Nova's Home Birth

Heidi's Home Birth

Birth without fear.

Birth as it was meant to be.

Joyful Birth.

I just want to say thank you to my incredible birth team!

First, to my husband, Brandon, who was there beside me the entire time. He prayed, loved and supported me with every part of the labor, which helped made the process a joy! I am so thankful to share this life with him!

Thank you to my midwives, Brigitte and Charity, who always make me feel incredibly safe and encouraged. They put their heart into what they do, and it really makes all the difference when you feel so vulnerable. 

Thank you Karen, who was both my doula and photographer. The grace you carry to lift up the mother is incredible. Your prayers, and your ongoing affirmation was simple, yet supernatural. And the way you captured the birth of our beautiful baby is breath-taking! 

World breastfeeding week

I didn't even know there was such a thing! But its true....its World's Breastfeeding Week! And I must say....I'm really excited about it!

Why? may you ask. It's not just because I've been a nursing mom for the last 3 years. But I'm also a breast-feeding advocate, willing to fight for our rights to nurse our children everywhere and anywhere. that's right. Did you know that our nursing rights are at stake? that is, if you're in a public place. Here's a mom who was almost arrested in Target for nursing her child publicly. But to assume a mother has to find a "secret" place everytime she has to feed her child is absolutely ludricious to me.....but none-the-less, many are advocating to "close-up-shop" for public nursing. It's sad, but true. Here's some tips on how to discreetly nurse in public.

Apart from how incredibly good nursing is for you and your baby, it's what is normal and natural. God's design was for us to breastfeed. I know not every mother has the physical capabiliy to nurse their babies. I know many mothers who who long for it, but just can't produce milk. But even for their sakes, I choose to exercise my own freedom, knowing that if I'm capable to offer this gift to my baby, then I should absolutely take it!

So Happy Breastfeeding Week to all mommies out there who are advocating our God-given freedom to feed our children naturally! And when you get a chance check out WABA's (World Alliance for Breastfeeding) website to help protect, promote and support breastfeeding world-wide. AND if your in the Rochester area feel free to come out for Little Darling's Breastfeeding week's gathering happening right here at Cobb's Hill tomorrow!

3 documentaries in 3 days ...video blog!

I must say I don't recommend watching three documentaries in three days.....it can get a little overwhelming. But I was so hungry to learn. And being that I'm expecting any day now I couldn't help myself to just want to soak up as much information as possible before the BIG DAY!

All three were certainly biased documentaries advocating for home-birth, but also very good, educational and informative resources for women who desire something more for their birthing experiences.

My favorite of the three by far was The Business of Being Born. The other two, also good, were Pregnant in America and Orgasmic Birth.

.....I apologize for the loud music at one point that covers my voice. I noticed after it was uploaded. I'll get better at this video blogging thing......I promise :-)

Double trouble for clothe

So I decided to do another blog on clothe diapering, but this time I'm coming from a perspective of having TWO in clothe at the same time!!!

Click to see my blog on cloth diapering and its benefits.

Here's my babies sporting their "green" bottoms.

But I'm gonna be real....it wasn't easy. I'm gonna be honest...clothe is not for everyone.

I decided to blog about some of the struggles I've had with clothe. I'm still advocating for clothe and I still think its the better way to go. But instead of being unrealistic about it, I also want to talk about the struggles I've had with it.

The first is the fact that I am doing laundry EVERYDAY! With two in clothe, the ammonia smell that stems from my bag is almost deathly after 24 hours. :/ So if I want to keep the house smelling pleasant, I've got to always have the laundry soap on hand.

I soon found out that you can't do clothe without a water sprayer connected to your toilet. I tried the whole "scrape the diaper" thing before the second baby arrived and it was just not cutting the poopies. So, if you're gonna do clothe, get a sprayer (and be prepared for lots of hand washing).

Another problem we ran into is rashes. Many will tell you because there is no chemicals in clothe they don't cause rashes. Not true! Urine, once oxidized, is chemical! And it hurts your babies bum just sitting in it. Unlike disposables that are designed to pull away from the butt, clothe does not. Though changing a clothe diaper doesn't take any longer than changing a disposable, you will probably be changing more often.

Would I go back if I could?

No I wouldn't. Clothe is hard work, but you work for disposables as well. I save about $2,000 for each child I use clothe on. Crazy, right?

And I feel good about not contributing to the e. coli in our water because of feces being dumped in trash cans and not our sceptic tanks.

i also feel really good about knowing my children aren't absorbing any harsh chemicals into their porous skin from bleached-out diapers.

And though I hate another load of laundry added to the pile, I know in my heart that i am having good stewardship over what God has given me the grace to do as their mother.

Plus side too is that Abigail potty trained by 23 months. I mean, full blown, no diaper even at night, by 23 months....so we starting training a couple months before. She actually refused to wear the discomforting diaper. She would hit her private parts after going to the bathroom in her diaper. So we knew she was ready.

And I am looking forward to the cute summer outfits to partner with their fun and fashionable diapers

:^D

The girls sure are cute!!!

If you're considering clothe and live in the Rochester area I know a great distributor who does a $15 trial week with all the different kinds of clothe. Great for first timers!!!

Or...you can ask me and I can help :)

it's official...

we're having a home birth!

And to my own surprise. In fact I was not thinking about having a home birth at all until one night I had a dream. It's one of those dreams where you wake up and you don't need convincing it's God. I was so impacted by the dream I couldn't sleep the rest of the night. And immediately when morning came I began my search for a mid-wife in the area who could possible do a home birth. I didn't even know how much it would cost, or even if I could make the switch this late in the game (23 weeks), but I couldn't let go of it. And I knew the greatest challenge would be convincing Brandon. When the hubby was game, I knew it was really God :-)

Why Homebirth?

Although the reasons for deciding to give birth at home vary, most families in this country who choose home birth share a belief that birth is a natural physiological process, not a medical condition which routinely needs intervention, and therefore can safely take place outside the hospital. Also common is the feeling that labor, birth, and early newborn / parent interaction are events which are facilitated and enhanced by the continuity, security, and familiarity of the home environment. In addition, for some families, the decision to birth at home may be driven by a desire to take greater personal responsibility for the entire birth experience. A wish for more decision-making authority is often a motivating factor when families have had a disappointing previous hospital experience and wish to have a more enjoyable subsequent birth. Whatever your reasons for considering home birth, you can rest assured that for healthy, low-risk women experiencing normal pregnancies, studies indicate that home birth with a trained attendant can be a safe option.

So I share this to say we are embarking on something very exciting for our family. It's something that may have terrified me in the past, but now has brought so much peace that it terrifies me to do the former. I had one friend tell me the other day "you're brave", but I tend to think women with low risk pregnancies are brave to have their children in hospitals. I only know what I've experienced. And it's exciting to see God make this birth all the more intimate for our family and our precious daughter in waiting <3

bonding and babies....

so, this post is going to be somewhat intrusive but I assure you it is only meant to encourage each MARRIED couple and family to having a God-purposed relationship and marriage.

Bet you can't guess the number one question I get from my blog writing. It surprises me too, but because its happened so much I've decided to talk about it on the blog because I'm sure more people are thinking and wondering but not asking. Here it is:

How do you feel about a couple using condoms as a form of birth control?

So, if this is you first time reading anything I've posted on birth control or natural family planning I encourage you to read THIS first so you have a deeper understanding of where I'm coming from. But more importantly so you have an open heart to the Lord regarding your family's future.

Apart from the HUGE ethical issue I have with birth control, in which you can see my blog on how birth control came about here, I also have a morality issue with it. God gave us two purposes with the act of sex and, in short, I call it bonding and babies. First He gave us the ability to have intimacy with our spouse that no one else should have. Simply, marriage without the bedroom really wouldn't be a marriage at all because its through sex that covenant is consummated. Don't get me wrong, marriage is not all about sex, but it certainly brings to perfection the "oneness" a man and a women in covenant have. Second, we were given the ability to pro-create. The fact that we were given this gift is a BIG TIME virtue! Ezekiel 47, the story of the Millennial River, a lot of us know it but very few of us have ever looked at it as a fertility story. But I can tell you this, the prophet speaks of trees that bring forth fruit EVERY month (vs. 12) and we also are like those trees. As a woman we have been given a pure and undefiled gift, ovulation. And God has given us the tools, to not only know our own bodies through NFP, but to also have our spouses learn right along with us. The minute we invade that gift with stopping the ability to pro-create we are saying that "baby making" is a big time problem to God. Um...not sure He's gonna take that so well. But, hey....I'm not God. But I can assure you that FERTILITY is not our enemy and "fruitfullness" is the inevitable by-product of intimacy within your marriage. When we try to change that its as if we took out the conclusion in a climatic story.

SO, I realize I have not answered the question yet and I went on my own tangent. Maybe because the answer is still not that simple, but maybe it is. My simple answer? Ask God what He thinks. Invite Jesus into the marital bedroom with your spouse. Ask God for His timing, His order, His opinion. Sure....you can do what you want and God is faithful to bless it. But do we want what is good when we could have great? No, I don't believe condoms are evil. And, yes, we use them. But it still doesn't answer the question as efficiently as I would like because no one sees the praying, the seeking, the openess and vulnerbility we have with Jesus to come to a place where we know that is what He wants. So my best advice....listen to God.

(Hope this helps. And the post is not meant to step on toes or cause offense but only to answer the question as best I know how in my own personal convictions God has given me.)

My "green" babies

Clothe isn't for everyone, but if you're looking to save on the dollar, its the way to go. Forget the old folds and pins. Now they make clothe just as easy as disposables. The only time spent will be the extra load of laundry at the end of your day. But if you're willing to take the extra 15 minutes to load your washer it could save both the waste produced in our landfills and your wallet.

Here a great exert from my provider - And a wonderful break-down of what you save:)

Why Choose Cloth?

Better for Baby

• Children are much more comfortable in cloth diapers versus diapers made of plastic and paper.
• 

Fun colors and patterns to make diapering fun.
• 93% less likely to get diaper rash than disposables
• Disposable diapers contain Dioxin, Tributly-tin(TBT) and Sodium Polyacrylate just to name a few chemicals. While cloth diapers contain, well cloth.
• The use of disposable diapers has been scientifically linked to male infertility with young men who wore disposable diapers as babies.
• The largest organ in the human body is the skin.Cloth diapers protect your child's tender parts in ways that single-use diapers can't. Did you know that single-use diapers have up to 60 known chemicals in them? 


• Your child will be doing great things for the earth from their very first day! Using cloth diapers saves trees, sensitive wildlife habitats, petroleum, landfill space and helps to reduce Global Warming!

-

Better for the Environment

• By the age of three the average child will have used 8,736 diapers that are sitting in a landfill that we currently do not the decomposition time of. 


• Cloth diapers can be resold or reused as rags to cut back on environmental waste.


• One child in disposable diapers will require 20 trees, 420 gallons of petroleum and generate one ton of garbage!


• It takes 20 trees to diaper one child for 2.5 years. 

• It takes up to 200 years for a single-use diaper to decompose. That means every disposable diaper ever made is still in a landfill somewhere!


• It takes 2/3 cup of petroleum to produce just ONE single-use diaper!


Better for You (and your pocketbook)

• It’s Cheaper!
• Cloth diapering is a growing trend amongst young parents.
• Fun colors and patterns to make diapering fun.
• More convenient…That’s right More convenient! No more running to the store because you are almost out of diapers. Just throw a load of laundry in and you are all set!
• Cloth diapers are re-usable for future children just like baby clothes or a crib.

• Studies show that a child in cloth diapers will potty train 6 months to one year earlier than a child in single use diapers.Saving your family hundreds of dollars!


• Cloth diapering is easier than ever. Huge strides have been made in the past few years with cloth diapering accessories. These new accessories make cloth diapering easier and more fun then ever.


• When you use LUVABOOS, you not only benefit the global community by using a sustainable form of diapering; but, you also contribute to our local community.

Disposables

Newborn size:168 diapers at .25/diaper=	$42.00
Size 1: 448 diapers at .22/diaper=	98.56
Size 2: 490 diapers at .25/diaper=	122.50
Size 3: 1920 diapers at .30/diaper=	576.00
Size 4: 1095 diapers at .35/diaper=	383.25
Size 5: 1825 diapers at .39/diaper=	1642.50
Pull-Ups: 70 pull ups at .41/pullup=	28.70
	2893.51
Add disposable wipes bought in bulk:	180.00
Total:	3,073.51

*Figures based on a real 3 year old! Sized Pocket Diapers

Size Small: 24 diapers (based on 15.95 each)	$382.80
Size Small Inserts: 24 (range between$3.-$6. each)	144.00
Size Medium: 24	382.80
Size Medium Inserts: 24	144.00
Size Large: 24	382.80
Size Large Inserts: 24	144.00
Cloth Wipes: 24	20.00
Small Wet bag for travel	14.50
Pail liner	19.99
Toilet/Shower Sprayer	44.95
Total:	$1,683.94

*Keep in mind this is one of the top of the line, most convenient ways to cloth diaper!

Total Savings: $1,389.57

One Size Pocket Diapers

One-Size 24 diapers (based on 18.95 each)	$454.80
Cloth Wipes: 24	20.00
Small Wet bag for travel	14.50
Pail liner	19.99
Toilet/Shower Sprayer	44.95
Total:	$553.79

*We highly recommend the One-Size system for families with 2 in diapers or if you are pretty sure this is your last baby! Otherwise in the long run a sized diaper option will last longer as the diapers are used less per child.

Total Savings: $2,519.72

Want more info? Click here for a local business of Rochester, NY Also there is a great blog I've been reading if you're not convinced yet!

Luvaboos give you an opportunity to try clothe for $15 before you purchase. This wonderful if its completely new to you and you don't know which clothe you would like to buy.

I'd be lying if I said the money saving wasn't what sold me. I love going green and keeping waste to a minimal and recycling, but I was convinced when I knew my pocket money would stay in my pocket.

I have personally spent about $500 on clothe diapers and I have two babies in clothe and I am a working mother. Just goes to show you anyone can do it! I have saved our family $420.00 thus far and the number continues to grow as they grow. By the time they both hit the age of 2 I will have saved our family nearly $1500. Now thats a pretty penny and worth every load of laundry!

It's worth looking at for all you mothers and future mothers...