tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175997035981853262012-02-16T17:47:27.679-05:00Our journey down the road to having our second homebirth after a caesarean.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-31373634523549767852010-07-24T13:05:00.004-04:002010-07-24T13:16:18.727-04:00

I'm fairly certain I don't have many readers to this blog anymore since it's been forever since I've last posted, but I wanted to share with those of you who follow homebirth blogs and VBAC stories that I had my second homebirth last month. Our third child was born at home and it was an even better experience than the first.I will be emailing out the (very long) birth story so if any of you are

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-76560507373711734092010-03-03T14:33:00.002-05:002010-03-03T14:36:39.354-05:00

Carrying a child is quite taxing on a woman's body. She needs all the help she can get. Here is a great list I found here of what foods we should strive to eat everyday, pregnant or not.#1 Leafy greensMedical experts call them one of nature's miracle foods. Leafy greens like Swiss chard and kale are high in nutrients like folate and vitamins A and C that can lower your risk of cancer. Just one

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-57896359970383549882010-02-03T14:32:00.004-05:002010-02-03T14:39:54.808-05:00

I am copying all the text from a post from the Prayer of Hannah Blog. To go to the post at its original location, you can click here.I thought this research was interesting and wondered if anyone might enjoy reading it as well. It pertains to the effects of supplementing in the hospital with bottles of water, glucose water, artificial baby milk, or adding supplements to the mother's milk. Some of

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-25467110798239413452010-01-21T20:11:00.004-05:002010-01-27T23:24:25.081-05:00

By Megan Brooks - Wed Jan 20, 8:18 AM PST SOURCE: Cochrane Library, 2010. Go here to read the article.There is no reason why pregnant women at low risk for complications during delivery should be denied fluids and food during labor, a new Cochrane research review concludes."Women should be free to eat and drink in labor, or not, as they wish," the authors of the review wrote in the Cochrane

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-42980766831960048752009-11-30T16:42:00.004-05:002009-11-30T16:50:08.622-05:00

Well, we have been blessed yet again with another miracle growing in my womb! We are estatic. The baby is due to arrive in mid-June. As fantastic as our first homebirth was we didn't necessarily feel called to do a repeat homebirth for any other children... that is until I got pregnant and actually started to analyze my options again.We have gone back and forth like before, but much earlier now

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-1474682627294805782008-12-23T13:39:00.002-05:002008-12-23T13:43:30.926-05:00

It's been quite a while, friends. I hope you all are doing well... No, I am not pregnant. Let me just say that up front.I am however interested in learning what my options are in the Central Virginia area if I was in fact to have another homebirth. I want to make sure that if I get pregnant, I've done my research ahead of time!We are in the Charlottesville area, so if anyone knows if what the

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-55845351476163605612008-06-11T11:57:00.007-04:002008-12-23T13:34:23.724-05:00

I think one of the worst things a mother faces is a sense of guilt about how she parents. I am constantly questioning everything I do.Did I nurse them long enough, or too long?Should I have started them on solids earlier, or later?Did I hold them too much, or not enough?Did I make them grow up too fast, or did I keep them babies for too long?Should I have used a pacifier, or not?Should I have let

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-15112021558612590562008-05-27T11:48:00.009-04:002008-05-27T12:26:17.271-04:00

It's been an amazing experience having 2 little boys under 2. What a joy it is to be a mother. I am so grateful to have these two children. I would love to say that the past 3 months have been a piece of cake, but we all know that's not the truth. Having kids is not easy, but it's always a blessing. What has made these last 3 months difficult has nothing to do with the boys. They have both been

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-41099484583615414032008-04-09T15:30:00.003-04:002008-04-09T15:41:03.964-04:00

It's been 6 weeks since Joseph's arrival. It sure has flown. Not once in the last 6 weeks have I regretted attempting a VBAC, or having a homebirth. I would do it again in a heartbeat if that is where the Lord leads us next time around... if there is a next time around, and hopefully there is! (I can't imagine this being our last child. I will be totally at peace if the Lord doesn't choose to

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-54945329232713525332008-03-19T08:41:00.001-04:002008-03-19T08:47:38.291-04:00

Andy woke me up at 6:30 AM and I rolled out of bed into the living room to spend some time reading my Bible. I had a scowl on my face and he said I looked like a high schooler being forced to wake up early on the weekend because they were staying at their grandparent’s house. He made a comment in an old lady voice “It’s just not right to sleep the day away. It’s good to wake up at a decent hour

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-24572866484908350072008-03-04T12:33:00.005-05:002008-03-04T13:30:46.210-05:00

Our second son, Joseph Andrew was born in our home, Wednesday, February 27 at 7:38pm. He weighed 7 lbs 15.6 oz, and was 19 1/2 inches long. Everything went very well and we are all doing excellent. To God be the glory!

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-45544214391348633072008-02-25T20:41:00.002-05:002008-02-25T20:45:05.927-05:00

Until the 1940's, women were actually told to eat and drink as they desired during labor. All of that changed in 1949, when 1 study showed that women who ate during labor had a higher chance of aspiration (food entering the lungs during anesthesia.) Since then, women have often been told that as soon as they feel contractions or think they are in labor, they should stop eating.There are several

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-30317080701484804142008-02-25T16:51:00.003-05:002008-02-25T17:25:21.335-05:00

I have a friend who is sitting in her labor and delivery room as I type this post. Someone just commented on her blog that "no one gets a superwoman prize for enduring more pain, we all come out with a baby." This was in an attempt to make her not feel bad for the chance that she might have to get some Pitocin because she is not contracting enough and her water has already broken.But knowing full

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-12353155987861516702008-02-19T10:09:00.004-05:002008-02-19T10:37:21.607-05:00

Two weekends ago we were quite busy celebrating the upcoming arrival of Joseph. My midwife, Penny, threw me a Blessingway at our home and then the next day after church our Sunday school class had a baby shower for us. We had a great time at both, but I especially loved the Blessingway.I did not have a Blessingway with Samuel because I didn't even know about them. It was wonderful. Now that I

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-41259836256225569992008-02-07T12:06:00.000-05:002008-02-07T12:50:34.840-05:00

Thanks to A Joyful Birth website, I now have found many more verses that are bringing comfort and will continue to through the delivery. The Bible is filled with all the answers to life we could possibly want, you just have to look a little deeper for some of them!Knowledge "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-87058479616900021202008-01-29T11:44:00.000-05:002008-01-29T11:49:01.732-05:00

If there was possibly something that could be called a "natural cesarean" it would be this. Check out this story. This seems like a perfect solution to those times when a cesarean is deemed necessary. I don't think I would have had any 'issues' if this is how Samuel's delivery ended up. Hopefully, one day it will be like this for all women who have cesareans.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-48390231078757409822008-01-22T20:55:00.000-05:002008-01-22T21:10:29.142-05:00

I have been following this family for about a month now. I was told about them through our friends Patience and Jordan. I've never met this family before, but when another woman is pregnant, no matter if you know her or not, you somehow feel a bond with her immediately. God is simultaneously working a miracle in both of our bodies. That's a hard common denominator to avoid.This family is facing

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-64131944678346210492008-01-21T13:08:00.000-05:002008-01-22T20:50:59.896-05:00

A few months ago I read this list of Scripture verses on a blog from a woman who had a homebirth and I just loved the idea. She wrote them on index cards and read through them during her labor. I am going to be adding to the list as I find other verses that speak to me. I thought I would share this list for those of you who would enjoy them for your birth as well.Isaiah 40:11He tends his flock

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-4983271245889366332008-01-16T12:19:00.000-05:002008-01-21T13:25:29.610-05:00

We had a meeting with our midwife this past Saturday. Things are going very well. Joseph is head down and seems to already be pretty low, yay! He is facing my back, which is the most ideal position. Samuel was never anterior, so we are already ahead of that game. Penny has been in contact with our local hospital making preparations in case we need to transfer. They have been extremely supportive,

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-59116401223703616172008-01-14T15:07:00.000-05:002008-01-14T15:29:45.535-05:00

There are a few things that I did with Samuel as an infant, that I am certain I will change while parenting Joseph. One of those is letting him sleep with us more. Samuel slept with me often, but not all the time. Since Andy wasn't there, I felt like it was a good idea. But now that Andy is home, I didn't originally think I would let Joseph sleep with us. After talking with both the Lord and Andy

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-4835050486621098152008-01-07T17:22:00.000-05:002008-01-14T10:43:26.948-05:00

Aside from the list of birthing supplies, I need to start getting a list together of all of the other things I'm going to need to have done before Joseph's arrival. Here goes:Get carseatHave carseat installedFigure out where his changing table will goMake room for his clothes somewhere, either get a new dresser or share Samuel's.Get infant cloth diapers out and washedGet infant clothes out and

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-35374682599870468032008-01-04T14:36:00.001-05:002008-01-21T20:47:48.682-05:00

Now that the holidays are over, I can fully focus on this birth. Penny gave me a whole list of stuff that would be helpful to have on hand during the delivery and for soon after. I've gotta get cracking on getting this stuff ready.To Buy List:Witch hazel - GOTHydrogen Peroxide - GOTMattress protection - ORDEREDBirthing pool - ORDEREDWater hose faucet adapter Waterproof floor protector - GOTFish

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-34639603793976925682007-12-27T21:04:00.001-05:002008-01-21T13:25:29.610-05:00

This article has nothing to do with pregnancy or birth, but it has everything to do with sex and marriage. Marriage is under attack and needs to be preserved and kept sacred. If you are married, I encourage you to read this article in its entirety. I promise you will be challenged, but in a good way.Will We or Won't We …Who holds the real power in your sex life?by Gary Thomas John and I stopped

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-74788524563339379132007-12-26T12:07:00.000-05:002007-12-27T21:14:50.122-05:00

Here's Joseph and me, at 25 weeks.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-59993815492761050612007-12-13T11:17:00.000-05:002007-12-27T21:15:38.506-05:00

Time and time again I have heard that yoga is a wonderful exercise for women who are pregnant. I have always wanted to do some research on it. I have never attended a yoga class so I cannot say how much or how little they all get into any spirituality, but I have definitely heard the warnings about dappling in meditation when you are not meditating on the Lord or His Word. I know most people

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-90390402204499082532007-12-04T13:22:00.000-05:002007-12-27T21:16:19.328-05:00

I am still dealing with a lot of emotions that came as a result of Samuel's cesarean. I didn't realize how extremely unhappy I truly was with it all until I became pregnant with Joseph and the thoughts of having to experience it all over again were so uneasy to think about. I have done some research on cesarean depression and it is very common, but not at all commonly talked about. I'm having a

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-18631734910844960902007-11-28T14:40:00.000-05:002007-11-28T14:43:45.072-05:00

Another great article I've received through Google Alerts. Is Homebirth Safe?by Lauri SmitMany people ask if homebirth is safe. Our society views labor and birth as pathological, an illness that needs to be fixed or cured. Since the beginning of time, humans have given birth without medical help or intervention. Is the Hospital Really the Safest Place to Deliver?The National Perinatal

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-55648416927089723702007-11-20T20:12:00.000-05:002007-11-28T14:33:34.859-05:00

I have recently signed up for Google Alerts. It sends you an email with a list of all of the news articles, or blogs that have been posted on the web with any words of your choosing. You can choose how often you get an email updating you with all of the articles. It has sure cut down on my research time and allows me to skim through the few lines they give to see if I want to read the article. I

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-76369658529718600032007-11-19T23:02:00.000-05:002007-11-28T14:48:58.811-05:00

We have heard rave reviews about birthing in water, especially from our midwife. She says that it really helps with pain and also with tearing as you deliver. I've definitely heard of it as a great experience, but never thought it was 'for me' but then again, I NEVER thought a homebirth was 'for me' 3 months ago either! We are now planning on having a birthing pool during our delivery. If I like

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-81229199498999750782007-11-14T09:48:00.000-05:002007-11-14T10:25:19.349-05:00

We had a meeting with our midwife last night. Things are going very well. I am measuring right on target and Joseph's heart beat sounds wonderful. My blood sugar was pretty high so I'm going to have to take another test soon. I'm not too excited about that. I've never had a problem with it before so hopefully it was just a fluke. Penny pressed on the issue of proper dieting last night. She showed

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-68479928825012912682007-11-12T09:27:00.000-05:002007-11-12T09:29:24.539-05:00

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula's presence at birth tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications, reduces negative feelings about one's childbirth experience, reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans and reduces the mother's request for pain medication and/or epidurals - DONA InternationalClick here to learn

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-35640673034467798722007-11-09T21:49:00.000-05:002008-01-21T13:25:29.611-05:00

When we were expecting Samuel the talk of circumcision didn't come up until the last days. Both of us just assumed that he would get this 'routine' procedure done. We wanted to do some research though into why exactly this is routine and if this normal procedure in America was necessary. We quickly discovered that it was not. There has always been talk that having the foreskin of a male intact

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-38043249808413703812007-11-06T09:37:00.000-05:002008-01-21T13:25:29.612-05:00

One of the main reasons why this decision seems right to us is that we have lost trust in the medical field when it comes to treating women and newborns how they should be treated. I was so disappointed to hear the doctor tell me that I would most likely never be able to give birth to a child vaginally because my pelvic bones were just too narrow. I trusted her, after all, she has a degree in

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-13423384282053090542007-11-06T08:40:00.000-05:002007-11-07T21:27:38.501-05:00

The greatest concern for women who have had a previous cesarean is the risk of a uterine rupture during a vaginal birth. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), if you had a previous cesarean with a low transverse incision, the risk of uterine rupture in a vaginal delivery is .2 to 1.5%, which is approximately 1 in 500 (1).Here are some probability statistics

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-42484631289393710602007-11-04T15:16:00.000-05:002007-11-28T14:48:58.812-05:00

A great article sheading some light on why homebirths are so popular.Should You Have Your Baby at Home?Today in the United States, at the end of the twentieth century, advances in science and technology account for many positive changes in our quality of life. Yet more and more women from all walks of life are choosing to give birth the old-fashioned way — in their own homes. Why? The fact is, in

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-60174816255404892062007-11-02T07:12:00.000-04:002007-11-04T14:36:17.542-05:00

After talking with my previous doctors and my current midwife they affirmed my suspicion that my C-Section could have been avoided entirely. Why would anyone opt for having major abdominal surgery when it could possibly be avoided? I have no idea. Talking with a few of them assured me that the reasoning for my surgery should in no way hinder me from having a vaginal birth. My files say that I

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117599703598185326.post-67274325531073118082007-10-30T12:07:00.000-04:002008-01-21T13:25:29.612-05:00

Today I am 21 weeks and 2 days pregnant. About 4 weeks ago I canceled my appointment with my doctor after meeting with a midwife. I decided then that my very best option of having a natural childbirth was to give birth at home. I have done enough research to make my head explode, but also to give me an overwhelming sense of peace that I am making the best decision for both me and Joseph. This

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10012600638180147495noreply@blogger.com6