 "Welcome" to Hallelujah's
Baby Eliyah!
Eliyah Keller from Bradenton, Florida
The end of my pregnancy wasn't too bad. I was a little bigger of course so the baby was pressed against my stomach making it hard to eat or even digest anything. So I did have much discomfort in that area, but other than that, all was good.
A few days before I went into labor we attended our annual midwife checkup. Excitement and nervousness were rising. I was past my due date and we all felt ready. At this visit the midwife mentioned that my stomach had not grown larger in the last four checkups (1 visit a week). She expressed slight concern, and was urging us to consider another ultrasound, something we had decided we would not do again. As we left this visit, Michael began to reflect. Knowing I had a hard time holding food down in the beginning and end months, Michael was mentally preparing for the worst case scenario, a malnourished baby. I admit I was a bit concerned too, but I knew, no matter what, raw food was the way to go. At that moment Michael noticed a street sign named Jaffa. Instantly, he thought of Jaffe Gate in Jerusalem. Also referred to in the new testament as " The Gate called Beautiful". He new God was comforting us.
On July 26th, just after midnight, I began early first stage labor. My labor increased rapidly, and before I knew it I was in active labor. I labored 19 hours at home drug free and gave birth on my own bed to a beautiful, healthy baby boy Saturday evening just before sunset. I would like to mention that I fasted the whole labor, only minimal sips of water and maybe two tiny bites of melon. This was not done on purpose, it's just what my body required for labor.
Eliyah was perfectly healthy weighing 6lb 10 oz and 19 inch long. Very alert, great skin tone and the umbilical cord stopped pulsating at about 10 minutes, and healed completely on the 5th day. Needless to say we had a very happy midwife! My recovery was quick and I was full of energy right after labor and up cleaning the next day (don't tell the midwife). If you did not know me you would not be able to tell I just gave birth. I have no stretch marks (thumbs up to raw foods, dry brushing and pure coconut oil) and I gained a total of 10lbs. And I have no postpartum depression.
Eliyah and I have no problems breastfeeding and I am producing quite a bit of milk. I feel better than ever. Eliyah sleeps great and is gaining much weight, he has doubled his weight in just over 2 months. I am writing down everything I eat and how Eliyah is that day, so I am able to tell how the foods I eat affect him. (example: if I eat chili powder today and he has bad gas or allot of spit up tomorrow than i know what i need to stay away from). By the way - he hardly spits up!
I am very pleased with this experience and am looking forward to raising a Hallelujah child! |
Congratulations to Michael & Stephanie Keller of Bradenton. We have been watching Stephanie’s progress through a “Raw Food Pregnancy” since May and the results are in! Eliyah is a beautiful, healthy, happy bouncing baby boy with the most beautiful smile. His smile seems to say “Hey, world – I am here and I’m so happy to be here!” We are so proud of Eliyah’s parents as they pioneered their pregnancy and proved that God certainly made us wonderful and marvelous and that the nutrition we choose makes a difference in how our bodies work. We have seen Eliyah in person and he is going to steal some hearts in his life’s journey.