The Bradley Method® by Marissa Lukas

How many months did you spend planning every detail of your wedding? How many consumer reports and reviews did you read the last time you made an important purchase? How many hours did you spend studying or completing on the job training to prepare for your career? While the answers may vary, I bet most people do not just wing it when it comes to such major events and choices. You seldom hear that someone just did what so-and-so said to do, and maybe they read a book or figured the less they know the better off they are. Too much information may cause anxiety right? Wrong. I know you've heard it all before. You know, preparation is the key to success. Knowledge is power. If everyone knows these things, and if they are applying them to so many areas in their lives, why is it that you wouldn't also be sure to have the same degree of dedication and preparation for the biggest and most life changing event you will likely experience? It doesn't make sense, right? So how can you become fully prepared for pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and parenthood? Well, I believe that it begins with taking a comprehensive childbirth education class. When I was contemplating motherhood, I began gathering all the experiences I have heard from those around me, and I started to realize which perspectives I most gravitated towards. I found that I enjoyed learning as much as I could about the natural process and the risks and benefits of routine procedures and interventions. My best friend was enrolled in a 12 week series of The Bradley Method® of Natural Childbirth, and each week she would tell me some of what they were learning in class. I was so interested in everything, and all of it just made so much sense! My friend and her husband went on to have an amazing birth experience, and when I became pregnant a few months later, I knew I wanted to sign up for the same class with my husband. Long story short, we loved The Bradley Method® classes so much, that I became a certified instructor! Since then, I have been able to help inform and educate so many wonderful couples who tell me that they didn't know there was so much that they needed to know! They are truly surprised at how little education they receive from their providers at their prenatal appointments. They often don't fully understand a fraction of the many choices, options, and evidence based information available to them until it is presented in our classes. It is a privilege to be able to help prepare and spread awareness and to watch these parents take ownership of their journey into parenthood. I invite you to consider taking a Bradley Method® class as you prepare for your upcoming birth. Whether you are expecting your first child or you are a seasoned parent, this class is for you. The course content and a list of instructors in your area can be found at http://www.bradleybirth.com. For more information or to register for my January - March series in Joliet, IL contact me at marissalukas@gmail.com

Is Physical Therapy Right For You?

Written by: Marissa Lukas

"Being pregnant is so uncomfortable!"

"Don't make me laugh - I'll pee!"

"Things just don't feel the same since I had kids."

Sound familiar?  While these issues may be common for many women, they do not have to be viewed as the "new normal" for you.  Pregnancy and childbirth can do a number on your pelvic floor.  It can cause urinary incontinence, a separation of the abdominal muscles, and pain, among other things.  Oh, the things we do for our beloved little ones!  The good news is, physical therapy can help.

As a mother of four children, a childbirth educator, and a doula, I have experience both personally and professionally with many of these complaints and offhand remarks.  Since receiving care for my abdominal separation (diastasis rectus abdominis) at ATI Women's Health in Joliet, I try to spread the word and help others find strength and relief through physical therapy.

A physical therapist can assess, treat, and educate their patients for various reasons pertaining to the body.  More specifically, women may benefit from physical therapy services to treat pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence, pelvic pain, pregnancy and postpartum care, and pre- and post-surgical care.  With a range of treatment options available, there is hope for whatever ails you.

Don't settle for just dealing with the changes in your body.  Do something about it.  Ask your doctor or midwife for a referral for physical therapy, and see what it can do for you.  You'll be glad that you did!

Fun Homemade Ice Cream

Fun Homemade Ice Cream

By Caley Kolb

Shake up a summer treat that is just as fun to make as it is to eat for the little ones! With simple ingredients this ice cream tastes delicious and can be easily customized for special dietary needs.  My girls loved this! We used dairy free milk and the consistency of the ice cream still was great.

You will need:

·         1 cup whole milk (may be substituted with a dairy free alternative)

·         2 tbsp. honey

·         ½ tsp. vanilla extract

·         ¾ cup salt

·         2 cups ice

·         2 sandwich size Ziploc bag

·         1 gallon size Ziploc bag

·         Toppings (fresh fruit, chocolate syrup, whipped cream exc.)

·         Winter gloves (optional but helpful!)

Step 1-

Combine milk, honey, and vanilla into sandwich bag. Place the second sandwich bag over the first to prevent salt from leaking in.

Step 2-

Combine salt and ice in the gallon size bag. Then add your sandwich bags in and remove air before zipping up the bag. You can use a pair of winter gloves to help protect little hands for the next step as it gets very cold.

Step 3-

SHAKE, SHAKE, AND SHAKE! It takes about 10 minutes of shaking the bag to get a nice consistency.

Step 4-

Pour contents of sandwich bag into a bowl and add your desired toppings.  Enjoy!

Don't Call Us an Agency

By Cathy Smith

Everyone has a pet peeve. I think it's safe to say that at A Joyful Journey, ours is when people assume we are an agency. Websters definition of an agency is "the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power :  a person or thing through which power is exerted or an end is achieved". If there is one thing the ladies of A Joyful Journey believe in, it's supporting women.

We support each other. We don't exude power over each other. We are on the same level. Yes I am the founding member of A Joyful Journey. I value the women who are a part of our organization. Without them, our business would not flourish. Our roles sometimes vary but important business decisions we come together on.

We split shifts, raise each other up, fund raise together, create community events together, blog together, expect professionalism out of each other, and yes, make the same amount of money. We bounce ideas off each other, offer to babysit for each other, and enjoy the occasional glass of wine together.

These women are my support group, my tribe, my friends. We are so much more than an agency or an organization. We are a sisterhood.

You Cannot Pour From an Empty Cup

By Marissa Lukas

Imagine you are lying on a soft bed, listening to the gentle sounds of music and nature, while someone attends to your every ache, pain, and area of tension, as you melt into a puddle of relaxation.  Wipe that drool off your chin and listen up!  This sounds heavenly, right?  Trust me, it is!  This is exactly what I did last Saturday, while my four children were home with my husband.  I had an hour to myself, in a mother’s paradise!

Why is it that one of the most important, yet most difficult things for mothers to commit to is making their physical, mental, and emotional wellness a priority?  I, for one, am guilty of this more often than not.  Massage therapy is a great way to practice self-care, and I encourage everyone to reap the benefits of massage!  

Beginning in pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes many changes that affect the neck, shoulders, and back.  According to Erika of Eleight Massage Therapy in Joliet, regular massage can help and even prevent the neck pain, back pain, and sciatica that women often experience into the second and third trimester.  Massage can also help with a more peaceful sleep, as this becomes more challenging as pregnancy progresses.  

Now ladies, this doesn’t mean you have to wait until you are in the advanced stages of pregnancy to benefit from massage therapy.  In fact, contrary to the former belief that women in their first trimester cannot receive a massage, massage therapy is a safe and effective form of stress relief and self-care from the day of conception until the day of birth.

As you mothers of small children know, after the baby is born, the aches and pains of pregnancy give way to the tightness and tension from the hours of feeding, carrying, wearing, bending, and lifting to care for your babies and toddlers.  It is quite a physically taxing job to care for young children!  In addition, as much as the stress is physical, it can be emotionally and mentally taxing as well.  All that mothering is hard work!  How are you balancing your role of caring for others while also caring for yourself?

If you are pregnant and your body is miraculously growing, straining, and changing before your eyes . . . if you have been known to lug multiple children and a car seat across a parking lot like Cross Fit is your job . . . if the last time you felt pampered was when school was in session and you got to go grocery shopping sans kids, then consider treating yourself to the gift of self-care with massage therapy.  You know you’ve heard it before.  You cannot pour from an empty cup.  Make self-care a priority in your busy life.  You, Mama, are worth it!

Changes at A Joyful Journey

Warmly written by: Cathy Smith

Part of the journey through life is growing, changing, and figuring out the best path for you. Spring is the season for new things to grow so it's only natural that we at A Joyful Journey have recently made a few changes.  Some aren't what we expected but we always support one another, just as we support our clients.

Andrea is stepping down as Co-Owner of A Joyful Journey to focus on her family and her IBCLC training. She will still be working as a doula for A Joyful Journey

 Caley has officially started her maternity leave.  We are so excited for her to welcome her new bundle of joy!

Marissa is now teaching the Bradley Method at two chiropractic offices and she will be teaching for A Joyful Journey in the Fall!

Cathy has finished phase 1 of midwifery school and is officially taking clients as a student midwife with a CPM always in attendance.  How exciting!!

Lastly, we are in the process of setting up an office at our location to allow for consults and prenatal visits to occur if you desire.

Plus Size Pregnancy Resources

By Cathy Smith

As a plus size gal, I find that my clients feel pretty comfortable talking about weight issues with me. I've met some amazing women of all sizes and I've come across some great resources on everything from VBAC scare tactics to snarky blogs for plus size ladies.  Here are a few of my favorite blogs, books, and other resources for the beautiful women I serve:

Books:

Birthing From Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz

Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First by Marsden Wagner

Journey into Motherhood: Inspirational Stories of Natural Birth by Sherri Maneli

Blogs:

Health at Every Size - blogs about various health topics.

The Fat Nutritionist: Eating Normal is the New Black - blog from a registered dietitian who helps spread positive light on our bodies and food choices.

Evidence Based Birth - non biased source for current evidence based research and information on pregnancy and childbirth.

Midwife Thinking - Blog from a midwife on resources and news articles and to share knowledge and her opinion.

International Cesarean Awareness Network - blog and website with great resources about VBAC and support networks.

Well Rounded Mama - birth activist and size activist covering a span of birth related topics.