Lunapads Blog

Hey all of you Luna-Mamas out there! Menstruation is a daily topic around our office and a big part of that for many women is pregnancy and birthin’ babies. Many of our first time customers come to us looking for an alternative to those icky hospital-issue postpartum pads for their postpartum bleeding. As a Doula who recently attended several births, I thought I would share some postnatal tips with y’all.

When I first begin working with a family as a Doula, I find many first time moms experience fears around birth mostly because they just don’t know what to expect and they are basing their perceptions on friends and families’ birth stories which may or may not be pleasant.  With so much concern about making it through childbirth gracefully with a healthy baby, breastfeeding and all of the other new calls of motherhood, many women are not aware of what their own needs will be postnatal or how their body will change.

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It was just only last week that I was reminded by Lisa that I had a draft blog post about Mothering Magazine that still needed to be published. Long overdue (I started it 2 years ago!) I rationalized that I would finish it next month upon returning from the Natural Products Trade Show because I expected to see Peggy O’Mara, editor of Mothering Magazine at the event.

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Sarah Juliusson is one of our most valued friends and colleagues here at Lunapads. She is the mother of two boys, and founder of Mama Renew, offering community and inspiration for new and seasoned mothers. She also mentors Birthing From Within prenatal classes in Vancouver & Victoria, BC.

New motherhood…we envision the sweetness of a newborn, a baby’s fresh and pure gaze, blissful breastfeeding, and the joy of getting to know our child. Three days postpartum most new mothers dissolve into something resembling a puddle. Exhausted, emotional, overwhelmed…not to mention bleeding, soreness, swelling, and a belly that still looks about five months pregnant. The first days and weeks after the birth of your baby are indeed a beautiful time, and there is much sweetness to celebrate. North American culture, however, is lacking in supportive postpartum traditions and rituals. The intensity of the postpartum period is neither discussed nor honoured, and too many women feel a sense of isolation when they should be feeling nourished and supported. Without a strong set of cultural guidelines to go by, we have the opportunity to create something new.

Here are some ideas to support a healthy unfolding into motherhood:

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Photo ©Sandra Vander Schaaf, with permission

This blog post is way overdue, since my “baby” is turning 4 years old this summer! My older son Aiden (4 years old at the time this was taken), is pictured here caressing his new sibling who arrived only a week after this photo was taken (by the very talented photographer Sandra Vander Schaaf of www.theartofseeing.ca). When I learned that a super hip website called Offbeat Mama had blogged about “Post partum period woes” and garnered 100 comments (one of their most popular blog posts ever!) it kicked me into gear in posting my own story about “Going with the Flow” pre- and post baby.

Being pregnant and giving birth are among the most impactful and unique life experiences I have ever had. I feel particularly blessed to have been there twice, with both births being remarkable events I will never forget.  I recognize this isn’t necessarily the case for all women (having experienced 3 heartbreaking miscarriages, not to mention having had the privilege of multiple safe birthing options available to me), so I am mindful when approaching the subject of pregnancy and birth. That said, when I sense that the listener is receptive to hearing my perspective, I become an enthusiastic advocate of birth choices, and describe my experiences and passion for the different ways women can use Lunapads and Lunapanties to support themselves during pregnancy, labour and postpartum.

Here goes!

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Organic Bikini Lunapanties

Welcome to our next installment of our International Women’s Month celebration! This time it’s for Moms-to-be.

Here’s lovely photo of one of our longest-term (pun intended!) collaborators, the lovely Emira Mears of Raised Eyebrow and The Boss of You, taken mere hours before the arrival of lovely little Lena at our recent Lunapanties photoshoot.

We have 3 sets of 2 Organic Mini Pantyliners, so anyone out there who is currently expecting, comment below to tell us where you are, how many weeks you’re at, and what your favorite thing about being pregnant to be entered. Winners will be announced in our April newsletter.

Organic Mini Pantyliner

While I’m here, check out the blog of one of my favorite pregnant gals: the one and only Chloe Jo Berman of the fabulously green Girlie Girl Army. If you’re expecting and wondering about eco positive diapering choices, I have just written a guest blog post for GGA about cloth diapering and more – check it out!

 Good luck, and don’t forget to smile at a pregnant gal today!

Suzanne and I were in Anaheim CA a couple of weeks ago, where we attended the Natural Products Expo West trade show. It’s a busy place that can be a bit overwhelming, but there was no shortage of inspiration to be had.   One of the major highlights for us was running into Peggy O’Mara, founder of Mothering magazine. 

I hadn’t seen Peggy since I attended a workshop she was leading 3 years ago at Hollyhock.  It was a very special time for me, and I was joined there not only by my then-5 month old daughter Gigi, but also by my Mom Pat.  Peggy held the space for our stories, joys and fears, and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to connect with one of the most influential figures in the natural parenting movement.

Peggy and Mothering have been huge sources of inspiration and information for Suzanne and I as Moms, and we are very excited that she will be here in Vancouver delivering the keynote address at the Healthy Families Conference, April 18 and 19 (co-sponsored by our friend Bridgitte from Natural Pod natural toys.)  We are trying to line up a visit with Peggy here at Lunapads as well, so stay tuned!

Talk about not being in Kansas anymore! It’s been over a decade since I last visited New York City, but I had the good fortune to be there earlier this week, just in time to attend (and be a gift bag sponsor for) a benefit party for the New Space for Women’s Health, co-hosted by Ricki Lake and progressive sex toy retail leader Babeland. The New Space is a freestanding center for birth, breastfeeding, and women’s health care, opening in midtown Manhattan in early 2010. Being there was a huge thrill (how could you not get a thrill in a room full of sex toys?)

For starters, it’s not every day that you get star-struck, but whether you’re a fan because of Hairspray camp or The Business of Being Born, a pro-natural childbirth documentary, Ricki Lake is simply stunning in person, and having an opportunity to thank her personally for her work was an honor.

Speaking of being honored to meet famous people, Claire Cavanah (along with her business partner Rachel Venning) is one of the foremost pioneers in the now well-established world of feminist sex toy business (Lunapads and Babeland both started in 1993, a happy coincidence.) Their sex-positive, joyful and educational approach has brought revolutionary pleasure into the lives of hundreds of thousands of women. I am always excited to meet progressive women entrepreneurs, and having a few minutes to swap stories about business and birth with her was a highlight of my trip. In photo: Claire, Jayne (see below) and yours truly!

It struck me at the party that as illogical as it seems, we don’t make the connection often enough between sex and babies. Babeland’s support of the New Space was a refreshing reminder of their beautiful connection. Speaking of which, one of the most interesting people I met that night is a bit of an expert when it comes to both. Jayne Freeman (aka Mamarama) is a witty New Yorker with plenty to say about everything from pelvic floor exercises and natural childbirth to not being strictly truthful about the tooth fairy with kids. Check out her amazing assortment of videos, and stay tuned for her upcoming series about re-heating the family bed post-baby!

Last but not least, I had some great conversations with some of the Babeland staff. Their openness and genuine passion for their work reminded me of thegals here at Lunapads. Thanks for a great evening, ladies, and keep up the good work, everyone!