Comments on: Empowerment Through Natural Labor: My Firstborn's Birth Story

By: Give A Midwife Some Love: 2-Minute Activism

Give A Midwife Some Love: 2-Minute Activism — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:06:28 +0000

[...] for updates on this topic. Having a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) could help you have an empowering birth experience. No, they won’t make your birth beautiful. But most CPMs believe in the ability of [...]

By: Labor Drugs Hinder Breastfeeding Efforts : Eco Child’s Play

Labor Drugs Hinder Breastfeeding Efforts : Eco Child’s Play — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:41:57 +0000

[...] of us who believe in natural processes, like breastfeeding and childbirth without medical interventions, won’t be surprised to hear this [...]

By: Can the Financial Crisis Help Lower the C-Section Rate? : Eco Child’s Play

Can the Financial Crisis Help Lower the C-Section Rate? : Eco Child’s Play — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:15:04 +0000

[...] usually take longer to recover from than vaginal birth and generally require more post-op medications. Also, there is new evidence that a VBAC is safer [...]

By: VBAC? How About On the Interstate?! : Eco Child’s Play

VBAC? How About On the Interstate?! : Eco Child’s Play — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:38:40 +0000

[...] 3 of the Schultes’ daughters were born by cesarean. This time, to ensure they’d get the natural birth they wanted, the couple worked with two doulas, a midwife, and a physician throughout the [...]

By: 1001 petals

1001 petals — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:24:05 +0000

Cate,

You didn’t change the way I feel about my birth at all.

I don’t think you understand what I was trying to say.

Some women scream not cause they’re crazy or cause they think it will help. .. they scream cause it is a natural response to pain.

–
Like I said, I experienced maternal-fetal ejection reflex so I didn’t actually push while screaming. . .just at the very end as she was coming out I had to push twice to help my body and her and that was it. MER is what often happens in safe and peaceful homebirths. Sure mine hurt, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t ideal compared to being cut open, put on meds, etc.

By: Cate Nelson

Cate Nelson — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:31:28 +0000

1001 petals–
I’m sorry if I made you feel a certain way about your birth. I have heard–firsthand!–women screaming AND moaning to get that baby out. It always made me feel like the noises I made when I used to weightlift as a hs b-ball player. I didn’t mean to! But somehow, it helped.
Really, my reference of “crazy screaming woman” was to any TV sitcom (and there were and are many!) where the woman is busier cussing out her husband instead of getting that baby out! As though yelling to a man, “This is all your fault!” is productive. Sure, it just may be his fault, but let’s finish the task at hand, shall we?

Whatever we do to get those babies out is natural, really. I was on all fours for my second because my body told me to! (And–Yay!–only pushed for 10 minutes!)

By: 1001 petals

1001 petals — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:54:20 +0000

This is a lovely story. I’m happy for you — every mother deserves a peaceful birth like this.

The one part that made me wince was, “screaming like the crazy women.. .”

I had a completely natural home birth myself. I couldn’t say how long it was as my contractions started a few weeks before and were non-stop starting 2 days before the actual delivery. I didn’t have to forcefully push till the end as I experienced maternal-fetal ejection reflex, that was how secure and good the birth experience was. Yet despite months of training, after the first 11 hrs of hard contractions, I screamed like a “crazy” woman. All the deep breathing, visualization, and physical preparation could not void the pain — it was more the length of pain, not the intensity. Did you feel so much pain that you felt yourself passing out, eyes closing, going under, only to wake up screaming without any control with the next sudden contraction? That’s how I was for the last few hours.

I don’t think it was crazy at all, just a natural response to pain.

By: Winston Riley

Winston Riley — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:23:40 +0000

I came to read about Jennifer Lance, having found her story thru Green Options. This is the first story I’ve read here, and at this point, becoming so emotionally involved in yours, I wonder if I’ll every get to reading more about Jennifer. This was just yesterday! My gosh, I’m practically a Godfather!

I’ve written enough now that those tears which were so near to busting out, have gone back in like my “innie” of a belly button. But I couldn’t resist at least saying what a pleasure it was to experience the magic of your story and your son and the journey which lead up to it. I hope you’ll continue to write. It was very moving. Blessings, Winston

By: Jennifer Lance

Jennifer Lance — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:07:56 +0000

He is sooo cute! All these July babies. My kids’ birthdays are this week too!

By: Cate Nelson

Cate Nelson — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:02:06 +0000

Thanks to you all for sharing in it with me!
The other night, I told him his birth story. Of course, it was edited; he’s only 4! But he was intrigued and genuinely fascinated (as only a kid can be). It made me feel closer to him and to what were were together during our single parenthood years.
But of course, we never did it alone. I wouldn’t be half the parent I am (or at least have the tidbit of sanity I do) without all the people in my life. Including you, Erin! We miss you!

(Jamie…I didn’t know our children were the same age; that we went through that at about the same time. Happy birthday to her, too, belatedly!)