My Birthing Journey Continues....

I had to have my glucose test done by a doctor in Altus. It wasn't quite what I was expecting....... it ended up being a therapy session.
I was immediately fond of him and felt like I was talking to a close friend. He actually apologized and said, "sorry I'm talking like I've know you forever." (crazy thing....he actually practiced in MS for 4 years)

He wanted to know where I was going to give birth and my response was....I'm still undecided, but probably at home.

Really, can we talk about it?

I would love to!

This was perfect, insights from a genuine doctor that would not be bias at all...after all he wasn't trying to convince me to deliver at his hospital since I'm leaving next week.

Our conversation went a little something like this....

Why home birth?

Natural is definitely the very best for me and the baby because...

No no...I know natural is the best, but why natural at home?

Oh...we could be here all day. Mainly because I don't believe birth should be treated like a life threatening emergency, it's a natural process that women have been doing since the beginning of time without unnecessary interventions which usually leads to some sort of problems.

I already tried to have a natural birth in the hospital and I know many women do it, but I don't guess I'm cut out for it. I could not even begin to get in a comfortable laboring position with all the contraptions all over my body!

I want to be comfortable so I can labor properly and my baby can have a gentle birth, not a traumatic birth and then separated from me.....with my last child, I had to pay $300 to keep him in my room. Hospitals have some bizarre procedures and they often have to do what's convenient for them and not what's best for the mom and baby.

Well then! I have to admit that midwives are better at making labor easier than hospitals, and we should only be there for emergencies but it's not the way things are....unfortunately. But, If it wasn't for OBs and technology many babies would die.

Oh, don't get me wrong...I'm very thankful for OBs, but I agree they should be used for emergencies not normal, healthy deliveries.

Do you want my opinion?

Of course!

If I had to pick an ideal home birth candidate.....you are definitely it.


You are healthy,


No pregnancy risk, such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes,


You have had two vaginal births with no complications,


 and you seem to know your stuff.




But let me ask you one question. If something went wrong would you want to sue your midwife?

Absolutely not, home birth is my choice.

Plus, I feel confident in my midwife. She has an emergency transport plan and her transport rate is extremely low....not to mention, I'm only 15 miles from the hospital.

That's close enough for most emergencies.

What emergency is your biggest concern...Shoulder Dystocia?

Definitely, sometimes you only have minutes!

Isn't it true that shoulder dystocia only happens in less than 1% of all births?

Yes.....I'm not trying to scare you, but you could be that one percent....then what?

Is it true that 95% of all women have a birth with NO complications?

Yes....but that still leaves a chance that you will have a medical emergency.

I would rather you deliver at a birthing center. It gives you everything you want plus immediate emergency care....just in case.

That would be great, but the closest one is over 3 hours away......delivering in the car would be more dangerous.

People do home birth everyday, but if you are in the small percentage and something goes terribly wrong, WILL YOU HAVE REGRETS?

I will consider all your advice....thank you so much!



WILL I HAVE REGRETS???

Of course. If something went wrong I would have regrets and play the what if game, but I would do the same thing if something went wrong in the hospital....wouldn't every mother???

Knowing everything I know at this point, I realize I took risk with my first two deliveries .....

Induction could have ruptured my uterus, increased postpartum blood loss, and doubled my chance of having a cesarean.

The longer intense contractions from pitocin could have interfered with the flow of oxygen-rich blood through the placenta to the fetus.

Having my water broke could have caused the umbilical cord to fall out of the cervix below the baby's head, which can be life-threatening.

The epidural increased my chance of a forceps/ vacuum delivery, possibly caused a dramatic drop in blood pressure,  given my baby breathing difficulties, and in a very rare case (one in five thousand) result in a maternal death or paralysis.

It seems to me there are risks with any birthing choice, so why not choose the one that I'm most comfortable with....the one that is led by my heart.

I know home birth is not for everyone, and I'm not saying that a hospital birth is the wrong choice......I just think it's the wrong choice for me.

When I daydream about the day Josie is born, I don't picture this

but quite the contrary.....

I dream of a gentle birth and precious bonding!

Until Next Time...........

Walk the Walk

Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you think about the important role you play as a parent?  I know I sure do! I know I could preach until I'm blue in the face, but what good does that serve?

I know my children will do as they see, no matter what I say!

I pray for God to give me the wisdom to teach my children the way to live as Christ, but also to know when I need to make a change!!



We go to the park at least 3-4 times a week and every time we arrive it's literally a landfill! It looks like a bomb went off.....no one knows the use of a garbage can! Drinks are everywhere, which Chase feels the need to taste test each one...GRODY ODY!! McDonald bags cover the benches and there is enough soda cans to attach to every newlywed car in town.....not the ideal picnic for kiddos but whatever!

I found myself complaining every morning while I cleaned up the park and then I noticed Colby doing the same...IT HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS! Not only was I not living out my faith.....

Do everything without complaining or arguing. Philippians 2:14


But I was failing at guiding my son down the right path!


Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6


God gave me the wisdom to know I was in the wrong! Instead of teaching my children to complain about the mess, I could use the situation as a life lesson!


I turned my frown upside down and had a little pow-wow with my boys! I explained that nothing good ever comes from complaining and that's why God tells us to steer clear of the ugly habit. Then, we discussed how we could be good citizens and clean up the mess with a joyful heart. 


I also informed them that some people are just wrong by accident since no one has taught them the right thing to do, but since we know we should take care of the place God gave us to live....it's our responsibility to clean up nasty litter!


It worked like a charm and now Colby goes out of his way to pick up litter and does it with a happy heart!!

I guess it pays to walk the walk if I'm going to talk the talk!

My Birthing Journey

Baby girl will be joining our family in about 3 months so there will be lots of birth talk going on at the Jones Journey!! If you aren't really into birthing chit chat you might want to take a little break from my blog and pick back up sometime in October when the madness kicks off of raising 3 bambinos under the age of three .....wowzers!!

Where do I begin?

I have been on a journey the last few months, trying to figure out what I want when it comes to bringing my precious baby girl into this world!

When Colby was born I was CLUELESS, to say the least! I'm ashamed to say, but I just did what everyone else seemed to be doing, and I trusted every single thing I heard.

I was STUPID!

I knew that natural birth was the very best for the baby and me, and I honestly thought I could just beep bop into the hospital and breath my way through labor and have this amazing experience of natural childbirth.....STUPID!

I didn't prepare AT ALL.....STUPID!

My doctor was going out of town and since it was a few days before Christmas, he encouraged me to be induced. I figured why not.....STUPID! I wasn't dilated at all, which means Colby wasn't ready yet...why was I in such a hurry? I went along with it and had no idea that pitocin practically makes a natural childbirth impossible.....I told you I didn't prepare at all!

Once the pitocin was started, the contractions were unbearable! Needless to say I got an epidural at 4 cm. I progressed somewhat slow (effects of an epidural and laying on your back during labor) and at 4:00 my doctor suggested c-section talk if little squirt didn't get the show on the road.....thank goodness Colby graced us with his presence at 4:29!!!

Colby came out drugged and was too lethargic to breastfeed and then they swept him away from my arms and into transitional care for 3 hours what just happens to be crucial birth bonding time. Three hours away from the only familiar thing he had known for 9 months and the only person who could comfort him and make him feel safe in this new world....makes me so sad!

I had breastfeeding difficulties for weeks, and it was all due to unnecessary interventions.

Although it was an unforgettable, exuberant moment when Colby was born, it wasn't the birthing experience I desired. I always felt like God meant for it to be so much more! I honestly feel in my heart that God created labor for a very special purpose, and somehow we have messed it up!

Round two....I started preparing from day one! I wanted a natural birth and at this point I felt confident and prepared to conquer!!

I was not going to be induced, I wanted God to choose my baby's birthday, no one else! My water started leaking through the night and I had a small gush of water at 9:00am, but it never completely broke. I stayed home to labor so I could avoid hospital interventions, such as  an IV, constant fetal monitoring, pitocin, etc.

Around 2:00 the contractions still weren't very intense and my bag of waters still had not broke. My doctor was concerned of getting an infection and advised me to come to the hospital. I was progressing extremely slow and the fear of Chase getting an infection caused me to relinquish to the doctor and start potocin. I still wanted to give natural birth a shot but the circumstances made me cave at 8cm....right when transition was beginning. You can read the entire birth story here.

Again, the moment Chase was placed on my chest was incredible, and I accepted that my birth plan did not go as I intended, but I focused my whole heart and soul on the God given gift that stared right at my face and melted me on the spot!

Round three....here we go!

Yes, my plan is a natural birth! I'm even more prepared this go round and I think this might be it!! This is my last pregnancy, and definitely something I passionately desire to experience and give to my baby!

Call me a hippie but I want Josie born drug free, in a

LOVING

CALMING

PEACEFUL

environment!

Especially, since it doesn't just determine a good or bad day on her birthday....it actually effects her entire life!

This story tells exactly why........What natural childbirth means to your baby. (I love how beautifully it describes the difference in a home birth and a hospital birth!)

The hard part has been trying to decide the best way to accomplish my goal.

Hospitals make it almost impossible.....
(Everyone should watch business of being born....here are a few clips)




so I started searching out more birthing options!

Baton Rouge has a birthing center that would be ideal but it's a little over 3 hours away.....still an option!

Home birth is also an option, it's actually my most favorable at the moment! I have spoke with several mommies who have had a home birth and just listening to their experience gives me chills and inspires me.......it's exactly what I want!

My friend Madeline has a beautiful home birth story and I have an appointment to meet with her midwife. I already fell in love with her on the phone and I can't wait to meet her! I love the fact that she loves the Lord and believes that natural birth is a gift from God. When I was talking with her, I felt like she was an answered prayer!

 We shall see where this journey takes our family!

Until Next Time...........