My Story

I thought I would start by giving my story of how I became so passionate about birth (specifically, natural birth). I remember from about Highschoool on, I always wondered what having a baby would be like. I wanted to experience it, but then again maybe not. The competitive side of me wanted to do it with no drugs if possible, but the other side of me was terrified of it! Even up until I was married and actually thinking about having kids, I was undecided as to what I wanted. Then my sister and her husband became pregnant, and they chose to use a midwife and birthing center. What? No hospital? I didn't even know that was an option! And I had never even heard of someone using a midwife before. Their decision seems to fit them well, but my husband and I were cautiously skeptical. It intrigued me even though I was undecided about the whole thing. So I decided to make my sister my guinea pig (whether she knew it or not!). I wanted to wait and see what her experience was before I made any kind of decision. I thought the same thing that everyone does, "what is something goes wrong?" Well my sister had a healthy pregnancy, a healthy delivery, and a healthy baby boy, all natural. I remember her telling me over and over how safe and comfortable she felt in the care of her midwives. She learned so much, and loved every minute of it. I remember her telling me that while she was in labor and they were on their way to the birthing center, everything changed once they got there. She said she walked in the door, and all her stress and anxiety melted away. She knew she was going to be taken care of. So not only did her stroy have an impact on me, but we got the chance to visit her at the birthing center. Both me and my husband were shocked when we walked through the doors. It was incredible! It was nice, clean, comfortable, welcoming, and more inviting than any hospital I have ever been in! After that my husband and I both decided this is what we want for when we had kids.

So the time came when I became pregnant. I knew what I wanted by this time, but we still went in for an interview with the midwife. If I had any doubts before she put them all to rest. I remember her saying things like, "Birth can have a huge impact on how a family begins. It can start you on the right or wrong foot very easily," "I don't deliever the baby, YOU deliever the baby," and " GIving birth is a huge accomplishment, you should have a little bragging rights." I loved her attitude and her compitance. The birthing class we chose to do was the Bradley Method. Through this class and our time with our midwives I began to see that I was totally and completley capable of giving birth naturally. God designed me (and all women) physically, mentally, and emotionally to give birth. I had all that was necessary simply because I was a woman! This was God's plan all along. Birth wasn't something to fear, or avoid, it was what God intend from the very beginning. Our Bradley class was not a bible based class, but i felt that the ideas and principles behind it fit easily into God's design for women, men, and families. I trully felt by giving birth naturally I was fulfilling God's desire for me and my baby.

I had a 23 hour labor. My contractions where 3 minutes apart from when labor started. It was a long, long labor! But I am here to tell you that it can be done. I did the entire thing naturally, and I would never go back on my decision. I loved my experience, and the blessings far out way any benefit I would have gained if I had chosen to numb the pain. This is why I am so passionate about natural birth. It has had a profound impact on me and many other woman that I know. I know many women can't have a natural birth for medical reasons, but I trully feel that this is God's original design for women, and we miss out on the blessings if we choose a different path just to avoid pain.