If all goes well, I'll be giving birth at home in January to our 9th baby! My official due date is January 24th, but I have always delivered early. When it comes to labor and delivery, I've experienced everything from a surprise c-section to a medicated/hospital VBAC to six natural deliveries at a midwife-run birth center. I decided to try at home this time because the birth center's policy changed and they could no longer take VBAC's. And after six natural deliveries with a midwife, my Continue Reading
5 Things to Know Before Giving Birth Naturally
Today's post is all about preparing for a natural (i.e. unmedicated) birth. If you're looking for facts about epidurals, check out this article. Birth without drugs is painful, to varying degrees. I guess we've all heard about painless births but they must be very rare exceptions. So it helps to have a good idea of what to expect so you can have coping techniques on tap. Changes in behavior and moods. I can't say how you'll act, but I do know that the pain, stress and hormones of Continue Reading
Our Baby Came Early…..and Here’s the Birth Story!
Friday was a tough day for me. I was having a lot of contractions and this feeling of constant pressure down there that just wouldn't go away. I was in town with all five children running errands and very eager to be done and just get home. Our baby was not due for another 10 days so I figured this was just another "warm up." You know, those days when it feels like your body is going through a trial run, but then things eventually settle down? Well, turns out it was the real thing. We made Continue Reading
Birth Center, Hospital or Home Delivery?
When it comes to labor and delivery, I've had a wide range of experiences. Just to illustrate: #1 (Joseph) was chemically induced at the Army hospital and ended up being delivered via c-section. #2 (Catherine) was a midwife attended VBAC at the Army hospital, with the usual interventions (IV, epidural). #3 (Margaret) and #4 (Benjamin) and #5 (Samuel) and #6 (Susanna) were all totally natural VBAC's and midwife attended at a free-standing birth center. I've never done a home birth Continue Reading