges - these are of course professionals who are trained in this. The true answer is that it has to work for all parties. Sometimes caregivers and their charges take a break from wearing, to come back to it later. Some do it during the early years only and hold fond memories of it. The fact that this changes for every family is why FlexiStash is a good option - it gives you the flexibility to enjoy the wearing without worrying about the potential countdown. What makes FlexiStash unique? The flexibility. every child is different and every situation is different. You won't know if your baby will refuse to be wrapped or if your toddler will refuse once you have invested in that one-of-a-kind custom. Since wraps average around the $250 mark (in our collection) and can run into several thousands of dollars, we see people who won't sign up for custom wraps or who are afraid to buy their dream wrap "in case their child wrap strikes" (refuses to be wrapped). It's stressful financially to think about that. We offer flexibility to avoid that. You can rent monthly so the timing does not matter at all, or you can pick a specific wrap for a shorter period if you know exactly what you want to try. You can change your mind month to month and upgrade or try different options. It's perfect for all types of wearers. What motivated you to start FlexiStash? Our own children, honestly. We wanted to show them the world and we are both very active people. Babywearing offered us the ability to do that, complementary to both of our personalities and schedules. It's been an amazing part of our motherhood experience. Our children love playing with the wraps, napping with the wraps, and are starting to associate the wraps with new adventures. We love everything babywearing has brought to us, because it has only enhanced the experiences we already would be having. Is there anything else our readers should know about FlexiStash? We love being social with our fans and followers and encourage you to join us for our GuessTheWrap days or conversations on Instagram or Facebook. We are a young and growing business and take our customers very seriously - every improvement and growth decision we have made has been based on customer feedback. We just completed some giveaways in honor of International Babywearing Week and are always looking for more ways to engage with babywearers out there! As we tell everyone - it's our stash, but it's also your stash. That's the beauty of FlexiStash. What inspires you? We are inspired by strong women, by those who are professional successes but who also find the time to be caring, kind individuals. We are always drawn to respect those who can command a room and be productive but who can also recognize the contributions of others and to promote good work by all toward a positive endeavor. We hope to take the lessons from our mentors and exemplify them so that we can instill these strong values and character attributes in our own children. Thank you again, Nadia and Elyse, for taking the time to give our readers an "Inside Look" at your amazing service! Okay readers - which wrap are you going to try first?? Disclaimer: The material included in this video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth
classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert,
Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson |
Event Recap: BWI Phoenix Main Event
| Posted on October 15, 2016 at 3:12 AM |
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I had a great time at the Babywearing International event hosted by the Phoenix chapter last Saturday. Click the link for the IG profile and/or the website for the respective business...please shop local whenever possible and support these family-run businesses! Working the event with some of my favorite Bradley Method instructors a week ago!!            Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The material included in this blog is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and related videos contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth
classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert,
Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson |
Top 10 Reasons to Babywear
| Posted on October 9, 2015 at 9:34 AM |
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Our mamas had a great time visiting with Ericka Martinez, designer and creator at
Amazing Alterations and Creations. She brought four carriers to demonstrate and
share pros and cons. We all got to
touch/try/feel what we wanted from her selection of a ring sling, a Mei Tai, a
woven wrap, and a soft structured carrier.
She also showed us how to do some different “carries” using the variety
of carriers. As a ring sling, rebozo and Beco™ mama, the woven wraps and Mei Tais have always intimidated me. We all learned a lot, and I braved into new territory and we are trying a lightweight woven wrap.
Top 10 Reasons to Wear Your Baby
These "Did You Know" statements from the New Directions Institute shed a little insight into the myriad of benefits of babywearing: "Responsive, attentive and predictable care of an infant allows the brain to develop in a healthy way." "Human contact and touch promotes a sense of security and encourages healthy brain development." "The visual system is the first system to 'wire up' and develops primarily in infancy." So keep those Sweet Peas close, and take advantage of your local Babywearing International Group to try-on several different carriers before you buy the one that is just right for you. A little humor Ericka shared with us:  Have you tried babywearing? What is your favorite carrier? Benefit? Carry position?Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. This is just a taste of the helpful information Ericka shared with our mama group. Would you like Ericka to come present to your group? Workshop presentation given by Amazing Alterations and Creations LLC:
Additional Babywearing Resouces Bright From the Start by Jill Stamm PHD http://www.naturalchild.org/ http://babywearinginternational.org/  Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Top 10 PostPartum Tips
| Posted on May 22, 2015 at 7:12 PM |
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 Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Breastfeeding+AP = Transformation Central
| Posted on July 31, 2014 at 9:36 AM |
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Our desire and preparation for a natural birth confirmed the
decision to breastfeed our Sweet Pea. In
turn, breastfeeding opened the door to attachment parenting, which has
transformed me as a person. Before we had children, I was one of those people who
believed in child-free spaces. I liked living for me, and being in the
spotlight. There was not a thought for
what I would do with children because I just did not think that was going to be
part of my story. When Puma was still a newborn, a friend asked me, “What have
you learned since becoming a parent?” My
answer: “How selfish* I used to be.” The kind of selfish that I discovered in myself was the “me,
me, me, all about me” variety. Life
before Sweet Peas entailed getting myself to work, going to yoga classes,
traveling on a whim as well as planned vacations, cooking delicious food that
took hours to prepare for Coach Bruss and I, or the two of us would go out to
dinner wherever and whenever we wanted.
It was a good life.  We got married, we wanted children, and we weren’t sure if
we would be having biological children or if we would be adopting. As it turned out, we were able to conceive a
child and carry her to term with my well-controlled thyroid condition. We had a suspicion that our lives were going
to change. As new parents, we could not even begin to imagine the changes a
child would bring to our relationship, or what “family” meant. My transformation began while we labored with her. Then, in the wee small hours of the morning on
January 25, 2005, Puma entered our
world, wide-eyed and observant. The
first time I put her to my breast and looked into her eyes, I fell in love in
such a way that I could not have even imagined.
For the rest of my life, I will strive to do my best for this child, and
for every child that joined our family after her.  Attachment Parenting (“AP”) is a philosophy of child
rearing that respects children as whole, unique, individual human beings. Children are treated with love and respect,
as whole people traveling in little bodies.
I believe that it is our role as parents is to honor the child-person
first and foremost; and parent with the long-term goal of growing a child in
love who can operate as a whole, unbroken and joyful adult. By starting off as a breastfeeding MotherBaby, I learned our
children’s cues and had a better insight into their emotional states. That relationship has evolved as they weaned,
and now there is some mother’s intuition as well as observation that comes into
play, and it helps me be a better parent.
I am more confident as a parent because I “know” our children. When our children need guidance and boundaries, as all
children do, we do our best to guide them with love and respect. There are days when we are all tired – we
make an effort to breathe. That bond
forged through breastfeeding inspires me to try harder to be a good mother for
them. I work harder to be a better person because I want to earn
their respect. I work harder to breathe
and stay calm because they do not deserve the brunt of my temper. I work harder to pray, lead a life of
spirituality, and respect for a Divine Creator, because I want to leave them a
legacy of peace in their hearts. I do my
best to be a good steward in the world around us, because God-willing, they are
going to walk this earth long after I am gone – I want it to be a good one. When I do make a mistake, I ask for their forgiveness. Just because they are small in stature does
not mean they are not deserving of an apology, or that they feel things at a
diminished level. And so the circle of
love continues, with all parties aware that we are all human, and that trust
and respect are the highest priority in our relationship. There is a memory that stands out in my mind from a fall
evening in 2011, right after Otter was born.
Coach Bruss was sitting on the couch in our family room, one of the Sweet
Peas lying on his lap. Two of the Sweet
Peas were crashed out with pillows and blankets on the floor. I was sitting in our recliner with Otter,
having just nursed her to sleep. As we
looked at each other and our little brood, we just smiled, our hearts full and
bursting with joy. We could not have
imagined that our lives would be blessed with four children, all unique, all
independent; and here we were, a family of six. Since that day, we continue to grow in love and
experience. Being an AP parent is a
commitment and it takes time to guide a child vs. discipline a child. On hectic days, it would be "easier" to play the old tape of yelling and spanking.
However, thanks to the bond forged by breastfeeding, I cannot ever be
okay with hurting our children physically or emotionally, and for that, I am
eternally grateful. Love and respect all the way. How has breastfeeding affected you as a person? Please leave a comment – it will be moderated and posted.
The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Wordless Wednesday: Babywearing
| Posted on July 30, 2014 at 2:38 PM |
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Here are some of my favorite babywearing moments that our students have shared with us over the years. One of my favorite benefits is that it allows partners to bond with baby without having to feed with a bottle.             |
Wordless Wednesday: The REAL American Idols
| Posted on May 28, 2014 at 9:31 PM |
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 In honor of Armed Forces Day which was observed on May 17th, we wanted to feature the folks who serve or have served in our nation’s military. These images capture family time for the Real American Idols: people willing to put their live on the line to protect our Constitution and our freedoms, and the spouses and children who love them and live life without them while they are out on duty. Check out more military family photos over on Sweet Pea Families.  USMC Veteran Daddy + Sweet Pea USMC Veteran Daddy + Sweet Pea  US Navy Daddy + Family  Army National Guard Daddy + Sweet Pea |
Wordless Wednesday: Babywearing
| Posted on April 16, 2014 at 8:07 PM |
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#CAM2014 Tip: This parenting practice can be especially beneficial to cesarean families to encourage bonding while you heal from your birth and revel in the miracle of life. How do you wear your Sweet Pea?  Hiking at the Grand Canyon using a soft-structured carrier  Wearing my 3 year old who needed extra cuddles in a soft-structured carrier  Dancing a line dance while wearing K. at my nephew's wedding in a ring sling  With both my babies...wearing K. in a ring sling Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Babywearing: A Kiss To Build A Dream On
| Posted on February 26, 2014 at 9:01 PM |
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This is our last love-month-theme! I picked this title as a reminder that when you wear your Sweet Pea, one of the safety checks is that they are “close enough to kiss” <3 Read more about safe babywearing HERE from The School of Babywearing™. What you will see in today’s images:
Babywearing can pretty much be done with any size infant or toddler, in pretty much any setting – enjoy! Keep scrolling down to see who won our first contest!!                    Thank you to everyone who sent submissions for our first contest! Random.Org did our selection for us. Each featured image was numbered in the order it was received…and our winner is…. Jennifer Thompson ~ Congratulations to our first #wordlesswednesday contest winner! Please email me at krystyna{at}sweetpeabirths{dot}com to claim your prize :)
Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Birth News
| Posted on January 10, 2014 at 6:31 PM |
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 Happy New Year!! Wishing all of our readers many blessings as you welcome the new year. I trust your holidays were wonderful and that you are looking forward to all the promise of a fresh slate.These are probably going to keep being evening editions - thank you for your patience as we ramp up posting again in the New Year. I am really placing a high value on being Peaceful Mama for my kiddos, which means that being on the computer is taking a back seat to homeschooling and teaching classes this season. I will be back in full swing soon - until then, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (krystyna{at}sweetpeabirths{dot}com) if you have any pressing questions about pregnancy, natural birth or breastfeeding! Birth News FERTILITY NOTE: Please read this with a grain of salt - we have had students have beautiful, term babies even though they used IVF to attain pregnancy. Simply shared as a tool for discussion with your care providers as you weigh the benefits and the risks. IVF Pregnancies Are More Likely To Result In Stillbirth, Preterm Birth, Low
Birthweight, Or Neonatal Death
Medical Daily http://bit.ly/19V24Sc PREGNANCY NOTE:I am by no means suggesting that you *should* go get a flu shot – again, I am simply offering this as information to discuss with your care provider. See what Dr. Sears has to say about the flu shot during pregnancy HERE and HERE Flu shots in pregnancy protect babies from being born too soon, Canadian studies show
Ottowa Citizen http://bit.ly/1gqKeoL BIRTH Premature 'Water Breaking' During Pregnancy Linked to Bacteria
WebMD http://bit.ly/1d31rF3 POSTPARTUM Is Placenta Encapsulation the Answer to Postpartum Depression?
Health24 http://bit.ly/1iWKgZG Doctors report uptick in number of babies with RSV, a respiratory virus, this flu season
abc13.com http://bit.ly/1gqJ8cC BREASTFEEDING Study Links Breastfeeding to Lower Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Science World Report http://bit.ly/1iWMTKQ Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |