My Choice

We are all entitled to our choices. Simple things like which percentage milk to buy at the grocery store, when you think the best time to put your children to bed is, how much you let your kid "get away with," what's for dinner. Then there are more important choices that need to be made. Is it time for another baby? What do we do when the next deployment rolls around? Should I go back to school?

Right now I'm in the cross-hairs when it comes to a choice I am making. I am choosing to have a natural childbirth. I am choosing to have my baby in the comforts of birth center or even within my own home. I do not want an OB working on my "case." I do not want to deal with the hospital scene. Don't get me wrong. Doctors are wonderful! I would not have had my daughter if it wasn't for medical intervention. BUT, the chance of me having another breech child is pretty slim.

I have never been one to flow with the current. I make my own decision not based on what the media says is the best thing, or because its been done that way for so long it's the "right" way. I make my decisions based on what I feel is right. My parents have always admired this quality in me, even if it has bitten them in the butt a few times.

Complications can happen. I know this. I'm not naive. I know there is a chance something could go wrong. I know that in the case that something does goes wrong, the safest place to be would be the hospital (credit to those doctors again). I am doing research almost on a daily basis of home births and the use of midwives. I am not a naturalist. I do not "go green" with every aspect of my life. I drive to the store that's not even a half mile away. I take extra long showers (if the kiddo lets me). I don't recycle religiously. I've made my own carbon footprint, and I'm okay with it. But, when it comes to my child being born, I want to go through the testament. I want to experience the emotional roller coaster that a woman has to endure in order to birth her child.

Why should I feel made to feel bad about my decision against make my labor "easy" ??? Americans are constantly seen as the lazy and the spoiled. I fit the bill. But, I want to work for my child. Before we decided to have children, I didn't want any. Once the decision was made though, my entire outlook changed. As soon as I found out I pregnant with Ellie, I knew immediately that I wanted a natural childbirth. I wanted to do what so many of the women before me had done, quite successfully I might had. I did not want a home birth though. I thought it was messy and I didn't want any of that in my home. I took what my insurance company gave me, and in the end, I got my baby.

Now, I'm pregnant again. No one really seems to be against the idea of me giving birth naturally (medicine-free). They think I'm crazy for not wanting the medicine, but it's my choice. But, when it comes to having a child outside of the hospital, that's wrong. You don't birth children in your home. That's from the "old country" and in communes here. Its taboo. The chance of me actually getting what I want in a hospital is just as slim as me having another breech child. You will, without a doubt, get a Hep-loc to start with. Since that's in, getting you any medication to "take the edge off", speed up contractions because they're not happening as fast as the hospital would like (you're occupying a room, meaning less "clients"), or whatever other needs the hospital has just became a lot easier. Quick connection and there you go.

For example. I'm in the hospital. I'm using an OB. My contractions aren't progressing fast enough. I get a dose of pitocin. My chances of having a successful VBAC just dropped. Pitocin not only brings on contractions, they strengthen and lengthen the contractions to heights not normally meet. Oh, it does exactly what it says it does. The stronger contractions now pose a risk for uterine rupture and another c-section in my case.

A excerpt from one of the books I'm reading...
"My wife knew she wanted to have a baby naturally. I was worried. I thought, "Why? We have hospitals and medicines to provide comfort. Why turn it away?" My wife told me she just wanted the right to try. This changed my thinking forever. I would not be a roadblock, because my wife should have the right to try and do what her body was designed to do."

This is my choice. If you don't like it, fine. But please don't expect me to constantly defend myself. If you want to be educated, I will tell you what I know, and what I'm finding out.

Here are a couple sites that have the most accessible information for those wanting it.
American Pregnancy: Using a Midwife
American Pregnancy: Home birth
Baby Center: Planning a Home Birth