The
Evolution of a Compleat Mother
Teen years: oblivious to pregnancy concerns, childbirth, and all other related issues. Mostly concerned with having a date for the big dance and wondering if that zit will be gone by then.
Newly married: Not thinking about having kids yet -- having fun with husband, getting used to sleeping in the same bed with someone who steals the blankets and hogs the bed. Some friends have friends who gave birth in a teepee in the desert. I think homebirth is for nuts. Are they crazy?
Surprise!! I'm pregnant!! Excited but have 24/7 morning sickness. Go to the clinic at the local hospital. At one visit, receive educational about what will happen to me during labor. Nurse states, "�And then you'll get your IV, your episiotomy.." She made it sound like this was a gift. I'm out of there. I know this is not what I want to have happen to my body. My husband happened to run into someone who had a homebirth with a midwife. We're making a lot of phone calls to find out about this.
We're parents!! The birth went just fine. I always knew I could do it without drugs, stirrups, stitches, etc. Baby always with me, nursing whenever. I am told if I want my son circumcised, I will have to make a special appointment. My husband and I had never thought about circumcision. Grandmother's undress baby and notice he is not circumcised-they both comment on how neither Grandfather is! I can't imagine how anyone could allow a doctor to amputate their baby boy's penis.
6 months later � Grandparents want to know when I'm going to feed him real food and how long am I going to breastfeed anyway???
Baby 1 year old: He's eating at the table, some of what we eat. Nurses often, too. No playpen-I had read babies who spend time in playpens were at greater risk of spending time behind bars as adults.
Baby 15 months old: #2 is on the way. Pregnancy going well, but terrible morning sickness again. We manage.
Baby#2 is welcomed by big brother who surrounds him with little people toys and tucks some under his T-shirt. Nursing both boys. Grandparent's look the other way and roll their eyes at each other. Lots of cloth diapers�fortunately I finally got a washing machine.
A few years later: Family and friends think we are nuts. Don't we know about over-population? Don't we know how expensive it is to raise a child? We know we love each other and love our children, and that seems right.
And so it goes � for a few more years, a few more babies, till we have seven children. And somehow we have managed to do this without a large salary, huge medical bills or a single can of formula!
-Yvonne Cryns
Here are my new dolls for sale!
Midwife Mary http://www.compleatmother.com/midwifemary.htm
The Doula Doll http://www.compleatmother.com/douladoll.htm
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Birth,
Joy, & Raspberry Leaves
-a new video compiled by Catherine and Amanda Young
of The Compleat Mother
Go HERE for more information on the waterbirth video!
Click here to read:
The Farmer and the Obstetrician
Click here for the Home Sweet Homebirth (Video)
