Monday
Aug162010
Monday Open Thread
Monday, August 16, 2010 at 1:05PM
This week’s thread is hosted by the Bradley book guy. What’s going on? How about delurking in honor of the blog’s second anniversary?
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Reader Comments (42)
You know, when I teach my Bradley classes, my students and I always get a good laugh out of the fact that all of the women in Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way are naked and anatomically correct, but all of the guys have to wear clothing. I do think it's a bit strange to have all of the women naked, but I'm thankful that the men aren't. I have trouble enough shopping for underwear for my husband because I don't like looking at other men's anatomy. To actually have naked men in that book that I had to look at when I taught classes would be too much!
Jill, other Unnecesarean contributors, and other bloggers that I have discovered through this blog,
[I started writing this comment in response to the anniversary post... I think it might be better placed in the open thread!]
I want to thank you for helping me along this still new terrain (to me) of perinatal health and advocacy. It was just a year ago that I became interested in alternative medecine, holistic health, and that a strong interest in sexual and reproductive health education blossomed into something so much more profound.
Unlike many birth advocates and perinatal health enthousiasts, I have yet to be pregnant and give birth. Although many have questioned this passion, I believe that I have stumbled upon the path I had been looking for since I played obstetrician as a child. A path that is bringing me on a wonderful journey into aspects forgotten - in mainstream and especially by young/pre-childbearing women - about women.
Over this past year, I have become a doula-in-training, supported a labouring woman and her partner, befriended many women who inspire me with their birth stories, life values and choices. I'm also one of the founding members of a new organization in Montréal, Québec, Canada, seeking to inform and provide resources for women who want to have a VBAC (french: AVAC... organization: AVAC-Info... website: http://www.avac-info.org). Through this organization, I am also working with the group that will present the first Québec - and french canadian - editions of Karen Brody's play, Birth (http://www.boldaction.org). The first presentation of "Naissance" will take place in Québec-city, during the international conference on optimal perinatal care: "Birthing the World" (http://www.enfanterlemonde.com/home.aspx)... which I also hope to attend (and perhaps be involved in).
Every time I come across a "new" blog, discover a group or organization or meet individuals involved in perinatal health, I am astounded and inspired by their dedication and passion. I have a great appreciation for this tight-knit, connected community that spans large physical distances and socio-cultural differences. I love knowing that "someone understands" that I seriously consider and want to birth at home and that I encourage midwifery.
Although you didn't know me until today, you have supported me throughout these first few months of my journey. Thank you!
Angie, I'm right there with you in feeling grateful for the shorts.
I am so grateful to the couples in that book and others who offered up their nakedness and births to educate other people. I'd never do it but I am so glad someone was willing to. I didn't take Bradley classes... just had the book among many others.
A friend who had a baby one year before me let me borrow a week-by-week in pictures pregnancy book. We were e-mailing back and forth and we mentioned the picture of the naked woman in labor. She e-mailed back that they make you strip down naked at the hospital before you give birth. I believed her until she wrote back a few minutes later that she was kidding. I was pretty clueless.
Sarah, I remember your e-mail awhile back. Thank you for your comment! Congratulations on getting your site live. I'll link it on Facebook right now.
Happy anniversary!
Whenever I say that, I think of the Magnetic Fields song "I think I need a new heart", which is a really depressing song, and not really appropriate for a blogiversary. So, I made a music post on my blog and included it, since it fits in with my life.
Thank you, Hilary! I don't remember you posting that one. Nice work on your new article, btw. :)
Happy 2 years! I been lurking on your blog for awhile now and enjoy the dialogue in the comments section. It's a fantastic resource. I didn't have a cesarean, but I did have a shitty hospital experience, where I was induced. I've since gone on to have 2 more babies at home with midwives. It's funny, before I had kids I would have never seen myself as a homebirther or someone who lets their babies self-wean, yet here I am. So that's my story in a nutshell and I'm officially out of lurkdom!
Right on, Fonda! Nice to meet you.
Happy Blogiversary! And that goes for you too, Magnum P.I.! I seriously can't believe it's been only 2 years.
Congrats on two years! I don't remember how I found this site when I was pregnant last year, but I know that I spent many hours here and it was an invaluable resource. Through this site and others like it I was able to convince myself that birth would be great and I Could Do It without interventions. And it was great, and I can't wait to do it again. Thanks!!!
Congrats on 2 years Jill! I had a c-section with my first and gave birth to an almost 10 lb baby after 40 hours of labor (VBAC) with my second. This site and other internet info gave me the courage to try when all the hospitals and many people in my area told me it was a terrible idea and made it as difficult as possible! Thank you!
Happy Anniversary!
Happy anniversary, Jill and team! Thanks for all you do-- from cutting-edge commentary, facts, advice, historical tidbits, absurd graphery and a place to blow off steam and shake our fists at the world-- I love it all. I'd buy you all a drink if I could... or give you a slew of baseball cupcakes since I made far too many for my son's b'day this weekend. ;)
I am also delurking to wish you a happy anniversary. Thank you! I don't miss a post.
Four years ago with my first, I appeared at the hospital at 9 cm. I had wanted to stay home "as long as possible" because I knew that my OB and hospital were not supportive of natural birth and I was too chicken to switch to a midwife when I realized this at 30 weeks. Hypnobabies worked beautifully for me and I was almost complete when I arrived. Despite (because of?) that, I was treated horribly by all the hospital staff, including the on-call OB, during the (thankfully) short time I was in their "care." My next child (now 9 months old) was born at home with a midwife.
So now I find myself with a serious birth-advocacy habit, but no desire to become a midwife or a doula. What's a girl to do?
Hi Levers,
It's a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for delurking!
Wish I had an answer for you. :)
Jill
Happy 2nd Anniversary!!! I'm delurking too :) I sit here 39+5 weeks contemplating the fact that I might be pregnant forever. I am very fortunate that I literally fell into midwifery care with my first pregnancy. I didn't know where to find a dr (I was in a new town) and it was easier to find midwives online. The entire experience was amazing, from the first prenatal appointment to our final appointment at 6 weeks old. The birth was amazing, the hospital experience (after the midwives went home) left something to be desired and we were checked out well before he was 24 hours old. Since his birth I've become a bit of a birth junkie, fascinated with all that birth entails in today's world. We're having this babe at home and I'm really looking forward to it. We're ready, but this baby is not! My first was born at 39 weeks, so I kind of feel like I'm overdue, even though in the logical part of my brain I know that normal is a range that extends past 40 weeks. I'm so horrible at being patient and waiting. One of the things that I'm looking forward to the most is the after baby meal that we have planned :) My hubby is making eggs benedict. Yum! (One of my many frustrations with the hospital was the food, 'cause I was starving after DS was born, but the food was horrid).
Anyway, all this to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog and find all the info very fascinating and sometimes alarming. Thanks for all that you do!!
Happy anniversary (blogiversary, as I've seen some write?) Jill!
Thanks for all you do!
Anne, thanks for reading and contributing. I appreciate your insightful comments.
Wendy, nice to meet you! I'm almost positive you won't be pregnant forever... August pregnancies just feel that way. :)
Have a lovely birth and thank you for reading.
Thank you Jill for unflinchingly telling it like it is, providing your readers with evidence-based information, and just being a cool bloggin' mama. With gratitude, the folks at Where's My Midwife?