Hello and thank you for being a part of my journey! Didn’t know you were part of a journey? Perfect! 🙂
Let me back up a little and tell you what you just got yourself into. My name is Brenda Trudell, and I am a mom, a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor, a lover of camping, wanna-be homesteader, fledgling herbalist, a die-hard Packers/Wisconsin fan, a birth junkie, a pretty decent cook, and an endless supporter and researcher for all things holistic, natural and wellness minded. Oh, and I like swear words. A lot.
My journey has been literally taking the alternative route at almost juncture in my life. Going against the grain. Swimming against the tide. Basically, if mainstream media LOVES it, I probably fucking hate it. Or at least understand that there is a better alternative. Something safer, cleaner, greener, better for the environment, less medicalized. You get the jist.
Examples? Well, for one I went to chiropractic school. And if that doesn’t tell you something about going against mainstream, well then, shit. I had a homebirth with two midwives and a doula. I got married, bought a house, and had a kid close to the age of 40. I chose to only have one kid (for some reason people absolutely lose their shit over this one). I have a compost pile in the middle of my yard. I am a small-fry backyard homesteader. I co-sleep and do “extended” breast feeding. I will always try to create a natural remedy or use homeopathy before using medications.
Basically, I love to grow, create, discover, research, write, learn and teach. I don’t take the easy road because that’s the direction most people are headed. And I am not like everyone else. I have never binge watched ANYTHING on Netflix. What I care about is serving, having a deeper purpose, creating a life that doesn’t destroy our planet, to live as close to our natural design as humanly possible. To raise my daughter in a less distracted way. To help steer her from a sense of entitlement to understanding the value of hard work and compassion.
I am not perfect, not even close. But I am a work in progress, and love to surround myself with people I can learn from.
So why the hell am I blogging about all this shit? Because I have a lot to say. Not for my own benefit, but for our future. I carry with me knowledge that I honor and cherish, and a unique skill set to use it and share it. Chiropractic school and undergrad training gave me a vast understanding of science, neurology, anatomy, physiology, immunology, biomolecular chemistry, psychology, human development, nutrition, and more. My advanced training in preconception/prenatal and pediatric chiropractic through the ICPA has unlocked my understanding of pregnancy, birth, post partum, epigenetics, and infant/childhood development. My membership and involvement on the board of directors of the Breast Feeding Coalition of South Central WI has given me extensive insight into the world of breast feeding. My training with Doulas of North America gave me accurate research, trust and training in supporting natural birth, and the support to have my own. My founding of the South Central WI Chapter of the Holistic Moms Group gave me an amazing community of like-minded mamas and families to connect with and learn from, and many alternative lessons for green living and homeschooling. My own pregnancy, birth, post partum and breast feeding journey has literally taught me more than all of my other trainings combined. (Hint: It taught me what to do when the things I was advising other women to do didn’t work for me). My 14 plus years in practice has given me tremendous insight into the tough reality that is motherhood, and being a doctor, business owner, a woman in this crazy world. My connection with the birth community has fueled my passion to serve and improve preconception health and birth outcomes for mamas and babies. My position on the board of directors at my daughter’s Montessori pre-school has given me a deeper understanding and appreciation for early childhood development, and what the hell it means to be a kid. But my daughter Margeaux has been my biggest teacher. Lessons in being present, embracing life as it is and not as what you thought it would be, on constantly working on patience. She pushes and pulls, and at the end of the day, I appreciate every second with her because I know many families aren’t as fortunate.
This blog is going to be funny. It’s going to be sad. Real. Raw. Educational and informative, but not in a formal sort of way. It will be in your face, but also gentle. You may agree with all of it or none of it. Some of it may make you uncomfortable. Some of it might piss you off. But at the end of the day, I want to open your eyes to the possibility that there is a different way to live your life. To birth. To raise a family. To school. To be a woman. To be a mother. There is an alternative route. And, please fucking listen to this. WE NEED AN ALTERNATIVE. The world is legit going to shit. Mainstream media is a bought and paid for joke. Big Pharma is running the show and you better realize quick that they give no fucks about your health. I promise this blog is not all medical bashing (there are so many amazing MD’s, PA’s and nurses who truly care!), but there will be so much useful info and stories shared to give you hope that you too can choose an alternative route.
What’s up with the name? So, it’s a play on “alternative healthcare” obvi, which is what chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, etc, all get lumped into. But it’s more than that. It’s supporting a local CSA rather than Monsanto. It’s shopping local instead of Amazon and Wal-Mart. It’s looking into alternatives to OB’s for birth. It’s creating your own compost and not spraying your lawn. The shit goes on and on. If you’re new to this, it is pretty much taking what you would normally do in every situation, punting it 100 yards, then doing what you thought you would never do. Have you seen Seinfeld? It’s Opposite George. “I’m unemployed and I live with my parents.” You get the idea.
What to expect: Some written blog entries, some videos, maybe podcasts, lots of stories, bits of wisdom, a few fucking swears (it’s a great stress reliever), and lots of hope. I plan to have guests on here too. Some moms who have been through some shit and want to share. Some trusted health professionals. I want this to be useful but not boring. I have decades of shit inside me, and women’s wisdom spilling from me, and it needs a proper escape. Also, follow me on all the social media (Insta, Facebook Page, Facebook Group, Twitter, YouTube and Email)please and thank you. Oh, and I’m not selling anything, but I will give you honest feedback about companies and products that I use. Wait I lied. I might sell some awesome T’s with funny slogans at some point. ‘Cause I really like funny shit and you might too!
What this is NOT: This blog is not direct medical advice in any shape or form. I will be sharing my own personal stories, and stories of others I am connected with, but every individual is different and has unique medical needs. My hope is that you may look into things deeper, have an open mind to alternatives, ask the questions that need to be asked of your own providers, and think critically when it comes to the status quo. But this is not to say that you should do XYZ. It is to say that if ABC are not working for YOU, then maybe look into alternatives. Also, I am not an expert crafter, gardener, chef or parent, so me sharing my strategies may sound like complete bullshit to you if you are an expert in these areas. I apologize in advance for being an amateur at most things in life. This ain’t HGTV, but I do love me some DIY.
Who the fuck should read this? Mostly women and moms, I would guess. Doesn’t mean the dudes can’t, but I will probs be talking about placentas and leaking breast milk and shit. But really, moms who are somewhere in a journey of looking for an alternative route. Someone who doesn’t know where they belong, but also someone who is far along and wants to help lead others. Mamas who want to know they are not crazy and they are not alone. New moms who want to know if all this is fucking normal. Veteran moms who want to reminisce. Amateur gardeners and composters. Anyone who thinks breast milk, coconut oil, and essential oils can fix fucking anything. Lovers of a chiropractic lifestyle. So basically, I don’t know. But I do know that lots of peeps will get some real value and laughs (mostly at my expense), and if it helps even one human, then that is cool.
Alright. That’s a long enough intro. Glad you’re still here and hope you’re ready to hop on the alternative route with me. Peace!