All Posts By

Cheryl Parsons

Parenthood

Gaa gaa goo google

This week I’m trying to take a break from ‘google-ing’ parenting things. Well, actually I’ve been ordered to by the husband. To dream feed or not to dream feed, swaddling, breastfeeding, pacifiers, sleep windows, crying…I’ve driven myself mad trying to find the answers from a million and one www.possibilities.com. If you looked at my search history you would be forgiven for thinking I’d gone a little gaa gaa. 

“THEY say you shouldn’t…” I begin before being quickly interrupted by the husband.

“Ah the infamous “THEY” again. Who the hell are “THEY” anyway?” he says.

He’s right. I worry that I worry too much, but this parenting caper is the hardest thing I’ve ever done! And don’t get me started on the books. Been there, read that…and ready to throw them out the window. Continue Reading

Yoga

What’s your yoga today?

“Pass me a yoga belt!” I cry at the husband. I’m lying on my yoga mat for the first time since giving birth to my beautiful daughter, Molly. I have snatched a few quiet moments just to touch base with my practice again. The thought process goes a little like this…

Can’t reach my toes without a belt! (Gasp!) Hamstrings screaming! (Shock horror!) Belly like jelly! (Where the hell is my core?!) Shoulders like the Tin Man (Gulp!) Back like a 90 year old (What the $%&£ happened to my wheel pose?!) Continue Reading

Parenthood

The tale of Molly Jean

The day I sat down to write my last blog, four days passed my due date, turned out to be the day our baby would begin to arrive. That evening, Baby Parsons seemed to sense the husband was deeply entranced in the golf Open Championship and considerably waited until Ernie Els lifted the trophy before deciding to get things moving.

At 9.30pm we headed to bed for an early night, only for me to feel a strong sensation take hold in my lower belly the moment I lay down. I knew it was different from the twinges I had had over the last week and sensed that perhaps it could be showtime. As promised, so begins my personal tale of the birth of Molly Jean Parsons and my amazing, intense journey into motherhood. Continue Reading

Parenthood

Showtime?

showtime-a1‘More pineapple?” offers the husband as he hands me another cup of Raspberry Leaf tea. Breakfast in bed, always a treat. Except now I’m entering day four passed my due date and getting a little impatient for Baby Parsons to arrive. While last night’s spicy curry is still giving me heartburn, the little one seems pretty happy to stay curled up in his/her cosy nest. Perhaps all the yoga has chilled it out so much, they are no hurry to make an appearance! 

Now, while I know the old due date should really be abolished in favour of the ‘arrival window,’ it is hard not to feel a little anxious once the day comes and goes. As irrational as I know it is, the mind still quietly probes: “Maybe they’ll never come out! Cheryl Parsons – the longest pregnancy in history.” Continue Reading

Parenthood

Guest post – Preparing for Baby…

preparingForBaby-a1This week, I am happy to share some great advice that was sent to me from fellow blogger, Katie Moore, on preparing for childbirth and your baby. Katie is an active blogger who discusses everything from maternity and motherhood to prenatal health and childbirth. Follow her blog Moore From Katie or connect on twitter @moorekm26.

Bringing a new life into the world is an experience that only a mother can have. Preparing mentally and physically for both giving birth and becoming a parent is a life changing experience. It’s imperative for pregnant women to take the utmost care of themselves while expecting and ensure they are receiving the proper health care at all times. In addition, there are plenty of things moms-to-be can do before the big day arrives to help remove some of the pre-birth anxiety and assure the day of labor goes as smoothly as possible – keeping in mind being prepared for the unexpected is a key element in being ready for labor. Continue Reading

Yoga

Big Belly Salute!

Countdown…39 weeks, 5 days. Only 2 days until my due date! If you’ve been reading my blog, you’ll know I’ve been keeping up my yoga practice, adapting it of course for my growing belly! 

Before mini Parsons comes into the world, I wanted to share with you a pre-natal sun salutation that I have been using throughout my pregnancy. A big thank you to Jennifer Wolfe and her pre-natal teacher training for her inspiration and guidance. Continue Reading

Parenthood

In the waiting line

intheWaitingLine-a1“You’re a yoga instructor? Oh, it’ll be like shelling peas, I tell you. It’ll just pop straight out, no bother,” commented one enthusiastic lady at the yoga studio. “All that deep breathing and open hips stuff…sure you can just meditate right through it. You’ll be grand!” 

Just under two weeks away from my due date, I definitely have this sense that I’m in the waiting line, ready to meet my baby when he/she decides to make an appearance. But I admit I am not always feeling quite so confident. If anything, sometimes I feel just a bit of pressure to have this wonderful birthing experience, just as nature intended. After all, I’ve put in the time on my yoga mat, I’ve read the books (Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth is a must for all pregnant ladies), and watched the DVDs (Orgasmic Birth anyone?). But in reality, there are days when I have serious doubts about how I’m going to get this baby out! And if you’ve seen the size of my belly lately, I think I may be in for a big one. Continue Reading

Parenthood

Big Mamma!

“I don’t think you should be swimming so ‘professionally’ ma’am,” comments the man in the pool as I rest after my 30 steady laps of front crawl. “Especially when I think you must have only a week to go.”
“Actually I’ve four weeks left and for me, swimming feels good. I wouldn’t do it if it didn’t,” I reply as politely as I can to his ‘well meaning’ advice. “I mean, you need to be careful…it’s twins, right? …what?…just the one? But ma’am, your belly is sticking so far out!”

Feeling a surge of pregnancy hormones threatening to bring on the water works, I signal to the husband it’s time to go. You see, that day hadn’t been the best day. I’d been at an antenatal class and eaten something that didn’t agree with me for breakfast. The result being my stomach (located somewhere in my left upper ribcage) bloated out so much the whole day, that I felt like baby was boxing for space in the other three quarters of my belly. The words ‘beached’ and ‘whale’ could easily be inserted here and it didn’t help that someone else had seemed to notice! Continue Reading