Confession #1 - I'm pregnant!
Confession #2 - Although we do not make many purchases of material things, we shop at thrift stores, we try to eat organic, we line dry our clothes, etc., I have never used cloth diapers until today. We finally made the investment! I never did it because I kept thinking we were done having kids. Now that it looks like we're catching up with the Duggars, no excuses!
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| Taven didn't really like the sudden switch. Yes, he has a black eye. |
Confession #3 - I have my babies in hospitals and I love epidurals! Sorry homebirth folks, this is something I am not changing. I've had the same doctor deliver all of my 3 children. They were all delivered vaginally with no screaming involved. That's the way I like it.
Confession #4 - I have never breastfed for very long (a few months with my first was the longest). My excuses were that it hurt like a bitch (I guess they didn't always latch on correctly), I am quite modest and do not like breastfeeding in public, and I was always working. With this baby, I am going to try my best to breastfeed for as long as possible.
Well I'm trying to think of more, but I guess that's it. Oh wait! I never made my own baby food! Anyway, I would like to thank the blogging community for inspiring these changes in me. Although I always felt a little guilty about some of my choices, I never had many people around who did things the way I felt they should be done. I only knew 2 people in "real" life who used cloth diapers, hardly anyone who breastfed long, and almost everyone has an epidural! If they don't, they swear they will the next time. So now I have this community of like-minded friends and I'm thankful. Thanks!
I wanted a water birth (but not at home), but only one clinic around at the time which was too far way. (The Woodlands) Other than that, I'd only change the cloth diapers thing. Oh, and I'd worry about everything less.
ReplyDeleteOH and he looks cute in those diapers :)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, congratulations!!!! How far along are you? I love all your confessions. They made me laugh. I hope this next one latches on well for you and you can really enjoy it b/c honestly, its after you make it past those first few months that nursing really settles in and gets good. Well, I just love it from the start, but I can see why it can be hard in the first few months. We cloth diaper. Why didn't he like the switch? If you ever have any questions, ask away. And join www.diaperswappers.com if you haven't already b/c you'll get all your questions plus more answered there. But I'd love to answer any questions I can too. Oh, and maybe I can be the first to say I've had epi births AND a natural birth and for our future ones, I WANT the natural birth. :) Hope you are feeling well!
ReplyDelete#1 Congratulations!
ReplyDelete#2 I am a firm believer that there is no one-size-fits-all parenting philosophy. I know that every family can figure out the things that work best for them. That said, I'm glad you are finding some online support. Support, in whatever form, is always good especially when it comes without judgement.
@ Jenny - I'm not far along at all. I just found out actually. I'm hoping Taven gets used to the diapers. He probably will. After I put it on though, he just wanted it off...then he fell asleep. Why do you want the natural birth? I tried my first one natural but chickened out after a while. All of my births were very smooth and quick, no problems. I know that makes me a good candidate for a natural birth, but I'm too scared. I grew up doing drugs (lol) so they don't scare me....but a natural birth does.
ReplyDeletey'all can try to talk me into the natural and/or homebirth thing, I have an open mind, I just don't think you can convince me. It's not that I don't think it's best' I do. I just don't enjoy pain like that!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations - what lovely news.
ReplyDeleteRe your other confessions. The only thing I would say is - be authentic in your choices. Do what is right for you and not to suit anyone else's philosophy. You have lots more information and online support than before I imagine, so do what You feel is the vest for you and your babe xxx
Sorry - I meant best, not vest - iPhone spelling corrections :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on baby and diapers! I think both are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! Looks like you'll have your hands full :) I am smiling lots at your confessions. Epidurals are bliss. With my 2nd I felt all the nice parts, just no pain - apart from having the epidural. Some people just deal with pain well at all. I hope the little one gets used to the diapers. I have never tried them 'tut tut' x
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! What wonderful news! I actually have a little bit of pregnancy envy right now :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've found support online in making the changes you want. We're stumbling our way through the homebirth,extended breastfeeding, baby wearing, co-sleeping, cloth diapering lifestyle over here and just learning as we go. You have three beautiful, smiley kiddos so I'm sure number four will be just as happy whatever route you take!
And finally, if fear of the pain is holding you back from a natural birth, I encourage you to keep working with it and talking to other mamas who've done it. My homebirth was the most powerful experience of my life- I'd be happy to talk to you more if you're interested. I honestly don't even remember the pain--just feeling totally high (which is better than the epidural drugs I bet :)
Congratulations on the pregnancy! We're done havin babies b/c of a pregnancy-induced liver condition that occurs with me. I used paper diapers for a couple of months before and after our move, and am just getting all the way back to cloth again. It encourages me to leave her bare a lot of the time :) but we don't have carpet so easy clean-up. I have had 2 homebirths and one natural hospital birth, extended breastfeeding with all 3 (honestly tho, it's easy for me, esp. with co-sleeping). Now that I've condensed my whole life story into one comment, no judgements here. Much better to go with what feels right and works for you. Just sharing my experiences :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think breastfeeding will be a problem. The main problem was that I had to return to work after 6 weeks and I wasn't down with pumping in closets. I'm worried about going out (museums and such) with all of them though. How do you breastfeed and make sure the others don't run away or start hitting random children? Or what about when they fall to the ground boneless and have a fit when you're trying to breastfeed...in public? I guess we could stay home or I could pump....
ReplyDeleteif you have had a homebirth I'd like to hear about it. I'm worried about tearing and wondering if midwives will do an episiotomy if needed. That pain has to be awful! LOL!
my e-mail is melothree@gmail.com
ReplyDeletewell i just called my insurance and it turns out they don't cover homebirths. They don't even cover midwifes in a birthing center.
ReplyDeletedid you all pay out of pocket?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, mama!!
ReplyDeleteListen, Dylan just would not latch on! He flat out refused! So, I was a pumper. I pumped for three months before there was too much blood in my milk to continue... I grieved not being able to breastfeed. Oh, how I wanted to...
Can't wait to see this journey to a new life joining yours!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I'm so excited for you all and wish you all the best for a healthy pregnancy and baby.
ReplyDeleteYou know how I feel about the epidurals, so you know I got your back 100%!! This is your pregnancy, your body, and your baby. You're the only one who knows what the right decision is. And it looks like the insurance company made it easier! lol
Three babies for me, three different nursing experiences. First one would not latch, pumped for two and a half months. Second nursed until she was 8 months. Third nursed until he was 13 months. For the second I pumped if I knew I had to go somewhere. I completely get you about not being comfortable in public (I wouldn't even nurse in front of my in-laws, but they're a whole other story). By the time the third came, I didn't care anymore, just covered myself with a nursing blanket.
Everyone is going to have their own opinion based on their experiences and beliefs. You are your own person, trust yourself. You have three beautiful, healthy, and happy children. I'd say you've made some really good choices so far. :)
xoxo
Congratulations to you!!!! This must be exciting and I hope you are feeling well and getting your needed rest :)
ReplyDeleteOh congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteWith only one babe, and he being 10, I feel I'm out of place to offer any advice that these, young hip mammas can. Good luck with everything, and trust yourself and your babe!
Taven is so darn cute. Maybe he just doesn't like green ;)
LOL Amanda! I love you! Thanks everyone! Y'all are the best friends i've never met ever!
ReplyDeleteHA HA! Love what you said about the "best friends I've never met ever." So true. I feel that about my blog friends. :)
ReplyDeleteWith Logan, I wanted it natural but had back labor and no help and since it was my first, I gave up and got the epi at 6-7 cm. With Felicity, I just got the epi b/c I was scared b/c of how Logan's labor was. I was feeling the same way with Kian, but he came too fast to get the epi and I'm so thankful for that. It hurts like hell, but the reward is so great. I just felt clearer after birth, had energy to be present, and just felt like I'd conquered the world. And as hard as it was, it was neat to really feel my child come out of me....differently than it felt with the epi. But I TOTALLY understand why people wouldn't want to feel that. I couldn't believe how great I felt the days following Kian's birth and my midwife said it was b/c my body wasn't flushing out the epi drugs. I loved being so capable and up and about so soon. And I just wondered, if I felt the side effects (though I didn't know it until I had the comparison of the natural birth) I wonder what side effects the baby feels. I don't know. I also liked just being free and not hooked up to anything.
Oh my gosh, congratulations! I'm so excited! We can be pregnant together over the internet!! When are you due? If our new babies are due at the same time, we should totally hook them up. Kidding. Sort of.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you! Yay for cloth diapers! He'll adjust. ;) And as far as breastfeeding goes, I had to switch to formula with both Trin and Gabe because despite round-the-clock nursing and/or pumping and MANY visits to lactation consultants, my supply was never enough. With Trin I was able to get away with supplementing for months before making the total transition to formula, but Gabe didn't last as long before the doctor told us he desperately needed formula and the ounce or two I was squeezing out a couple of times a day wasn't worth the heartache for me. Sigh. This time I'm really hoping my supply is better.
I'm so excited for you! Will you find out the gender or be surprised?
Congrats! So excited for yall. I had an emergency C with Ansley, and although I had wanted a med free, natural birth, all that went out the window when I was diagnosed with Preeclampsia and 29 weeks. I knew I would have to do what was best for her which would be an early delivery.
ReplyDeleteI did get the chance to breastfeed even though she was a premie and once she got the hang of it we just kept going. I went way against the norm of all the people around me in real life and let her self wean. We breastfed until she was a little over 3 years old.
Make whatever decisions are right for you at the time and feel no quilt, because you do your best at the place you are at :)
Congrats again!
Congratulations!! :) :)
ReplyDeleteThe only way I nursed in public without losing a child was getting the hang of nursing baby in the sling. I have never nursed hands-free, not once, but at least the sling left one hand for grabbing one of the others (or two hands if I rudely unlatched baby, which I did often)! How do you bottle feed a hungry baby and still chase the others? It's kind of the same question. ;)
Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations! I'm so very, very happy for you! I'm sure that you'll find your way through all the advice and find the path that is best for you.
ReplyDeleteI second Catie's comment about natural birth. Silas' birth was transformative for me and part of that empowered feeling came from listening to and working with my body's natural rhythms. It was an wonderful foot on which to start my journey as a new mother. I also don't remember the pain at all. I remember it as being one very intense day, but I don't remember it hurting.
RE: payment...such a frustrating thing, isn't it?! We were lucky that our insurance covered a little less than half of the cost of a certified nurse midwife to attend our home birth. The rest we paid out of pocket (using my vacation payout when I quit my job). Don't let cost be the only reason you don't go for it. Visit with the midwives in your area. All of the midwives and doulas that I know are very, very flexible and are willing to set up payment plans, work for reduced cost, or to barter.
Best of luck to you and I'm so looking forward to watching your beautiful family grow!
Wow. Congratulations! This will be one more lucky kid. I agree that you should just do what feels right to you. That seems to be your m.o. anyhow and it looks like everything is working out great in your family so far!
ReplyDeleteI gave birth to my one child in the hospital drug free and there was plenty of pain but I feel like I was prepared. If it interests you, I would totally recommend reading Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth. It's mostly just stories of people having babies and I found it really inspirational and comforting. The nicest thing for me about not having the drugs was that afterward I was immediately able to walk around, take a shower, and was incredibly alert. (I couldn't sleep for a couple of days actually.)
So, you might be able to go natural in a hospital (paid for by insurance). Perhaps even with your same doctor? All that said, I think epidurals are just fine too.
Good luck with all your new undertakings and congrats again on your growing family!
Congrats! How exciting!!! Keep us posted with belly pics!!!
ReplyDeleteMegan, CONGRATULATIONS! That is such wonderful news. I never had any of my babies at home either, although I always wanted to. Cloth diapers and breastfeeding I did do though. I enjoyed it all!:) So, when are you due? Are you feeling ok and getting plenty of rest? Eating well? What do the girls think since I already know how little Taven feels? If you need breastfeeding tips I will be glad to share. Breastfeeding in public and being modest is not hard once you know a few tricks-promise! xx
ReplyDeleteWhat exciting news!!! Congratulations! When's the little one due to arrive? Such a lucky child - to have so many dear siblings and amazing mama!!
ReplyDeleteYa we wanna see belly pics!! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Awesome news, though I am going to miss you - I have just totally loved your blog, and I so appreciate your honety!!! We need more of it, from more mamas, too! MORE! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny - as much as I dug homebirth, I'd never pressure anyone to have one, or suggest that everyone needs to do it. Good for you for doing what is right for you and your family.
I think it's weird in general that people feel there's these 'codes' for being a 'natural' parent. It can feel really judgemental and I wish it wasn't that way. People should do what is comfortable for THEM, and us Moms ought to support each other, as we're all in it together! ;) Parenting is hard enough as it is! I think that when you do what's right for you, it helps your kids learn to do what's right for them. I am still learning how to do this...
I hope you have an awesome pregnancy, and I will miss you!
Being all natural isnt the most important thing on earth, we never used clothe, mainly cause hubby does the washing and i was not forcing that chore on him. We didnt breastfeed past a few weeks with #1 and under a week with the other two. They were all reflux and pretty sick.number 2 was allergic to milk. Breast isnt always best for mother or baby. All 3 of mine were hosp because I am high risk, first was an induction...with epi before the oxytocin, was pertrified of the pain, last two were csections, one emergency and one chosen by the doctors, i didnt really want one and paniced. The only important thing is that you love your kids and they know it, that they are happy and free to be who they are.I think you do a great job:)
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