I've been thinking a lot about how Noah came into this world. It's something that weighs very heavy on my heart. It wasn't the birth I chose by any means but it was a learning experience. A friend told me the other day "Just remember that it was his birth that brought you to be as impassioned as you are." This has really stuck me so thanks Lindsay! Before Noah's birth I thought nothing of the whole birth process or about hospitals, birth centers or homebirth. I just knew that I wanted the natural childbirth experience like my mom. I kept telling myself, "my mom had 5 natural births, I can do this!"
Little did I know the battle that would be fought in the hospital not just with the birth I wanted but with breastfeeding as well. My pregnancies are high risk because of the blood thinners so I just assumed that what my OB said was true. He wanted to induce me at 40 weeks. He said that I would have a higher chance of a c-section if I waited. So of course I listened because I didn't want a c-section. Newsflash I had a c-section anyways because of my induction. I know now through my research that this line is one of the biggest scare tactics that doctors will use on pregnant women. Part of me beats myself up for not doing enough research. It's something that I'm trying very hard to get over because let's face it, it's in the past and there is nothing I can do about it. Noah and I's breastfeeding relationship wasn't always good because of what I went through in the hospital. He wouldn't latch so the nurses basically told me I had to give formula. I was devastated! I got home, pumped like crazy, started taking fenugreek and brewers yeast, and stopped the formula. It took 10 days for my milk to come in, the longest 10 days of my life! I was determined though and we are still going at 16 months. Just so you know the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding till the age of 2. Now through all my research, I know I can do something different and change the outcome not only for myself but for my unborn baby. No I'm not pregnant right now lol. Someday I know I can have the natural birth that I want without pitocin, an epidural or a c-section. I'm in control of my birth experience from now on! And that's something that I can be grateful for.
Through my c-section, I've really found a passion for natural childbirth and breastfeeding. Something that I don't know would be there if I had the natural birth that I wanted. I've met some great girls over the past 6 months that have this same passion. I feel blessed to have met them! It's funny how God takes a negative experience from your life and turns it into a positive. So I'm not going to let my scar get me down. Instead I'm going to use it as a source of power and strength for me to fight for myself. So when your doctor says "maybe we should schedule an induction or c-section", run away! Lol No but really question if it's the right thing for you and your baby. Trust your body because women have been giving born naturally for thousands of years!
