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Rachel McFedries

Occupational Therapist | play educator

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Tag: home birth aotearoa

Posted on November 19, 2017November 19, 2017

A Home Birth Story – part two: baby’s arrival

In my last post, I wrote about preparing for a home birth. I left that post being taken straight back to feeling heavily pregnant - 38…

Continue reading → A Home Birth Story – part two: baby’s arrival

Posted on October 23, 2017

A Home Birth Story – part one: preparation.

This time last year I was pregnant with our little girl, our third baby, and planning where her place of birth was to be.  With…

Continue reading → A Home Birth Story – part one: preparation.

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Loves a good sequin cushion session 🌟 The other day both of our sequin cushions were in high use by Miss 2 and Mr 5, they were having a good old relaxing sensory play with them! . Have you got sequin cushions in your house? I purposefully bought them to teach the kids how to use them a self regulation tool. Sometimes the older two will go sit in a little corner (or our sensory space) and draw pictures on the cushions to relax. . It’s great that items like this are so readily available, I have seen them at Dollar Stores and also good old Kmart! Not just for pretty bedrooms 😉 . #sensoryregulation #emotionalregulation #selfregulation #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #otmum #otmom #preschoolers #toddlers #teachandgrow #sequincushion #everydaysensory #athomewithkids #therapeuticplay
Did you know this? Two years ago when I was looking for info to back up my decision to reduce my own kids’ screen time I stumbled across this in a document produced by the Ministry of Health. Literally found it of my own accord. *Why* did Plunket not tell me this? *Why* did I not see it on public health posters around the place? *Why* are more parents not aware of this guideline?! . Awareness and empowerment are key to making change 🌟. If parents aren’t being told this information, then how can it be expected that NZ’s children will be able to stick to these guidelines - and reap the massive health benefits that come as a result of having less screen time? {proven by research} . It is my own personal vision that ALL of New Zealand’s children will have less screen time that the recommended maximum guideline 🙌💖 . Talk about it with your friends, people. Your Plunket nurses. Let’s have these conversations. . Ref: Ministry of Health, 2017. Sit Less, Move More, Sleep Well: Active play guidelines for under-fives. . *This MOH guideline is similar to international guidelines by the World Health Organisation (2019) and American Academy of Paediatrics (2016).
At last, I am excited 🌟 30 weeks and I’m now at the stage of embracing our impending arrival, celebrating our new addition, looking forward to baby snuggles, and imagining life as a Mum of four with more joy than trepidation 💖 . This journey of pregnancy has been a mindful journey, one of reflection on what this lovely unexpected bundle means for us as a family, especially me in my mothering role. . I have had to change my expectations of what the next few years will look like for me. Process unexpected emotions accordingly. Seek help as it all got a bit much to do that on our own. And acknowledge that life can look different yet that’s OK. . At last, I am excited 🌟 . #motherhood #motherhoodthroughinstagram #mothering #honestmotherhood #honestlymothering #lifewithlittles #mumlife #motherhoodrising #mumoffour #momoffour #pregnancy #maternalmentalhealth #mentalhealthisforeveryone #mentalhealthawareness #prenatalhealth #healthymind #maternitymentalhealth #30weeks
Because sometimes you just have to preserve a moment in time... 💚 . #mumofthree #mothering #motherhood #dinnertime #feedthecrew #threekids #soontobefour #notcrazy #fullhandsfullheart #hardisnotthesamethingasbad #proudmoment #everyonessittingdown #miracle #mytinymoments #thehappynow #momentslikethese #motherhoodrising
Some days when I work from home I wear trackies and a hoodie. Other days I dress smart-casual like I used to when I worked in an office, and I take a selfie in front of the garage door just because I want to. Either way, I still eat far too many snacks and procrastinate too much 🤷🏻‍♀️ #truth . #youdoyou #workfromhome #thisisme #lovelife #lovethelifeyoulive #onlineentrepreneur #writer #blogger #mumpreneur #mumpreneurlife #lookgoodfeelgood #28weeks
PLAY. I fully believe that when you know more about play as a parent, you naturally become less inclined to turn to screens. Why? Because play is super epically *important*. Play gives things developmentally that screens just absolutely don’t give: . - better social skills - better working memory - better achievement results in school - more natural curiosity for learning - better overall physical health . Plus SO MUCH MORE... {^all of the above is proven by research by the way... I’m just in the process of popping the links up on my website}#watchthisspace . It’s a natural process that when you learn more about the developmental benefits of play, you become a . —-⭐️ PLAY ADVOCATE ⭐️ —- . and encourage more time in free unstructured play rather than screens 💖 Educating yourself is part of the process. Which is why in my course I wrote a whole section called “Educate Yourself”; and also another called “Decipher Play” 💖. It’s all about equipping and empowering ourselves with the information and knowledge we need to navigate this digital world we live in alongside our children 👩🏻‍💻 👦🏼 👧🏻👶🏽 . Would you call yourself a passionate play advocate? I know a few!
Pregnancy green smoothie 🍐🥬 What’s a common preggo problem? Getting a bit blocked up! Yep, I’m talkin’ about the ol’ bowels - constipation 🙈. I’ve started chugging back the green smoothies in an effort to up my greens, vitamins and minerals intake, and help relieve that afternoon tiredness. . I created this recipe today that seems to be perfect for keeping the insides healthy and regular 👏 . Pear - good for adding fibre. I used two. Prunes - we all know they work their magic! I added three. Kale & spinach - hello... healthy x5000. I just used a handful. LSA - because I ALWAYS add it to smoothies. I used about two spoonfuls. Turmeric - because it felt like the right thing to do and I wanted to see what it tasted like in this concoction! You only want about half a tsp. Apparently turmeric should only be used in small amounts during pregnancy. . Add about 1.5C water and some ice cubes. . Taste: this is more a savoury type of green smoothie than a sweet one. You definitely want both of the pears in there! . I love experimenting with green smoothie recipes - how about you? My favourite is using pineapple and coconut milk as a base! Mmmm, pina-colada 🏝 . #greensmoothie #pregnancysmoothie #thirdtrimester #thirdtrimesterproblems #healthypregnancy #healthypregnancyeating #naturalhealth #naturalremedies #foodasmedicine #realfood #justeatrealfood #greensmoothiesforlife
Just over here with my bump dreaming we are on a tropical island baby moon. Did you have a baby moon? With our first we jetted off to Tonga! Nothing quite as exotic these days, but hubby and I must plan a wee getaway for before this wee one arrives me thinks! . P.S. this is actually the Chch Botanic Gardens 😆 the banks of the Avon River has to do for me for now! . #babymoon #dreams #dreaming #fourthbaby #27weeks #thirdtrimester #tropicalholiday #mumoffour #naturelover
Hello 👋 Intro time... seeing as we managed to get a decent family photo yesterday, I thought I’d do a wee intro! . This is my crew. Plus one due in Nov!🤰 #27weeks . I’m Rachel, closer to 40 than 30 😉 and transitioning from full time SAHM to online entrepreneur - I graduated as an OT in 2010 and this is a brilliant way for me to bring my skills and knowledge to something that works for me instead of your normal 9-5!👩🏻‍💻 . Matt is my offsider and he’s already on the other side of 40 🤩, he runs a company called @debtordaddy, which is an app that helps small bizzos chase debts - I know that sounds incredibly boring #eyesglazeover but it’s pretty darn incredible that his business has paid our mortgage and supported our growing family over the last six years really 🙌 . Mr J is 6.5yrs, been at school for six months, loves outdoors and parkour 👦🏼 🌳 . Mr L is 5 (this is his new birthday bike from yesterday!), will start school in 2020, loves board games and maths 👦🏼 🤓 . Miss E is 2.5, adorable, tiring, and loves baby dolls and water play 👧 🍼 . And our wee one joining us in Nov is also a wee girl #littlesister I come from a family of four kids so I’m pretty excited about this and stoked that Miss E will have a wee sister ❤️ You can’t plan this stuff guys, I’m amazed at how it’s worked out. . So that’s us! And man it was long 😆 sorry #notsorry but I guess when your family is growing the intros just get longer huh?! . Anyway, hi 👋 especially if you’re new to following xx . #family #familyofsix #familyphoto #thisisus #plusabike #intro #hithere #nzmama #mumlife #entrepreneurlife #nzbloggers

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