Comments on: A Journey Into Pregnancy and Birth

By: Finley Mitchell

Finley Mitchell — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:12:40 +0000

you won’t be able to eat any food that you want during pregnancy as some foods could be harmful to the baby, like foods that ha;*-

By: eczema symptoms

eczema symptoms — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:22:46 +0000

It has been found that eczema is not a contagious disease and it is very much curable. There is eczema treatment for all kinds of eczema, be it atopic eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, infantile seborrhoeic eczema, adult seborrhoeic eczema or any other form of eczema.

By: dustin burns

dustin burns — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 04:18:27 +0000

Sara,

I am loving your blog. I am currently pregnant with baby #3 and devoured all you had to say here. My first two were born naturally in hospitals, and (PRAISE GOD!) this third one will be a home birth! I could go on and on, but I will spare you the details. Thanks for all the wonderful recommendations and great sources to check into.

And I totally agree about the What to Expect series. They freaked me out!

By: Dudley King

Dudley King — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:21:49 +0000

Negged for dishing out good advice.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:35:53 +0000

I also loved this post, as did others. Thank you for saying all the things I wanted to say! I had decided that I was going to try a hospital birth with my 7th child bc of risk of hemorrhage. I went to one visit at a doctors office (I mean, really, how much difference can it make?) and was completely overwhelmed by the fact that they treated me as though I knew nothing about labor/birth, although I’d had 6 live births with no tearing, all under 6 hours (my quickest was 45 min). I gave several reasons why I did not want all the ‘necessary bloodwork tests’, they went ahead and scheduled me for every one of them. I was amazed. It was as if I had no control over my own body, that they thought they owned all my decisions. NO thanks.!! I switched to a midwife and am taking chlorophyll, RRL tea + alphalfa to control hemorrhage, and am completely content with my decision. Finally, at peace. Sadly though, my dislike of the medical community’s practices has grown even stronger. My grandfather was a doctor, and his father, grandfather before him. But oh, how things are different now…

By: Ivy

Ivy — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:05:10 +0000

Hi,
This post is amazing and I have found it ever so useful. Thank you!
I have been taking Rainbow Light petites. They passed your suggested vinegar test. However, I want to try the prenatals you suggested “New Life Prenatals” and I can’t find that brand anywhere. I found Country Life…but they don’t carry a prenatal. Can you help me? What does the label look like and where did you buy yours?
Thanks!

By: Colette

Colette — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:34:15 +0000

I appreciate all your thoughts on this subject, but I just wanted to say that even though “what to expect” may not be your cup of tea, it has a lot of very good information for those who want to be informed about everything- even those things that may go wrong. Isn’t that the miracle of modern medicine? That we know and understand things about the human body now that we didn’t before? I believe all knowledge comes from God, and he wouldn’t give it to us unless it was for our good. Of course, some abuse that knowledge, but I hardly think that is the case of the author of “What to Expect.” Because of reading that book, I recognized signs of pre-term labor that were very minute, and I was able to get to a hospital in time for them to save my beautiful son who was born prematurely at 27 weeks. He is now a happy and healthy 19 month old. I know God had a hand in that, and that he lead me to read that book. So, I guess all I’m saying is- you shouldn’t dismiss (and especially encourage other people to dismiss) pertinent and good sources of information just because they don’t align with all your ideologies. It’s always better to be well informed than only informed about what you want to hear. Things don’t always go the way you plan, but they always go the way God plans.

By: Erika Martin - Stampin' Mama

Erika Martin - Stampin' Mama — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:34:30 +0000

Thank you for this post.

Hospitals (and not just hospital births) scare the crap out of me, except when it comes to life and death situations.

I had my two babies at home, my sister had her two babies at home. One of my brothers was born at home and my husband and his three brothers were all born at home. My mother-in-law and her 6 siblings were all born at home. Our family has a long line of the home birth tradition.

I also ate a strict vegan diet from the ages of 17-24. I had my babies at ages 22 & 23. I felt wonderful during those pregnancies and my babies never colicked or got jaundice. They were so incredibly healthy.

When I was 7 1/2 months pregnant with my second baby (she’s going to be 9 years old next month), my hubby and I went on a missions trip to Ecuador for 2 1/2 weeks. One of the defining moments of that trip was when we visited the hospital that Elisabeth Elliot founded. They showed the birthing room, which had the typical bed with the stirrups. The interesting part was that they said that most times, the bed doesn’t get used until AFTER the woman gives birth. They explained that most of the women that come to the hospital are indigenous women. They come to have their babies and insist on standing up during labor to allow for gravity to work with their bodies and the birthing process. They lay down on the bed to rest after having their babies.

I came home enlightened and decided that when I gave birth to my baby, I would do it the same way the women of the Ecuadorian jungles did. It was amazing, almost painless and almost effortless. 4 pushes and that was it. 1 1/2 hours total labor. LOVED it.

By: Sara

Sara — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:23:49 +0000

Natalie…thank you for your response. I still don’t agree that “routine” ultrasounds are necessary. There is no reason for anyone to get an ultrasound unless medically necessary, and according to the AMA, most are not. If I was high risk or started to run into problems along the way, I would make the decision at that time. Ultrasound is a great technology, when it’s used in the right way. The benefit of an ultrasound is that it’s there just in case something else (symptom) brings up a red flag. There is no reason to be checking routinely on every woman…”just in case”.

Unfortunately, stillborn is a bad example…many of the stillborn cases that I know of would not have been prevented by an ultrasound at 20 weeks anyway.

I also wanted to respond to the many people who state that “I couldn’t have a homebirth because insurance didn’t cover it”…we paid out of pocket for both Bella and this baby, and most everyone I know who homebirths does the same. If you want something bad enough, you just make a way for it to happen. Most midwives have generous payment plans so that anyone is able to afford it over time.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 01:19:50 +0000

I’m a supporter of natural childbirth all the way. I’m not for or against homebirth. I’ve witnessed a homebirth, and it was beautiful. And I have had 2 natural hospital births.

However I think you are using a scare tactic by posting that ultrasounds can be harmful. What harm can an ultrasound do that is worth risking the baby’s death? No amount of reading positive stories could have prevented the case of woman who bore a stillborn. I just think it’s rather hypocritical to be saying not to read people’s horror stories when you’re directing people to information to try and scare them into not getting an ultrasound. You never discuss the benefits of ultrasounds.

I respect you and love your blog, but disagree on this matter. If something had happened to your baby, you would never post this. You’re only going on your own experience as you mentioned, which doesn’t give you the right to advise people on things that could go both ways- in other words things that have benefits & risks. Pitocin & Epi’s & constant monitoring…these are things that I think you have a right to talk about, and should.