Women are so incredible! We have the power to create life and then bring it into the world....we are so lucky! I know that labor is hard and it hurts but it is amazing and I can't WAIT to do it again.
I worked with my incredible midwife Valeriana 2x this week...what a neat woman. I have learned so much from her. One of the homebirth's was a VBAC...it was so incredible to see a woman who had a vaginal birth after she was led to believe that her body couldn't give birth to a baby vaginally. So empowering!
I borrowed Orgasmic Birth so stay tuned for my review of it...I am so excited to see it! There will be a segment on it on 20/20 on Oct 24th. It is so nice that something other than negative views are coming out about birth. There was a segment on a show that I had never heard of called The Dr's about homebirth. And what do ya know? The only thing they tell a couple who is weighing their options is that homebirth is bad and scary and that birth is scary and look at all the things that could possibly go wrong why would you want to be at home? AAH!!! I was at the gym watching it and I wanted to start yelling at the screen! I know that everyone has their own opinions and experiences to bring to the table but I think that it is best to be open minded and really research your options for your birth. THROW away the what to expect books and really read good evidence based books. And get a second opinion...just because your Dr tells you one thing does not mean it is the gospel truth. And TRUST you body!
The girl that I helped today switched from the Birthing Center at Roosevelt b/c she did her glucose test and it came back high. She is a nutritionist and started doing her own readings at home and knew that she didn't have diabetes...her midwife just couldn't do anything about it though because of all of the protocols she has to follow, so she was risked out of the birthing center. So instead of succumbing to her fate of induction and scare tactics by an Ob who didn't even know her name, she searched out a homebirth midwife and found Valeriana and guess what? She had a beautiful homebirth.
I think that my favorite part about homebirth(other than the obvious freedom and the peacefullness and the respect of the laboring woman) is the family bonding after. When we leave (usually about 4 hrs after birth) the baby is nursing away and the family is tucked into bed. No separation. Its great.
Phew...I haven't been on my soap box for a while. I guess it was a much needed break for all my readers : )
So I feel like I want to share a few pictures from my own homebirth experience with Levi.
About 10 minutes after the birth I got out of the tub to birth the placenta. We were all laughing at how surprised we were that it was a boy!
Elyse was a HUGE helper in the tub. She poured water on my back which felt great!
Me just laboring after my water had broken.
Cannon was supporting me so well while my midwife looked on.
This was such a great experience for us!
10 comments:
More please! I love those pictures and your posts about birth. Homebirth is the only way to go!
What a week! It must have been amazing to see all of those prescious babies enter the world. I had an emergency c-section with Daniel (my first). I had total peace and I knew it was necessary because I really believe he wouldn't have made it had we not gone with the c-section. My doctor was great because he wanted to avoid the c-section as long as possible, even after we were in the operating room, he wanted to wait just to be sure it was necessary. I'm glad that I had a cautious doctor. He was also very very supportive and encouraging when I had VBAC with Jacob(my second). I'm glad that I was able to experience a vaginal birth. I'm pregnant with no. 3. I'm not so sure that I personally am comfortable with a home birth (I have read and read and read about it and also have a friend who teaches classes and had a VBAC home birth who educated me), however, I do look forward to another vaginal birth.
Every time I get scared of getting pregnant (because then I would have to give birth again) I should look at your blog! I love your hair by the way.
I love when you get on a soapbox. You are so so great!
I think you should become a midwife. You have so much confidence about birth and our capacity as women to give birth. It really makes me feel empowered.
This is a really good point, actually. I had a really beautiful birth experience with an Ob--I felt completely in control of the birth, had a fantastic epidural (NO numbness, no diminished sense of when to push, just a moderate lessening of excruciating pain that I felt helped me focus on my labor rather than my agony) though my Ob favored going natural, didn't feel rushed, etc. I lucked out on an Ob who was very reassuring, rarely ran late, delivered all her own patients' babies (so there was no question of who would be there), etc. So I guess my point is, not all Ob's are demeaning, fear-instilling monsters. But I do think medical education in general lacks adequate focus on the normal, on developing a holistic perspective and appreciation and *celebration* of normal processes like birth. There is so much focus on avoiding and dealing with disaster...and while we may disagree on the need for certain procedures in certain circumstances (granted, I don't really know anything at this point, but I think there is a time and a place for intervention) I do think this is where midwives and doulas have truly gotten things right more than the average Ob. You definitely have a gift!
thanks for the great post! I'd love to read more of your soapbox posts! ;-) of course you are preaching to the choir here! he he!
Thanks for sharing your birth pic's and that position with your hubby on the birth ball and you hanging over his back, that is awesome! it is one I haven't seen or used before, so I learned something today, thanks! It was great to meet (and 'work' with you). Thanks for all you do.
I love hearing your stories about homebirths and I find it all riveting and I have so many questions to ask you about your last week. Wow, you have an amazing life being witness to all this. And writing about it to get the word out about how home birth can happen even when doctors say it can't! Thanks for sharing your experience, strength and hope.
Where did you borrow Orgasmic Birth from???
Elyse is the perfect ager for me to get her panties off and try to put a baby in her over and over and over, her little pussy will be sore but she will feel soooooooooooooooo good, just have to use her ass for a couple of days instead
Post a Comment