We will post a photo soon. (DH took some. But I haven’t rescued them from the camera yet.)

Again, I have to say that the Hyland’s Teething Tablets, nursing, and babywearing have saved our hides! I’ve been using the Ergo Baby Carrier like mad! And now Elliott uses it too, since Twilli essentially grew out of the Baby Bjorn that he used to like so much.

I am also in the process of trying to figure out how to make my own Scandi-inspired Mei Tai carrier. I will give updates on that project.

I am so thankful that I have my MacBook Pro, or I would have gotten NOTHING done, through these cluster-feeding sessions!

———–

Speaking of milestones, we took Twilli to the pediatrician for her belated 6 month well baby exam (and the icky shots :sniffle:). She is doing great! The weighs 17 pounds and is 27.5″ tall.

Dr. Reyes was very impressed that she is using the potty. We explained that we have reduced our diaper consumption by half. He said she is their first patient that has done infant potty training. We have gotten really good reactions from people about this whole thing. I guess

We had enthusiastically voted for this business idea. I am thrilled to discover that they won the challenge.

New England Milk Bank voted best small business idea in national ideablob.com contest

Now what are the chances that a milk bank could be established in South Florida?

[Read the original post from January 25, 2008 in the archives.]

I just heard about a great site, IdeaBlob.com, that allows people to vote for business ideas to win a monthly prize of $10,000 to start or expand a business.

So for ZERO DOLLARS (and a click) you can possibly help make this milk bank a reality. (It’s among the top contenders for the January prize!)

Vote for the Mothers’ Milk Bank of New England now!

Find out who WON!

The faces froze. It took a while for them to realize that we’re talking labor and delivery WITHOUT DRUGS.

Many people think that’s the craziest thing one could do. I beg to differ. But it was only 6 months ago that I considered this option for myself.

I am 32 years old. I have a 13 year old son from a previous life. My labor and delivery experience, complete with narcotics and an epidural, is but a distant memory. (Thankfully, that is the only time I’ve been admitted to a hospital.) However, when we discovered I was pregnant, the subject resurfaced.

I have a strong aversion to hospitals… ESPECIALLY in South Florida! (I have accompanied loved ones to a couple of hospitals in the vicinity. It was NOT a pleasant experience.) In the land of terrible customer service, the hospital is the LAST place I want to celebrate a joyous arrival! On top of that, we heard a horror story from our neighbor about a local hospital. The baby was born c-section. He was fine, but the mother got very sick shortly after giving birth. I’ll spare you the gory details. But the problem turned out to be an instrument left inside her abdomen by the doctor! She was unable to be near her first born baby for the first 6 weeks of life. To make things worse, they were unable to find an attorney to file a malpractice case! (She’s fine now. But it’s a horrible shame that it happened at all.)

I guess hearing about that experience helped open my mind to alternatives. So when we visited my son’s friend, who has 4 brothers, we were happy to talk to their mother about her birth experiences. (I’m certainly going to listen to anyone who has survived childbirth 5 times!) She didn’t beat around the bush. She straight away asked if we had considered a birthing center. I told her I was curious about it and asked if she had experience with that option. She proceeded to tell us that her first son was born at the hospital and it was a terrible experience. Every child after that was delivered either at a birthing center or at home.

She waxed poetic about what great care and personal service the midwives provided. (When you opt to deliver at a birthing center, they handle your prenatal care on site as well.) She recounted how wonderful it was to arrive for your prenatal appointment, not have to wait long, and have everyone there know you by name. By the time the due date rolls around, you are dealing with PARTNERS rather than shift nurses and hurried doctors. You are also very familiar with the facility. Besides, if for some reason you must be transferred to the hospital, the midwife accompanies you and acts as your advocate. This all sounded very tempting. (The doctor I was seeing had an excellent midwife on staff. But the visits were very brief–the wait was NOT brief–and the waiting room was always packed. And Jerry Springer was blaring on the television in the waiting room. So I was never relaxed when I went for my check-up.)

Furthermore, she ranted about how trying to give birth lying down was as counterproductive as trying to take a dump on your back. When the mother is not medicated she is able to labor and ultimately deliver in whatever position is most comfortable. (This is one instance in which gravity is on a woman’s side!) Plus, she is not constantly tethered to monitors and IVs. She told us about how the jacuzzi helped take the edge off of the contractions. I had always been curious about water births. So this also got my attention.

The final evidence was her account of the adrenaline rush that comes after giving birth naturally. She said she felt like she could CONQUER THE WORLD! (Apparently it’s true. She proceeded to go home and clean and organize the entire house hours after giving birth.)

I promptly went home and began to research birthing centers in the area. I also researched water birth. I even watched some water births on YouTube! They weren’t nearly as gruesome or scary as I had imagined. It brought tears to my eyes each time I witnessed the babies being born to FAMILIES who were active participants and in sync with the whole experience. This is how it is SUPPOSED to be. Women have given birth for millenniums without medical intervention.

So after discussing it with my husband, we called to schedule a tour and orientation at A Birth Center. When we went to check it out, we were hooked! The lady who gave the orientation (the childbirth educator and doula) was so personable and REAL. It was obvious that she had found her calling helping families welcome the bundles of joy in a peaceful, caring and serene environment.

I got my records from the other doctor and switched my prenatal care to A Birth Center. We attended the requisite childbirth “classes” which were very informative and pertinent. We really liked both of the midwives. The prenatal visits were quick and pleasant (no unnecessary bodily invasions). We were confident and thrilled to have discovered this blessed alternative. And we never looked back.

We ended up having an easy, fast and exciting birth. But that is another tale for another time.

If you are expecting a baby, I strongly consider you to research your options. See a list of resources for information about natural childbirth. And feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions about my experience with natural childbirth.

Happy birthing!

renee

A Birth Center
This is where our baby was born! The staff is excellent. We highly recommend A BIRTH CENTER to those in the greater Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.
www.abirthcenter.com

Hollywood Birth Center
Another local birthing center. (I do not have personal experience with this one. But it’s another option in South Florida.)
www.hollywoodbirthcenter.com

Miami Maternity Center
Another local birthing center. (I do not have personal experience with this one. But it’s another option in South Florida.)
www.miamibirth.com

Natural Childbirth Resources

Birth Centers Online
The website of the National Association of Childbearing Centers (NACC). A great multi-media site with a wealth of information on birth centers, midwifery, pregnancy, birth and early parenting.
www.BirthCenters.org

Birthing Naturally
Website explaining the benefits of natural childbirth and comparing various options of childbirth.
www.birthingnaturally.net

BabyCenter.com – Natural Childbirth
Excellent site for information about pregnancy, birth and beyond — Natural Childbirth is reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board.
www.babycenter.com

Doulas of North America
Website of Doulas of North America. Information on locating doulas, certification, and training.
www.dona.org

Midwives Alliance of North America
The website of MANA – a professional organization for midwives.
www.mana.org

Waterbirth International
A comprehensive website on waterbirth for consumers and practitioners.
www.waterbirth.org

Among the dozens of “the most important decisions you’ll ever make” about your child, this one deserves your careful attention. Most doctors will want to see the child at 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months. You and your child will be spending a lot of time with the doctor the first year, and will hopefully continue the relationship through adolescence.

Get referrals from trusted sources, narrow down a list of candidates, and carefully evaluate them. There are solo practitioners, and group practices. There are family doctors and pediatricians. No pediatrician or family doctor is inherently bad. However, you will need to find one that fits your child, your lifestyle, and your beliefs.

Finding a Pediatrician

Your obstetrician, friends, family members, and neighbors are a great sources for referrals. If you intend to breastfeed, the local La Leche League group will know which doctors are supportive. Once you have a list, check it against your insurance company’s list of providers. Once you narrow down the list…

Choose a Pediatrician Before the Child is Born

The first few months after the birth leave you with little energy after your care-taking duties. The process is more involved than picking a name off a list. Many hospitals will require you to submit the name of a pediatrician or family practitioner before admittance to the delivery room.

Preliminary Interviews

Most doctors will grant this interview. Both parents should be present. If the doctor is reluctant or unwilling to be interviewed, move on.

Compatible Philosophies

During the interview, you will have to find out where your doctor stands on breastfeeding, vaccinations, nutrition, and other child-rearing issues. This is an ongoing relationship and not just a product you buy off the shelf. You and your child will have to be comfortable with the doctor and how he or she chooses to practice medicine. Do you want an authority figure or a collaborative relationship with your pediatrician?

The Office Atmosphere

Is there a separate waiting area for sick children? Is the office clean and orderly? Is the waiting area furnished with child-size furniture? Are there a variety of toys and books for the children?

What about office hours? If you are a single parent or if both parents work 9-5, extended hours are a must.

Friendly and helpful staff make your visit more pleasant for you and your child. I don’t care how good or vital a product or service is. If the people stink, then it’s not worth the hassle.

Solo Practice or Group Practice

There are pros and cons to both. You will have to decide what is important to you.

The sole practitioner may be able to offer a closer doctor-patient relationship. However, you may have limited access to care. Doctors have lives, and do need to go on vacation. If your child develops a preference for a doctor of the same gender (as many do), you will have to start your search all over again.

Group practices usually offer extended hours. They can provide care on weekends and holidays. A group practice is likely to have both male and female doctors. Making a switch to accommodate your child’s wishes is much easier. However, you are less likely to develop as close a relationship as you can with a sole practitioner.

Other Considerations

How are non-emergencies handled? Some practices have nurse practitioners on call to answer routine questions. Doctors also make themselves available for telephone consultation at specific hours. The practice we selected offers extended hours 365 days a year and the ability to make appointments online.