It makes me very happy to see that there are still women who believe in the natural ways. I’ve always wondered how it seems that every birth has to be with some kind of medication or it had to happen in a hospital because that’s not how Eve did it and not how most of our ancestors did it. I’m only 18, so i don’t have kids yet, but I hope to be able to do it the natural way that God intended. Though I’m not of the exact same religious beliefs as you, I agree fully that God intended for the natural birthing process. Thanks for the awesome post!

Glad to have found you through 5 Minutes for Mom and I’ll be hanging around for more….

Andrea

For starters, I am also 25, I am the mother of one beautiful little boy who will be 5 in a few short weeks, I’m married to the love of my life (who is also the father of my child — odd how I feel I must clarify that today) and have been suffering from secondary infertilty for over 2 years.

Now that you know a little about me, (sorry I didn’t give you a choice, just always feel I should introduce myself) I wanted to comment you on such a well written, informative article! Natural childbirth is a very touchy subject and one I feel all alone here in my own little world contemplating. You see, I’m not pregnant but I’m surrounded by pregnant women. To keep my sanity I research and try to further educate myself in the many facets of pregnancy, childbirth, infant care and all sorts of other topics that I *God willing* will once again be blessed with. Hence my google search of “the natural mommy.” : )

With my son I didn’t have much time to prepare or even enough mental capacity to consider what my options were in all above mentioned topics. My mother was an original “natural mommy” but of course I wanted my own unique signature on motherhood and did things a little differently: ie: I blindly followed my doctor’s advice. Well, in my own defense; I wasn’t completely diluded, I did breast-feed until my son was 15 months, I did have a heatlhy, smoke, drug, alcohol, caffeine-free pregnancy, I tried my best to eat right, to exercise, to take my vitamins and see my doctor and of course I read the usual pregnancy books.

But I did get the epidural, I did have an induction (just breaking my water, no pitocin, but still…) no episiodomy (sp?) (thank God), but also, no birth plan.

Which brings me to my ever-so-long-at-getting-around-to-it point. I think a lot of women would SOOOO benefit and make things much easier and more simple if they write a birth plan! Of course this involves being educated but to me, seems well worth the effort. I fell into the : “I’m not sure what to do, somewhat-educated but don’t have the guts to stand up for myself, young mother” category. I’ve learned so much since then and I hope my next birth will be much different. Just reading your article has tipped the scales toward not having another epidural. Especially after my sister in law came home from the hospital a few weeks ago with horrible, terrifyingly painful headaches from a botched epidural. I had good luck with mine but did (and still do) suffer from backaches. Before I had my son and the epidural, I never had a backache in my life!

So, thank you and my two cents for anyone who is interested (sorry for the rambling!) is to make a birth plan! They are excellent and if you want a website with a link to an easy-to-make birth plan, just let me know! ; )

I appreciate the information and will surely be back for more!! You are a talented writer and I can’t wait to put the information and advice I’ve gathered into action!

~Kristen : )

P.S. AMEN to everyone who said women are using induction as a dayplanner!!! I am surrounded (and infuriated) by women who are throwing hissy fits because they are nearing the 40 week mark with no sign of labor and demanding inductions!! It kills me! To the Dr’s credit however, they have been wonderful at advocating for these precious babies who obviously have no one else to advocate for them by telling the mothers they must wait until 42 (barring any medical complications) before an induction would be considered! I’m amazed and have much more faith in the OB/GYN practices here. I wonder what they’ll think of me when I insist on NO induction at all until the baby is ready?? Probably tinkle in their crocs. ; )