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Available on Newstands now!
Mothering magazine is available at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Whole Foods, Babies R Us in the U.S. and Chapters in Canada. Mothering is also available in many independent book, natural food, and baby stores across North America. If you don't find it at your local newsstand, ask for it! You can order online or subscribe online at www.mothering.com
Check out our new Strokes of Genuis article by Mothering's product reviewer and articles editor, Candace Walsh. Favorite items include a Birth Wish Bracelet: Shower guests can wear birth-wish bracelets to support the mom-to-be, at the same time supporting the women workers who participate in BeadForLife, a fair-trade program in Uganda. Click to see more!
Poll: What articles and features of Mothering issue 150 did you enjoy? Tell us what you think! Click HERE to give us feedback on the articles and features from our current issue.
in this issue
Welcome to Mothering's annual pregnancy issue. If you're looking for guidance in how to give birth naturally, you've come to the right place. We believe that birth is best treated as a natural process, not a medical event, and that one of the safest places to deliver a baby is at home. Unfortunately, some homebirths do end up in the hospital—often unnecessarily. The right information can help you ensure that your baby is born in your own bed. Check out Lora Shinn's "Keep Your Birth at Home" (page 52) for concrete advice on how to avoid a hospital transfer.
An essential component of any successful birth is feeling mentally and spiritually prepared. For Megan Pincus Kajitani, "Birthing from Within," Pam England's unique childbirth-education program, was just the ticket. In "My Birth Tiger" (page 60), Kajitani relates how her class's use of ritual and art gave her the strength to do what she thought she couldn't: trust her body.
Preparing to give birth—hey, just carrying a child—is a lot of work. I think every pregnant woman should be thrown a party—and make it a green one. "Eco-Savvy Showers," by Helen Coronato (page 46), gives the scoop on how to make your baby bash a planet-friendly affair, with everything from electronic invitations to baby slings fashioned from recycled fabrics. To stay energized after baby arrives, nourishing food is a must—but don't look to the industry-influenced USDA for nutritional recommendations. Instead, read Cynthia Lair's "Envisioning a New Balanced Meal" (page 78) for recipes based on the wisdom of Ayurvedic and Asian traditions.
Of course, the best meal for a new baby is breastmilk, so it's unfortunate that breastfeeding is still somewhat misunderstood in our society. Confused about the identity of the breast—erotic or nurturing?—we need look no further than Hollywood to see how mixed the messages can be. Turn to "Reel Milk" (page 66) for Sarah Rubenstein-Gillis's fascinating exploration of how nursing is portrayed in American films.
From the practical to the entertaining, this issue gives you tools for traversing one of life's greatest passages—birth. We hope these articles empower you to make the best choices for your own special experience.
Melissa Chianta
Managing Editor
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