Guest Post from Briggs' Birth Team

When Kellie asked me to write something about her birth this time my response was that it will be short and sweet. That was because she didn’t do much labor time and I wasn’t there but about 26 minutes before Mr. Briggs made his grand appearance. So I thought since Kellie has done such a great job educating you folks about pregnancy, labor and birth I should take some time to go back and make a little history leading up to Briggs birth.

Gina, Midwife in training
Toni, Midwife
Callan & Briggs

For Kellie’s first pregnancy, she decided to use me as her midwife and have a homebirth. She had a healthy good pregnancy, took classes and did everything right. She carried the baby to 41 weeks and 6 days. Then the great day came with a SROM, spontaneous rupture of membranes at 12:30 AM. Contractions started soon after. She labored at home with just Beau for about seven hours and then called me to come. Amazingly this awesome first time mom was 8 cm at 8:00 AM! Whoohoo! We should be having a baby soon! Right! Well from there it was a slow go. Five hours later, she was still at 9 cm and was starting to tire out and contractions were spacing and loosing there ump. We tried, honey, labor tinctures, resting, position changes. Finally got complete about 4:30 PM and started pushing. Tried all positions, toilet, stool, bed, toilet, stool, more tincture ....... About 8:00 PM after 3 1⁄2 hours of pushing and not a real sign that we would be pushing the baby out soon we decided a hospital transport was the best decision. After we transferred to the hospital, took a little rest, got some pitocin, got some good contractions going again and with a little help with the vacuum extraction, the cutest little chunky baby made his appearance and we were all so happy to see this cute little man. Mr. Callan weighed in at 9 lb 8 oz. and was a handsome baby boy! Kellie was so totally amazing to go through this long drawn out end of labor phase that just seem to last forever! But she was brave and strong and hung in there and pushed out her big boy!

I always like to tell my first time mommas that “you never have to have a first baby but once!” So, nine months later ..... next pregnancy. Kellie was so strong and brave again to decide that she was  up to the challenge to do this again. She rocked this pregnancy, being so much wiser and ahead of the game this time around. She gained less weight, had little swelling this time and made great plans for the coming birth! She planned for a photographer, massage therapist, her mother, midwife and birth assistant to all be there for her beautiful water birth! Then as nature would have it she went into labor at 40 weeks and 6 days. She started labor at 7:00 AM with the SROM again, but this time without contractions so she took some castor oil about 8:00 AM. Kellie took a nap and woke to contractions about 10:20 AM. Her text was funny, 10:40 AM – “Getting stronger contractions. Seem to be 5 min apart.”
I replied, “ Are you ready for me to come?”
Kellie, “Not yet”.
Me, “ Ok, I just need to change”.
Kellie, “ Maybe u should come and see”.

 I arrived at 11:17 AM and no one was coming to the door. I decided I better let myself in and as I opened the door, Beau was coming. He was busy with setting up the pool. I went to check on Kellie. She was having a really hard contraction. Once it was over I got vital signs and listened to the baby. Then another strong contraction and as I listened I said, “are you pushing with those?” I don’t think she had realized that yes, she was pushing.

At that point I had to move quickly to get things brought in and set up for the birth. No, I didn’t get things set up. I was looking for pads, gloves, etc..... the plastic wasn’t on the bed. I called to Beau to ditch the pool idea; there would be no time for a water birth. Cheryl the birth assistant walked in as Kellie was pushing again. Baby was coming. No time for set up. No time for a water birth. I think at some point, I don’t remember if it was before Briggs made his grand appearance or just after that I noticed Kellie’s mom and the massage therapist had gotten there.

After arriving at 11:17 baby was born at 11:43 AM! 26 minutes and he was born. Kellie was so amazing and strong to be so far into her labor and just an hour before be telling me she wasn’t ready for me to come! She was amazing!

Briggs came in weighing 10 pounds even! My first look at him I saw Callan’s same little face! These boys could be twins! I know they will change and take on their own looks but no denying they are brothers!It was a great honor to help Kellie and Beau bring these precious boys into the world! I love this work and seeing families grow!

~Toni Kimpel, Midwife

____________

Dear Briggs,

Your birth was incredible. Your mama is amazing. I was so excited when your mom announced her pregnancy and home birth plans with you. You see, your mom and dad were in my Bradley classes when they were pregnant with your big brother and I got to know them pretty well. I was at your house for a long time when she was in labor with Callan. I was so proud of her strength and determination during his birth. I knew she had big plans with you and was proud again of her determination and further educating herself on birth and her options. She started a blog to help other moms learn more about birth and share stories and experiences. She wrote a lot about you. She was pretty smitten by you from the very beginning. Then after much anticipation and excitement, the day that we all were waiting for (mostly your mommy!) finally arrived...

I woke up Saturday morning, June 28^th, to a text message from Mrs. Kimpel and your mom telling me that her water had broken and you were going to make your appearance! So I got ready, set up my babysitting and waited around for updates. Your mom text me and said she was going to take a nap. I thought that was a great idea! Laboring is hard work so a nap would give her lots of energy to be able to bring you into the world. An hour and a half later Mrs. Kimpel sends me another text telling me to head to your house. I got all my kiddos all packed up and just about ready to send to the babysitters when I get another message telling me she's pushing! You are headed out! So I very quickly scoot my people out the door (luckily they were just going across the street!) and hop in the car. I didn't even have my shoes on and forgot my watch that I bought just to wear for your birth! I high-tail it to your house. It is about a 10 minute drive for me. I park, and run into the house. I make it to your room just in time to see your mom in the middle of pushing. I quickly gathered up your blankets, try to get your heart beat but you were already on your way out! You were born about 5 minutes after I walked in the door. You guys work fast! You and your mama made a perfect team. Once you were up on her chest, you cried right away and I cried, too! I had no doubts your mom would have a beautiful home birth. She totally rocked it! You looked just like your brother and quite a chunky little monkey, too!

We took some time to let you nurse and take care of your mom, you met your daddy, and your grandma came to meet you, too. We weighed you and couldn't believe you were a whopping 10 pounds of sweet perfection! When she was ready, we got a bath ready for her and the two of you took an herbal bath, complete with flowers. You mom's friend, Whitney, was there photographing all of the special moments. It was beautiful! You got to meet your brother and take more pictures with your grandparents. You were passed around and loved on by everyone!

You are part of such a sweet family. You will forever have a special place in my heart, little man. Your mom and dad are just so in love with you. You had a gentle, sweet start in life and I wish you many blessings and a long and happy life.

Much, much love,

Cheryl

The Birth of My little Briggs

6-28-14

Once upon a time a 41 week pregnant woman was about to go to bed, she was exhausted and her back was aching terribly. She left the dishes in the sink, the toys all over the living room floor and went to bed leaving her house in total disarray...something she hadn't done in awhile, since she was planning a home birth and wanted to be ready for company (the birth team) at a moments notice.

SO we all know where this is going....yep, the next morning I woke up about 7am and noticed my amniotic fluid was leaking....my water had broke!  I texted Toni my Midwife & the rest of the team just to inform them and let them know that today was the day!

Last moments as a only child

Since I wasn't having any contractions I thought I would put on some make up and have a nice breakfast. Beau was picking up the house...I called my mom and told her the news so she came to pick up our son.  Beau inflated the pool I wanted to birth in and then we both decided to take a nap... it took 24 hours last time to get that first baby out so we wanted to be ready for the long haul again if need be.

I woke up at 10:20 with a pretty strong contraction, so I went in the living room and sat on my birth ball while timing my contractions but they weren't consistent, ranging from 3-5 min apart.  Beau asked me a question and I realized I couldn't focus on him and answer him during a contraction...I knew things were getting serious but I still didn't think we were close to "go time" since I just starting having contractions.  I texted Toni at 10:40 and told her what was going on, she asked if I wanted her to head over...I said no, not yet....and then after another really strong contraction I texted her again saying "well, maybe you should come and see".  I tried to stand up to move to the bedroom and my belly looked like it was at my knees it was so low...Beau had to help me get back there.

Once in the bedroom I tried to get in the zone, like I did for Callans birth, but it just wasn't happening.  I couldn't relax.  I started sweating and got real hot, I asked Beau for a cold compress....to which my college-degree-holding, corporate-accountant-intelligent husband could not figure out what the hell a cold compress was.....seriously...he looked at me baffled, he walked out of the room and then right back in and said "whats a cold compress?" and all I could do was try my best to give him a "are you really asking me that right now?" look on my face as I was having a killer contraction....he managed to use some context clues and a few moments I had my cold compress. 

Toni arrived at 11:10am, she took a look at me and realized we were closer than I had thought.  After that things started happening really fast.  Beau was trying to fill up the birth pool and Toni said don't bother...lol, we don't have time.  I was laboring on my side and I remember trying so hard to relax, but my toes were curling and my lips were pursed, and I kept telling Beau, "I cant relax".  He was trying to coach me but it all felt very erratic.  I even said at one point " I don't think I can do this".  All I knew was I couldnt last 20 hours like this....

I kept hearing from Beau, Toni and Cheryl about how great I was doing...and I remember looking at them all wide-eyed and crazy-like...at least that's how I visualize it in my head, lol...Toni wanted me to roll on my back to check me to see how far dilated I was...and when I did I immediately had a strong urge to push...so I did.  I remember everyone scrambling to get whatever it was they needed, because this baby was coming out!


 At one point I felt the baby moving and I remember the image that popped in my head was like a soldier doing an army crawl.  Briggs was certainly working with me!  Another thing that got my attention in all this chaos was my babybelly...while I would have a contraction to push, my belly would basically stand straight up...it was the weirdest thing I had ever seen! It reminded me of a skyscraper...

So back to the story....
So there I was a-pushin' and Beau was at my side, holding my hand cheering me on...I remember saying "It stings, it stings" , lol and then Toni said for me to push on the next contraction to get his head out...to which I replied "no", to which she replied "Don't tell me no!"....a few pushes later he was born! They immediately placed him on my chest and I think we all took a moment to catch our breath.  He was born at 11:43am, a little over an hour after I had my first contraction!

I think my Mom, Alisa the massage therapist, and Whitney the photographer, arrived just moments after he was born.  Its funny because earlier that week I had highlighted a quote from a book I was reading, it said "stay committed to your decisions, but flexible in your approach."- Tony Robbins.  I thought this would be good to remember because as much as you can plan something, you really can never know how it will actually turn out.  I always knew, in all these blog posts I did about planning the birth, that it would happen how it was gonna happen and I really didn't have control of that....but it was fun fantasizing, visualizing and planning it out anyway. 

So there you have it.... Briggs Kyle Hinze, 10lbs, 21.5 inches....Born in the comfort of our home, and it was a quick, but great experience!

FAQ: using a midwife & going natural

The post below is from the Birth Bootcamp Blog....FAQ about using a midwife and going the natural route

Sometimes, when preparing for a natural birth, the people most worried about everything are not even the ones giving birth but their concerned family members.  Birth is a big deal and trepidation, questions, even unease, is normal.  Here are some answers to frequently asked questions posed by those whose loved ones are preparing for a natural birth.

Q)  You are birthing with a midwife?  Do they even have any training?  Why not choose an OBGYN?

A)  This is a common concern and a legitimate one.  After all, if there are doctors with more years of school behind them assisting in births, why opt for what may appear to be a lesser trained midwife? 

Many couples today, however, are re-discovering the benefits of a trained midwife attending their birth rather than an OB.  In fact, more and more hospitals have midwives on staff and they see the majority of pregnant patients and are having fantastic results medically and yield very happy customers. 

Do midwives have training?  Yes they do.  Midwives are well trained in what every woman hopes for: normal birth.  While equipped to notice the danger signs if things do go wrong, a good midwife will also have the wisdom to “leave well enough alone” when needed. 

Hospital based midwives are almost always CNMs or “certified nurse-midwives”.  A certified nurse midwife is, typically, a registered nurse who has gone on to obtain a masters degree in midwifery.  They usually work with a physician to whom they refer any women who show signs of needing the more pathologically trained OB, who can deal with complications of pregnancy. 

An OB is an asset in many cases, but when a woman is healthy, more and more hospitals and women are finding they aren’t always needed. 

Q)  OK, but what about these home birth midwives?  Are they nurses with extra midwifery training? 

A)  Some CNMs do work outside of the hospital in birth centers or home settings.  Frequently, however, homebirth midwives are CPMs or Certified Professional Midwives.  CPM training and requirements can vary from state to state and it is always a good idea to look into yours and see what experience is needed to be licensed. 

Experience for a CPM can vary greatly, with some having attended thousands of births, and some less than 100.  Many women love the hands-on, in-home care made available by a home birth CPM.  A well trained and experienced CPM can be a fabulous asset to your birth, able to handle situations as they arise and transfer, if needed.  Be sure to closely interview your midwife, talk to others, and check the background and licensing of your CPM.

Some benefits of a home birth CPM include:

Continuity of care-  You will have the same person attend you through pregnancy and birth.  They know you and your normal and will be alert if things go wrong. 

In-home care-  Having a care provider come to you can be particularly convenient, especially in the first few days following birth.  In addition, many people feel safer having a new baby only exposed to the bacteria and pathogens from their own home, rather than those in a hospital. 

A holistic approach-  Often this type of midwife treats the whole woman, is aware of her family situation, her emotional needs, her nutritional struggles, and all of the things that can play into her health and her optimal birth experience. 

Longer visits- One of the reasons your typical CPM can treat the whole person and understand her needs is that they usually spend at least one hour with mom for every visit.  This allows time to answer the many questions that arise as pregnancy progresses, and watch for things that may be of concern. 

Making the choice that is best for you probably requires research and work, but once decided can be a great comfort.

Q)  Why do you even want a natural birth?  I gave birth to you and it hurt!

A)  Women vary greatly in their desires for birth and what each views as ideal.  Some women want medication for pain, while others see value in avoiding it.  Birth and how to accomplish it is a personal choice and one which must be made individually.  Most women do recognize that there may be some pain involved in labor and birth, even considerable pain.  Still, there is something wonderful in a woman desiring to have that experience, even if that isn’t the experience you had. 

Being supportive of your natural birthing loved one is a great way to grow closer during the often emotional days of pregnancy.  Remember that your daughter (or loved one’s) desire of a birth slightly different than the ones you experienced isn’t a judgment, just a personal choice.  No harm is meant. 

Q)    What on earth is a doula and why would you want one at your birth?! 

A)  A doula is a woman trained specifically as labor support.  Her role is particular- she helps mom and dad through their labor and birth.  She is familiar with comfort techniques as well as hospital policies, personnel, and typical labor signs in a woman.  A doula isn’t usually a family member so it may feel like you are inviting a “stranger” to the birth.  In truth, a doula is often a cherished member of the birth team who has enough professional distance to help, watch, and communicate, without the emotions that can sometimes get in the way with loving family. 

If family members want to also attend the birth, a doula’s role can simply be to facilitate them, help them, guide the process, and support the whole family in what they need.  Mostly however, the doula is there for MOM.  Remember- if mom has a better experience, everybody benefits.

Q)  I had a natural birth without all this crazy preparation.  Why the worry?  Birth is normal!

A)  There have been many women have great birth experiences without much preparation.  We can pretty safely say though, that in the current birthing environment with an average 30+% c-section rate, that preparation is a good thing.  40 or 50 years ago only about 4 or 5% of women had babies via cesarean section.  Today that statistic is much higher and to be avoided it is best to be prepared and not just walk in with a sunny disposition and naive hope for the best. 

Birth stays the same in many ways;  Mom labors and baby comes out.  The politics and policies of birth are constantly in flux, and that explains, in part, the need for preparation in the current climate. 

Q)  I want to be at the birth.  In fact the whole lot of us want to be at the birth!  Can we come?

A)  Just asking if your attendance is welcome and then honoring the answer given you by the family is a great step.  Some families want nothing to do with miracle of birth.  Other family members want front row seats to the blessed event. 

Having the first baby is often a big and scary step for a couple.  It can be something they desire outside support and presence for, or something they would prefer to do mostly by themselves or with their trained birth team. 

Please take the time to listen and communicate as a family and find out when the best time for you to be there might be.  A solution can surely be found, even if it isn’t what you initially wanted!

~

When a loved one is preparing for birth, questions and concern are inevitable.  Working together you can find a wonderful way to make things work for everybody.  This is the beginning of a fantastic journey for the entire family!

Curious to learn more about Birth Boot Camp and our natural childbirth classes?  We have anonline birth class option and or natural birth teachers in your area.  We also offer a comprehensive two disk breastfeeding DVD, “Breastfeeding: The Ultimate MRE”. 

Birth Boot Camp- Training Couples in Natural Birth

Preparing for Homebirth

Slowly but surely I am almost completely ready for my homebirth!  I figure a lot of you are curious about what that entails...

2 weeks ago I went to see Dr. Rice, who looked over the charts Toni has been keeping regarding my pregnancy, weight gain, baby positioning & heart rate, glucose & protein screenings, blood pressure & so on...she said everything looked great, gave me her stamp of approval, and wrote me out the typical prescriptions for a homebirth.  The prescriptions are all for after I have given birth & only if needed: shot of pitocin to help my uterus contract & get back to normal, another scrip is to immediately stop any hemorrhaging (if it occurs), a shot of Rhogam since I am RH negative (if the baby has a different blood type than mine), and there's one more....ohh this pregnancy brain....I cannot for the life of me remember, I'll get back to you on the last one...lol. -----> eye ointment for the baby!! Thats what it was!

Prescriptions- DONE!

My midwife Toni has given me a checklist to get everything ready....And I have put all the supplies where they will be easy for everyone to find...in the babybed!  I will not want to be bothered every time they need to find something...I have it all very easy to get to!

Order the Homebirth Kit- DONE!

The Homebirth Kit has things like sterile gloves, cord clamp, nasal suction for baby, antiseptic stuff, pads...all kinds of things we'll need

Wash & sterilize towels, sheets and washcloths- ALMOST DONE

I have already washed everything but for sterilizing....and ya'll are gonna love this....I have to bake it all in paper sacks in my oven, haha isnt that country????  200 degrees for a hour so its not a fire hazard or anything.

For the Waterbirth 
I got a little kiddie pool with the preferred dimensions ($30 instead of $300 for a regular birth pool)
Brand new water hose to fill it (new for sanitary purposes) 
Pool liner (for sanitary purposes)

Contact list is on the fridge for the Hubs for when I go into labor

Birth Certificate is filled out (as much as it can be)! YES we have a name!!! Sorry,  I'm not going to tell you until he's born! Its different....but awesome! 

In case we need to go to the hospital:
- Birth plan- several copies printed
- bag- still need to pack
- car seat is ready in car

Doctorate of Internet , patchouli, and placentas

Sometimes I wonder why I am really doing this blog.... I mean usually I am a pretty lazy person when it comes to stuff like this. I usually could care less what another person does if It doesn't affect me.  Kinda like my old saying " you do you, I do me, we all be happy".

I guess it might also be confusing to others as well, as this past weekend at my nieces birthday party Beau's Aunt asked me if this blog was a part of some kind of contest I was doing or trying to win something.  That made me laugh (Love ya Aunt V!).  Nope no contest...but I would totally win if there were, Fo sho!

So this made me think about WHY I am doing this blog.  

Well for starters I'm pregnant (oh, you hadnt heard?) lol and apparently I'm trying to earn my Doctorate of Internet on birthing, how the different ways we birth can effect babies and mothers, and other stuff.  I am reading a lot and while I know its internet info...I really try to find facts with references and not just opinions. I figured I'd just share my findings with those who were interested. I also know a lot of really cool women who have some great experiences to share.

Is it to convince every preggers on earth to give birth naturally???  No, because I think women inherently know if that interests them or not.  But to the women who have a little seedling of interest in natural I am trying to give them support, encouragement, info, let them know I'm here and there is a community of women that will cheer you on when sometimes it feels like no one else will...support can be hard to find.   My first pregnancy I hated the way some people treated me when they found out my plan was to do a natural birth, I felt like I had to really defend myself a lot.  People laugh, and mockingly say "good luck with that", they quiz you to see if you know what you're getting into, they make you think you are an idiot.  I know, whah whah...poor me.

I also wanted to break the stereo type of the kind of woman who uses a midwife and has a home birth.  I think some people have it in their head that were these crunchy-hippie free spirits who don't shave our arm pits. Um, no...armpits are shaved for this lady...now my legs on the other hand....well...its getting hard to maneuver around this belly!!  I don't have any henna tattoos on my belly and no patchouli in the house. There will be no placenta fajita's served in this house as well, I am a modern woman...we encapsulate, lol.  So maybe I am a quarter crunchy...I can take anything in pill form, hell they sell all kinds of algae and bacteria in pill form...why not take something that will help me reduce my raging hormones slowly and gradually instead of the sharp drop from 100% hormonal to 0% hormones after the baby is born? My instincts tell me I would be, like, so good at  post partum depression and I want to avoid that. So there ya go, all you Judge Judy's out there have something else to talk about now...lol...also if you can leave out that its just a pill it will make for better gossip...hope that helps.

Wow, from the looks of this post I am feeling kinda sassy today....haha

So in conclusion (so formal)  I am just a normal chick...mostly...and Im fascinated about all this business of being born (you should totally watch that documentary if you haven't) and I want us all to give each other hugs and pats on the back for being such amazing creatures!

Where's my prize? whad-I-win???

Guest Post Toni- Birth or Deliver, that is the question

From Kellie: When I was getting to know Toni and learning all this birthin and midwifery business I noticed she said things like "I was at a birth yesterday..." or "one time at this birth a mom...."  and I thought it sounded weird. When a baby be born (LOL) I had always heard it referred to as a "delivery".  Being the super sly female that I am, I figured out she was being very deliberate in her usage of the word "birth" so I asked her to elaborate on that in a guest post......

Birth or Delivery, So What’s the Difference

So do you want your baby delivered or do you want to give birth to your baby? What difference does it make? It’s just words right?

Well, I think our words are important. 

I am frequently asked "who delivered your babies?".  My response is "I gave birth to my own babies myself".  The truth is, my first baby was actually delivered by an OB in a hospital. He cut a third degree episiotomy and used forceps to pull her out of my body. That is a delivery.

The rest of my seven babies were birthed without drugs or mechanical devices to assist with them to come out. They were birthed.

So to explain this I want to use some definitions from sources we know.

Merriam- Webster says:

Birth –

1) the emergence of a new individual from the body of its parent

2) the act or process of bringing forth young from the womb

Deliver

1)      to set free

2)     a) To take and hand over to or leave for another

      b) hand over / surrender

3)     a) to assist in giving birth or to aid in the birth of

b) to give birth to

c) to cause to produce as if by giving birth

From Wikipedia:

A vaginal delivery is the birth of offspring (babies in humans) in mammals through the vagina.  The average length of a hospital stay for a normal vaginal delivery is 36–48 hours or with an episiotomy (a surgical cut to widen the vaginal canal) is 48–60 hours, whereas a C-section is 72–108 hours.   Different types of vaginal deliveries have different terms:

• A spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) occurs when a pregnant female goes into labor without the use of drugs or techniques to induce labor, and delivers her baby in the normal manner, without forceps, vacuum extraction, or a cesarean section.

• An assisted vaginal delivery (AVD) occurs when a pregnant female goes into labor (with or without the use of drugs or techniques to induce labor), and requires the use of special instruments such as forceps or a vacuum extractor to deliver her baby vaginally.

• An instrumental vaginal delivery (IVD) is another term for an assisted vaginal delivery.

• An induced vaginal delivery (also IVD) is a term for a delivery involving labor induction, where drugs or manual techniques are used to initiate the process of labor. Use of the term "IVD" in this context is less common than for instrumental vaginal delivery.

• A normal vaginal delivery (NVD) is a term for a vaginal delivery, whether or not assisted or induced, usually used in statistics or studies to contrast with a delivery by cesarean section.

Note: Use of the term IVD is best avoided because of its duplicate meanings.

  

So, let’s talk about the process of birth. If you want a natural birth then you are wanting to labor and birth your baby, on your own, but hopefully with the support of a midwife or your doctor. This is best done at your home or a birth center. It is very hard to have a birth that is not intervened with at the hospital.

Based on the definitions of Wikipedia midwives only do SVD, spontaneous vaginal delivery.

If you want a typical obstetrical delivery then you will be looking at using a doctor and delivering in the hospital.  That is their specialty, what they trained for. Doctors and labor and delivery nurse are comfortable delivering babies. That is what they do!

I have heard doctors talk about delivery and if the baby comes out the vagina it is referred to as a “delivery down below”! As a c-section is not down below, just a different place of exit for the baby, but still a delivery.

On the other hand, midwives tell mothers “you can do this! you can push your baby out!”  It is the mothers work to birth their baby. The midwife is there to support, encourage and keep a watchful eye on mother and baby to ensure their well being.

So when you are pregnant one of the first decisions you need to make is to decide if you want to birth your baby or if you want it to be delivered.  Then you will be in a better place to decide where and with whom you want to have your baby. ~Toni

An invalid argument

Do you know how many times I've heard this opposing argument to my views on natural childbirth and home birth....

"Women have been having babies naturally long before Doctors and Nurses but the mortality rates were extremely high as well."

A lot....

For years now, as a matter of fact, since I opened my big fat trap on how I was planning on doing a home birth for my first born...

I dont even see how its making a point about discrediting having a natural birth in a hospital..

But here's the thing..... Here's where the argument is invalid for me......

I am NOT giving birth in the 1800's & 1900's!

I am not in some cold cabin in the middle of the woods, or in a field, or in unsanitary conditions...My Midwife doesn't press her ear to my belly to try to hear the baby's heart rate, and we are not using the cross-your-fingers method of baby birthin'...

I am a MODERN natural Momma

I am not afraid to use use the science when necessary, I've done it! Its just not my first choice.  Just so you know....

For some reason the fact that I am not in a hospital makes people scared for me......Please dont be! I do realize that anything can happen anytime anywhere...at home and even in a hospital there are sometimes unfavorable outcomes. There are risks no matter what,  you have to have faith. I am low risk and my family history & genetics include strong women who are very good at birthin...we ALL got them birthin hips for sure, lol..thanks NawNaw.

I feel like I have something better than gadgets and alarms hooked up to me...Nurses popping in and out and a Doctor that shows up just before the birth......I have my Midwife who NEVER leaves my side and her very experienced assistant, who herself is a Childbirth Educator and Doula....Their eyes are on me the entire time....these eyes have seen hundreds of births, not to mention the 15 natural births between the two of them! They know whats not normal and signs of distress.  

Also, I am friends with these women and have developed very personal relationships with them over the years...They are the closest thing to having a Mother and Sister taking care of me while I am giving birth...so let me ask you this...WHO would take care of you and look out for the best interest of you and your unborn baby BETTER than your Mother and sister?? The wisdom and experience of these two women is honed in on one thing....Safe Childbirth.

I am not asking for you to do a home birth yourself, I am just asking for respect and support.

_____________________________________________

Upon doing some research online The CIA World Fact book has statistics for the US infant and maternal mortality rates....forgive me if I am not impressed with the current system we have in place for birthin babies in this country....maybe, in the case of giving birth, we should respect mother nature first and rely on science only when necessary.

United States Maternal mortality rate:
21 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 137    <----------
These Countries have the best survival rates for mothers              Austria 4.00 2010 Sweden 4.00 2010 Italy 4.00 2010 Singapore 3.00 2010 Greece 3.00 2010 Estonia 2.00 2010
United States Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 169  <-------- male: 6.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.) All of these countries have better survival rates for babies than the U.S!  Are you kidding me?

Iceland            3.15      2014 est. Macau 3.13 2014 est. Hong Kong 2.73 2014 est. Czech Republic 2.63 2014 est. Sweden 2.60 2014 est. Singapore 2.53 2014 est. Norway 2.48 2014 est. Bermuda 2.48 2014 est. Japan 2.13 2014 est. Monaco 1.81 2014 est.

Whats an appt with a Midwife like?

So I had an appointment this week with my lovely Midwife Toni! I thought I'd share with you what an appointment with a Midwife is like, in case you were curious...or just nosy, yes I  just called you nosy! lol

Toni lives just 10 minutes away from my house and its all country back roads!

 Checking in at the Front Desk...lol

 When I arrive, after greetings and hugs, the first thing I do is test my urine to check protein and sugar levels (sorry , no pics...lol) I weigh myself and then report the info to Toni.  The first time I did my own test I was a little worried I would mess it up but I realized quickly

 that a monkey could do it... 

Sugar
It's normal to occasionally have a small amount of sugar in your urine during pregnancy, but if you have elevated levels at a couple of prenatal visits in a row or a very high level at one visit, it could mean you have gestational diabetes.

Protein
Excess protein in your urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney damage, or certain other disorders. Later in your pregnancy, it can also be a sign of preeclampsia if it's accompanied by high blood pressure. If you have protein in your urine but your blood pressure is normal, your sample will be sent to the lab for a culture to see whether you have a UTI.

  

I was also due for my glucose test so make sure I dont have gestational diabetes & another antibody screening, so she drew blood...She has a lab she sends it to.

Checking my blood pressure

feeling how the baby is positioned

Measuring da belly

Getting to hear my baby boy's heart beat! 

My favorite part!

 I was there for about an hour, we like to chit chat..lol

If there is something you want to know more about leave a comment or email me at 1babybeborn@gmail.com

~Kellie