Our Hospital Birth

I went to the hospital when my labor was well in progress. However, it slowed upon arrival and I was induced with Pitocin a synthetic hormone used to control labor. Consequently, I caved into an epidural. I was naïve to the practices of a hospital.

I later learned that 81% women receive Pitocin. It is also common knowledge that Pitocin increases the pain of contractions and often causes the baby to go into shock and the uterus to work harder; rather than letting it contract as necessary to bring the baby to birth. The Pitocin and Epidural are often causes for Cesarean.

Cesarean rates were 32% in 2008. (USA TODAY)

America has 2nd worst newborn mortality rates of the modern world. (CNN)

44% of women who attempted a vaginal delivery were induced and twice as likely to deliver by C-section. (USA TODAY)

I considered my self lucky to get out of the hospital with a vaginal delivery. However, I was disappointed with the chain of events that I experienced. When I became pregnant with Nataly, I began to search for something better than a 1 in 3 chance of C-Section. I wanted to give birth in a place where my choices would be honored. I wanted to have a child birth free of protocol and standard practices, especially those that actually put me and my baby at unnecessary risk.

(Our Birthing Experience To Be Continued)

Boy or Girl?

Allow me to share my heart with you. So many people have asked if we are having a boy or a girl. Nataly insists it’s a Baby Scarlett, a sister, but I asked her if she would love a baby brother. She looked me square in the eye and said, “no”. Then she said she would poke him. Nice to know; I better keep an eye on her just in case.

She kisses on my belly and talks to baby “Scarlett”. So as time goes on, it appears Scarlett will be the name for a girl. Nataly loves babies. So I assume she will naturally mother this baby.

If anyone remembers, Macie insisted on a sister with Breesa. Then Breesa, at age 2 & 3, insisted Nataly was a girl and even said, “I told you so” upon meeting her new sister. Now, Nataly is insisting that this is a sister too, only time will tell.

Everyone asks if we want a boy this time. I’ve never understood the internal necessity to have one gender or the other. Excuse my frankness but I’ve never looked at our girls and thought, “if only you were a boy I would feel fulfilled”. We, having all girls, haven’t felt like we are missing anything.

The first time around I thought a boy would be fun because we had so many girls in our family already. Also, because many family members were hoping for a boy.

I quickly warmed up to girls, though. The other day I watched as Nataly climbed the stairs . She was wearing a bumblebee costume and carrying her stuffed puppy in one hand and broken tea set in the other. She was headed to the kitchen for a tea party while daddy cooked dinner. I thought it really doesn’t get any better.

If we have a boy, I’m sure I will find the joys of it just as fulfilling. But for now, we allow our girls to be girls without the pressure of thinking we wanted something different and thank God for our beautiful, precious children regardless of their gender.

What’s been going on?

The hottest topic in our house revolves around our newest addition coming this winter to a cradle near you… ok actually it will be us!

Our baby is due between January 26th and February 1st.

Nataly in her “Big Sis” tutu!