Spirit of Poverty: My Birth Story (Part 2)

Last week I told you about the labor portion of my homebirth (My Birth Story Part 1). Today I'll share about the post delivery aspect.

After giving birth to my baby girl on the bathroom floor, I was assisted to my living room couch. The midwives had wrapped up the placenta in one the sterile pads and bundled Christy in a towel, who was being held by her dad and grandmother, before being cozied up next to me on the sofa. The umbilical cord was kept on, not cutting it, until all that wonderful cord blood had drained from it. I LOVED this. One of the first things the doctor did with my 5 previous babies was to cut the umbilical cord and waste all the benefits of the rich cord blood. I wasn't given the choice to have it any other way. With a homebirth it's all choice~you become empowered and encouraged to make your own decisions.

Instead of having a rushed post delivery period, the baby being passed around, poked and prodded at, with this experience everything was taken slow and mellow. Keeping the moment beautiful.

When the time was right, Christy was evaluated.

Her vitals taken.

Measured and weighed.

All done right from my couch. She was always kept close to me.

Both Christy and I were treated with utmost love and comfort.

The midwives stayed for two hours from the time of delivery to ensure baby and I were doing alright. They used the time to carefully clean, sterilize, and reorganize all their tools of the trade. I was given the choice by my husband to have anything to eat, he'd make me anything. I had a craving for french toast! So it was, my post partum meal was a batch of my hubby's scrumptious homemade french toast :)

It was my doulas first homebirth experience as well, so she stayed and watched everything-taking it in and learning from it. I didn't know until after the fact that she was a real godsend to my husband. During the heat of the action of my impromptu bathroom delivery, my husband was left on the outside. From the hallway he could only catch glimpses and was beginning to panic a bit not knowing if everything was alright or not. My doula was able to give him peace of mind reassuring him the process was going normal and all was well. I am eternally grateful for her role in my birth.

The midwives came back every few days in the beginning to check on us and then every week or so until our 6 week post partum check up. I couldn't be more delighted or pleased with my homebirth or my wonderful midwives.

It was my husband who was most turned on to the homebirth experience. In his excitement he told nearly every person he came across our birth story--including the lady behind the Subway counter! I think he's shared our story more times than I have. He was asking me why didn't have a homebirth sooner with our other daughters. Back when we first started having babies he was dead set that babies were born in hospitals, period. Well we sure made a convert out of him!! He even had a buddy at work whose wife was pregnant and considering a homebirth. My husband was sharing with the other guy how wonderful it was and that he should let his wife give it a try if she wanted to. Oh he's come a long ways, my little homebirth advocate!

Spirit of Poverty: My Birth Story (Part 1)

At last. My birth story! I bet you thought I'd NEVER get around to it :) All that talk and preparation for a homebirth and no story. Well here is how it all went down:

As I've previously posted, for me, the choice to have a homebirth was on a large part one in the spirit of poverty--financially and spiritually. Financially, it allowed me some control in the expenses during the pregnancy and delivery.  Spiritually, it allowed me to experience my pregnancy, labor, and delivery simply and naturally, as I believe it was designed to be. Having had 6 birth experiences, this homebirth was by far my favorite!

 We had my religious goodies up on the mantle which included our enthroned Mary statue and Sacred Heart of Jesus picture, a pregnant statue of Mary on lend from a dear friend, and a relic of St. Gerard Majella (patron saint of expectant mothers).

As is the tendency with my pregnancies, I went overdue. A full 14 days overdue! From the beginning I told myself I would be patient and stay calm, I'd put myself in a mindset that the baby was going to run late. But having had 3 inductions from being post term, I began to panic a bit that I may not be able to have my homebirth after all and would need a fourth induction. My biggest fear. Unfortunately, I don't think that fear was helping me or my body go into labor.

We tried walking. . .and walking some more.
We tried walking with homeopathic cimicifuga and caulophyllum.
We tried Evening Primrose. . .
We tried stripping membranes. . .
We tried belly wrapping. . .
We tried using castor oil exteriorly as a belly rub . . .
We tried nearly all the tricks in the book.

I was on the verge of attempting to ingest castor oil, a last resort. I was one day away from giving it a go I was getting so desperate. The deal with the midwives was that I could continue the pregnancy past 2 weeks but would need to have a non-stress test administered to verify that Baby was happy and healthy. That would have been an out of pocket expense--an expense I was trying to avoid.

Going on a little tangant here, at 8 months pregnant I had to pay for an ultrasound. There was concern that the baby was transverse. As I was heading out of town for a one last hurrah with my girls at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA before the baby arrived and I would preoccupied and tied down with a newborn, my midwife thought I should have the position verified, in case something should happen and I go into labor out of town. If that should be the case I would require a c-section. We had to get creative on the cheapest way to have an ultrasound done. Many diagnostic ultrasound offices were charging as much as $500. We simply needed to check the position of the baby--we didn't need a full work up. One of the closest and cheapest solutions was a place called Clear Sight Ultrasound in Richmond, VA. They do gender determination, 3-D ultrasounds, and all those memorable pregnancy extras. This was a first for them, to determine the position of a baby for a homebirth and to do ultrasound that late in pregnancy. But they were great and willing to do it. So, on our way down to Williamsburg we stopped along the way at their office in Richmond. I had been deciding whether or not I wanted to know the gender, as I didn't know up to that point. I caved into the pressure of my other daughters who were dying to know. My girls got to be with me in thr room as we watched the ultrasound on a large screen-GIRL! It a great experience and memory for us a family. And come to find out, by that time Baby Girl #6 was laying diagonally head down--a much better position!

So here we were 2 months later, no signs of labor staring.  I had a home visit with the midwife, a second membrane stripping, and was trying an herbal tincture (I can't recall the name off the top of my head). At last things started happening, I was having irregular contractions the rest of the morning and afternoon. By evening it seemed things might get serious. My mother came and retrieved my other 5 girls so I could relax and let my body labor. However, I still wasn't 100% sure this was the real thing, I had a false start another time and I guess I had lost all trust that my body knew how to go into labor. But with the consistent dosing of the tincture and homoeopaths plus a belly wrap to better position in the baby in my abdomen contractions were becoming more regular and stronger.
My husband and I ate a leisurely dinner of Stouffers macaroni and cheese and chicken parmesian. This was a sweet moment in my mind because in my prior induced labors I was banned from eating. And here my husband and I were sitting at our dinner table in our own home eating a meal, timing contractions, and anticipating our baby. Priceless.

Contractions were holding strong and regular but by 9 p.m. (my usual bedtime) I was getting tired and remember them slowing down to about 20 minute apart. Fearing my labor was stoppipng I wouldn't allow myself to sleep. Somewhere along the line my husband dosed off on the couch. So I continued with the tincture and homeopaths, sat in my recliner and watched a marathon of Deadliest Catch episodes of all things (sadly it was a slow movie night on the TV and there was nothing better to watch). About 1 a.m. or so I started dosing off myself between contractions. I was absolutely exhausted I couldn't help myself. I was able to pick up a few minutes here and there. At around 2 a.m. all of sudden contractions began to pick up to a regular and steady 6 minutes apart from there prior 20 minutes intervals. I finally felt it was time to call in the troops. I texted my midwives to let her know things were picking up and my doula as well. I called my mother, who was going to be present for the birth too.

FINALLY! I was in labor!!!

Everyone arrived and we just hung out on my living room floor. I used the birth ball to lean on during contractions and my doula rubbed my back. This was my first unmedicated labor, taking each contraction one at a time, it was surprisingly not as painful as I was anticipating. DO NOT get me wrong, it was by no means pleasant. The thought crossed my mind once (or twice) usually in the midst of an intense contraction that I could be at be at a hospital with an epidural, feeling nothing at that moment BUT I quickly dismissed that notion. I was exactly where I wanted to be--at home.

At about 4 a.m my midwife was checking the baby's heartbeat with a Doppler. I was laid out on my couch for a better listen. The contractions started coming back to back, I couldn't find a break between them to sit up. That's when she said it was time to start setting up shop. I was getting close. While they were getting out supplies, I decided after much deliberation that I was going to use the restroom one last time in the bathroom located only short distance down the hallway but seemed like an eternity! After that I would return and finally get in my birth pool to experience my beautiful, tranquil waterbirth.

 We had the birth pool all set up. My husband painstakingly filled it up and maintained the water temperature all night long with water boiled on the stove.

Ummm. Well, I never made it off the toilet. My water broke. My doula, who was assisting me to the bathroom, hollered to the midwives, who came running. They were telling me I needed to get back to the living room pronto. I was in a daze of sorts at this point. The instant my water broke I felt like I needed to use the bathroom--I told them so. I remember one of my midwives yanking me off the toilet seat saying if I didn't get off of it I was "going to crap my baby in the toilet"!!!! Sure enough as soon as I stood up the baby began presenting. I told them with set determination that I couldn't move. So there standing in the middle of my little bathroom, crammed in with my two midwives straddling the camode, trying to yank my pants off, my darling little baby girl was brought into the world. I like to say we almost had a water birth of a different kind!

I have to admit I sort of felt like I cheated with labor pain. My body was in labor far longer than I gave it credit for. It was a very slow, subtle labor with subtle changes instead of a quick, intense labor and delivery. The contractions were all manageable especially having kept my waters until the last minutes, keeping that cushion during contractions. And then with the assistance of gravity I really didn't have a "push time". Christy came flying out with very effort on my part except for holding on the towel rack and sink counter top for dear life.

It wasn't what I had planned or what I would have expected but it was an awesome experience with a great story!

Christy Gianna

Born April 11, 2012 4:36am

7.8 lbs, 20 1/4 in. long

To be continued. . . .

I'll finish up with the second part of my birth story next week and share some photos!

Welcome Baby!

Christy Gianna

Born April 11, 2012 4:36am

7.8 lbs, 20 1/4 in. long

Evening Primrose for Labor

I have a history of "overdue" babies--three of my five labors were induced. This pregnancy I am being proactive. My midwives and my doula both suggested trying Evening Primrose. It doesn't start labor but assists in softening the cervix in preparation for labor.

In addition to labor, Evening Primrose has an array of uses for women's reproductive health issues. Natural Family Today states that, "Evening Primrose Oil, also referred to as EPO, is oil from the evening primrose plant. Evening Primrose is one of the oldest known plant remedies to be used for pregnancy, and was used by Native Americans. Evening Primrose is not just for pregnancy. It is commonly used to ease uncomfortable symptoms of menstruation, ovulation, and menopause, among other things. Some women have found it particularly effective in boosting fertility and achieving pregnancy. It’s also safe for use while breastfeeding."

How to Use Evening Primrose Oil to Start Labor

According to the National Institutes of Health, evening primrose oil is high in prostaglandins and contains gamma-linolenic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid. Prostaglandins soften the cervix so that it is ripe to begin dilation and effacement as labor progresses; they are naturally produced in higher amounts by the body in preparation for labor and delivery. The use of evening primrose oil to start labor has been around for a long time, and many midwives swear by this technique when helping pregnant patients prepare for delivery. Evening primrose oil does not directly trigger the start of labor, but works by softening and ripening the cervix. This allows the baby's head to engage in the pelvis, encouraging dilation. Not everyone agrees that evening primrose oil will help to soften the cervix.

Instructions

1. Visit your obstetrician for permission to use evening primrose oil to start labor, and to make certain your membranes are intact. The introduction of any substance into the vagina, or through the cervix, after a tear or rupture in your membranes may result in a serious infection that could put you and your baby at risk.
2. Take two 500 mg capsules of evening primrose daily, as soon as 36 weeks' gestation. This will help slowly ripen and soften your cervix, but will not cause you to go into preterm labor.
3. Increase the amount of capsules you are taking each day to three or four when you reach 38 weeks' gestation. Decrease your dose if you experience nausea or diarrhea, which are two common side effects of evening primrose oil.
4. Insert a capsule into your vagina before bed each night throughout the last few weeks of your pregnancy. This should be done immediately before bed, as your body heat will dissolve the capsule and the oil will leak out of your vagina if you walk around.
5. Use evening primrose oil as part of a perineal massage. Have your partner help you with this, if possible. Numerous studies, including one published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, show that daily massage of the perineum during the last month of pregnancy reduces the likelihood that an episiotomy will be needed during delivery.

I bought my bottle at Walmart for $5.88. My doula used this method and says she swears by it :)  We'll see what what happens!

Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, and Placentas Part 2

As I promised, Part 2 to my post--placenta encapsulation!! Now why would I want to talk about that? I had never heard of it before this pregnancy. My midwives offer this service at a discounted rate ($75) to their moms, which typically runs about $150.  I have an acquaintance who is a doula but offers a placenta encapsulation service as well. She has offered to do mine for me. Since I didn't really know much about this I wanted to research more into it and it's benefits. Initially, when I heard about placenta encapsulation it seemed a little barbaric--maybe even cannibalistic. Even if I could have my placenta encapsulated for no monetary charge, would I be able to stomach it?

According to Placenta Benefits.info the benefits to placentophagia (technical term for consuming the placenta) are that the placenta capsules:

contain your own natural hormones
 perfectly made for you
balance your system
replenish depleted iron
give you more energy
lessen bleeding postnatally
been shown to increase milk production
help you have a happier postpartum period
hasten return of uterus to pre-pregnancy state
be helpful during menopause
     
You can check out their web page for a plethora of information and articles on this subject. If you would like to see the process--in pictures--from start to finish you can visit here.


There are obviously many benefits to this and after learning more about it I am heavily leaning towards having it done. Some other moms I know who have taken placenta capsules rave about the positive effects. And considering how tired I am right now and the fact I've kind of been in a rut recently is all the more reason I'd like to give it a go. I'm going to have 6 little ones to keep up with so anything that can help get me, and keep me, in tip-top shape I'm willing to try. I'm going to need all the help I can get--vitamins, minerals, herbs, placentas!

Oh, and this is not something new--this idea of placentophagia--it's been around for centuries and practiced throughout the world by many cultures. Food for thought (no pun intended :)

Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, and Placentas Part 1

As a pregnant woman, of course I've been taking my standard prenatal vitamin. Actually, to be totally honest with you, with all of my 6 pregnancies I have used Flintstones Multivitamins with Iron--taking two in the morning. When I was pregnant with my first baby my morning sickness was really bad. I couldn't keep down the regular prenatal vitamins so my OB/GYN told me to take the Flintstones. It helped! I had a healthy 7 lb 12oz baby girl. With each subsequent pregnancy I've just kept with that same method--each time resulting with a healthy baby. In the past my iron has never been low and blood levels have always checked out fine. My Flintstones were the extent of the supplements I'd take, with the exception of a few Tums to ward of heartburn and indigestion.

With this, my sixth pregnancy, I've been feeling much more fatigued than usual. It could be from a variety of reasons--one being I already have 5 other kids I'm trying to keep up with, two which I homeschool, and a house I must still maintain! (Whew, makes me tired just thinking about it!!!). I opted for random finger pricks to check my blood levels, rather than the full work-up. I was tested a little on the low side for my iron levels recently. I was recommended Floradix. I now take that (it's a liquid) twice a day. Also to help improve my energy levels I've been taking extra care of my diet, trying to eat more whole foods. My family just made a trip up to the Amish Market to stock up on some wholesome baking and cooking supplies. They had some awesome prices on their goods; my husband and I were impressed. So I will be posting more In the Kitchen posts from here forward as I get back to cooking and baking from scratch :)

Perhaps caused from all the pregnancy hormones or stemming from the habitual fatigue, I was beginning to get the blues. One of my midwives, Aimee, is trained in herbal medicine so I texted her to ask for a safe, herbal recommendation. She sent me this helpful link from Kathleen Kendall Tackett, a well respected author in the field. She also suggested St. John's Wart and fish oil. I picked both of these up. I take one St. John's Wart capsule three times a day and the fish oil gel capsule once a day. I have to say both my energy and my mood have improved tremendously. I am also adding outside time to my schedule now. Before I was always so tired that my housework was slacking. Then because my was house was in such a horrible state I didn't feel right abandoning it for other (funner) endeavors. Only I was too tired to clean so it never got done anyway. Ugg!!! A vicious cycle was beginning to form--neither the housework or getting out of the house for free time was getting accomplished. I was stuck in my home with no ground being made.  I have purposed to get out and take my girls to our nearby park for 30 minutes every day (that the weather affords it, that is)--getting some fresh air, sunlight (vitamin D) and letting the kids get some energy out.

A little side note, my midwives don't recommend Tums for heartburn, it's not so good for your placenta. One of their remedies if eating raw almonds. I picked some of those up at the Amish Market while we were there! This will be a good place to stop for today as this leads me into the topic of placenta encapsulation! I'll save that for tomorrow :)


TO BE CONTINUED. . . .

This Moment: Over the hill and through the woods, to the midwives house we go . . .

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

~Amanda Soule

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My pregnancy is quickly approaching the end. My days of needing to visit my midwives' office are numbered. It is such a peaceful and serene trek through woods and back country roads--so different from your traditional OB/GYN experience. I wanted to memorialize it for the days I no longer need to make the trip.

The pictures are horrible, taken with my cell phone (again). Sometimes a Kodak moment strikes and your without your camera. You have to settle for what you have on hand. They're enough, I suppose, to jog my memory years down the road when I want to look back upon my pregnancy days and reminisce :)

 

You can't see them, but there are goats on that hill. My girls love spotting them each time we come for an appointment.

Birth Circle & Movie Night

My midwives hold a monthly Birth Circle. Last night they held a movie night! We watched Guerrilla Midwife on a projector screen, complete with popcorn and tea :)

I love documentaries. I am very happy my midwives shared this one, otherwise I may never have heard about it and had a chance to watch this beautiful documentary. Ibu Robin Lim, whom the film follows, was awarded CNN's 2011 Hero of the Year Award. You can read the article here. I have to say, I found both the movie and Ibu Robin Lim very inspiring!


A blurb from www.GuerrillaMidwife.org:

Healing the earth one baby at a time

Guerilla Midwife begins with an ancestral dream. In the dark before the dawn in Bali, the morning of the world, Ibu Robin Lim is awakened by a call to deliver a baby. What unfolds is the story of conflict, of one woman’s international battle to balance Science, Nature, and Culture in the protocols of birth.

The film captures the human rights issues of Maternal and Child survival, of how lives are sacrificed to poverty while the misuse of technology endangers our every humanity.
Following the day-to-day endeavors of a village midwife from the fragrance of her Balinese home, to Aceh, Indonesia. Visually the film moves us from the gentlest moment of first breath, to the horrific destruction of the Tsunami disaster.

Experts testifying to the importance of birth as the essential foundation for healing our planet include, French Obstetrician Michel Odent, Dr. Marshal Claus, and Midwife Mary Jackson. The facts are woven between the stories of women’s lives as they labor to bring forth the next generation. The generation that will either; live in harmony with nature or destroy it, wage war or create peace.
Guerrilla Midwife is a ninety-minute documentary film, depicting the courage of mothers and their midwives as they hold hands across barriers of language and culture, and guide us toward a reinvention of medical protocols. It is the story of a war waged gently in the belief that peace on earth can be achieved, one baby at a time.

Homebirth Supplies

I thought I'd share what all is required, equipment/supplies wise, for a home birth. It may vary from midwife to midwife, but this is the list my midwives at Ten Moons Midwifery supplied me and recommend.

Hombirth Supplies:

• Birth Kit, order at 30 weeks, so that it will be sure to arrive by 36 weeks
• 1 package maxi pads
• 1 plastic or metal bowl for the placenta (you may want to set aside another bowl in case you get nauseated)
• 1 large outdoor disposable picnic table cloth with flannel backing, 1 tarp, or 1 plastic shower curtain liner to protect your floor or carpet. You will need one extra tablecloth, tarp or liner for waterbirth
• 2 fitted sheets and extra pillows and cases. Make up the bed for the birth as soon as you are sure that you are in labor
• 2 large plastic garbage bags
• laundry basket
• 1 roll each of toilet paper and paper towels
• 1 crockpot for hot compresses, if desired
• 12 cloths for compresses (these can be made by cutting up an old towel or you can buy a cheap package of wash cloths. Please wash them an put in a bag labeled compresses)
• 2 bottles electrolyte drink (Third Wind, Recharge, etc.), coconut water, or homemade "laborade." Leave bottled drinks at room temperature
• 4 bath towels, minimum. You will need at least 4 more for waterbirth
• 4 receiving blankets, minimum
• electric heating pad and an old pillowcase
• 1 flashlight with working batteries
• 1 set of baby clothes and 2 cotton newborn hats
• variety of food in the house. You may not want to eat in labor, but you will definitely be hungry afterward. We [being the midwives] sometimes get hungry too. We especially love a good cup of coffee!
• 1 bottle hydrogen peroxide, to remove blood from carpet, etc.
• 1 bottle ammonia, if desired, to add to laundry with meconium soiled clothes, diapers or linens
• 1-3 perineal cold compresses, if desired, can be added to the birth kit,or might like to use bags of frozen peas instead
• 4 gallon size Ziploc bags
• cookie sheet. It is our tray for your labor and birth
• space heater, if needed, to keep the birth room at 70-75 degrees for several hours after the birth
• small bottle of olive oil for baby's bottom, to keep the meconium from sticking to baby's delicate skin
• newborn diapers
• thermometer
• infant car seat, with straps adjusted to smallest position. If a base is included with your car seat, please go ahead and install it in your car.

Birth Kit:
Purchased through Everything Birth; this is a pre-determined package my midwives put together through the company, called the Ten Moons Midwifery Birth Kit, that costs $39.

• 10 disposable underpads, 23x24 light
• 5 disposable underpads, 30x30 heavy
• 2 plastic backed sheets
• 1 OB pads, nonsterile, 12 pack
• 1 peri bottle
• 1 mesh pant
• 1 tenderfoot lancet
• 2 flex straws
• 2 alcohol prep pads
• 1 super sani-cloth
• 5 lubricating jelly, 5g
• 1 bulb syringe, sterile 3 oz.
• 8 gauze, 4x4, sterile, 2 pack
• 6 gloves, sterile vinyl singles, medium
• 4 gloves, sterile pairs, medium
• shipping included

I also ordered the Vitamin K with my kit. This little bottle was a pricey $39.95. I opted to have it administered orally to my newborn, as opposed to an injection or going without. I am also supplementing my diet and taking Alfalfa supplements to increase my vitamin K serum levels so that my baby has more at birth.

To keep things simple, I ordered my "birth" pool through the same company. It is actually a kiddy pool that works really well for home births. It was $39.95, much cheaper than a rented alternative. It came recommended by both my doula and midwife. Referred to as the "Fishy Pool" or "Aquarium Pool," they are sold on Amazon and through birth supply companies. They sell for $37 on Amazon but shipping is $12.40. It was cheaper to buy it for my price through Everything Birth and pay their $5 shipping rate. But what's great is that after my homebirth it can be cleaned out and my younger girls will have a play pool this summer!

Everything Birth: Sponser

I am 30 weeks pregnant and into my third trimester. I went to my midwife checkup yesterday, which are now every 2 weeks in frequency. Everything went well, thank God--baby is doing great :) She reminded me it's that time already to put in my order for a home birth kit.

I ordered the kit, as well as my birth pool (yes, I'm shooting for a water birth--or if not the warm water is supposed to work wonders on labor pains) through Everything Birth. It's a great little site that offers home birth materials, midwife materials, cloth diapers, etc. Check them out.

I'm planning to talk more in depth about the goodies packed in my Birth Kit, the items on my birth supplies list, and the birth pool I chose on Monday. With only 10 weeks to go, now is the time to get all my ducks in a row--baby will be here before I know it. Exciting!

Green Cleaning: Mildew Remover

The holidays are over and once again I set my mind to preparing for my homebirth. Any thought of baby preparations was put on hold so all my energy could go towards making it through December. And let me tell you, I feel like I blinked during Thanksgiving and opened my eyes again to New Years--a whole month lost in a blur.

But now, things are slowing down and I can begin to grasp "life" once more. An ongoing thread you'll see over the next few months is Green Cleaning. Having a homebirth, it's important to me have my home as clean as possible and in tip-top shape. Not easy to do with five other kids running around! But it's my goal. I am in the transition of "going green", switching out my old, non-green, store bought products with greener versions and if possible homemade. As I find, and try, new cleaner recipes I'll be sharing them with you.

Today, I'll share with you a mildew cleaner. I found this one, plus a few others, on Healthy Child Healthy World. I have a downstairs bathroom in our split-foyer house with a terrible mildew problem in the shower. I'm not sure if it's because it's virtually in a basement--dark, damp--a perfect breeding ground for the stuff, but I'm determined to fight it with a vengeance. While I would have liked to stay away from chlorine bleach, I thought it was necessary in my tactical plans to at least begin with a product using it to tackle the mildew and get it under control. Later I can switch to a less abrasive cleaner for maintenance.

Mildew Remover for Hard Surfaces

1/4 cup chlorine bleach

1 1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon borax

• Mix all ingredients, put in spray bottle.
• Spray on area, let sit 1/2 hour.
• Scrub.
• Rinse.
• Let dry.

Repeat every couple days to be sure to remove mold spores.

I thought this product worked well. The 30 minute wait period is important to the process to give it time to do it's magic. I was able to get rid of a majority of the mildew, and as the directions state, I will be continuing the process every couple days to make sure it doesn't return, keeping it under wraps. I will win this battle with my basement shower, with perseverance and persistence!


By all means, if anyone out there has any tips on mildew control, PLEASE share. My upstairs bathroom doesn't have any issues, it's just the basement shower?!  I am always open to new cleaning tips, hints, suggestions, and resources :)

Doulas

So I am preparing for my first home birth. I have had five babies previously, but the home birth is a totally new experience for me. I am learning everything as I go. I've read the homebirth/midwife handbook, Spiritual Midwifery, I've found my midwives, I attend my Birth Circles, and I think I may have found a doula. What's a doula you say? It's a birth assistant. A doula plays a different role from the midwife. A midwife is there to be a guide and guardian to the natural birth process. A doula is someone who is there soley for me and my needs--to be my support, hence, my personal birth assistant. She will help try to make me as comfortable as possible and help me with pain management. The role of a doula varies slightly from a home birth to a hospital setting. In addition to the personal assistant and pain management components she gives during a home birth, in the hospital, she can be a "go between"  between the laboring mother and hospital staff. She can help explain the childbirth process as the mother goes through it, answering any questions.

For me, the choice to have a doula comes from this being my first totally natural childbirth. Three of my five babies were induced, and with all five, at one point or another during the labor process, I was administered Pitocin. Pitocin gives you contractions on steroids. I opted for the epidural. This time will be different. Pain medication won't be an option and while I look forward it, I hold a little apprehension not knowing what to expect. Having someone there just for me helps ease some of my worries. I handle pain pretty well, but I've read and watched documentaries where laboring women hit that peak of pain. That's my fear--that peak! My doula can help me focus through my contractions and encourage me on when I reach that point where I feel I can't go on. It may not happen. I may have no problems with the labor and delivery process. Everything could go smoothly and I'm able to manage on my own. But I'd rather be prepared. It gives me peace of mind knowing I'll have that personal support should I need it. Of course my husband and my mother will be present, but their role will be different. They're there to share the beautiful experience of a new soul being brought into the world. To witness. While I'll rely on them for certain aspects, I want my doula.

As for many families our financial resources are not unlimited. Paying my midwives is top priority, everything else comes secondary, inclusive of my doula.  A certified doula can cost anywhere from $400-600. One solution is finding a student doula, which is what I did. During the process of the certification, a doula needs 2-3 birth experiences. Having received the training but not having the certification, can make it difficult to find clients. Usually you can hire a student doula from $100-200! She needs you as much as you need her. Through a recommendation of an acquaintance of mine, who is herself a fully certified doula, I was able to get the name and number of a student doula in my area. I've spoken with her on the phone a few times and she sounds great. We will meet face to face at a meeting in January. That's when we'll discuss in more detail my birth plan and get to know each other a bit more before my baby's birth day, which will be here before I know it!