The thing about the hospital visit Thursday night is that I had to have my bubble burst. So it’s really okay. I’m in the same position I’ve always been, between full-on western medicine and birthing in a field; somewhere on that spectrum, to the best of my ability.
Many people have talked to me about remembering to use my improv skills to roll with whatever comes my way. Yeah yeah, sure sure… except they’re right. Expectations will keep me out of the present moment. I will work with whatever comes my way.
Will still be going out today to buy some nice aromatherapy oil for the L & D room. And buying some 100% fruit popsicles to take with us for snacking and hydrating during labor — wrapping them in a plain paper bag with our name on it since, the tour guide informed us, that’s a popular item that often gets “liberated” from the communal freezer.
In the irony file: Met a woman this morning who is a trained Labor and Delivery nurse with some additional emergency credential, or something. She said, “You’re welcome to call me if you have any questions, any questions at all, about your pregnancy or the hospital birth.” And then she laughed a little and added, “Of course, I had all four of my kids at home.”
Ummm… well, yeah, of course. Maybe being an L & D nurse gives one a little more confidence about home birthing, since she knows so much. Maybe she wasn’t in her late 30s when she gave birth. Not to go on and on. I’ve made my choice. Technology = good thing to have available.
This week, in our final childbirth education class, we saw another video. In this one, a woman who’d already had one child, and was currently carrying twins, full term, gave birth at home, unassisted. No doula, no midwife. Her son nursed right before the major pushing began (nipple stimulation purportedly enhances/promotes labor, possibly increases relaxin and oxytocin). Her husband was holding the camera. He’d filled the birthing tub, but she never made it there. Pushed both babies out in the bathroom, next to the toilet, caught them herself, while he just kept filming. Second one was even a “footling breach.”
It was inspiring, to say the least. If she can do that…!
Footling breech!! Holy superwoman.
You said it!