Cord Clamping
Having the right Support
Monday, January 3, 2011
Things are about to get Crazy!
This is my last week off before I start back to school full time. I have always loved school but after these past few months my life has changed so much and I am so nervous about starting again. My workshop for my doula training is getting closer and I am so excited yet again I am getting anxious and nervous. I feel like I am getting ready to open this huge and almost final chapter. I am no longer just a student, I am getting ready to have a career a business and it is a little daunting. This semester in school in the beginning of my new path in life. It is the start of a very hectic couple of months school, doula training and my first client is due in April! Oh yeah, and then the whole family is moving in May! I have also just started a business page of Facebook!Deep Breaths, Very Deep Breaths! I think I have a lot to do this week, but I really just want to stay in bed and enjoy these last few days of sanity!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
I NEED to VENT
Ok so I have just barely dipped my toes into the water that is the natural birth world and am feeling a little overwhelmed by ignorance! I just cannot believe what is happening in our country or even around the world. It insane what peoples doctors are telling them and even worse the fact that most of these women take what the doctor says at face value without finding out any information on their own. The topic that affects me the most is of course induction.
First I must address the fact that I am not against ALL inductions. Inductions that are truly medically necessary for the safety of the infant and the mother are of course important and I am grateful that the technology is available for those few cases. However not only are those cases rare I am angered that some of those emergency cases could have been prevented if the mother was better educated and had better prenatal care. Secondly I would like to point out that 40 weeks gestation is just an average. I don't mean to be giving a math lesson here but an average is all the numbers added up together and then divided meaning if you have 7 mothers who each give birth at different gestational weeks (37,38,39,40,41,42,43) all averaged together you get 40 weeks! Often from a statistical standpoint it often excludes the outliers, meaning that those that are too far on either side get removed from that data all together and are often not even figured into the average. Therefore, it may not be outside of the norm for a mother to go into labor naturally at 35 or 43 weeks and have perfectly healthy babies. There are so many variations of what is normal in our species yet when there are natural variations in birth we are told that something must be wrong. The average height of an American female is about 5'3. So does that mean that if you are an American female and are 6'2 or 4'10 that you should take drastic measures to "fix" yourself so that you fall into this average? I would assume that most women would think it absurd to take medical precautions so that they did not ever get to 6'2 or consider taking growth hormones so that they could be taller than 4'10. Yet we often take drugs or even undergo major abdominal surgery when we are pregnant and go beyond the average 40 weeks of gestation no matter how well the baby may be doing inside the womb.
So why is it ok to pump pregnant women full of drugs to force a baby out of its safe home before that baby is ready to make its appearance? Why do doctors insist that they know better than mother nature? It is just maddening that doctors are making women feel inadequate by telling them that their body must be doing something wrong, that their bodies are not functioning properly because if it were they would have gone into labor already! This is Wrong! Women you need to reclaim your voice for yours and your babies well being. There are cases were medical intervention is necessary but it is much more rare than your OB would like you to believe, especially if you are getting good prenatal care. For example how many women are told that they can avoid having such a risky complication like pre-eclampsia simply by having a good well balanced diet. Yes it can really be that simple sometimes. Eating well while you are pregnant who would have guessed!
I am just so angered by the ignorance that abounds when it comes to natural birth. We as women are smarter than this, however we allow doctors to tell us that we must be wrong our bodies must be broken we simply cant give birth naturally. Oh what utter Bullshit!
First I must address the fact that I am not against ALL inductions. Inductions that are truly medically necessary for the safety of the infant and the mother are of course important and I am grateful that the technology is available for those few cases. However not only are those cases rare I am angered that some of those emergency cases could have been prevented if the mother was better educated and had better prenatal care. Secondly I would like to point out that 40 weeks gestation is just an average. I don't mean to be giving a math lesson here but an average is all the numbers added up together and then divided meaning if you have 7 mothers who each give birth at different gestational weeks (37,38,39,40,41,42,43) all averaged together you get 40 weeks! Often from a statistical standpoint it often excludes the outliers, meaning that those that are too far on either side get removed from that data all together and are often not even figured into the average. Therefore, it may not be outside of the norm for a mother to go into labor naturally at 35 or 43 weeks and have perfectly healthy babies. There are so many variations of what is normal in our species yet when there are natural variations in birth we are told that something must be wrong. The average height of an American female is about 5'3. So does that mean that if you are an American female and are 6'2 or 4'10 that you should take drastic measures to "fix" yourself so that you fall into this average? I would assume that most women would think it absurd to take medical precautions so that they did not ever get to 6'2 or consider taking growth hormones so that they could be taller than 4'10. Yet we often take drugs or even undergo major abdominal surgery when we are pregnant and go beyond the average 40 weeks of gestation no matter how well the baby may be doing inside the womb.
So why is it ok to pump pregnant women full of drugs to force a baby out of its safe home before that baby is ready to make its appearance? Why do doctors insist that they know better than mother nature? It is just maddening that doctors are making women feel inadequate by telling them that their body must be doing something wrong, that their bodies are not functioning properly because if it were they would have gone into labor already! This is Wrong! Women you need to reclaim your voice for yours and your babies well being. There are cases were medical intervention is necessary but it is much more rare than your OB would like you to believe, especially if you are getting good prenatal care. For example how many women are told that they can avoid having such a risky complication like pre-eclampsia simply by having a good well balanced diet. Yes it can really be that simple sometimes. Eating well while you are pregnant who would have guessed!
I am just so angered by the ignorance that abounds when it comes to natural birth. We as women are smarter than this, however we allow doctors to tell us that we must be wrong our bodies must be broken we simply cant give birth naturally. Oh what utter Bullshit!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Becoming a Reality
I met with my first client the other day and she is great! I am so excited to be working with her and her beautiful family. My journey is just now begining but I already feel so blessed. I have already met with one wonderful woman and am meeting with another tomorrow! I also had lunch with a friend of mine who has been a doula for over 20 years and she is going to ask her clients if it is okay if I shadow her during their births. Things just seem to be falling into place and it is so exciting! I know this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life, and I have to thank my beautiful little girl, who should have been 3 months old today, for giving me a new direction. I love and miss you sweet baby! I just cannot believe that all of this is becoming a reality so quickly!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Journey as a Doula begins!
I am getting ready to officially start my journey as a doula. My workshop through toLabor (formally Alace) is not until February but I am meeting my first client tomorrow. She is due in April. I need to attend 6 births as a doula before I can get my certification and I am already on my way! I know that it is going to difficult to be around a pregnant woman and be happy but I know that this is where my journey has to begin. I also know that this first step is never going to be easy so I just have to pick that foot up and know that when I put it down the ground is going to be solid underneath it. Wish me luck for tomorrow my new journey begins!
Monday, November 29, 2010
One little life...
It is amazing to me how my little girl has changed me so much. I know that I have always wanted to be a mom but I had know idea how much love I was going to have for my baby. Aine was only in my life for the 10 months that she spent growing in my belly, but she made me the happiest I have ever been and the most devastated, all with one sweet little life... Aine Rose is my little girl, my angel. She was only 7lbs 5oz but she left a huge imprint on my heart and soul.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Rainbow Baby
After losing our beautiful little girl the desire to have a little one of my own has only grown exponentially! I know that it is difficult for many to understand why after such a devastating loss I would be so anxious to start this journey over again but I found a beautiful quote that says it all. "Rainbow Babies are the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of the storm. When a rainbow appears, it doesn't mean the storm never happened or that the family is not still dealing with its aftermath. What it means is that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy and hope"~Courtney. I know that nothing will bring my little girl back but I know that I want nothing more than to be a mom. Being a mom is all I have ever wanted, and then I was so close and my dream was ripped away. I want to be a mommy with a happy healthy baby to love and cherish! It has been less then 3 months since I lost my baby girl but I pray everyday that my rainbow baby will become a reality!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)