Bradley Reborn

Alrighty.....I am SO EXCITED to share about the updating of Bradley!

As you may know, I taught Bradley many years ago. I left because of it's outdated materials and general lack of concern for working with OB's and CNMs.

Well, NO MORE. That has all changed with Bradley Reborn!!! Take a look at their blog....with their new website just days away from being launched!!! On this link below you can see some of their new materials, workbook, etc. as well as participate in the "Hot Topic" discussions for the day.

I will be telling you all more about Bradley Reborn in the days to come!!! :) Big news on the home-front!!!

WWW.BRADLEYREBORN.COM



ENJOY!!!

Vaginal Birth After 3 C-sections

I met John and Christy about 4 and a half years ago. Their family lived across the street and our kids were instant friends. We both homeschool our kids, eat healthy, love the Lord and love being with our family! Our family has been blessed by these dear friends.

Christy had her first baby by cesarean section, after she "failed to progress" in labor. Her second baby, an attempted VBAC, was induced and although Christy labored to 9 cm, she was given another cesarean. She was also only given a single-layer stitch in her uterus, thus complicating any hope of the next baby being a vaginal birth after c-section.
With her third baby, Christy could not find a supportive attendant for her to VBAC. She had a repeat cesarean section.

6 years after her third child was born, Christy was thrilled to be expecting another child! The Lord was blessing their family with another precious life.

One could say that Christy's VBAC research spanned the course of 10+ years. She was well versed on VBACs and planned to seek out a supportive OBGYN as well as a midwife for this birth. It took a while to interview, scratch off the list and re-interview potential doctors and midwives; but Christy persisted and finally found an OBGYN who believed she could VBAC safely...AND a homebirth midwife with VBAMC experience. Things were coming together!
Despite all the "your going to die..." and "your baby will die..." encouraging words, John and Christy kept their faith. God made her body to birth this baby. She can do it...safely. Their continuing research and education lasted throughout the pregnancy and even into labor. They based their decision on solid facts instead of fear and liability concerns.

I have included many photos from the pregnancy and birth. Some of the pictures I took and some were taken by my cousin Dawn, a fabulous photographer. (i.e. All the really good ones she took!)
Please read the comments from Christy's perspective directly after all the pictures.


The home visit!!!


My two littles loved feeling the baby move.




All the kids wanted to hear the baby's heartbeat.





One of the midwives feeling the baby's position.




John givin Christy some LOVE :)



The day before her due date, Christy started labor.



Early labor on day 1.




A quick family photo in between contractions!!!







The last few hours with a baby belly.






YES. We are all playing Wii :)
What better way to help labor along?!


After a few hours of Wii and hanging out, I went home. Things were slowing down and I was hoping John and Christy could get some sleep.



Day 2, after contractions through the night. They would pick up in time and intensity for a few hours and then slow back down again. Christy (well, ALL of us) ate quite well during labor, thanks to her fabulous mother-in-law who was in the kitchen cooking delicious, authentic Chinese food for days on end!





The bedroom ready for a birth. Beautiful.




Maddie helping get the pool ready.





Things are beginning to get more intense.






Between these two pictures, two and a half days passed. Contractions continued during the night, very intense, and spaced out during the daytime hours.


Day 5 of a start and stop labor.






























The first internal exam was on day 5. It revealed a very thin cervix but only about 2cm dilation. There was scar tissue that prevented the cervix from opening. The midwife massaged the tissue and Christy immediately went to 5 cm.





So we turned on some 70s party music ("Dancing Queen") and climbed/danced up and down the stairs.






Christy was AWESOME.




The contractions got very strong and one on top of the other. YEAH.



The midwife checked the cervix again and found that it was still having trouble getting past that scar tissue. After some more massage, Christy hit 7 and then 8cm...and transition.



Ah. The water. Perfect for times such as these.

















After several hours in the pool, the midwife checked the cervix again. It had gone down to 5cm. Back on the birth stool for more massage and cervix holding. The contractions during these hours were very long and strong, and Christy was relaxing well.










Hard labor.


Several more hours past. The midwife had Christy begin pushing when her cervix was complete. She was on the birthstool, then in the pool for about 2+hours pushing with all her might.



The midwife had Christy get back on the stool to check her progress. Her cervix had again gone back down to 7 cm.

At this point, Christy had been up laboring for almost 6 days. Although well nourished, she was exhausted. Transition was coming yet again (this would be her THIRD transition during the birth). It was suggested she go into the hospital to her OB and get an epidural. Then she could sleep before having to push again. After some deliberation, this was decided as the plan of action needed. I went with her and John to the hospital, as did the assistant midwife.

A heart wrenching choice to make, even in such circumstances. She had gone WAY beyond the call of duty and her body needed some relief. Pain in labor is one thing, but the suffering of a complicated birth is another


At the hospital we got the BEST nurse. She was so excited for Christy and her VBA3C! The nurse helped get fluids in ASAP so Christy could get an epidural. I must say, she had the best epi I have ever seen. She could move around and feel pressure, but no pain.
Christy's doctor was out of town and the doctor on call was an older gentleman who "never allows VBACs"...he sat at the monitor continuously, giving us such jewels as, "I have to watch every contraction because your uterus could blow at any moment and someone will die". Thankfully, John and Christy are well educated enough to blow off such comments and focus on the task at hand. To the doctors credit, he did "allow" Christy to labor for a while instead of immediately going to the OR. He was far out of his comfort zone.


Transition #3. Back to 91/2 cm! This was right before the epidural.



Aaahhh. Such sweet relief! Just what she needed!

Things went fast from this moment on. Christy was fully dilated and pushing. She could push so well with her contractions and we could see her baby's head!!! The awesome nurse was cheering her on as she pushed with all her might.
She pushed this way for about 20-25 minutes.
At this point the OB came back in the room and checked her cervix. He said she has made zero progress...the baby has not moved down. He said he would give her a few minutes, go get the forceps, and try and get this baby out.
Otherwise, to the OR she will go.
Christy pushed and PUSHED. She was strong and stoic, determined to have this baby vaginally. The baby had moved down to a +1 station!
Dr. Wonderful (I use extreme dripping sarcasm here) walks in with the forceps. He says that this is the last chance...if he cannot get the baby out with forceps, the baby is not coming out. Although not in the birth plan, a vaginal forceps birth is better than a c-section; so John and Christy agree.
The doctor tries to deliver the baby, to no avail.
He takes the forceps out and says that it is time to go to the OR. Nurses that had been in the front of the room flood in to prep Christy. There was little time to digest this turn of events. Just moments before, Christy was being told we could see her baby's head.


They left through the big double doors, headed to the OR for her 4th cesarean. I retreated to the waiting room to process.



Beckett Daniel. A beautiful, healthy baby boy!!!






Christy in recovery, meeting her precious baby boy that she worked so hard for!





John holding Beckett.
I'm thinking he wants Mama :)


Several weeks later, Dawn came over to do some newborn/family pictures:



The girls!












One happy family!!!






Big sis.






Welcome, Baby Beckett.


There is just so much to emotionally and psychologically process after this birth. Here it is, 5 months later, and I still have so many questions, thoughts, and feelings.

What if's abound.

This I know:
Christy made an unpopular choice, but a brave and educated one. She stood for her beliefs and her choices in the face of adversity. She is one of the strongest women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and it was an honor to attend her birth. She proved the safety of attempting a vaginal birth after multiple cesareans. After 6 days her uterus was still strong and the baby was perfect.
Being "allowed" a trial of labor after multiple cesareans should be commonplace in our hospitals and homes.


The birth from Christy's perspective.....

“When I look back on my most recent birth experience, I have a lot of mixed emotion. I was desperate to be given the chance to VBAC after three previous cesareans, all of which I was convinced were unnecessary. After the first unnecessary section, a failed VBAC, and then a forced scheduled section, I was determined to be given an opportunity to try again. Unfortunately, I was deemed crazy by the medical community, and ironically, “untouchable” by the homebirth community, based on laws in my state dictating HBACs. Miraculously, my prenatal midwife finally agreed to attend my birth at home. You cannot imagine how thrilled I was to be given an opportunity I had been told was virtually impossible. My hope skyrocketed, and I began dreaming of the wonderful, peaceful birth I would have in my birthpool in my own bedroom. I planned down to the last detail and couldn’t wait for labor to begin.

I will not go into detail about my labor, which was more grueling than I ever imagined (all SIX days of it). To my great disappointment, after so many days of labor, more than 24 hours of which were very intense, I was ultimately transported to the hospital at the suggestion of my midwives. I was incredibly torn about this decision, as it signaled utter defeat and failure in my mind. I was given the chance to labor a bit more in the hospital, pushing for an hour or two (thanks to an angel of a nurse, and despite fierce protestation by the on-call OB), but ultimately gave birth by the cesarean I so desperately wanted to avoid.

My primary struggle is whether or not this fourth cesarean was necessary, and what would have happened had I stayed at home. It brings up questions all over again about the necessity of the first three. While my dear friend (and doula) along with both midwives assure me the decision to transport was the right one, I remain unsure in my own heart. I fear I will always wonder if I gave up, or was once again robbed by the hospital of my dream to deliver a baby vaginally. I still feel pain when I hear stories about other women having successful homebirths. The bottom line, however, is this: Would I trade my labor experience if I had known the outcome ahead of time? Not a chance! Regardless of the outcome and my ensuing struggle, I am so thankful I was given another chance to try.

My message to any woman wondering if she should try to VBAC or HBAC is a resounding YES! I realized from the beginning that I was never guaranteed the outcome I wanted. I am just grateful I had the experience and would encourage anyone else to fight for their right to labor the way they want. Despite the fear tactics you will undoubtedly encounter, and potential overwhelming “odds” against finding a practitioner willing to let you have this experience, don’t give up! It was worth every minute of pain and I would do it all again. “

Revisiting the Past

I know this will opinion will be opposed by many of my dear friends, but I feel the need to write anyway. It has been weighing on my mind for some time now; and after a frank discussion with my older kids it rekindled the fire within me.

A year or so ago we learned about slavery. The boys were VERY upset and even spend many nights crying for those who were enslaved. They could not understand WHY. "WHY Mom?" Nothing I could say made sense to them (of course). I told them that 'back then' people had different views of other people and cared more about their own comfort and profit than another person's life.

Fast forward till a few weeks ago. We were in the car and the kids heard a commercial on the radio that mentioned the word "abortion". Having never heard it before they began to question. I tentatively answered them with vague definitions until my 2nd, always the bold speaker, asked me why I was not telling them the whole story. I did relent and go into further detail (still holding back a great deal) explaining what it was and why a mom would do it. Kell was shocked. SHOCKED. He asked if these doctors were all in prison. "No sweetheart. They are not. The government says it is legal and okay to abort living babies." Well. That opened the floodgate. Many questions and discussions later my children posed this question:

"What is the difference between slavery long ago and killing a baby"?

I had never thought of these two subjects as being relevant to one another. As I mulled over the answer it seemed to fall into place. The arguments for slavery back in the day are the same arguments we hear for the right to abort a child. One could use the term "slave" or "abortion" interchangeably in the following sentences:

Those who appose slavery/abortion do not have to participate. Only those who feel morally comfortable with their choice should own slaves/have an abortion.

Freeing slaves/having an unwanted child would flood society with social problems. A slave would not know what to do with him/herself and would put undue pressure on society as a whole to care for them. Same with those unwanted babies. They would rather be aborted than to possibly face difficult lives just like a slave feels "safer" being a slave.


Black people are not quite human. Unborn babies are not quite human. (This being the crutch of both issues it is a heinous statement and yet one that is repeated about unborn babies every single day (as it was about slaves) in order to make the crime "okay".)

Economically it is great to have slaves. Economically it is okay to abort and many times the wisest choice.





My kids brought out this comparison and I thought about it and researched it to be able to articulate the glaring similarities. Apparently these things have been debated before; I just had not seen/heard it until my logical, justice searching children mentioned them. They saw the same reasons given for slavery apply to having an abortion.


Will our grandchildren's grandchildren one day be discussing the fallacies of our past and be as horrified of abortion as we are of slavery? Will they question WHY would anyone allow such treatment of another human being simply for their own gain?
I think they will.
I know they will.

the birth of Stella Claire 7 lbs. 9 ounces

*****UPDATE******
You can watch the professional slideshow of this birth, made by my cousin Dawn by clicking HERE.
Below I tell the story and give a few pictures as well, but none like hers!!!



Ohhhh.....this was just the sweetest birth!

I met Megan several years ago through my cousin Dawn. One of the first things she said to me was, "You are that crazy girl who births at home, aren't you?!"
Guilty as charged.
I liked Megan from that first moment! She speaks her mind, is so in touch with herself and her honesty is SO refreshing. I naturally invited her to see "Business of Being Born" a few years back when it was released, and she actually agreed to go (even knowing I was trying to indoctrinate her! Brave chick!) That movie began to change the way she viewed birth.

Fast forward a few years.....she is expecting a third daughter! We talked throughout the pregnancy and she was toying with the idea of homebirth, but still not sure it was right for her. Around 33 weeks of pregnancy she and Rick decided to take the plunge into the world of homebirth, waterbirth and midwives! Scary....and yet exciting.
She asked me to be her doula and I felt so honored to be a part of this birth.

"Due date".....September 27th. It came and it went.

A week past.

Two weeks past.

Two and a half weeks past.

Megan was beginning to question it all. WHY was this happening? Through her soul searching she found the strength to trust her body and her baby and allow it to happen when/how it was supposed to happen. Each day she found new courage to continue on this path. She was amazing.

At 17 days "post dates" I got the call.....she was hesitant to say it, but she thought things were beginning to happen! I arrived around 9 pm on Wednesday, October 14th to a laboring Megan. Now, she was not so sure it was labor; I think she was in such denial because she was "going to be pregnant forever"!!! We walked around and chatted as her contractions came and went. She dealt with them so well it was hard to tell when they started and stopped!
Laura, the midwife arrived. She was an instant blessing to the house with her wit, knowledge and encouragement.
Megan's labor picked up in intensity with every contraction. We could see that she was well on her way to birth...but she was still not quite so sure. Denial can be a great thing in labor!

Meg would have a very strong contraction and immediately "fall to the floor" in her words. Wherever she happened to be standing when the contraction began she would go to the floor. She commented that it was nice being in your own home and able to do this. A hospital floor would never be so comforting...nor would the idea even cross her mind to lay down there! Rick was there for her every step of the way; encouraging her, loving her and doing some great head/feet massages!

Laura and I also noticed that Megan would have a very strong contraction (even in transition) and then end it with a little "giggle". WHAT? We asked why she would goggle like this being in "pain"......she said, "Because I just cannot believe it is happening and I am doing it"!!! So great!

Megan moved to the pool around transition and remained there until Stella was born. Meg was able to catch her own baby with her own hands and bring her to her chest. Powerful! This is one amazing family that I was privileged to work with!

The baby exam revealed that Stella was NOT 18 days "past due" at all.
On the contrary.
They said the latest gestational age she could be was 39 weeks and 1 day. So what would have happened if Megan had been induced by her OB two and a half weeks ago? Would her body have "worked" or would she have "had" to have a c-section? (if a moms body is not ready, it will not give birth).
Would Stella have had trouble breathing since she would have been 36 1/2 weeks along instead of full term? Would an NICU stay have occurred?
Thankfully the midwives were patient and carefully watched Megan and her baby (through several ultrasounds) and noted that everything looked perfectly normal. They waited until Stella was ready; not just when they were ready.



The midwife has just arrived and is listening to the baby. Megan is in denial that labor has really begun...little did she know that less than 3 hours later she would be holding her daughter!







Active labor






A nice foot massage from the Hubster while chatting with the midwives.







Rick and Megan, relaxing during active labor.






As the mother of 5 sons I just HAD to take pictures of the girlie hats!!! Adorable!!!






The birthing pool set up in Meg's bedroom.






Ahhh.....the pool. Midwives listening to baby and mom relaxing...aaahhhh.







The joys of transition.






Rick was SO awesome during the birth. He supported Megan every minute, even during the hard times.








Sleeping in between pushes.....




This Mama caught her own daughter as she was born!






Falling in love with Stella.




No caption needed....