Hello all!
Thanks for joining me in this journey! I hope that you find the words here inspiring, informative, and entertaining.
As I've gone on my journey into the pregnancy and birth business, I've found myself up against some very entrenched ideas regarding childbirth and what women are capable of doing. I can't count the number of times while I was pregnant when I would hear "And the doctor let you do that?" Let is a very funny word, and seems to imply that a pregnant woman is suddenly unable to make decisions regarding her care and the care of her unborn baby. It's tragic that pregnancy in this country (and of course many others) is viewed this way. I hope this blog helps you fight such ideas.
I used to be pretty mainstream I guess. At least it wasn't until I was in college that I was even interested in birth. I already knew that I wanted to marry young and have more than 2.3 kids (which I guess isn't too mainstream after all), but beyond that i was content to wait it out and see from there. I was engaged at 19 and between that and finished up my education I had enough on my plate.
However, soon after I landed my first job, it seemed there were other plans for me. I had been on the pill since I was sixteen, due to a diagnosis of irregular cycles. When I was put on birth control pills, my gynecologist ran no tests, did no exam. My mother was given the prescription, we filled it, I took the pills. It caught up with me when I was 20. I was only 4 and 1/2 weeks in to my first teaching job when I had a stroke. My only risk factors: chronic migraines and the pill. I wasn't even a smoker - we've all seen the commercials - and there I was in a hospital bed with no feeling on my right side.
Of course, post-stroke, the pill is permanently out of the question. Soon to be married, I was faced with finding something else for family planning - which we felt was important until we got settled and my husband could get work. I vaguely remember my mom saying she used to "chart her cycles" so I googled it and came across a fabulous book that should be required reading for every woman - Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. (my copy is loaned out somewhere, a much loved book) This book began my wise woman revolution.
I started just charting my cycles. I got up diligently to take my basal body temp, I tried to decipher my cervical fluid, I search for my cervix. Soon I began looking at Ovusoft (oh how you have changed my friend) for answers. As I began to post and read regularly, a new world opened up. Here were women who birthed at home and had labor/post-partum support. They were highly educated and weren't afraid to ask their doctors - "WHY?" "Why that intervention?" "Why now?"
These women were empowered. I was to become one of them.
I read everything I could find and started the path (many times over) to doula certification. Of course, it seems life (and money) has constantly gotten in my way. The day will come.
Thanks for joining me in this journey! I hope that you find the words here inspiring, informative, and entertaining.
As I've gone on my journey into the pregnancy and birth business, I've found myself up against some very entrenched ideas regarding childbirth and what women are capable of doing. I can't count the number of times while I was pregnant when I would hear "And the doctor let you do that?" Let is a very funny word, and seems to imply that a pregnant woman is suddenly unable to make decisions regarding her care and the care of her unborn baby. It's tragic that pregnancy in this country (and of course many others) is viewed this way. I hope this blog helps you fight such ideas.
I used to be pretty mainstream I guess. At least it wasn't until I was in college that I was even interested in birth. I already knew that I wanted to marry young and have more than 2.3 kids (which I guess isn't too mainstream after all), but beyond that i was content to wait it out and see from there. I was engaged at 19 and between that and finished up my education I had enough on my plate.
However, soon after I landed my first job, it seemed there were other plans for me. I had been on the pill since I was sixteen, due to a diagnosis of irregular cycles. When I was put on birth control pills, my gynecologist ran no tests, did no exam. My mother was given the prescription, we filled it, I took the pills. It caught up with me when I was 20. I was only 4 and 1/2 weeks in to my first teaching job when I had a stroke. My only risk factors: chronic migraines and the pill. I wasn't even a smoker - we've all seen the commercials - and there I was in a hospital bed with no feeling on my right side.
Of course, post-stroke, the pill is permanently out of the question. Soon to be married, I was faced with finding something else for family planning - which we felt was important until we got settled and my husband could get work. I vaguely remember my mom saying she used to "chart her cycles" so I googled it and came across a fabulous book that should be required reading for every woman - Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. (my copy is loaned out somewhere, a much loved book) This book began my wise woman revolution.
I started just charting my cycles. I got up diligently to take my basal body temp, I tried to decipher my cervical fluid, I search for my cervix. Soon I began looking at Ovusoft (oh how you have changed my friend) for answers. As I began to post and read regularly, a new world opened up. Here were women who birthed at home and had labor/post-partum support. They were highly educated and weren't afraid to ask their doctors - "WHY?" "Why that intervention?" "Why now?"
These women were empowered. I was to become one of them.
I read everything I could find and started the path (many times over) to doula certification. Of course, it seems life (and money) has constantly gotten in my way. The day will come.
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