If you're a bird, I'm a bird

*Midwife's name has not been included to protect her identity as home births are very sensitive in Georgia.  On June 21, 2013 at 38.6 weeks pregnant, I started having mild contractions. As I was sitting on the couch at 9:00am, I noticed that the contractions started feeling "real" rather than just Braxton Hicks. My stomach was still tightening, but there was a downward force with each one. I just relaxed my cervix and allowed any opening to happen. I watched show after show getting up to eat occasionally and use the restroom. Lincoln was at school and Joe was working. I sent him a text and told him I was having inconsistent contractions. Throughout the pregnancy, I read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth . Since I felt like some of the material would come useful very soon, I read several chapters of that book that afternoon. As I sat on the porch at 3:00, I took a notebook out there and started tracking the contractions. Joe came home from work and started making fish tac...

I've been wanting to type this post for a long time. It has just been a matter of sitting down to type it. When I get home, we spend time with Lincoln and put him to bed. Afterwards, I just want to relax, watch TV and go to bed. Occasionally, I do school work if I have something due. Anyways, we found out November 1 that we were expecting our second baby. When we found out, I had changed my mind about wanting a second baby, even though we were trying. Needless to say, the news was anticlimactic. We are about 1 month out from our second one arriving and I still doubt that we can take care of two children. I know it is going to be an adjustment. Lincoln is in a tough stage right now. "It's mine!", hitting, stomping and crying. Joe's patience is not the best with Lincoln, which makes our home stressful. He likes harmonious environments so Joe has to walk away when Lincoln acts like that. I am supposed to be in a stress-free environment during pregnancy. It i...

Joe and I decided a long time ago that when Lincoln was around 1, we would try to start having another child. Well, the year is almost up and here we are...trying. We started trying to conceive this month (August). I think we will be successful. I feel like I am ovulating now so we'll probably know by the end of the month, probably sooner if Lincoln starts refusing my milk or if I get tender breasts. We are not finding out what we are having so we'll have both names picked out. I'm hoping for multiples since I have been skipping a month of ovulation and multiples run in both of our families. My grandfather is a twin and Joe's father is a twin. We would be happy with one too! I took a pregnancy test on Friday morning (8/31/12) when I woke up. It was negative. I read the instructions later and saw that it was good only after a missed period. At this point I do not even know if implantation had taken place yet. The next day in the afternoon (9/1/12), we took another ...

We have three options. 1) Attempt a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) 2) Have a repeat Cesarean 3) Don't have anymore children 1) There is a risk of a uterine eruption while trying to have a vaginal birth after a cesarean. The risk is less than getting in a vehicular accident. Not all facilities allow them nor insurance companies cover them. Many women that want to have a VBAC find a midwife that will support their birth at home or follow the strict guidelines of a practicing physician. VBAC's are considered "high risk" so if an obstacle pops up, you can be forced to have another Cesarean. These are my thoughts right now. I'd love to have a vaginal birth. I feel like I haven't birthed because I had a Cesarean. Joe doesn't understand that and women that haven't had a Cesarean do not either. There are many paths to birth, but I think if I do not try a VBAC, I will always wonder if I would have been able to. During Lincoln's birth, I wanted to ...