Tag Archives: pregnancy

How to Reduce Your Anxiety During Pregnancy

May 17, 2021

Anxiety during pregnancy doesn’t have a perfect formula. Discover ways to reduce your stress naturally with these tips from Dr. Jill Sullivan. How to Reduce Anxiety During Pregnancy Anxiety during pregnancy doesn’t have a perfect formula. There are different worries for all the stages and let’s be real here, our emotions are all over the...

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Preconception Anxiety: Worrying Before You’re Even Pregnant

January 3, 2019

Preconception Anxiety is the worry and stress that comes when you’re beginning the process of trying to get pregnant. The phase when you’re trying to become pregnant – “preconception” – is usually a time when you’re learning a lot about your body—and asking a lot of questions: “Is that a sign of ovulation?” “The...

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A baby Announcement!

November 25, 2015

That’s right!! We are expecting #4 and we are sooo excited. It is so hard to keep pregnancy a secret! I have been dying to tell you! I thought I would answer a few questions you might have as I have been asked these questions already… How far along are you? I am 12.5...

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My Pain Free Natural Birth Story

January 16, 2014

I chose to use the Hypnobabies method which you can read more about HERE or buy materials HERE. Written by: Camille For those who have followed my story until this point you know that I have been skeptical of so called “pain free” childbirth. I weighed the pros and cons of an epidural vs going...

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Leanne
What a beautiful birth story Camille. I chose natural birth with 7 of my children, but I have to admit I wasn’t as in control at times as I would like to have been. I’m so happy you tried this and it worked so well for you.ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Oh my goodness, Leanne! natural with seven children!? You are amazing! And thank you, I am so glad I was able to experience birth this way. Talking to other women who had done it helped more than anything. ❤️ReplyCancel
Julie
I love a good birthing story and you are brave letting us see your photos – and your babies little screwed up face (and I mean that in a lovely way) is just breathtakingly beautiful.
I have 3 teenagers and have never had a epidural, I tried a tens machine with the second 2 which was ok, I had pethidine with my first but didn’t like how it made her so sleepy.
I think this Hypnobabies things sounds great, I do remember concentrating on curling and uncurling my toes with our youngest and finding just having something to concentrate on like that really helpful.
I think it’s great to have choices and I’m really happy it worked out so beautifully for you this time.ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Thanks Julie! You need to explain to me what those methods are, I am not familiar with them. What is a tens machine? Thank you for reading! What is your site all about? I will go check it out now.
  
  And thank you, I am so glad you liked it. 🙂ReplyCancel
Karli
Hi! Katie Bastian gave me this link, and your story is absolutely beautiful. I’m almost 18 weeks along in my first pregnancy, and I’ve been seeing a normal doctor, but I’d really like my experience to be like this. I plan on delivering at a hospital, but I want it to be natural. When did you first talk to your doctor about going natural? I’ve loved the couple doctors I’ve seen so far, but I have this fear that they’ll be annoyed with me. Also, how far along in your pregnancy did you start preparing for your birth experience? Sometimes I feel like I’m already too late, and other times I think I can put it off. What would you recommend?
And thank you for sharing this inspiring story! 🙂ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Hi Karli! Thank you so much. I talked to my doctor about going natural probably around 20 weeks. He told me he could see me doing that and later suggested I “just enjoy it” and go the drug route. Really, he supported me with either but I could tell he was a little skeptical. I didn’t start preparing until I was 35 weeks…which is pushing it. I had been researching and reading a lot before then but I didn’t settle on the hypnobabies program until 34 weeks and once it was delivered to me I was 35 weeks. Is this your first baby? They suggest you start around 30 weeks or even a bit sooner. (If you go the hypnobabies route.)ReplyCancel
Ashley
Beautiful story! I’m training with hypnobabies and I’m due in 6 weeks – so inspiring 🙂 I wanted to ask – did you take the pitocin shot afterward (for bleeding) or no? I know you mentioned your bleeding after delivery being less, but didn’t which option you went with.ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Thank you and good luck! I don’t think I did. I remember talkin about it for a moment and telling the doc to do what he thought was best. But no, I don’t think I did. Honestly that part was a bit of a blur!! Let me know how it goes I would love to hear!ReplyCancel
Emily
My OBY/GYNE has their pregnant patients rotate through their 4 doctors and 1 nurse practitioner throughout the patient’s pregnancy. I ended up having the doctor on call that I had only seen once. Not that this was a problem, but I went 8 hours laboring without seeing her. I saw her when we first arrived at the hospital 1 hour after I lost my mucous plug, I believe. The nurses examined me. I was not dilated. The nurse did something called a ROM plus test to try to see if in fact my water had broke. (Sorry for the confusion, between water breaking and mucous plug). The doc came in a half hour later and examined me. Hurt like hell! I was getting to the point where I thought okay I will go home if you are not going to admit me. The nurse showed us to our birthing room. I went 12 hours with one nurse telling her I wanted to go natural. I did have her put the saline lock in. We had not seen the doc in a long time (turns out she was at her son’s soccer game). The nurse said she was not at the hospital and I said I wanted to see her. She came in around midnight I think and she said the labor was not progressing enought and that I needed strongly to consider IV, Pitocen, Epidural, etc. At that point I caved and was so mad. It was also the new nurse on duty and I told her I would get everything: the IV and epidural. I was so fed up. She started my IV and I started to pee immediately as she did. I think an hour later the doc tore the membranes. I think she did this twice actually. This was my first birth. I told my husband it felt like a gallon of fluid being released. It was such a release!!! Then they said of course for me to stay in the bed. All of the labor pains were in my back. I remember telling the doc and my appt with her that I was unsure what the contractions would feel like and that I thought I had had one earlier on in the pregnancy. 2 hours or after the membranes being ruptured ( i think it is the correct term) there was debate about whether I would get the epidural. Mostly my husband wondering. But me just thinking in my head if I wanted to. I felt like i needed too and so the anesthesiologist came in and i do remember the labor “waves” coming quickly. I had seen epidurals being placed before. I literally was hugging my nurse and not because they kept telling me to arch my back, but because I just remember the need to hug her and thank her. The actual placement of the epidural sucked and I still have a small bruise there and get some pain there on occasion. (I am 4 weeks postpartum). I remember 2 sticks of the needle. The first being the lidocaine numbing as they say, but I definitely (I think) felt the actual insertion of the epidural needle. She then asked if I felt numb and the medicine was starting to set in. It took about an hour for it to actually set in and I could not lift my legs hardly at all. This was frustrating as I wanted to lie on my side. I also had the monitor belts on the whole time and there was interference with the readings on the machine (pretty much the whole time and me and my husband pressed the silence button). Finally the nurse returned and said you are about to have this baby. I was pretty much hysterical -no other way to put it- but soo soo ready. She checked my cervix and said I was about there and I was pushing just by force of nature/habit. The doctor was not there yet so I didn’t want to push to much. As soon as the doctor walked in I knew all I needed to do was bear down. As the baby came out it was such a relief, it did not hurt at all. They plopped little babe on me and I was so happy!

That is my birth story. I had debated hiring the doula that taught our lamaze class but we did not opt to hire her. Next time I would definitely consider hiring one. I also would also consider having a nurse midwife birth my baby!ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Way to go Mama! Giving birth is such a whirlwind and no one labor story is the same. I understand your frustrations on all fronts, it can be disheartening with things don’t go as you imagined them. It sounds like your epidural was light enough to have the feelings to bear down and actively push which is awesome! Thank you for sharing your experience!ReplyCancel
Alayna
Hello! I know this is an older blog but I was hoping you could tell me which Hypnobabies tracks you bought? I am 18 weeks pregnant with my first child and all I’ve ever wanted to do was a natural birth. Your story is absolutely inspiring! Just from reading your story I am excited to try the hypnobirthing method! ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Thanks Alayna! I used the “Home Study Course” link is here: http://bit.ly/29Ofk13. It should have everything you will need. Also I am doing more recent content on Facebook live right now and would love to have you join me! It airs every Thursday night at 9:00pm MST. Here’s a link to my last episode: https://www.facebook.com/MyMommyStyle/videos/1452871224756648/. Good luck!ReplyCancel

Natural labor using hypnobirthing and why I chose Hypnobabies

December 10, 2013

If you have been following my pregnancy up until now, you may remember this post that I wrote on whether or not I wanted to try to go natural with the delivery of my third child. I had an epidural with my first delivery that only worked so/so, on my next delivery I had a...

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38 week pregnancy update

November 5, 2013

On prepping to go natural…

Okay, so maybe it isn’t exactly time….yet. But it is getting close and now it is the waiting game. I am actually pleasantly surprised that I am still pregnant as I lost my mucous plug two weeks ago and was afraid that this little one was coming a little too early. But as I woke this morning I donned my striped shirt and mentally gave him the go ahead as from here on out I feel very comfortable in his arrival. Very comfortable you might ask?

Click here to continue reading.

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Baby Floral Giveaway, a bump update, and YIVA Naturals Winner

September 17, 2013

It is hard to believe how quickly this last month has passed and I am really looking forward to some cooler weather! It’s hard to believe we are in the third week of September and it is still 88 degrees! How far along? 31 Weeks Total Weight gain/loss: I never answer this question because let’s face it,...

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The truth hurts…and other weighty matters

August 13, 2013

So, I just updated yesterday…but I feel like I left out a few things: I really hate being completely honest…and vulnerable, but I’m going to be. Only because I think I’m not the only one who struggles with these things…weight that is. Talking about it openly can help to facilitate the discussion of health in...

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Camille Walker
Cassia,

I didn’t know you had a struggle with binging/purging and my heart aches for you knowing that it has been such a roller coaster. But one thing I do KNOW about you in that you are one of the strongest willed fighters I know. (And a beautifully, positive person.) I have no doubt that you can do this and be in a happy, healthy place with your body and mind. You are so incredibly inspiring and I just love you.ReplyCancel
Alena@TheHomemadeCreative
Thank you for sharing your story, and with such transparency. I have a question for you, if I may, and if you’re comfortable answering it. Why do you credit the HCG diet with your struggle with binging and purging? I ask because I did that diet 2 years ago, before conceiving my daughter, and I didn’t experience anything like that, despite having previously struggled with an eating disorder (Compulsive Overeating with Dissociation), and found that I was able to maintain the basic eating style (veggies, fruit, lean meat, no grains, healthy seasonings) for almost a year (it kinda fell apart at 8 months pregnant because, despite my baby being extremely healthy, I bought into the lie that only having gained 7lbs, and losing 3 sizes, couldn’t be healthy, and I started eating highly fattening processed foods out of fear, which made my pregnancy end in a lot of discomfort for me – and I only gained 3lbs in 2 months). Anyway, I am curious why you believe that the diet was responsible for this issue, as I’ve never heard that before, and am actually planning to do the diet again next month (I had PPD for 5 months, after my daughter’s birth, and gained 56lbs).ReplyCancel
- Cassia Denton
  Alena, I’m actually really glad you asked and I think maybe I’ll amend my post with the “why” because I do think it’s a very good thing for people to know who might be considering the HCG diet.
  
  For me, it’s kind of a “this is a potential side effect” type of deal. Not that it for sure will happen to everyone who does this diet, but that from my experience and many of my friends, family and HCG online community friends, MANY many people struggle with eating disorders after the diet. A lot of it has to do with doing such an extreme diet and depriving yourself for so long. Part of it has to do with the binge (“loading”) at the beginning of the diet. The concern for many is that disordered eating can lead to an eating disorder, and the 500 cal. hcg diet is so restrictive that it certainly is disordered eating. For me, and I know many others, the idea is that there is such a desperation to lose weight, that you’re willing to do something drastic. It becomes somewhat of a trigger or gateway to eating disorders. For most that I’ve talked to candidly, binging is the problem and for some it’s anorexia. Personally, I technically fell into both (and all three since I would also purge.) I would eat so so few calories during the week, and binge and purge on the weekend. When I originally did this diet, I did it with 8-10 family and friends. ALL but one gained it right back, and the one keeps it off with an eating disorder. Another eventually lost the weight, but she got there through healthier avenues…namely, smaller portions and a whole lotta exercise. 🙂
  
  After coming off the diet for the second time and truly struggling to maintain, even despite my incredibly low caloric intake, I could not keep it off. I did some serious research and chatted with a few health professionals and found that my basal metabolic rate had decreased substantially. Our bodies are really amazing things, aren’t they?? So, if we subject them to starvation, they’ll learn and adapt. So it says, “okay, if you’re going to eat less, I’ll use less.” We’re pretty efficient like that!
  
  So another fantastic side effect that I experienced and is not at all uncommon, was substantial hair loss. I mean…it was scary how much I was losing. Also, my fingernails would peel…that’s not right!?
  
  I will say, that if an individual was considering gastric bypass or something like that, this is probably a safer option. But really, I’ve always known that to make a real change, it has to be for life. I can’t just starve myself for 8 weeks and go back to regular eating, but after the deprivation of the 500 calorie diet, it’s just too tempting to indulge a bit.
  
  I wouldn’t presume to tell you what to do, you clearly know what you’re getting yourself into and how to maintain, I just think that if you’re willing to be a little patient, maybe you’d really like weight watchers or the carb cycling from Chris Powell’s book? (of course there are lots of other programs that are equally awesome, I’m just a fan of those two) I’m really happy with the results so far!! I’m not yet 3 weeks in and I’m down 10 lbs.
  
  I am really sorry about the PPD…I know it’s the worst. And if you’re like me, it’s really a weird thing, because never in my life have I been prone to depression, but that time right after baby arrives is really rough on my body image.
  
  Either way, I hope you’ll keep me updated. Losing weight, however one does it, takes hard work and dedication, and I can always use the inspiration!!! 🙂ReplyCancel
Kali
Cassia- Bless you for your honesty, because truthfully, you are helping others by being so brave. Like you said, you are not alone. There are a lot of people in your same boat. I have done the whole weight loss thing 3 times as well and it is awful hard. But so rewarding when you do it the right way. You are looking incredible and have always been stunning in my eyes, no matter what the weight. What is inside of your shines through to your outer appearance which is why you are so beautiful. I am impressed with your self discovery, how you educated yourself on what works for you and then applying it. YOU ROCK.ReplyCancel
- Cassia Denton
  Kali, first of all, thank you and second, you’ve totally been my inspiration!! I even mentioned you in my first post here: http://www.mymommystyle.com/?p=4967 I love what you’ve done and you’ve always done it the right way!!! You’ll be proud of me, I actually signed up for my first 5k!!! 🙂 (only because it’s a color run, and if I’m going to do a race, it ought to be very fun and colorful!!) We’ll see how that one goes and go from there. 🙂 Funny, I used to LOVE running??!?! What?? I was crazy 🙂 I wish I was still that crazy!!ReplyCancel
Krista
You are seriously amazing! The more I read, the more I REALLY wish we were closer. Dang it.

I think you look great. WTG. I wish I had a talent for writing and putting into words exactly how I feel, but I’m terrible. A lot of this sums up how I feel.

Thanks for posting.ReplyCancel
Brittany Littleton
I think I am insulin resistant too! I would love any info you have!!!!ReplyCancel
- Cassia Denton
  Hi Brittany,
  Sorry this is so slow!! I kept trying to reply from my phone, but it just wasn’t working. But now that I have a computer again, here we go.
  One of the most frustrating things for me was that when I would go on diets, I would eat super lean, healthy greens, complex carbs etc. I would NEVER go over 1200 calories and yet, I couldn’t lose a lb to save my life! In fact, I even sometimes gained a lb?? I was exercising with personal trainers 3 days a week and working out on my own another 3 days a week. In fact, on the days I worked out with my trainers, I did 2-a-day workouts. All in all, I lost less than 5 lbs in 3 months of that rigorous schedule! My trainers never believed that I was following a strict program and the nutritionists didn’t believe my food logs either. In the end, they all just gave up on me. Only me and my husband knew for a fact that I was following their programs religiously!! I kind of gave up on myself too at the time. So, I went off their programs for another 3 months and at whatever I wanted and gained exactly 2 lbs?? How did that make any sense?? It didn’t…at least not at the time. But then, like I mentioned, I was doing research about pregnancy and pcos and I came across a random article about insulin resistance being the culprit of so many of my problems. After self-diagnosing, I was pretty sure I had it, but then I went to the dr.’s to have some testing done. It originally came back inconclusive, but after a couple more tests it was confirmed. That was about 5 years ago…testing has truly come such a long ways since then!! All I know for sure is that when you go to get tested, be sure to tell the doc to look at your insulin levels, NOT glucose. Especially if you’re already sure you don’t have diabetes, that test will be wrong for a person with insulin resistance.
  
  This gives me a good idea. I know a doctor who has spent a lot of her life studying weight issues and insulin resistance…I’m only hesitant to ask her to write a post because she works at the same clinic I went through to do the HCG diet…while I don’t think it’s entirely horrid, I just don’t think it’s a good solution to most weight problems…so…idk…I’ll talk to her and see if she’d like to write a post on insulin resistance for My Mommy Style. She knows SOOOO much! I’d refer you to her if you live in Utah by chance? She works at the MD Diet clinic in Ogden Utah.
  
  Anyway, One of my favorite things that I found after I learned that I was Insulin resistant was The Insulin Resistant Diet. HEre’s a link so you can see what I’m talking about….It’s not just good because of the diet, but because of the information. I actually think the diet is really great though too…but I just personally always need to mix my diets up so I don’t get bored. 🙂
  
  http://www.amazon.com/The-Insulin-Resistance-Diet–Revised-Updated-Fat-Making/dp/0071499849/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377616583&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Insulin-Resistance+Diet–Revised+and+Updated
  
  This is also a really great article about insulin resistance and how to self-diagnose as well:
  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-31/health/sc-health-1031-diabetes-insulin-20121031_1_insulin-blood-sugar-diabetes-educator
  
  You can easily get yourself tested at a hospital as well. What will be really useful about getting diagnosed is that you’ll be able to get a prescription for Metformin (make SURE you get extended release, or you’ll get nauseous!!) which will really help you start to lose weight if that’s your goal, and just maintain healthy insulin levels in general. In fact, I really need to ammend my post to add the fact that I just started taking metformin again since it really helped me lose weight last time, but after all the moving I’ve done, I forgot about it until my mom just reminded me.
  
  I hope these couple of things help out in some way. Knowing if you have it can really help you figure out how to proceed with your goals, whether it’s to get pregnant, lose weight or keep yourself from getting diabetes.ReplyCancel

Things that are finally helping me lose the weight & mix tape

August 5, 2013

First things first, with all the love in my heart, I made you a mix tape! Well…sorta. At the bottom of my post I’ve listed my current favorite Workout/Energy Boost music playlist and you can download everything DRM free! UGH iTunes, why must you make me hate you so much? (DRM-free is the only...

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Getting’ Clean the Clorox Way

June 17, 2013

Today I would like to welcome back one of our awesome contributors, Brittany Case. We have a vastly larger audience these days, so I’d like to re-introduce her (so, this will be redundant for those of you who read her previous post here) As a kid my big sister was always my confidant, my co-conspirator...

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