I came across this blog post today and thought it was worth sharing, mostly because it articulates some details well regarding a few birth choices: ten decisions for parents of newborns
I'd love to do a huge well-cited post about birth sometime and why the choices we have made in this area are so important to us and so worth it, but I doubt that kind of lengthy blog will happen anytime soon. Plus I am pretty sure most of my readership is already thoroughly aware of natural birthing options and already understands my reason for them! But for what it's worth, here are some of the things that we have done with our other births and intend to do with this one...
- out-of-hospital birth
- attended by at least one midwife, a midwife assistant, and a doula
- freedom of movement during labor
- freedom to eat and drink during labor
- no drugs or episiotomy
- water birth
- Keith or myself catching the baby
- skin-to-skin contact right away - baby placed to my chest immediately after birth
- allow cord blood to finish pulsing before clamping and cutting it
- allow placenta to come loose on its own - no jerking it out using the cord
- no eye ointment or hepatitis B vaccine
- no separation from baby after birth
- breastfeeding within first five minutes
... just in case you wanted to know.
And for what it's worth. I think labor is the worst. I don't do this all-natural stuff because I think it's fun or easy... it's super painful, and I have long labors! But I really think the choices we've made for natural deliveries have paid off exponentially. Because when the baby's out, it's over! No after-effects of drugs or poor nursing or diseases picked up in the hospital or part of the placenta still stuck inside or painful episiotomy or low iron for the baby (due to low blood supply) or any of that kind of stuff.
I must say that I'm really looking forward to that part when it's all over and we get to be home together with our new little son. Could be any time now... although it will most likely be another three weeks, based on Priscilla and Abraham each being born four days past their due dates.
:) i like this post. I love pregnancy and birth posts. I love the labor part, but the day after is really hard for me. I rarely remember much of it with any of my babies because the after pains are SOOOOO bad. I guess it's my punishment for really enjoying my labors. i'd seriously take tons of drugs if I could afterward. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited to hear how this birth goes. I'm sure it will be lovely and beautiful. Thanks for the update.
oh a home birth! How exciting!!!! Maybe this delievery will be easier. I have a few friends that it seems like after 2 births the 3rd was easier.
ReplyDeleteGlad you've made all your decisions. But I have to ask...do you think, then, that choosing to birth in a hospital leads to poor nursing? And do you think that women who don't choose at home births make a poor choice?
ReplyDeleteMorgan, no, of course I don't think that because we've chosen to have a home birth, that means that it's the only good choice, or that it's the right decision for other people. We are fortunate to be able to have a low-risk pregnancy, access to excellent midwives, and the option of a safe home birth. It's not for everyone and I'm not advocating that it should be.
ReplyDeleteAbout nursing, no, hospital births don't have to lead to poor nursing. But heightened interventions like drugs in the baby's system at birth or taking the baby away to weigh and clean up before handing him to the mama (thus delaying her chance to nurse in those important early minutes when the baby is so alert) are factors that often lead to a more difficult start to nursing.