I have a couple of announcements to make today. And they’re related. Are you ready for this?
New Site!
About a month ago, we launched our first sister site, Modern Alternative Kitchen. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should. It’s a great real food resource and I’m loving the content they’re producing over there. (I guest post over there once a month or less, but the day-to-day stuff is handled by my very awesome editor, Jill.)
The plan was to continue expanding. We have a bunch of sites in the pipeline, but it takes time to find the right editor, the right team, get the design going, and so on. Planning a new site — even when you’ve done it before and have traffic and resources to draw on — is not simple. It takes us a good two or three months to do each one. We had planned to launch three new sites this year, but we weren’t sure which ones they would be.
But God did.
The one you’ll be seeing in two weeks is called Modern Alternative Pregnancy! I’m very excited to bring you this awesome new natural pregnancy resource. There are a lot of sites that touch on this topic (including this one), but very few sites that are entirely devoted to natural pregnancy, the way that Modern Alternative Pregnancy will be.
This is a site that will include topics like:
- Getting pregnant — natural fertility help (including for those dealing with health issues)
- Dealing with pregnancy discomforts and complications
- Finding care providers
- Sorting through common tests — should you have them done?
- Writing a birth plan
- Different types of birth/natural pain relief
- Alternative care providers (chiropractors, massage therapists, etc.)
- Pregnancy diet
- Birth support
- Postpartum care
- Breastfeeding
- Birth stories
- Informed consent
- …and more!
Basically, if you’re looking for something natural birth-related, Modern Alternative Pregnancy will have it.
We have an amazing team, which consists of birth-enthusiast mamas, doulas, childbirth educators, midwives and midwives-in-training, a chiropractor, and more. I’m so excited to introduce them all to you!
I hope you’ll join us on Facebook to learn more about our contributors, our sponsors for an amazing launch week giveaway (if you remember Modern Alternative Kitchen’s awesome giveaway, think about that — only pregnancy/birth/mama-related items!), and to learn more about our mission in general. We’re excited to share with you!
But Why Now?
It was originally our plan to wait to launch the pregnancy site until next spring. I was hoping to start it to coincide with our journey of trying to conceive and carrying my fourth baby. When I was pregnant with Jacob, since I (obviously) had pregnancy on the brain, it kind of took over MAM a little bit. And I didn’t want that to happen this time, hence, the launch of Modern Alternative Pregnancy.
And then this happened:
Right, so.
We’re thrilled. But surprised. Yes, baby number four surprised us. It was just a weekend, when all the kids were napping, and I thought, “Hmm…I wonder what would happen if…” but then dismissed the thought because I was still breastfeeding all night long, and I wasn’t able to get pregnant with Jacob as long as I was breastfeeding Daniel all night. Things weren’t exactly “back to normal” yet, so I figured, well…it’s highly unlikely.
Then three weeks later (I was already a week late, but like I said — things weren’t “back to normal” yet so I didn’t think much of it) I walked into the grocery store and I could smell the bananas all the way across the room. I actually looked around for awhile to see if someone had opened one up and smashed it on the floor near me, because surely I couldn’t smell the bananas in their skins all the way across? Apparently so. I thought, “Maybe I ought to buy a test.”
I berated myself all the way home. This is stupid…the timing was off…the signs weren’t right…it’s going to be negative…this is a waste of time and money. Only, once I took it as soon as I got home…it immediately came up positive. Surprise!
I basically threw the test at my husband, saying, “Umm, look.” He was thrilled.
God’s Plan
I know that if you’re paying attention whatsoever, you have realized we don’t follow “traditional child spacing,” which calls for 3 – 5 years between babies. When this baby is born in March, our other three will be 5, 3.5, and 19 months. #3 and #4 will be almost close together as #1 and #2 are (who are just under 18 months apart). This was not our plan, per se.
But you know what? I trust God, and His plan for my life, more than I trust the research about traditional child spacing. I trust that God knows what is right for me and my family. I trust that He has His reasons for sending me this baby now. I may not yet know what they are, but I trust Him. Our family size and timing was a decision we long ago decided to place in His hands, and so that leads us here.
I’m about 10 weeks along right now. I’ll give you some more interesting details over at Modern Alternative Pregnancy (like the morning sickness I’ve been largely able to tame this time — when I’ve been giving advice to readers who ask about this over the last 5 weeks or so, it wasn’t theoretical!). Over here, you won’t hear too much.
Once this baby is born, we’ll officially be a “large” family. I’m excited about that — four children! We’ve been dreaming of a large family since our first was born, and of course it takes time to get there. And I wondered after my third was born if God would decide not to bless us again. But He has! So our journey as an “official” large family begins. 
**This post has been entered in Homestead Barn Hop, Frugal Days and Sustainable Ways.**
What are you most looking forward to over at Modern Alternative Pregnancy?
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TESTING!
Congratulations!!
Congrats! And perfect timing! I am due end of February so I will be looking forward to this launch.
Congratulations to you, on all fronts! I am so excited to keep reading, especially the new pregnancy site. I have so many friends facing fertility challenges and I look forward to sending them to your new resource.
Congrats on two exciting steps forward!
Congratulations! We were just surprised to find out we have #3 on the way. 2 and 3 will also be 18 months apart-so I am set happy for you and excited for the launch of this new site as it comes at a perfect time or me as well!
Congratulations!!! What a wonderful surprise!
Congrats!!! And, this could not have come at a better time, I am at 20 weeks and I REALLY need your site. Infact, I will be relying on it heavily for the next few years as we take the alternative route to raising our third child. No vaccines, possible water birth, refusing any further vaccines for our older children, FCLO instead of supplements, etc. in other words, I NEED THIS SITE! Thank you : )
So excited for you! I am in my 10th week (4th child) also. Can’t wait for the launch.
Happy for you, Kate! (And I totally guessed it last night on FB!) Okay, Fertile Myrtle, this 34-yr-old desperately wants number 2 (and numbers 3, 4, 5, whatever cones our way!), so your new site will be well-visited via my computers, lol!!
Oh, I’d like to see posts on how to relax. I am having a reoccurrence of insomnia and it’s beginning to affect my days. Alternative exercises to help relax would be great. We are Christian and do not participate in any activities my normal healthcare provider would recommend like yoga or acupuncture.
Congratsssss on expecting #4!!! How exciting! If you guys ever want to feature someone on birth photography on your new pregnancy site let me know
Congratulations on the new baby AND the new site! Can’t wait to visit it often when we are expecting again.
How wonderful. Congrats to you
I’m excited for the new site, because we just found out we’re expecting our first! (And please…. get that morning sickness advice up soon!!!! lol)
Very exciting Kate! Blessings as you bring this new life into the world! And I’m very excited for the new site!
Congratulations, Kate! God’s plans, indeed. ^_^
Congrats! I’ll likely be in the same boat myself soon! :p
Congratulations!
Congratulations on both of these wonderful blessings!!! I am so excited for you and your family with the expectation of a new little life, and I am BEYOND THRILLED about the idea of MAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have wanted to find a site dedicated to natural pregnancy and birth like MAM for a long time & like you said, though there are several sites that talk about natural pregnancy, there are not many that are specifically devoted to it. I am SO looking forward to this! Congrats again!
How exciting! Our family completed itself 6.5 years ago, and now only grows with the addition of furry creatures, and the microorganisms growing in the fermentations. =) But, I’ll be happy to stop over and contribute anything I can from my 2 natural pregnancies, births, and breastfeeding years! Congratulations as God continues to bless you!
Congratulations! I was 5 weeks along with my first before I realized I was pregnant. I missed all the usual signs too… should have known when I started craving broccoli and eggs like crazy!
So excited for the new site! This baby is due in October but we’re interested in having ours close together. So I’m sure I’ll need that pregnancy again soon!
YAYYYYY! Congratulations! That one totally surprised me, as I’m not used to women announcing pregnancies in the middle of a blog post. So excited for you guys! (Your kiddos will love being part of a big family. I’m the oldest of six and I adore it.)
Congrats! I’m 15 weeks with baby #2 and my son will be 28 months old when baby arrives. I can’t wait to read your new blog!
Congratulations!
I cannot tell you how excited I am for this new site!
Oh, and March babies are wonderful!!!
As a mother of six living blessings–congratulations on becoming a “large family”!!!!! Large families are such blessings and I would not have it any other way. My kids are 18 months to 2 years apart and when they were little I thought I would go crazy sometimes. But they grew so quickly and I did not go crazy! You will not either. One piece of advice I would give you is to ignore “well meaning” people and their comments about your family size and “how close together” they are. God does and did have a plan in mind when allowing you these blessings. Enjoy every minute with them, for all too quickly they grow up. God bless you and your growing family!!!
Congratulations! Children are one of God’s Greatest blessings.
I am due in 11 days and am starting to get impatient…
Chi Chi, maybe my birth verse will help you, too–Philippians 4:6&7. Have you tried chamomile or lavender tea before bed? I have some coconut oil with lavender in it that I use as face cream that I think helps, too.
Thank you Michelle for the encouragement! My inability to relax is not of the nervous kind, but because I work full time and have two vibrant and busy (soccer, art, etc.) children, ages 6 and 8. I actually have very pleasant pregnancies and easy deliveries (thank you Jesus!) but I want that deep pregnancy sleep that everyone talks about. I loooooooong for it but have yet to experience it. Lol! I will try some lavender, thanks for the reminder!
Congrats! I’m 13w pregnant with my first and came across your site originally because of all of the great pregnancy info! So I am definitely looking forward to this new site!
Congratulations! I will be following the new blog with interest, as I’m 24 weeks with my first right now and have so much to learn.
Congratulations!!!! Such wonderful news! And I cannot tell you how beyond excited I am about the launch of both websites! I just subscribed to them and can’t wait to read the posts. Thank you for all your hard work!
How wonderful! God sees fit to bless you with another precious soul! I know you’re pretty excited about being a large family, but by my definition you’d still have a couple more to go. 1-3 small family, 4-6 medium family, 7-9 large family 10+ supersize! I am also very excited about the new addition to the Modern Alternative family of websites. My husband and I intentionally plan not to plan so that we can leave our fertility and our family in God’s hands, but I am kind of hoping that we conceive our second pretty soon after my husband gets home from Coast Guard training. I was just beginning my foray into natural living when I was pregnant with my first son who is 15 months old now. I had hoped to have a home birth but I developed gestational hypertension and was *this* close to being diagnosed with preclampsia which made it necessary to deliver in a hospital, still as naturally as possible. So what I am looking forward to most on the new website is any evidence there might be or plans on how to prevent high blood pressure during pregnancy with real food or alternative treatments. I don’t buy into the limit salt and exercise more advice. Again, congratulations, I am so very happy for you!
My guess earlier was right then. Yes. Congratulations to all. Hope you have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. Wonderful on everything.
Congratulations Kate! I was so excited to read that you’re expecting again, and so excited about the new site launch, too! God does have the best timing for us, doesn’t he? Love that the bananas gave things away for you!!
Conrats, Kate! So exciting how God is blessing your family with both the growing of your business and the growing of a new little baby! Exciting times, I’m looking forward to following along.
Congrats! Great new site!!!
Congrats!!!! God has a plan of all of us! His timing is so perfect! I am sooo happy for you! I really love your websites. People like to criticize others that follow the “real food/organic/homesteading” pathway, but this is nothing new. This is what we are suppose to be doing as people! Our ancestors, grandparents, and many of our parents had homebirths, breastfed, etc… I am glad it’s all making a comeback! I can’t wait to see more!