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 a feeling of constant pressure that wouldn't let up. 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." I have a lot of those days at the end, and it's a real drag. Turns out it was the real thing this time. We made it back home at 5:30 and I was confronted with a dilemma. The children 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