All Things Birth Choices

I've breastfed all of my children.  Not for a terribly long time but I average about 10 months.  Some a little longer; some a little shorter.

Here's the link for the World Breastfeeding Week.

I believe that all babies should be breastfed; that God created breastmilk for babies and therefore that food would be the best for the baby.  However, I am not such a stickler to think that formula (or something else; not sure what other options are out there at this point) can't give baby the nutrients that the baby needs too.

I am a homebirthing mom.  I have had 4 of my six children at home; of the two born in hospital one was with midwives and the other was a c-section due to a breech position.  (You can read all but one of my birth stories; just click on the tab above called Our Birth Stories.)  I am a great advocate of couples being able to birth in the way that suits them best.  So when I read this story about a family in Essex County that had a baby removed from their home over the refusal of a c-section I was appalled.  I read the comments, including some of those who commented after I first read the blog post and then went searching for this "Rights of a Pregnant Patient" bill.  I'd heard of it before but never really paid much attention, being that I wasn't pregnant at the time or for whatever reason.  I found a copy of THE PREGNANT PATIENT'S BILL OFRIGHTS and thought I'd share it here.

• itching
• dark urine
• jaundice
• fatigue
• premature labor
  

J and I have been supported and loved by the same midwife for 5 of our 6 pregnancies. We love her to pieces!

I remember when she first handed me this list with K's pregnancy. I was sooooo overwhelmed. Why would I need all of this stuff, just to deliver a baby and how was I going to pay for it? What is all this stuff anyway??? Well, now the list is not so daunting. I'm gonna post it here and explain what and why each item is suggested or needed.

Supplies For A Home Birth
Things To Purchase

• at least 12 disposable incontinence under pads (22 in by 30 in) - These are the blue plastic-y things they put under you in the hospital, although sometimes the hospital ones are washable. I've had both.
  
• maxi pads (overnight) or toddle size disposable diapers for mother for first couple of days postpartum. Do not buy Always brand maxi-pads. - Always brand irritates the skin that is already tender from the birth. She said Kotex was a good brand. These are huge and cover from front waist to back waist!!! You won't want to wear them more than the first couple of days!
  
• thermometer
• fresh ginger root - this is for a hot poultice. She uses the crock pot, listed below to warm water and the root together. Then as the head is crowning she applies wash clothes dipped in this and I have never torn!!!
  
• Gatorade (at least 2 liters) - Gotta keep everyone hydrated!!
  
• K-Y Jelly (small tube, unopened) - to listen to the heartbeat of the baby as contractions hit and such
  
• 1 bottle hydrogen peroxide - disinfecting things??? lol
  

• 3 old, large bath towels (for baby, any color) - for clean up after birth.
  
• 3 old double size sheets for underpads; folded separately: 36" by 36" finished size (for mother, light color) - These are much nicer to lay on than the plastic. We actually made ours a little different. We took those blankets that are kinda rough and yet fuzzy cut to 36 by 36 doubled and covered with a white sheet. We sewed around the edges. They are great for more than just after the birth; we've used them for night potty training, for sickies, for "the time of the month", etc. They protect the matress quite well.
  
• 3-4 hand towels (for midwife)
• plenty of old wash clothes; or several extra hand towels or old diapers (for mother, light color)
• 2-3 large, flat flannel sheets or cotton blankets (for mother, any color)
• 3-4 bath towels for using after bathing following the birth (any color) - All of the above are simply for wash up and clean up and keeping warm. Whatever is needed.
  

• clean panties, overnight maxi pads, and nursing nightgown for mother; bra if you wish - or whatever clothes mother will be comfortable in after delivery
  
• clothing for baby, a diaper, and a receiving blanket or two - just to clothe the baby
  
• pack a separate bag for mom and babe (3 weeks before your due date) in the even of transfer to hospital

• heavy plastic sheet for the bed and extra heavy plastic for floor; duct tape - gotta keep the mess contained!
  
• 1 flat cake pan (9by13) for the placenta; 2 ice cream buckets with lids - something to put the placenta in for examination; to make sure it's all there.
  
• crock pot or large soup pot - mentioned above
  
• large garbage pail with 3-4 bags handy - to help contain the mess
  
• laundry basket - to help contain the mess
• squeeze bottle - for rinsing bottom after birth, as wiping can be painful
  

• pillows with old pillowcases - for comfort during labor
  
• baby powder or oil for massage
• straws that bend - it's hard to drink from a cup when in labor!!!
  
• ice chips or popsicles made ahead of time from a favorite juice or herbal tea - I've never done this. Just drank the Gatorade or pop from below.
  
• flat ginger ale with sugar; snacks and juice
• hot water bottle or heating pad - this is nice to have. I might see if I can get a heating pad from a secondhand store, or just use wheat bags (homemade Magic Bags).
  
• extension cords. - incase outlets aren't handy.
  

Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, 2008

July 31st, 2008 by API Speaks · 9 Comments

Today is the first day of World Breastfeeding Week, and so it is with great pleasure that I kick off API?s World Breastfeeding Week celebration with API Speaks? very first giveaway! Read on for contest entry details!

Why Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week?
I believe that the breastfeeding support I received when I was a new mother from the wonderful women of Peaceful Baby and Cherished Children API, and great online resources like attachmentparenting.org, La Leche League, Kelly Mom, and AskDrSears, was critical to my breastfeeding success.

I started out, like so many new and expecting moms, with very little knowledge of breastfeeding. I was breastfed for about six months, and the few things I?d read indicated that trying to nurse for a year was an admirable goal. So that was my intention?to make it to a year?when Gabriel was born four years ago. Then I met someone who was breastfeeding a toddler, and talked to someone else who had tandem nursed her children for quite some time, and I started to think maybe I should adjust my goal.

I've entered!  Go check it out!