Parenting Resources Archives | Page 2 of 4

From Partners to Parents

January 17, 2019 by Full Circle KC

The transition from partners to parents can test a strong relationship to it’s core, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, a crying new baby, lack of sleep, multiple visitors coming to meet your sweet baby, financially providing for a family, did I mention lack of sleep? The transition to parenthood can be one of the biggest transitions parents make together as well as individually. Suddenly not only are you responsible for yourself, now you have a little human that will always be your child, which comes with great responsibility.

Prior to children my husband and I finished the bottle of wine while we ate an amazing meal prepared together over the course of an hour or more. We took amazing trips, traveling on our bicycles with friends through Ireland and Belgium, road trips to Baja, long hikes in the woods, spoiled ourselves with lavish restaurants. We had a good life and I relish that time that we were able to grow as couple. Then a good friend became pregnant and I wanted that too. After our first miscarriage, I realized how badly I wanted a child. After our second miscarriage I was devastated and wanted to have a family more than anything.

Then we were successfully pregnant! We read about pregnancy, we attended the Bradley Method, and we discussed how it would change our life and our relationship. We talked about how we wanted to parent, both feeling very strongly with being conscious in our parenting style and being present to our children. Knowing that we both wanted this type of parenting we also knew we would have to give up a lot (or put some things on hold) – no more long dinner talks slowly working through a bottle of wine, no more fondue parties that lasted until the wee hours of the night, no more ultimate Frisbee club involving traveling for tournaments. Fortunately we were both okay with that knowing what we’d gained in return. We have a happy life with two kiddos filled with new adventures, lots of silly fun family time, creating new traditions, adjusting our travel so that we can all be together. Friday nights are no longer party nights, they are Friday Family Time nights and we look forward to them. We are still partners but now we are parents too!

Making a healthy transition from partners to parents will help create a supportive, positive, and nurturing environment for your child to grow. Begin sharing feelings about this momentous transition before baby arrives. It’s a great date night topic! There are many exercises on the internet to help begin the conversation or take your conversation deeper.

Here are some tips to a healthy transition

Share your expectations- when couples can share their hopes, fears, expectations with each other authentically it can build a deeper respect for each other, as well as finding commonality in shared hopes, fears, and expectations. In an opposite-sex relationship, recognize and appreciate that some issues may be more challenging for males while others are more challenging for females
Regular couple check-ins- how are each of you doing? How are each of you feeling about and managing the new life that’s joined your family?
Take time to talk to each other- Parenting can wear you down, make you question your abilities. Give each other compliments, fill each other’s tanks. As baby grows increase the time you give to your partnership.
Make time for intimacy and sex- postpartum may just be snuggling a little tighter, going to bed at the same time so you can cuddle. Don’t ignore this very important part of your partnership. Embrace opportunities for nonsexual intimacy, especially right after baby is born and the next several weeks.
Talk with friends and family- Keeping your tribe close to you during major life transitions such as having a baby is key to surviving! Your tribe will lift you up when you feel down, they will cheer you along when you feel strong, they will believe in you and remind you of the amazing individual you are.

One might think yoga is for the individual yet it can offer so much more. Full Circle Yoga KC recognizes the importance of a strong partner bond going into such a significant life event as well as the need for a tribe. Prenatal Partner Yoga allows partners the time to check-in with each other. This free, be silly, enjoy the company of one another class creates a space for partners to begin being conscious of the added role as parents. This class opens the door for partners to continue the conversation outside of class as to how they want to show up as partners as parents. Women together in Prenatal Yoga and become a tribe when they return for Mommy and Baby Yoga sharing and supporting one another through the fourth trimester. Full Circle Yoga KC celebrates and embraces the beautiful journey from partners to parents. Full Circle Yoga KC offers a space that creates a community of support for growing families through family-centered classes like Hatha Yoga, Gentle Flow Yoga, Kids Yoga, and Power Vinyasa.

Full Circle Yoga KC is family centered yoga studio in Midtown Kansas City specializing in Aerial Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Baby Yoga, Power Vinyasa and more.

National Breastfeeding Month

August 16, 2018 by Full Circle KC

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Happy National Breastfeeding Month. Best advice I ever received, “if you’re planning to breastfeed, don’t think it comes naturally.” At the time of the advice, little did I know I would really struggle with breastfeeding my first child. Her words of wisdom became my truth as we struggled with latch and producing enough milk supply for my daughter. For me, breastfeeding was incredibly important and I have many happy memories of breastfeeding my children. For others, guilt surfaces when they think about not being able to nurse.

National Breastfeeding Month should offer the opportunity to reflect on the importance of keeping our children healthy. Whether that be through breastfeeding or formula every Mama’s ultimate goal is to keep their baby healthy. I recently read an article from Scary Mommy blog that made some good points about how we might think about breastfeeding month differently. What about Mama’s who can’t despite pulling out all the tricks to breastfeed, what about the Mama’s who decide breastfeeding isn’t for them? While we all know if we’ve done any reading at all, breast is best, sometimes it’s not an option. Supporting our village of Mama’s raising healthy, strong, kind, respectful, empathetic, courageous, and confident children is what our society needs. We may not understand why a Mama decides breastfeeding is not for her, but we can support one another in the journey of motherhood.

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National Breastfeeding Month should also offer the opportunity to normalize public nursing. We’ve all heard about the discrimination women have faced when simply trying to feed their child. Again, we have the opportunity to lift Mama’s up and support hungry babies by empowering Mama’s and creating a safe and accepting society. There are several ways to help support the normalization of breastfeeding.

In the end our ultimate goal should be to lift all Mama’s up and remembering that we are champions for each other in raising healthy children.

Full Circle Yoga in Overland Park was founded in 2017 by yoga teacher Jenny Hellman focusing on wellness in the early stages of family life from prenatal to early parenthood and the older adult years. Full Circle Yoga KC is an Overland Yoga Studio specializing in Prenatal Yoga, Baby Yoga and Chair Yoga for seniors.

Happy New Year from Full Circle Yoga KC

January 11, 2018 by Full Circle KC

Happy New Year’s From Full Circle Yoga KC!

December 2017 went out with a bang with 10 babies being born! Congratulations to each of you Mamas who delivered little bundles of joy in 2017 and welcome to Motherhood! January 2018 is starting off with an exciting number of new Mamas finding Full Circle Yoga KC.

Full Circle Yoga KC is coming up on its one year anniversary! I can’t believe it’s almost been a year since I started this journey. There are so many journeys we go through in life, some planned some unexpected. I try to embrace each one as they come. You all have been my inspiration this past year as I met you and heard your stories. I hold your stories with care and deep appreciation. You’ve inspired me to become a better yoga instructor, to be a better listener, to continue to find a balance of relaxation and challenge in our yoga classes. You even inspire me to run longer as my inner voice says “hey, you tell your Mamas they can do anything for a minute, you can run for one more minute.” Thank you.

I’m so excited to start a Mama’s Corner starting on the every third Wednesday of every month. Our first gathering will be February 21^st. We will have BYOB at 9:00 am (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE FROM NORMAL TIME), followed by a time to connect with other Mama’s. It’s an opportunity to share tricks of the trade as well as the bumps in the road of motherhood and build community as we share in the most rewarding yet most challenging job ever! Snacks will be provided. Class is $5.00, please register online.

Here’s what happening in January:

Prenatal Yoga Classes– This class is appropriate for all stages of pregnancy as you experience and enjoy your changing body. Geared for all experience levels, in this class you’ll learn yoga poses, breathing techniques and meditation that support a healthy pregnancy and prepare you for labor and delivery.

Mondays at 7:00 pm

Thursdays at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm

Saturdays at 9:30 am

BYOB– This class embraces your recovering body through gentle movement. You’ll appreciate the supportive community of others who are sharing in the transformative journey of parenthood.

Wednesdays at 10:00 *** Except third Wednesday of every month BYOB class will begin at 9:00am and Mama’s Corner at 10:00am.

Prenatal Partner Yoga– It’s an opportunity to connect with one another and share in the journey of pregnancy. Partners can be empowered through learning poses and visualization tools that will help support mama during labor and delivery.

Thursday January 25^th at 6:00pm **this will be in place of prenatal yoga

Hatha Yoga- A class that emphasizes strengthening the physical body by focusing on body posture and breath control. This class is open to everyone. It’s a great class for postpartum moms who need some time on the mat by themselves.

Saturdays 8:00 am

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Young Living Essential Oil 101 Class- Come or stay after class to learn about the amazing benefits Young Living Essential Oils can have for you and your family.

Saturday January 27^th right after prenatal yoga at 11:00 am

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Some day we may get snow! Please check our website calendar for cancellations due to inclement weather.

The Light In Me Honors The Light In You!

Be Well,

Jenny

Q & A Time | What is Cranial Sacral Treatment

November 14, 2017 by Full Circle KC

What is Cranial Sacral Treatment (CST)? It is a gentle noninvasive form of bodywork to realign the head, spinal column, and sacrum for restored balance. I like to describe it as chiropractic work without the manipulation. And, the best kept secret for body balance!

I was hesitant to go to a chiropractor because I didn’t want physical manipulation and I didn’t want treatment to become a part of my routine. However, after recently having my first cranial sacral treatment I was amazed at my improved overall feeling of balance and alignment. For weeks my hamstrings had been tight despite yoga, stretching and strengthening. With the cranial sacral treatment it made an immediate difference in the tightness!

Cranial Sacral Therapy can be a wonderful way to care for yourself while pregnant as well as postpartum. Our center of gravity shifts, we gain weight during pregnancy, our body is working overtime to grow a little human all of which can disrupt our balance and create discomfort. Postpartum, we are reconnecting with our bodies, we find ourselves in the most peculiar positions for nursing or feeding, and general anxiety of parenthood can throw our balance off, again, creating discomfort.

Recently, Full Circle Yoga KC joined up with Lee Veal to offer a special event for mamas and partners. What an incredible class that allowed mamas and partners to add to their toolbox! Lee Veal, Advance Cranial Sacral expert, showed simple movement techniques partners could offer mama to support her throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Mamas were then able to provide the same resistance work to their partner so each could feel restored balance. The class focused specifically on the Psoas and Piriformis muscle to help align and open the pelvis.

Q&A Time | What is a Doula?

September 29, 2017 by Full Circle KC

What is a Doula? This is one of the most frequent questions I get asked. Hiring a doula may be one of the best things you do for your birthing journey! If you were to ask my husband he would tell you YES, get a doula! We were a big supporter of our doula who supported us for our two childbirths.

A doula can be defined as a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the most healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.

DONA international gives a great analogy that a doula is like your travel guide in a foreign country, helping support families through a life changing experience.

You’re interested in having a doula, what next?

Call and schedule a time to meet with 1-3 doulas and interview each of them. You want to find a doula that both you and your partner feel comfortable with and someone that supports your birth plan. This is a chance to get to know one another.

Some questions you may want to ask:

How long of have you been a doula?
Tell me about your experiences?
Have they worked with your MD or midwife before? That’s always an added benefit!
What’s their availability?
What’s their back up plan if they can’t be at the birth?
Cost of their services and what does that service include?

Check out these doula websites for the KC area.