.....refer to 'Failure to Progress' as 'Failure to Wait'.
.....understand the letters DEM, CPM, CNM, OB, EWCM, VBAC, HBAC, ACOG, NARM.
.....get your fix for birth junk through your Facebook news feed.
.....have a "favorite" birth story.
.....are up-to-date on various states' birth laws and current legislation in the works.
.....peruse birth photography sites, watch birth vidoes on youtube and of course, read lots of birth stories.
.....are beyond disgusted at our country's maternal mortality rates.
.....can explain the steps to encapsulating a placenta, whether or not you've actually done it.
.....know what "wet lungs" are and why a vaginal delivery is a good thing for babies.
.....question hospital Labor and Delivery policies and practices that do not improve outcomes and have been shown, time and time again, to be in part responsible for the rising rate of cesarean sections in the US.
.....know your state's cesarean section rate thanks to Jill at The Unnecesarean.
.....silently smirk on the inside when you hear "I/my baby would have died if I'd had a homebirth."
.....know exactly what I am referring to when I say 'Rixa and neonatal resuscitation".
.....think Ricki Lake is pretty awesome.
.....and you can curse me for this one.....know that natural birth really is best for mama and baby.
Do you have anything to add?
10 comments:
Love...
You know you're a birth junkie if...
You constantly refer to all the problems of the world like they could easily not have existed if only that mama would have birthed that baby naturally, had an undisturbed bonding afterward, breastfed the baby (for a few years) and lived by attachment principles :)
What? seriously. it all goes back to that trust/secure relationship with mama! ;)
After all of my deliveries (3) I've wondered why they let you hold/nurse your baby for 30 minutes not undisturbed and then take them away for 4-5 hours?? Then when they bring them back, they have a paci in their mouth and you're told they've been given water? Maybe that's why my babies have separation anxiety. ;)
Ok, really, we need to meet. I'm getting ready for my second baby, after a cesarean with Oliver and am thinking of a home birth...Taking a Hypnobabies class to prepare and address my fears and anxieties...just had a meltdown tonight feeling inadequate and crazy...and then got to read this and remember how passionately I feel about bringing gentleness and compassion back into birthing. Thanks Laura. That was a good one!
Haha, this is so true!! As is Mandi's comment!! LOL
Encapsulating my placentas myself is one very few people know about. That one seems to just push them over the edge so I keep quiet. ;)
I knew the hippe twin one would be your favorite!
awesome post! I always love hearing all of your knowledge about natural birth. Most people look at me like I have 2 heads when I tell them I prefer my natural labor in a birthing center over my hospital labor with an epidural!
...you can't stop watching those birth shows on TV, even though they drive you crazy and you always end up yelling at the TV.
lol I'm not quite a birth "junkie" but it does interest me.
I remember one show the doctor was coming at the lady with what looked like a welding shield on his face and holding the vacuum, and told the lady, "Don't worry, this is normal." I was like "NO! NO ITS NOT!!!!" and woke up my sleeping baby! haha
Ugh.....my long comments didn't post from earlier :(
Mandi, I also love your opinion that women would rule the world if we all had empowered birth experiences.
Anon, I don't get that either. The nurses made an exception after Henry's birth and I nursed him for the first 1.5 hours and then they finally were like they *had* to take him to the nursery. Makes me sad to think about all those babies that are sitting in that nursery rather than being with their mama.
Molly, yep, I think we would be friends! I've read great things about Hypnobabies and I know they have a vbac fear release track so that's always a good thing too. You aren't broken!
Joyfilled, I really regret not encapsulating my placenta. Liza has a sweet little baby tree but I could have used some natural pick-me-up postpartum. And really, people know that know you surely wouldn't be *too* surprised, would they?
Kaitlin, you know it! I love that hippy dippy story!
Andrea, obviously they haven't had an empowering natural birth.....
Emily, poor woman! That is not normal at all. Those shows kill me :(
I'm petrified of having a birth without an epidural. Sounds silly, huh? I've been considering a homebirth for baby #2 (I'm not pregnant yet and we aren't trying - just when it happens)
I'm just afraid of something going wrong. But I love all your homebirth posts. They give me some confidence that everything would be ok!
Rachelle, I don't think it is silly at all to fear birth without an epidural. We are conditioned from an early age that birth is scary, dangerous and something to fear. The best way to rid yourself of that fear is by learning about normal birth and surrounding yourself with the concept that birth is natural and a wonderful thing for a woman to fully experience. While bad things can happen, your body is equipped to do the job and a good midwife can identify and deal with problems before they become emergencies. And, when you are pregnant and need a peptalk, let me know!
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