**We've moved!!**
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
In honor of New Year's Eve, I'll keep it short. If you haven't, try one of my alcohol-free punch recipes from last week (which, umm...I didn't post because I couldn't think of any good ones. But I will have some other cool recipes out soon)!
One thing that I've tried to do on every New Year's Eve since I was a teenager is to sit down and write out my goals for the coming year. Yes, they are New Year's resolutions. But I don't make random, typical goals like "I'll lose weight" and "I'll do better at work." No, I sit down and really think about where I am and where I want to be in a year. I have a special journal that I keep, where I write these goals. I also write how I did on the previous year's goals. Throughout the year, I refer to these goals and think about how I am doing in achieving them, and how I might be able to do better. These are real goals that I truly intend to meet.
Every year I write down around a dozen goals, and I like to think I ultimately achieve over half of them, although some -- such as be a more patient mother -- are ongoing goals, which I will always be working on. I'll never achieve perfection, so it's my goal to do a little better each year.
In an upcoming post, I'll share some of this year's goals with you, so that you can help keep me honest!
Do you ever make New Year's resolutions? If so, do you keep them? I challenge everyone to make some REAL goals this year. Write them down, make them count, and see what you can do to make them happen!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Baby-led Solids
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Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
**This post has been entered in "Works for me Wednesdays" at We are THAT Family!**
When it comes to solid food, all babies start eating it eventually. The typical wisdom (of late) has been to start baby on rice cereal at 4 - 6 months, the follow up with vegetables, then fruits, and later, dairy and meats. There have been different ideas through the years (including starting babies on rice cereal as early as 2 weeks old!), but one thing all these "plans" have in common are that babies are spoon-fed their early meals.
Not so in baby-led solids.
Baby-led solids is a relatively new idea. Babies are never fed from a spoon or offered any type of purees. They are also rarely offered grains as a first food, but instead are given ripe, raw fruits and vegetables, cheese, or even bits of meat. The food is placed on a tray in front of them, and the baby is encouraged to do what he will with it -- play with it, smash it, lick it, and eat it. If he chooses not to eat, that's okay.
Babies obviously have to be a bit older before they start solids for this to work. Most babies are more in the range of 6 to 8 months, and some are even older before they'll actually eat anything this way. The idea is that if the baby refuses to eat at all, or refuses a particular food, he must not be ready for it. If he DOES choose to eat something, he must be ready for it and he clearly wants it. This gives the baby all the control over what and how much he eats. Since the baby has (hopefully) had demand-feeding up until now, he has always had control over how much he eats (and when), and he has self-regulated well. With baby-led solids, he can continue to self-regulate his eating.
We will be doing baby-led solids with Daniel. He is about 5.5 months at this time, so too young (although he does try to grab our food sometimes!). We're hoping to hold off until 8 months. This is especially important to us because of the history of food allergies. We are hoping that he will not eat things that do not make him feel good (sometimes, kids with allergies will refuse all foods until they are over a year, or certain foods, because they seem to know it is not good for them).
So, WHY would anyone do this? And what should you feed first?
Kelly Mom has a good chart and FAQ on starting solids. She recommends no earlier than 6 months, and cautions that solids DO NOT REPLACE BREASTMILK (or formula)! Solids are only for tasting and experimenting until around age 1. (Side note: Kelly mom says that babies who start solids earlier and eat more of them tend to wean earlier, too. If you have already started your baby on solids before 6 months and s/he is eating a fair amount, and you had hoped to breastfeed for quite awhile yet, don't worry! We started Bekah at 4 months and she ate a lot of solids, too, and she is still an avid nurser at 23 months. So, whatever "mistakes" you make, you can fix or overcome!)
La Leche League weighs in on baby-led solids, too (frequently called "baby led weaning;" I don't like this term because it implies that you are putting the baby from breastmilk onto solids, and this shouldn't be true -- baby should continue to breastfeed while adding complementary foods).
It's important to know how a baby's gut develops. (Click the link for indepth information. It also thoroughly explains the "leaky gut syndrome" I mentioned in a previous post.) If a baby is exclusively breastfed from birth (no supplementation at all), his or her gut will close and begin to mature around 18 weeks. Solids should never be started earlier than this. In babies who are formula fed or who have been supplemented with formula on occasion, it takes even longer for the gut to mature. Using probiotics can help, although breastfeeding is best. The reason that solid foods can't be started until the gut has closed and matured is that until this time, large, undigested proteins can get from the intestines into the bloodstream, where the body can begin to attack them as foreign invaders, creating an allergic reactions. When the gut is mature, proteins don't pass into the bloodstream until fully digested, and therefore don't create allergic reactions (this is why special formulas have pre-digested proteins or even basic amino acids, in an attempt to bypass this issue and cause no allergic reactions).
However, age isn't the only thing to look for when starting solids. The calendar is a good start -- as in, don't start sooner than 6 months of age, unless advised for real medical reasons (a lot of doctors will say "sure, 4 months is fine!" but not have any particular reason why your child NEEDS solids so early; I would not consider this a medical reason). But also look for:
*Doubled birth weight
*Ability to sit unassisted
*Development of the "pincer grasp"
*Interest in food (watching you eat, grabbing your food)
*Loss of the tongue-thrust reflex
If your baby doesn't have ALL of these, he's not ready for solids. Solids, contrary to popular belief, will not help a baby sleep through the night (there is controversy regarding babies with reflux, but my personal belief is that reflux is usually caused by allergies, or immature digestive system, and neither is fixed by feeding unnecessary food, or drugs). It is important to note that breastmilk contains 22 - 35 calories/ounce, and formula contains about 22 calories/ounce. Early solids will typically contain 5 - 10 calories/ounce, and should make up a very sparing part of the child's diet. Put this way, it's obvious that breastmilk is the fattiest and most filling food, and that solids will not "fill the child up" and help him/her to sleep longer.
Once a baby IS ready, though, here are some good first foods:
*Avocado
*Squash
*Sweet potatoes
*Chicken (cut in very tiny pieces, to avoid choking)
*Cooked apples (cut in very tiny pieces)
*Cooked pears
*Egg yolks (no whites)
You will notice that no type of grains are on this list. This is because grains are not good for young babies. The Weston A. Price Foundation recommends that no grains be introduced until around age 2 because babies have a very hard time digesting grains. They actually recommend that animal products (egg yolks, then liver, then other meats and butter) be baby's first foods, starting fruits and vegetables only after 10 months. Babies don't handle "roughage" well as adults do, because they don't produce much amylase, an enzyme required to digest grains and other roughage.
Introduce foods only one at a time, no more often than every three days. It can take awhile for reactions to show up, so if foods are introduced too quickly, it can be hard to tell which is causing a reaction. In children with a family history of allergies (especially siblings), waiting a week between new foods is a good idea. Reactions may include the following:
*Diarrhea
*Vomitting (especially projectile)
*Constipation
*Hives
*Trouble breathing/anaphylaxis
*Eczema
*Night waking
*Screaming
*Belly pain/upset/gas
*Cradle cap
Please be aware that eczema flare-ups ARE a sign of allergy and are NOT normal (Bekah's eczema ONLY flares up when she's eaten a food she's allergic to, and her doctor has indicated this is a sign to watch for). Please also be aware that some of these symptoms can be a sign that the baby is simply not ready for the food and NOT an allergy, but it still means you must wait awhile before trying it again. It is a good idea to introduce filtered water and a good probiotic at the same time as you introduce solids to hopefully minimize any reactions (per Bekah's doctors).
A lot of babies experience severe constipation when rice cereal is introduced first -- Bekah did. They actually cry and strain. This is not normal, and is a sign that their bodies are not ready to digest grains. Many parents are told this IS normal and are advised to give their babies juice, or worse, medical suppositories. The best answer is to stop feeding grains and start with other foods, or simply wait longer to feed foods at all. Remember: babies are NOT supposed to be getting a large portion of their calories from their food yet. They are only tasting and learning about new textures, experimenting.
When introducing a food, cut up a small bit of it into tiny pieces and place them on a highchair tray. Sit the baby in the highchair, and encourage him/her to play with, lick, and eat the food. If s/he is not interested, don't push him/her to try it. Just wait a couple days and try again. Always watch your child carefully when s/he is eating, especially in the first few months. If the baby indicates s/he likes the food and wants more (baby sign is really great for this), or wants some help, go ahead and help. This is BABY LED, but that doesn't mean you can't help if the baby would like you to.
Once you have introduced several foods, you can start to put more than one on the tray at once, or serve some of the family's meal to the baby (for example: egg yolks cooked with some meat). Introducing butter and coconut oil early on is a good idea, too, because both provide the needed saturated fat and cholesterol to the baby (coconut oil is cholesterol-free but does contain the medium-chain fatty acids found, besides coconut, only in mother's milk). The Weston A. Price Foundation has lots of good ideas on feeding babies (linked above).
In case you find this article a bit strange and lest you think I feel like I'm a "perfect parent" for doing things this way (as it's been brought to my attention that sometimes I come off that way when I don't mean to), let me tell you about my experience feeding Bekah. She was given formula supplements from birth to 6 weeks, then exclusively breastfed until 4 months. She was started on rice cereal just prior to reaching 18 weeks. I did this because she had stopped sleeping well at night at 3 months (although she was STILL only waking once per night, which, believe me, is a whole lot better than Daniel's doing now at almost 5.5 months) and I felt like she needed "more" and it would help her sleep through the night (it didn't. She only starting sleeping through the night "most of the time" at 22 months). Within a week we were trying pears, peas, bananas, apples, carrots, and various other foods. We didn't wait more than 2 or 3 days in between foods, and I didn't note any allergic reactions as such (horrible constipation from the rice cereal, followed by diarrhea and night waking from peas, which we now know she is allergic to). By 6 months I kind of was trying to hold back, but also sort of letting her eat "whatever." I spoonfed her everything, and made purees for her. I usually fed her either a puree of fruit or vegetable (broccoli was another common one early on) for her meals, or I fed her over-cooked, mushy, cut up fruit or vegetables. When I didn't have any around (I never bought any jars), I would feed her whatever was around -- pasta coated in canned tomato soup, cream or cheese soups, even Taco Bell cheese roll-ups once or twice. I loved that she'd eat anything. At 8 months or so I'd give her "whatever" half the time, and sweet potatoes mixed with brown rice for dinner. That stopped at 11 months after she got the stomach flu and refused to eat it anymore. Right around her birthday, she stopped eating anything except apples, bananas, bread, cheese, and potatoes, when previously she'd eaten anything. Just after this we started discovering all her allergies...and since then we've been on a roller coaster ride of trying to heal her, get her to try new foods, etc. etc. She is FINALLY willing to at least try most foods now, and is sleeping through the night...most of the time (she is 23 months). There were months and months where we just had to feed her more applesauce, or another slice of bread, because she literally would not eat anything else. It was very frustrating. Anyway -- we're trying really hard to avoid that with Daniel, so I've done all this research on how we can do a better job feeding him so that (hopefully) it doesn't happen again. Knock on wood.
How and when did you begin solids with your baby? What did you feed first? Has this post brought new ideas to you about infant feeding?
Like what you read? Subscribe over on the right and get posts everyday in your email!
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
**This post has been entered in "Works for me Wednesdays" at We are THAT Family!**
When it comes to solid food, all babies start eating it eventually. The typical wisdom (of late) has been to start baby on rice cereal at 4 - 6 months, the follow up with vegetables, then fruits, and later, dairy and meats. There have been different ideas through the years (including starting babies on rice cereal as early as 2 weeks old!), but one thing all these "plans" have in common are that babies are spoon-fed their early meals.
Not so in baby-led solids.
Baby-led solids is a relatively new idea. Babies are never fed from a spoon or offered any type of purees. They are also rarely offered grains as a first food, but instead are given ripe, raw fruits and vegetables, cheese, or even bits of meat. The food is placed on a tray in front of them, and the baby is encouraged to do what he will with it -- play with it, smash it, lick it, and eat it. If he chooses not to eat, that's okay.
Babies obviously have to be a bit older before they start solids for this to work. Most babies are more in the range of 6 to 8 months, and some are even older before they'll actually eat anything this way. The idea is that if the baby refuses to eat at all, or refuses a particular food, he must not be ready for it. If he DOES choose to eat something, he must be ready for it and he clearly wants it. This gives the baby all the control over what and how much he eats. Since the baby has (hopefully) had demand-feeding up until now, he has always had control over how much he eats (and when), and he has self-regulated well. With baby-led solids, he can continue to self-regulate his eating.
We will be doing baby-led solids with Daniel. He is about 5.5 months at this time, so too young (although he does try to grab our food sometimes!). We're hoping to hold off until 8 months. This is especially important to us because of the history of food allergies. We are hoping that he will not eat things that do not make him feel good (sometimes, kids with allergies will refuse all foods until they are over a year, or certain foods, because they seem to know it is not good for them).
So, WHY would anyone do this? And what should you feed first?
Kelly Mom has a good chart and FAQ on starting solids. She recommends no earlier than 6 months, and cautions that solids DO NOT REPLACE BREASTMILK (or formula)! Solids are only for tasting and experimenting until around age 1. (Side note: Kelly mom says that babies who start solids earlier and eat more of them tend to wean earlier, too. If you have already started your baby on solids before 6 months and s/he is eating a fair amount, and you had hoped to breastfeed for quite awhile yet, don't worry! We started Bekah at 4 months and she ate a lot of solids, too, and she is still an avid nurser at 23 months. So, whatever "mistakes" you make, you can fix or overcome!)
La Leche League weighs in on baby-led solids, too (frequently called "baby led weaning;" I don't like this term because it implies that you are putting the baby from breastmilk onto solids, and this shouldn't be true -- baby should continue to breastfeed while adding complementary foods).
It's important to know how a baby's gut develops. (Click the link for indepth information. It also thoroughly explains the "leaky gut syndrome" I mentioned in a previous post.) If a baby is exclusively breastfed from birth (no supplementation at all), his or her gut will close and begin to mature around 18 weeks. Solids should never be started earlier than this. In babies who are formula fed or who have been supplemented with formula on occasion, it takes even longer for the gut to mature. Using probiotics can help, although breastfeeding is best. The reason that solid foods can't be started until the gut has closed and matured is that until this time, large, undigested proteins can get from the intestines into the bloodstream, where the body can begin to attack them as foreign invaders, creating an allergic reactions. When the gut is mature, proteins don't pass into the bloodstream until fully digested, and therefore don't create allergic reactions (this is why special formulas have pre-digested proteins or even basic amino acids, in an attempt to bypass this issue and cause no allergic reactions).
However, age isn't the only thing to look for when starting solids. The calendar is a good start -- as in, don't start sooner than 6 months of age, unless advised for real medical reasons (a lot of doctors will say "sure, 4 months is fine!" but not have any particular reason why your child NEEDS solids so early; I would not consider this a medical reason). But also look for:
*Doubled birth weight
*Ability to sit unassisted
*Development of the "pincer grasp"
*Interest in food (watching you eat, grabbing your food)
*Loss of the tongue-thrust reflex
If your baby doesn't have ALL of these, he's not ready for solids. Solids, contrary to popular belief, will not help a baby sleep through the night (there is controversy regarding babies with reflux, but my personal belief is that reflux is usually caused by allergies, or immature digestive system, and neither is fixed by feeding unnecessary food, or drugs). It is important to note that breastmilk contains 22 - 35 calories/ounce, and formula contains about 22 calories/ounce. Early solids will typically contain 5 - 10 calories/ounce, and should make up a very sparing part of the child's diet. Put this way, it's obvious that breastmilk is the fattiest and most filling food, and that solids will not "fill the child up" and help him/her to sleep longer.
Once a baby IS ready, though, here are some good first foods:
*Avocado
*Squash
*Sweet potatoes
*Chicken (cut in very tiny pieces, to avoid choking)
*Cooked apples (cut in very tiny pieces)
*Cooked pears
*Egg yolks (no whites)
You will notice that no type of grains are on this list. This is because grains are not good for young babies. The Weston A. Price Foundation recommends that no grains be introduced until around age 2 because babies have a very hard time digesting grains. They actually recommend that animal products (egg yolks, then liver, then other meats and butter) be baby's first foods, starting fruits and vegetables only after 10 months. Babies don't handle "roughage" well as adults do, because they don't produce much amylase, an enzyme required to digest grains and other roughage.
Introduce foods only one at a time, no more often than every three days. It can take awhile for reactions to show up, so if foods are introduced too quickly, it can be hard to tell which is causing a reaction. In children with a family history of allergies (especially siblings), waiting a week between new foods is a good idea. Reactions may include the following:
*Diarrhea
*Vomitting (especially projectile)
*Constipation
*Hives
*Trouble breathing/anaphylaxis
*Eczema
*Night waking
*Screaming
*Belly pain/upset/gas
*Cradle cap
Please be aware that eczema flare-ups ARE a sign of allergy and are NOT normal (Bekah's eczema ONLY flares up when she's eaten a food she's allergic to, and her doctor has indicated this is a sign to watch for). Please also be aware that some of these symptoms can be a sign that the baby is simply not ready for the food and NOT an allergy, but it still means you must wait awhile before trying it again. It is a good idea to introduce filtered water and a good probiotic at the same time as you introduce solids to hopefully minimize any reactions (per Bekah's doctors).
A lot of babies experience severe constipation when rice cereal is introduced first -- Bekah did. They actually cry and strain. This is not normal, and is a sign that their bodies are not ready to digest grains. Many parents are told this IS normal and are advised to give their babies juice, or worse, medical suppositories. The best answer is to stop feeding grains and start with other foods, or simply wait longer to feed foods at all. Remember: babies are NOT supposed to be getting a large portion of their calories from their food yet. They are only tasting and learning about new textures, experimenting.
When introducing a food, cut up a small bit of it into tiny pieces and place them on a highchair tray. Sit the baby in the highchair, and encourage him/her to play with, lick, and eat the food. If s/he is not interested, don't push him/her to try it. Just wait a couple days and try again. Always watch your child carefully when s/he is eating, especially in the first few months. If the baby indicates s/he likes the food and wants more (baby sign is really great for this), or wants some help, go ahead and help. This is BABY LED, but that doesn't mean you can't help if the baby would like you to.
Once you have introduced several foods, you can start to put more than one on the tray at once, or serve some of the family's meal to the baby (for example: egg yolks cooked with some meat). Introducing butter and coconut oil early on is a good idea, too, because both provide the needed saturated fat and cholesterol to the baby (coconut oil is cholesterol-free but does contain the medium-chain fatty acids found, besides coconut, only in mother's milk). The Weston A. Price Foundation has lots of good ideas on feeding babies (linked above).
In case you find this article a bit strange and lest you think I feel like I'm a "perfect parent" for doing things this way (as it's been brought to my attention that sometimes I come off that way when I don't mean to), let me tell you about my experience feeding Bekah. She was given formula supplements from birth to 6 weeks, then exclusively breastfed until 4 months. She was started on rice cereal just prior to reaching 18 weeks. I did this because she had stopped sleeping well at night at 3 months (although she was STILL only waking once per night, which, believe me, is a whole lot better than Daniel's doing now at almost 5.5 months) and I felt like she needed "more" and it would help her sleep through the night (it didn't. She only starting sleeping through the night "most of the time" at 22 months). Within a week we were trying pears, peas, bananas, apples, carrots, and various other foods. We didn't wait more than 2 or 3 days in between foods, and I didn't note any allergic reactions as such (horrible constipation from the rice cereal, followed by diarrhea and night waking from peas, which we now know she is allergic to). By 6 months I kind of was trying to hold back, but also sort of letting her eat "whatever." I spoonfed her everything, and made purees for her. I usually fed her either a puree of fruit or vegetable (broccoli was another common one early on) for her meals, or I fed her over-cooked, mushy, cut up fruit or vegetables. When I didn't have any around (I never bought any jars), I would feed her whatever was around -- pasta coated in canned tomato soup, cream or cheese soups, even Taco Bell cheese roll-ups once or twice. I loved that she'd eat anything. At 8 months or so I'd give her "whatever" half the time, and sweet potatoes mixed with brown rice for dinner. That stopped at 11 months after she got the stomach flu and refused to eat it anymore. Right around her birthday, she stopped eating anything except apples, bananas, bread, cheese, and potatoes, when previously she'd eaten anything. Just after this we started discovering all her allergies...and since then we've been on a roller coaster ride of trying to heal her, get her to try new foods, etc. etc. She is FINALLY willing to at least try most foods now, and is sleeping through the night...most of the time (she is 23 months). There were months and months where we just had to feed her more applesauce, or another slice of bread, because she literally would not eat anything else. It was very frustrating. Anyway -- we're trying really hard to avoid that with Daniel, so I've done all this research on how we can do a better job feeding him so that (hopefully) it doesn't happen again. Knock on wood.
How and when did you begin solids with your baby? What did you feed first? Has this post brought new ideas to you about infant feeding?
Like what you read? Subscribe over on the right and get posts everyday in your email!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Health News Tuesday: Organic Milk and Allergies, Natural Remedies for Candida, and more
**We've moved!!**
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Health News Tuesday!
Unhealthy Habits are What's Killing Us
Opinion piece on why socialized medicine isn't the solution to the problem.
Natural Exposure to Germs May Protect Kids from Infectious Disease as Adults
A new, longitudinal study shows that a "dirty"environment for children just may protect against future disease.
Baby Boomers are the First Generation to be Sicker than the Previous One
New research has found that Baby Boomers (now around age 60) tend to rely more on pharmaceuticals, require more assistance, and are more likely to be sick or overweight than their parents were at their age. An increase in sedentary lifestyle and the overuse of technology is blamed.
Natural Remedies for Candida Albicans
Suffering with repeated yeast infections? These treatments may help. (Please note I don't advocate the low-fat diet suggestion.)
Hundreds of Chemicals Found in Newborns
Researchers tested the cord blood of 10 newborns and found BPA, rocket fuel, remnants of artificial fragrances (from perfumes and detergents), and more. These chemicals are known to cause cancer and disrupt growth and development, and can cross the placenta into unborn babies.
Organic Milk Linked to Lower Rates of Asthma, Allergies, and Eczema
Please be sure your organic milk is NOT ultra-pasteurized though!
Do you have any additional health news to share with us? Please post it below!
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Health News Tuesday!
Unhealthy Habits are What's Killing Us
Opinion piece on why socialized medicine isn't the solution to the problem.
Natural Exposure to Germs May Protect Kids from Infectious Disease as Adults
A new, longitudinal study shows that a "dirty"environment for children just may protect against future disease.
Baby Boomers are the First Generation to be Sicker than the Previous One
New research has found that Baby Boomers (now around age 60) tend to rely more on pharmaceuticals, require more assistance, and are more likely to be sick or overweight than their parents were at their age. An increase in sedentary lifestyle and the overuse of technology is blamed.
Natural Remedies for Candida Albicans
Suffering with repeated yeast infections? These treatments may help. (Please note I don't advocate the low-fat diet suggestion.)
Hundreds of Chemicals Found in Newborns
Researchers tested the cord blood of 10 newborns and found BPA, rocket fuel, remnants of artificial fragrances (from perfumes and detergents), and more. These chemicals are known to cause cancer and disrupt growth and development, and can cross the placenta into unborn babies.
Organic Milk Linked to Lower Rates of Asthma, Allergies, and Eczema
Please be sure your organic milk is NOT ultra-pasteurized though!
Do you have any additional health news to share with us? Please post it below!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Interview on Hypothyroid Disease
**We've moved!!**
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
During my 30's I feel like my health really began to fall apart. I had three active children and I tried to support their efforts. I was taking on too many responsibilities, and just really never got any rest.
Then we had a really terrible financial crisis in our business. That just kind of tipped everything over the edge. After that crisis, I went to a medical doctor and it was determined that I had some thyroid issues.
Q3: What happened then? What did the doctors tell you and do to help you?
A: I went through a series of blood tests to determine what was wrong with me, and it was labeled as hypothyroidism. Doctor #1 put me on an experimental drug program with the University of Michigan. I don't know the name of the drug, I don't know if they even gave us the name of the drug, it was supposed to be very hush-hush. You started with a very low dose and increased it for 15 days, until you were taking a really high dose. I felt terrific on the 15th day. Then you decreased the dose until the end of the month. You kept doing this every month, cycling. I felt great for 2 - 3 days out of the month on the high dose, because I was on the wrong dose for me [most of the time]. It was supposed to "jump start" your thyroid. I did this for 18 months and really felt horrible.
Q4: What did you do next?
A: I decided to go to a new doctor. Doctor #1 who gave me the drugs was really upset when I left the program. She just kept saying "Stick with the program, stick with the program" even though I was going in every month saying "I feel terrible." I realize those studies are valid to try to help people, but they sure didn't help me. I went to Doctor #2, and he labeled me as hypothyroidism too. What did he put me on? ...Synthroid. I took that for several years. I felt ok during this time period, but I never really felt good.
When I started taking Synthroid, I started gaining weight, and I that in itself made me feel even worse. I exercised and did whatever I could to eat salads and stuff, but I just kept gaining weight. In the middle of all that stuff going on, the doctor put me on an antidepressant. I just kept feeling worse, constantly feeling terrible. I started developing all this back and shoulder pain so he put me on something called Bextra. So at this point I was taking the antidepressant, the Synthroid, and the Bextra. It soon became obvious that those drugs do not mix well within the body. [Note: Bextra has since been removed from the market, declared dangerous, and a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit. I could have gotten $200 in the settlement, but it wasn't worth the hassle to get a lawyer. It does make me mad that I was "sold" something that wasn't good for me. It did nothing to improve my health.)
Then Doctor #2 moved out of the state, and I had to find another doctor. At the local phamacy, I saw some liturature for an endocrinologist (Doctor #3) in a nearby town and decided that perhaps I should see a specialist because I began having issues with soreness in my neck and losing my voice. I would lose my voice for a week at a time, I couldn't even speak above a whisper. I certainly couldn't sing. I just felt like something was really wrong with my neck. I continued taking the Levothyroine in various doses but it didn't seem to help whatever was going on in my neck. He suggest an ultrasound of my neck and fond a lump on my thyroid. He wanted to do a needle biopsy on to see if it was cancerous, or if it was a non-cancerous tumor. When he showed me the size of the needle, and the fact that this was located next to my jugular vein, I questioned him about that. I thought, there's no way I'm going to let someone stick a needle deep in my neck next to my jugular vein. Doctor #3 really wanted to take my thyroid out. He wanted to completely take it out, and his solution was for me to take a drug for the rest of my life. When I questioned the procedure, he said I was welcome to get another opinion.
In defense of medical doctors, they are looking to treat you in the only way they know how, which is with a drug. The doctor I'm seeing now is using vitamins and the restricted diet to help the body to heal itself. Then, if you NEED some kind of drug, he will make sure that you take it in a form that will help you, rather than work against the body healing itself naturally.
Q9: Tell me more about the diet and how it helped you.
A: At the very beginning I did not cheat on the diet at all. I was very determined to give this change of eating a fair chance, and in the back of my mind I was determined to avoid surgery if possible. I was also staying away from dairy. When I would eat a piece of pizza or something it would make me sick so that also was a motivator to stick with the diet.
It's been 10 months now and I'm able to eat foods on a limited basis and be okay. But generally I'm still sticking to the diet. I try to avoid eating sandwiches. I pay more attention to the ingredients that are in foods. I'm still only eating sugar and flour in very limited amounts. I feel like me again [after the diet]. I didn't realize I felt that bad. I didn't realize I could feel this good.
Well, I think you have to be personally responsible for your health. I was trying to be, I was trying to be responsible and do healthy things, but until I started on this diet, I didn't realize how bad we, as Americans tend to eat. I always had meat and vegetables, but the way you prepare food, isn't always as healthy as it could have been. Getting away from dairy has really helped me too.
… when I was on the strictest form of the diet, it was plain meat, most vegetables (no potatoes), only some fruits (no bananas, grapes) very low sugar fruits. Pineapple was okay, and apples, and pecans, and walnuts, and eggs were okay. Typically in the morning I would make eggs, and maybe I would cook some kind of vegetable to go with it. As a maintenance diet, I'll eat leftovers from supper for breakfast, or eggs. Apples, fruits and nuts. I'm still not eating much potatoes at all. I'm really trying not to eat bread, but I think that I’m still in the healing process.
Q10: What would you say to women in your situation? What advice would you give them?
A: I know that there's a lot of women out there with the same struggle. They trust their doctor, and their doctor says "take this and that," and it's supposed to help them feel better. I know a lot of women my age who feel terrible constantly. I know a lot of it's their diet, as it was with me. But when you're taking a bunch of different drugs, well, there's no quick fix. I think that's what they were peddling me, a quick solution to feeling better. Don't give up. Keep looking until they find a solution that works for you. I know there are other women out there who are looking to improve their health. By simply taking a drug, you're putting the responsibility of YOUR health onto somebody else.
Q11: Any final thoughts?
A: In this whole process, I really tried to be a good patient and follow the directions that doctors gave me. In the long run, I am so thankful that I kept searching until I found some solutions to help me deal with the changes in my body. The only medication I currently am taking is NatureThyroid and am working with Doctor #4 and my chiropractor for the vitamins I need to maintain good health.
Words cannot express how thankful I am that I finally found a solution that is working for me. So to encourage others out there who are struggling with thyroid issues....Keep searching until you find something that works for you. Take personal responsibility for your health and whatever you do...don't give up.
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Today’s post is kind of special. I got a chance to sit down with a family member recently and learn about her story. She has hypothyroidism and has been struggling with it for about 15 years. I was interested to hear her perspective on what has helped her most, as well as what else she has tried. This story is being presented as her experiences and opinions in an interview-style so that anyone who is interested can hopefully glean helpful information from it.
She doesn’t want to be identified, but if you have questions for her, you can post them as comments to me and I can forward them to her. Some of what’s in here is paraphrased, as I was typing what she was saying and may have missed some pieces, but most of it is word-for-word what she told me (there may also be some questions or prompts that I asked her that are missing, because I already knew the story and we were “remembering” together, but those don’t change any of the information presented).
Question 1: Why are you telling your story?
Answer: Basically, the reason I would come forward and share any personal information would be that years ago, when I felt so terrible, I looked everywhere for a solution and couldn't find one. So hopefully if I share what's happened to me, it will encourage other women to find a solution that will help them as well.
Q2: What is the background on your health? When did it start to go bad and why?
A: I grew up on a farm, and we ate healthy, home cooked and canned foods. I was active on the farm, and in high school sports. I considered myself to be a very healthy person. But I definitely had a craving for sugar. Sugar and bread were the things I was attracted to more than anything else.
When I went to college, I was trying to get good grades, and working, and it was very stressful. I ended up in a serious car accident that resulted in a back injury. Shortly after that I came down with a very serious case of mono that landed me in the hospital for three days, and I actually had to drop out of school, because I wasn't well enough to continue. During that time frame, I ended up meeting my husband and getting married. In the course of the next few years I had two children. After my second child was born I developed serious back pain and started seeing a chiropractor for relief.
During my 30's I feel like my health really began to fall apart. I had three active children and I tried to support their efforts. I was taking on too many responsibilities, and just really never got any rest.
Then we had a really terrible financial crisis in our business. That just kind of tipped everything over the edge. After that crisis, I went to a medical doctor and it was determined that I had some thyroid issues.
Q3: What happened then? What did the doctors tell you and do to help you?
A: I went through a series of blood tests to determine what was wrong with me, and it was labeled as hypothyroidism. Doctor #1 put me on an experimental drug program with the University of Michigan. I don't know the name of the drug, I don't know if they even gave us the name of the drug, it was supposed to be very hush-hush. You started with a very low dose and increased it for 15 days, until you were taking a really high dose. I felt terrific on the 15th day. Then you decreased the dose until the end of the month. You kept doing this every month, cycling. I felt great for 2 - 3 days out of the month on the high dose, because I was on the wrong dose for me [most of the time]. It was supposed to "jump start" your thyroid. I did this for 18 months and really felt horrible.
Q4: What did you do next?
A: I decided to go to a new doctor. Doctor #1 who gave me the drugs was really upset when I left the program. She just kept saying "Stick with the program, stick with the program" even though I was going in every month saying "I feel terrible." I realize those studies are valid to try to help people, but they sure didn't help me. I went to Doctor #2, and he labeled me as hypothyroidism too. What did he put me on? ...Synthroid. I took that for several years. I felt ok during this time period, but I never really felt good.
When I started taking Synthroid, I started gaining weight, and I that in itself made me feel even worse. I exercised and did whatever I could to eat salads and stuff, but I just kept gaining weight. In the middle of all that stuff going on, the doctor put me on an antidepressant. I just kept feeling worse, constantly feeling terrible. I started developing all this back and shoulder pain so he put me on something called Bextra. So at this point I was taking the antidepressant, the Synthroid, and the Bextra. It soon became obvious that those drugs do not mix well within the body. [Note: Bextra has since been removed from the market, declared dangerous, and a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit. I could have gotten $200 in the settlement, but it wasn't worth the hassle to get a lawyer. It does make me mad that I was "sold" something that wasn't good for me. It did nothing to improve my health.)
Q5: So did you finally find something to help you feel better? What did help?
A: So now I'm like into this quest, because I never feel good... ever. I just couldn't function, I couldn't get anything at all done. I just felt terrible all the time. Finally, I started going to a new chiropractor, who was really promoting health and nutrition (8 years ago). He did this thing with muscle testing. He used muscle testing to determine how many vitamins I needed to take and what type.
A: So now I'm like into this quest, because I never feel good... ever. I just couldn't function, I couldn't get anything at all done. I just felt terrible all the time. Finally, I started going to a new chiropractor, who was really promoting health and nutrition (8 years ago). He did this thing with muscle testing. He used muscle testing to determine how many vitamins I needed to take and what type.
During this time I kept telling Doctor #2 I was frustrated by the weight gain and the fact that I didn't feel normal, so he changed my thyroid medication to something called "Levothyroxine." This drug was actually hand compounded at a local pharmacy and I seemed to begin to have a life again. It was also at that point I decided to get off the Bextra and the antidepressent. I believe that the Levothyroxine was helping me, along with the vitamins my chiropractor was suggesting that I take. I began feeling better and after 20 years of being out of school actually went back to college and completed my degree.
Then Doctor #2 moved out of the state, and I had to find another doctor. At the local phamacy, I saw some liturature for an endocrinologist (Doctor #3) in a nearby town and decided that perhaps I should see a specialist because I began having issues with soreness in my neck and losing my voice. I would lose my voice for a week at a time, I couldn't even speak above a whisper. I certainly couldn't sing. I just felt like something was really wrong with my neck. I continued taking the Levothyroine in various doses but it didn't seem to help whatever was going on in my neck. He suggest an ultrasound of my neck and fond a lump on my thyroid. He wanted to do a needle biopsy on to see if it was cancerous, or if it was a non-cancerous tumor. When he showed me the size of the needle, and the fact that this was located next to my jugular vein, I questioned him about that. I thought, there's no way I'm going to let someone stick a needle deep in my neck next to my jugular vein. Doctor #3 really wanted to take my thyroid out. He wanted to completely take it out, and his solution was for me to take a drug for the rest of my life. When I questioned the procedure, he said I was welcome to get another opinion.
I decided to have an indepth conversation about all these issues with my chiropractor and he recommended a medical doctor that was more into treating with nutrition than with drugs. This led me to Doctor #4. He did blood tests, to see what levels my thyroid was was at. He recommended that I go on a strict diet. That's when I got off all grains, all sugar and sweeteners, and basically was just eating meat, most vegetables, and some fruit. I was on that plan of eating for about 8 months.
When I started with that diet, I started rapidly losing weight. I wasn't eating flour or sugar, and basically everything I ate was plain. The interesting thing is, now that I'm almost 50, I feel better now than I ever did in my 30s. I've lost 25 lbs. and I've kept it off for nearly a year. I think right now I weigh what I'm supposed to weigh.
In addition to the restricted diet, Doctor #4 also put me on something called "Nature Throid," It is a perscription drug, but it's made of natural ingredients rather than sythetic. That has been a huge part of my recovery.
Q6: How do you feel now? How did you feel about all the stuff that happened to you?
A: I feel like I've wasted 15 years of my life, that I can't ever get that back. One year, I was so frustrated, I walked a thousand miles on the treadmill, and I didn't lose any weight! In what world is that normal? I felt a little stronger, but I didn't lose any weight. That thyroid drug didn't allow me to. So every time I tried to take my health into my own hands, I just didn't have all the pieces of the puzzle. Which, for me, was the diet and natural thyroid medication.
Q7: What about the thyroid testing and biopsy? Did you have that? What happened with that?
A: My current doctor is monitoring my thyroid and the lump now. It feels so much better though. My voice is stronger, and the soreness in my neck is nearly gone. Doctor #4 says that the soreness was actually from my lymph glands trying to cleanse my body of the foods I could not break down (flour and sugar). I am hoping that by following the restricted diet my body will heal. If not, I certainly will do whatever is necessary to stay healthy.
Q8: What do you think is happening with all of these mainstream doctors?
A: As far as thyroid disease, I think a lot them are looking at a blood test to determine what they should do for you, but they are deaf to the cries of those who do not feel "normal". I think women are struggling because they don't feel good. One thing that stands out to me is that I feel like I've lost more than a decade my life feeling terrible. I was so desperately looking for a solution. After four different doctors, it's just so frustrating that I can't get that time back. I didn't know I could have felt this good in my 30s.
When I started with that diet, I started rapidly losing weight. I wasn't eating flour or sugar, and basically everything I ate was plain. The interesting thing is, now that I'm almost 50, I feel better now than I ever did in my 30s. I've lost 25 lbs. and I've kept it off for nearly a year. I think right now I weigh what I'm supposed to weigh.
In addition to the restricted diet, Doctor #4 also put me on something called "Nature Throid," It is a perscription drug, but it's made of natural ingredients rather than sythetic. That has been a huge part of my recovery.
Q6: How do you feel now? How did you feel about all the stuff that happened to you?
A: I feel like I've wasted 15 years of my life, that I can't ever get that back. One year, I was so frustrated, I walked a thousand miles on the treadmill, and I didn't lose any weight! In what world is that normal? I felt a little stronger, but I didn't lose any weight. That thyroid drug didn't allow me to. So every time I tried to take my health into my own hands, I just didn't have all the pieces of the puzzle. Which, for me, was the diet and natural thyroid medication.
Q7: What about the thyroid testing and biopsy? Did you have that? What happened with that?
A: My current doctor is monitoring my thyroid and the lump now. It feels so much better though. My voice is stronger, and the soreness in my neck is nearly gone. Doctor #4 says that the soreness was actually from my lymph glands trying to cleanse my body of the foods I could not break down (flour and sugar). I am hoping that by following the restricted diet my body will heal. If not, I certainly will do whatever is necessary to stay healthy.
Q8: What do you think is happening with all of these mainstream doctors?
A: As far as thyroid disease, I think a lot them are looking at a blood test to determine what they should do for you, but they are deaf to the cries of those who do not feel "normal". I think women are struggling because they don't feel good. One thing that stands out to me is that I feel like I've lost more than a decade my life feeling terrible. I was so desperately looking for a solution. After four different doctors, it's just so frustrating that I can't get that time back. I didn't know I could have felt this good in my 30s.
In defense of medical doctors, they are looking to treat you in the only way they know how, which is with a drug. The doctor I'm seeing now is using vitamins and the restricted diet to help the body to heal itself. Then, if you NEED some kind of drug, he will make sure that you take it in a form that will help you, rather than work against the body healing itself naturally.
Q9: Tell me more about the diet and how it helped you.
A: At the very beginning I did not cheat on the diet at all. I was very determined to give this change of eating a fair chance, and in the back of my mind I was determined to avoid surgery if possible. I was also staying away from dairy. When I would eat a piece of pizza or something it would make me sick so that also was a motivator to stick with the diet.
It's been 10 months now and I'm able to eat foods on a limited basis and be okay. But generally I'm still sticking to the diet. I try to avoid eating sandwiches. I pay more attention to the ingredients that are in foods. I'm still only eating sugar and flour in very limited amounts. I feel like me again [after the diet]. I didn't realize I felt that bad. I didn't realize I could feel this good.
Well, I think you have to be personally responsible for your health. I was trying to be, I was trying to be responsible and do healthy things, but until I started on this diet, I didn't realize how bad we, as Americans tend to eat. I always had meat and vegetables, but the way you prepare food, isn't always as healthy as it could have been. Getting away from dairy has really helped me too.
… when I was on the strictest form of the diet, it was plain meat, most vegetables (no potatoes), only some fruits (no bananas, grapes) very low sugar fruits. Pineapple was okay, and apples, and pecans, and walnuts, and eggs were okay. Typically in the morning I would make eggs, and maybe I would cook some kind of vegetable to go with it. As a maintenance diet, I'll eat leftovers from supper for breakfast, or eggs. Apples, fruits and nuts. I'm still not eating much potatoes at all. I'm really trying not to eat bread, but I think that I’m still in the healing process.
Q10: What would you say to women in your situation? What advice would you give them?
A: I know that there's a lot of women out there with the same struggle. They trust their doctor, and their doctor says "take this and that," and it's supposed to help them feel better. I know a lot of women my age who feel terrible constantly. I know a lot of it's their diet, as it was with me. But when you're taking a bunch of different drugs, well, there's no quick fix. I think that's what they were peddling me, a quick solution to feeling better. Don't give up. Keep looking until they find a solution that works for you. I know there are other women out there who are looking to improve their health. By simply taking a drug, you're putting the responsibility of YOUR health onto somebody else.
Q11: Any final thoughts?
A: In this whole process, I really tried to be a good patient and follow the directions that doctors gave me. In the long run, I am so thankful that I kept searching until I found some solutions to help me deal with the changes in my body. The only medication I currently am taking is NatureThyroid and am working with Doctor #4 and my chiropractor for the vitamins I need to maintain good health.
Words cannot express how thankful I am that I finally found a solution that is working for me. So to encourage others out there who are struggling with thyroid issues....Keep searching until you find something that works for you. Take personal responsibility for your health and whatever you do...don't give up.
Thanks for this interview! I hope that this helps someone out there who may have thyroid issues.
Does anyone struggle with thyroid or undiscovered health issues? Does anything here stand out to you? Any thoughts on natural treatments or this woman’s experiences?
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Midwives and Doulas
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If you are seeking a natural, drug-free birth (no matter where you want to give birth), midwives and doulas can help you to achieve your goal by supporting you and attending your birth. Midwives and doulas receive special training in what natural birth should be like, while OBs are trained surgeons. If something's wrong, you want an OB. But if you're a healthy, normal woman seeking a drug-free experience, a midwife and/or doula is the way to go.
First, let's look at the different types of midwives and doulas.
Doula -- A doula is a labor coach or support. They are women (I've never heard of a man being a doula; the idea is that a woman who has a particular interest in birthing and often experience birthing naturally supports another woman) and they are hired to attend a woman's birth. There are actually different types of doulas, and different services that they can provide. They do not replace a husband's role in the birth if the woman has a husband, but can be a sole labor coach/support if a woman does not have a husband or other partner (mother, sister, friend, etc.). Doulas are NOT trained to actually deliver babies and do not have any type of medical training. They function as a support. At a hospital, a doula can function as an advocate for the laboring woman in discussing any interventions with hospital staff and guiding the woman as to what is necessary.
Prenatal doula -- This is a doula who meets with a woman prior to her birth, and may provide supplementary prenatal care (I don't think this is common, but sometimes midwives-in-training will do this; we have the option locally). She will also meet with a woman during her labor and support her then, and may even meet with her once or twice after the baby comes just to make sure everything is going well (breastfeeding, emotional stability, etc.).
Birth doula -- This is the most common. This doula will meet with a woman or couple once or twice before the birth to learn the couple's wishes. Then, the doula will either meet the couple at home or at the hospital (some doulas will come to your home even if you are planning a hospital birth, to support you in early labor) and stay throughout labor. This doula may or may not visit the new mom postpartum.
Postpartum doula -- This doula can help a mom after her baby comes with breastfeeding questions, light housework, watching children (new baby while mom showers, or older children) and generally makes mom's life a bit easier in the early days.
There are doulas which combine the above services. Every doula is different. The least expensive options are usually doulas who meet with you once prior to birth, and meet you in active labor and stay through birth, and don't visit after. The more expansive the doula's services (more prenatal visits, coming earlier in your labor, visiting and providing support after birth), the more expensive she will be. Doulas can range from $200 - $1000 depending on area and services provided.
There are several places to find doulas: asking neighbors/friends, checking with local OBs (not all will be supportive of doulas, but some will have names), asking local midwives (many of whom may also work as doulas), looking on Craig's list, or checking DONA or Childbirth International. There are several other websites, as well, if you search the internet. Make sure that your doula is certified and/or experienced, and don't hesitate to call her references.
There are also several types of midwives out there.
Certified Nurse-Midwife: This can be a man or woman (though more commonly a woman), and it is a person who was first an RN, and then became certified as a midwife. This type of midwife frequently attends hospital births, and in certain areas will also attend home or birth center births (unfortunately there aren't a lot of birth centers). CNMs typically work closely with OBs, seeing patients who are low-risk but can transfer to their OBs if necessary at any point in time. CNMs are a great option for women who want or need a hospital birth but would like a natural approach if at all possible (knowing there's a back-up OB right there if necessary).
Certified Professional Midwife: This type of midwife is also called a direct-entry midwife, because she (and rarely, he) learns midwifery primarily through an apprenticeship. That is, she attends and observes births, then works under trained, experienced midwives. She learns to use a doppler, feel for the baby's position, checking maternal and fetal heart tones (with a fetoscope), check the mother's progress internally, etc. In states where CPMs are legal and monitored, they can attend hospital or home births. In states where they are not legal (including Ohio, where I live), CPMs attend only home births. CPMs tend to be a great option if you are looking for a totally natural, medical-free birth, because their perspective tends to be different than a CNM who works in a hospital and with OBs. Most CPMs, though, do know OBs and have preferred back-up doctors and hospitals. It depends on what you are comfortable with.
For a list of questions to ask when selecting a midwife or a doula, read my post on home birth.
In the U.S., there is sometimes a legal issue surrounding birth. There are states in which home birth is technically illegal. That is, a woman is allowed to birth anywhere she chooses, with anyone she wants in attendance, but midwives can be prosecuted for attending intentional home births, and brought up on charges of "practicing medicine without a license." This doesn't occur in states where midwives are legal and regulated.
The problem with midwives being unregulated is that women who want home births will usually find a midwife anyway, but there is no accountability. This means that midwives who are not certified and may have had negative birth outcomes can continue to practice. It also means that reputable, safe midwives can be arrested and taken to trial simply for helping women give birth. It also, unfortunately, means that in extreme cases, families can be prosecuted even after a SAFE home birth! This seemed impossible even a few months ago, until the Levier family was brought up on charges following their child's safe home birth (the mother was having minor issues after birth and the midwives took her to the hospital to be safe, and she was later prosecuted even though she is now fine and the baby never had issues).
Small aside: It makes me angry, that in a world where alcohol, cigarettes, and other "vices" are legal, and abortion is legal, that women can't choose to birth their babies where they want. Women don't HAVE to choose home birth, obviously, but it should be an option that is free and open to them, and even supported and encouraged! It is so very backwards that a woman can end her pregnancy, and her baby's life, but she cannot give birth to a healthy, normal baby in her own home.
Please support a woman's right to birth where SHE chooses by ensuring that trained support people (midwives and doulas) are available.
More Links:
Mother's Choice
National Association of Certified Professional Midwives
North American Registry of Midwives
Midwives Alliance of North America
Doula Network
Adventures of a Midwifery Advocate
The Big Push for Midwives
Have you ever used a midwife or doula? Is this issue important to you? Please share your thoughts!
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Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
If you are seeking a natural, drug-free birth (no matter where you want to give birth), midwives and doulas can help you to achieve your goal by supporting you and attending your birth. Midwives and doulas receive special training in what natural birth should be like, while OBs are trained surgeons. If something's wrong, you want an OB. But if you're a healthy, normal woman seeking a drug-free experience, a midwife and/or doula is the way to go.
First, let's look at the different types of midwives and doulas.
Doula -- A doula is a labor coach or support. They are women (I've never heard of a man being a doula; the idea is that a woman who has a particular interest in birthing and often experience birthing naturally supports another woman) and they are hired to attend a woman's birth. There are actually different types of doulas, and different services that they can provide. They do not replace a husband's role in the birth if the woman has a husband, but can be a sole labor coach/support if a woman does not have a husband or other partner (mother, sister, friend, etc.). Doulas are NOT trained to actually deliver babies and do not have any type of medical training. They function as a support. At a hospital, a doula can function as an advocate for the laboring woman in discussing any interventions with hospital staff and guiding the woman as to what is necessary.
Prenatal doula -- This is a doula who meets with a woman prior to her birth, and may provide supplementary prenatal care (I don't think this is common, but sometimes midwives-in-training will do this; we have the option locally). She will also meet with a woman during her labor and support her then, and may even meet with her once or twice after the baby comes just to make sure everything is going well (breastfeeding, emotional stability, etc.).
Birth doula -- This is the most common. This doula will meet with a woman or couple once or twice before the birth to learn the couple's wishes. Then, the doula will either meet the couple at home or at the hospital (some doulas will come to your home even if you are planning a hospital birth, to support you in early labor) and stay throughout labor. This doula may or may not visit the new mom postpartum.
Postpartum doula -- This doula can help a mom after her baby comes with breastfeeding questions, light housework, watching children (new baby while mom showers, or older children) and generally makes mom's life a bit easier in the early days.
There are doulas which combine the above services. Every doula is different. The least expensive options are usually doulas who meet with you once prior to birth, and meet you in active labor and stay through birth, and don't visit after. The more expansive the doula's services (more prenatal visits, coming earlier in your labor, visiting and providing support after birth), the more expensive she will be. Doulas can range from $200 - $1000 depending on area and services provided.
There are several places to find doulas: asking neighbors/friends, checking with local OBs (not all will be supportive of doulas, but some will have names), asking local midwives (many of whom may also work as doulas), looking on Craig's list, or checking DONA or Childbirth International. There are several other websites, as well, if you search the internet. Make sure that your doula is certified and/or experienced, and don't hesitate to call her references.
There are also several types of midwives out there.
Certified Nurse-Midwife: This can be a man or woman (though more commonly a woman), and it is a person who was first an RN, and then became certified as a midwife. This type of midwife frequently attends hospital births, and in certain areas will also attend home or birth center births (unfortunately there aren't a lot of birth centers). CNMs typically work closely with OBs, seeing patients who are low-risk but can transfer to their OBs if necessary at any point in time. CNMs are a great option for women who want or need a hospital birth but would like a natural approach if at all possible (knowing there's a back-up OB right there if necessary).
Certified Professional Midwife: This type of midwife is also called a direct-entry midwife, because she (and rarely, he) learns midwifery primarily through an apprenticeship. That is, she attends and observes births, then works under trained, experienced midwives. She learns to use a doppler, feel for the baby's position, checking maternal and fetal heart tones (with a fetoscope), check the mother's progress internally, etc. In states where CPMs are legal and monitored, they can attend hospital or home births. In states where they are not legal (including Ohio, where I live), CPMs attend only home births. CPMs tend to be a great option if you are looking for a totally natural, medical-free birth, because their perspective tends to be different than a CNM who works in a hospital and with OBs. Most CPMs, though, do know OBs and have preferred back-up doctors and hospitals. It depends on what you are comfortable with.
For a list of questions to ask when selecting a midwife or a doula, read my post on home birth.
In the U.S., there is sometimes a legal issue surrounding birth. There are states in which home birth is technically illegal. That is, a woman is allowed to birth anywhere she chooses, with anyone she wants in attendance, but midwives can be prosecuted for attending intentional home births, and brought up on charges of "practicing medicine without a license." This doesn't occur in states where midwives are legal and regulated.
The problem with midwives being unregulated is that women who want home births will usually find a midwife anyway, but there is no accountability. This means that midwives who are not certified and may have had negative birth outcomes can continue to practice. It also means that reputable, safe midwives can be arrested and taken to trial simply for helping women give birth. It also, unfortunately, means that in extreme cases, families can be prosecuted even after a SAFE home birth! This seemed impossible even a few months ago, until the Levier family was brought up on charges following their child's safe home birth (the mother was having minor issues after birth and the midwives took her to the hospital to be safe, and she was later prosecuted even though she is now fine and the baby never had issues).
Small aside: It makes me angry, that in a world where alcohol, cigarettes, and other "vices" are legal, and abortion is legal, that women can't choose to birth their babies where they want. Women don't HAVE to choose home birth, obviously, but it should be an option that is free and open to them, and even supported and encouraged! It is so very backwards that a woman can end her pregnancy, and her baby's life, but she cannot give birth to a healthy, normal baby in her own home.
Please support a woman's right to birth where SHE chooses by ensuring that trained support people (midwives and doulas) are available.
More Links:
Mother's Choice
National Association of Certified Professional Midwives
North American Registry of Midwives
Midwives Alliance of North America
Doula Network
Adventures of a Midwifery Advocate
The Big Push for Midwives
Have you ever used a midwife or doula? Is this issue important to you? Please share your thoughts!
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Saturday, December 26, 2009
Final Homemade Christmas Update
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Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Our homemade Christmas was a success!!
We completed a homemade gift for everyone. I'll be blogging about some of the more exciting things separately, so that if you are interested in the projects yourself, you will have a how-to guide. But here is a run-down on what we ultimately did for everyone:
My mom -- A reversible Japanese-print vest, and a candle.
My dad -- Rice-filled heating pads (made with flannel) and some healing cream (based on the diaper-rash cream posted earlier).
My brother -- A soft, fleece throw.
Ben's mother and sisters -- Liquid face moisturizer, and body cream
Ben's dad and brothers-in-law -- A set of rice-filled heating pads (2 short, 1 long, and 1 u-shaped one for the shoulders).
Niece -- 6 doll diapers
Nephew -- Wooden blocks (all different shapes -- columns, squares, rectangles, arches, etc.) We're going to make Daniel a set too for his birthday!
Bekah -- 2 sheet sets and 6 doll diapers.
Ben -- I bought him a Star Wars Lego, because he's been wanting one. :) But I also made a series of 12 cards for him and decorated them a little. On each card is something I promise him, like "We will go bowling, just the two of us." Some promise a favorite meal at home with no kids. They are all different. I thought of this because when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas, he said "Nothing material, I just want to spend time with you." Obviously I couldn't reveal any part of this gift earlier because he reads this blog daily!
We've already posted a how-to post on the blocks. If anyone is interested in any of the other projects, leave a comment and I'll post on those, too!
What did you get for Christmas? How was your holiday and what did you do?
Like what you read? Subscribe over on the right and get posts everyday in your email!
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Our homemade Christmas was a success!!
We completed a homemade gift for everyone. I'll be blogging about some of the more exciting things separately, so that if you are interested in the projects yourself, you will have a how-to guide. But here is a run-down on what we ultimately did for everyone:
My mom -- A reversible Japanese-print vest, and a candle.
My dad -- Rice-filled heating pads (made with flannel) and some healing cream (based on the diaper-rash cream posted earlier).
My brother -- A soft, fleece throw.
Ben's mother and sisters -- Liquid face moisturizer, and body cream
Ben's dad and brothers-in-law -- A set of rice-filled heating pads (2 short, 1 long, and 1 u-shaped one for the shoulders).
Niece -- 6 doll diapers
Nephew -- Wooden blocks (all different shapes -- columns, squares, rectangles, arches, etc.) We're going to make Daniel a set too for his birthday!
Bekah -- 2 sheet sets and 6 doll diapers.
Ben -- I bought him a Star Wars Lego, because he's been wanting one. :) But I also made a series of 12 cards for him and decorated them a little. On each card is something I promise him, like "We will go bowling, just the two of us." Some promise a favorite meal at home with no kids. They are all different. I thought of this because when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas, he said "Nothing material, I just want to spend time with you." Obviously I couldn't reveal any part of this gift earlier because he reads this blog daily!
We've already posted a how-to post on the blocks. If anyone is interested in any of the other projects, leave a comment and I'll post on those, too!
What did you get for Christmas? How was your holiday and what did you do?
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Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas!
Since it's a holiday I'll keep it short. We're celebrating today with our family, having a great dinner, opening presents, and of course, remembering Jesus. We always spend a good deal of time listening to the story of Jesus' birth and praying together as a family. We thank God for each of our family members and all of the other blessings we've received over the last year. This has become more difficult as the family has grown larger, and younger. This year we will have four kids (at our extended family gathering), three of them under 2!
We are hoping that this year, Bekah will start to grasp what Jesus' birth really means to all of us. We have a children's version of the story we'll be reading to her (as I've talked about in previous posts), and activities we'll be doing with her. She is also learning about this in her Sunday school class.
Have a wonderful, blessed holiday, and remember Jesus today! Enjoy your families!
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Merry Christmas!
Since it's a holiday I'll keep it short. We're celebrating today with our family, having a great dinner, opening presents, and of course, remembering Jesus. We always spend a good deal of time listening to the story of Jesus' birth and praying together as a family. We thank God for each of our family members and all of the other blessings we've received over the last year. This has become more difficult as the family has grown larger, and younger. This year we will have four kids (at our extended family gathering), three of them under 2!
We are hoping that this year, Bekah will start to grasp what Jesus' birth really means to all of us. We have a children's version of the story we'll be reading to her (as I've talked about in previous posts), and activities we'll be doing with her. She is also learning about this in her Sunday school class.
Have a wonderful, blessed holiday, and remember Jesus today! Enjoy your families!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve, and One Quick Recipe
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Seeing as it's Christmas Eve, and I don't have all my presents wrapped (oops!), I only have a quick recipe for you today. It's a great, fast dinner for nights (like tonight), when you're too busy to do much cooking but you want something yummy and Real Food.
Chicken and Potatoes
4 medium potatoes, chopped
2 medium chicken breasts, chopped
1/3 c. coconut oil
2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. onion powder, or fresh minced onion
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. sage
Directions:
Put all ingredients in a large skillet. Stir and cook until chicken and potatoes and browned. Serves 2 - 3. (Add a quick salad and some cheese on top if you do dairy and you've got a whole meal!)
Enjoy tonight. Many of you will be heading to church, as we will. It's so important to celebrate Jesus' birth, and to teach our children about it. What an amazing story, the virgin birth of someone who is crucial to our salvation!
Starting in the new year, I'll be doing a series on living a Godly life that will last at least through February, but possibly longer. It will be up on Fridays, for those who are interested.
Merry Christmas, and enjoy your holidays and families!
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Seeing as it's Christmas Eve, and I don't have all my presents wrapped (oops!), I only have a quick recipe for you today. It's a great, fast dinner for nights (like tonight), when you're too busy to do much cooking but you want something yummy and Real Food.
Chicken and Potatoes
4 medium potatoes, chopped
2 medium chicken breasts, chopped
1/3 c. coconut oil
2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. onion powder, or fresh minced onion
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. sage
Directions:
Put all ingredients in a large skillet. Stir and cook until chicken and potatoes and browned. Serves 2 - 3. (Add a quick salad and some cheese on top if you do dairy and you've got a whole meal!)
Enjoy tonight. Many of you will be heading to church, as we will. It's so important to celebrate Jesus' birth, and to teach our children about it. What an amazing story, the virgin birth of someone who is crucial to our salvation!
Starting in the new year, I'll be doing a series on living a Godly life that will last at least through February, but possibly longer. It will be up on Fridays, for those who are interested.
Merry Christmas, and enjoy your holidays and families!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wooden Blocks: How-to
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Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
As many of you know, we've been working on a homemade Christmas this year. I'll put a final update on all the projects that we did in a few days, but wanted to share one project with you now. We made a set of wooden blocks for my nephew, using only a few common household tools. The rest of this was written by Ben, the one who actually made the blocks! Enjoy the project!
The goal: To make a nice homemade gift for my 1-year-old nephew that will encourage his creative development, be something meaningful that will last, and be relatively cheap (materials wise, though certainly not time wise; after all, we are trying to get out of debt). The gift we chose was a nice set of wooden blocks, painted in Texas A&M Aggies colors (red and white) since that is his father's favorite football team.
The materials I used were some scrap pieces of 2x6 left over from some household repairs and a piece of 1" dowel rod. While the pieces I used were scrap, they were the perfect size and what I would have purchased, if needed. Buying the pieces new would probably cost $10-20 depending on the number blocks you'd like to end up with. Plan ahead and calculate the square area of all the pieces you want, and decide if you'll need an 8', 12', or 16' piece of 2x6. (Make sure you account for the width of the blade in your calculations!)
I ended up with a 35 piece set, which I felt was a good size, but maybe a little on the small side. A 40-50 piece set seems like a good number, although depending on either your skill level, or the amount you think your child (or gift recipient) would play with them, you may want a smaller or larger set.
This is a break down of all the pieces:
(cut from the 2x6)
2 - 2.25"x6.75" arches (with a triangle cut out of the bottom)
2 - small triangles from the arches above
8 - 2.25"x2.25" squares
4 - 4.5"x2.25" rectangles
2 - 2.25"x6.75" (cut diagonally) sloped triangle
8 - 2.25"x2.25" (cut diagonally) right triangle
(cut from a strip of 2x6, 3/8" thick)
5 - 4.5" flat pieces
(cut from 1" dowel rod)
2 - 6" columns
2 - 3" columns
I started by deciding what size pieces I wanted, and marking the wood before I cut it. (I've highlighted the pencil marks so that they can be more easily seen). NOTE: I am aware that not all the pieces are marked :0 I wanted to see how the sizes I decided on felt in my hands, before I marked all the other pieces.
(To help identify which pieces I'm referring to later in the post, on the left side, the top piece is two arches, then 4 squares, 2 sloped triangles, 6 flat pieces, then finally the dowel rod)
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Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
As many of you know, we've been working on a homemade Christmas this year. I'll put a final update on all the projects that we did in a few days, but wanted to share one project with you now. We made a set of wooden blocks for my nephew, using only a few common household tools. The rest of this was written by Ben, the one who actually made the blocks! Enjoy the project!
The goal: To make a nice homemade gift for my 1-year-old nephew that will encourage his creative development, be something meaningful that will last, and be relatively cheap (materials wise, though certainly not time wise; after all, we are trying to get out of debt). The gift we chose was a nice set of wooden blocks, painted in Texas A&M Aggies colors (red and white) since that is his father's favorite football team.
The materials I used were some scrap pieces of 2x6 left over from some household repairs and a piece of 1" dowel rod. While the pieces I used were scrap, they were the perfect size and what I would have purchased, if needed. Buying the pieces new would probably cost $10-20 depending on the number blocks you'd like to end up with. Plan ahead and calculate the square area of all the pieces you want, and decide if you'll need an 8', 12', or 16' piece of 2x6. (Make sure you account for the width of the blade in your calculations!)
I ended up with a 35 piece set, which I felt was a good size, but maybe a little on the small side. A 40-50 piece set seems like a good number, although depending on either your skill level, or the amount you think your child (or gift recipient) would play with them, you may want a smaller or larger set.
This is a break down of all the pieces:
(cut from the 2x6)
2 - 2.25"x6.75" arches (with a triangle cut out of the bottom)
2 - small triangles from the arches above
8 - 2.25"x2.25" squares
4 - 4.5"x2.25" rectangles
2 - 2.25"x6.75" (cut diagonally) sloped triangle
8 - 2.25"x2.25" (cut diagonally) right triangle
(cut from a strip of 2x6, 3/8" thick)
5 - 4.5" flat pieces
(cut from 1" dowel rod)
2 - 6" columns
2 - 3" columns
I started by deciding what size pieces I wanted, and marking the wood before I cut it. (I've highlighted the pencil marks so that they can be more easily seen). NOTE: I am aware that not all the pieces are marked :0 I wanted to see how the sizes I decided on felt in my hands, before I marked all the other pieces.
(To help identify which pieces I'm referring to later in the post, on the left side, the top piece is two arches, then 4 squares, 2 sloped triangles, 6 flat pieces, then finally the dowel rod)
Most of the cuts should be done with a single or double bevel miter saw (like the one shown below). The remaining can be done with a basic hand held circular saw. We didn't have a miter saw when we did this so we used a circular saw for most. It is doable but not as easy. Bekah LOVED this project, by the way; she was constantly signing "more" when the saw stopped and bringing over new pieces of wood and saying "cut please."
Start by cutting the 2x6 length wise twice, with the circular saw, into two strips 2.25" (cut on the blue lines). This will leave you with two pieces 2.25" wide and a piece about 5/8" wide (5.5" originally, minus 2.25", 1/8" cut, 2.25", second 1/8" cut). To make it simpler later, trim 1/4" off the bottom of the piece, so that you're left with a 3/8" piece, instead of a 5/8" wide piece.
The diagram below shows all of the respective pieces that will be explained in the following paragraph.
Then use the miter saw to "chop" the 2.25" pieces of 2x6 into the right sizes; 2.25" wide for squares, 4.5" wide for rectangles, 6.75" for arches, 6.75" for sloped triangles, and 2.25" for right triangles. The dowel rod can also be chopped at this point into 6" and 3" long pieces.
Whether you have a single bevel or double bevel miter saw, you can now set it at 45 degrees to cut some of the 2.25"x2.25" squares in half diagonally to turn them into right triangles. The miter can also be used at this point to cut the under side of the arches. It would be best to use a rotary saw, but since I don't have one, I used my miter saw. I started the arch about 1.5" from the ends of the piece and used a triangle to mark the cuts.
For the sloped triangles, cut the 2.25"x6.75" piece diagonally with the circular saw.
The last pieces I cut were using the 5/8" wide scrap we left earlier. I trimmed it down, using a length wise cut with the circular saw, to 3/8" wide. As I noted earlier, the best idea is to trim this piece before cutting the 2.25" pieces, so that you can set your circular saw squarely on the larger piece. I chopped this into 4.5" long flat pieces to act as a floor or roof piece.
Once you're cut out all of the desired pieces, we need to make the wood pieces safe for kids to play with. I used a hand held sander to sand every edge, and every surface, of each piece, to remove all rough spots in the wood and the sharp edges.
Once I was done with all the cutting and sanding I let Rebekah "play test" the pieces to ensure that they were in fact, fun to play with. She certainly thought so :0
Finally, the wood should be either painted or covered with a vanish to help protect the wood. Dark, semi gloss, "kid safe" paint (very important that it's kid safe) looked very nice, and a clear vanish will help it look more "old fashioned", if that is more your style. It will probably require at least two coats of a dark paint, and 4-5 of a lighter one since the wood will soak it up a little.
In all, it took about 6 hours to measure, cut, sand, and paint all of the pieces. We gave it to our nephew last weekend when we had our family Christmas and he certainly seemed enthralled by the blocks. He must have played with them for over an hour while the rest of us opened our gifts.
With the average child under two watching over 2 hours of TV per day, isn't it better to give them a constructive, fun, toy that will help build their minds instead of turning them into mush? As a child, I played with LEGOs for hours and hours, and still do since Kate got me a LEGO Darth Vader set for Christmas :0 Is it any wonder that I became an engineer? From childhood, I've wired my brain into figuring out how pieces and parts go together, how to replicate a real world object, how to analyze a random collection of objects and build something constructive with it. I may use computer code now, but those problem solving principles are still the same.
Do you like working on wooden projects? Do your children have wooden blocks or other fun, brain-building toys? Which are their favorite?
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Health News Tuesday: The World's Fattest Countries, and Arrested for Selling Medicinal Herbs
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Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
How Medical Journals Make Vaccines Sound Better than they Are
"Efficacy" and "effectiveness" are NOT the same! Read for more.
The World's Fattest Countries
Surprise: America's NOT #1, and many countries aren't far behind us.
Greg Caton: Arrested for Selling Medicinal Herbs
Former U.S. citizen Greg Caton was living in Ecuador, selling medicinal herbs (it's legal there), but was illegally extradited to the U.S. and arrested for it. More on this incredible story.
Study Verifies Mammograms Cause Cancer
New study in the Radiological Society of North America journal verifies that mammograms increase cancer risk. Just a caution that this is a preliminary study and no recommendations have yet been made based on it.
7 Foods Experts Wouldn't Eat
Check the list, see how many you eat!
Women Don't Choose Birthing Classes Based on Philosophy
A new study shows that women choose classes based mainly on cost and location. I HIGHLY encourage everyone considering a birthing class (wherever they intend to birth) to investigate the method or instructor's philosophy before choosing one!
Dr. Julie Gerberding, Former Head of CDC, Now President of Merck's Vaccine Division
This is an opinion piece, but shows a huge conflict of interest.
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
How Medical Journals Make Vaccines Sound Better than they Are
"Efficacy" and "effectiveness" are NOT the same! Read for more.
The World's Fattest Countries
Surprise: America's NOT #1, and many countries aren't far behind us.
Greg Caton: Arrested for Selling Medicinal Herbs
Former U.S. citizen Greg Caton was living in Ecuador, selling medicinal herbs (it's legal there), but was illegally extradited to the U.S. and arrested for it. More on this incredible story.
Study Verifies Mammograms Cause Cancer
New study in the Radiological Society of North America journal verifies that mammograms increase cancer risk. Just a caution that this is a preliminary study and no recommendations have yet been made based on it.
7 Foods Experts Wouldn't Eat
Check the list, see how many you eat!
Women Don't Choose Birthing Classes Based on Philosophy
A new study shows that women choose classes based mainly on cost and location. I HIGHLY encourage everyone considering a birthing class (wherever they intend to birth) to investigate the method or instructor's philosophy before choosing one!
Dr. Julie Gerberding, Former Head of CDC, Now President of Merck's Vaccine Division
This is an opinion piece, but shows a huge conflict of interest.
Monday, December 21, 2009
God Working in My Life
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Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Wow! It's been a busy weekend. We were out of town from early Saturday morning (we left around 7 AM) until after 3 PM today. It was long! It was a great time to be with our family members, but I am glad to be home now. There were tons of people, tons of (not-so-healthy) food, and not much sleep. A lot of the stuff I've done on this blog in the last few days (I spent some time when others were napping or engaged in other activities checking comments and such) has been in a sleep-deprived, distracted haze. So if anything or anyone got overlooked, or if maybe I said some things I shouldn't have...I'm sorry. :) Like I said, it's been a little crazy.
In the past few months, God has really been working in my life. He's driven me to do a lot of different things that I might not have otherwise, or which were hard for me to do. I just wanted to share with you some of these things that have been going on, in hopes that it might inspire you.
I'll admit it: I LOVE the internet. I like to talk to people, and I like to research and learn new things. It's been hard for me to limit myself on computer time some days so I can spend enough time with my kids. There are days that they are quietly playing happily and I have some work that I want to get done and it's easy to justify doing it while they're happy, or even while they're on my lap sometimes. But God's been pushing me away from this more and more (by the way, as I write this, Daniel sleeps on me in his sling, and Bekah's running around her grandparents' house playing).
I have found that God is giving us more time in the mornings to play and get dressed (over an hour usually) before we even get downstairs. My kids and my house have been demanding more of my attention. I enjoy the chance to get up and chase them around, and involve them in the other things I'm doing, and to just stop and play with them (Bekah loves to get chased or tickled on the ground, so we take time everyday to do this with her!).
I've also been getting more involved in the community around me. God has provided a small group at church and many friends with kids Bekah's age. I've also found other playgroups and communities and we're getting involved with. I've been really seeking community in the last few months. I'm trying to find like-minded people here to befriend, and it's been going really well. I have a lot of really great friends here now, with kids Bekah's age. It's been great for her, too, to have her own little friends, and she knows a few by name now. God has really provided opportunities for me to find this community.
I've also found that God has placed certain books in my life, or people, or blog posts (from others) that really show me things I need to work on. For example, earlier I was reading another blog where the blog owner and a reader were having a bit of a debate about a subject. The blog owner was being very gentle and happy and really made the whole debate light-hearted. I thought, this is really timely for me to read because I don't think I've handled debates on my blog very well. It's been hard for me to sort out what is well-intentioned from what isn't and I know I've alienated a few readers by becoming defensive when it wasn't warranted. It was so great to see an example of a disagreement handled well, so that in the future maybe I can handle mine better, too. If you were affected by this -- I'm very sorry. I do not always handle things the way I should and I am trying to do better now.
I've also had similar things placed in my life to show me how to be gentler and more consistent with my children. I've been rewarded already with happier and more obedient children (well...child...Daniel's too little). I've been attempting to teach Bekah two major things lately: that if she gets hurt or upset, a kiss or hug from mommy can make it all better (and she now asks for a hug or kiss if she is upset, then happily goes to play again), and that if she makes a mess, she will have to clean it up herself (she now makes fewer messes, and often cleans up the ones she has made without being asked).
I find that the more I am willing to accept what I see and hear around me, the more I see the ways God is really working in my life. He really provides me all the answers and encouragement I need, and He is gently trying to correct me and show me a better way. He is pushing me to be a better parent (more present for my kids, more consistent, gentler, more loving), to be more loving and encouraging to those around me, to be more humble and teachable and less defensive. I am working very hard, and all the encouraging words I find in others' blog posts or the Bible or other sources are really helping me, and making me feel stronger.
Now, I hate to say this, but I was pretty upset by some of the comments I received over the weekend. I am really working hard to post and respond to any and all comments that I can. But the ones that use name-calling are very upsetting to me. And I really hope that, as adults, we can really all be respectful and share nicely. I know that people have a hard time, first of all, noting tone or intentions over the internet, so things can be easily misconstrued. But I also know that sometimes the anonymity of a computer screen can make people feel bold and they say things they wouldn't say to someone's face. Please think about how the person on the receiving end of your comment will feel before you hit send. I am trying very hard to think more about this myself, so please work on this with me.
Second, I also HIGHLY ENCOURAGE you all to leave your names! I feel like so many of you read this blog and "know" me, but I don't "know" you at all. I would really like to know you, too, so I can have a rapport with my faithful readers. Seeing anonymous comments, nice or mean, is a little discouraging to me! Also, it's unfortunate, but all of the rude comments come through anonymously. If that continues, I will have to turn off anonymous commenting (because of that whole boldness because of anonymity through a computer screen, etc.). I don't want to do this because we've had a lot of really great contributions, but if people are not able to be mature and polite, it will have to stop. I'm so sorry to have to say all this, but I really do find it upsetting to read some of the comments, and I really want to get to know my readers better. So if you stop by, please leave your first name! Thanks!
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Wow! It's been a busy weekend. We were out of town from early Saturday morning (we left around 7 AM) until after 3 PM today. It was long! It was a great time to be with our family members, but I am glad to be home now. There were tons of people, tons of (not-so-healthy) food, and not much sleep. A lot of the stuff I've done on this blog in the last few days (I spent some time when others were napping or engaged in other activities checking comments and such) has been in a sleep-deprived, distracted haze. So if anything or anyone got overlooked, or if maybe I said some things I shouldn't have...I'm sorry. :) Like I said, it's been a little crazy.
In the past few months, God has really been working in my life. He's driven me to do a lot of different things that I might not have otherwise, or which were hard for me to do. I just wanted to share with you some of these things that have been going on, in hopes that it might inspire you.
I'll admit it: I LOVE the internet. I like to talk to people, and I like to research and learn new things. It's been hard for me to limit myself on computer time some days so I can spend enough time with my kids. There are days that they are quietly playing happily and I have some work that I want to get done and it's easy to justify doing it while they're happy, or even while they're on my lap sometimes. But God's been pushing me away from this more and more (by the way, as I write this, Daniel sleeps on me in his sling, and Bekah's running around her grandparents' house playing).
I have found that God is giving us more time in the mornings to play and get dressed (over an hour usually) before we even get downstairs. My kids and my house have been demanding more of my attention. I enjoy the chance to get up and chase them around, and involve them in the other things I'm doing, and to just stop and play with them (Bekah loves to get chased or tickled on the ground, so we take time everyday to do this with her!).
I've also been getting more involved in the community around me. God has provided a small group at church and many friends with kids Bekah's age. I've also found other playgroups and communities and we're getting involved with. I've been really seeking community in the last few months. I'm trying to find like-minded people here to befriend, and it's been going really well. I have a lot of really great friends here now, with kids Bekah's age. It's been great for her, too, to have her own little friends, and she knows a few by name now. God has really provided opportunities for me to find this community.
I've also found that God has placed certain books in my life, or people, or blog posts (from others) that really show me things I need to work on. For example, earlier I was reading another blog where the blog owner and a reader were having a bit of a debate about a subject. The blog owner was being very gentle and happy and really made the whole debate light-hearted. I thought, this is really timely for me to read because I don't think I've handled debates on my blog very well. It's been hard for me to sort out what is well-intentioned from what isn't and I know I've alienated a few readers by becoming defensive when it wasn't warranted. It was so great to see an example of a disagreement handled well, so that in the future maybe I can handle mine better, too. If you were affected by this -- I'm very sorry. I do not always handle things the way I should and I am trying to do better now.
I've also had similar things placed in my life to show me how to be gentler and more consistent with my children. I've been rewarded already with happier and more obedient children (well...child...Daniel's too little). I've been attempting to teach Bekah two major things lately: that if she gets hurt or upset, a kiss or hug from mommy can make it all better (and she now asks for a hug or kiss if she is upset, then happily goes to play again), and that if she makes a mess, she will have to clean it up herself (she now makes fewer messes, and often cleans up the ones she has made without being asked).
I find that the more I am willing to accept what I see and hear around me, the more I see the ways God is really working in my life. He really provides me all the answers and encouragement I need, and He is gently trying to correct me and show me a better way. He is pushing me to be a better parent (more present for my kids, more consistent, gentler, more loving), to be more loving and encouraging to those around me, to be more humble and teachable and less defensive. I am working very hard, and all the encouraging words I find in others' blog posts or the Bible or other sources are really helping me, and making me feel stronger.
Now, I hate to say this, but I was pretty upset by some of the comments I received over the weekend. I am really working hard to post and respond to any and all comments that I can. But the ones that use name-calling are very upsetting to me. And I really hope that, as adults, we can really all be respectful and share nicely. I know that people have a hard time, first of all, noting tone or intentions over the internet, so things can be easily misconstrued. But I also know that sometimes the anonymity of a computer screen can make people feel bold and they say things they wouldn't say to someone's face. Please think about how the person on the receiving end of your comment will feel before you hit send. I am trying very hard to think more about this myself, so please work on this with me.
Second, I also HIGHLY ENCOURAGE you all to leave your names! I feel like so many of you read this blog and "know" me, but I don't "know" you at all. I would really like to know you, too, so I can have a rapport with my faithful readers. Seeing anonymous comments, nice or mean, is a little discouraging to me! Also, it's unfortunate, but all of the rude comments come through anonymously. If that continues, I will have to turn off anonymous commenting (because of that whole boldness because of anonymity through a computer screen, etc.). I don't want to do this because we've had a lot of really great contributions, but if people are not able to be mature and polite, it will have to stop. I'm so sorry to have to say all this, but I really do find it upsetting to read some of the comments, and I really want to get to know my readers better. So if you stop by, please leave your first name! Thanks!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Natural Labeling
**We've moved!!**
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
These days, there's a lot of controversy over using the word "natural" on products. In fact, there is no standard for the label at all. This opens up a lot of arguing on what can be considered "natural" and a lot of rather fraudulent (in my opinion) use of the term.
Go to a grocery store and you'll see almost everything labeled as "all natural!" or some version of this claim on the label. It's important that you understand that there is NO regulation on the use of this term, so manufacturers slap it on everything in order to trick you into thinking that a particular product is good for you. They are aware that consumers really want food that is natural, and since they can't use the term "organic" (which is fairly tightly regulated), they use "natural" instead. But anything can be termed natural and that doesn't mean it's at all natural in any way.
For example, mineral oil and high fructose corn syrup are considered, by some, "natural" because they are derived and refined from originally natural ingredients! It's true that mineral oil is derived from petroleum, and that this is a naturally-occurring substance. But it does not belong in our bodies or on our skin, it is not "natural" to us. It's also true that HFCS is derived from corn, which of course is a natural food. But first of all, that corn is probably genetically modified. And second, it (and the mineral oil) are highly refined. It doesn't matter if something originally came from the purest substance in the world, if it is refined, it is no longer natural. If we took a water molecule (natural) and added some extra oxygen atoms (not natural), do you think it would be as benign as water is? Not a chance. It would be a completely different substance. As another chemical example, look at carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The former is harmless to us; we expell it all the time. The latter can kill us. Simple change (and yes, I know they both occur naturally, but just for the sake of argument here), but deadly results.
When you are reading labels on a product, be very careful. "Natural" means nothing, so ignore it outright. Read the ingredients instead, and if you see any of these things, run far away!
*Natural flavors
*FC&C colors
*Artificial flavors
*Spices (if it says "oregano," fine; if it just says "spices;" bad)
*Autolyzed, hydrolyzed anything
*Yeast extract
*Nitrites
*Nitrates
*MSG
*Anything you don't recognize or can't pronounce
These days it's hard to know what to eat, so I recommend that you eat things as close to their natural state as possible! That is, locally grown and harvested, organically produced, and not packaged/processed. Only this way can you ensure your food is truly healthy.
Since that's not always possible, at least read your labels carefully and recognize that "natural" doesn't necessarily mean anything.
Further Reading:
GMOs in your food
Hidden Names for MSG
FDA's Stance on "Natural"
Interview on "Natural" Label
Do you buy "natural" food? Did you know about labeling? Will this information change your buying habits?
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
These days, there's a lot of controversy over using the word "natural" on products. In fact, there is no standard for the label at all. This opens up a lot of arguing on what can be considered "natural" and a lot of rather fraudulent (in my opinion) use of the term.
Go to a grocery store and you'll see almost everything labeled as "all natural!" or some version of this claim on the label. It's important that you understand that there is NO regulation on the use of this term, so manufacturers slap it on everything in order to trick you into thinking that a particular product is good for you. They are aware that consumers really want food that is natural, and since they can't use the term "organic" (which is fairly tightly regulated), they use "natural" instead. But anything can be termed natural and that doesn't mean it's at all natural in any way.
For example, mineral oil and high fructose corn syrup are considered, by some, "natural" because they are derived and refined from originally natural ingredients! It's true that mineral oil is derived from petroleum, and that this is a naturally-occurring substance. But it does not belong in our bodies or on our skin, it is not "natural" to us. It's also true that HFCS is derived from corn, which of course is a natural food. But first of all, that corn is probably genetically modified. And second, it (and the mineral oil) are highly refined. It doesn't matter if something originally came from the purest substance in the world, if it is refined, it is no longer natural. If we took a water molecule (natural) and added some extra oxygen atoms (not natural), do you think it would be as benign as water is? Not a chance. It would be a completely different substance. As another chemical example, look at carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The former is harmless to us; we expell it all the time. The latter can kill us. Simple change (and yes, I know they both occur naturally, but just for the sake of argument here), but deadly results.
When you are reading labels on a product, be very careful. "Natural" means nothing, so ignore it outright. Read the ingredients instead, and if you see any of these things, run far away!
*Natural flavors
*FC&C colors
*Artificial flavors
*Spices (if it says "oregano," fine; if it just says "spices;" bad)
*Autolyzed, hydrolyzed anything
*Yeast extract
*Nitrites
*Nitrates
*MSG
*Anything you don't recognize or can't pronounce
These days it's hard to know what to eat, so I recommend that you eat things as close to their natural state as possible! That is, locally grown and harvested, organically produced, and not packaged/processed. Only this way can you ensure your food is truly healthy.
Since that's not always possible, at least read your labels carefully and recognize that "natural" doesn't necessarily mean anything.
Further Reading:
GMOs in your food
Hidden Names for MSG
FDA's Stance on "Natural"
Interview on "Natural" Label
Do you buy "natural" food? Did you know about labeling? Will this information change your buying habits?
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Home Birth
**We've moved!!**
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
**Note: Homebirth is a beautiful and SAFE experience for babies everywhere. Babies used to be born at home and still should be. The U.S. has the highest rate of interventions of any developed country -- AND the highest infant mortality rate. Parenting is all about choosing what is best for your baby and home birth, for many moms, is it. Even if you would not be comfortable at home, and would not choose home birth, please don't insult the moms who do. They have carefully studied their options (no matter what their age) and have chosen what is absolutely best for them. Please be respectful in your comments even if you disagree. **
If you've read Daniel's birth story at the beginning of this blog, you already know he was born at home. So, clearly, I am pro-home birth. But why? Why would someone choose to have a home birth? Is it safe? Where would you find attendants? There is a lot to consider when you are thinking about having a home birth.
First of all, you should birth where you are most comfortable. For some people, that truly is the hospital, because they feel too nervous about the "what ifs" involved in childbirth and/or they like an environment where they really don't have to worry about anything, they are taken care of. But for a lot of people, home is the most comfortable environment, because home is what is familiar. For those women, they should be able to birth at home, and should have access to midwives so they can do so safely (I'll be discussing the issues surrounding midwives and home births from a legal standpoint in another post).
If you are considering a home birth, the first thing you should do is find a qualified midwife. This does NOT necessarily mean a nurse-midwife; there are also certified professional midwives. In some states CPMs are legal, and in others (including here), they aren't. If you ask around, you'll probably find the same few names coming up over and over. There's a community of "natural" parents, including home-birthers, in every major area. Some are luckier than others though! You can also look at DONA or NACPM (National Association of Certified Professional Midwives), or NARM (North American Registry of Midwives).
Sit down with the midwife you've chosen and ask LOTS of questions. Here is a brief of things you really must ask, but add to this list anything you're wondering about, including your attitudes towards birth, fears, desires, etc.
1) How much training have you had? Do you have any certifications? Which?
2) How long have you been a midwife?
3) How many babies have you delivered?
4) What are your birth statistics (inc. hospital transfers and reasons why, any maternal/neonatal deaths and causes, average birth weight, c-sections, etc.)?
5) Have you ever had any unusual birth situations (cord prolapse, unknown breech, etc.)? How did you handle them?
6) How and why do you recommend a woman to go the hospital? What happens if I need to go?
7) What happens if you are unavailable for my birth? Do you have a back up?
8) What is your philosophy on birth?
9) What is your role in my birth? How much control will I have? What about writing a birth plan?
10) Do you do water births? Hypnobirths? (Or any other type you want)
11) What happens in an emergency, if we can't drive to the hospital? Are you trained in CPR or other resuscitation? Do you bring any equipment with you?
12) What do I need to supply for the birth?
13) Do you have any reference families I can contact?
14) How often will I see you? Will you do prenatal care for me?
15) Do you use a back-up doctor or do you recommend I see one? If so, who?
16) If I need to go to the hospital, do you recommend a particular one?
17) Do you do any routine testing or exams? What type?
18) Do you have any limits on who can attend my birth? If so, why?
19) At what point do you consider me full term? What if I go into labor early?
20) Is there anything else I need to know about home birth or you?
Make sure that you get a sense of your midwife's attitude towards birth. Hopefully, you will find one who is very open to your ideas and wishes in birthing, is well-trained in CPR and resuscitations, can do basic prenatal care, is cautious and willing to refer you to a doctor at any point if you become high-risk or if there are any problems or concerns at all (from either of you). The midwife should be willing to allow whoever you want at the birth, be certified and well-trained (having attended no fewer than 30 births, which should occur during training). The midwife should carry equipment with her in case of emergency (oxygen) and be familiar with what to do for cord prolapse, hemmorhage, etc. She should do routine testing for hemoglobin levels, and for protein/sugar in your urine, but most other testing is unnecessary. Although, she should know where to go in case you would prefer to do other testing and be willing to work with you on that. She should not perform internal exams up until labor unless there is a problem, in which case she should probably refer you to a doctor. She should recommend a particular doctor(s) and hospital in case of emergency, and officially say a back up doctor is fine, even if she does not require you to have one. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with her, and feel that she is trained, can handle your birth and any complications (hoping for none) and that her attitude and philosophy meshes well with yours.
In some states, if the midwives are legal, they will be able to actually attend your birth in a hospital, if you require transfer. In others, where midwives are NOT legal, they will function as a doula or labor coach in the event of a transfer. This is still desirable because midwives can discuss options with the doctors and advocate for you. This way if the doctor says "You really need..." your midwife, who is experienced, can advise you on whether that treatment is really necessary (in many cases it will be, because you don't go to the hospital from a planned homebirth for no reason, but still, it's good to have a midwife to help you sort through your options). It is also important to note that some midwives consider you full term at 36 weeks; others at 37. Most will not attend a birth prior to whatever they consider full term, and will send you straight to the hospital for any premature labor.
You should see a midwife as often as you would otherwise see a doctor. That is, monthly from 8 - 28 weeks, bi-weekly from 28 - 36 weeks, and weekly from 36 weeks - birth. You should also have a home visit from your midwife around 36 or 37 weeks, so that she knows how to get to you, and so that she can verify that you have all your homebirth supplies and that you are ready. Because after this point, you could go into labor at any time!
At each midwife appointment, you should meet for a full hour, or at least a half hour. The appointments shouldn't be 5 - 10 minutes like a doctor's, because your midwife should spend time getting to know you, your husband, your children (if any), and to learn as much as she can about what you are looking for in your pregnancy and birth experience. Early in your care, your midwife should take a detailed history on you. If you have any previous obstetrical history, your midwife should ask you about it in detail. She should also ask about your mother and sisters. If you have had any previous complications, your midwife will want to know what, and why. For example, if you've had a previous c-section for a breech baby, this is unlikely to occur again and is not a concern. But if you've had preeclampsia in the past, this is a concern and could disqualify you from home birth. In general, your midwife should screen you early in your pregnancy to see if you are a good candidate for home birth. The following may disqualify you:
*A complicated gynecological history (frequently missed periods for no reason, PCOS, etc.)
*Multiple miscarriages
*History pre-term labor
*History of pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome
*Uncontrolled or difficult diabetes
*History of gestational diabetes
*History of c-sections for circumstances likely to repeat
*Previous hemorrhage
*History of neonatal complications
*Any indications of high-risk pregnancy (multiple miscarriage scares, bleeding, unusual cramping, threatened pre-term labor, etc.)
*Multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets)
Some midwives will disqualify you just for having diabetes, including gestational, or any c-sections (they don't want to attend a VBAC). You may also get disqualified late in pregnancy due to a breech baby (though some will keep seeing you in case the baby turns). Some will attempt a twin birth at home, but it depends on the position of the twins near term; most won't attempt higher multiples at home. It's possible that, if you have a history with this midwife, she will care for you even with some problems because she knows your history, whereas she would not take you on as a new client. If you are potentially high-risk, the midwife should recommend that you see a doctor in addition, so that you can transfer your care if necessary.
At each appointment, you should discuss any problems, questions, or concerns that you have. Your midwife should weigh you, or at least ask if you've weighed yourself (this is more important towards the end of your pregnancy, because a rapid weight gain can signal the beginning of pre-eclampsia. Some women do not want to be weighed in the first half of their pregnancy, and in healthy women, this can be okay -- ask). Your midwife should also take a look at your diet and advise you on how you can eat better for your baby (she should recommend 80 - 100 grams of protein per day, among other things). Your midwife may recommend a particular "pregnancy tea" (containing oatstraw, red raspberry leaf, alfalfa, and other herbs) and possibly a prenatal vitamin. If your hemoglobin is low (below 12), she may recommend spirulina to bring it up. Your midwife should also do prenatal care: listen for baby's heart tones (with a doppler or fetoscope), feel for baby's position, and after 20 weeks, measure fundal height. Your midwife should also have you check for any protein or sugar in your urine, and if any is found, follow up with further testing (it can be a sign of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia). Some midwives will also have you test your blood sugar at home for a week while eating normal meals (and will advise you on the proper way to do this testing) to determine if you are at risk or showing signs of gestational diabetes, and will recommend follow-up testing if necessary, or perhaps a diet change. The ACOG now says that for women with no history of diabetes who are under 25, no glucose testing is necessary anyway.
Your midwife will also attempt to assess your ideas, thoughts, and feelings about birth and all related issues. This means if you are a victim of abuse (sexual or otherwise), your midwife will attempt to discuss this, work through it with you, and refer you to a counselor if necessary. If there are family members or friends putting pressure on you because they do not agree with your choices, she will discuss this with you too.
Your midwife should also give you her immediate contact information: phone number and email (preferably cell phone) so that if you have an emergency, or if the baby is coming, you can call her and reach her immediately. This is IMPORTANT. I have heard many stories of people I know personally, just in the last few months, of having their babies in 15 min. - 2 hours after the first contraction, and in many cases, the midwife didn't even make it! For this reason, you and your husband should also attend a birthing class (your midwife should recommend one, and/or teach you this information) to learn how to deliver a baby, just in case you are alone when the baby comes.
You will also need to buy birthing supplies. Many midwives will put together birthing kits that you can buy directly from them, or from a source they will provide you. You are also able to go and buy your own supplies. A basic list includes:
*Chux pads, large and small (20 - 30)
*Latex gloves
*A birthing pool with liner (if desired)
*Several towels, sterilized (your midwife should tell you how, but seal them in a paper bag and bake for 2 - 3 hours at 200 degrees)
*Baby hat
*Nasal aspirator
*Peri bottle(s)
*Sterilized washcloths and hot water in a crockpot (for perineum compresses)
*Ice packs (for after)
*Mattress pads
*Large trash bags
*Cord tape
*Straws
*Juice/cereal to snack on
*Large bowls (for placenta, and in case you get sick)
*Pads for after the birth (like menstrual pads, but big)
Your midwife may have a different list of supplies. She may also require additional items that you already have around the home (extra sheets for your bed, blankets to wrap the baby in, etc.). It is important to gather ALL the supplies that your midwife requests, organize and label them, and have them in the room you intend to birth at least 4 weeks before your due date. You may also choose to have additional supplies that you want: camera or video camera, special outfit/diaper for after birth, music to play, candles to light, massage oil, birthing ball, special outfit for you, etc. Select all these in advance and put them near your birthing supplies. If you want certain pictures, make sure you have someone who is NOT coaching you who can take them, and that they understand what you do -- and DON'T -- want pictures of (i.e. "don't take a picture of me naked!" or "don't get the head crowning!" etc.). It may be a good idea to invite someone you trust just to take pictures, if this is important to you.
If you want a birthing tub, you can rent one (usually around $200). This is fine...but you can also buy one. There are pools from $30 - $1200. We bought a kiddie pool called the Aquarium pool for $30 and it was just fine. It was strong, had 3 separate inflatable rings (important, so you can adjust the height as necessary) and the sides were strong enough to lean/lay on. The pool should be 22 - 28" deep, and it depends on your height. The size of the pool matters, too, depending on whether you want your husband in with you. 6 ft. in diameter should be big enough for a second person, but talk to your midwife about specific recommendations or ask others who've had water births.
If you have older children, you must decide whether or not they will attend the birth. If the birth occurs at night, a lot of people will let their children sleep; if you have children who are much older (7 or so), they may want to be woken for the birth. It is a good idea to have a helper for the child(ren) who can be present for the birth if the child(ren) wants to be, but is willing to leave if not. We called our friend, Lindsey, to come and watch Bekah during Daniel's birth, which worked out for the best. Next time we will probably allow her to watch -- if she wants to. Some children really just want to be with their mothers and observing the birth is in everyone's best interests; it can also foster a strong bond between siblings. However, some children are a distraction or cannot stand to see their mother in pain and do not want to witness the birth. Either way, children can come back as soon as the baby is born and meet their new sibling in the first moments of his/her life, which is equally special. This is an issue you should discuss thoroughly with your midwife, but remember to be flexible. We had assumed Bekah WOULD want to witness the birth because we thought if she were downstairs and knew I was nearby, she would throw a fit about not getting to be with me. But it turned out she was quite happy to play with friends, and much fussier and clingier when she was with me (which I didn't need right then!).
It's important to note that, in labor, you will probably have a point where you say "I can't do this anymore!" If you MEAN it, your support people should be willing to take you to the hospital, even if nothing is really wrong (you are just exhausted). But be aware that nearly every woman says this, and it means you are either in transition or right around the corner from it. Also, no matter how logical you think you are at this point, you are not. Trust your support people and if they try to convince you to stay home, and talk you through a few more contractions, give it a shot. It may be just what you need.
I said that -- "I can't do it!" I thought I was logical. I said "I'm not making any progress; if I were I could do it. But I'm not. So it is logical to want to go to the hospital and get help. I am nowhere near transition." My husband and midwives had a little pow-wow in another room that I learned about later, where he told them I didn't mean it (although I did, the idea of actually having to pack a bag, get in a car, and then be away from my home and my daughter for a day seemed overwhelming and wrong) and then he coaxed me into the pool we'd set up. It turned out I entered transition right after that and my son was born only an hour or so later. It is important to let people help you! And listen to them even if you don't really want to!
Finally, READ everything you can. Read birth stories. Talk to other people who've had home births. Talk to midwives (even if you aren't totally sold on the idea). Write down all your thoughts and fears (I did). Read books on natural child birth and relaxation techniques. Learn all you can about birthing naturally, and it may put your fears at ease. Honestly, having given birth both in a hospital with an epidural, and at home with no drugs, I would have a baby at home tomorrow (even though I am tired right now...I would STILL be happy to be in labor, to be in pain, to be exhausted again...because it is amazing!). I would be eager, and excited to do it. Really! But I would never want to do it in a hospital again. I can't wait until I have another baby, at home.
Here are a few resources for you:
In His Hands (birth supplies; we ordered mine from them)
Mama Goddess (birth supplies)
Your Water Birth (water birthing supplies)
Home Birth Forum (at mothering.com)
Johanna's Birth Story (at Keeper of the Home)
Home Birth Stories
Birth Stories
I have two more exciting things to tell you!
In the next few months, I'd love to post encouraging, natural birth stories. If you would like to submit yours (they don't have to be home births, but drug-free please), email it to me (leave a comment with your email, which will be hidden, and I'll send you my email then). I think we all need that encouragement!
Also, I am currently working on a cookbook that will feature Real Food recipes and cooking tips for cooks new to cooking and Real Foods. The sales from this book will benefit women who do not have the means to pay for midwives and doulas and other alternative birth care. Most of this will be going to CHOICE (these are the midwives I used). So, look for more details on this book and please consider buying one to support this worthy organization! The book will come in January, and there is a true need for money to support this type of organization right now. More on why in a couple weeks.
Where did you have your babies? Were you satisfied with your experience? Have you had a home birth or would you consider one?
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
**Note: Homebirth is a beautiful and SAFE experience for babies everywhere. Babies used to be born at home and still should be. The U.S. has the highest rate of interventions of any developed country -- AND the highest infant mortality rate. Parenting is all about choosing what is best for your baby and home birth, for many moms, is it. Even if you would not be comfortable at home, and would not choose home birth, please don't insult the moms who do. They have carefully studied their options (no matter what their age) and have chosen what is absolutely best for them. Please be respectful in your comments even if you disagree. **
If you've read Daniel's birth story at the beginning of this blog, you already know he was born at home. So, clearly, I am pro-home birth. But why? Why would someone choose to have a home birth? Is it safe? Where would you find attendants? There is a lot to consider when you are thinking about having a home birth.
First of all, you should birth where you are most comfortable. For some people, that truly is the hospital, because they feel too nervous about the "what ifs" involved in childbirth and/or they like an environment where they really don't have to worry about anything, they are taken care of. But for a lot of people, home is the most comfortable environment, because home is what is familiar. For those women, they should be able to birth at home, and should have access to midwives so they can do so safely (I'll be discussing the issues surrounding midwives and home births from a legal standpoint in another post).
If you are considering a home birth, the first thing you should do is find a qualified midwife. This does NOT necessarily mean a nurse-midwife; there are also certified professional midwives. In some states CPMs are legal, and in others (including here), they aren't. If you ask around, you'll probably find the same few names coming up over and over. There's a community of "natural" parents, including home-birthers, in every major area. Some are luckier than others though! You can also look at DONA or NACPM (National Association of Certified Professional Midwives), or NARM (North American Registry of Midwives).
Sit down with the midwife you've chosen and ask LOTS of questions. Here is a brief of things you really must ask, but add to this list anything you're wondering about, including your attitudes towards birth, fears, desires, etc.
1) How much training have you had? Do you have any certifications? Which?
2) How long have you been a midwife?
3) How many babies have you delivered?
4) What are your birth statistics (inc. hospital transfers and reasons why, any maternal/neonatal deaths and causes, average birth weight, c-sections, etc.)?
5) Have you ever had any unusual birth situations (cord prolapse, unknown breech, etc.)? How did you handle them?
6) How and why do you recommend a woman to go the hospital? What happens if I need to go?
7) What happens if you are unavailable for my birth? Do you have a back up?
8) What is your philosophy on birth?
9) What is your role in my birth? How much control will I have? What about writing a birth plan?
10) Do you do water births? Hypnobirths? (Or any other type you want)
11) What happens in an emergency, if we can't drive to the hospital? Are you trained in CPR or other resuscitation? Do you bring any equipment with you?
12) What do I need to supply for the birth?
13) Do you have any reference families I can contact?
14) How often will I see you? Will you do prenatal care for me?
15) Do you use a back-up doctor or do you recommend I see one? If so, who?
16) If I need to go to the hospital, do you recommend a particular one?
17) Do you do any routine testing or exams? What type?
18) Do you have any limits on who can attend my birth? If so, why?
19) At what point do you consider me full term? What if I go into labor early?
20) Is there anything else I need to know about home birth or you?
Make sure that you get a sense of your midwife's attitude towards birth. Hopefully, you will find one who is very open to your ideas and wishes in birthing, is well-trained in CPR and resuscitations, can do basic prenatal care, is cautious and willing to refer you to a doctor at any point if you become high-risk or if there are any problems or concerns at all (from either of you). The midwife should be willing to allow whoever you want at the birth, be certified and well-trained (having attended no fewer than 30 births, which should occur during training). The midwife should carry equipment with her in case of emergency (oxygen) and be familiar with what to do for cord prolapse, hemmorhage, etc. She should do routine testing for hemoglobin levels, and for protein/sugar in your urine, but most other testing is unnecessary. Although, she should know where to go in case you would prefer to do other testing and be willing to work with you on that. She should not perform internal exams up until labor unless there is a problem, in which case she should probably refer you to a doctor. She should recommend a particular doctor(s) and hospital in case of emergency, and officially say a back up doctor is fine, even if she does not require you to have one. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with her, and feel that she is trained, can handle your birth and any complications (hoping for none) and that her attitude and philosophy meshes well with yours.
In some states, if the midwives are legal, they will be able to actually attend your birth in a hospital, if you require transfer. In others, where midwives are NOT legal, they will function as a doula or labor coach in the event of a transfer. This is still desirable because midwives can discuss options with the doctors and advocate for you. This way if the doctor says "You really need..." your midwife, who is experienced, can advise you on whether that treatment is really necessary (in many cases it will be, because you don't go to the hospital from a planned homebirth for no reason, but still, it's good to have a midwife to help you sort through your options). It is also important to note that some midwives consider you full term at 36 weeks; others at 37. Most will not attend a birth prior to whatever they consider full term, and will send you straight to the hospital for any premature labor.
You should see a midwife as often as you would otherwise see a doctor. That is, monthly from 8 - 28 weeks, bi-weekly from 28 - 36 weeks, and weekly from 36 weeks - birth. You should also have a home visit from your midwife around 36 or 37 weeks, so that she knows how to get to you, and so that she can verify that you have all your homebirth supplies and that you are ready. Because after this point, you could go into labor at any time!
At each midwife appointment, you should meet for a full hour, or at least a half hour. The appointments shouldn't be 5 - 10 minutes like a doctor's, because your midwife should spend time getting to know you, your husband, your children (if any), and to learn as much as she can about what you are looking for in your pregnancy and birth experience. Early in your care, your midwife should take a detailed history on you. If you have any previous obstetrical history, your midwife should ask you about it in detail. She should also ask about your mother and sisters. If you have had any previous complications, your midwife will want to know what, and why. For example, if you've had a previous c-section for a breech baby, this is unlikely to occur again and is not a concern. But if you've had preeclampsia in the past, this is a concern and could disqualify you from home birth. In general, your midwife should screen you early in your pregnancy to see if you are a good candidate for home birth. The following may disqualify you:
*A complicated gynecological history (frequently missed periods for no reason, PCOS, etc.)
*Multiple miscarriages
*History pre-term labor
*History of pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome
*Uncontrolled or difficult diabetes
*History of gestational diabetes
*History of c-sections for circumstances likely to repeat
*Previous hemorrhage
*History of neonatal complications
*Any indications of high-risk pregnancy (multiple miscarriage scares, bleeding, unusual cramping, threatened pre-term labor, etc.)
*Multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets)
Some midwives will disqualify you just for having diabetes, including gestational, or any c-sections (they don't want to attend a VBAC). You may also get disqualified late in pregnancy due to a breech baby (though some will keep seeing you in case the baby turns). Some will attempt a twin birth at home, but it depends on the position of the twins near term; most won't attempt higher multiples at home. It's possible that, if you have a history with this midwife, she will care for you even with some problems because she knows your history, whereas she would not take you on as a new client. If you are potentially high-risk, the midwife should recommend that you see a doctor in addition, so that you can transfer your care if necessary.
At each appointment, you should discuss any problems, questions, or concerns that you have. Your midwife should weigh you, or at least ask if you've weighed yourself (this is more important towards the end of your pregnancy, because a rapid weight gain can signal the beginning of pre-eclampsia. Some women do not want to be weighed in the first half of their pregnancy, and in healthy women, this can be okay -- ask). Your midwife should also take a look at your diet and advise you on how you can eat better for your baby (she should recommend 80 - 100 grams of protein per day, among other things). Your midwife may recommend a particular "pregnancy tea" (containing oatstraw, red raspberry leaf, alfalfa, and other herbs) and possibly a prenatal vitamin. If your hemoglobin is low (below 12), she may recommend spirulina to bring it up. Your midwife should also do prenatal care: listen for baby's heart tones (with a doppler or fetoscope), feel for baby's position, and after 20 weeks, measure fundal height. Your midwife should also have you check for any protein or sugar in your urine, and if any is found, follow up with further testing (it can be a sign of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia). Some midwives will also have you test your blood sugar at home for a week while eating normal meals (and will advise you on the proper way to do this testing) to determine if you are at risk or showing signs of gestational diabetes, and will recommend follow-up testing if necessary, or perhaps a diet change. The ACOG now says that for women with no history of diabetes who are under 25, no glucose testing is necessary anyway.
Your midwife will also attempt to assess your ideas, thoughts, and feelings about birth and all related issues. This means if you are a victim of abuse (sexual or otherwise), your midwife will attempt to discuss this, work through it with you, and refer you to a counselor if necessary. If there are family members or friends putting pressure on you because they do not agree with your choices, she will discuss this with you too.
Your midwife should also give you her immediate contact information: phone number and email (preferably cell phone) so that if you have an emergency, or if the baby is coming, you can call her and reach her immediately. This is IMPORTANT. I have heard many stories of people I know personally, just in the last few months, of having their babies in 15 min. - 2 hours after the first contraction, and in many cases, the midwife didn't even make it! For this reason, you and your husband should also attend a birthing class (your midwife should recommend one, and/or teach you this information) to learn how to deliver a baby, just in case you are alone when the baby comes.
You will also need to buy birthing supplies. Many midwives will put together birthing kits that you can buy directly from them, or from a source they will provide you. You are also able to go and buy your own supplies. A basic list includes:
*Chux pads, large and small (20 - 30)
*Latex gloves
*A birthing pool with liner (if desired)
*Several towels, sterilized (your midwife should tell you how, but seal them in a paper bag and bake for 2 - 3 hours at 200 degrees)
*Baby hat
*Nasal aspirator
*Peri bottle(s)
*Sterilized washcloths and hot water in a crockpot (for perineum compresses)
*Ice packs (for after)
*Mattress pads
*Large trash bags
*Cord tape
*Straws
*Juice/cereal to snack on
*Large bowls (for placenta, and in case you get sick)
*Pads for after the birth (like menstrual pads, but big)
Your midwife may have a different list of supplies. She may also require additional items that you already have around the home (extra sheets for your bed, blankets to wrap the baby in, etc.). It is important to gather ALL the supplies that your midwife requests, organize and label them, and have them in the room you intend to birth at least 4 weeks before your due date. You may also choose to have additional supplies that you want: camera or video camera, special outfit/diaper for after birth, music to play, candles to light, massage oil, birthing ball, special outfit for you, etc. Select all these in advance and put them near your birthing supplies. If you want certain pictures, make sure you have someone who is NOT coaching you who can take them, and that they understand what you do -- and DON'T -- want pictures of (i.e. "don't take a picture of me naked!" or "don't get the head crowning!" etc.). It may be a good idea to invite someone you trust just to take pictures, if this is important to you.
If you want a birthing tub, you can rent one (usually around $200). This is fine...but you can also buy one. There are pools from $30 - $1200. We bought a kiddie pool called the Aquarium pool for $30 and it was just fine. It was strong, had 3 separate inflatable rings (important, so you can adjust the height as necessary) and the sides were strong enough to lean/lay on. The pool should be 22 - 28" deep, and it depends on your height. The size of the pool matters, too, depending on whether you want your husband in with you. 6 ft. in diameter should be big enough for a second person, but talk to your midwife about specific recommendations or ask others who've had water births.
If you have older children, you must decide whether or not they will attend the birth. If the birth occurs at night, a lot of people will let their children sleep; if you have children who are much older (7 or so), they may want to be woken for the birth. It is a good idea to have a helper for the child(ren) who can be present for the birth if the child(ren) wants to be, but is willing to leave if not. We called our friend, Lindsey, to come and watch Bekah during Daniel's birth, which worked out for the best. Next time we will probably allow her to watch -- if she wants to. Some children really just want to be with their mothers and observing the birth is in everyone's best interests; it can also foster a strong bond between siblings. However, some children are a distraction or cannot stand to see their mother in pain and do not want to witness the birth. Either way, children can come back as soon as the baby is born and meet their new sibling in the first moments of his/her life, which is equally special. This is an issue you should discuss thoroughly with your midwife, but remember to be flexible. We had assumed Bekah WOULD want to witness the birth because we thought if she were downstairs and knew I was nearby, she would throw a fit about not getting to be with me. But it turned out she was quite happy to play with friends, and much fussier and clingier when she was with me (which I didn't need right then!).
It's important to note that, in labor, you will probably have a point where you say "I can't do this anymore!" If you MEAN it, your support people should be willing to take you to the hospital, even if nothing is really wrong (you are just exhausted). But be aware that nearly every woman says this, and it means you are either in transition or right around the corner from it. Also, no matter how logical you think you are at this point, you are not. Trust your support people and if they try to convince you to stay home, and talk you through a few more contractions, give it a shot. It may be just what you need.
I said that -- "I can't do it!" I thought I was logical. I said "I'm not making any progress; if I were I could do it. But I'm not. So it is logical to want to go to the hospital and get help. I am nowhere near transition." My husband and midwives had a little pow-wow in another room that I learned about later, where he told them I didn't mean it (although I did, the idea of actually having to pack a bag, get in a car, and then be away from my home and my daughter for a day seemed overwhelming and wrong) and then he coaxed me into the pool we'd set up. It turned out I entered transition right after that and my son was born only an hour or so later. It is important to let people help you! And listen to them even if you don't really want to!
Finally, READ everything you can. Read birth stories. Talk to other people who've had home births. Talk to midwives (even if you aren't totally sold on the idea). Write down all your thoughts and fears (I did). Read books on natural child birth and relaxation techniques. Learn all you can about birthing naturally, and it may put your fears at ease. Honestly, having given birth both in a hospital with an epidural, and at home with no drugs, I would have a baby at home tomorrow (even though I am tired right now...I would STILL be happy to be in labor, to be in pain, to be exhausted again...because it is amazing!). I would be eager, and excited to do it. Really! But I would never want to do it in a hospital again. I can't wait until I have another baby, at home.
Here are a few resources for you:
In His Hands (birth supplies; we ordered mine from them)
Mama Goddess (birth supplies)
Your Water Birth (water birthing supplies)
Home Birth Forum (at mothering.com)
Johanna's Birth Story (at Keeper of the Home)
Home Birth Stories
Birth Stories
I have two more exciting things to tell you!
In the next few months, I'd love to post encouraging, natural birth stories. If you would like to submit yours (they don't have to be home births, but drug-free please), email it to me (leave a comment with your email, which will be hidden, and I'll send you my email then). I think we all need that encouragement!
Also, I am currently working on a cookbook that will feature Real Food recipes and cooking tips for cooks new to cooking and Real Foods. The sales from this book will benefit women who do not have the means to pay for midwives and doulas and other alternative birth care. Most of this will be going to CHOICE (these are the midwives I used). So, look for more details on this book and please consider buying one to support this worthy organization! The book will come in January, and there is a true need for money to support this type of organization right now. More on why in a couple weeks.
Where did you have your babies? Were you satisfied with your experience? Have you had a home birth or would you consider one?
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