I’m loving the musings in this article titled “How to Lose The Baby Weight in Just Three Lightning-Fast Years” at Jezebel about the postpartum body and how our culture doesn’t know how to deal with it.

It is a strange state, indeed: neither pregnant, nor out of shape, but showing a visible history of pregnancy. In spite of weighing more and looking different, I was never healthier than when I was pregnant and just after, in large part to the dynamic shift in lifestyle toward eating well and moving more. But we don’t connect health to physical appeal per se, as any healthy person who isn’t thin can tell you. And when a body shows signs of use beyond the sexual or athletic, we don’t seem to know how to respond to it.

In fairness, it’s worth noting that all this is just as shocking to the woman it’s happening to. Pregnancy is an intense transformation, childbirth an even more intense act. The recovery time is complicated and multi-layered. And what we are left with is a body that has created a child and often nourished it for a period of time afterward too. It’s easy to be proud of the act, but we follow that nod with an intense effort toward eradicating all signs of it.

(via Shannon/NatParNet on Pinterest)

Thalasso Bain Bebe par Sonia Rochel (by Rochel Sonia; via Whoz Your Doula)

This seriously could not be a more beautiful bathing experience for a newborn — you can read the bliss on the baby’s face of reentering the familiarity of the womb. Oh!

I’d say it would be lovely to have a bath just like this as an adult, but that makes me think of a recent episode of New Girl and start laughing.

20 Births Later: My Thoughts on Being a Doula →

Interesting perspective after 2 1/2 years of helping other women through a range of birth experiences.

(via Josie Maran’s Blog: How I Gave Birth In My Backyard – Moms & Babies – Moms & Babies - People.com)

Science & Sensibility » Welcoming All Families Series: Welcoming Women of Size & Promoting Optimal Birth Outcomes →

As a plus-size woman who’s had two mostly intervention-free, healthy births, I wish that every birthing woman, no matter her size, could find a provider who’s supportive and reasonable. These are some helpful ways for birth professionals to provide optimal outcomes in women of size and could give women looking for a professional tips on what language and support to look for.

After years of having every bite nit-picked, pregnancy food diaries can be very triggering for women with long histories of dieting or eating disorders. In addition, many providers don’t believe women of size no matter what they say. As one mom shared, “[My midwife] refused to believe what I recorded. She flat-out accused me of lying, telling me that I ‘must be living on ice cream and donuts.’”  This can be very disillusioning.

Yes. Sadly, this is true, and I experienced it last pregnancy, to the point that I was barely eating anything throughout my third trimester out of stress and guilt.

Further reading: Part 1 is on making childbirth education classes size-friendly.

Barbie’s Home Birth, With Ken, Her Midwife & Her Daughter By Her Side — by Katie Moore of Beach Birth Photography at Inhabitots (via Emily)

The Hunting and Gathering MAMA. | Katy Says →

I’ve been reading so much lately about paleo fitness. I’d really like to start walking a lot each day (but how to fit it in with two young kids??), and squatting the right way (not doing squats, you understand, but squatting throughout the day). Better for birthing, for health, and for pelvic floor stability!

Anktangle: Shame on you, AAP. →

I’m dismayed by the AAP’s revision of its position statement on circumcision. I appreciate Amy’s review of the research supporting an end to the practice of routine infant circumcision. I just wish the AAP would listen.

But why would an organization whose members have vowed to “First, do no harm” go so far as to ignore relevant research and the recommendations of every other medical organization in the world and instead espouse benefits of an elective cosmetic surgery for infants?

Authentic Parenting: Newborn Baby: When Love isn't Instant →

Trigger warning for post-birth trauma: Don’t read if you’re pregnant and/or trying to maintain a positive outlook on birth and the postpartum period.

I really appreciate Laura’s honesty in sharing how she didn’t bond immediately with her son after her difficult birth experience. I don’t think it even takes a difficult birth for that to happen; sometimes love grows gradually rather than shining all at once.

Sometimes parents are afraid to talk about not feeling the “right” way about their kids, but it’s so important to know you’re not alone when you have these doubts, depressions, fears, and so on.

Permission to Live: How I lost my fear of Universal Health Care →

As one of the self-employed people who pays for crappy private health insurance (e.g., no maternity care—hello), I both appreciate and envy this glimpse into life and healthcare in Canada.