I am strong because I wasn’t afraid to get pregnant, even though I have Type 1 Diabetes. I am strong because I have never been healthier than when I was pregnant. I am strong because I advocated for myself when the nurses said my blood pressure was nothing to worry about. I am strong because I admitted myself to a…
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Breastfeeding Rights: On Being Asked to ‘Cover Up’ By a Home Depot Employee
I noticed how polished she was. Flirting with a guy who was loitering around the taco truck and asking her again when she got off work. She said, “Nine.” I considered complimenting her on her perfect ankle boots. I sat down on the gray wooden box that probably holds pylons or road salt (but wait – it’s California – no…
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Loving My Body {One Scar at a Time}
My fourth baby, an attempted VBA2C, left me with my final scar of childbirth. After 3 premature deliveries, progesterone shots allowed me to carry to 38 weeks 6 days. Labour began on its own and after a stalled labour, forehead presentation and Bandels Ring I delivered by a calm and quiet c-section, the final chapter in my family’s growth. I…
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Hospital Trauma and Healing at Home: A Story of Two Births (Part II)
Pregnancy and/or Parenting Through Adoption/Infertility/Loss blogger Sarah Robertson-Barnes shared the story of her first birth yesterday – a hospital birth which left her feeling guilty, dehumanized, and depressed and which she chronicled on her blog, Little Chicken Nuggets. Today, she shares the victorious, redemptive experience of her second birth, midwife-attended and completed at home. You can read the first part of her…
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Logan’s Birth Story {Med-Free Hospital Birth}
My husband and I had been through two early pregnancy losses before we found out I was expecting again. The early days of my pregnancy were full of fear and living with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which meant weeks of endless nausea, vomiting, dehydration, IV treatments and needle pokes from a Zofran pump. Around 16 weeks that subsided, and at 20 weeks…
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Wyatt’s Birth Story {Fast Birth Story}
“This is the story of my middle child, Wyatt’s birth, as told via email September 2010. A treasured memory I will relive in my heart many times over. Many thanks for all you support & inspire!” -Kristin So, any of you that know me at all, know that the fact that i’m emailing you at 5:30 am could only mean one thing- BABY WYATT…
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Calm Water Birth {Every Little Thing Is Going To Be Alright}
According to my dates and cycle tracking my “due” date was August 27th, but I knew that I would go past that date. I had my heart set on a September baby this time, with good logic… “If their birthdays will only be about 2 weeks apart, then I want them to at least have their own months.” So as…
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My Fearless Birth {Home birth turned hospital}
My wife, Jenny, and I tried for two years getting pregnant, so when we found out on our 2 year anniversary trip that I was pregnant we were more than excited! I had known since we started trying that I wanted a home birth. I educated myself as best I could. I started taking a Hypnobabies class, hired a midwife and…
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A Beautiful Family Home Birth/Baby Caught by Grandmother {Graphic Emergence Photos}
I am so blessed with my children. They really have an amazing bond and as I try to tell Clara’s birth I realize that their bond started with the very first home they each occupied, my womb. I realize that much of what made Clara’s birth so amazing was what I learned from giving birth to Jesse, so I think…