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

Guest Post Cheryl- Tips from a Mom of 5

Thoughts on Childbirth
by a Mama of 5.

I'm so excited to guest post on Kellie's super cool, super popular, super baby lovin' blog! I have had 5 home births with midwives and teach Birth Boot Camp childbirth education classes as well as breastfeeding classes. I've had lots of time to think about my births, hear birth stories, experiences, fears, and questions over the years and here's a short (sorta!) list of my thoughts and things I'd like to share with first time moms or moms who want a different experience the second, third, or more time around. I love birth, every part of it. It's such a powerful time in a woman's life and I love to see women embrace it and transform themselves into beautiful birthing goddesses.

1. When I was 18 I was an EMT and we learned about emergency childbirth. (I hoped I'd never be called to one of these because I saw those videos in health class and holy moly, gross! Ironic now, I know!) Our instructor told us that attendants don't deliver babies, women do. I've always been a little confused by common terminology “so and so delivered my baby”. Moms, we deliver babies! We do all the work! We push human beings out of our bodies! Of course, under the experienced and watchful eye of a midwife or doctor. No one can do it for us, we have to do it and it's an experience that is life changing. You're birth will affect you one way or the other. ... which leads me into the rest of my awesome list...
   
   
2. We rock.
   
   
3. Birth is hard work. I remember being very pregnant with my first baby and telling my mother in law that I feel like I am preparing for the hardest work I've ever done. I was right. I had prepared my body and my mind for this work. It was challenging but the reward was incredible. A baby. I brought a baby into this world. Just me and my own body. I had an amazing birth team but they didn't do it for me. I did it and I rocked it. And it's ok to say that about yourself. Say it often because you were amazing.
   
   
4. You have to prepare. You have to know what to expect. It takes so much of the fear away and makes it an experience you can look forward to and even *gasp* enjoy.
   
   
5. Pregnancy is a very short period of time, spend it well. Eat well, exercise, take a childbirth class, read, talk to other moms, soak in everything you can. This is a big event. Bigger than your than your graduation, bigger than your wedding, and even bigger than planning your nursery. Spend this time preparing your body and mind. You will be so glad that you did.
   
   
6. We need support. We need people around us that believe in us and our ability to birth a baby. . Build a team of people who care for you and want to help you have the birth you envision.
   
   
7. There are few things sweeter in this life than watching a husband and wife working together to bring their baby in this world. His support, sweet words, and strong self and her opening herself up, completely vulnerable to the process. So beautiful. It is my favorite part of teaching and attending births. I love having my husband close to me during labor, stroking my hair, telling me I'm awesome.
   
   
8. The only thing sweeter than #4 is watching the raw emotion of a mom as she pulls her baby to her chest and meets this little person for the first time. Suddenly the hours of work melt away along with your heart as you realize you love this person more than you ever knew possible.
9. Birth #5 was my hardest. It was twice as long as baby #4 and his position was a little wonky (technical term, you know.) which made it longer and harder. After this birth I remember thinking “I knew childbirth was hard work but seriously, any woman who does this, however it may have ended...short, long, interventions, c-section, whatever....we are amazing. It is amazing to bring a baby into this world. Amazing and rewarding and hard and hopefully a great experience.” I still think this. His birth brought this to light in a new way for me. We are awesome, mamas. Truly.
   
   
10. Education is key. The newest childbirth education is Birth Boot Camp. It is comprehensive and modern education for this generation. It's awesome!
    
    
    I want every woman to be given to opportunity to have a great birth. I love birth. Every part of it. We are amazing.    ~Cheryl