Gluten Free for Kids

Some of the gluten free foods my kids love. Pamela's baking mix makes great pancakes, scones and dumplings for soups (can be fond at Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods). Enviro Kidz Organic cereal bars are yummy. Chex Cereal has 5 different GF flavors and are great for convenience of shopping. (no specialty shops needed). Food for Life brown rice tortillas are a good replacement for flour tortillas and my kids love making cheese crisps with them. Finally Rudi's bread is pretty good for GF. Most GF bread is like Styrofoam and this one is actually edible but must be toasted like all other GF breads. If you are close to Gilbert AZ there is a wonderful shop just off the 202 and Val Vista (north east side under Mountainside Fitness) it's called Gluten Free Country Store. They have every thing you could ever imagine all GF. it is a little pricy but worth it.

Another Homebirth Story

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Birth of Alithiyah Victoria

I had been preparing my self the entire pregnancy to conclude the baby making chapter in my life. It would be my 3rd and last child. I had mixed feelings about it, but decided that it was right for my family. I enjoyed every moment of being pregnant for the last time. Even as my due date came and went I was OK with it. I was absorbing every thought and feeling so that I could recall later in life the amazing journey pregnancy had taken me on.

Week 40 and 2 days I got a call from my sons Grandmother (Blanca, my ex-mother in law). She wanted to take the kids to the movies and let Keith and I have a few hours alone. It was a really hot day as most are here in the valley of the sun. That didn't stop us from walking miles and miles to do some last minute shopping at the outdoor mall. We had fun and the kids had fun, but the heat was to much and I I said “well maybe this baby will be boiled out of hiding”.

Later that same night I was having Keith do a few last minute items on the “baby is coming soon list”. As he was doing that I stood up to help him with something and felt a funny trickle. Hmmmmmm what was that? I had been saying the entire pregnancy that this labor would start with my water breaking just because that never happened with my other labors. This baby was different and I knew it from very early on. Sure enough after a few minutes and water still trickling I called my midwives (7:00pm). Pretty much all they said was to wait for some contractions to start and then we would make a plan.

I was pretty excited knowing that this was it. I called a few friends and family to let them know things were happening, but not to get to excited since contractions hadn't shown up yet. Keith went to the store to get food for the midwives team and I did the dishes. Robbie and Kaliyah were so excited helping to clean up around the house knowing that they had a baby brother or sister on the way. They had asked me everyday for the last few months if it was time yet.

At 9:00 my student midwife Jamie called to say she was on her way to check on me and baby. When she got there I was in the middle of drying my hair after a shower. I had only had a few minor contractions that were really far apart. Baby was doing well and I was all revved up and ready to go. Jamie knew it could be a while since contractions were still far apart. She told me to drink a beer to help me relax and get some sleep. Well you don't have to pull my arm to hard to get me to drink a beer. Jamie went back home and said if we needed her to call.

Keith had a hard time putting the big kids to sleep and Kaliyah was having a rough time knowing that she wouldn't be the baby for much longer. She had a few tears and lots of hugs from both of us letting her know that she would always be special to us. Finally by 11:00 I was in bed TRYING to go to sleep.

The longer I laid there the harder it was to even think about sleeping. By 12:00 I noticed that contractions were every 10 minutes and uncomfortable enough for me to know that sleep was not gonna happen. I laid there for 3 hours listening to Keith's long breaths as he slept. When a contraction would hit I would try to slow my breathing down to match his. I was still wondering if I was ready for pregnancy to be over since it would be my last.

By 3:00 I was sick of laying there and got up to see what was left around the house for me to do. I put a frozen potato leek soup my mom had made into the crock pot. I wanted my midwives to have good hot food after all the hard work was done. After that I laid on the couch for what seemed like forever just timing contractions on my phone app. That got old quick.

Keith woke up at about 4:30 to see what I was doing. He saw that things were still coming along and contractions were about 4 minutes apart. He asked when we should call the midwives and I kept avoiding giving an answer. I just wanted to have alone time as long as possible. In the back of my mind I was OK with no one showing up and just having an unassisted birth. That was something I had wanted early on in the pregnancy, but it didn't make Keith comfortable.

We spent an hour on the couch just talking about anything we wanted. We giggled a lot and I was completely in love with him at that moment. I was a jerk to him in my last labor and was trying to make things different this time.

By 5:30 I wanted to get in the bath. Things were starting to get real! I could feel my mind set beginning to change. The water felt amazing. I don't know why I didn't use the bath in my first homebirth. It really is such a natural instinct to want that warm water.

6:30 I got out of the bath and Keith had oatmeal ready. Food never tasted so good! Your senses are definitely heightened in labor.

Jamie text messaged me around 7 saying she was on her way and wanted to check up on baby. I was in the middle of texting Blanca setting her up to come over and take the big kids to swim lessons at 10:00. After I text Jamie back a huge contraction hit and I know that my brain flipped a switch. I knew that she was on her way and that meant it was time to have a baby. I had a second of panic, but pushed it way far back in my mind.

When she arrived at 7:20 I was in the middle of a contraction that felt like it was taking forever. When it ended she didn't even have to ask how I was doing she could see that things were happening just the way they were supposed to. I didn't want to use the Doppler but she didn't have a fetoscope with her so we just skipped checking the baby. My gut instincts were telling me baby was safe at that moment and Jamie was fine with listening to my instinct.

Kids finally woke up at around 7:40 and they were EXCITED!! They wanted to help rub my back and get the birth ball for me. I was not feeling comfortable and I knew that there was no going back at this point. I had a minute of freak out and I did cry. I didn't cry because I was hurting, I cried because I knew that I needed to release my emotional tension. I needed to get past this hurdle to move on to having my baby. The kids were amazing at anticipating what I needed. They stayed calm and quiet getting me tissues and taking pictures. I was FINALLY in the zone soaking up every feeling and sensation. Knowing that I was in a safe environment I was ready to have this baby.

Jamie knew that things were getting close and kept asking me if I wanted the rest of the team there (2 other student midwives Danielle and Rachel and the head midwive Shell). I kept saying I didn't know what I wanted and I wanted someone else to decide for me. I was getting to the irrational point of labor and all I could think about was WARM WATER. I got in the tub at 8:30 and zoned out for the next 40 minutes. The only thing I said the whole time was “ORGASMIC BIRTH.....MY ASS!”. I don't recall much else except for Jamie and Keith fanning me. It could have been big foot for all I cared, as long as they didn't stop fanning, I was good.

I hadn't planned on getting any dilation checks, but I just had to know how much work my body had done. I got out of the tub and headed for my bed. It was 9:20 and I was 7cm dilated. I laid propped up in bed while in the background I could hear Jamie calling the other midwives telling them things were getting close. I had a good rhythm going. When a contraction would hit I would have to move my legs and shake my head from side to side. I was surprised that I had no vocalizations like my last birth. But I did have a lot more body movement this time. Then it hit me! This insane urge to push. It had only been about 15 minutes since I was checked and at 7cm. I didn't want to swell my cervix so I did the dumbest yet most natural thing that came to mind, HORSE LIPS. I had always made fun of birth stories where women said they did this. I thought it was ridiculous, but it really worked. You can't push when your doing the funniest thing you can think of :)

10:00, I knew the kids had to be on their way to swim lessons, but with this pushing urge I told them to stay put. Blanca had been helping them get ready and they were just about to leave and all dressed in their swim wear. I had to pee after the massive amounts of water I had been drinking. Kaliyah thought it was a good time to get the video camera out and record me on the toilet. I was irritated and told her to go away. I immediately felt bad and had Keith tell her mommy was not mad. Then I started having the urge to push again. I got off the toilet and between contractions and slight pushiness I had to stop to do my hair. Keith was laughing at the fact I was just about ready to push a baby out and I had to make my hair look good for the pictures.

10:04 I was ready for this kid now and Jamie said I better get where I want to be for birth. It was happening right then. I wanted the big kids to be there so I was yelling for them to come quickly. While I leaned over the bathroom counter staring at my self in the mirror and seeing my kids reflections I was ready. I didn't know exactly what I was doing even though I had, had 2 births before. I never got the natural urge to push with my other kids. So I just let my body do everything. It really did push on its own. There was no yelling from others in the room to push, or to breath, or 1-2-3-4-5.....count down. I seriously did nothing and my body took over. I could feel the classic ring of fire which for some strange reason made my feet burn as well. I remember wanting to know if baby's hair was blonde like our last baby. They all told me they could see dark hair. I was ready to see my baby and I thought about squatting down, but bending my knees was impossible. I had a mirror in front of me, but I was to short and couldn't see baby's head so I reached down and felt the most amazing thing ever. I remember hearing Jamie and Keith saying “HI BABY” and I just needed to see this baby so I pushed as hard as I ever could and that was it. Keith caught this slippery little thing as I yelled at everyone not to tell me what it was. Then after all the anticipation of 9 months and thinking I was carrying a boy IT WAS A GIRL! I had a flicker of disappointment and then I FELL IN LOVE.

She made it earth side at 10:06

As I stood with my baby in my arms all I could think to do was breastfeed. She had a lot of gunk in her nose that was making her cough, so she was unable to latch on. Then I felt a gush and looked down and a pool of blood was forming at my feet. Jamie was getting anxious, I could hear it in her voice as she told me in a rather demanding voice to “SIT” and “KEEP YOUR BLOOD IN YOUR BODY!” I was holding this little thing in my arms and it all seemed like a dream. I was unable to comprehend the amount of blood I was loosing. At 10:08 the placenta was born and the bleeding continued. Over and over Jamie was telling me to “hold my blood in my body”. She was getting out herbs to put under my tongue. When that didn't work I told her to rip a piece of my placenta off and put it under my tongue (Ancient Chinese did this to stop post partum hemorrhage).

Nothing seemed to be working and I was still loosing a considerable amount of blood. Jamie said she was sorry but she needed to give me the pitocin shot. I was disappointed, but could feel my consciousness beginning to dissapear. I accepted it and moved on to better things like my beautiful baby.

The rest of the birth team arrived shortly after all the commotion. I was slightly disappointed that they all missed it, but knew that it happened the way it did for a reason. After we all got cleaned up I was able to talk to Shell who believed my placenta had detached at the exact time of baby's birth. That is what caused the hemorrhage. I drank some AMAZING placenta hot coco to help replenish my blood supply and all was well within an hour of the birth.

Alithiyah was still coughing up lots of fluid and was not able to calm down or latch onto the breast. My midwives decided they needed to help her breathing and pumped some air into her lungs and gave her some oxygen. She immediately calmed down and latched on instantly.

Finally we were both doing well. I climbed into bed and was fed amazing warm soup by Jamie as I breastfeed my baby girl. She was then checked out, weighed, and measured. Alithiyah is my largest baby so far, coming in at 8.8 lbs & 21 inches long. I am certain if we weighed her at birth she would have been well over 9 lbs, but she was a pooping champ and filled my hand a few times after she was born.

The next 3 weeks were filled with LOTS of ups and downs. We discovered Alithiyah was tongue tied at 3 days old and we had to get it clipped. I was in massive amounts of pain and would scream at every feeding. I got masstitis as a direct result of the tongue tie. Post partum depression was outta control and my first baby (16 year old cat) died. It took me months to fall completely in love with Alithiyah. I feel like I missed out on her entire first month of life due to all the issues we had.

Now I look back and see that it was such a short blink of an eye. I have almost completely forgotten the post partum pain I was in and now can't imagine life without this little girl. Life is good, the universe is good, and my family is perfectly complete!

Thank you
Jamie
Shell
Rachel
Danielle
Blanca
Keith
Robbie Jay
Kaliyah

My home birth story August 2007

I woke up at about 6am on Aug 6th. I was bummed because I thought that I might wake up in the middle of the night with contractions, but no not even one. So I got up and went to the bathroom and there it was a little bit of bloody show. I felt all kinds of emotions at the same time. I was happy, excited, and scared.

Then came the contractions every 6-10 min. I didn't really believe they were contractions. All they felt like were Braxton Hicks (kinda like practice contractions), then when they kept coming I thought I better call my midwife. She said to go on a walk then take a bath then call her and let her know what was going on. I did that and things kept moving along, so I knew this was the real deal. I called Lia back and she said she would be out at 1pm to see if I was dilating any or if she could help get things going faster.

At about 12:30 we decided to go for a walk to see if we could get things moving faster. It all felt like Braxton Hicks to me (a tight winding up feeling then loosening) so I thought it was all just going to stop. At 1:00 Lia got there and checked me I was already at 5cm. Wow I thought nothing was going on and surprise I'm 1/2 way there. I started taking some herbs to keep things going and went out walking to keep my mind occupied and my body working. After this walk I knew what real contractions were. There was no turning back.

When I got home we decided that Lia would stick around for a while. I then took some more herbs and went back out to walk (again). I didn't make it that far this time. Every walk I was sent out on got shorter and shorter as the contractions got stronger and stronger.

At about 3:00pm I found my self on my hands and knees trying to get comfortable. When Lia saw me doing that she called Lisa and told her she better make her way out. I then got in the shower to see if this would help dilate me further. This is really what sent me over the edge and things started moving fast and kept coming stronger and closer together.

I totally lost my usually calm and collected personality. I could barely utter a word and if Keith got too close to me I would freak out. I love him so much and think he is a wonderful man for putting up with the way I treated him during all this. He told me I had no idea what I wanted. I would tell him to get away, then I would yell at him for going to far away, then he would try to give me water and his hand would be in my face and I would freak out because his hand was in my face. Anyway he put up with me and I love him very much for it.

While I was in the shower Lisa showed up and checked me. 7 1/2cm cool almost there is all I thought, but was still in a silent mood and couldn't say it out loud. The midwifes left the room and left me and Keith alone to labor together. It was so nice to have this experience together even though I wasn't very interactive with Keith at this time. Keith told me later after baby was born that during this time he knew exactly when I would start and end a contraction because the ceiling fan that was on would start to surge and go faster and then slow down when it would end. Weird how powerful all that energy must have been in that room at that time, all coming from me, my body and the baby.

I then got back in the shower at about 6:00 to try and get comfortable. It helped some what. As I leaned over the edge of the tub I put my self into a meditative state and felt like I was out of body and then come back in when I would have a contraction. My perception of time was all messed up in the shower it felt like a few minutes, but was really an hour.

7:10pm I started to feelt extreme pressure and asked to be checked. I was 9 1/2cm. Lisa thought maybe if I pushed a little I would go to 10 cm so I did and I heard a very loud pop and a huge gush of fluid came pouring out of me. My water broke and I made it to 10cm all at the same time. As they checked for the babies heart beat I positioned my self on the middle of my bed so I could start pushing. I started pushing while lying some what on my side. The heart rate kept dipping a little bit and I could tell by the sound in Lisa's voice that she was getting anxious. She looked directly into my eyes and said “if you don't get this baby out we may have to transfer to the hospital”. I was determined for that not to happen. I completely trusted my ability and pushed with all my might and reached down and felt the ooy gooy crown of my babies head. I was relieved it was almost over. Next I got the urge to push it felt like a semi truck was driving through me and "I started yelling I gotta push now, I gotta push" and I did. Out came my little girl with blond hair and the cord wrapped in all kinds of crazy directions. It was across both shoulders and around her neck twice. I got to hold her immediately and herd her tiny little voice and I knew everything was perfect.

Having a home birth was so wonderful and having my midwifes, my mom, Robbie, and Keith all there was so much nicer than having the janitor taking out the trash in the middle of the labor like in the hospital with Robbie. Being surrounded by people I love and who love me was the only drug I needed to get me through. I will for sure do a home birth the next time around.

Baby girl was born at 7:19pm, 7lbs 10oz, 18 1/2 inches long, ten fingers, ten toes, and perfect. After 4hrs off active strong labor and 4 1/2 minutes of pushing. Oh man I think I need a drink after all that hard work. :)

THE END

PS. Here are a couple funny side stories from when I was in labor.

1)
During the first few hours of labor I had to get my older son to pre school. I drove there while timing my contractions and thinking about all the food we needed to get for when the midwives got there. I got to the school and checked him in. The teacher asked me when I was going to pop, I told her "oh I think today is a good day" (I was bracing my self for the next contraction). She gave me a funny look when she realized I was already in labor. LOL.

2)
In between walks in the neighbourhood I went inside to hang out with my mom. Keith went out side to do some last minute gardening. The neighbour drove by the house and asked what we were up to. Keith answered "I'm just doing some gardening, Kiri is in the house in labor." He was totally cool and calm. The neighbour just about freaked thinking that we should be on our way to the hospital or keith should be in the house with me.
I really wish we had a picture of this guys face when Keith said that to him.

A blast from my past (blog I wrote 4 years ago)

Why Choose a Homebirth?
Wow, I can think of sooooooo many reasons! Most people automatically think that the hospital is the best place to have a baby. Give some thought to the reasons listed below before you automatically assign yourself to a hospital birth.

No chance of bringing home someone else's baby.
No chance of having someone steal your baby while in the hospital.
No chance of having someone else nurse your baby.
No chance of having your baby being given formula when you want only breast milk.
No chance of being separated from your newborn.
No chance of exposing your newborn to a hospital born virus, or unknown bacterial infection.
No chance of exposing yourself to a hospital born virus, or unknown bacterial infection.
No chance of you receiving an episiotomy.
No chance of getting an infection in the episiotomy stitches.
No chance of ripping out the episiotomy stitches when having your first BM.
No chance of being confined to a bed during your labor.
No chance of being left alone during your labor, unless you want to be.
No chance of having your children excluded during this important time in your life.
No chance of getting an IV in your arm.
No chance of the nurse blowing the vain as she puts in the IV.
No chance of getting the wrong drug in your IV.
No chance of getting experimental/off label drugs during your labor.
No chance of getting a unknown/nasty care provider at the time of labor.
No chance of medical students or residents doing unnecessary procedures because they need the training.
No chance of getting an unwanted circumcision for your son.
No chance of getting an unwanted vaccination for your newborn.
No chance of getting an uncomfortable continuous fetal monitoring.
No chance of getting unwanted drugs during your labor.
No chance of laying in an uncomfortable bed.
No chance of laying flat on your back during the birth.
No chance of having your legs strapped down into stirrups.
No chance of having unbearable cramps in your legs because you cannot move them.
No chance of having the umbilical cord to your baby cut early.
No chance of enduring the noise of a typical hospital after the birth.
No chance of enduring unpopular or against your diet hospital food.
No chance of being cohered into a Cesarean.
No chance of having an anesthesia reaction, and the dangers that goes with it.
No chance of having your doctor cut your baby during a Cesarean.
No chance of having your doctor cut your intestines during a Cesarean.
No chance of having your doctor cut your bladder during a Cesarean.
No chance of getting an infection in the Cesarean incision.
No chance of having your doctor leaving something inside after a Cesarean.
No chance of having to endure Cesarean incision pain after the birth.
No chance of having your care provider or hospital refusing to do a VBAC.
No chance of having to get up in the middle of the night to go to the hospital.
No chance of having to endure a bumpy/uncomfortable ride in the car.
No chance of not making it to the hospital.
No chance of enduring a painful pelvic exam to determine "pelvic size".
No chance of hearing "I think that your baby is too big, pelvis too small, etc".
Your Doctor views birth as a potential disaster.
Your Doctor will do whatever he has to to maintain his licence/insurance-You are secondary.
Your Doctor will put limits on the length of your pregnancy.
Your Doctor will want to induce you, if you pass those dates.
Most inductions are failures if you are not close to your baby's REAL date.
Your Doctor is "banking" that your induction will be a failure.
Your Doctor has financial incentives to do MORE procedures.
Your Doctor likes to maintain DAYTIME obstetrics.
Your Doctor can make double the money for doing a Cesarean, and he can be done in 1 hour.
Your Doctor does not like late night births, he has office visits tomorrow.
Your Midwife views birth as a normal function of a women's body.
Your Midwife only attends normal births, that is her specialty.
Your Midwife will always do your prenatal care.
Your Midwife will listen to your needs and fears.
Your Midwife is available 24/7 to answer your questions.
Your Midwife will honor your birth plan.
Your Midwife doesn't do quicky office visits.
Your Midwife has no financial incentives to do extra procedures.
At home, you can labor in the position of your choice.
At home, you can labor and birth in your choice of clothes.
At home, you will not have an IV in your arm.
At home, you can go to the bathroom without asking someone.
At home, you can lay down or stand up without asking someone.
At home, you can eat or drink if you choose to.
At home, your young children can be with you, if you chose.
At home, you can make and control your own labor and birthing environment.
At home, your labor coach is the same familiar person that gave you prenatal care.
At home, the baby catcher can be anyone that you want.
At home, you can birth your baby in the position of your choice.
At home, you can birth your baby in a dark room if you choose to.
At home, you can have the people that YOU want at your birth.
At home, the baby's cord will not be cut until it stops pulsing.
At home, your baby will be left by your side after the birth.
At home, you can nurse your baby right after the birth.
At home, you will not be given "pit" to hasten the delivery of the placenta.
At home, your postpartum caregiver will be the same as before, your Midwife.

theses are only some of the reasons i have chosen a home birth. I have already experienced the hospital with the doctors and the nurses and know that it is a cold uncaring place to be for giving birth. now if i were ill the hospital would be the first place i would go. the hospital is ment for the ill not for a perfectly fine woman who is giving birth.

Don't let anyone tell you that home births are not safe, and that you have to subscribe to the medical model and put your pregnancy and birth in the hands of a doctor or a hospital. Don't believe that birth is not possible without drugs, surgeries, and IVs. With the right support, any healthy person can have a natural birth in the environment that suits them the most. You can take charge of your own care and determine what you want your birthing experience to be. I heard so many negative comments when people heard that I was having a home birth. But I put it all out of my mind, knowing that people had been laboring without hospitals for centuries, and continued to do so. And I am beyond pleased with the decision i have made.

Purpose and Value of Labor Support

By:Kiri-Te Aroha Wihongi Croxford

For thousands of years women have been delivering their babies with the support of many qualified people. Doctors, midwives, doulas, healers, family, or friends have assisted in grass huts,sterile hospitals and everywhere in between. Women embarking on the journey of motherhood have always found solace and comfort in having a support person to lean on. Not that the mother wouldn't instinctively know how to birth her child on her own, but having support during one of her most empowering, and life changing journeys is just what she craves and needs.

In our increasingly medicalized society mothers sometimes seem to be forgotten in the rush. Many times women are not getting all their question answered or are left feeling a lack of support from their OB/GYN or midwife who seem to be to busy to sit and simply chat about everyday life things going on with the mother to be. The value of having a qualified labor support or doula has great benefits for both the mother and her partner/father. Some specific benefits include: Someone to listen to fears, concerns, and expectations. A doula can also inspire and give confidence to the mother. Having labor support can help the mother to simply relax knowing that there is someone there with her that has been there before and has gone through what she is about to, sometimes just knowing this can reduce stress for both the mother and her partner. For the partner it may give them confidence knowing that there is help for them if they need it and that the doula will be with them constantly throughout their journey.

The most important thing the doula should remember is that the birth is not hers, it is the mothers. The doula is simply helping to support the mother and family to make their birth experience one that is theirs alone and no one else's. Helping to support and remind the mother along the way of her initial wishes for her birth.

The purpose of having a doula support present at birth is to provide complete physical and emotional support to a women in labor. Having a doula present at birth that has no other agenda except for helping, supporting, encouraging, loving, informing, and serving the mother and partner will allow her to become one with birth and make it her own. By helping to return the birth experience back to the mother simply by supporting her. We are also helping her to hold onto her birth and the story that it created. She will take her story and relay it others who may not have been supported during their births. They will gain hope for a more natural experience by searching for the support they did not have with their previous births.

According to the DONA International Position Papers, the purpose behind having a doula that provides labor support can also have other benefits, such as: Greater satisfaction with the birth outcome, improved bonding between mother and baby, decreased incidence of birth complications, drastically lower intervention rates for mothers who have no other support besides the doula, and pressure is greatly decreased for the partner/father.

Qualified support gives laboring women comfort and peace of mind. Knowing that no matterwhat happens during her birth, she has taken steps to give herself the best chance of avoiding unwanted interventions/intrusions on her and her baby.

Specific responsibilities of a doula include non clinical support, such as: Practical help, support, and advice for the laboring mother and family. Doulas do not perform medical tasks such as vaginal exams, or administering medications. Doulas do provide continuity of support, meaning the doula is present from start to finish of labor and delivery. This helps give the expectant family peace of mind throughout the process, this is important in making the birth memorable for all involved. Finally doulas provide advocacy for the mother and the mothers wishes. Advocacy of a doula can be found in the form of gentile reminders to the mother of her prior wishes for her labor and delivery, encouraging the mother and partner to ask questions of the medical staff when they feel they need to know more, helping the mother to express her concerns, and helping to provide a smooth transition if birth plans must be changed due to medical circumstance. Advocacy of a doula does not include the doula speaking for the mother and her family.

The value of a doula is also achieved through the knowledge that they bring to a birth.Knowledge is not only brought to the birth, but is also passed along to the family being supported. This kind of knowledge can be used for years to come. Many women going into motherhood do not consider what is going to happen at their birth. They go into birth relying on what they have heard or seen through the media. These women will approach birth and labor in such a manner that it may effect their ability to birth the way that their body was made to. They think of their body as a broken machine. Women who have proper support from a doula have found a wonderful source for information regarding birth and labor.

Proper birth support can also bridge a gap between the medical doctor or midwife. Doulas can help the expecting family understand some of the medical terms used in the delivery room. Many mothers feel left out of the loop. They are confused by medical terminology and feel like they are just a small voice in the background. When a doula empowers the mother by teaching her even small medical phrases, she can then go into a conversation with her doctor without feeling silly or uneducated. Her doctor should likely see her as someone who is well educated and interested in the impending birth. Teaching small things like this to mothers can help with confusion between all of the medical staff. It takes up time for medical staff to stop and explain everything to the many mothers that they care for. Having a doula that is knowledgeable will help the mother feel at ease, confident, and in control of her birth.

If all women could be supported through this precious time during their life, they would quickly learn that they were created to birth their baby. They would learn that their bodies are not lemons and that they have the power to create a new positive view of child birth. They will also gain trust with who they have chosen to attend their birth. They will learn to listen to their inner voice that can help direct the need for birth interventions that may be necessary.

In conclusion, I find that it is difficult to say there is one single purpose or valueplaced on support for women in labor or child birth. If I had to say what the one purpose of laborsupport is it would be that; we humans seek guidance and reassurance in many different situations. Even when we are confident in our ability to succeed. If I had to say what the onevalue of labor support is it would be that the support of a doula is invaluable. Support makes the journey that much more enjoyable by gaining new friendships, education, and perspective. The connection made between a mother and her labor support is unlike any other.

Why we choose to do what we do.

Keith and I decided before I was even pregnant that our next birth would take place at home.
At first I could feel that Keith was not 100% convinced that it was even possible. I would read articles and research to back up what I knew was the only way for me to birth my next child. I would pass all the information on to Keith and he would read it with scepticism in the sound of his voice when we would talk about it. Finally we scheduled a appointment with a local home birth midwife and all of Keith's insecurities about it disappeared. She was able to show us the equipment that she brings to a birth, the medications, the herbs, and most importantly her knowledge.


Keith was not present at my first child's birth as we didn't meet till after, so I had to fill him in on how things work in a hospital:

First I was admitted 11 days before my due date because I supposedly had high blood pressure (I was never told what my BP was just told it was high). Then they started the induction process, cervadil, pitocin, rupture membranes (break water), magnesium sulfate (BP medication). After all the medication was administered I began contracting. These medicated contractions are much stronger and much more intense than natural contractions. I was never given the choice to have or not have pain meds the nurse just said it was required with an induced pregnancy (I found out this is not true years later when reading a birth story). The epidural was given and I was put on a timer and told that I only have so much time to get the baby out or they would have to cut him out. I thankfully was able to have a vaginal birth 24 hours later. My baby boy was greeted with bright lights and many strangers with masks staring at him. He was immediately cut from his cord and whisked away. The medication I was on for High BP made it hard for him to breathe so he was admitted to NICU. I did not see him for 24 hours. During his time in NICU he was administered the Hep B vaccine, Vitamin K, the eye goo medication, and had his foreskin removed. All of these things were done with my consent.
Once home from the hospital I just knew that my son was going to be a challenge. He acted differently from other newborns I had known. I did not feel a bond with him and I had post partum depression. Keith and I therefore decided before I was even pregnant that our next birth would take place at home.

At first I could feel that Keith was not 100% convinced that it was even possible. I would read articles and research to back up what I knew was the only way for me to birth my next child. I would pass all the information on to Keith and he would read it, but he sounded sceptical when we would talk about it. Finally we scheduled a appointment with a local home birth midwife. She showed us the equipment that she brings to a birth, the medications, the herbs, and most importantly her knowledge. All of Keith's insecurities about it disappeared.
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As my pregnancy progressed and Keith got used to the idea of having/birthing a baby at home we started asking, researching, and thinking about everything that had to do with parenting, doctors, and medication. When we asked our midwife if she was the one that would administer the Hep B vaccine and Vitamin K shot at birth, she told us that it was not mandatory and that we had to decide if we wanted to give it or not. This came kind of out of nowhere and hit us like a ton of bricks! What???? We were confused. I mean, why was it up to us to figure out if we wanted to get the shots or not? Giving vaccines is just something that all parents do, right? But now that we knew better we were totally game to figure this out and began a huge journey of what would become the most life-changing and important decision we would ever make!

The things we found out about the history and making of vaccines were MIND BLOWING! Some things were just common sense and I don't know why I didn't question it before, while others were downright scary to find out. I came to realize that one shouldn’t just blindly go into anything. Whether good or bad, one must research both sides of the issue and decide for oneself what makes the most sense. For us it made total sense to say “NO!” to any more injections!

I went through a lot making this decision and a lot of criticism from family, but I just knew it wasn’t right to continue injecting poison into the people that matter the most to me. Why did I not know that it was not mandatory? Why was I made to feel that our bodies are inadequate to perform normal natural tasks? It wasn’t just the vaccines I was thinking about, but the options I had for birthing my baby as well. I now felt like a horrible mother for just having sat around with blinders and leaving medical decisions up to "others," figuring that people with medical degrees must know more than I do, but I was finally ready and confident that we made the right choice for our older son and for the baby that was soon to be born.

The day I went into labour, my midwife and her assistants came to the house. I was not in the mood to share my pain with others and they could sense that from the way I was acting. They let Keith and I alone for the duration of the entire labour and only came in when we asked them to. Once I knew it was time, my midwife suggested a few positions and before I knew it, my baby was born. She was put directly on my belly, her cord was left intact until it stopped pulsating and the placenta was birthed. My baby also stayed with me the entire time. There was no poking or prodding from nurses or doctors, my baby was only touched if they asked my permission. It was my baby and my house and my midwife treated us that way, she put me in control and would only intervene if her medical knowledge was needed.

After everything was back to normal and we were getting to know our baby, it was not long before we realised that things were not quite right with our older son. We were able to see many many differences in the 2 children. Our new baby girl was calm, happy, very alert, and easy going. My older son was and still is not any of these things. He is excessively loud, disobedient, and unable to cope with stressful situations. We didn't think much about it at first, just telling ourselves that no person is like another and that all kids have their own quirks, and that things would be fine and he would grow our of it.

But as the children have got older (now 8 and 3 yrs), we still see many big differences in them. My son has since started school and is in speech therapy and special ed. He still has outbursts in class and at home, he has a hard time defining the difference between right and wrong, he is excessively loud, excessively rough with animals and toys, and much more....We are seeing a naturopathic doctor who has helped us determine that this is something much more than just a behavioural issue. We have mentioned ADHD but the doctor is hesitant to give him that label. We have begun supplementing him with non pharmaceutical medications and have put him on a gluten free diet. These things have helped but we still have a long way to go.

To sum it all up and to tell you what I believe now with hindsight to be right is that not only vaccines, but also the birth that was provided to him damaged my son. Our bonding as mother and son was screwed from the beginning. I now realise that didn’t use my brain to figure things out for myself and for my child, but let my fear and misinformation blind me. Home birth saved me, my midwife saved me, I saved myself and now I can help save my family. We no longer take anything at face value, even from educated degreed doctors. Instead, we now we read, we question, we trust our instincts and only make educated decisions. It’s been a difficult but interesting and rewarding journey of discovery and there is no turning back!

The birth of a sweet baby boy.

This story is written by me, but is not about my birth. It is the birth of a momma and baby that are very close to me. The mother gave me permission to share her story for the benefit of others. Some information is foggy from her memory and at some points there may be information left out. I put it into words as best I could from her account.
Side note this was the mothers 5 child birth that took place in 1980.



Erin had 4 previous labours and deliveries, so being pregnant a 5th time didn't phase her at all. For the most part this pregnancy didn't differ much from the others. The only real difference was her age, Erin was in her 20's with her other babies and was now 39.

Things seemed fine up until her 40 week check up. Erin had never gone past 38 weeks without going into labor on her own. She talked with the doctors about how she was feeling strange that she had not gone into labor yet. The doctors said there was nothing at all to worry about and just give it time. They also never seemed worried that the baby was still in a transverse position (since 36 weeks).

41 weeks came and went and still no labor.

42 weeks came and Erin started to bleed, it was a Sunday and she said she would just wait till Monday to go in since there were no other signs of labor.

On Monday morning 9am she went into the hospital alone. The nurse had her sit on a pad to evaluate how much blood she was loosing. Erin was getting worried and told them "things didn't feel right". The nurse just blew her off, since there was no other signs of labor (no dilation, no contraction pains, no nothing).
Erin sat on that pad for what she says felt like forever. No one ever came to check on her. 4 hours later the nurse came back and saw the amount of blood and then decided to check the heart rate of the baby. That is when things went from bad to worse. The nurse looked at Erin and said, "THIS BABY IS IN TROUBLE".
They started calling all the doctors and found one that was able to make it, but it still took an hour.

Erin waited and waited, knowing that things were bad for her baby and not able to do anything about it.

Once the doctor arrived he checked her progress and found the baby still in a transverse position and no dilation. From what Erin recalls the doctor reached in and manually turned the baby to a head down position. Once head down she began to push while lying on her back. Not much progress was made so an episiotomy was given and forceps were used to forcibly pull the baby out. As soon as the baby was out the nurses and doctor knew that things were bad. The birth team told Erin the baby had to go to NICU and she would not be able to see or hold her baby for quite a while. They also told her they baby had a high chance of not pulling through and making it at all.

Erin's baby boy was born at 3pm and she didn't get so see him till 6 hours later. When she first saw him he was hooked up with tubes, wires, and needles. She was unable to hold him or feed him.

That night Erin's doctor returned to check up on her. He asked her if she was ready for more medication. Erin responded with, "WHAT MEDICATION?" The doctor check the chart and found she had not been given any or offered any medication at all since she had checked in that morning. She says the doctor looked confused/amazed/dumbfounded.... He really couldn't believe she endured all that without medication. As the doctor was finishing his check up Erin looked the doctor in the eye and said "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY BABY?" The doctor had no answer and turned his back and walked out. That was the last time Erin ever saw that doctor.

2 days later the nurse brought the baby to Erin's room. He was still hooked up to machines and still visibly struggling. The nurse never asked if Erin wanted to hold her baby so Erin had to tell the nurse she wanted her baby. The nurse seemed agitated to have to deal with the tubes and wires that were hooked up to the baby. Erin didn't care, all she cared about was that she was holding her baby for the first time. Once she had her baby she looked at him, talked to him, stroked his cheek. He lie there perfect with 10 fingers and 10 toes. He breathed in, he breathed out. Erin took it all in just listening to his breath. He breathed in, he breathed out and that was his last. He never took another breath.



The following are Erin's feelings about what happened 30 years ago.

" My story was the beginning of this downward spiral. The spiral in which we are at the bottom of now. Not enough interventions were used for my situation, when they should have been. Cases like mine is what has caused the over use and CYA use of intervention in obstetrics today. Doctors just haven't figured out when to use and when not to use intervention, so they have created a one size fits all birth plan. They forget that each mother's body is different and each baby is different. Most importantly they have forgotten that birth is nature taking it's course and they are just assisting. When nature takes a turn for the worst that is when doctors need to recognize and say "this is what I have trained for." Another thing they have forgotten is that they are the employee of the mother-to-be and they need to take in account the intuition a mother is feeling within herself and for her baby."