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- More than 1 in 3 women had C-section deliveries; overall, 1 in 5 C-sections were unplanned
- More than 1 in 3 (36%) women did not have a birth plan, which is an opportune time for a patient to speak with their doctor about pain management options, including non-opioids
- 38% of women are open to pain management options, but think some kinds of pain medications are or could be harmful to them or their baby
- 19% believe they are fine for other procedures, but not childbirth
- 25% believe they will be able to handle the pain without opioids
- 21% have no issue taking opioids
- 35% prefer to let their doctors decide what is best
- Nearly nine-in-ten (88%) of mothers have concerns about taking opioids during and after childbirth. Despite these concerns, more than half (51%) of C-section patients are prescribed an opioid
- Find their frozen cranberries in store or order frozen cranberries from Cape Cod Select.
- 1 cup Cape Cod Select premium frozen cranberries
- 1 cup fresh basil, packed
- 5 limes, peeled and white pitch removed
- (each lime cut in fours)
- 10 cups water
- 20-25 drops stevia drops (depends on individual tastes)
- If interested in NOT using stevia, use 1/2 cup honey
- 5 pounds of 80% ground beef
- 2/3 cups Budweiser Burger and Steak Sauce
- 4 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons ground pepper
- 3 teaspoons onion powder
- 3 cups white button mushrooms, sliced
- 2 red onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 15 potato hamburger buns
- Budweiser Burger and Steak Sauce
- 15 slices Gouda cheese
- Classic
- Sweet and Smoky
- Honey
- Sweet and Spicy
- Bold and Spicy
-
- 4 eggs
- egg poaching pan (see Amazon link)
- 1 cup leftover pulled pork
- 1/3 cup Budweiser Bold & Spicy Barbecue Sauce
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 Tbsp Budweiser Bold & Spicy Barbecue Sauce
- 1/8 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 brioche buns, sliced and toasted
- 2 Tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 avocado, sliced
- pickled jalapenos
- In 2011, I have my first daughter.
- In 2013, I had my second daughter.
- In 2014, I had an appendectomy.
- In 2015, I had my third daughter.
- In 2016, I quit my full-time job as a clinical analyst to be a full-time mom.
- In 2017, I sprained both my ankles.
- In 2017, we bought a house and moved.
- In 2018, I had a hysterectomy.
- PlusCBD Oil Softgels – Gold Formula
- PlusCBD Oil Drops – Gold Formula
- PlusCBD Extra-Strength Peppermint Spray
- PlusCBD Extra-Strength Balm
Choices Matter for all Women
July 28th, 2018
Thanks to Moms Meet for reminding me that Choices Matter when it comes to pain management. It reminds me that it is important to help others see the safety and benefits of non-opioid, pain-relieving options for C-sections.
My youngest daughter just turned 3 this weekend and it made me realize how quickly time passes. My oldest daughter, who is 6, asked me to share all my pregnancy stories for each daughter which took me down memory lane. Looking back, I would not do too much differently. In fact, now that I know what steps I took to handle childbirth, I feel like I need to share my experiences more so that more women are encouraged.
Birth Experience
How could women be encouraged? At one point, I wanted to have my girls at home, but knowing that I was nervous being a first time mom, I decided to have a midwife. The support I received and encouragement to read and educate myself on the type of birth I wanted was empowering. Of course there is always the matter when childbirth does not come out the way you expected.
I never really thought that I had a high tolerance for pain, BUT, I decided I wanted to make the choice to experience childbirth without an epidural and without any pain management in case I had an emergency C-section. I made a birth plan and I talked to my husband about all my plans especially since he was going to be in the same room with me.
After having 3 babies, I can thankfully say that while all of them were very different, I did not receive any pain medication or management during, before, or after childbirth. Well, you might be shrugging your shoulders at the fact that since I did not have a C-section I might not really know what PAIN might be, but let me share with you my friend’s experience.
My friend had her daughter almost 3 years ago, and while she planned on having her naturally, she ended up having a C-section. Knowing she was going to have a C-section, she knew first that she had a high pain tolerance. She really did not think she needed more than the high dose NSAIDS. She was hesitant about side effects as well, namely constipation and drowsiness. A the end of her experience, she only decided on using NSAIDS, with no regrets.
Choices Matter in Childbirth
I was made aware of Plan Against Pain, a resource that gave me so much information about how, as women, we need to know more about pain. Knowing about our pain tolerance makes a difference in preparing before, during and after pregnancy. Not only that, but having an educated discussion with a physician on how to prepare and what options are available can help with managing pain.
Did you know that women are prescribed nearly TWICE as many prescription opioids as men after surgery??
There have been discoveries based on a new research that proves women become more persistent opioid users following surgery! Wow.
Here are a few more statistics:
Opioids and childbirth:
In Retrospect
Plan Against Pain is such a great resource and really educates every female dealing with any upcoming surgery. Thankfully I did not need opioids or even consider it when I had my hysterectomy but this website gives insight on what to ask your physician, as well as how to find the right medical help.
This was a shock to me from the website:
And, despite increased efforts to reduce opioid use for treating pain after surgery, overprescribing of postsurgical opioids resulted in 3.3 billion unused pills flooding into communities, making these drugs available for diversion and misuse.
With effective non-opioid options available, we can help control pain without the need for these harmful medications. In fact, a 10 percent reduction in opioid prescribing could result in 300,000 fewer people becoming at risk for opioid dependence or addiction.
I just took the pledge to join the movement against opioid prescribing. Join me in spreading the message of #onelesspill.
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Refreshing Cranberry Basil Limeade
July 24th, 2018I cannot believe that half the summer is over already but that only means we have been having lots of fun. Even though it has not been the hottest of summers, I am not complaining. Our family has gotten their share of sunshine. We have proof with our tanned bodies. Something that I like to do over the summer is make different beverages that make drinking water more fun. This Cranberry Basil Limeade using Cape Cod Select Frozen Cranberries quenches the thirst and is great for the body.
I am very much a fan of basil and not just as a potted plant. You might be familiar with it in a pesto or perhaps in a caprese salad, but I have used basil for beverages for a long time. Thai food incorporates basil in their dishes and also in beverages but many summers ago I uses Thai basil to make a limeade. Since then, I have won my family over to this aromatic and tasty drink.
This summer I decided to use regular basil and paired it with fresh cranberries and limes and it made for a lovely beverage. Not only was it colorful but I added more Vitamin C to the mix with the cranberries.
Cranberries on their own are very tart but I have love them so. My oldest daughter loves popping them in her mouth too! She loves sour foods so she was excited to have a handful for a snack. Cape Cod Select Cranberries are mainly used in this recipe. They are found in the freezer section in 16-ounce bags.
Cape Cod Select is a small women-owned family business located in Massachusetts. Their cranberries are grown to some of the industries highest standards and are Non-GMO verified and hold GLOBALG.A.P. Certification. G.A.P. means Good Agricultural Practice and is a business-to-business standard for safe and sustainable food production.
The Rhodes family has been growing cranberries on their 800-acre cranberry farm for more than 75 years and is now in its fourth generation. Knowing where and how food is farmed makes a difference because we know how it is being harvested.
My challenge was to create a tasty beverage recipe that would entice the every day mom to enjoy. My Cranberry Basil Limeade is definitely non-alcoholic but anyone can cut the water in half in the recipe and make it a base for a cocktail using vodka. In the meantime, I leave this as a mocktail and beverage for all families in order to quench thirst. The plus is that the recipe is also sugar-free using stevia in place of sugar.
Where to But Cape Cod Select Cranberries
You might have already spied Cape Cod Select without knowing but there are several ways you can locate them.
Cranberry Basil Limeade
Ingredients
Instructions
Add ingredients to a high-powered blender like a Vitamix and blend until ingredients are smooth.
Pass limeade through a sieve and place in a pitcher. Add 1/3 cup frozen cranberries and a few fresh basil leaves to the pitcher to add color and decoration.
Serve over crushed ice.
The limeade is good for 3 days in the fridge. Can be frozen into Popsicle molds.
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Mushroom Onion Gouda Burgers
July 14th, 2018You can’t survive summer without grilling burgers at home. Even though we have a few spots where we like to have a tasty burger, there is nothing like having our favorite grill master make delicious burgers. These Mushroom Onion Gouda Burgers are great on any meal plan and were a hit with friends we had over on a weekend.
Meat was not my Friend
I did not grow up having a lot of meat. When we did have meat, it was usually overcooked, dry, or forgetful. I loved my mother’s cooking but meat was not something she knew how to prepare.
So, what do you guess happened? I got married and I tried preparing meat like I knew. I overcooked every piece of meat and my husband was not going to have it. We bought a meat thermometer and since then, I am told that my meat skills are getting better. How could one single tool help so much! If you do not have one, you MUST get one.
Needless to say, when it comes to grilling, I leave it to my husband. Between the two of us, we usually switch off seasoning the meat but he always cooks it on the grill. On this occasion, I chose to create a burger recipe where all my hubby needed to do was grill the burgers.
I also did not grow up with any type of sauces, so when I started using steak and burger sauces, my palate was amazed. Budweiser is not only known for their beer, but if you did not know, they also have a line of sauces and marinades.
While my recipe makes 15 burgers, they keep very well for the next several days. My girls enjoyed having burgers over several lunches. If you want to have fewer burgers for small families, feel free to divide the recipe in HALF. You will love this recipe and it is a great way to cook with your spouse WITHOUT being in the kitchen at the SAME time. I know many of you moms know what I am talking about.
Budweiser Sauces and Marinades
Budweiser’s Steak and Burger sauce is very flavorful. It contains their lager beer in addition to many other spices and ingredients. I added my burger sauce directly to my ground beef to create a most juicy burger. Not only that, but a little on a toasted bun really finished my burger recipe. It paired well with my caramelized mushrooms and onions.
Make sure to check Budweiser sauces and marinades on their website and social media platforms.
Website: https://www.budweisersauce.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BudweiserUSA/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/budweiserusa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/budweiserusa/
Make sure that you get a chance to make burgers before the summer is over. Make my recipe and then tag me using @singerinkitchen or #singerinkitchen over social media. Make this with ground turkey or chicken for those who do not like eating beef.
Mushroom Onion Gouda Burgers
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients (15 burgers)
Burgers
Mushrooms and Onions
Additional ingredients
Instructions
Burgers
In a large bowl, place the ground beef with spices and Budweiser Burger and steak sauce. Mix really well and let the meat sit for about 30 minutes to an hour in the fridge. It is even better if done the night before to let all the flavors come together.
When ready to grill, form into 15 1/3-pound burgers. Set aside and get grill ready. Cook burgers for 5 minutes, flipping burgers in between. Add the Gouda slice of cheese to each burger allowing burger to cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, heat a non-stick pan and add olive oil. Add sliced onions and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms next and lower heat to medium and cook mushrooms and onions for 10 minutes allowing the onions to caramelize.
Add 1/2 Tablespoon of mayonnaise to the ea h slice of bread and grill for a minute to get a little toasty.
Assembly
Add a burger patty to the bottom half of the hamburger bun then add 1/4 cup of the caramelized mushrooms and onion. Then add 1 Tablespoon of Budweiser Burger and Steak Sauce on top of the mushroom and onions and top with the top half of the hamburger bun.
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Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict on Brioche Toast with BBQ Hollandaise
July 4th, 2018This is for a recipe challenge with Budweiser.
My husband and I enjoy savory breakfasts pretty much every morning. I am thankful that neither one of us can survive on French toast or pancakes. This Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict with BBQ Hollandaise is dedicated to my husband in memory of our time in Texas. We only lived in Texas for a year as a married couple. Some day we will enjoy it again, maybe.
Summer is for Entertaining
Summer is meant for having friends and many cookouts. This is something my husband and I purposed ourselves to do within the 2nd year of marriage. We love having people over and enjoying a good time over delicious food. Sometimes, we have leftovers due to my husband’s love of smoking and grilling.
I am not complaining at all. Really.
When my husband’s smokes a pork shoulder we always have a lot of pulled pork leftover. I was inspired to make a delicious brunch for the two of us to enjoy.
Leftovers can be Uninspiring
I know I am not the only one that opens the fridge and wonders what to do with leftovers. I am not one to enjoy them. I rather consume the food the night before. I also like just packing them up for my husband’s lunch the next day so I do not have to figure something out but he is on vacation during the summer.
Pulled pork is just not that basic leftover. It can be used in so many different ways. Budweiser recently introduced me to their line of BBQ sauces and I am torn on which one is my favorite. Which one sounds good to you?
I used some of the pulled pork to decide what sauce I enjoyed the Bold & Spicy the best for the pulled pork. Since we had pulled pork sandwiches the night before I had a few brioche buns left and decided to make my version of Eggs Benedict.
Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict with BBQ Hollandaise
If you are looking for a different take on the classic Eggs Benedict dish, then you should try this Texas influenced dish. BBQ is something I miss from Texas and I certainly have not found its equal here in Pennsylvania but when you can’t have it, you make it yourself. What a better way to use leftovers by creating a whole new meal.
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Ingredients (2 servings)
Poached Eggs
Pulled Pork
BBQ Hollandaise Sauce
Additional ingredients
Instructions
Poached Eggs
Use an egg poaching pan to save time.
Add 1/3 cup of water to saucepan and place poaching pan on top of water. Spray the pan with olive oil spray and crack an egg in each egg compartment.
Bring heat to medium high heat and allow water to simmer.
Cover pan and allow steam to cook eggs for about 4 minutes. Remove from heat to prevent from further cooking.
Pulled Pork
Mix pulled pork and barbecue sauce and warm for 1 1/2 minutes in microwave.
BBQ Hollandaise Sauce
Place egg yolk and lemon juice in a microwave proof glass. Mix the yolk well. Meanwhile melt the butter in a separate dish in the microwave for about 20-25 seconds. Whisk hot butter into egg yolk mixture until smooth. Microwave sauce for 20 seconds. If it ends up thickening, add a teaspoon of water and mix well. Keep warm.
Assembly
Toast Brioche halves in toaster and toast until light gold. Place two halves on each plate.
Place 1/4 cup pulled pork on each slice.
Add a poached egg on each slice.
Add 2 Tablespoons of BBQ Hollandaise Sauce on each slice.
Sprinkle chopped cilantro and garnish with pickled jalapenos.
Garnish with 1/4 avocado on each place.
Where to find Budweiser Sauces
You can buy the sauces online through their website or you can find the sauces and marinades at these stores:
Website: https://www.budweisersauce.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BudweiserUSA/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/budweiserusa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/budweiserusa/
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Pain Relief for Moms with PlusCBD Oil
July 1st, 2018
One of the things I did not realize that would come with motherhood is feeling overwhelmed. I have always juggled A LOT in life from high school until I got married. I managed two jobs while being single and averaged 5 hours of sleep. I think I considered myself ready to take on parenthood. Pain relief was not something I thought I would have to deal with in my life.
Ha. I know you are laughing with me too.
Being a Mother is No Joke
When I look at everything that has happened since 2011, I could almost faint.
This is the first time I have written out everything that has gone on in my life and it makes me realize how much has been going on in my life. It gives me mental relief. I have been dealing with something many mothers go through. No one ever really tells you how to manage life as a new parent and so life continues and you add more to it, trying to juggle it all. Or at least you try to pretend you do. I am SO thankful for my children, but knowing I wanted to be the best person and mother was and is important to me.
I am thankful that I have had my husband to help as much as his schedule allows but a normal day includes everything I handle. Migraines have come into the picture, overwhelming stress, anxiety, insomnia, and irritability.
Hemp-Derived CBD oil
Three weeks ago I started taking PlusCBD oil, a hemp-derived CBD which is a plant-derived cannabinoid. The reason I decided to try this oil is because I was looking for natural options to relieve my joint and migraine pain. Hemp-derived CBD oil works with the body’s internal system to maintain balance despite the environment. I felt like I could trust a high-quality product because I enjoyed reading the process and work it goes into producing PlusCBD oil. The product goes through 8 steps from harvesting in European farms to third-party testing to creating a CO2-extract oil that allows to create different concentrations of their hemp-derived CBD oil.
Doesn’t this sound intriguing?
I had several products to try:
When I was reading about PlusCBD Oil, they suggested starting low and slowly titrating up to find the perfect dose.
Pain Relief Testing
After 3 weeks of applying the balm to my ankle joints and tight neck after long days, I really loved how relaxing the product felt. It smelled of peppermint and it was soothing. I liked using a product that has been recognized for its benefits on human health and is capable of affecting nearly every biological process.
Next I decided that using PlusCBD extra-strength peppermint spray was the best as a beginner because it was 3mg a dose versus 15mg that the softgel offered. 15mg was suggested for busy moms but I thought to play it safe by trying the lower dose. After taking it for several weeks, I felt like I seemed calmer and that my headaches did not seem to come more frequently. I also felt like I slept better on the days I did take my dose versus on the days I did not.
As I read more about CBD, I learned that it can influence a variety of physiological systems, including appetite, pain, inflammation, thermoregulation, intraocular pressure, sensation, muscle control, energy balance, metabolism, sleep health, stress responses, motivation/reward, mood, and memory in direct and indirect actions.
I am definitely interested in taking the higher dose now that I have removed caffeine from my life. Knowing that I need to focus more will help with taking a supplement that will aid in the process.
Want to know more?
All of PlusCBD products are gluten-free, non-GMO, vegetarian, and grown without herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides. The products are available to purchase at your local independent health food stores or at pluscbdoil.com. To find PlusCBD Oil in your area, visit pluscbdoil.com for the full list of locations.
The price for a 60-count bottle of 15 mg capsules is $69.95 but you can save by using momsmeet17 to receive 15% off online orders.
Learn more online:
pluscbdoil.com
facebook.com/pluscbdoil
twitter.com/youpluscbd
instagram.com/youpluscbd
Disclosure: I am not a physician nor a licensed professional. I read about plant-derived CBD and its benefits and titrated as stated by the company. Please do the same before starting to see what is best for you.
