Long before I got pregnant I had a vision of my ideal birth. I wanted my birth to be a natural experience free of medication and intervention.  Feeling fully present both physically and mentally for each painful moment was very important to me. I am someone who never even takes an Advil so the thought of an epidural was much more frightening to me than the pain of labor and delivery. As my pregnancy went on I worked closely with my birth coach and OB to realize my dreams of a natural birth experience. I also spent a lot of time working on a detailed birth plan to give out at the hospital so my desires would be known. All the while I struggled to come to terms with the idea that labor and delivery rarely go as planned and that my greatest control would be to let go of control. What I wanted most was to be mentally and emotionally prepared for anything. Easier said than done.

By the end of my 38^th week I was done. Although friends and family reassured me I looked great and was “all belly”, I felt like a manatee that had just eaten a basketball. I had lots of swelling in my feet and legs to the point where if I went twenty minutes without having them elevated I could barely walk. I was holding fluid all over, including increased amniotic fluid, which made my belly feel extra large.

On Friday April 26^th I took myself for a manicure and pedicure. I was paranoid about going into labor without fresh nails so I had been getting them done quite regularly. I then had my weekly pre-natal massage where I begged Amanda to work on some labor inducing points to see if we could give the little one a gentle eviction notice.

Doug had a “man shower” thrown by his coworkers that night so I spent the evening at home with takeout and bad TV on the couch. At 11:30pm he came home from his shower and we began to get ready to go to bed.

Around 12:30 am I was in my closet getting ready for bed and remember saying to Doug, “oh shit, I peed on myself.” Doug reassured me it was normal to lose some bladder control at the end of pregnancy. After I got into bed there was another trickle, and another. And then a GUSH. I went back into the bathroom and sat on the toilet for a bit. I asked Doug to come in to help me evaluate the situation. After a few minutes it was clear what was going on. I was gushing fluid. I tried to put on a pad and get into bed but quickly soaked through the pad and needed to get up for a new one.

Doug called our doula, Amy and told her my water broke. She urged us to try and get some sleep as my labor could start any minute and we needed rest. I was convinced I would not go into labor anytime soon and began planning what we would do the next morning to speed my labor along.  I kept soaking through pads and was not able to get much rest.

Around 1:30am, just as I was starting to drift off to sleep, my contractions started. I did not want to wake Doug yet so I tried to deal with them on my own. I did laundry. I had soaked my favorite sweatpants and in that moment had a crazy urge to make sure they were clean.

Around 3am Doug woke up to my moaning in the hallway and asked me what was wrong. “It hurts,” I said. “What are you doing?” he said.  “Laundry” I said. I then urged him to go back to bed and get some sleep. We both got back into bed but I was in too much pain to stay there. I wanted to be on the toilet as I was still leaking fluid. The contractions felt like they were in my back and there was no break in between them. They were coming hard, right on top of each other.  I insisted on taking a shower as I felt gross and sweaty. The shower felt great on my lower back, I must have stayed in there for at least thirty minutes.

When I got out of the shower Doug moved me onto the birth ball in the living room.  We worked through my contractions on the ball for awhile and around 5am we called Amy to let her know what was happening.  Doug put her on speakerphone so she could listen to my contractions. Amy coached me over the phone – teaching me to relax into the contractions by dropping my shoulders and jaw and making low moaning noises.

At that point I was so tired I wanted to get back into bed.  While I was in bed Doug started working on my back with massages and hip squeezes, but I was in too much pain to stay in bed. So we went back into the bathroom this time with the birth ball. At this point, Doug says, my contractions were about 4-5 minutes apart and lasting for 1 minute.

Around 7am we called Amy again asking her to come over. She heard my contractions and convinced Doug to run a bath. We got into the bath together but that too did not last long- the hot water made me nauseous. From about 7am to 8:30 my contractions were getting more and more intense. They were now only two and a half minutes apart and lasting over a minute. At some point around then I also lost my mucus plug that Doug describes as looking like a slug or leech on the bathroom floor.

When Amy arrived I was completely naked on the birth ball moaning in pain from the intensity of my contractions.  Amy took over for Doug by coaching and massaging me so he could finish packing for the hospital.

Around 9am Doug started making phone calls. First he called my sister who would then call my mother and father. Then he called his parents asking them to meet us at the hospital (they live around the corner) so they could park our car and take Maddy. After Doug was finished with his calls Amy and I emerged from the bathroom. I had somehow managed to get into a tank top and underwear. Amy was feeling concerned that we had to get out of TriBeCa due to a large street fare which could delay our travels. She could not tell how much time I had left in labor but still thought it best to start heading uptown.

As Doug was walking out the door to get our car I screamed, “I need to push!” Amy pulled Doug aside and quietly said to him, “we might be in more of a rush than I thought”.

Twenty minutes later Doug came back upstairs, he had navigated the street fair traffic and our car was double parked outside. I had managed to finish getting dressed including a big, dark pair of sunglasses that I had decided were necessary.

I was so scared of getting into the car. I did not think I could make it down stairs, through the lobby and out and into the car.  It felt like the longest walk ever. Once in the car I was hanging over the back seat with Amy behind me so she could help me with the contractions.  The whole forty-minute ride uptown Amy was telling me “do not push.” I could feel the baby starting to come down and all I wanted to do was push. I had a feeling once we got to the hospital it would not take very long at all.

When we pulled up to the hospital Doug’s father and brother were waiting to take the car from us. When we got to triage I remember them asking me what I was there for, and replying/screaming “I’m having a baby.” After signing a few pieces of paper we were shown to the labor and delivery room.

Once we got into the room it was instantly flooded with staff setting up for my delivery.  They offered me a hospital gown but I quickly told them I had brought my own. I then asked Doug to put my sheets on the bed while Amy helped me to the bathroom to change into my special hot pink delivery gown.

Once I was on the bed a resident came and gave me an internal exam. She told me I was eight centimeters dilated, and everyone in the room was surprised and impressed that I had made it that far before coming to the hospital.  At that point the room began to thin out, and a few minutes later my OB, Dr. Worth arrived.

My doctor checked me and I could tell she was a bit surprised. She said, “I don’t like to use the term fully dilated but I will say there is no cervix there and I can see the baby’s head. So, I am going to change into my scrubs because this baby is going to be born.”

I remember needing to push so badly that I told her, “if you don’t have time to put your scrubs on I am happy to replace your pants.” She reminded me the scrubs we for my baby’s safety, not her outfit’s.

When she returned she asked if we had brought oil for perineal massage as she did not have time to get her bottle. Doug handed her our bottle and we got started.

The pushing was hard. Very hard.  Amy and Dr. Worth taught me how and where to push as well as how to relax my legs.  As I was pushing Dr. Worth had me change positions quite a few times. I pushed on my back, on my side, and squatting over the back of the bed. She also had me push in between contractions to help bring the baby lower and lower. As I was pushing Dr. Worth would reach inside me and feel the baby, which was incredibly painful.  In between pushes Doug gave me sips of coconut water while Amy wiped my face with a wet paper towel. Everyone in the room did an amazing job of encouraging and coaching me shouting, “come on Sara! So close! I can see her head!” At one point Dr. Worth had to turn the baby manually as she was coming out a tiny bit “sunny side up.” Once she was turned properly it did not take much longer to get her head out. When her head was finally out Dr. Worth told me to stop pushing, look at Doug and do the birthday candle breathing again so she could move the baby’s shoulders out slowly. After her shoulders the rest of her slipped out quickly and was followed by a huge release of blood and fluid. Immediately I had an enormous sense of relief and I told the room, “I haven’t felt this good in months!”

They tossed the baby onto my chest and her eyes met mine immediately. I looked down at her and said, “Hi.” It was a surreal and emotional moment to finally meet the person who I had been sharing a body with for the past 38 weeks.

While Doug and Hermione were both crying. I was simply stunned and overwhelmed with love and admiration for my beautiful baby girl.

In the weeks since when people have asked me about my birth experience I have simply answered, “It was awesome. The most challenging and painful experience of my life, but…” then I look in my daughter’s eyes… “awesome!”

I am overjoyed and thrilled to introduce Hermione Adison Mercer born Saturday April 27th at 1:41 pm.

Doug and I are over the moon in love with our perfect little girl. I cannot wait to share the story of her birth with you!

xx SJM

I am notorious for my packing anxiety. I like to pack for trips well ahead of time so that I can edit, re-pack and re-pack again. For our wedding I started packing almost a month beforehand to make sure I did not forget anything! With my penchant for planning ahead it should be no surprise that my bag(s) for the hospital have been packed for weeks. It’s so much harder to pack for one of the biggest trips of your life when you have no idea when you will be leaving on it!

There are many check lists floating around the internet of what to pack for the hospital. Some of these lists were very helpful to me, while others seemed way outdated. Who needs a calling card when everyone has cell phones??? After many attempts, below are the items I decided I just had to have when we welcome baby girl into the world! There are a few un-pictured items such as the car seat and my birth ball that are already waiting for us in the car. Like I said, I like to plan ahead!

Delivery Gown

No way am I going to put on a standard issue hospital gown to bring my daughter into the world. Luckily, thanks to this hot pink number from Pretty Pushers I don’t have to. This disposable delivery gown is super soft and has openings in all the right places for exams and monitors, and even an epidural ( if I end up needing one).

Birth Plan

Although my doctor, doula and Doug all have copies of our birth plan, I tucked an extra one in my bag just in case. I fully realize that my hopes and dreams for my birth may have to go out the window, but it is still comforting to have a “wish list” in writing.

Sheets, Pillows, Blanket

In order to personalize my birth experience even more I am bringing my own sheets, pillows and blankets with me. I have two sets of brightly printed sheets (one for labor and delivery, one for the overnight stay) packed, some nice firm pillows, and a blanket as hospitals are notoriously chilly and their blankets thin and scratchy. I opted for printed sheets so they would not get confused with the hospital’s own.

Lotions and Potions for Labor

I have no idea what I am going to find helpful and comfortable while laboring so I packed a variety of calming, comforting items:

1. Lip balm for chapped, dry lips.
2. Hair ties to keep sweaty hair out of my face.
3. Auth Method Smudging Spray to make the hospital room smell more like home.
4. CV Skinlabs Rescue and Relief Spray for my sensitive, dry skin.
5. Earth Baby Angel Mama Stretch Oil for perineal massages to help avoid tearing.
6. Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence to keep my face hydrated and happy.

Footwear

I have been told that women tend to get cold feet ( literally) during birth, so I packed a comfy pair of slippers to walk around in. I also threw in a pair of flip flops just in case the opposite is true for me!

Recovery Clothes

I have  a variety  of attire options for my overnight stay in the hospital. From loose sweats, to nursing tanks, to night gowns I think I have my bases covered!

Toiletries

After giving birth I am sure nothing will feel better than washing my face and hopefully ( depending on how the birth went) my hair and body. My toiletry kit is packed with all of my favorites from CV Skinlabs, Nine Naturals, Kahina, Acure, and Soapwalla!

Essentials For Baby Girl

Doug and I are very excited to use Honest Company products on our little girl. Their diapers are adorable and as earth friendly and clean as you can get. Same goes for their wipes, baby shampoo and lotion. I packed a small supply of their products to bring to the hospital so we can get her started using them right away and avoid her coming into contact with any less than ideal, standard issue hospital products.

Not pictured is the outfit she will be coming home from the hospital in, she asked me very nicely to keep it a surprise until she arrives!

I am a sort of, kind of, semi superstitious person. I will not panic over a broken mirror or a black cat. I do refuse to call my unborn daughter by the name we have chosen for her. Doug calls my belly by her name all the time and it freaks me out a little bit. This may seem strange since I have fully finished her nursery, stocked closet and all but to each her own right?

One superstition I have grown more attached to recently is that full moons can bring about labor. I have heard stories from friends, nurses, and my own doctors about babies being born on full moons. Some say it has to do with a change in air pressure, tide and gravitational pull. Some say it is more primal than that. Either way tonight is a full moon so we shall see if baby girl decides to make a slightly early arrival!

As my pregnancy draws to a close I have been trying to really focus on preparing myself for labor and delivery. I have been resting as much as I possibly can and eating for strength and energy. Recently I have become very dependent on healthy snacks. The bigger my baby gets, the less room I have to fit big meals. Eating for two? Forget about it! My stomach and the rest of my digestive system is so squished that eating a full meal is nearly impossible.

These protein bites or Pronut Holes (protein doughnut- get it?) as Doug named them are the perfect pregnancy nibble. I keep a batch of them in the fridge and grab one or two whenever I need a little pick me up or protein infusion. I definitely plan on having some on hand to eat during early labor, whenever that may be!

Pronut Holes

• 1 cup Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder or other vegan protein powder
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/2 cup almond milk, coconut water or water
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla
• stevia to taste

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Add more liquid if needed to get a thick dough to form.
3. Roll into small balls.
4. Allow to set in fridge.

Baby showers can evoke lots of cutesy images. Diaper cakes, onesie painting stations, and a very pregnant mother-to-be to be at the center of it all. While this might be a dream for some expectant women it was not what I had in mind for my own shower. Even at eight months pregnant I am still a girl that loves putting on a sexy dress and heels and going to a cocktail party. So, when my mom and sister offered to throw me a shower I had a few requests: it had to be a Saturday night, there had to be cocktails for my guests, the food had to be light and healthful, and it needed to be somewhere I could feel appropriate in a cocktail dress, big statement earring and heels.

To say my shower was perfect would be an understatement. I got to spend an evening with my closest friends and family eating great food, laughing, and celebrating the little girl we can’t wait to meet. Plus, it was probably the last time I will be wearing 4″ heels for awhile!

The decor could not have been more me, tons of gorgeous cherry blossoms everywhere!

The evenings menu was focused on light, delicious plant based dishes (with some fish) that would satiate without stuffing the guests. My sister let me work with the kitchen at Soho House to fully customize a menu that fit my tastes. The chefs were incredibly accommodating to my ideas and suggestions for creating a very SJM menu!

There were large crudité platters with fresh guacamole and salsa for dipping.
Many of the typical passed hors d’oeuvres on the catering menu were not items I would eat. So, I got creative and made some suggestions to the chefs about what to pass during cocktails. These chilled shots of gazpacho, corn soup and avocado soup were refreshing and delicious!
Using cucumber rounds instead of crackers or chips as a “vessel” these bites of ratatouille and sun dried tomato tapenade were the perfect crunchy, savory morsel.

The buffet style dinner featured many vegetables including these two fresh salads, an assortment of roasted vegetables, and grilled corn (which got me so excited for summer).

Dessert was a very special treat. Miniature bites of heaven from Pure Food and Wine! There were brownies, lemon bars, tiramisu and cookies. I think many of my guests didn’t even realize their dessert was raw and vegan!

While my shower may not have been typical I did stick to one tradition- opening baby gifts! My friends and family were all so incredibly generous. My little girl is now fully stocked with clothes, gear and everything else a tiny person could need. I especially loved this “I Love Veggies” bib we were given!!!

This past week has been truly tragic and shocking. I have spent the past five days watching the events in Boston unfold with sadness, shock and horror. Every picture and video on the news is of a street or neighborhood I know well and have memories of. Boston holds a special place in my heart and is the only place other than NYC that I have ever called home. I hope that all of this tragedy serves as a reminder that life is short and precious and that we should all focus on love and kindness towards each other.

As I count down the days of my pregnancy I realize I have not shared many “bump” photos. Now that my bump is a full-grown baby hotel, I thought I would share just how pregnant I am. These photos were taken by my dear friend Mia McDonald (who also takes the majority of the photos on my site), the afternoon of my baby shower. Enjoy!

My apologies for the light posting lately. These last few weeks/days of pregnancy have been kicking my butt! What had been an easy, breezy eight plus months has turned into a daily struggle with swelling, exhaustion, and a general feeling of “get this baby out of me!” At this point I can safely say we are ready for baby girl’s arrival. Her nursery is all done, her clothes washed and put away. We have a car seat, crib, diapers, and all the other gear such a tiny person seems to require. While I (not so) patiently wait for her to make her debut I have been doing everything I can to keep my aching, tired body comfortable and ready for birth.

At the request of a few friends both pregnant and not below is my “Little Black Book” of miracle workers in NYC that have helped me out these past few weeks. Pregnant or not, these body workers are the best I have found. If you are in the NYC area I highly encourage you to book an appointment with one of them for some serious self care!

Jennifer Efstathiou at Euphoria Spa

A facial with Jennifer is a real treat. Throughout my entire pregnancy she has made sure that my skin glowed. Also, early on when I suffered from pregnancy hormone induced “bacne” ( so gross) Jennifer performed back facials on me that helped to clear up the problem. A new mom herself I adore lying on Jennifer’s table and talking about all things pregnancy, birth and baby raising. I always walk away with radiant skin and a list of new pregnancy and baby related ideas to google!

Amanda Brand at Euphoria Spa

As someone who exercises a lot my body requires frequent deep tissue massage to help repair and restore my muscles. Doug and I have been seeing Amanda for a few years for her out of this world massages. A session with her is true bliss. When I hit the safety zone of my second trimester I began seeing Amanda for pre-natal massage sessions. Knowing my body as well as she does, Amanda is able to give my muscles the deep pressure they need while keeping the safety of my growing baby in mind. I truly do not think I would have been able to exercise the way I have during my pregnancy without my sessions with Amanda.

Shari Auth

My dear friend and acupuncturist Shari is one of the most gifted healers I know. A session with her is a blissful combination of acupuncture, massage and therapy. No matter how I am feeling physically or emotionally I always get off Shari’s table feeling a million times better. Shari always knows exactly what my body and soul need that day. Her gentle guidance and healing touch have truly helped me manage this pregnancy with balance and grace. Another new mom, Shari is also always good for wonderful pregnancy and baby tips.

Angel Feet

I have been told our children tend to hit us where is hurts the most. If that is true then it is no surprise my daughter has caused me swelling in my feet that has kept me in flats and sneakers the past few weeks. My foot, ankle and leg swelling gets to the point where if I walk, sit or stand for more than twenty minutes my feet begin to resemble loaves of bread. For someone who loves her heels and boney ankles this has been a painful reality of late pregnancy. Enter Angel Feet. This adorable reflexology spot in the West Village is the perfect cure for pregnant feet. A session there leaves me feeling totally relaxed, blissed out and greatly reduces the swelling in my feet.

tenoverten

While weekly mani pedis have been a part of my routine since I was a pre-teen, tenoverten really takes it to the next level. The pedicure chairs are incredibly comfortable, there is an iPad at every manicure station and the selection of colors cannot be beat! The best part about tenoverten? As soon as they noticed my growing belly they offered to let me get my mani pedi at the same time knowing how uncomfortable sitting can be later in pregnancy!

Kula Natal Yoga with Lara Thompson

I was very late to get on the pre natal yoga train. I didn’t take my first prenatal class until about month eight. I have a strong yoga practice and was convinced I would be bored in a pre natal yoga class. I was so wrong. Classes with Lara are wonderful, especially late in pregnancy when you are riddled with aches and pains that need attention. No matter what my ailment that day be it swollen feet, painful ribs, or sore wrists Lara always has ideas on how to ease the pain.  Also, what I have learned in Lara’s class has made it possible for me to still safely take my regular yoga classes by modifying for my growing body.

Up until now I have been lucky to get through this pregnancy with few if any uncomfortable symptoms. I am not saying the past 37 weeks have been easy, but they have been relatively drama free. However, sometime last week I got hit hard by the pregnant truck. My feet and ankles have started to swell, a true crime for the shoe obsessed like me. I have been wearing sneakers which is something I would normally NEVER do outside of an exercise class. To be fair they are super cute gold sneakers but still! I made the mistake of wearing heels to my baby shower last week and my feet are still paying the price.

I have a horrible pain in my rib cage where my daughter has decided to wedge her rear end. No matter how many ice packs I put on her fanny to try and freeze her out she just won’t budge. I liken the sensation to being stabbed in the ribs by a very strong little elf. All day. And night. No fun.

Finally, the skin on my belly has started to itch. And itch. All throughout my pregnancy I have been diligent about lathering up with belly oil to prevent stretch marks.  I am still stretch mark free but my dry, stretched, sensitive belly skin has become quite scratchy. When just applying my belly oil stopped soothing the itch I reached for a gift from my friend Britta Aragon of CV Skinlabs. Sure enough, a few sprays of CV Skinlab’s Rescue and Relief Spray did the trick. The extremely cooling, soothing spray instantly made my belly feel much better. I now give my belly a good spritz several times a day and have not suffered from the itchies since!

With CV Skinlabs, Britta has created an extremely effective line of soothing and healing products that are also 100% toxin free.

Why are toxin free products important? Well, did you know:

• The average woman wears over 500 chemicals on her face every day?
• Even teenage girls have makeup chemicals in their blood and urine?
• We all have measurable levels of the hormone-disrupting phthalates in our bodies, but women have more of them, most likely because of personal care products?
• People with sensitive skin are much more likely to experience painful and irritating reactions to harsh chemicals in personal care products?

Pretty scary huh? With the creation of CV Skinlabs, Britta has taken a stand against toxins in skin care. Britta is now starting a major skincare revolution with two main goals:

1) To deliver a sampling CV Skinlabs, into every hospital in the nation.

2) To start a marketing campaign to get CV Skinlabs into cancer centers nationwide.

To accomplish these goals, Britta is trying to raise $65,000, and needs your help! You can contribute to her crowdfunding campaign at www.igg.me/at/cvskinlabs, All contributions are rewarded, and no donation is too small.

The campaign ends on May 8th, 2013 so if you are as serious about toxin free skincare as I am don’t wait! Join me and Britta in the Natural Skincare Revolution!

Last week I co-hosted another Beauty Food Supper Club with the lovely Rebecca Casciano and Jolene Hart. This was our second event and we are having so much fun with them! Last week’s theme was Spring Renewal featuring a delicious spring detox inspired menu, a mini workshop on spring detox tips, and an exclusive gift bag featuring some of our favorite natural beauty brands! Everyone who attended had a wonderful time. As with the previous dinner I was so thrilled that guests were comfortable coming alone and that everyone made new friends and connections!

Once again our dinner was at Sun In Bloom in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Sun In Bloom is one of my favorite spots, chef/owner Aimee Follette could not be more sweet or talented!

To start off the evening guests were given a choice of either a Sweet Lady Green (Collard, Romaine, Cucumber, Celery, Parsley) or Green Lady Dream (Collard, Romaine, Cucumber, Celery, Parsley, Green Apple, Lime) juice.

After the green juice came a Kimchi Avocado Salad with Spiced Pumpkin Seeds Served on a Bed of Fresh Romaine with a Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing. This was the perfect salad to greet spring with. Packed with beauty ingredients such as avocado, pumpkin seeds and probiotic rich kimchi I could feel my skin glowing from the first bite!
While the guests enjoyed their salads, Rebecca, Jolene and I talked about easy ways to detox for spring. From household, to beauty, to internal cleaning tips we offered guests many ideas on how to greet the new season feeling fresh! I will be sharing our tips later this week so stay tuned!
Next up was a Carrot Ginger Jalapeno Lime Soup. I cannot wait to recreate this subtly spicy raw soup at home!
The final savory course was the Stimulating Sweet N’ Spicy Spring Role featuring Sunflower Seed Chipotle Pate wrapped in Rice Paper with Avocado, Mango, Zucchini, Cabbage and a Cilantro Lime Creme. This generously portioned role was so satisfying and filling that many of the guests took half of it home to enjoy the next day!

Before the evening came to a close Rebecca, Jolene and I each raffled off one of our services. I cannot wait to treat my winner to a Smoothie Party! On top of a belly full of beauty foods guests each went home with a deluxe gift bag from Me and the Girls, Risa’s Naturals, Blissoma, Dr. Alkaitis and Christopher Drummond Beauty to  help them furter beautify for spring!

We are already working on the date and details of our next Beauty Food Supper Club! Details to come soon!