And what if becoming pregnant doesn't come easy?

There is support for families experiencing fertility challenges through Jennifer Colletti's program Fertile Grounding Yoga.

Jennifer created Fertile Grounding Yoga. 


Jennifer Colletti created the Fertile Grounding Yoga program in 2009.  She had gone through fertility treatments with her husband and noticed there was a lot missing in this process.  She recognized the need for education, community, and attention paid to the mind, body, and spirit.  Jennifer combined her knowledge of yoga, research and experience in fertility challenges, and her amazing ability to share the gift of yoga. 


"Through infertility the stress, tension and angst in the body hardens all aspects of the physical and emotional body. Stress patterns build in the physical body and are not typically released through a usual daily routine, yoga releases emotion stored in the physical body softening and opening the body so it is cleansed and ready to receive. Yoga releases tension and stress, detoxifies the body emotionally and physically. Muscles and joints become supple again, the mind, body and spirit unite, and assist each other to bring a healthy state to the body. Balance is restored."

Jennifer is a warm person, and a very intelligent and gifted teacher.  She teaches workshops, weekly classes, individual sessions, and soon will be offering additional classes in fertility yoga. Check her schedule page for current offerings.

For more information check out: www.jenyoga.net

Blooma: a generous support to mothers

Blooma is a yoga studio for women and their families that offers classes, education, and wellness services during the prenatal months, the postnatal transition, and beyond.

I have heard nothing but great things about this wonderful place.  It is a haven for women experiencing pre-partum, post-partum, and everywhere in between! I feel Blooma is very clear in its vision of how to be supportive to women going through the process of growing and birthing a human being. They offer chiropractic care, naturopathy, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, massage, and more! The teachers are well educated and supportive of the health of mother and baby. 

Blooma has two locations:
3919 44th Street, Edina, MN 55424 and  968 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105


"Through yoga classes, wellness services, childbirth education and a supportive community, Blooma nurtures the mind, body, and spirit of moms-to-be and new mamas and their families. As you travel through the mysteries of pregnancy and parenthood, Blooma provides a warm welcome, a haven for health, and a place where mamas and their families can connect with other mamas in a supportive environment. "

For more information: www.blooma.com

James' Birth Story told by his mother, Lucianna Baregi

1. When was James born?:

October 4, 2010 at 6:41pm

2. What were you doing when you started thinking that you had to go to the hospital?:

I wanted to stay home as long as possible, but also knew that the hospital was 30 minutes away and was dreading the ride to the hospital and getting into the room. I could have stayed home longer, but we left shortly after morning rush hour ended and I think it was the right thing to do so that I could walk into the hospital and make it through the car ride.


3. What is something you remember about your pregnancy that you weren't expecting, that you think would help people to know?:

How tired it makes you the whole 9 months.

4. What is something you remember about the birth that you weren't expecting?:

The post-partum craziness with the pushing on my stomach and trying to get me to stop bleeding. It hurt more than the birth, I think.

5. What did you like about your birth process?:

That I was in control most of the time and it went according to my plan - no drugs at all.

6. What did you not like about your birth process?:

How hard it was.

7. How has your postpartum experience been?:

OK...it feels like everyone else does it better than you (other moms, that is) but then you hear stories and it is hard for everyone. Physically, things have been fine. It's just tiring and stressful and you have less time than you could ever imagine.

8. What can people do to help support a mother with a new baby, or you specifically?:

Clean my house and bring me food! :)

9. What is NOT helpful to support a mother with a new baby, or you specifically?:

When people offer things but it is not specific - I want them to give me a date and time they want to come over and then I want them to stick to that exactly. Otherwise, it is too hard.

Maxwell's Birth Story told by his mother, Kelly Robertson

1. When was Maxwell Born?: Maxwell was born June 29, 2010 at 10 p.m.

2. What were you doing when you started thinking that you had to go to the hospital?:

Jeff and I went in for our scheduled check-in appointment at my doctor's office (one-week overdue) and during that appointment it was recommended that I should be checked into labor and delivery that afternoon in order to induce labor.

3. What is something you remember about your pregnancy that you weren't expecting, that you think would help people to know?:

One thing that I wasn't expecting was how comfortable pregnancy could be. Even a week overdue, I wasn't uncomfortable, just nervous/excited about the birth.

4. What is something you remember about the Birth that you weren't expecting?:

One thing about the birth that I wasn't expecting were the phantom kicks in my belly (Maxwell was situated in a certain spot for weeks and that is what I still felt) even 36 hours after delivery.

5. What did you like about your birth process?:

I had a very positive birth experience overall. In my opinion, support from my care providers, my husband and doula really made all the difference.

6. What did you not like about your birth process?:

During my stay at the hospital (5 days), I had tremendous support from the nursing staff. During two shifts, I didn't receive the level of care that I felt I needed / matched the level I received so far, and that, combined with so many firsts happening, presented some challenges for me. In one case, I didn't see / meet my nurse for 8 hours (before I had a regular rotation of medication) and didn't demand the care that I needed. And in the other case, I felt rushed / bullied by a nurse, when maybe it was only a difference in communication style. Hormones are out of whack and emotions run high during such a time and maybe it was 'helpful' in the long run to have had a good cry (or two).

7. How has your postpartum experience been?:

My postpartum experience was more challenging than I anticipated. Recovering from a c-section, taking heavy medication and being thrown head-first into a new way of living really humbled me. I thought to myself (and communicated to my mother who stayed with my husband, baby and me for a month) 'how do people have more than one child?'. After a few months, the "tougher times" become a much less intense memory.

8. What can people do to help support a mother with a new baby, or you specifically?:

I was lucky to have my mother support me in many ways during my first month with Maxwell. Along with my mother, my husband and doula provided more of an emotional support. The first two weeks or so, I had a case of "baby blues" and had a lot of discomfort on top of that. I didn't feel like myself, and it was supportive and comforting to know that I could be honest about how I was feeling at the time with those around me and with myself.

9. What is NOT helpful to support a mother with a new baby, or you specifically?:

It is hard to think of something that really sticks out as NOT helpful. One guest wanted to touch Maxwell's toes and 'wake him up' when she came to see him when he was 2-8 days old and sleeping a lot. It doesn't seem like a big thing now, but at the time it got on my nerves.