As a Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor and Childbirth Doula, I have a true passion for helping people. This passion is fuled by my loving husband, a Chiropractic Physician. Everyday, we strive to inspire people to lead a more active, healthy and natural lifestyle. As my husband and I planned to start a family, I began to educate myself more on how to lead this lifestyle throughout and after pregnancy. Both my pregnancies were so easy and enjoyable due to a healthy diet and everyday exercise. Our first son, Nolan, was born on June 9, 2009. Our second son, Blake, was born at home after only a 4 hour labor on June 20, 2013. Both our children are the most amazing little people.
I write this blog to share my story. Through my experiences, I hope to inspire you to educate yourself to make positive choices for you and your family.
Listens, listens and listens more
May not understand the mother's feelings, but does not minimize her feelings
Helps the mother feel heard
Keeps the mother safe and secure
Does not compare, judge, belittle or criticize
Validates the mother's wishes and decisions
Respects the mother and her birth choices
Empathizes that some decisions can be hard to make, but might be necessary
Sympathizes when a dream is shattered
Understands that birth plays a very significant role in shaping a woman into a mother
Realizes that every aspect of the birth, good or bad, will replay in the mother's head for the rest of her life
Knows that birth can be traumatic
Rejoices when birth is healing
Believes in the innate birth process
Witnesses miracles everyday
As I am growing Baby #2, I thought I would share what I have found the best way to "grow" a healthy baby throughout your pregnancy. With Nolan, I was very unaware of how my body worked; my cycles were never regular and I had no idea of when I was ovulating. Getting pregnant was by luck. At that time, I thought I ate healthy (looking back, I did, but not as well as I do now). I did exercise all the time, got adjusted regularly and eliminated toxins.
After Nolan was born and I started getting my period again (about 1 year post-partum), I really began to notice how my body worked. My cycles were very regular, like to the day. I knew exactly when I was ovulating. My husband and I practiced Natural Family Planning, and for us, it works. I will let you in on a little secret...I did not get pregnant until I wanted to; it only took one try - and voila - I was pregnant!
The Natural Mama's Guide to Growing a New Baby:
The Awesome Avocado
1) Eat FOR Your Baby: Fetuses need the same things as infants - highly nutritious food with proper supplementation. This can be a little tricky during the first trimester when "morning sickness" can seem like "all-day sickness". I really like ginger, so ginger tea, ginger ale (Zevia brand only - stevia sweetened, no HFCS, preservatives or artificial ingredients like regular soda), and ginger chews. For both pregnancies, I craved fruit, especially watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, orange, apples and pears. Wet and sweet. I can not eat hot food, I prefer cold or cool. Like a huge salad. Tons of water. Supplements are a must, more now then ever - Omega 3, Probiotics, Vit D, Spiralina (pill form) and Prenatal Vitamins. We prefer Garden of Life for our supplements since they are all raw and organic. Since mornings are worse for me, I take the vitamins at lunch and dinner. I try to get in as much healthy fats as possible - Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Walnuts and Almonds, and tons of avocados - all those essential fatty acids for baby's brain development! Have you ever noticed how when you cut open a avocado it resembles a pregnant belly with baby (seed) inside? It also takes - amazingly - 9 months to grow an avocado! The Perfect food for Pregnant Mommies.
2) Yoga, Yoga and More Yoga - I still continue to do yoga daily. I enjoy quiet meditation times. I relish in sloooooow stretches. The thing I love about Yoga is that you make it your own, and you don't need to go to the gym or studio to do it. In the early months, you might just want to practice at your own pace and in your own way. That's fine.This is when those instinctual "mommy hormones" start kicking in - listen to them! Yoga helps your body to de-stress and the deep breathing and deep stretching can help eliminate toxins. Cultivating a strong yoga practice before your pregnant can make it easier to create your own practice by yourself. Taking up a Prenatal Yoga class later on in your pregnancy is ideal.
3) Sleep Like a Mama Bear - I sleep whenever I want, and I don't care! Sleep is good - this is when the body repairs, heals and little New Baby is growing. Nolan still loves to cuddle with me, so he is my nap partner.
4) Turn the Power On - As always, I get adjusted regularly. I want to make sure everything in my body is functioning properly, my immune system is strong and nervous system is firing to help grow this new Little One. Baby needs to be getting all proper nutrients and hormones from me, so my body has to be in tip-top condition to grow - and birth - this baby!
One of my best friends, Victoria, just had her second baby at home...and so quickly that her Midwife didn't make it in time and hubby Chad caught Baby Roman. Read her amazing story as she shares how a woman's body innately knows what to do and how to birth her baby. Victoria, fellow yogi and mommyhood blogger, is truly an inspiration to other mamas. We were both pregnant as the same time with our first children, Gemma and Nolan, who were born just a day apart. Congrats to Victoria and Chad on another beautiful birth!
I find the physiology of the human body amazing. If you really study it, take note how every organ, cell, muscle, hormone - everything works in perfect harmony without us even thinking about it. Even when there is a stressor, or a outside chemical (drug) introduced, the body is so incredibly smart that it will try to adapt to get back into balance. To me, this is proof that there truly is a God, or higher intelligence. Humans could not design something so perfect!
The same is true during pregnancy and childbirth. The body is smart and, again, without even having to think about it, our body innately knows what to do to grow and birth a baby. Then WHY is there so much intervention?
For 9 months a baby grows at their appropriate pace. Some babies grow a little bigger then others, some a little faster. When a mother sees her midwife or OB for the first time after becoming pregnant, the first thing discussed is the "due date" (approx. 40 weeks gestation). Most midwives respect that this is an estimate, and would rarely try to induce labor to meet this "deadline" (unless of course mother and baby's health is in danger). Only 5% of babies actually arrive on their due date - and I think that is more of a coincidence and the mother's subconscious doing - (remember how I said in a previous post that the mind a very powerful tool and can control the body!? I think some mothers are so excited at the arrival of the due date, that they go into labor!)
Unfortunately, many OB's will consider you "overdue" if you go past 41 weeks and will induce labor. If mother and baby are healthy, vitals are normal, and her water has not broken, there is no reason to induce labor. Some doctors like to coax mothers into induction..."You are huge! You must be so uncomfortable? We can induce labor, get you going and you'll see you baby in no time!" That might sound heavenly to a new, and probably exhausted mother, along with all the "advise" from family and friends to "just go for it!". But the educated mama will know that inducing labor with Pitocin will highly increase her chance of a hard labor, and will usually end with a c-section. She also knows that it is not up to her, but up to her baby when he will want to make his grand entrance into the world.
Early induction does not just occur in a hospital setting. I know of many couples that had planned homebirths, and were so ready for baby to arrive, that they started "natural induction" as early as 37/38 weeks! While these induction might not be with "drugs" per se, (but with herbs and acupuncture) they are starting labor before baby is ready to arrive. I don't understand it - you have been pregnant for 9 months! What's a few more days or a week?
Question: What if the "due date" is off by a week or two? What if you are actually inducing a 38-week pregnancy instead of a 40-week (or worse, a 35-week vs. a 37-week!) and the baby is still growing? The lungs are the last to develop, and what if they are not ready? Then that baby might have to be put on oxygen, or need breathing assistance and is away from mom, breastfeeding and bonding. Is that really worth the induction? NO! Is it worth the guessing game? NO! We are not here to play God, and is not up to us to decide a baby's birth day. He will arrive when he is ready.
According to a TIME Magazine article: "Pregnancy lasts 40 weeks for a reason. At 35 weeks, a baby's brain tips the scales at just two-thirds of what it will weigh by weeks 39 to 40. Going full-term gives a baby's lungs time to mature and improves a baby's ability to suck and swallow. But too many doctors - and moms - are disregarding advice from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to wait until at least 39 weeks to deliver. Desire for convenience and an intolerance for the unpredictability of labor have resulted in thousands of babies being born too early, according to The Leapfrog Group, which tracks hospital quality. Now the March of Dimes is calling on hospitals to solve the problem by requiring every physician who schedules an elective delivery before 39 weeks to justify its medical necessity. “Doctors know it's not right, but they just aren't being held accountable,” says Alan Fleischman, medical director of the March of Dimes. It's kind of surprising that insurance providers haven't curtailed the practice of early elective deliveries entirely as babies born sooner tend to have more health complications and cost more. Even babies delivered at 37 to 38 weeks can end up costing 10 times as much as a full-term newborn, according to the March of Dimes. One study found that reducing early elective deliveries to under 2% could save close to $1 billion in health care each year.
Lets also consider c-sections. When the mother has an elective c-section, her OB will schedule on a day and time that not only works best for him, but is a week or two prior to her "due date". This will ensure that she will not be in labor and her uterus will not be contracting when he performs the surgery. Busy schedules seem to take precedence over the health of the baby. And the mothers rarely speak up. After all, they are ready to meet their new baby. A 10:00am appointment sure sounds better then a 3:00am one. Why wait? Well, first of all, OB doctors are skilled enough with c-sections that they can do it with a contracting uterus (think about emergency c-sections!). Secondly, this takes away even the little bit of control that the mother will have over her pregnancy and birth.
Let me tell you, I have personally gone through this. I choose to have an elective c-section because of a breech presentation. But, I wanted to go into labor naturally, and labor as long as I could, for two reasons: 1) the baby could turn at the onset of labor and I could birth at the birthcenter, and 2) I wanted to make sure he was ready to come out and not be delivered prematurely. I told the OB all this and he understood. He did warn me that he may not be the doctor-on-call when I went into labor. That was ok. Remember, this doctor was not coaching me through labor. He was preforming a surgery. They most important thing to me at this point was that I went into labor naturally and the baby was born on his own time. You can read up on my birth story at: My Birth Story Part 5
As parents, we always want what is best for our children. Sometimes, it is not always about getting something or doing something. It's about NOT doing something. Stop interventions, stop planning, stop scheduling. Mother Nature's plan is a mystery. Instead of trying to figure it all out or control it, enjoy and relish in the excitement and anticipation of new life about to be born.
"Nature does not hurry - yet everything is accomplished" - Lao Tzu
This is a guest blog by my sister, Sarah Mayer. As an ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practioner) with extensive clinical work, she has a unique and inspiring perspective to pregnancy and birth that I wish to share with you. Enjoy!
Sarah and Scott Mayer
My views on pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing have dramatically changed, especially during the last five years or so. During this time, I have gone through my clinical training in gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics first as a registered nurse, and then as a family nurse practitioner. During R.N. school, I actually had a great teacher for learning about childbearing who emphasized the idea that pregnancy and birth is a natural part of life with usually no intervention needed, instead of the idea that it is some sort of illness that requires a long panel of tests.
However, my brief six weeks (yes, just once a week for six weeks!) of time in Labor and Delivery at the hospital showed a different idea. I did not see one woman walking the halls, encouraging the natural descent of her baby, or in a tub, or using any other sort of labor assistant device. No, my first day there, my patient was on her back, with a Pitocin drip (a drug to supposedly speed up labor), and a fetal monitor strapped across her belly. I felt so awkward, and the only thing I could think to offer was a back rub, which I wasn’t even sure what I was doing there. All the things we learned in class, such as position changes, could not even be applied in this situation. I did not get to see the birth of this baby, as a more critical situation arose with another patient. At only about 20 weeks, her cervix was opening and there was nothing the doctors could do. She had no one with her, and I just could not leave her. I held her hand and talked to her as she delivered a stillborn little boy. I still remember the details of that day like it was yesterday, and it still makes me ache and cry when I think of it. That was my first and only birth I have ever seen. Fast forward about two years, and I was in obstetrics clinical again, this time as a nurse practitioner student. I studied at a community health center. Prenatal visits had a routine sequence. Weight, urine check, lots of blood work, offers for amniocentesis and genetic testing, pelvic exams and ultrasounds, and brief teaching on taking vitamins, doing birth preparation classes, and warning signs to look out for. Nothing about encouraging breastfeeding, nutrition and exercise advice, or what to expect after the baby was born. Breastfeeding was basically approached as a question if the mother wanted to do it. Whether she said yes or no was just documented in the chart. And I sadly remember all this as thinking at the time that this was the normal way to experience pregnancy. This lack of encouragement for breastfeeding continued into my pediatric clinical, as the doctor just asked whether the mother was breastfeeding or not and left it at that. The semester after all this happened, I started clinical work with Drs. Denise Punger and John Coquelet, with whom I am currently employed. And my view on pregnancy and birth and breastfeeding was turned upside down. After reading Dr. Punger's book, "Permission to Mother", as well as other recommended books by her, I was brought back to that original idea planted by my wonderful teacher in R.N. school. A woman’s body is meant to carry a child and birth it! And those two things on our chest actually have a purpose, a wonderful purpose that every woman who has a baby should be able to do! After assisting in several lactation consultations with Dr. Punger, I saw how truly wonderful it was to breastfeed, that there is lots of help out there if a woman is struggling. I knew that when the day came for me to have a baby, I would want it to be different than what I experienced in school. All this change came none too soon as shortly after starting that semester, my sister, the writer of this blog, shared the amazing news that she was pregnant. And she wanted me to be present and assist her in the birth. I was definitely impressed and inspired as she shared her preparations for birth and child raising, and her dedication to a healthy diet and exercise during all this time. In preparation, I read her birth plan and learned about her methods of coping with the labor. I also read a great book on being a labor assistant or doula, the many different position changes, and massage, focus, and relaxation techniques. As her readers know, the birth did not go exactly as planned, but she did as best as the situation allowed, and Nolan got off to a great breastfeeding start. I am so grateful that I had the experience with the breastfeeding consults, as I was able to help out Jenn those first few days after delivery when she was getting frustrated with engorgement, latching, and Nolan spitting up. Even though our mom was there too, it had been over 25 years since she breastfed, and did not even do that but a few weeks. I see Jenn and Nolan frequently first hand, and he is an adorable, healthy, intelligent little boy (and I’m not just saying that because I am his aunt!), and the bond they share especially during breastfeeding is beautiful. Also, Jenn has taught me a lot about a more natural, healthy, and “green” way of caring for a child, such a making homemade baby food, reusable diapers, and really the unnecessary accumulation of so many “necessary” child care products out there. She has certainly been an inspiration to me and will be a great resource for questions. I do not do the consults with Dr. Punger anymore as I am busy with my own patients, but whenever I do see a patient who is pregnant, or a patient who has a family member or friend who is pregnant, I always discuss her birth plan and plans for breastfeeding. If she is not sure, I reinforce the benefits of breastfeeding, and encourage her to meet with Dr. Punger or another lactation consultant both before and after the birth, attend La Leche League meetings, and read lots of books so things get off to a great start. And to all the women out there who are pregnant or plan to be someday: do not count on your doctor to provide you with all the information you need! More than likely he or she had minimal training in breastfeeding and other “normal” parts of being a mother. We are taught mostly what to check for and the illness side of things. Read books, talk with other mothers whom you admire, and seek out specialists like doulas and lactation consultants.
Thank you, Sarah Mayer, ARNP, FNP-BC
You can contact Sarah with any questions at: 772-466-8884
Coquelet & Punger Family Medicine
4640 S. 25th Street
Ft. Pierce, Fl. 34981
A great thing about this blog is it forces me to concentrate my thoughts to a steady stream instead of just opening the flood gates (rambling on and on) like when I talk to someone! People, especially moms-to-be, are always asking me what I did during my pregnancy, which is how this whole blog thing started in the first place. I can direct them here to read up on whatever they want instead of talking their ear off!
"How Chiropractic & Proper Exercise Together can Benefit a Woman During Pregnancy & Postpartum":
As a Certified Personal Trainer, mother to a 19-month-old, and the wife of a Chiropractic Physician, I know first-hand the amazing benefits a mother-to-be can receive from regular chiropractic care and proper exercises during and after pregnancy. I had a comfortable, easy, amazing pregnancy – I felt great the whole time! – because my body was balanced and my nervous system was functioning at 100%. I personally have seen tremendous results in my clients and myself when incorporating chiropractic and exercise during pregnancy. I stayed active throughout my whole pregnancy, biking up until 3 weeks prior to the birth. Yoga and Pilates continued (with modifications) up until just days before, and then the basic principles of Yoga through labor. I received weekly chiropractic care and massages.
Most people think of chiropractic for back or neck pain, but the true art lies much deeper then that. Chiropractors study the body - the way it moves, and the problems that arise when it doesn't move properly. They are experts on the nervous system, which is housed in the spinal cord within the spine. They specialize in facilitating proper movement of the spine (and the rest of the body) which allows the nervous system to function at 100%. Remember, the nervous system controls everything in our bodies, from the heart & blood flow to muscles, tissues, and organs (liver, lungs,etc), to the way our cells re-grow. If something is not functioning properly, we may or may not feel it or notice it. A good example is a heart attack - for most people, the first sign that they are having heart attack is that they are dead!
For me, I wanted to make sure my body was in balance and most importantly, that my unborn baby was getting everything it needed from my body to grow properly. Chiropractic care is a priority from me.
I specialize in prenatal and postnatal fitness, which incorporates mostly Yoga and Pilates-based principles, strength-training and cardiovascular exercise designed especially for the pregnant woman. Every pregnancy is different for each woman, and an experienced personal trainer and chiropractor must take into consideration the many changes to the body that occur during pregnancy, including physical, chemical & mental.
The chiropractor and personal trainer can work together to balance the pelvis and the spine for a pregnant woman. A balanced pelvis comes from a strong core, which will help support the growing uterus. If the body is not balanced, the pelvic ligaments could over-contract, causing the baby to shift into an undesirable presentation and can cause the mother pain/discomfort. Even if there is no pain, the imbalanced ligaments can cause an altered center of gravity and affect proprioception, leading to possibly many complaints.
In order to balance the pelvis, the chiropractor will facilitate proper motion in the spine and the trainer will coach the mother to strengthen the surrounding muscles of the pelvic floor, abdominals and spinal muscles. Although the mother might receive chiropractic care, and spinal misalignment are corrected, it will be temporary if the muscles are not corrected also. Proper key movement patterns will help hold chiropractic adjustments longer, keeping mother and baby balanced and comfortable.
While I was pregnant, I designed a Prenatal Fitness class, which I still teach today. I encourage every pregnant woman to find one and participate in it! All the moms-to-be credit my class to providing them with an outlet for physical activity, mental clarity, emotional support and social interaction.
My class incorporates Yoga and Pilates, which both teach body awareness, and promotes an increase in strength, flexibility, mobility, balance. This is especially important during pregnancy. As the mother’s body changes during pregnancy, the spine takes on the toll of these postural changes. As her belly grows larger, she might have a tendency to over extend the lumbar curve in the low back. This could cause tight low back muscles and tight hip flexors. To maintain a center of gravity, the thoracic spine might flex more with rounded shoulders and a forward head posture, resulting in tight neck extensors. Upper-cross/lower-cross syndrome is very common among pregnant women. Pilates utilizes your core stabilizing muscles (transverse abdominis, pelvic floor, internal and external obliques, multifidis, and spinal rotators) to keep the spinal curves in a neutral position which will alleviate many of the pregnancy discomforts. Take SI (sacroiliac) joint pain for instance: It can be caused by the additional weight of the baby out in front. Because the center of gravity is off, there might be an altered gait pattern and increased lordosis. Along with chiropractic care, Pilates can help balance the low back muscles to decrease the lordosis, thus alleviating the pain. Exercises that focus on shoulder stabilization combined with chiropractic will help mom after baby is born. Properly strengthening neck, shoulder and upper back muscles will prepare her body for picking up, carrying and breastfeeding baby.
Proper breathing is a huge component of both Pilates and Yoga. As the baby and uterus grows larger, it will start to push up on the diaphragm. This results in shortness of breath/difficulty of breathing. Many mothers then resort to shallow, chest breathing instead of deep belly breathing. Shallowly breathing into the upper portion of the lungs prevents full oxygen exchange. It also overuses the accessory breathing muscles creating tension in the neck and shoulders. The more focused the breath is, the more relaxed the mother will be, the more oxygen will be supplied to her body as well as the baby and placenta. Deep breathing and relaxation that comes with Yoga can help relieve STRESS! Stress is a main contributor to: high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, fatigue and/or insomnia, headaches and irritability. If the mother can relieve stress, she can avoid many other health issues to herself and the unborn baby.
The relaxation and meditation that I teach in my Prenatal Fitness class helps with labor and delivery. Whatever childbirth method the mother decides to use, they all have a common factor of focus, concentration, breathing and visualization, which we work on in our class. Many say that when the mother can visualized and meditate on her birth, it often goes much smoother and quicker, with less of a chance for complications.
Any reasons NOT to visit your chiropractor and personal trainer???
COMING SOON - My favorite exercises and stretches for pregnant women and breastfeeding moms! Keep checking back in!
This slideshow video was made by my amazing husband last Mother's Day, my first as a mama. I just had to share it! It lovingly depicts my mothering to my first "baby" Roxy, my pregnancy and the arrival of Nolan in my life. The song, "The Story" is a favorite of ours. I deeply connected with the lyrics the first time I heard it and thought of Nolan immediatly. The pictures and the lyrics put together are so beautiful, so honest...enjoy.
All of these lines across my face, Tell you the story of who I am So many stories of where I've been, And how I got to where I am Oh, but these stories don't mean anything, When you've got no one to tell them to Like I do...I was made for you You see the smile across my mouth, It's hiding the words that don't come out And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed, Well they don't know my head was a mess No, they don't know who I really am, And they don't know what I've been through like you do I was made for you...You know that it's true...I was made for you
Over the last weeks of my pregnancy, I surrendered to "what will be, will be". God has a master plan for all of us, and who am I to try to change his plans? I continued my regular Chiropractic adjustments, yoga and hypnosis. I wanted my body to be ready for anything! I comforted myself with long baths, naps and staying as comfortable as possible. I talked to the baby, and meditated on the thoughts of seeing him or her very soon. Special, quite time was spent with my husband - our lives were about to change; our family's new addition was to arrive any day!
I still never gave up on hope that this baby would turn at the last minute. Maybe we could still have our beautiful natural Home Birth? I sometimes think that ignorance is bliss! Maybe if I did not know all the amazing benefits to both mom and baby from a natural childbirth, I would not care so much. But I DID know these things! The thought of my baby not entering the world the way he was intended to made my heart sad, but the thoughts of very real complications made my stomach turn. Can you image being in my situation?? I was so ready to birth this baby - I was so confident, I knew I could do it all by myself! And had he been head down, I could have done it unassisted!!
As I mentioned before, the risks for a breech baby to born naturally are very high, for both baby and mother. Our baby was a Frank Breech, with both legs completely straight up, feet by the face. The little butt is much smaller then the head, so there not as much pressure on the cervix, would could lead to a very long labor. There is also a very good chance of cord prolapse, since again, the butt is smaller then the head and the cord could slip out first, compress and prevent blood flow to baby. Along with the risk of hip or clavicle dislocation and the chin getting stuck on the pelvic ring. These are the risks with any breech presentation. Fortunately, breech presentations make up only 3-5% of all births, so it is very uncommon. No one stays pregnant forever; the baby does come out eventually - but many times with serious injury. I would rather have a few minutes of intervention, that result in a lifetime of perfect health!
On Monday June 8th, I had my (last) midwife appointment. (I was 4 day past my "due date") I was totally effaced and about 1-2 cm dilated. I was waiting for "something" - and I don't really know what that "something" was - to happen. I was actually surprised when she told me how far I was already. For some reason, I thought I would have felt "more". I felt great! Comfortable, good energy and just ready! After our appointment, hubby and I took a long walk. The more we walked, the more I was starting the feel "things" - light contractions (more frequent and strong then Braxton-Hicks), and pressure. Remember how I said the mind is a very powerful thing. I believe that the confirmation by my midwife of my progress, the anticipation of meeting our baby and the fact that I had finally let go and let fate take it's course, had allowed labor to start.
I can remember that night as if it was yesterday. I clearly remember we had just moved into our new house. The bedroom had a soft glow to it, as I layed in bed and read. We received a call late that night from a good friend of ours that their baby had just been born. We had been pregnant at the same time, and surprisingly our babies were born just one day apart. I had a feeling that tomorrow could be the day, but did not want to get my hopes up. I slept very well that night.
The next day, Tuesday June 9th, Max had an appointment at the clinic. I was supposed to teach my Prenatal Fit class, but he insisted that I stay home and rest. I had light contractions all night, but still slept very well. They were now coming more frequent, about 30-40 minutes apart. And more intense. But I still felt good! I noticed a few bananas about to go bad on the counter, so I made a banana bread. The methodical actions of measuring, stirring and pouring relaxed me and made me feel grounded and earthy. As it baked, I sat down and mediated to my relaxation music, inhaling the sweet banana bread smell. By the time the bread was done, Max was on his way home, and the contractions were now 30 minutes apart. We packed up our bags, (and the bread!), and headed over for one last Chiropractic adjustment. In the half hour that I was there, I had two more contractions. We called our midwife, Kaleen, and told her we were heading over and to meet us at the hospital.
We got to the hospital and went to check in. What morons! They must have hired the most idiotic person to run the check-in desk. Here I am, clearly in labor, and she's asking me my name, address and last menstrual period! When do you think? 9 months ago!!! This was fortunately only one of the few things that bothered me about the hospital. One of the things I loved was that I was the only patient on the Labor & Delivery floor, so I had everyone full attention. And the banana bread helped too!
We went into a room. I had to strip down, put on a gown and they did a quick ultrasound. The baby was still breech. Kaleen just looked at me said, "It's not turning. We gotta get it out". Fine. The next few minutes were a blur. Before I knew it, I was being wheeled through the hallway to the OR. My sister had made it just in time to wish me good luck. In the OR, they sat me on this cold hard table, with the anesthesiologist ready to shove this giant needle in my back. I was freaking out! Where is my husband? Why was this all happening so fast? I'm not ready! I started to shake and cry. Kaleen held me and helped me breathe and focus through the epidural. That HURT! Then I layed down, covered with warm blankets. Suddenly, Max appeared at my side all gowned up. I didn't even recognize Dr. Boulting in his scrubs and mask. Before my brain even had a chance to process all that was going on, and the order of everything according to what I had read, Dr. Boulting said, "Here we are! Max, do you want to look?" "I don't know", Max hesitated. "Look!" I told him. "Come here. Look at your baby!", Dr. Boulting demanded, but in a loving way. He knew how important it was for us to be involved. He didn't want us to miss out on this. "It's Nolan! It's a boy!". Nolan was quickly brought around for me to see. Crying and bloody, he was perfect.
I love this picture, just before we touch for the
first time outside the womb.
We touched for a moment, but then they took him away. The nurses respected our wishes for no drops, no baths, no vaccines. Max watched over and helped when he could. Just a light dabbing, and he was brought right back to me. As Dr. Boulting worked on sewing me back up, Nolan was placed on my chest to breastfeed. Kaleen was there to make sure he latched on, but this baby had no problems! The anesthesiologist even said that in all his 25 years of working, he never saw a baby breastfeed in the OR. Nolan got perfect APGAR scores (even for a C-Section baby) and Max got to cut the cord. My concerns of the baby having any of effects from the epidural went out the window. From the time they put that needle in my back to when Nolan arrived was so fast, I doubt he got any!
I am thankful for trusting my instincts for one more reason - when Nolan came out, he had some meconium on his head. That means (1) that he was good and ready to come out - he was not taken prematurely, (2) because of his presentation, labor did not progress as quickly and he needed to get out and poo, and (3) if I did try to birth him naturally and it took a very long time, he could get meconium in his lungs and then that would be another complication altogether.
My poor little folded-in-half baby!
It is so amazing to me how perfectly God designs our body. When you are pregnant, and especially right before birth, a mother's nipples will get very dark. When a baby is born, they do not see very well. They see dark vs. light and can only focus about 12" away. The incredible thing is that a baby will be able to find his mother's nipple by searching for that dark spot, and he will be able to smell her milk through her skin (their sense of smell is heightened). It is well documented that right after birth, a baby will be placed on its mother belly, and the baby will actually "crawl" up to the nipple! The other perfect thing is that it is approx. 12" from a mother's face to her baby's face when she breastfeeds. Her face is the object he focuses on.
Breastfeeding in the OR, within minutes of his birth
I unfortunately had to be taken away to "recovery", but we had a plan! In our room, Kaleen had Max remove his shirt and hold Nolan skin-to-skin. This is a form of nursing. Nursing does not always mean to actually breastfeed, it means to nurture, bond and love. To this day, Nolan loves his "daddy naps" and quickly falls asleep on his daddy's chest.
Daddy "nursing" the baby, skin-to-skin
Within a hour, I was back in our room and held, nursed and loved Nolan continually. I never put him down. He breastfed whenever he wanted. Many times, mothers will put the baby in a bassinet and fall asleep. When the baby wants to be fed, the mother will not get to him quickly enough and he becomes hysterical, and unable to latch on properly. The best thing to do is hold your baby continually and let them nurse whenever. They do not need to be on any schedule but their own.
Within 24 hours, we left the hospital. It was not the birth that I had planned for, but it was the "perfect" birth that we needed to accommodate our situation. All in all, the doctors and nurses were great, respected our wishes and we had a perfectly healthy baby boy. If anyone is ever in this situation, please, please, please make sure you have your midwife or doula present to help carry out your wishes. I can not thank Kaleen enough!
As you can see in my other posts, we have had absolutely no problems with his health, breastfeeding, development and all other aspects of his life. Hubby and I joke often when Nolan's intelligence surpasses our expectations, "Not too bad for a C-Section baby!"
Next time, we will have our home birth, and Nolan will be able to observe the miracle of life with us.
OK....about 6 weeks to go and this baby is head up! We got an ultrasound to confirm. The tech casually says, "Don't worry, you still have 6 weeks, plenty of time for it to flip". Yeah right, I'm thinking. There is barely room in there for the baby, let along room for it to move much. And it's growing by the day! All the beautiful, romantic thoughts of my perfect birth start to melt away. All I can now see in my mind is a big, red, ugly word: "C-Section".
Michelle re-assures us that there is still time, but we need to act quickly with our interventions. She gave us a list of things to try to turn a breech baby. Our shot-gun approach included: Chiropractic adjustments, Acupuncture, moxabustion, herbs, hypnosis, visualization, pelvis tilts, sifting, hanging up-side down, flips in the pool - even cold potatoes and flash lights! (theory is to put something cold by the baby's head and it will move away from it, and towards the light). Amazingly, when we did several of these techniques, especially the chiropractic, acupuncture and hypnosis, the baby DID move! It started to shift head down about half way around, but then stopped, and moved back to where it was. We later learned there could have been a number of factors preventing it from turning all the way, such as placenta or cord location.
(moxabustion)
(sifting)
(chiropractic) My new mission was to get this baby turned! It was on my mind all the time. And, unfortunately, that stressed me out. We continued all of our interventions, hoping that something would work. I was so discouraged when people told me they had a breech baby, did one pelvic tilt and the baby turned. Or a medical professional who said they had a 90% success rate, but no, not successful for me! I was glad we exhausted all our options, though. I would not be at peace knowing we did not try everything!
The last several weeks of my pregnancy were filled with worry. After discussing our situation with many professionals, and alot of thinking and praying, Avery and I decided to go for an elective C-Section if the baby did not turn. If a baby is breech, especially a Frank breech as our was (both legs up straight), there are chances for complications or even serious injury to the baby. Hip and shoulder dislocations, or even a broken collarbone. I would rather have a c-section, and have the baby breastfeeding immediately and get out of the hospital, then the baby stay in the hospital with an injury and miss out on bonding.
I know, I know, you all are thinking "Here she is promoting natural childbirth, saying that all women can do it, and she elects to have a c-section!" First, I always say "educate and empower". So, I educated myself on the pros and cons and all facets of a natural breech birth and a c-section. Secondly, I always tell mothers to trust their instincts, follow their heart and do what they feel is best for their family. I believe that if we were living 100 years ago, our baby might have be born fine, but he could also have been born with broken bones or serious injury, such as a breech baby's chin getting stuck on the pelvic ring as it descends. This can cause the baby serious neck and spinal cord compression, and suffocation and even death. I could have had many complications, including hemorrhaging, and even death. These events do not always happen, but they could. We are fortunate to have emergency care for when we need it. Not for normal, healthy births - which makes up 90% of births! But for that small 10% that need it. We choose to have 5 minutes of "emergency care" that would result in a lifetime of perfect health.
If you have a breech baby, or have another complication, and choose an elective c-section, you can still have a "natural" c-section, which I will explain below and in future blogs.
We insisted on waiting to go into labor before heading to the hospital. Why? When a women knows she has to, or chooses to, have an elective c-section, the OB will schedule it about 2 weeks BEFORE her due date. That way he can be sure that she will not be in labor. A contracting uterus makes his job a bit harder. However, due dates are estimates only. And the lungs are the last thing that develop, finally complete right before birth. So, if your due date is off by a week or two, and you go in 2 weeks early, your baby could be born 3-4 weeks early! Way too early, and not ready to face the world yet! That is why we insisted on waiting to go into labor. That way we would know baby was ready to come out. Also, many times, babies will turn with the contractions. It would be our last hope.
We met with the OB that Michele uses. Dr. Boulting was amazing! He understood our desire for a natural birth, and reassured us that if the baby turned while we were at the hospital, he would send us right back to the birth center. He knew our birth plan and would follow it as much as he could. That made both Avery and I feel much better. I never gave up on the thought that this baby would turn, but I finally started to come to terms with the reality of a c-section.
Now, I know your thinking after looking over my birth plan, "Wow! She has alot of "demands"! Why so many requests for so many specific things? Don't they (the doctors) tell you what to do when you get to the hospital?"
Yes, that is right. The doctors will tell you exactly what to do, when to do it and for how long to do it. They will take away your ability to trust your instincts by stepping in and conforming your birth according to their plans. They want you in and out. It doesn't matter to them that you have your "dream" birth - that you labor how you want, birth the way your want and take care of your baby immediately - the way your want! Like I said before, they do NOT want and "educated mama" messing up their precious schedule. Watch The Business of Being Born and then we'll talk "demands".
I'll admit that the birth plan does sound like alot of requests. And honestly, most of them would never even be an issue or even brought up if you are birthing with a midwife. Most of the requests are completely normal and routine with a midwife. However, it is always a good idea to review your plan with the midwife prior to birth, just to make sure you are all on the same page. Even more importantly if you are birthing at a Birth Center within a hospital. Although they are run by midwives, they are still overseen by doctors and in special circumstances a midwife will have to report to the doctor.
My requests were simply to let labor and birthing take it's natural course and let my body do what it was designed to do. If there were to be any interventions, a natural approach should be taken first. My midwife would offer gentle guidance but mostly hands-off. She was just there to make sure all is going smoothly. I visualized a waterbirth in the warm tub, my loving husband sitting behind me massaging my neck and back, whispering encouraging words in my ear. The soft music would be playing and the candles would be flickering all around. I would be in tune with my body, moving around as needed, my breath in control. As my baby emerged, I would reach down and pick him up, bringing him to my breast. Holding him close to my heart would help his heartbeat and his breathing rate match mine, keeping it in control. The warm water and soft lighting would be comforting, not a shock to him. We would move slowly, never in a rush. This would be a special time to savor every second. Wrapping him up warmly, we would all crawl in bed together and rest. This was my dream.
I was also aware of the possibility of complications. As much as you can try to prevent them, it can happen - at any point of the pregnancy and birthing process. If the baby came early, if it had problems, or if I was transferred during labor, I wanted as many of my requests to be considered. My biggest one was to let me or Avery handle the baby as much as possible. No drops, no vaccines. Breastfeeding and rooming-in only. Those are the most important to me since they affect the long-term well-being of the baby.
Only you can stand up for and protect yourself and your family. If you feel strongly about something, say it. If your doctor/midwife does not agree with you, discuss it, don't dismiss it. Educate yourself and seek alternative advise. Don't do something you don't feel comfortable with, even if it is something everyone is doing (or not doing).
Below is my birth plan, from www.earthmamaangelbaby.com
Although we had a planned birth at the birth center, we had to consider the possibility of an emergency c-section, and we wanted our wishes to be carried out in the event of being transferred to the hospital. Many of these "requests" are routine and normal for a birth with a midwife, such as laboring as long as necessary without intervention, natural inductions and natural pain management. That is just part of their philosophy. But I feel it is better to have it written out just incase there are complications, and you are transferred. In fact, I had two friends that had normal, beautiful births at the birth center, but then the placenta did not separate, so they had to be transferred to the hospital anyways for a DNC. What about baby, breastfeeding and bonding during the surgery and recovery? You must think about these things!
To my Health Care Providers: Thank you for taking the time to work with us and our birth plan. These are our preferences; however we are open and flexible to any medical intervention that may become necessary in the case of a medical emergency.
My Name: Jennifer Cohen
My Due Date: June 1, 2009
My Doctor: Michelle Gawne (midwife)
My Partner: Avery Cohen
As long as the baby and I are healthy, I would like to have no time restrictions on the length of my pregnancy.
I would like to discuss laboring at home as long as possible.
I trust that my practitioner will seek out my opinion concerning all of the issues directly affecting my birth before deviating from my plan.
If I go past my due date and the baby and I are fine, I prefer to go into labor naturally rather than be induced.
Please obtain my permission before stripping my membranes during a vaginal exam.
I prefer to have no vaginal exams until I go into labor.
During a vaginal exam, I prefer at no time to have my membranes broken unless there is an emergency situation.
I would like no internal vaginal exams, within reason, during my labor until I have an urge to push.
If induction becomes necessary, I would like to try natural induction techniques first (with the guidance of my practitioner). These are the natural induction techniques I would like to try: Breast stimulation, Walking, Herbs, Enema, Castor oil, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Sexual intercourse.
If my water breaks before I go into labor, I would like to have no time limits and talk about alternative treatment such as antibiotics.
Upon arrival at the hospital, I prefer to have my partner with me at all times.
Please, no residents or students attending my birth.
I request the following people to be present during my labor and/or 2nd stage labor: My Partner: Avery Cohen, My Siblings: Sarah Broxton.
I prefer to give birth in a birthing room.
I prefer to give birth in room with a shower and/or bath.
If birth equipment is available, I would like to use: A birthing bed, A birthing ball, A bean bag chair, A birthing tub/pool/shower, A birthing stool, A squatting bar.
Miscellaneous environmental requests:
I would like to have dimmed lights.
I would like for people entering the room to speak softly.
I would like to play music.
I would like no one to speak during the actual delivery.
I would like to wear my own clothes during labor and delivery.
I am prepared to try to handle pain with these natural and alternative methods: Breathing techniques, Distraction techniques, Hypnotherapy, Acupressure, Acupuncture, Massage, Visual imaging work, Deep (or guided) relaxation, Water/bath/shower.
Other considerations :
Ultimately, I want to be able to walk around and move as I wish while in labor.
Ultimately, I would like to feel unrestricted in accessing any sounds of chanting, grunting, or moaning during labor.
Please keep my door always closed during labor.
I have prepared for this birth with Childbirth Hypnosis.
As long as the baby and I are healthy, I prefer to have no time limits on pushing.
I would like to be encouraged to try the following different positions for labor: Squatting, Classic semi-recline, Hands and knees, On the toilet, Standing upright, Side Lying or Whatever feels right at the time
I will ask for an enema if I feel that I need one.
I prefer to have no episiotomy and risk tearing (unless I'm having a medical emergency).
To help prevent tearing, please apply: Hot compresses, Oil, Perineal massage, Encourage me to breathe properly for slower crowning.
Other labor considerations:
If possible, please allow the shoulders and body of my baby to be born spontaneously, on their own.
I would like to view the birth using a mirror.
I would like to touch my baby's head as it crowns.
I would like to catch my baby and pull it onto my abdomen as it is born
I would like my partner to catch my baby
I would like for our baby to hear our voices first.
I prefer to have the lights dimmed for delivery or, if it is daylight, to access only natural light
It's important to me to push instinctively. I do not want to be told how or when to push.
After Baby is Born:
As long as my baby is healthy, I would like my baby placed immediately skin-to-skin on my abdomen with a warm blanket over it
Please do not separate me and my baby until after my baby has successfully breastfed on both breasts.
Please delay all essential routine procedures on my baby until after the bonding and breastfeeding period (i.e., bathing).
If a C-Section is not an emergency, please give us time alone to think about it before asking for our written consent.
My partner(s) is(are) to be present at all times during the c-section.
Ideally, I would like to remain conscious during the procedure.
I would like the baby to be shown to me immediately after it's born.
I would like to have contact with the baby as soon as it is possible in the delivery room.
I prefer to have a hand free to touch the baby.
We would like to photograph or film the operation as the baby comes out.
We would like to film or photograph only the baby after delivery.
If possible, please discuss anesthesia options with me (including morphine options).
I prefer a low transverse incision on my abdomen and uterus.
Recovery:
If my baby is healthy, I would like to hold my baby and nurse it immediately in recovery.
I would like to sign any waivers necessary to permit me to be with my baby in recovery.
As long as my baby is healthy, I would like my partner to be the baby's constant source of attention until I am free to bond with it (i.e., holding, skin-to-skin contact, etc.).
I would like to have my catheter and IV removed ASAP after my recovery period.
Please discuss with me what I can expect to feel immediately following the procedure.
Please discuss my post-operative pain medication options with me before or immediately following the procedure.
Please wait for the umbilical cord to stop pulsating before it is clamped.
Please allow my partner to cut the umbilical cord.
Placenta: I would prefer for the placenta to be born spontaneously without the use of pitocin, and/or controlled traction on the umbilical cord and I would like the option of taking home the placenta.
If the baby has any problems, I would like my partner to be present with the baby at all times, if possible.
I would like to have routine newborn procedures delayed until bonding and breastfeeding have occurred.
I would like all newborn routine procedures to be performed in my presence.
Administration of Eyedrops: Please do not administer eye drops to my baby, I am willing to sign a formal waiver if need be.
Vitamin K: Please do not administer vitamin K to my baby, I am willing to sign a formal waiver if need be.
Immunizations: I prefer any immunizations be postponed to a later time.
Bathing Baby: Please do not bathe my baby at all. We would like to give our baby his/her first bath using our own non-toxic baby products.
Circumcision: Please do not circumcise him.
Feedings:
My baby is to be exclusively breastfed.
I would like to see a lactation consultant as soon as possible for further recommendations and guidance.
Do not offer my baby the following without my consent: Formula, Pacifiers, Any artificial nipples, Sugar water.
If my baby's health is in jeopardy, I would like:
To be transported with my baby if possible.
My partner to go with the baby.
To breastfeed or express my milk for my baby.
To have as much bodily contact with my baby as possible.
To be offered a room at the hospital for the duration of my baby's stay (within reason).
I would like my in-hospital routine to be: Full rooming in, no separation, no exceptions, unless my baby is sick.
Other hospital preferences:
I prefer a private room.
I prefer to have my partner stay with me for the duration of my hospital stay.
I want privacy during my stay and for my guests to limit the time they are visiting me.
I feel that writing out a birth plan, even if it is short and simple, is very important. It gives the couple an opportunity to discuss certain things that you may not even think about during pregnancy, birth and afterwards. The last thing you want is to be arguing with your partner, family members or your doctor/midwife during such a special and beautiful time. Many women don't even know they have choices in certain procedures. The doctors and nurses make it sound routine, or even required. They do not want an educated mama messing up their schedule! For the most part, a midwife's philosophy is to educated their patients on options and allow for nature to take it's course. They tend to have a "hands off" policy, which is why I wanted a midwife in the first place!
This is a great website to visit: www.earthmamaangelbaby.com. They have lots of great products, and also an area for you to customize your birthplan. You can print it out and give it to all parties involved. They bring up so many points, things that never even entered my mind! After looking over the options, researching and discussing it all with Avery and Michelle, I felt we had an easy-to-follow plan that everyone was on board with.
If you are having your birth in a hospital with an OB, you will want to discuss your plan with them. Unfortunately, some things may not be possible, such a yourself or the father catching the baby, birthing in a tub, etc. However, stand firm on certain things, such as immediate breastfeeding and bonding, eliminating eyedrops, rooming in, and no supplements (sugar water or formula).
Many times, it is a good idea to hire a doula or a support friend/family member to make sure your wishes are carried out. Sometimes in the midst of the excitement or anxiety (or even in the case of an emergency), mom might get stressed out and dad might feel helpless. A doula or friend that is not directly involved will be able to remind mom of her plans and keep dad calm.
Pregnancy was fairly easy for me. You hear so many stories from other women about their experiences, you expect certain things to happen to you. I had no weird cravings or mood swings...really! - you can ask my husband! I kept busy at work, and did plenty of reading on my down-time. I felt really prepared for this birth. We signed up for Hypnobirthing, which is a form of self-hypnosis and guided meditation for birth. Avery and I practiced often. We started our baby registry, and realized that all the stuff the stores tell you that you "need", you really don't need (another blog on that one!)
Normal mid-wife visits. One thing to think about is if your OB or midwife asks if you want genetic testing for abnormalities. They do this by taking out some of the amniotic fluid. Two problems I have with this: (1) there is a chance of a miscarriage, and (2) many times the testing is a false-positive. I did not want these test done. I would love our baby no matter what. Ultrasounds are also usually routine. You can opt out of them. There are some researchers now that theorize the ultrasound waves can affect the baby. We decided to do one quick one around 20 weeks. At that stage, all the vital organs and limbs are formed. Our midwife suggested to get a quick one just to make sure everything was where it should be - and everything was! How amazing to see that little person growing in there. And it was even doing some "kickboxing", just like mama! Looking back now, Nolan really did look like his ultrasound pictures.
As the baby grew bigger, our midwife could now feel out all the "parts" as she pressed on my tummy. She showed Avery how to feel the head versus the butt. There were even different beats for the heart, placenta and cord. This was all so fascinating! I was learning so much about pregnancy & birth and wondered would you ever get this kind of attention and information from an OB?
One of the great things about my job as an aerobics instructor is I get to wear "stretchy" clothes and sneakers - probably the most comfortable clothes for a pregnant woman. Yoga pants, bike shorts and big tee-shirts! I really did not have to buy alot of clothes; a pair of jeans, shorts, a swim suit and some larger tees. I borrowed some clothes from friends, which worked out well. I did not want to spend alot of money on something I would be out of in a few months.
Another thing we indulged in was pregnancy photos with a professional photographer (many of which are on this blog). Julia did an awesome job! I highly recommend every pregnant woman to get these photos done. It is such a beautiful time in a couple's life to capture on film. I will always remember exactly how I felt when I look at these photos.
Then, around 32 weeks (about 6 weeks from our due-date) our midwife felt the baby's head back up. It had been head-down for quite some time now...when did it flip???
So, here I was at approx. 8 weeks pregnant. We had been trying for a few months, but figured it would happen when it was meant to be. I was nauseous on and off for a few days when I decided to take a home-pregnancy test - it was positive! Avery and I were ecstatic! We spent the next few days alone to celebrate and let it all sink in. At the clinic, after seeing the first ultrasound with the heart beat, it became even more a reality. We were about to embark on the journey of a life-time...and looking back at all now, we had NO IDEA what we were in for! approx. 20 weeks
At this point in my pregnancy, I was feeling fine and continued to teach my classes. A little ginger and some herbs in the morning kept my stomach calm. The exercise and fresh air outside actually helped the nausea. A few weeks later, the morning sickness stopped as suddenly as it had come on. I felt a surge of renewed energy within.
I had settled on a midwife at a birthing center, Heart2Heart. www.heart2heartbirthcenter.com. My midwife, Michelle, had been in practice for several years and was extremely reputable and professional. Her "safety first" philosophy was important to me, so I compromised a home-birth for the Heart2Heart Birth Center. Michelle could not travel to me (we were about 45 minutes away), but the local midwife's philosophy did not sit well with us. I felt at ease with Michelle immediately. I liked that she allowed me to be in charge of my body and my pregnancy. She taught me how to weigh myself and check my urine sample and I was responsible for those tasks at our appointments. Our thoughts on pregnancy and childbirth were aligned, and I loved learning from her and hearing her thoughts. The birth center was an old Victorian house and I was excited to see that they had comfortable furniture and a large birthing tub. They had a special way of making you feel like you were at home.
Advise to mothers - before meeting with a midwife or OB, it is a good idea to know what you want and what you don't want for your birth. This could be a deciding factor. You don't have to have your whole birth plan finalized, but a few general things will help you determined the best place for you. For me, I wanted the freedom to move around as I pleased and birthed the way I felt most comfortable. I wanted "quiet guidance" - meaning I wanted the midwife to gently and quietly guide me through the birth if it seemed I needed it or asked for it. No shouting out to "push now" or "move over here". I wanted to be at home, and the birth center was a "home away from home".
Now, some women are scared of this because they do not know what to do. That is the problem with today's society. Young girls do not see births or breastfeeding openly as they did in the past, so they do not know what to expect when the time comes for them. In other cultures, all the women in a family would gather together to help a laboring woman birth her child. The older women would give advise and guidance and the young girls would assist and learn. My advise - watch as many birthing videos as you can. And no - most women are not screaming their heads off like they show on TV!!
The other deciding factor for me to choose a home birth/birth center, over a hospital was the interference of nurses. A mother needs her space and freedom to do as she pleases, whether that is laboring or taking care of her newly-born baby. The last thing I wanted was for me or my baby to be poked and prodded. I did not want my baby to be taken away from me - not even for a minute! I am all it needs, to hold it close and breastfeed it. It can be cleaned off later; it can be measured and weighed later. That all seems to challenge the nurse's schedule in the hospital. Again, that is why a home birth/birth center appealed to me. I did not have to adhere to anyone's schedule but my own. And, I wanted to be the one to clean him off first and weight him. This was my baby, not theirs!
We women have been birthing for a very, very long time. Somewhere in the last century, we have forgotten how to trust our instincts. Our bodies know how to birth a baby! It is in us! Too many times, horror stories and statistics get in the way and cloud our minds. Yes, sometimes emergencies do happen, and if they do, thank God we have emergency care. We should always be prepared for it.
Approximately 90% of pregnancies are normal and healthy. If a woman takes care of her body during pregnancy, and is well-informed and prepared...then why not want to birth your baby the way nature intended it?
My son, Nolan, just turned one - and it seems like finally the appropriate time to start the "Birth Story" part of my blog. I have so much to share on this subject, so it will be divided up into several parts.
Pre-Pregnancy: Avery and I started talking about having a baby right after our honeymoon. Some would say that we rushed into having a baby, but remember, we have been together for over 10 years, had bought a house and were living together for about 2 years. We were ready! After our Hawaiian Honeymoon in June 2008, we started trying. From this time on, I focused all of my free time into studying about pregnancy and childbirth. My sister, Sarah, is a Nurse Practitioner and had landed a job with my hero, Dr. Denise Punger. Sarah gave me Dr. Punger's book, Permission to Mother: Going Beyond the Standard-of-Care to Nurture Our Children. I read it and it totally open my eyes. I had never understood the benefits to mother and baby of a natural childbirth, nor did I consider the negative effects of a hospital birth. At school, Avery was learning about the same thing. Through his pediatric professor, we we exposed to the harsh reality of hospital births and the the "business" of it all. Two other eye-opening movies are: The Business of Being Born and Pregnant in America. I highly recommend every parent watch these movies before deciding where to give birth. It did not take me long to realize that I wanted a natural childbirth at home with a midwife. I wanted to be in charge of my birth and let my child be born when and how they wanted - the way Nature intended it! I continued to read everything on the subject and talk with mothers who had gone through the same experience.
On October 20, 2008, I found out I was about 8 weeks pregnant!
Posts
(sifting) 
and then we'll talk "demands". 
. I highly recommend every parent 
