I spoke to a woman at the Labor of Love in Dunedin today. I'm really looking forward to meeting up with a midwife and talk about the possibility of going through a birthing center/home birth for my second baby.
The fact that I've been doing my home work lately has brought about questions from some of my friends. Again, I'm not expecting. There's something about doing research when you are in the right state of mind. Being pregnant and very emotional would make it extremely difficult to make a decision. So for me, the time is now.
I really am very thankful for the women in my life because some of them have been through this process. If I was exposed to the information I know now before Isabella ... I think I seriously would have had Isabella at a birthing center. The woman's body is amazing!
I know for some, this is a very foreign concept and may be controversial (It was for me!). When the time comes I will need the support of my friends and family. I want to put it out on the table so that no one freaks out later...HA! This is why I have chosen this route:
When I was pregnant with Isabella, I knew I wanted a natural birth. There was never a doubt in my mind that I wanted anything else. I trusted my body and I was confident that my body could handle the birthing process because it's how we were made - Woman have babies. No one in my family/circle of friends had ever had a baby outside a hospital. I thought that even if I entered the hospital I would have a natural birth.
I was a low risk through out my pregnancy. Every time I visited my Dr., he always said I was a boring patient because I was too healthy. My pregnancy was PERFECT! Thinking about it now just brings back great memories. I loved being pregnant. I was induced because my Dr. said it was time. After being pumped with Pitocin/Cervidil for hours, my body was announcing that it was not time. As a matter a fact, my blood pressure rose and Isabella's heart rate dropped. After so many hours and no baby, the only option that was left was a C-Sec.
Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful/thankful that Isabella is here and she's a healthy little one. The experience of birth was different then what I expected. I never experienced the pain of labor (active labor). For some, I would be considered a lucky woman. But for me, I feel like I lost such a beautiful experience. I felt cheated.
The Lord made our bodies to endure labor pains. As a matter of fact, our pelvic bone is one amazing bone. When our bodies are ready, it naturally releases oxytocin to progress contractions. As we dilate, our pelvic bone shifts and prepares for our baby! YES, even a 10 lb baby. As Ina May would say "the pelvic bone is fine thank you very much!"
I want to experience birthing in a way that it transforms me as a woman. A friend was asked once, when was a time in her life, as a woman, when she felt powerful? She said before she had her baby naturally (her prior births left her thinking her body couldn't handle births), she couldn't think of a time when she felt powerful as a woman. She felt proud of herself... but powerful?? She couldn't think of a time. As she asked that question, even before she explained herself, I couldn't answer it for myself.
Giving birth to a baby is an amazing time in a womans life. I can't settle for a "NO, you have to have a C-Sec next time." I trust my body... I trust that the Lord made me to do this. And that is why this is such a beautiful opportunity for me. I love that Jerry supports me 100%. It really makes me look forward to having another baby.
To my expecting mama's & those considering having a baby:
Please, please inform yourselves. Know that as a woman you have options. If you decide to go the hospital route that's fine. But I encourage you to know the facts. Don't be afraid to research this information. You will be completely in awe of how the Lord made our bodies. It really just puts me in awe of how the Lord created us.
Look into a birthing center and go for an orientation. It doesn't hurt to check it out. Finally, watch The Business of Being Born. It is a great documentary. I really enjoyed it because you see both sides of laboring in birthing center/home births & hospitals. Hospitals are good. But if you are low risk and want a natural labor don't expect that at a hospital. They are there to intervene. And they do a GREAT job at it when you need it. Look at your hospitals statistics. It's open information! You can find out what the percentage is of C-sections.
Hugs - Jenny
The fact that I've been doing my home work lately has brought about questions from some of my friends. Again, I'm not expecting. There's something about doing research when you are in the right state of mind. Being pregnant and very emotional would make it extremely difficult to make a decision. So for me, the time is now.
I really am very thankful for the women in my life because some of them have been through this process. If I was exposed to the information I know now before Isabella ... I think I seriously would have had Isabella at a birthing center. The woman's body is amazing!
I know for some, this is a very foreign concept and may be controversial (It was for me!). When the time comes I will need the support of my friends and family. I want to put it out on the table so that no one freaks out later...HA! This is why I have chosen this route:
When I was pregnant with Isabella, I knew I wanted a natural birth. There was never a doubt in my mind that I wanted anything else. I trusted my body and I was confident that my body could handle the birthing process because it's how we were made - Woman have babies. No one in my family/circle of friends had ever had a baby outside a hospital. I thought that even if I entered the hospital I would have a natural birth.
I was a low risk through out my pregnancy. Every time I visited my Dr., he always said I was a boring patient because I was too healthy. My pregnancy was PERFECT! Thinking about it now just brings back great memories. I loved being pregnant. I was induced because my Dr. said it was time. After being pumped with Pitocin/Cervidil for hours, my body was announcing that it was not time. As a matter a fact, my blood pressure rose and Isabella's heart rate dropped. After so many hours and no baby, the only option that was left was a C-Sec.
Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful/thankful that Isabella is here and she's a healthy little one. The experience of birth was different then what I expected. I never experienced the pain of labor (active labor). For some, I would be considered a lucky woman. But for me, I feel like I lost such a beautiful experience. I felt cheated.
The Lord made our bodies to endure labor pains. As a matter of fact, our pelvic bone is one amazing bone. When our bodies are ready, it naturally releases oxytocin to progress contractions. As we dilate, our pelvic bone shifts and prepares for our baby! YES, even a 10 lb baby. As Ina May would say "the pelvic bone is fine thank you very much!"
I want to experience birthing in a way that it transforms me as a woman. A friend was asked once, when was a time in her life, as a woman, when she felt powerful? She said before she had her baby naturally (her prior births left her thinking her body couldn't handle births), she couldn't think of a time when she felt powerful as a woman. She felt proud of herself... but powerful?? She couldn't think of a time. As she asked that question, even before she explained herself, I couldn't answer it for myself.
Giving birth to a baby is an amazing time in a womans life. I can't settle for a "NO, you have to have a C-Sec next time." I trust my body... I trust that the Lord made me to do this. And that is why this is such a beautiful opportunity for me. I love that Jerry supports me 100%. It really makes me look forward to having another baby.
To my expecting mama's & those considering having a baby:
Please, please inform yourselves. Know that as a woman you have options. If you decide to go the hospital route that's fine. But I encourage you to know the facts. Don't be afraid to research this information. You will be completely in awe of how the Lord made our bodies. It really just puts me in awe of how the Lord created us.
Look into a birthing center and go for an orientation. It doesn't hurt to check it out. Finally, watch The Business of Being Born. It is a great documentary. I really enjoyed it because you see both sides of laboring in birthing center/home births & hospitals. Hospitals are good. But if you are low risk and want a natural labor don't expect that at a hospital. They are there to intervene. And they do a GREAT job at it when you need it. Look at your hospitals statistics. It's open information! You can find out what the percentage is of C-sections.
Hugs - Jenny
