What I used for my Freebirth

Our birth was fairly basic-I had more than I needed and could have used less than I did.
However,I thought it would be nice for other FreeBirthing women to see what I used.
*Note: You can see my full birth kit HERE


I used:

{My birth pool-La Bassine from yourwaterbirth.com $170 including liner and cover (didn't use cover) saving for future births
{Birth pool liner-included with birth pool
{25 foot water hose-$13 RV/drinking safe from Kmart,saving for future births
{Battery operated submersible pump-$35 from Lowes.It was handy,but not necessary.
{Plastic shower curtain-$2,leftover from my previous homebirth,for under the birth pool to protect floor.
Drop cloth-$3,used for outside the birth pool,by the bed.Can be found in paint section of stores.
Chux pads-Came with birth kit,can be bought for under $10.Several left over from previous birth.
Paper towel-$1.50.I think we used two sheets off of it.
Towels-Already had.Used about 4 total.
Heating pad-Already had.Used for warming up baby blankets/towel.
Baby blankets-Already had.
Plastic/disposable bed cover-Came with birth kit.Could use a drop cloth or chux pad instead.
Sterilized scissors-Already had.Sharp kitchen shears,boiled/wiped down with rubbing alcohol.
Braided embroidery string-$1.50 It was a special thing to braid this for tying the cord.
Peri bottle-Came with birth kit,but a cheap squirt bottle would be maybe $1 at Walmart.
Postpartum pads-($8) Used the leftover ones from my last homebirth.
Diapers-You'd need these anyway.I used disposables for the first two days,then switched to cloth.
Cup for water-I drank a TON of water.I actually had TWO cups next to the birth pool.
Fish scale and handmade sling- Fish scale ($4). Materials for the sling were receiving blankets from my older babies ($0) and some hardware pieces ($2)

*I also used my exercise/birth ball for a good part of my labor($12-15)
*I also had my birth remedy kit from Reignbow birth-and although I didn't use it-and doubted I would need it-it was nice to have.

So,what do I think is *NICE* to have for a Freebirth?
Well,the list above worked nicely for me.

What do I think is *ESSENTIAL* to have for a Freebirth?
Your body,your baby,respect and support from those around you.....and maybe some towels.

Birth is and can be so basic.

But the important thing is to know your options and have the things on hand that you feel will suite your needs.

The Freebirth of Marlena

When it comes to this birth story,I can't seem to define a starting point.

While the physical labor contractions began on a specific day,the emotional and spiritual labor began long before.

For the sake of readability I will start where my instincts tell me are a good point.

My youngest son had arrived one week before his guess date,so I knew that it was a possibility that this baby could also choose to be born earlier than 40 weeks.
When 39 weeks came and went,it became obvious that I would need to submit to the timing my baby had in mind.

My other babies had all been born very close to their guess date or a few days after.
But when the 40 week mark came and went,I began to wonder what exactly this baby had planned for us.

Stayin' positive at 40+4...waiting for baby.

Things in our home felt chaotic,the children were more restless and rowdy than usual and I felt like it just wasn't a good time to give birth.
I didn't like feeling this way.
I was excited for birth,prepared-even over prepared-to give birth....but somehow I didn't feel in the "zone".

Fellow unassisted birthing mothers suggested that I meditate and do what I needed in order to get in the mindset and find my peace.

At 40 weeks 5 days I turned to music and solitude.

It wasn't easy with four little ones,but I managed to squeeze in an hour or so in the afternoon and a couple of hours every night.
I used my cell phone and a pair of headphones,tuned into a Pandora Channel "Instrumental music" and closed my eyes.

*I visualized my baby being born.
*I imagined a flower-like blooming event with my baby in the center.
*I pictured my baby emerging,floating out of my body.
*I prayed for a safe,joyous and powerful birth.
*I read and focused on the affirmations that were taped to my wall next to my ready birth pool.
*I wasn't coming from a place of fear or doubt....I just wanted peace so that I could be ready for my baby to be born.

I felt confident,relaxed and at ease during and after each meditation.

In the very early morning hours of the day that marked 41 weeks,I was listening to the meditation music trying to quiet my mind so I could get some needed rest.
A Jim Brickman song-his cover of "Wonderful Tonight"-a piano tune-came on....I really enjoyed hearing it.
For some reason-unrelated to hearing this song-I felt that my baby would be coming in the next day or so.






Early the next morning-about 7 AM-I woke up to a contraction.
It was low and crampy.
I realized that my bladder was full so I rolled out of bed...the pressure of the baby's head on my cervix was so intense that I nearly doubled over "Wow,that's a new one!" I thought.

I was excited about these sensations.I was ready to meet my baby and the anticipation was wearing on me.

After I used the restroom,I attempted to lay back down for a little while.
In the next 20 minutes I had 2 more contractions-they were intense enough that I breathed through them ,but not yet so intense that I couldn't lay down.

Then I realized that my body was trying to "clean itself out"....this was promising since I've always experienced it shortly before my babies were born.
I used the restroom again and had another contraction,and then another 8 minutes later-they were definitely doing work in my cervix.

I decided to text my husband (who was at work and unable to answer his phone) to let him know I was having contractions,but that I would let him know if things started moving along.

I opted to take a hot shower and see how that would effect my contractions-it didn't effect them and they kept coming about every 8-10 minutes.

My husband called on his break at 8 AM and we decided that he should go ahead and come home.

My other children were awake by this point,so I started breakfast-eggs,fruit and toast-knowing that I would need some nourishment if I were to be giving birth soon.

My only wavering concern about giving birth was the older children.

I knew from my last birth that little ones can put a damper on the labor process-a good thing if you *need* the delay,but frustrating if you are wanting labor to intensify.
I feared that having the children up and about would cut off my contractions.

That fear came true.Alas,my contractions dwindled off to near non-existence.

Because I was exhausted and I was fairly certain a baby would still make an appearance within the next 24 hours,I decided to have a good friend take two of the children for a few hours.
We sent Payton (4) and Jeremiah (5) to play while Jacobi (2) took a nap and Caleb (9) had some screen time.

I had a small lunch and attempted to lay down.
I listened to my meditation music and even fell asleep for a half hour.

I had a few contractions,but they were very sporadic-I had two contractions one hour and one the next.

I felt agitated with myself.
I had informed a few people who might play key roles in my labor process (my mother,husband and two friends who would help with the children if needed) that I was having contractions.

I felt like the "girl that cried wolf".

We picked up the two boys mid-afternoon and started getting things packed for the two oldest boys to go stay the night at my moms house-a Friday night routine event.

We left the house at 4:30 to take the boys to grandmas house-on the way I had two contractions.
My belly was very hard and the baby felt really low.

After we dropped the two boys off at my mothers house we came home and ate supper with the two youngest boys.
I retreated to my room after we ate so I could try to get some rest.
I felt very fatigued and knew that I may have a long night ahead of me.

7 PM-
I began having contractions once again-still spread out,but intense enough that I needed to get out of the laying down position and on all fours to feel comfortable.
I had my birth ball on my bed,so when I felt a contraction coming I would get up and lean over it.
I tried to lay down and rest,but every time my eyes would drift shut a contraction would come on.


7:45 PM-
After about 45 minutes of contractions coming every 12 minutes or so,I felt another one coming on.
I swiftly (as a pregnant woman can!) maneuvered myself onto my knees and laid my head on my birth ball.
At the end of this contraction I experienced what felt like a gentle "punch" to the cervix.

When I stood up to go use the restroom,a trickle of "water" ran down my legs!
As I started towards the bathroom thinking I might have peed myself,a small "gush" of fluid ran down my legs to the floor in a puddle!

"Wow...uhm,honey?? I think my water just broke!!"

I had never experienced spontaneous rupture so early in labor!

I knew this meant that things would be moving along,so I decided to call my mom to come over-she would have to bring the two boys back with her and they would need to get ready for bed.
She said she would be right over,so then I called my friend who said she would come over to assist with the children.

Matt (my husband) decided it was time to fill up the birth pool.
I started laying out drop cloths and chux pads where needed and turned on the heating pad for the baby blankets and towels to warm.

I was thrilled that things seemed to be happening and I felt so peaceful-calm and content.

I made sure to drink lots of water and was using the bathroom between contractions-which were still fairly far apart and not very regular.

8:45 PM-
My mom arrived with the boys soon after I got in the birth pool.
Matt,my mom and my friend Amy got the boys ready for bed and then everyone came in my room.
Every time I would get out of the water to use the bathroom more amniotic fluid would gush out and run down on the floor.
My mom was suffering from bad allergies,Matt had been awake since 2:30 AM the previous morning and I didn't sleep well the night before either.
I kept laying my head on the side of the pool.I was terribly exhausted and just wanted to sleep.

After a while I realized that I wasn't having too many contractions and I didn't like feeling like people were waiting on me.

I stated "I feel like a watched pot!"

They took the hint and retreated to the living room with the boys to help them relax for bed.

I felt blessed that I knew just what I needed.There was no fear of what was to come or doubts as to what was best at each moment.

10 PM-
I decided that maybe being in the water was hindering the process.
It had been storming outside,but it stopped so I opted to go for a short walk.

We didn't make it very far and the pressure was intense in my cervix.
The amniotic fluid was still leaking down my legs as I walked.

We came back to the house and I used the restroom...there was pink tinge and mucous when I wiped.

"Yes!" I thought "Things are really happening!"

Because I opted not to monitor the baby's heart rate,I was instinctively paying attention to the movements of the baby-and there was no shortage!

I feel that God blessed me by having my baby be active while I was laboring.

I chose to stand in my room next to my bed and just lean over my birth ball at the edge of my mattress when I would have a contraction,swaying my hips and really focusing on breathing deeply and calmly.

I began to pray every few contractions.
I thanked God for the knowledge and ability to give birth and asked that He help me experience birth as He designed.

11 PM-
The contractions started getting really powerful and I was feeling a lot of the sensations in my back.
I attempted to do "hip squeezes" on myself to see if that would help and it really made a difference.
Matt noticed that I was doing this,so he took over pushing my hips together during each contraction.
He must have noticed that I was progressing by the sounds I was making and he began telling me things like "You're doing good baby" and "Just breathe through it".

I told him "This is hard work...I am so sleepy"

I felt certain that my baby would be moving down soon and I really began coaching myself using words and phrases from the affirmations on my wall.
"The power of my contractions isn't more than me.It IS me"
"I can do all things through HIM who gives me strength"
"I am Stronger and Smarter than I believe"

11:35 PM-
My contractions were coming about every 3-4 minutes and we could tell that I would be entering the phase where I wouldn't be getting out of the birth pool again,so we made sure the water temperature was warm enough and I got back in.

My mom had taken turns coming in to sit with me a few times,but she wasn't feeling well-and we were ALL tired.
Matt was doing his best to do hip squeezes from outside the birth pool and I was on all fours.
I kept looking up at him between contractions and just sighing "I'm working so hard...I'm so tired"

He would gently say "I know...you're doing good baby"

During contractions all I could focus on was breathing.I was amazed at how powerful the rushes were,but I reminded myself that I can handle anything for a minute,that this wasn't something happening TO me and that every contraction was bringing my baby that much closer to me.
My mother went out to the living room to rest while Matt stayed with me.I knew it wouldn't be much longer and I have always had a concern with people leaving the room...once my babies start to be born,there isn't usually much time to get back in the room!

12 AM Midnite-
The contractions were coming about every two minutes and lasting about 45 seconds or so.
They were incredibly powerful and left me shaking from head to toe following each rush.
Matt kept applying counter pressure and doing the hip squeezes-this was so incredibly helpful.
I began praying between every contraction-I felt like I would drown in the intensity of the sensations if I didn't do something to maintain my mindset.

I would say very short prayers and affirming words-

"I can handle anything for a minute"
"There is a power that comes to the birthing woman,she doesn't ask for it but it invades her"
"The intensity of my contractions isn't more than me,it IS me"
"This is one moment closer to meeting my baby"

"God,please continue to bless me with a joyful birth without fear"
"Lord,please help me to be strong and experience birth the way it was meant to be"

Between contractions I remember having that same "drugged-out" feeling I had with Jacobi's birth and during contractions I would moan-doing my best to keep my tone low and open.
Each contraction would start and the intensity would build so slowly at first,I had to question if it was really the start of a contraction.
Then the rush would gain power incredibly fast and the strength of it was something I had to grab onto and ride out.

12:15 AM-
I felt like I had been experiencing some rather strong,productive contractions and I wondered if maybe I should give a few little pushes during the next contraction to see how it felt.
I prayed and asked God that He bless me with the chance to begin pushing my baby out.
I didn't feel an "urge" to push,but somehow my instincts told me that I should try to ease into pushing.
Within a couple of gentle pushes I felt the baby move down.

I said "ohh,pushing"
But I'm not sure that Matt heard this first proclamation.
The contraction ended,although the urge to push didn't....I did my best to just relax and try not to push without the help from my uterus.
When my next contraction began,I gave a big grunt of a push!

"I'm pushing! The baby's coming!"

This time it got Matt's attention and he called out to my mother "Ma,she's pushing!"

My mom rushed in and sat on the bed.
I pushed again and the baby was in my birth canal-what felt like "halfway" to me.
My contraction ended and I had to "pant" to keep from pushing without the power of my uterus.

The next contraction began and I gave some good grunting pushes-moving the baby down felt like more work than my previous babies....like there was more to move.
I wondered "Is this a really BIG baby or what??"

I wasn't afraid of birthing a larger baby,but the extra work and unique sensations made me wonder.

I felt the head at my perineum and quite a bit of burning,so I slowed my pushing and panted...instinctively I felt the need to go slowly with crowning.

The "ring of fire" as they call it has never been that bad for me,but this time I needed to ease the baby's head out to avoid the burning.

With the next push I felt the head come out.

"The head is out" I said-quickly followed by "Don't pull on it!"
I couldn't recall if I had mentioned to Matt not to pull on the baby-he didn't though thankfully!

Added note by Matt: "The baby came out looking down"
The fact that I was on all fours means that the birth position commonly referred to as "sunny-side-up" aka posterior in the lithotomy/back laying birthing position,baby would have been looking UP.


My baby was born posterior



Added note: Baby had bruising on her cheeks from what we suspect was a nuchal hand
(A nuchal hand was also suspected earlier in pregnancy due to cervical twinges,cramping and general discomfort that would indicate a possible hand by the head/face.
Baby also continued to keep her hand up by her face after birth.)

12:20 AM-
The next contraction came on really quickly and I had to push with quite a bit of effort to move the baby down and out the rest of the way.
I felt the baby's body leave mine and Matt gently guided the baby through to me

"Here honey,take it!" He said

I scooped the baby up out of the water and brought it to my chest as I leaned back against the side of the birth pool.
I felt victorious!
"Is the cord around the neck?!" Matt was asking.

*Matt had seen some blood/mucous on her neck,but in the dim lighting he couldn't tell if it was the cord.
I heard him,but I was off in my own world.I knew that the baby was fine-I could tell where the cord was and that the baby was squirming and livening up.

"Honey,is the cord around it's neck?" Matt repeated.
Finally I graced him with an answer of "No,it's fine"

"Is it a boy or a girl?" my mom asked softly

Not looking,I placed my hands down by my belly and between the baby's legs...there were "missing parts".

"It's a girl!!"

My mother went into kid-at-Christmas-time mode (which I didn't notice until I watched my birth video later on) waving her hands "Amy,it's a girl!" she said,trying to contain her excitement.
I was gleeful,yet shocked...and still in complete awe that I had just given birth.

Matt was watching carefully over us-he asked if I was doing OK and then said "C'mon baby,cry for us"

It wasn't important to me that the baby cry right away,but because we are conditioned to believe that healthy babies scream at birth,it was understandable that Matt wanted to hear her cry.
Often babies who are born gently are very calm and quiet at first.

"You're so tiny" I told this perfect,vernix-coated new being.
She had a good layer of goopy vernix on her shoulders and bum...and didn't seem "post-dates" at all.

A few moments of sighing and breathing in my newborn and my mom tried to take the pictures I had requested she take.
Unfortunately I had left the camera on multiple-shot mode,so we only got a few pictures due to the confusion.

Finally,baby girl graced us with her first cries.

I then joyfully proclaimed:

"I did it...and I have a little girl-wait,I better double check!"

We looked and sure enough "It's definitely a little girl" said my mom (followed by "I knew it,I knew it!")
"What's her name?"  asked my mom
"Uhm" I said,caught in oxytocin bliss "Marlena"

I sat there taking in every moment,every part of her...just staring into her eyes.

"I did it!" I sobbed

This was what I had wanted for Marlena and I.

"I did it!!" I was overcome with emotions.

Matt had gone to wake up our oldest,Caleb,who had wanted a sister for SO long and had a hard time going to bed that night knowing I was in labor.

"Look at your baby sister" My mom said to Caleb.

He was quietly excited-probably quite tired,but I believe he was completely thrilled all the same!

Marlena had come out rooting around some and sucking towards my chest,so I obliged her.
I no sooner put her to the breast and she latched herself on! I couldn't believe it!

Matt added more hot water to the birth pool since I wasn't quite ready to get out yet and Caleb took a few minutes to get to know his sister,putting his finger in her hand.

12:55 AM-
I felt some cramping and knew the placenta was probably detaching and would need to be birthed soon.
My mom decided to take Caleb to her house and Amy left as well.

I spent a few more moments in the warm water and then decided that we would be more comfortable on the bed.
Matt helped me out of the birth pool,the placenta was still inside me and we hadn't cut the cord.
We wrapped Marlena and I in a warm towel-I held her sweet,naked,vernix covered body to my chest.
I made my way over by the bed and noticed that I was dripping a little blood on the blue and white disposable pad on the floor-this was indicating to me,along with the heaviness I felt near my cervix that the placenta was ready to be birthed.

1:15 AM-
I knew that Matt wasn't thrilled with the idea of meddling with the placenta,so since I was standing up on a chux pad I asked Matt to hand me the aluminum roasting pan I had ready to put the placenta in.
I am rather proud of myself for how I managed this part...Matt says I looked like a cave woman,but hey,cave women gave birth too....right? (arguments over whether cave people actually existed aside of course!)

I took the roasting pan,set it on the floor between my legs and squatted down.

"This might not be terribly attractive" I warned.

I gave a tiny little push and "plop!" out came the placenta!

I don't care what anybody says.That.Was.Cool.

1:25 AM-
We decided that things would be a lot easier if we cut the umbilical cord.
It had been an hour since Marlena was born and the cord was flat and white.
Matt retrieved the braided string and sterilized scissors.

He tied off her cord and together we cut the cord.
We then weighed Marlena and were shocked that she was the same birth weight as Jacobi,our 39 weeker/homebirth baby.
She seemed so tiny,so we wondered where she put those 8 1/2 pounds!
I measured her head circumference-it was 13.25...not all that big.

Matt held Marlena while I quickly used the restroom.

We marveled for a few moments over how incredible her birth was,how perfect she was.

"You did awesome.I'm proud of you" Matt said to me

He tucked us into bed and we all tried to get some much needed rest.

Marlena Suzanne
Born 8.31.2013 at 12:20 AM
8 lbs 8 oz 19.5 inches long

My experience of having a freebirth-
You know,it wasn't right away that I even thought about "how" I'd given birth.
Even as I write this and finish it up 10 days after Marlena's birth,it doesn't seem like it should be such a big deal.
While to some people the idea of unassisted birth is so "daring" or "brave"...maybe even "careless" or "risky",to me it was just birth.
It was a woman having a baby.
It was just normal and natural-no super hero feat.
It wasn't to keep up with a growing "trend" or prove anything.

The politics of how I gave birth mean nothing-not to anyone else.
What matters is that the natural,physiological process was unhindered and our needs were honored and respected.
For our healthy birth,this was essential.

There was so much thought,education and prayer involved.
I grew so much from this experience-and I know without a doubt that it was best for Marlena and I-spiritually,emotionally and physically.

Top 5 Newborn Routine Procedures to Reconsider + Bonuses!

Though routine,some of the most common newborn procedures can be unnecessary and carry risks.
It is also common for many parents to not be given adequate information about these procedures,therefore they aren't able to make fully informed choices regarding the health of their newborn.

Hopefully this simplified list of things to consider can help!


1.) Immediate Cord Clamping

Even though research indicates that a physiological third stage and delayed cord clamping are healthiest for mom and baby in nearly every situation,many care providers still clamp and cut the umbilical cord immediately following delivery.

This is not an evidence based practice and is NOT beneficial to your baby.
Ideally,it is best to wait until the cord has stopped pulsating and all the blood has transferred from the placenta to the baby.
This extra blood belongs to the baby and it should be standard practice to allow the baby what is his/hers.
This oxygenated blood aids the baby in a smooth transition to taking their first breaths and finding balance outside the womb.
Additionally,babies who are allowed their full blood volume have better iron levels later on.

You can read more about Delayed cord clamping here:

http://www.moreorlesscrunchy.com/2012/06/considering-delayed-cord-clamping.html

http://www.pediatricsdigest.mobi/content/117/4/1235.full

http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/

http://cord-clamping.com/


2.) Vitamin K Shot

Vitamin K-presumably given to newborns to prevent issues with an inability of the blood to clot.
Because newborns are born with a lowered level of vit k,physicians feel it's appropriate to give a synthetic dose of vitamin k at birth-even though it's perfectly normal throughout civilization for all newborns to be born with these "lowered",yet normal levels of vitamin k.
Over a weeks time after birth,babies will naturally and gradually increase their levels.

Synthetic vitamins are known to cause harm,and yet the Vitamin K shot is given to newborns,despite their fragile livers are not yet developed enough to handle the high dosage given.

There are some indications to be aware of-a traumatic/forceps assisted delivery,circumcision  (In and of itself a routine procedure to skip!) and other events may increase the risks of blood clotting issues.
Mothers can naturally aid in the Vitamin K levels by eating dark leafy greens,as well as possibly consuming an alfalfa supplement during the last weeks of pregnancy.

You can read more about the Vitamin K shot here:

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/skip-that-newborn-vitamin-k-shot/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/03/27/high-risks-to-your-baby-from-vitamin-k-shot-they-dont-warn-you-about.aspx

http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/newborn-vitamin-k.html

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/enews/enews0344.asp


3.) Eye Ointment

Prophylactic Eye Ointment-administered to newborns to prevent Gonorrhea from being passed to them from their infected mother.

YEP.

So,unless you are at risk for this sexually transmitted infection,there is no need to subject your newborn to an antibiotic ointment designed to prevent blindness from Gonorrhea.

You can read more about Eye Ointment here:

http://evidencebasedbirth.com/is-erythromycin-eye-ointment-always-necessary-for-newborns/

http://childbirth.amuchbetterway.com/newborn-baby-eye-drops-explained/

http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/silver-nitrate.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/026533_eye_antibiotic_silver.html


4.) First Bath

Many people feel that babies need to be wiped down and cleaned ASAP.
This isn't true-and in fact by doing so,we interfere with the "here I am" reconnection of mama and baby.
There are many benefits to keeping baby "as is",fresh from the womb.
Vernix (the goopy white coating on newborns) is not only a beautiful moisturizer,but it also contains a smell that helps mama's instinctively get to know their baby.

By rubbing the vernix in-rather than off-we not only retain the moisture in baby's skin,but also keep that fresh "newborn" smell.
First baths in the hospital are generally done using harsh (to babies!) chemical laden toxic soaps that not only strip the newborn of natural moisture,but interfere with the physiological response between mama and baby.
The same effect is received when a little cotton hat is put on your baby...here are some words from Carla Hartley,founder of Ancient Art Midwifery Institute and a wonderful friend of mine:

"The bare head (as intended) elicits bonding and nurturing behavior in everyone who gets a whiff of those pheromones but they are meant for the mamma and daddy"

You can read more about the benefits of vernix and delayed bathing here:

http://birthbliss.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/benefits-of-vernix-its-amazing-stuff/

http://raisingnaturalkids.com/2012/04/13/wait-dont-wash-that-newborn/

http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?tag=benefits-of-vernix

https://www.bestforbabes.org/booby-traps-series-why-the-newborn-bath-should-wait

Here are some additional links concerning the hatting of babies-remember,your body is all your baby needs,even if those hats seem cute!

http://birthanarchy.com/hat-hat-strange-conundrum

http://progressive-parenting.com/2012/04/24/three-things-we-need-to-stop-doing-to-newborns/


5.) Hepatitis B shot

A vaccine for a sexually transmitted disease.
Unless your baby is sexually active or shooting up with dirty needles,chances are he/she is not at risk for what this vaccine is intending to prevent.
Newborns have enough going on without further corrupting their delicate immune systems.
Please research this thoroughly before allowing it....remember,it doesn't have to be done in the hospital and delaying it can never do harm.
There is also an increased risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) with the administration of the Hep B vaccine.

You can learn more about the Hep B shot here:

http://vactruth.com/2013/07/24/hepatitis-b-vaccine-deaths/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/11/03/hepatitis-b-vaccines-at-birth.aspx

http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-Your-Newborn-Need-the-Hepatitis-B-Vaccine?&id=598864


And,since this post should have been called:
"Top 6 Newborn Routine Procedures to Reconsider"


Presenting for your consideration:


6.)ROUTINE INFANT CIRCUMCISION

Circumcision.
You might have your mind made up.You may already have a circumcised son.You may have decided to keep your son intact.
Maybe you're on the fence or you'd like to learn more.

The truth is,there are a lot of myths surrounding "reasons" to circumcise.
If you've read my blog,you may know that I chose to have my first four sons circumcised.Now,I use "chose" very loosely because I honestly didn't know much truth or facts about circumcision.
This topic could turn into a full post,so I'm going to try and keep it simple with some added links to help you.

Basically,the foreskin DOES have a function.
We are told that it's "just a piece of skin" and that the baby "won't remember a thing or feel pain".
Neither of those statements are true-that piece of skin has about 20,000 nerve endings,enhances sexual pleasure and provides protection for the glans/head of the penis to prevent it from callousing.

"Baby won't remember a thing or feel pain"....there is evidence that psychologically,any trauma to the body is stored as an association.The actual memory may not be clear,but emotional damage occurs when any living creature of ANY age experiences trauma or pain.
Research also shows that babies feel pain as intensely as adults and,because the newborn is unable to understand what has happened,the pain scale may be worse than that of an older person who can understand.
The "healing" of circumcision is done without pain medication and in a feces and urine soaked diaper-many baby boys cry out for days each time they urinate.

Not all physicians use anesthetic when performing a circumcision.
There are many complications that can arise just from the procedure.
117 baby boys die every year from circumcision complications.
80% of the worlds men are intact.
The number of boys being circumcised in the United States is dropping!

There are many,many "reasons" given for the amputation of the foreskin-I promise that soon I will write up a detailed post going over them.
For now,I will leave you with some links to browse,and a final word:

"It can always be done later....but it can never be undone"

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201109/myths-about-circumcision-you-likely-believe

http://www.circfacts.com/

http://www.drmomma.org/

http://www.savingsons.org/


Additional Tips:

Consider DELAYING any and all newborn procedures such as weighing and measuring.

A baby does well,if not best in almost all situations being close to it's mother.
Even with a baby who needs a bit of extra care,delaying cord clamping-and being skin to skin-will aid in stabilizing your baby.
Any examinations should-if possible-be done with the baby on mama.

Weighing can wait.
Any other procedures you opt to have done can wait.
Get to know your baby...the first hours after birth is when the hormone "Oxytocin" is highest.Take advantage if at all possible!

Cherry Delight Dessert

My mother always made this dessert when I was growing up and it was one of my favorites.
Even though it's been a while since I've made it myself,I thought I would share the recipe so that others could experience the scrumptious flavor too!

For the bottom layer-

2 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
2/3 cup of butter or margarine 

Press into a 13 X 9 cake pan and bake at 350 degrees until golden.

For the middle layer-

1 eight ounce packages of cream cheese-softened
3 Tablespoons of powered sugar
1 package of Cool Whip

Combine and mix well.
Spread over cooled crust.

Top layer-

I used fresh berries,cooked with a little water and cornstarch,but you can use canned cherry (or another fruit like blueberry or strawberry) pie filling.
You can also top with fresh fruit.

Organizing and De-cluttering with a Large Family

Having a large family tends to run along side having a lot of things.

Even with a fairly large home,it would be so easy to become overrun with stuff.

Because (at this point) we have all boys,there is a lot of sameness and sharing;so many trucks,cars,trains and blocks;lot's of hand me down clothing in every size.

Laundry seems to be never ending and toys are plentiful,so to keep a sense of organization,practicality and neatness,I have developed a few habits;a system if you will.

I read a book a while back that my sister in law gifted to me (A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family) and in this book,a particular paragraph stuck out and thumped me on the nose:

"Think of everything in your house as taking up square footage of your home...think of how much you spend on your mortgage or to maintain your home.Now,are those items in your house paying for the space they are using?"
These aren't the exact words the author used,but you get the point.

If I haven't used it in a year and I probably won't use it in the next year,realistically it needs to GO.

If it's broken or missing pieces it needs to GO.

If there are ten more just like it,chances are it won't be missed.

I like to take my biggest "issues" and break them down into four categories:

1.)Clothing

2.)Toys

3.)Trash

4.)Donations

In a large family too many things tends to be the biggest challenge in the home.

Every time we purchase something that comes in a large box (a toaster,toolbox,disposable diapers) I do my best to fill the box with either- A.)trash,or B.) Donations.

Broken toys,socks with holes,puzzles with missing pieces,torn coloring books,old or unneeded paperwork/bills and the like-all go into the trash box.

When it seems that a family member has too many clothes or won't wear an item they have,it goes into the donation box.The same goes for extra kitchen items,toys that don't receive enough love or books that weren't great enough to keep.

TOYS

The boys' playroom isn't always the neatest....but a few times each week we all go in the room together and pick up all the train tracks,books and stuffed animals and put them in their appropriate places.

The boys each have a large tote with their name one it-the older boys have one in each of their rooms with a few of their toys,while the youngest (Jacobi,19 mos) has one in the living room with some age appropriate toys.

We don't leave toys sitting around the house;they either get picked up and taken to the playroom or put in a toy tote.

Laundry

I am no newbie at laundry.

Thankfully my mother began teaching me at an early age all about housekeeping.

When I began thinking about all the laundry that can grow in mounds with having a large family,I was thrilled to see how the Duggar Family manages their laundry situation!

When we purchased our home,the first thing I had to have was a Family Closet<~~you can see mine here.

Once the closet was "installed" and I utilized it,the only thought I had was "How did I not have this before!"

The Family Closet is off to the right~>

Because the family closet is directly beside my open laundry area,it makes it so easy to transfer all the folded or hanging clothes right over to their respectable places.

Every large family should consider setting up a family closet-just the ease of placement alone,having everything in one spot is so convenient!

So those are my biggest tips:

Keep it simple.

Don't be afraid to throw things away or donate them!

Less really is more.

Chocolate Peanut Butter bars (not so healthy but oh so tasty!)

My husband loves chocolate.
My children love sweets.
I like Reeses Cups.

These Chocolate Peanut Butter bars may not be a healthy recipe,but they are SO melt-in-your-mouth YUMMY!

What you'll need:

For the bottom layer-
1 cup of butter melted
1 cup of peanut butter
2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
2 cups of powered sugar

Mix this together and press into the bottom of a cake pan.

For the topping-
1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)
4 tablespoons of peanut butter.

Heat the chocolate and peanut butter slowly until soft and smooth,stir it up and immediately spread it over the bottom layer in the cake pan.

Let it sit for a while so that it can set-and there you have it!

I did tweak this a little bit-I really can't stand using SO much butter,so I use a little less (about 2/3 cup) and then use a bit of water to add the additional moisture.

The most basic,healthy and tasty potato soup...

I'm not a gourmet cook.
I don't normally prepare foods that have a big list of ingredients-partly because it's a pain and partly because it's rare that I actually HAVE all the ingredients.
I also live by the mantra "Less is more" and it's cheaper......

I love potato soup.

I love to save money.

I love BASIC.EASY.SIMPLE.QUICK. meals.

So,this recipe is so easy I almost feel ridiculous sharing it.















(I must add that I don't generally follow recipes necessarily and I like to just "toss" things together;however I will do my best with sharing how much I used!)

Easy Potato soup
2 pounds of potatoes,peeled and diced.
3 large carrots,sliced thin.
1-2 large stalks of celery,cut into small pieces.
1 large onion,diced small.
Salt to taste.

I cook all of the vegetables in a generous amount of water (I like a lot of broth) until softened.

Sometimes I add some saltine crackers for added flavor,but I also like the soup plain.

When I make soup,I normally bake some homemade bread or biscuits.
You can find my favorite bread recipe HERE

The aftermath of postpartum depression

I have been thinking about writing this for a while now.

The word "aftermath" suggests that there is an end to postpartum depression.

I want to be very clear on something..for me postpartum depression hasn't just "gone away".
What I mean is that although I have found some relief from the intensity of the symptoms,I don't believe that I will ever fully be "over" the impact it has had on my life.

I struggled with PPD for almost two years of my life;nine months of that was actually perinatal depression (while I was pregnant).

For two years my life was disrupted;turned upside down in a way that you don't just "recover" from overnight.

I can't speak for all women either;there's a good chance that every woman experiences things vastly different than I have.
I believe that PPD runs it's course uniquely with each individual woman;some possibly never get "over" it and some have highs and lows that linger for years.

I don't know for sure what caused my PPD...I imagine that it was a cocktail of things:
The hormones from pregnancy and birth;from breastfeeding and the return of my menstrual cycle postpartum.
It may have been related to my unrealistic expectations of myself;the perfectionist that I pressured myself to be.
It wouldn't be far fetched to suggest that environmental stressors-relationships,parenting,poor diet-all had something to do with it.

The thing I can be sure of though,is that it wasn't my fault.

All of those racing thoughts in my head;the negative self talk.....those things were not "realistic" and they weren't fair.

I feel that our culture puts so much pressure on new moms and unlike other countries around the world,the U.S and other developed cultures has the highest and most severe rates of PPD in the world.
We don't support each other;we don't look out for new moms and young families.

Responsibility for the family tends to fall exactly there: on the family.

It's not ideal to have no support and to have all the added pressure of jumping right back up and continuing to manage life as if you didn't just give birth.

We abuse the postpartum period-the Babymoon-by suggesting that it's a weakness to lay around with our new baby;it makes us a failure to ask for help with our other children;we're lazy if all of the household chores aren't done in those early weeks.

When I sought out help for my PPD,it took me months to find someone who would even work with me financially.
This type of battle just to get support made my struggle with PPD worse...I felt so alone-even more so than I did before I decided to seek help.

My mind is a bit clearer now and I have found the courage to stop the negative self talk.
I've gotten my perfectionism under better control and I'm able to forgive myself for not being "perfect".

The journey I have had with PPD will forever affect the way I think;it has made me more aware of what mental illnesses can be like and the frustrations of not getting help when you need it most.

There is no guarantee that postpartum depression won't rear it's ugly head again....and that bothers me.


I have found some powerful tools that have helped me overcome the worst of it in the past-the most powerful tool of all is seeking love and strength through the Lord.
I learned to stop often,not just during times of anxiety or sadness;I would stop and say a little prayer asking for guidance and support.


I wish that I could reach out to all of the women who battle PPD and hold them,pray with them.

PPD isn't fake,it doesn't mean that you are weak.....it means that you are trying to be too strong and you need more time and support.

I don't understand the lack of support;why is there no help available for women with a very real,very serious need.
In a country with all the medical technology who spends more money on "health" than any other country in the world,how do we NOT have help ready for these women?

The reality is that these women normally struggle alone.

I implore all of you reading this:
If you know a new mom or a mom who seems to be struggling with a full plate,reach out.
Pay attention to how she's feeling,ask her what she needs.

Most women who have PPD don't ask for help;they often don't even know what is "wrong" with them.

As human beings we owe it to our mama's,babies and families to pay attention and help one another.

It's the worst place in the world to be when it feels like no one is there.

What's in my kitchen that feeds a family of six for $450 per month?

In a post I wrote one year ago,I mentioned how we don't spend as much as the average family the size of ours does on food each month.

Last year that amount was $400.
I will be honest and say that due to inflation and with our youngest now eating solids-and drinking Almond milk frequently,our food budget has increased slightly.
I still get away with less than $450 easily though.

Let's start with the types of things I buy and the different foods/dishes I prepare with them.
*Keep in mind that we are vegetarians,so some of these may seem unfamiliar or need modifications*


The staple items I buy are:


Potatoes-both white and sweet.
Whole wheat pasta
Brown rice
Whole oats
Dried beans
Organic Tofu
Almond milk-both vanilla and plain
Non-hydrogenated butter
Frozen Vegetables-broccoli,carrots,peas,spinach,brussel sprouts-corn in moderation
Canned foods-mushrooms,olives
Fresh fruits-oranges,bananas,apples-occasionally pears or in-season fruits
Whole grain/whole wheat breads-loaves,hamburger buns-occasional hotdog buns
Fresh vegetables-green/yellow/red/orange peppers,onions,cucumber,carrots,spinach,romaine lettuce,celery-others when in-season (asparagus for example) and others only when on sale or as needed (tomato,avocado,broccoli,squash)
Occasionally crackers for the kiddos (even though they are pretty much void of nutrients....)
Popcorn-learning to opt for organic.
Some cold cereals-cheerios,shredded wheat,raisin bran.
Taco stuff-tortilla shells,hard shell tacos
Peanut butter

******************************
Now,we do eat some dairy still-but as I will talk about later,dairy products can not only be not-so-great for you,but they also can make the cash register go "cha-ching!"

Eggs
Yogurt
Cheese
Occasionally we also buy coffee creamer as my hubby dearly loves his cup-o-joe.
Rare ice cream-mostly around birthdays.

******************************
I also go to each of our local health food stores every few months-this is the part where you may feel a bit lost,so I'll try to explain as best I can!

Dehydrated soy protein-this comes in many 'flavors' and naturally 'dyed' colors/textures.
Canned veggie 'meats'-these are various things-some are patties,hotdogs,'scallops' and the like.
'Chicken' and 'beef' seasoning
Bulk flour (whole wheat and whole wheat pastry)
Organic Corn meal
Raw Cane Sugar (although I do still use regular white sugar in a pinch!)
Vegan shortening



What do I fix?




Breakfasts are normally:
A fresh fruit
Either toast,cereal,oatmeal
Sometimes yogurt or an egg.

Lunches are:
The kids like 'basic' lunches-
PB&J,pasta,tacos,grilled cheese,homemade pizza or even 'breakfast' foods from the above list.
Hubby likes baked potatoes,rice+tofu,pasta,tacos
I happen to love sweet potatoes.

Suppers/meals I fix and we use the leftovers for the next day (or two,or three!)

I like to make chili-I use dried beans,my own canned tomatoes,dehydrated soy protein (looks like beef!).
I make my own loaves of bread (I have a favorite recipe and make a braided bread loaf)
I sometimes make 'oat burgers' from whole oats,onions and seasonings-then bake in 'patties'.
I make my own 'chicken' noodle-using dehydrated soy protein,'chicken' seasoning,carrots,celery,onions and noodles.
I make a huge pot of potato soup-potatoes,onions,carrots,celery...then just add a few seasonings.
I make my own pancakes/waffles.
I make my own 'vegan' cookies-you can't even tell there's no eggs!
I make fresh banana bread frequently with 'too-far-gone' banana's
I will use dehydrated soy protein with tomato paste/seasonings to make homemade sloppy joes.
I make my own cornbread

For the most part,I try to make things when they are 'in-season'...like strawberry shortcake in July,blueberry cobbler in August,raspberry crunch in September,apple pies in October-but I also make sure to purchase extra fresh fruits during those times to freeze for later use!
We eat a lot of zucchini and summer squash in the summer!

I can my own spaghetti sauce,applesauce,pickles,jams,tomatoes and green beans-this comes in handy since I don't have to BUY these things!

making applesauce!

I make nearly everything from scratch.
I buy in bulk.
I stock up when it's on sale.
I keep it fairly basic.




********************************
I will admit that there are months where I sit back and say "How did we spend almost $200 more on groceries this month?!?"
Then I remember-
The package of cookies,the extra yogurt,the juices,the potato chips we inhaled,the canned soup instead of making my own,the ice cream treats or a 'convenience' meal.


These things add up.

And it's OK to have convenience meals sometimes or the occasional ice cream.
But not only are these processed foods not so good for us,they are also LESS FILLING,DON'T STRETCH OUT and COST MORE PER OUNCE.

A 10 OZ bag of potato chips not on sale is an average of $3.89...a 10lb bag of potatoes? $3.99
A 36 count package of cookies is an average of $3.99...I make a full batch of 48 for less than that.

making cookies!

It really comes down to asking yourself while shopping "Do we really need this,or is it just for convenience?"

I accredit most of my budgeting success on cooking from scratch,being vegetarians and learning as I go.
Meal planning helps for some families.
I have heard there can be success in joining a co-op.
There are benefits to farmers markets or sharing fresh produce with neighbors-they grow cucumbers,you grow tomatoes and share.

I'm learning as I go here....and like I said,there have been hiccups in my budgeting!

So,those are some of my tricks and what works for me.....let me know if you have any questions!

Happy grocery budgeting!

Special needs parent's are warriors.

This is from me-the mother of a beautiful son who has autism...and it's to all the parent's out there who have a child who requires a bit more-or almost everything.

It's also to myself.


Being a parent is the biggest,most incredible thing you will ever do.
It's also one of the most challenging things you'll ever do.

And,if you're like me and are the parent of a special needs child,you understand that sometimes it's down right H.A.R.D.

From the looks in the store,the unsolicited opinions from well meaning family members-or the complete lack of acknowledgement that you are even struggling.

From the interrupted sleep,the isolation due to leaving the house sometimes seeming like a living hell-even staying home can seem like a living hell at times.

It's hard not to wish you had a typical life.

A typical child whom you can relate to and spend time with like a typical family.
A typical ability to leave the house to go typical places.

Typical.
Typical.......the more I look at that word,the sillier it looks.

While I think typical is simpler,I also think it lacks a lot.

I have heard people say "I'm glad it's you and not me" OR "I don't think I could handle a special needs child"

They think it's too hard.......and they are so right-it IS HARD.

It's so hard it sometimes sucks the breath right out of you.

You're so tired you can't even cry.
You want to defend your love for your child,but at the same time you want to scream how alone you feel.

But the saying "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" is dead on.
It might nearly kill you-or so it can feel-and being a typical family is all you will long for...because frankly,it IS simpler.

But you know what?

Simpler doesn't mean stronger in ANYTHING you do.

Bench pressing 40lbs will always be simpler than benching 100lbs.....but the more weight you add the stronger you will be.

Simpler also doesn't create the character growth that a special needs parent experiences.
Parent's of special kids have more compassion and show a greater amount of sympathy towards others than anyone I know.

They are more grateful for outside help....trust me,when you feel like you're bench pressing 489lbs,it's great to have a spotter-and I mean GREAT.
A night of quiet thanks to someone watching your child(ren) is like 400 of those pounds being taken off mid-press-you can breathe again!

Special needs parents are warriors-
In translation 'Warrior' can mean "a person who shows courage".


It takes courage.


So what I want to leave you with is that YOU my friend have COURAGE.
You are not just a special needs parent.
Not to sound cliche,but you ARE special....it's takes an awesome person to be who you are.

No matter how misunderstood or alone you feel......there are others out here-like myself- who GET IT.

And I think you are awesome because you ARE.