Frogster Chronicles

How I Found Out About Pain-Free Birth & 2 Short Birth Stories Everyone around me seemed convinced birth was going to feel like a marathon… in fire. I nodded politely, but in my head I was thinking: Surely there’s a better way to do this. I first stumbled onto hypnobirthing after reading an article about painless birth…  Naturally, I was curious — if I was already expecting pain, why not at least try something that might prove me wrong? I discovered hypnobirthing — and I quickly went down the rabbit hole. Turns out, hypnobirthing isn’t about unicorn rainbows or pretending contractions are “just little hugs.” It’s about understanding what your body is doing and giving it the best shot at doing it well. Think of it as working with the tide instead of flailing in it.  My guide into this new world was my coach, Helianthe — founder of  MuchaMama . She taught me the  Marie Mongan Method  and brought my husband into the process, giving us both the confidence to ...

Home birth—the decision to deliver a baby in the comfort of your own home—is experiencing a quiet resurgence. While still relatively uncommon in many countries, the Netherlands offers a shining example of how this age-old practice can be modern, safe, and deeply supported. With a carefully structured healthcare system and highly trained midwives, the Dutch model integrates home birth into mainstream maternity care with exceptional results. This article explores the benefits of home birth, how the Dutch system works, key statistics, emergency protocols, and a uniquely Dutch tradition that makes postnatal life a whole lot easier. The Case for Home Birth Comfort and Control: Laboring in a familiar space allows for more freedom in movement, birthing positions, and who is present. Fewer Medical Interventions: Research shows that planned home births for low-risk pregnancies tend to result in fewer interventions, such as cesarean sections or episiotomies. Continuity of Care: ...

🌸 Top Books for a Beautiful Birth & Empowered Postpartum Journey Whether you're preparing for your first birth or looking to enrich your knowledge for a more empowered experience, diving into the right resources can make all the difference. Below is a handpicked list of books that nurture the mind, body, and spirit—from gentle birthing techniques to natural postpartum care. 🌿✨ 🌼 For an Empowered and Gentle Birth 1. HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method By Marie Mongan (2005) Discover the revolutionary HypnoBirthing approach—a calming, natural technique that empowers birthing people to trust their body and birth without fear. This book blends deep relaxation, visualization, and breathing to make childbirth more comfortable, gentle, and instinctual. 💫 Curious to dive deeper? Check out the official HypnoBirthing site to explore the Marie Mongan Method in full bloom! 2. Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage By Rachel Reed (2021) This powerful read reframes birth ...

Childbirth is universal, but it hasn’t always looked the same. Across centuries, continents, and cultures, birth has evolved—shaped by beliefs, tools, traditions, and power. Here’s a brief walk through the history of birthing: what it looked like, who was involved, how mothers felt—and why it changed. 📚 Table of Contents Ancient Birth (Prehistory–500 CE) Medieval Birth (500–1300s) Renaissance Birth (1300–1600s) The Scientific Shift (1600s–1800s) The Medical Era (1900s–1970s) Holistic & Informed Birth (1980s–Today) 🗿 1. Ancient Birth (Prehistory–500 CE) Who was involved: Midwives, family, elders, sometimes spiritual leaders Where: Homes, nature, or sacred birthing huts How: Upright positions (squatting, kneeling), herbs, chanting, touch Mothers’ experience: Deeply connected to the earth and to other women. Cared for, honored, and sometimes feared Perception of labor: A sacred passage, full of symbolism and ceremony Knowledge came fro...

👶 So What Happens After the Baby Comes? One big change: I connected deeply to my other mom friends. There is so much uniting in the experience. And no matter my attempts to keep connected to the non-mom friends too, that became more and more difficult. I was quite tired and on a new schedule. Don’t look for me after 8 pm. I am sleeping—or wishing I was sleeping. Regular partying, cocktail evenings... just seemed completely useless and not in my list of ways to spend the little energy I felt I had. Quality control raised massively when choosing how to spend my time and where. And quite a few of my non-mom friends became a bit distant. There wasn’t a massive amount of interest to meet the baby I had just produced. Which is HUGE. I know it’s not a rarity and it happens to many people, but it is still HUGE. 💬 The Questions Shift When we would meet, the conversation often went like this: How long is your maternity? When does she go to daycare? When are you going ba...

Strava is on running mode. Yet, when I try to run, I have to support my boobs with both hands. They’re in the active breast milk production stage. So, I’m mostly walking. Right now, I'm even squatting to write. If there’s a record for the slowest run on Strava, I’m probably holding it. There's a bit of shame trying to creep in—what would my runner friend think when she sees the pace?—but I’m actively suffocating that shame in the seaweed-filled water. This Morning’s Plan : I didn’t want to stay in bed. So I put on a borrowed swimsuit, my jeans, a hoodie, a pair of panties stuffed into the pocket, and a t-shirt, and headed to the beach for a run and a swim. The bathing suit scratching against my nipple is uncomfortable. The hoodie is clinging to me like a vacuum seal—I’m sweating before the run even begins. So, the bathing suit has to come halfway off. The t-shirt is already doing its job. But there's no one to hold my boobs, so that's how I end up running on the bea...

Drip, drip, drip… Strange. I'm a bit too far from the sea. The waves can't be sprinkling me from there. Yet there is definitely something wet. Mystery. Maybe she peed on me. Maybe she is peeing on me. Ah well—natural refreshment. It’s a warm day, the warmest I’ve experienced in a long while. The sun is gently burning the skin through the light shadow cast by the nearby palm. On a day like this, I could use some refreshment. For Spain, this counts as a partially cloudy day. There was one partial cloud, like a grain drainer—one of the big ones that would let large white beans slip through. But even that cloud has disappeared. Only a light wind passes through now, spreading the warmth evenly. Bon is sleeping. She recently fed from the right booby while in her carrier. First time she’s eaten from her “seat.” That’s not allowed, if you ask a specialist. So don’t do what I do unless you’re comfortable with it. I just found it much more practical to put her on the booby while...

Happy Cow, Happy Baby Have you ever been asked the question: “Why are you breastfeeding, don’t you feel like a cow?” I was asked. It was a strange question as I never considered it to be a cow-like thing. Now I have considered it, I have embraced the joke. And have embarked on a discovery of its source. Why not? What is wrong with cows? They can manage the breastfeeding of four babies at a time. And have four stomachs to support that. Quite cool. Also natural. We can learn a lot from animals on how to be one—how to function as humans with our basic instincts. Sometimes it feels like we have forgotten that. Okay, I hate talking in terms of “we.” Sometimes I realize I have forgotten my instincts. And being a mom has reignited my desires to remember them. It has also given me the faith that I am capable of doing so. Rediscovering Instincts When babies are born, they operate purely on instincts. Eventually, they develop skills and forget some of those instincts. It’s a pi...