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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!
Friday, December 25, 2009
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)
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.
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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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
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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.
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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