Feb
11
2009
11
2009
A Journey Into Pregnancy and Birth
Filed under: Healthy Living, Homebirth, Pregnancy
Note: Please be sure to read the comment section as well, as there are many great stories and questions that have come up. I will do my best to answer all of them in a timely manner.
In the past, I haven’t written much at all about my thoughts on pregnancy, homebirth, midwifery, etc. But now that I am “great with child”, it seems very natural to share my thoughts with you. Plus, I’ve been getting lots and lots of emails asking specific questions about this topic, so I’m just going to address them all here.
I love being pregnant. I even love giving birth! My homebirth experience with Bella was so incredible…a day I will never forget. And because of that, I am passionate about educating women…empowering women…giving them the knowledge they need to make the most informed decision possible about their birthing options. These decisions should not be rooted in fear or made simply to please family and friends. Giving birth is something that belongs to a woman (along with her spouse or partner)…and the details surrounding it should not be taken lightly.
Pregnancy is intense. Birth is more intense. Each mama’s experience is so unique and different…it’s impossible to compare one to another. Each woman needs to give birth in a place that she feels SAFE. If she doesn’t feel safe to begin with, birth will never unfold the way it’s supposed to. One woman’s perfect, safe birth might be in a forest all alone…and another may only feel comfortable and at ease surrounded by doctors. With that being said, I will say that I have VERY strong opinions about this topic. While you are reading this post, if you feel the least bit offended or hurt by anything I’m saying, please know that my opinion of how birth should be is not a direct attack on you or how your birthing experience turned out. I absolutely honor your birth experience and know that every mama makes decisions in the moment with the information she has been given…with the hope that those decisions are best for her baby. This post is simply my own opinion based on my experience and research.
Homebirth
Oh…where do I even begin? I LOVE HOMEBIRTH. It just feels so right to me. Pregnancy is not an illness that needs to be monitored by doctors and end in a hyper-managed birth and/or surgical procedure. It is a natural progression of life…our bodies are made to birth, and for me, the most comfortable and logical space to do that is in my home. I do believe that it’s possible to have a wonderful, empowering experience in a hospital setting…but it’s 10 times harder to do it there than at home. You are constantly fighting against a “system” that has been created “manage” a woman’s birth and in most cases, instill fear. If I ever had a situation where I had to birth in a hospital due to a medical condition beyond my control, I would absolutely hire the most radical, in your face doula to come with me. I’m truly afraid that if I had to deal with a doctor during birth, I might be arrested for my behavior. 
Options to Homebirth
Of course, there is the option of birthing in the hospital with a midwife. Just be sure that if this is your choice, that you be wary of “medical midwives” who may hold very similar views of birth as a doctor might. You see this a bit more when the midwife is working very closely with a doctor and/or is in a hospital that doesn’t have a good track record of natural birth. A birth center can offer the “best of both worlds”…birth centers have an inviting, home-like environment and can be a great option for those who aren’t quite ready to take the leap to a homebirth.
Midwifery Care
Midwife. Just saying that word makes my heart sing. I know so many amazing, inspiring women who are midwives… I currently have 2 friends who are midwives (meet Cosette, my midwife in Des Moines and my current midwife in Bozeman, Rebecca / *website here*), and 5 who are training to be. The very sound of that word crossing my lips brings a smile to my face.
Midwives are EXPERTS in natural birth. Doctors are experts in high-risk, medicalized birth. I am glad there there are doctors that can help out when there is a true emergency. However, it is my opinion that most “emergencies” in a hospital birth are avoidable. The progression of interventions that occur in a hospital are almost always a direct result of a doctor’s impatience and/or misconceptions about the birth process. A homebirth with a midwife (or unassisted) is one way to avoid unnecessary interventions.
Another reason that I love midwives is that the pregnancy season is so much different when you are meeting with them instead of a doctor. It’s a relationship that develops…a partnership. It’s just…different. Your appointments are usually about an hour long, instead of a quick in and out with a nurse and doctor. There are also several things during pregnancy and birth that I see as totally normal…such as:
- Declining the “routine tests” during pregnancy unless warranted.
- Not getting an ultrasound (this is not a very popular opinion, but I would assert that ultrasounds in general…except for instance of pregnancy complications…are not healthy for the baby and have not been proven completely safe. See research here and here. Even the American Medical Association recommends against “routine” ultrasounds, including those to determine gender, size, twins, etc.)
- Using a fetoscope to listen to the heartbeat instead of a Doppler. We have one at home that we use to listen whenever we want! We will use a Doppler during labor/birth.
- Not checking dilation during labor…but relying on bodily cues instead.
- Not being “told” when to push.
I know that there are some of you out there thinking “But Sara, if I wouldn’t have been in a hospital, my baby would have died”. I don’t want to discount your birth experience at all…and I’m not going to fight with anyone over that point. I just know that based on statistics, homebirth is as safe or safer than hospital birth for low-risk women with a skilled birth attendant. Many times, the interventions that happen in the hospital are actually the CAUSE of the problem that resulted in an emergency C-section, etc. There are certainly situations that can only be handled by a hospital…but it’s very, very few in the overall scheme of things. Even breech babies and twins (even triplets!) can be born at home safely.
There is also the misconception among those unfamiliar with homebirth that if a problem did arise during birth, there would not be time to get to a hospital. However, midwives are trained to recognize potential issues BEFORE they become a problem…leaving plenty of time to transfer to the hospital if needed. Homebirth midwives also carry equipment with them to assist in these cases…oxygen tanks, a Doppler to listen to the heart rate throughout labor, pitocin or herbs to stop bleeding, and so on.
One of my very favorite books is Ina May’s Guide To Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin. In it, she details the statistics for 2,028 births that occurred over 30 years at The Farm in Tennessee. Out of those births, only 1.4% resulted in C-section. This is a little different than the current national C-section rate of at least 30%. Her other statistics are just as astounding…see the back of her book for the entire listing.
Another very disturbing statistic is the U.S. infant mortality rate. Basically, I am safer going to 28 other countries than to birth in a typical setting in the U.S. That’s just doesn’t make sense to me…you think it would be super low if hospital births truly are safer than homebirths.
I could write pages upon pages on my feelings about midwifery laws, the benefits of homebirth, a woman’s choice to choose where she wants to birth, etc. But…I’m trying to cover a lot in this one post. If you’re interested in more info, Google will be your best friend
Natural Pregnancy: Being Good To Your Body and Baby
I feel much healthier this time around for several reasons. I’m eating a vegetarian diet, which means that I have eliminated the source of most chemicals and hormones that pregnant women ingest. I’m taking much better supplements, I’m getting chiropractic care, massages, and doing yoga. I’m still not exercising regularly, except for chasing Bella around and housework That’s something I’m working on. I want to do some pilates type strengthening of my arms and legs especially. Here are some specifics:
Food:
I’m currently eating a mostly vegetarian diet rich in protein and healthy fats. I eat a lot of eggs, beans, brown rice, raw nuts and seeds, nut butters, avocados, fruits, veggies, whole grains and noodles, and dark leafy greens such as kale and spinach. I throw in some tofu and tempeh here and there. I do my best to avoid processed white flour and white sugar and if I do have sweetner, it’s in the form of agave nectar, pure maple syrup, or honey. I’ve recently cut out dairy, in preparation for nursing the new babe…and also because I just feel much better when I’m off of it. I don’t feel that cow’s milk products are beneficial for human bodies…although I have to fight against my urges because cheese is tasty and addictive Find out more about what I like to eat at Happy Foody.
Supplements:
Floradix
I’m always surprised when I tell someone about Floradix and they don’t know what it is! I just figured that EVERY pregnant woman knew about it…because it’s like a magic potion! If you are lightheaded, tired, or short of breath (like I was)…chances are you are low in iron. Floradix is a fabulous herbal supplement that you can feel working in just a few hours. When I forget to take it for a day, I absolutely notice a difference in my energy levels. I feel like a drug pusher because I’m always trying to get people to take it But it really is that fabulous.
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
I’m a big believer in this wonderful tea. I wrote about it over at Happy Foody…but here is why you should drink it:
Red Raspberry Leaf: the best known and quintessential herb for pregnancy. Brewed as a tea or as an infusion, it contains fragrine, an alkaloid, which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvis and uterus. The benefits of this toning action include: prevention of miscarriage and false labor, reduction of pain during and after birth, production of more effective contractions during labor and therefore a faster birth, and prevention of postpartum hemorrhage or bleeding. Red Raspberry is also an rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and E, as well as the minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients make it an excellent prevention and treatment for anemia and leg cramps, as well as a beneficial remedy for the reduction of morning sickness. The high mineral content also assists in the production of breast milk. (info from Birth Junkie)
I’ve been making my own concoction lately of RRL, nettles, and peppermint. My wonderful friend Rebecca just gave me a special yummy stash from Earth Mama / Angel Baby Organics. Although theirs is called “Third Trimester Tea”…you can drink it anytime. Most people will start in their 2nd trimester. If you have had previous complications or have a history of pre-term labor, consult your herbalist or midwife before taking in large quantities.
New Life Vitamins
I was previously taking Rainbow Light Prenatals…but after talking with Rebecca, my midwife, I’m now taking New Life Prenatals and I LOVE them. They are much smaller (not a horse pill!), “cleaner” and assimalate into my body faster and better (to test your vitamins, put them in apple cider vinegar for 45 minutes and if they dissolve completely, they are good!). I trust her opinion because she has worked in that industry and is pretty much a smarty pants when it comes to supplements.
Calcium
I’m taking additional calcium to help with “jumpy legs” at night and also because I’m not doing dairy. I’m currently taking Calcium Lactate by Standard Processing. Avoid calcium carbonate, and go for calcium citrate or calcium lactate. The second two are much more absorbable by the body.
Probiotics
Probiotics are extrememly important for digestion, immune function, controlling/supressing yeast in the body, etc. The best way to get these would be through a whole food source…yogurt being one of the best. But because I am not eating dairy and I don’t really love soy or goat yogurt, I am currently taking PB8. My midwife also recommends Pearls.
Nordic Naturals DHA
I think that everyone should be taking fish oil…but especially preganant women! It does so many good things for your body, I can’t even begin to list them all here. Fish oils are expecially important for kids to take too. Bella’s favorite is Barlean’s Lemon Swirl. But here is a blurb from Nordic Naturals explaining why should should take DHA, especially in the 3rd tri:
DHA, which constitutes approximately 40% of the brain, supports brain development during the last trimester of pregnancy when the unborn child’s demand for neurological growth increases greatly. If added to the mother’s diet, it can help prevent the depletion of the mother’s store of DHA and support the developing baby’s essential fatty acid needs. Currently, the proposed Adequate Intake of DHA for pregnant and lactating women is 300 mg per day.
Yoga
Yoga is a wonderful practice to engage in during pregnancy. I’ve found this to be one of very favorite things to do lately! I’ve found a great prenatal class in Bozeman that I attend once a week, but I also try to practice at home, even just for a few minutes a day. Yoga helps to align your body for carrying the baby and for birth, and also assists in “opening” up your hips and “making space” for your growing baby. I’ve found that I am so much more aware of my posture and my breathing during the day since taking up yoga and I’ve noticed a big difference in my muscle tension overall. One of the best postures for pregnancy is the “Cat/Cow” or the “Cat Back”. I do this even before getting out of bed in the morning to help align and loosen my spine and lower back and then again during the day as needed. I also love Child’s Pose with legs open wider, The Squat to prepare for birth and The Pigeon to open up my hips. Love it. Love it. Love it. I’m currently looking for a great yoga DVD to do at home and would love suggestions from those who have found one they really like.
Chiropractic Care
This is been a LIFESAVER so far in my pregnancy. I have been going to Dr. Amy Thomas in Bozeman…she has worked closely with the birth center there…tracking the outcomes of pregnancies/deliveries with and without chiropractic care. Their findings are really encouraging. With Bella, I had some trouble-shooting type chiropractic done, but this time around, I’m going at least once a week to keep everything in alignment. It’s so important for your hips to be aligned correctly…this can really affect your length of labor. According to a recent study, women receiving chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had a reduction time of 24% in labor time, and subjects giving birth for a second or third time reported a 39% reduction in labor times. I’m hoping this baby will just SHOOT right out of me!
I also found this interesting and just reinforced why I won’t be birthing on my back…
“Body position during delivery is critical. Any late second state labor position that denies postural sacral rotation denies the mother and the baby critical pelvic outlet diameter and moves the tip of the sacrum up to four centimeters into the pelvic outlet. In other words, the semi-recumbent position that places laboring women on their backs and onto the apex of the sacrum closes off the vital space needed for the baby to get through the pelvic outlet. This delivery position is the main reason why so many births are traumatic, labor is stalled, the mom becomes fatigued and overwhelmed by pain, so the utilization of epidurals, forceps, episiotomies, vacuum extraction, and cesarean increases. This is why squatting is the preferred position–gravity works to help and the pelvic outlet can open to a greater degree. (Pathways/Issue 20)
Massage
There is nothing more blissful than a massage during pregnancy. Oh. My. Goodness. I had the pleasure of having one just yesterday from a wonderful massage therapist who specializes in prenatal massage and has a special table for big bellies I will continue to get massages throughout this pregnancy…not only for relaxation, but also because when the muscles in your body are tense, they will “pull” your chiropractic work out right away! It’s best to utilize massage and chiropractic at the same time to compliment each other. These things may seem like “indulgences” to some, but for me, they are just part of preparing my body for birth and maintaining holistic health.
Honoring The Placenta
The placenta is a phenomenal organ! I am planning making a “print” from my placenta right after birth, as well as dehyrating, grinding, and encapsulating my placenta to ingest after birth. For more information about this process and why on earth I would want to take my placenta in pill form, check out Placenta Benefits. Here is a nice article from Mothering about honoring the placenta.
Water, Water, Everywhere
With Bella, we used the ever popular “fishy pool” and it worked great! We did have to add hot water a few times, which was a little distracting, but for the most part, it was good. And cheap! This time around I’m planning on using a larger tub with it’s own heater such as the AquaDoula or La Bassine.
RESOURCES:
Recommended Documentaries:
Business of Being Born (Every pregnant mama needs to watch this! Find it on Netflix, Amazon, or at your library)
Orgasmic Birth
Birth As We Know It
YouTube Birth Videos:
Olive’s Homebirth
Betsy’s Homebirth
VBAC Homebirth (after 3 C-sections)
Laura Shanley discussing unassisted birth and the physiology of birth
Recommended Books:
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth (if you only read ONE, this is it!)
Birthing From Within (take the class if there is one in your area!)
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth
Hello Baby (a great kid’s book about homebirth from the UK…Bella loves it! We were able to find a version for about $15)
Gentle Birth Choices
Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care
The Pregnancy Book
The Birth Book
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Groups To Join:
La Leche League (I would highly suggest going to at least one meeting BEFORE the birth of your first baby…just to introduce yourself and meet the wonderful mamas who will be able to help you in your early days of breastfeeding. You are much more likely to get frustrated and potentially quit nursing if you don’t attend a meeting)
Holistic Moms Network
Attachment Parenting International
Magazines To Read:
Mothering
The Compleat Mother
Stay Far Away From:
What To Expect When You’re Expecting
This book offers little to nothing to the reader when it comes to preparing for a normal birth. I really do not like how the book uses language that encourages the view of the doctor as the know it all. The doctor does NOT know it all. Some doctors have never in their entire practice seen a natural birth without interventions. The book does a great job of creating fear instead of empowering women to see their bodies as amazing, powerful, and able to birth naturally. So if you want to freak out and be worried and wonder all the time if something is wrong, then you should read this book. If you want to learn more about your body and what the birth process is truly like, then read the books I’ve listed above.
Birth Reality Shows
Again, if you want to create fear within yourself, go ahead and watch A Baby Story and all of the like. I would recommend against it. “Normal” birth rarely sells…so most of the births on there are intervention city! There have been some that have focused on homebirth or midwife-assisted births, but they are few and far between.
Most Mainstream Pregnancy Magazines and Online Forums
This is mostly a personal preference of mine…but I really just can’t stand them. They usually aren’t in line with my birthing philosophies, so I avoid them altogether and choose to surround myself with resources and people that are uplifting and encourage me in my chosen birth path.
Stayed tuned for future posts on:
- Cloth Diapering
- Babywearing
- The Family Bed
- Breastfeeding
- Vaccination awareness
Pregnancy photos here, including my pregnancy with Bella and some other friends.
Photos of Bella’s birth.
The photo above is a self-portrait of Matt and I when I was 40 weeks pregnant with Bella.
Posted by Sara @ 10:20 pm | Leave a Comment
12
2009
Oops – I submitted early. I just wanted to add –
Please don’t dismiss the routine blood tests – my initial tests were wonderful with my second pregnancy – a lot of the problems we were alert for seemed to not exist – as a precaution my OB reran some panels at 38 weeks and it turned out that my platelets were extremly low – low enough that with out the very observed birth I very well could have hemmoraged or worse. Again – just my offering of advice.
On the flip side – I do miss that I never got to experience going into labor – both times it was done for me – but grateful that my OB gave me the vaginal birth option first and didn’t jump to Csection even though I was considered very high risk both times. I did have to labor/deliver on my back and side both times due to blood pressure – but wasn’t pushed into the c-section. I knew if my labor didn’t progress fast enough that a c-section was the next step – but again so grateful I was given the option to try to deliver – I know many in the same situation that weren’t given that option.
I don’t know if I added anything to the discussion – but thank you for the forum as it’s helped me. Thanks and best wishes for your pregnancy and delivery.
12
2009
Hi Sara,
This post is right up my alley as I’m currently 34 weeks pregnant. I haven’t read all the comments, so I apologize if this information is redundant but wanted to recommend a great pilates dvd and yoga dvd, both prenatal.
Pilates the 10 minute solution–it’s GREAT! You can choose any number of 10 minute combinations, or run through the whole thing. I really like this a lot.
Shiva Rea’s Prenatal yoga DVD is also very, very good. I’ve noticed such an incredible difference in the way I feel on the days I do yoga. I ache a lot less and get less twinges and uncomfortable feelings. Plus, doing the yoga poses just feels so good–like I was all tensed up but didn’t even realize until I stretched my muscled out. It feels great.
And thanks for the book recommendation–Ina (I’m forgetting the rest!). My mother just bought me a copy and I’m really excited to start reading it.
12
2009
Great post, as usual! I totally agree with everything you’ve said here. My first birth was in a hospital, with an OB and was natural. Great doctor, loved him. Fast forward four years when I was much more aware and informed, my second birth was a water birth with a midwife in a birthing center. It was WONDERFUL! I will always have water births from now on. I have nothing but great things to say about water birth.
12
2009
Thanks for a great post, Sara. I had dreams of giving birth at home, however my husband did not feel comfortable so we went to a doctor and the hospital, instead of a midwife and staying at home.
It turned out great. I told my doctor exactly what my expectations were and she did everything she could to make sure they were fulfilled. I had a great hospital experience, however I know it is not always the case and maybe next time we can go to a midwife.
12
2009
“my experience being no matter what birth experience you chose don’t turn the control of your birth over to any other person, even the midwife”
This is the key! You “deliver” your baby. No one else : D There are good and bad docs as well as good and bad midwives. Find the person that you connect with best. Birth is an amazing event in a woman’s life. If one is willing to research a camera or other silly device on Amazon/Internet for hours, don’t you think that finding a person to attend to you in birth deserves a little research?
Also, I just renewed my membership today coincidentally to a most fabulous grass roots organization: Citizens for Midwifery
http://cfmidwifery.org/index.aspx
A great resource for learning more about and for following the movement. Also, one can see what the laws are in each state. I devour the quarterly newsletter they send to members!
Thanks for the post, Sara. I am very passionate about birth, so much so that I jumped outta the comfy lurking closet to add my 2 cents : )
Christina
#1 c-section due to breech presentation
#2 HBAC in an “illegal” state attended by a most AWESOME midwife : D
12
2009
What a wonderful post! I had planned a homebirth for my first but unexpectedly had to transfer to the hospital. I was still able to have a drug-free birth, though, and it was very empowering. I had an audience of several student nurses because apparently I was a curiosity–most of them had never seen a natural birth! Someday I hope I hope to try again for a homebirth.
12
2009
Looking forward to hearing more about cloth diapering… getting ready to try it with our second baby arriving in April… =) Just bought all the supplies!
12
2009
I love this post! It is so true that most medical personnel have not seen a truly natural birth. At the hospital where I had our son, the staff all used the term “natural” in place of “vaginal”: it was a c-section or “natural”. When I had my son after being induced but not using any pain medications or having an epidural, it seemed like every nurse on the wing showed up to witness the unheard-of event and cheer me on- at one point there were eighteen people in my “private” room. It was an awesome experience, but next time around we will be going the homebirth route. I feel lucky to live in a state where the choice of having a midwife is one that all insurers in the state (FL) are legally required to cover- pretty sweet.
12
2009
A few points:
My midwife recommends nettle leaf tea during pregnancy in addition to raspberry leaf. She also recommends Floradix for anemia. She is big on protein: 90 to 100 grams a day for any pregnant woman, 140 to 150 grams a day if you’re carrying twins.
She also recommended evening primrose oil (after 38 weeks–NOT BEFORE!) to help ripen the cervix. Don’t take this without talking to a midwife.
Keep taking fish oil after the baby is born! When I stopped my baby got eczema, which cleared up a few weeks after I went back to taking it.
I also had no ultrasounds during my pregnancies. There is no proven benefit to a routine ultrasound. If a problem is developing, a midwife will detect it when measuring fundul height, checking heartbeat, baby’s position, etc. She can then refer for an ultrasound if indicated.
That said, my sister-in-law’s baby had a very flukey problem that was only detected because of a routine ultrasound. He would definitely have died without surgery they did while he was in utero.
I had two great hospital births with a midwife. Home birth would not have been a good fit for me personally. Also, I loved not having a huge mess to clean up!
ck o
12
2009
Sara–so timely that you posted this! I’ve been enjoying following your pregnancy, as I’m also pregnant with my 2nd (3rd pregnancy, though). I am working on finishing up my CCE with Birthworks, Intl. so I am literally immersed in pregnancy and birth, both professionally and personally! (BTW–I was the one that met so many of your lovely friends at the BW workshop in Des Moines last April!)
As I’m sure you’re well aware of, if a woman is planning a low-intervention, hospital birth, she will need to be diligent and pro-active in educating herself and seeking out an OB (or CNM or Family practice doc) who will support her fully. Because of some medical problems I have, I have chosen to have a hospital birth. Where I live, in St. Louis, it is not easy to find such an OB!! But they are out there and are worth all the patience needed to find them. I switched OB’s twice in my first trimester and finally found a phenomenal OB who has exceeded my expectations by respecting my knowledge about pregnancy/birth, never once has seemed “threatened” by me refusing a test, etc, and honestly–he trusts me! When I interviewed him, I explained straight out that I was looking for an OB to partner with me in this pregnancy, not simply to manage my pregnancy. The big thing that has helped me the most throughout all this is that I feel extremely confident in my body’s ability to birth this baby normally, and I believe that confidence rubs off on my OB, b/c he makes me feel empowered, as well. I empathize with any pregnant mama who doesn’t know all the pros/cons of all the different intervention in pregnancy and birth, for it is a daunting task to navigate through the medical system without that knowledge. I, like yourself, feel so passionate about the importance of eduacting and empowering women to make informed decisions regarding their pregnancies and births. It certainly is possible to have a beautiful, low-intervention hospital birth. But in order for that to happen, the expecting mama has to be pro-active in every way possible, and even more importantly, she has to filled with confidence in herself, her baby, and her body. Thanks so much for this post!
Another couple books that are wonderful additions to any “birth junkies” library are:
“Birth Reborn” by Michel Odent
“Active Birth” by Janet Balaskas
And a few fantastic birth blogs, if you’re not already familiar with these:
http://www.wonderfullymadebelliesandbabies.blogspot.com
http://www.navelgazingmidwife.squarespace.com
I hope you have another amazing homebirth!!
12
2009
hello sara,
i was just wondering is it ok to take pb8 while pregnant? i know it says on the back that cosult your doctor first. but im not sure if it is ok or not? please get back to me
thanks
12
2009
Hi Sara,
What a wonderful post! It was a great way to start my day : ) I have a three year-old daughter and I had her at a birthing center in Austin, TX with a wonderful midwife attending. I have never even imagined having a baby in a hospital and the birthing center was perfect. Now that we are more settled in our home, I would definitely want to have a home birth when I have another baby. I feel that pregnancy, labor and birth are the most amazing experiences that a woman can have. I have never been more focused and felt more at peace than when I was in labor with my daughter. I loved it!!! It was very much a spiritual experience for me. I am a social worker in hospice and have been seriously looking at changing careers and working toward becoming a midwife. I’ve always felt that in hospice, we are midwives of the soul but now I feel drawn toward the other end of the life spectrum. It will be sometime before this dream is realized, but I continue to be inspired to move in that direction. Thank you for sharing your philosophy, research and stories…I look forward to reading about your next birth experience. : )
13
2009
I’m amazed! Before reading this I was one of the people that thought that homebirth was “odd” – I appreciate the fact that you included the links so that I could read more (it is now 2 am and I’m still reading!). Thank you for sharing all of this information and for broadening my horizons. Whenever I get pregnant I now know that there are other options.
Still cautiously curious,
Katherine
13
2009
Lindsay, Bonnie
for what you experienced a doctor in Hungary would lose practice. i am so sorry i had no idea so far that things like those you described can happen legally in a country so responsible for human rights like yours. i do think there are loads of issues we must learn from you, but this one is an exception.
13
2009
as for my children’s births, with my son we had problems, my doctor suggested waiting for natural start, so we waited for about 30 hours, but there were no contractions. so it was induced finally, but then everything went fine. as for the second i stayed at home as long as i could, and when we finally got to the hospital all they needed to do is to “catch” the baby, it happened so fast. i think the worst thing about hospitals is that you have to spend there a few days after, and that is very difficult for me since conditions are not the best.
13
2009
i think i could have been more clear in my comment, sorry! (comment #5) – the reason my friend had a bad at-home birthing experience (after having 2 previous homebirths go wonderfully!), was that she found out DURING delivery that she was having twins (how they didn’t detect it beforehand i don’t know), and that the cord was choking the second twin. the midwife decided to call an ambulance – apparently she had done all she could – and my friend had to go to the hospital mid-birth and have what she considers a scary (vaginal) delivery with the second twin, with a doctor she didn’t know and who was rough.
i really hope that doesn’t scare anyone – that’s not my point – but i guess my question would be, is there a website/directory/organization that recommends midwives? i, for one, wouldn’t know where to start…perhaps there’s something like that out there?
also, a question for a future post: are certain states more ‘friendly’ to midwives? my friend told me once that homebirths are technically illegal here in nebraska. not sure if that’s true, but if it is anywhere, it’s SO wrong! (and a law obviously created to avoid litigation and to favor the mainstream medical community. good grief.)
13
2009
In response to Lindsay’s questions about midwives state-to-state:
Yes, the legality of midwives does indeed vary from state to state. I used to live in NE and what your friend told you is true. Professional midwives are technically legal, however, there is a lot of red tape that makes it very difficult to practice openly and without the fear of prosecution. I’m now in Missouri, where it was considered a felony for midwives to attend homebirths until this past June! No kidding–a FELONY. This was overturned by the MO supreme court and there are a few midwives who practice openly now, but there are still many who choose to keep their practice more secretive. Even though it is legal, midwives are still under the watchful eye of the medical community. Here is a link where you can check out the state-by-state guidelines for midwives:
http://cfmidwifery.org/states/
13
2009
I loved this post. I am currently pregnant with my third and have had two previous c-sections. I never knew that I had the option on having a VBAC with the second. I started going back to the doctor, but wasn’t really happy. I just found a doctor that will allow VBA2C and am going to meet with him soon!
Also, another bonus is that I just got 3 years of Mothering from someone on Freecycle! Score.
13
2009
Of course I am a homebirth/waterbirth advocate and yet I think that more important than the place of the birth is that the mother has had an opportunity to make informed choices. I don’t “preach” homebirth or waterbirth anymore as the “best” to friends, but encourage others to be empowered with knowledge of their body, their birthing choices, their local resources, etc. Then whatever they choose will be the BEST for them regardless of what my personal preference is. And for some, that means many interventions and they are totally comfortable with that. I guess to each his own.
When you say “fish oil”, would that also include Cod Liver Oil? I have never taken it, but keep hearing how good it would be to take daily. Any recommendations on brands would be great (I’ve heard that not all brands are created equal when it comes to fish oil)
13
2009
im such a huge fan of your blog. have been for quite a long time. i was beaming when you linked our youtube video of olive’s birth!
13
2009
Thanks for this great post, Sara – I’m an on again off again lurker, and enjoyed meeting you and your family when you stopped in Omaha last summer.
I can reply to your question about NE, Lindsay – it is currently technically illegal for a Certified Nurse-Midwife to attend a home birth in Nebraska, but it is not illegal for a family to have their baby at home, nor for a non-nurse midwife, such as Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), to attend a home birth. There are very few of these around though. If you want more information, check out Nebraska Friends of Midwives (nemidwives.org). Also there are 3 bills going through the legislature this session that would change the laws about CNMs – if you want to know more about those, come to a town hall meeting on Weds Feb 25th at 6:30 PM at the Millard Branch Library. We’ll also be featured on FOX 42 Women Matters next Weds night at 9. How’s that for a plug!?!
13
2009
Sara-
With my husband going into hospital administration and eventually becoming a CEO of a hospital, we both agree and know there are flaws in the healthcare system. I think there are other benefits that the hospital environment gives that home birthing can not. I understand there is place for both of them to exsist.
I would have died if I was not in a hospital when I had Oakley. There is no doubt in the two doctors, nurses, Garen or my mind that I would not have had enough time to get to the hospital fast enough and recieve the blood I lost or the necessary medical attention. There was actually no way of knowing I had lost the amount of blood that I did. I had a very uneventful, three hour labor. It wasn’t until one hour after he was born that I felt hungry, and instead passed out. My blood pressure was 50/30, and I could not get enough oxegen. I did pass out and did not regain myself for five hours. Had I not been surrounded by one of my best friends who happens to be a family practice doctor/ob(who has recently went into practicing bio-identical natural hormone therapy, something you would appreciate, I am currently using this method and it is amazing!)I would not be alive and well today. She was able to order all of the necessary things needed for me to be here today. The opportunity for the blood and medicine I needed would not have been any option if I was at home. Today it is still a mystery, why my body reacted the way it did that day. There were no warning signs. I felt great through the entire labor and delivery and even after. It happened so fast. I was fine and all of the sudden I was literally dying. I am so greatful for her and the hospitals access to the reqiured needs to save my life!
You mentioned you would rather birth in a third world country. Keep in mind that there is not stardard procedure for calculating mortality rates among countries, therfore this data provided by the CDC may be possibly skewed. Does Americans behaviors and lifestyles weigh in on the mortality rate rather than leaving the hospital fully responsible for this? In addition, other countries have limits to family size and America remains a free country. Are there more women having children in America? What is the mortality rate of mothers deaths during delivery in other countries compared to the U.S.?
I respect your choices in homebirthing and all of your natural living. I love the green smoothies and have one everyday for lunch!! They have made me feel so great! I also have started to juice everyday, and eat lots of organic things.
I would never trade my hospital experience for anything. Yes, the nurses are pushy, and the doctors can be in a “I will induce because I have plans this weekend” mind frame and that is not the attitude to have.
I also think it takes people like Garen or others to notice there are issues in hospitals, and who are educating themselves about the field, who have a desire to make it about the people and people’s lives. It can be a money business, but there are individuals that are passionate about helping people have quality of life and providing it in a hospital environment when needed.
One other thought about previous posts you have wrote on hosptials and medical coverage. Oakley would not be alive if the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics was not the place it is today. We would have never been able to afford the amount of cost he has incurred without insurance. Had he not been covered we would have no other way to pay for his cost without resorting to medical bankruptcy. He cost the insurance company $98,000 at a 65% discount, at cash pay it would have been 100%. That was just in a two year time, not including the other two years he has recieved care. I would never wish anyone to have a child with specific healthcare needs that REQUIRE hosptial intervention on a very regular basis. I am sooooo thankful to have the doctors and facility we have to help treat him with all of his needs.
There are lots of other things to the healthcare system that are so one sided. There is a reason there are medical bankruptcy’s. Individuals who do not have insurance are the main reason it exsits. They can’t afford insurance let alone a hospital bill that is all self pay. No one can predict the need for hosptial intervention. If you have to go for anything serious, have no insurance, and end up with any life long illness or health care managed need, such as high blood pressure, it is necessary to have that monitored and managed regularly. Every time that need requires management it is an all out of pocket expense. Anytime you go to apply for insurance there are pre exsisting conditions they don’t cover, such as that high blood pressure you were diagnosed with without any insurance. The rest of your life that will follow you and no one will help cover the cost because you had no protection upon diagnosis. How is anyone able to afford medical bills with the amount of care and medicine that requires? I hope everyone looks at both sides of the spectrum and doesn’t make a one sided opinion based on not having all the facts.
Hosptials are wonderful!! What would any of us do without emergency medicine? It is illegal for any E.R. to deny you medical care. The question is “does everyone have the abilty to pay when they have any event that requires going to the E.R.” A good place to look at is Cook County Hospital Trama dept. in Chicago. They have a 98% success rate for saving people’s lives. The highest in the nation! They have a hospital that is not all fancy and pretty lacking that great esthetic atmpshere. They are into providing the best care for the patients needs and saving lives!! One question: Would you and Matt be able to afford a catastrophic event that required major hospital intervention not having insurance? The other question is: How many of us would be able to afford to pay without insurance coverage? How would you plan to pay the hospital for the care you recieved without utilizing charity care? The doctors that saved you and your families lives? The hosptial that provided the nurses, medicine, warm bed, monitors to assess your body, food, and so much more? Hosptials are necessary to save lives.
Both of Garen’s parents have now been diagnosed with cancer. His mother was diagnosed almost two years now with stage four breast cancer that has matastized to her lymph system and bones. His dad was diagnosed two weeks ago with a tumor on his neck/throat and nose and is still in process of figuring out where it has originated. What would they do without insurance and a hosptial to provide the needs they both desperatly need to fight to stay alive? How can any couple expect that they both have a terminal illness and have so many needs that only doctors, medicine and hospitals can provide? If they did not have this option they would both have no hope of any amount of life left, not even quality of life.
I would love to hear your opinion on how you would handle the questions I have posed.
One final thought. As Americans we will go into debt to have the newest and latest vehicle. We will live above or push our means of living to have a bigger house or nicer clothes, a boat, newest and latest tech stuff, whatever it is. Americans are very self indulgent. Most Americans are offended by a medical bill where they recieved some sort of needed care and make that bill last to be paid, usually never the priority. My question is how important is your health and quality of life? What is it worth to a person to feel good and take care of their bodies and have the best care avaliable. Even at an expense that doesn’t seem right to the budget. I think if people had a different frame of mind and prioritized their health care needs and chose to take an investment in there body America would be a healthier society.
In light of all of this I understand the mechanisms used by health insurance companies to provide coverage may not provide complete financial stability. Likewise, hospitals have a great challenge to overcome cost,quality, and access issues. This understanding and for the reasons people discredit hospitals, physicians, and health insurance companies. For this reason and those that you have arguments against, I understand your frustration to the medical industry. Garen feels he has been called by God to the hosptial field as a ministry to serve in this capacity.
I appreciate your agruments and concerns. It is vital to hear the people’s concerns to help improve our health care system.
Ariane
13
2009
This is one of my fave homebirth videos too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XmwED82poc&NR=1
13
2009
Just in case any vegetarians don’t know (because I didn’t know while I was pregnant and only started taking them while breastfeeding), there are veggie sources of DHA made from algae, which is what fish eat to become so DHA rich.
13
2009
Wow, thanks so much for sharing this wealth of information! I look forward to future posts!
13
2009
YAY! I’m soooo excited to have a homebirth this time around! I’m about 18 weeks right now, and have been enjoying this pregnancy so much more than my last 2. I feel peaceful, empowered and relaxed. I cherish the moments I feel flutters, and have been listening more intensely to my body for what it needs. It’s wonderful to view pregnancy and birth as a beautiful thing rather than just a curse, as I’ve viewed it my whole life. Thank you for your reassurance.
13
2009
Thank you for your wonderful post. I can go on and on about homebirth and related topics, but you did it for me! All three of my children were born at home and I consider those births to be the most sacred and empowering moments in my life thus far. My first child had an umbilical cord that was only 10 inches long. It broke from the placenta as soon as the midwife gently lifted her to suction out her nose and mouth. Had there been any interventions (premature breaking of water, making me lie down due to epidural, etc.) she would have likely died during labor/delivery. So not only was it a wonderful experience, but the home birth probably saved her life.
May you have another wonderful birth.
13
2009
I guess it’s hard NOT to comment on this post. I have to throw my two cents into the mix…I have two lovely little girls right now. The first was born in a hospital, the second at home…what a night and day difference!
Even though I felt completely safe with my doctor, and had discussed my–very natural–views. He didn’t necessarily agree but was willing to comply. Even with that support, every step along the way was a fight. I had to fight off nurses–who granted were just trying to do their job!–and due to “hospital procedure” was unable to walk around in a way that I desired. The birth ended in my daughter being sent up to the NICU unit due to meconium aspiration.
Second time around, homebirth with an amazing, Jesus believing midwife. Our second little was born in the water, in a very peaceful atmosphere. Not all believe me when I say; homebirth was a worship experience. Life is so beautiful.
It’s funny, when I first found I was pregnant with my second little, I went back to my original doctor and in talking to his partner, he informed me that “midwives have more success, because they take out the fear factor” Ha. The truth speaks.
Thanks for this great post, inspiring all the mamma’s!
13
2009
Ariane…hello deary
It’s so nice to see you here! *hugs*
I will try to address some of your questions/concerns…although I’m sure I won’t be able to hit all of them.
You’ve made my point perfectly…that homebirth is wonderful for low risk, normal pregnancies. And most pregnancies are that! Even some pregnancies that are deemed high-risk a doctor, are really not. Your birth was an exception, not the norm, and I am very glad you were able to get the care you needed.
Regarding the infant mortality rate…I never said that I would rather birth in a third world country. I just made the point that 28 countries (not necessarily and most likely not third world) have better outcomes with their babies and mamas than the U.S.
Then entire second half of your comment about Oakley…proves another point that I had made. In my previous post, I stated that I realize how blessed we are to not have major health issues (so sorry to hear about Garen’s parents!)…and yet I still do not feel the need to pay money into a corrupt and fallible system. I have nothing whatsoever against the medical system when it’s actually doing what it’s there for…treating sick people that cannot otherwise be healed.
It’s not wholly the medical system’s fault that there is so much corruption…it lies with the insurance companies as well. Like I said in my post, “most of those bankrupted by illness had health insurance. More than three-quarters were insured at the start of the bankrupting illness.” That’s just not a very promising statistic…and while I know that it’s a “risk” to not have health insurance, it’s a choice we’ve made at this time.
I wish Garen all the best in his education and career endeavors…I miss you my friend! xxoo sara
14
2009
Sara-
Thanks for adressing my questions. Best of luck with your pregnancy/birth experience. Have fun traveling the next six weeks. I miss you too! I check out your blog as well as Heth’s all the time. It’s fun to see what you are doing in life!
Ariane
14
2009
consider this, taken out of t. colin campbell’s book THE CHINA STUDY, “the Journal of the American Medical Assoc. included an article stating that physician error, medication error and adverse events from drugs or surgery kill 225,400 people per year. that makes our health CARE system the third leading cause of death in the US, behind only cancer and heart disease. out of this group 100,000 die from medication that was perscribed properly and taken properly. that is not even counting the 1 out of 15 people who are just damaged from the MEDICINE”.
none of us are naive enough or ignorant enough to not believe doctors and hospitals have their purpose and have saved many lives, but 225,400!
hospital birth, doctors, hospitals, medication, it’s all PERSPECTIVE, how each individual sees it. (I) would use them with extreme caution and as a last resort, that’s ME, most americans consider them way more than they are, HUMAN.
14
2009
Sara,
I really enjoyed your post! I am 30 weeks pregnant with my first and have been tying to figure out what my “natural” options are.
The only thing I find discouraging is that a “natural” birth only seems to be an option for low-risk moms with low-risk pregnancies. To look at me, I seem totally healthy; you would never think I had so many health problems, and most of that is because I am really vigilant about caring for body.
I am 25, and I have type II diabetes, PCOS, fibromyalgia, and celiac disease, and I used to have unexplained high blood pressure (probably from the stress and pain of the undiagnosed celiac disease and fibromyagia – it went away when I started treatment for both), and I also have peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, but that’s relatively minor in comparison! I have had my fair share of dealing with unhelpful doctors – all those conditions are notoriously difficult to diagnose, and I had to really push for almost 5 years to figure out what was wrong with me. And then I had to really push NOT to be put on a lot of drugs.
I’m a big believer in being as natural as possible – I am on a gluten-free diet, the “fertility diet”, the diabetic diet, and organic everything. I think that’s a fancy way of saying, I eat a lot of vegetables and whole foods, and virtually nothing processed, refined, or “fast”
With the diet, I was able to successfully lower my blood pressure and stay off a host of medications to deal with the other stuff, but I still have to take 1500mg of one medication to control my blood sugar, and 25mg of another to control my fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy pain.
With the pregnancy I have, count-em, SIX doctors overseeing this baby: my GP, a second GP my insurance mandated, my OB, my diabetic endocrinologist, my nutritionist, and my fetal-material specialist. Considering all that, I feel remarkably calm about the whole thing – when you’ve got as many health problems as I do and you’ve been struggling with them as long as I have, eventually you just have to make an executive decision that you are not going to let xyz health issues cause you stress anymore – that you are in control of your condition, they are not in control of you.
All that is to say, I don’t even know where to start with wanting a natural birth, or what is reasonable to expect or ask for given my health conditions. I do know I want as few drugs as possible in me or in the baby but otherwise?
And honestly, where do I even start with a doula or a midwife? How do I add ANOTHER voice into the mix of the chorus or medical personnel giving me advice/telling me what to do?
I hate that a “natural” birth only seems to be an option for those lucky “low-risk” pregnancies, and that those of us who are not so blessed seem to be at the mercy of the hospital staff. Does ANYONE have any advice for those of us who don’t have the option of a home birth?
14
2009
Wow! What a wealth of knowledge and great information. I do have one caution to throw out to all Mama’s…Our son was born with hydrocephalus (which caused his head to be very enlarged at birth…53.5cm) Had we not had an ultrasound at 20 weeks, we most likely would have both died during childbirth. Even with a early, planned c-section (medically necessary) The doctor had a very difficult time removing my son. 1 in every 1000 babies is born with hydrocephalus. So, knowing what I know now, I would definitely recommend getting at least one ultrasound.
Whew! Kind of downer, I know- but things could have ended very badly for us. Anywhoo- congrats on the new little one! You must be just dying in anticipation
14
2009
Wow, I can’t help but comment in response to Rebecca – you poor dear – I cannot imagine having to deal with all those issues! I am a PCOS and Insulin Resistance mama myself, so I do at the very least have an inkling of dealing with that – but all the neuro stuff and celiac’s on top of it…very tough. I really admire your perseverance and rise-above attitude! I think that all those doctors should do a good job between them identifying if anything is actually going wrong with this pregnancy. There is no reason to have any of them intervene and actually DO anything to you besides monitor unless they have actual evidence that something is going badly. It sounds like you take amazing care of yourself, and no doubt that will translate to a healthy baby. Hopefully as the pregnancy continues, you won’t encounter any real actual complications, such as high blood pressure, etc. Of course, being a diabetic mom, they will be concerned about baby’s size, so I would recommend doing more research of your own about that. As far as I know, if your blood sugar is well controlled, the baby’s weight will correlate more with your total weight gain than anything else…so as long as you don’t gain 60 lbs, your baby will probably be normal size! This is the long way of saying that assuming nothing really goes wrong before the end, you will undoubtledly be trying to fend off an induction and/or elective cesarean. If there is no evidence of anything being truly wrong, there is not reason you should need intervention to give birth. A doula or a midwife would be able to help you discern whether you have any true complications that require intervention, or if your docs are “just trying to be on the safe side.” Also educating yourself is the most important tool – look for an excellent childbirth class such as Birthing From Within, Birth Works, or Bradley…there are many more… Then when the time comes, you just need to surround yourself with strong people who will create an safe space around you and give you the support you need to manage labor in spite of the additional monitoring they will surely want you to have. For example, it would be great to have someone who can physically hold the monitor on your belly while you move freely, as opposed to being stuck in bed holding still for the convenience of the monitor. If you have to pay all these people, you might as well have them earn their keep with their hands and not just their machines! I wish you the best birth possible!
15
2009
Hi Sara! I’ve been following your happy food blog and your flickr site for awhile. Love them! I had a fantastic home birth with our first, but my 2nd home birth, the birth of our son in august 08, was incomparable, indescribable! Absolutely amazing all levels!! From reading this post, I know you know it, but you are on the right track to an amazing birthing experience. Just a fellow home birther chiming in
Happy birthing, I wish you all the best!
15
2009
I have had five children all in hospital. Only one, the first would the hospital have had the opportunity to tell me when to push.
I am not sure why I caught them unawares, but the second wasn’t caught, the third was getting or had got her gloves on, the fourth wasn’t caught and the fifth the nurse was well warned and I told her the baby was coming. I don’t think hubby pushed frantically enough on the bell. If I could do it again, I would have the position of the cord checked first like what happened with our fifth baby.
15
2009
This is some great information. I notice the prenatal vitamins contained red clover. I thought Red clover should be avoided in pregnant or breastfeeding women because of its estrogenlike properties
15
2009
although you are not a political blog i hope you might blog a bit on vaccines. i had a very medical birth for my son as I have a congenital heart disease but even with THAT folks should know it is STILL ok to say to no tests etc.. ask dr and then yourself…WHAT will be the result of this test and then will that make any difference in what we do. for example, we did an invitro heart ultrasound because I have a heart problem and we wanted to have a cardio on call if needed. however i declined to ‘re-do’ that blood test they give to tell if ‘something is wrong.’ it came back abnormal..oh well.. so it is not an all or nothing thing- even if you do have a high risk pregnancy. there are STILL options. AND have a POST BIRTH PLAN FOR THE BABY WRITTEN OUT..including any shots you do or don’t want for your baby ESPECIALLY if MOM is high risk. some decisions have to be made on the fly. many do NOT and DH can always be asked if you are not able to answer.
15
2009
Hi Sara,
While I appreciate this post, I struggle to agree with your decision. My best friend delivered a beautiful baby girl stillborn in 2007. Her daughter died when her umbilical cord kinked at her belly button. Had she had an ultrasound at 36 weeks, she would have seen the cord issue and been able to deliver a healthy baby girl at any time. Mamas who lose babies to cord incidents were never considered high risk. Once you’ve had one stillbirth you’re still not considered high risk even though you are 4x more likely to deliver another stillborn than you were before. Routine ultrasounds during the last 4 weeks of your pregnancy along with fetal heart monitoring were what my best friend opted for and at 37 weeks, she delivered a healthy baby boy. She made great use of the pregnancy institute and Dr. Collins in Louisiana.
preginst.com Something to look into… for statistics and research. Regardless of all of that, even if the medical system provided ultrasounds for mamas every week for the last 4 weeks of pregnancy, homebirth seems geared to provide the most comforting and “pleasant” experience for the mother. Most times I think that the mother would want the baby’s health to be the primary focus, not her comfort. There are flaws in the medical system- standard of care should be changed certainly, however I wonder how could a midwife deal with a cord issue if there were never any ultrasounds to begin with? As I consider having my own babies- I’m surrounded with multiple opinions and how can you possibly know what your birth will be like? Would I like to have a calm, comfortable, pleasant birth? Absolutely. If something were wrong with my baby, would I want to be in a hospital near a NICU? Absolutely! How do you decide? Thank goodness I have at least 9 months to consider…
15
2009
Excellant post. I myself had a beautiful unassisted homebirth with my own son. It is so wonderful to see you doing what you feel is best for you and you baby. I look forward to hearing of your successful birth of baby #2.
15
2009
Thanks for the comment, Sara! I didn’t know about the information you shared, and I will keep that in mind for my future possibilities…
If you would stop writing such intriguing posts, maybe I could write my own original ideas instead of just responding to what you write!
Happy travels, I hope you and baby are feeling good during your trip!
17
2009
Hi Sara, I love this post! It encompasses everything I feel and love about birth as well. I enjoyed learning about the placenta encapsulation too as that was new to me and the first time I heard it mentioned in my midwives office I admit that it sounded gross. But after reading more, I see the benefits and would be open to it as well. Don’t you just love educating us!?
I’ve had two natural homebirths out of my four pregnancies and I would never go back to a dr/hospital birth. For anyone who is considering homebirth, I would add that there is just nothing on earth like being tucked into your own bed with your new baby after giving birth at home. It’s the best feeling in the world.
I hope I might have one more baby birth in me and get to experience it just once more. We shall see!
On another note, I wanted to point you to our pregnancy tea in my store – http://www.fullcirclebaby.com. It’s organic and tastes yummy – just in case you want to try out one more.
Congratulations to you and I can’t wait to hear about the amazing birth you will have this time around. What a lucky baby you have!
17
2009
Hi! Are you familiar with Serene Allison who is Nancy Campbells daughter? Serene was an avid vegetarian an raw foodist for many years. But, after bearing several children on this diet her babies began experiencing disturbing health problems such as brown, rotting first baby teeth and lack of language development. Serene stresses that she ate the most nutritious raw food diet imaginable. She does not eat junk or sugar. She now eats according to Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. For example, she has incorporated lots of RAW milk and fermented raw vegetables into her diet. Just thought I would share some of her experience in the baby making department. You may be able to find more info at aboverubies.org
17
2009
Hi Sara,
I am new to your blog and really enjoy it. Your birthing post was very helpful and informative. It was nice to hear someone express a lot of the same opinions that I hold. I would have liked to have a homebirth/waterbirth with our son, but my husband was uncomfortable with the idea. Instead I did my Hypnobirthing in the hospital. I ended up having to have a C-section because my son was too big for me to birth naturally. Even though I wish I could’ve had the natural birth I prepared myself for, I thank the Lord for His gifts with modern medicine, my son and/or I might not be here today without it. Now I am expecting again, and was glad to see your post about Floradix. I have been having the breathlessness and fatigue as well. When my husband suggested we go to our whole foods store and I told him about your post. I was happy to see the store carried Floradix, but when my husband saw the price tag he said, “Read someone else’s blog!” Hehe.
17
2009
Tay asked:
I was just wondering is it ok to take pb8 while pregnant?
Yes! Probiotics are safe during pregnancy…and are extremely beneficial. They always have that little “warning” on the back of anything to cover their bum.
Rebecca:
There is definitely no reason why
you could not have a natural, non-intervention birth. Just because you have 6 doctors monitoring you…don’t “give your birth away” to them. You CAN have the birth that you want! You absolutely need to hire a doula too
Colleen said:
I thought Red clover should be avoided in pregnant or breastfeeding women because of its estrogen-like properties.
Everything I’ve read says that red clover is recommended in pregnancy and also during nursing.
Sarah said:
Regardless of all of that, even if the medical system provided ultrasounds for mamas every week for the last 4 weeks of pregnancy, homebirth seems geared to provide the most comforting and “pleasant” experience for the mother. Most times I think that the mother would want the baby’s health to be the primary focus, not her comfort.
I am of the firm belief that my baby is MUCH safer being born in my home than in a hospital. It’s not just about my comfort
Sarah asked:
If something were wrong with my baby, would I want to be in a hospital near a NICU? Absolutely! How do you decide?
I can be NEAR a NICU and still have a homebirth. I don’t need to be just down the hall.
Regarding your friend’s experience…it’s extremely tragic and very rare. Most pregnancies are uneventful and normal…not requiring any intervention at all. In a small percentage of births, bad things happen. And if I applied your logic to my pregnancy, it wouldn’t make sense anyway…because to have a 2nd ultrasound at 36 weeks is just not done very often.
It’s very easy to create an atmosphere of fear around pregnancy, especially if you read every report and study and listen to everyone else’s horror stories. I choose to surround myself with positive people and do not let myself get bogged down in the “fear factor”. Am I being irresponsible by not having a 20 week ultrasound? No. When even the AMA recommends AGAINST routine ultrasound, it doesn’t seem like something that is highly necessary. Midwives are trained to detect potential problems…granted, not all things can be detected, but that’s a choice everyone has to make on their own based on their comfort level. I truly hope that if/when you do get pregnant that you have a wonderful, fear-free pregnancy!
Meghann said:
When my husband suggested we go to our whole foods store and I told him about your post. I was happy to see the store carried Floradix, but when my husband saw the price tag he said, “Read someone else’s blog!” Hehe.
I had to laugh at this!
because I can totally relate to the sticker shock. However, I’m definitely of the opinion that you can’t put a price on the health of your baby, your body, and having energy! Go get some of that Floradix mama!! 
18
2009
I have one question for you. The Floradix is a vitamin/iron supplement right? So is it ok to take an additional prenatal with it?
18
2009
i love this post!
and oh….how it makes me so hopeful we are able to have another homebirth with our expectant baby! our daughter was born at home and while it was ridiculously hard, it was SO much easier at home than i know it would have been in a hospital (i know this because i worked as a sign language interpreter and in the months before she was born i stood by the side of four birthing mamas at both hospitals in our area).
sadly, where we live currently is not on the homebirth radar, unless we pay $4k out of pocket to have a midwife come to us. i would love to say we keep $4k in the bank in the event of a baby
but we don’t. we’ve called midwifery schools and asked our previous midwife (whom we love very much and wish she could be with us again!) if she knew of anyone in the general area.
there is a birth center about 45 minutes away that does homebirths in surrounding counties (just not our county) and we are currently using them. i adore the midwives there and they’ve talked with us about the possibility of having a homebirth, but it really comes down to the day the baby decides to arrive.
we are praying as hard as we can, but know it’s up to the Lord and we’re happy with that. 
what would you say to mamas who would love to have a homebirth but the cost is prohibitive? i know many states make it mandatory for insurances to cover the cost of a midwife-attended homebirth, but we have federal insurance through my husband’s governmental job and it will not pay for a homebirth unless it’s billed through a birth center. and there are states that do not protect homebirths, so those mamas have to pay out of pocket, too. i guess logically a couple would save up until they could afford the birth they want, but that doesn’t seem right to me. i don’t know.
thank you for all the resources, research, and recommendations for a healthy pregnancy! my daughter takes probiotics daily and i’ve often wondered whether my husband and i should be taking them, as well. our diet is varied and usually pretty healthy (i wish it were better but oh! the temptation), but from everything i’ve seen probiotics are just adding better to what’s already good. she takes baby jarro acidophilus (i really don’t know how to spell that), recommended by our pediatrician (who is awesome) and i think there’s a grown-up variety. and i was quite surprised at you mentioning floradix. i had no idea there was an adult floradix vitamin! our daughter takes the children’s floradix when our health food store is out of the country life liquid vitamin for infants and children.
thanks, sara! enjoy your few weeks of traveling
18
2009
and oh my! i just clicked through your flickr photos of bella’s birth and not only is she gorgeous and the pictures stunning, but i had no idea my daughter has almost the exact same name! i always thought your daughter’s name was bella – short for nothing. our daughter’s name is isabel grace.
she’s not yet two and we haven’t started any sort of nickname with her, though she calls herself ah-bel. she can’t get the isa- part out quite yet. 
i love the name!
20
2009
just wanted to say- TRUST BIRTH! Pregnancy and birth can be such a wonderful and amazing thing and I am excited for your journey! Enjoy it =)
21
2009
Sara,
So glad for your blog post. I’m a big home birth fan for myself but an even bigger fan of women creating the birth they want on their own terms, no matter where they choose. You really hit the nail on the head when you said the most important thing is that each woman can hold the power of choice in her birth experience and not “give her birth away.”
I’m so glad for my experience birthing at home the second time around. It was an extreme contrast to my first birth in a hospital, where at every turn I was fighting my fears, others’ expectations, and unnecessary interventions for my doctor’s convenience. (I didn’t even know home birth was an option during my first pregnancy).
Although I can’t remember who asked the question about where to find information about local home birth midwives, I found the most up to date, relevant information (including personal experiences) from my local LLL meeting. Also a great place to meet other like-minded mamas.
I also wanted to mention a great magazine (my current favorite.) The Mother Magazine published out of the UK brings a lot of great information together and really helped me find an international community of women (and families) with a mindset like my own.
Thanks again for your fabulous post.