“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you, wherever you go.” -Irish Blessing

The weather has started to get better, so we took our crafts outside today. We spent some time with our chickens while we did some clover stamps and green paint crafts for the upcoming holiday St. Patrick’s Day. The stamp I made is, four wine corks taped together to make a four-leaf clover stamp. We then poured some fun shades of green paint and I let my toddler have a great time with painting. I then also painted his hands so we could have some fun little green hand prints. When he was done we collected our chickens eggs from that morning. Our backyard hens live in a the little kid’s plastic playhouse and they are each a different breed so they each lay a different type of egg. We have a Welsummer, Cuckoo Maran, Mottled Java, and our little lady a Frizzle Bantam.

• 2 ripe bananas, medium-sized or 3-4 small ones
• 2 tablespoons of butter, softened
• 1 egg or ground flax-seed to water mixture
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• ½ teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 cup of quick steel-cut oats

Instructions

1. preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well
3. Spoon into greased or lined mini muffin tin pans
4. Bake for 20 minutes
5. Store in airtight container to keep well

Makes about 18-22 mini muffins

You often hear eat this or make these cookies or drink this tea to boost milk supply. Some things really do help boost supply but if you have an underlying issue you are just putting a bandage on the problem when finding out the root of the issue could resolve it all together. The very first thing to do is take a look at what is going on did you drink enough water that day, 64 ounces or more are recommended for nursing mothers. Did you take in enough calories? Are you coming down with a cold? Did you get even less sleep than normal? A lot can harm your supply temporarily some you can control like getting enough water while other things you can not like getting enough sleep ( I know I have a non sleeper full of energy toddler and a four month old).

This article by the boob geek  is one of my favorite as it goes into great depth on why taking galactagogues is not a fix. Galactagogues are scientifically proven things that can help increase supply. It is also important to note that not all people react the same way so if you notice that the supplement is not helping you then it is a good idea to stop taking it. “It is important to be aware that fenugreek can affect blood sugar levels, so much so that it is effectively used to treat diabetes.  Knowing this, a nursing mom with hypoglycemia or diabetes needs to watch blood sugar levels if fenugreek is her galactagogue of choice.” Mother’s Milk, How to Increase Supply. How do you know if you really have low supply this Kellymom link has great information on it as often we may think we have low supply when we do not actually.

So if you want to bake up a batch of cookies for a snack here is a great recipe. I know as a breastfeeding mother I am always hungry but often get wrapped up in things and forget to snack so for me lactation cookies are a great snack!

My go to recipe

• 3 cups quick cooking steel cut oats or regular oats I that is all you have (if you just get steel cut they tend to not cook enough in the cookies so lots of fiber and chewing) 
• 2 cups whole wheat flour (if all you have is regular flour it will work just slightly less heathy of a cookie)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 Tablespoons brewer’s or nutritional yeast 
• 1 cup virgin coconut oil (can use 1 cup of softened butter if you prefer) I also love the Costco brand virgin coconut oil
• 1 cup honey
• 1 1/3 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
• 2 eggs (if no eggs or need egg free this is a great egg substitute  you can use 2 tablespoon ground flax seed whisked with 6 tablespoon cold water allowed to sit for 5 min before adding)
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed meal 
• optional 1 cup dark chocolate chips or 1/2 cup of favorite nuts I love walnuts in mine when I have them on hand

Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. In a large bowl, mix the oats, flour, yeast, and baking soda. Set them aside.
3. Using a stand mixer, or a separate large bowl and a hand mixer, cream together the coconut oil (or butter) and honey
4. Mix in the vanilla, eggs (or egg substitute), and ground flax seed meal
5. Stir in the dry ingredients, slowly. You can use a stand mixer on low, or just stir them in by hand with a large wooden spoon
6. Stir in the chocolate chips and/or nuts
7. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper for easy clean up then drop one and half inch balls onto it, about an inch apart
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, look for edges to become golden
9. Remove from oven and let cool.
10. Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to one week or freeze some if you make a large batch.
11. Enjoy your snack cookies and don’t worry dads can have them also they are safe for all not just lactating mamas.

My toddler loves to help and be a part of things, the kitchen is no exception! We had a long day of not much fun yesterday so today we decided to make Sunday morning pancakes. We also got a new kitchen tool to hopefully help out with the pouring of the batter by the tiny toddler helping hands. The KPKitchen pancake and cupcake batter dispenser is taking its maddien voyage this morning with our homemade pancake batter.

Ingredients 

• 2 cup flour
• 3 tablespoon sugar (we use cane sugar)
• ¹⁄₂teaspoon salt (we use grey salt)
• 1 tablespoons baking powder 
• 2 eggs (we used our chickens eggs)
• ¹⁄₄cup butter, melted 
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 2 cups milk 

 

Directions 

Sift together the dry ingredients into a large bowl with a sifter 

Mix together wet ingredients add eggs once melted butter is cooled enough (don’t want to cook the eggs in the mixture)

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients bowl, then slowly add the wet ingredients while stirring

Once mixed pour batter into the KPKitchen pancake and cupcake batter dispenser and let sit for 10 minutes while the pan heats up

Dispense batter and cook pancakes

Enjoy your pancakes with your family!

I have a great breast pump its amazing I highly recommend the Spectra S1 to anyone looking for a pump it’s quite for a breast pump its gentle and it has a nightlight! But it is a lot of work to get out for a quick milk collection or to use while nursing on the other side early in the morning. I got the NatureBond milk saver off Amazon as it was cheap, many go for the big name one the Haakaa but it was double the price and looked he exact same but without a lid or bag to store it in and I was skeptical as I rarely leak at all nursing so I was unsure if it was a thing I really needed. Well it was I love how simple to use and easy to clean it is I love how much milk I get. I simply flip the collar back place your nipple in flip back if you are breastfeeding on the other side you may have a letdown into it without doing anything if not give it a squeeze or two and once you begin to have a letdown let it collect the milk for you it’s that easy. once I have collected the milk I put in a Kiinde Twist bags as I love them ( when. use my Spectra S1 I pump directly into them!) but you can put it in anything you want to use to store your milk.

I tandem feed my toddler and my infant and I have slight oversupply so when my toddler goes to his grandparents for a day or more I need relief but don’t want to pull out my big pump as it is a lot of work and I am trying to maximize my time as a mother with only one baby at home so I don’t want to be busting out the pump and having to clean it when I can use and clean one thing. I also throw it in my purse if I am running out solo in case I need to pump a little for relief. So found the milk saver to save the day when the actual pump is more than I need.

Valentine’s Day was a holiday I found very silly but since having my son I love it as I love all chances to celebrate, do crafts, and take fun pictures. For holiday fun this year we made cup cakes and I let my toddler do most of the work he really enjoyed that, he loves doing things like a grown-up and why would he not after all he is just a tiny human. As I have two very tiny humans we used box cup cake mix today but only because we still had one on hand next time we are making them from scratch. We tried out a few ways to make it slightly less messy for my toddler I tried putting the batter in a funnel that was messy, then in a squeeze bottle which worked ok but we are still looking for the best solution. We made some a bit of a mess but we had fun doing it and the tiny cupcakes are the perfect amount for a toddler! Hope you are spending your day of love doing fun things with those you love.

Not pancakes with bananas but pancakes made of mushy banana and egg! I took two nicely ripe bananas and two eggs from our chickens to make my toddler 3 pancakes! It was that simple much easier than making banana bread with my mushy bananas and a great way to use some of our eggs. The best part was my toddler ate them and I had one also and they were yummy great quick and easy breakfast! I also threw some bacon in the oven because what says good morning more than bacon.

 

 

Recipe

Ingredients:

2 small or 1 large ripe banana

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon of baking powder

Place all ingredients in a bowl and smash and mix well then cook on stove top and serve that easy

When I first found out I was expecting my first child I was overjoyed. I jumped into researching and searching for the perfect midwife. I was so excited to have a natural drug free childbirth experience, my team green little one had other plans. At my 20 week appointment, I found out my placenta was anterior and very low also the baby was breech but there was lots of time for that to change. This did mean we would have another ultrasound in a few weeks to check the placenta. I did a ton a research and most placenta move up no issues so I tried to not worry and a breech baby this early on was not a concern. Every appointment with my midwife we checked and the baby was still breech. At 28 weeks I went and the placenta had moved up enough they felt like they could clear me for a vaginal birth but baby was still breech. As time went on I began to research ways to flip a breech baby for a vaginal birth as no one delivered breech babies near me. I began doing the exercises on Spinning Babies daily. I searched for a chiropractor certified in the Webster technique as it was shown to have good success at flipping breech babies. I also found that acupuncture and the use of moxa had good rates of flipping breech babies so I found someone and tried acupuncture for the first time in my life. I scheduled an external cephalic version (ECV) to take place at 36 weeks as that gives it the best shot of working with enough fluids surrounding baby it makes manually flipping easier.My doula did our first home visit we went over some things about going into labor and when to call her. We also asked her to come with us to the appointment for the ECV. At 36 weeks we went in for the ECV I was checked in to the hospital given a hospital gown reminded that it was possible that it could send me into labor or result in an emergency cesarean if the placenta ruptured or baby went into distress. I wanted to proceed as I felt if I did not try everything that I would be upset with myself for giving up. The doctor came in did the third ultrasound of the morning he said he could try but it was unlikely to work and would likely result in a baby that day.  So my husband, my doula and I discussed it and decided to let baby cook more. So due to an anterior placenta and engaged butt-down baby, it was not a good idea so the ECV was a failed attempt. I left feeling so sad and worried about having a cesarean and how far that was from the birth I had envisioned. I did not lose all hope and continued trying everything to flip that baby I was doing hand stands in the pool and at the chiropractor multiple times a week. I also began making my new birth plan in case the baby did not flip. I came across this from Mama Natural about a gentle cesarean. I found an NPR article about gentle a cesarean this began to make me feel a bit better about the possibility of having a cesarean. Mother Love had a great article about making a birth plan for a family centered cesarean.

Family Centered Gentle Cesarean

When c-sections become necessary, especially when pre-planned, there are some factors that your family  can discuss with your midwife or doctors and your birth team to try to create a more gentle environment.

If circumstances allow.

Things like:
* Dropping the drape or using a clear drape so that you the mom can actually witness the birth of your baby (Do’t worry you won’t be able to see the incision because of its placement)
* Immediate skin-to-skin once baby is born and while you are repaired if possible. If not, dad can have the skin to skin with baby while you are being repaired
* Fostering of the early nursing relationship by having baby on your chest during the rest of the procedure so baby can start to nurse if he/she desires just as they could in a vaginal birth
* Using a specially cultured gauze to swab the baby and expose him/her to your natural floura (beneficial bacteria) This is called seeding and should NOT be done if the mothers has any infections or STDs.
* Letting the dad cut the cord if circumstances allow                                                                   * Letting the cord continue pulsing after birth if possible.                                                          * Keeping mom, dad and baby together in the recovery unit to let nursing and bonding happen
* Allowing for an extra person (doula, grandparent, etc) to be there to photograph the birth so that you and dad can both interact right away and be present for the birth
* Have music of choice playing if possible
* Having all IVs, straps, etc on the non-dominant arm so that you can touch and hold baby once he or she is born
* Performing all newborn tests on your chest if possible
* Ensuring that all medications are approved for breastfeeding, if possible
Of course the health of mom and baby are the most important and if there is an actual medical reason for not allowing then that takes precedence.

This became my birth plan as my baby did not flip and I allowed my midwife to schedule my cesarean with her favorite OB at the hospital and we let our doula know so she could be there with us and support us in this new way. We had the date set the 4th of December 2015 a Friday this allowed us to make a plan for the next week of things we wanted to finish up before brining our baby earth-side and becoming a family of three. I had meal prepping and last-minute photo ideas I wanted to take in my last day’s of pregnancy. My husband planned to work Monday and then take the rest of the week off to complete our to do list. On Monday November 30th 2015 around four O’Clock in the afternoon our midwife called and said our cesarean had been rescheduled for tomorrow and we needed to her there at Seven I the morning. I was shocked it was not the plan we were having a baby on Friday not Tuesday. I called my husband as soon as I got off the phone to let him know we were having a baby tomorrow on Tuesday not on Friday. That was the closest I got to being in labor was the mental feeling of going from knowing when I was having a baby to it all changing in an instance. I stayed up way too late that night I was so very anxious and nervous for the next day and my clock had run out of time for baby to flip. Before I was in the window of no food or drink
I had a big yummy dinner and a glass of wine per my midwife’s request. I had my husband take a last few pictures of me pregnant to include one in front of our Christmas tree we had put up early since we would have a newborn that year. My husband finally was like I am going to bed we have to get up early I stayed up a bit later I went to bed around two in the morning for the last time as a pregnant mother. We woke up early put the many bags we had over packed into the car and headed to the hospital to check in. I made a play list for the OR on the drive over, one I ended up not getting to listen to as the anesthesiologist who is in charge of the OR said no music as he is not a fan. We got there and checked in they checked the baby was still breech. We met the OB doctor that would be performing the surgery we went over our new birth plan and made sure that our midwife would be there with us and once in recovery that our doula could be with us again. She told me the long list of things that could go wrong and said at the end if I tell you that you are good none of them happened, which the case most of the time. Our surgery was bumped a few times as there were a few unscheduled cesarean sections that needed to take place. I was getting more and more anxious and hungry so very hungry. The anesthesiologist lacked bedside manner and common human emotions, he came in and introduced himself and was short and rude told me no to my request for music and left. I was still unsure of how the spinal would feel and what it would be like to have a cesarean. I had of course read up on its and done a ton of research but I wanted to hear once more what it would be like to mentally prepare myself and help with my anxieties. I was lucky and though she had never shared it with us my doula  had herself had a cesarean herself so she explained what it would be like, she said the spinal feels like a bee sting then they lay you back down and you can not feel from your chest down which makes it feel like you can not breathe but remind yourself you can breath you are ok and you are about to meet your baby. Those words were so very helpful when the time came and it was exactly how it felt. All that part happens before they allowed my husband in the room also luckily I had my midwife and one of the nurses was a friend of mines friend so she was a familiar face in a room full of new people. My husband came in and sat next to my head. It took what seemed like an eternity of them pulling and tugging to get our baby out they lowered the drape and I saw that sweet little baby for the first time and all the anxieties and worries melted away. My husband got to announce to the room the baby’s sex, the baby is a boy he told the room then walked over where they quickly checked out our son, he held daddies finger while they measured him. They then brought him over and set him on my chest where he remained until they finished up the surgery. The OB looked at me and said it all went as planned no need to worry about any of those things and that my incision looked great and I would be a great candidate for a VBAC for my next baby like I wanted. I was wheeled into recovery and while they were moving me they had to unplug the leg compression cuffs and them not compressing my legs made me feel like I did not have legs as I could not feel them. I asked the nurse to please plug them back in so I had legs again and could focus on my baby. My lovely doula came in and helped get baby and I off to a good start nursing asked me how I was doing mentally with it all. I said was overjoyed to have my baby here with me and for now nothing else mattered. My doula left and took my placenta along with her in the “doggy bag” to encapsulate. December 1, 2015 was an amazing day we welcomed our son earth-side and life changed forever. I really wish I had gone to bed earlier and gotten a good nights sleep because now two years later and I am still lacking in the sleep. One other thing looking back I wish I had just enjoyed the last bit of my pregnancy and not continued fighting to flip my baby that was not going to flip. Ultimately baby knows best he was breech for a reason and nothing was going to change that.

 

 

Maybe you have heard of elderberries or elderberry syrup and you are thinking is there any truth to this berry helping keep my family well or shorten a cold or the flu. With this flu season being worse than some other ones in our area this year, like this due to the months of poor air quality from the fires right before flu season, you may be wanting to try it out but are unsure. There are many cultures that have used the elderberry for medicine and to keep healthy for centuries. There are also some great studies on them this is from a study conducted on elderberries for healthy persons (if you have an immunodeficiency then consult your doctor before taking any type of supplements), “Sambucus nigra L. products – Sambucol – are based on a standardized black elderberry extract. They are natural remedies with antiviral properties, especially against different strains of influenza virus. Sambucol was shown to be effective in vitro against 10 strains of influenza virus. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, Sambucol reduced the duration of flu symptoms to 3-4 days” The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines study.

Honey is the other key to making elderberry syrup in most elderberry syrup blends though other options are able to be used if you want to make and are vegan or you want to give to a baby under one year of age then honey is not to be used as they can not have honey. Raw organic honey is the best kind to use due to its many health benefits. Any honey can be used if it’s all you have access to. “Honey has a very complex chemical composition that varies depending on the botanical source. It has been used both as food and medicine since ancient times. Human use of honey is traced to some 8000 years ago as depicted by Stone Age paintings. In addition to important role of natural honey in the traditional medicine, during the past few decades, it was subjected to laboratory and clinical investigations by several research groups and it has found a place in modern medicine“ from a study Traditional and Modern Uses of Natural Honey in Human Diseases: A Review

You can buy elderberry syrup at the store but it is expensive and there are additives in it that I can’t even pronounce. So I wanted a better alternative I found it and it is that I make my own elderberry syrup and so can you, it’s not difficult at all!

You will need some dried elderberries I buy mine in bulk to save some money I buy them directly from Frontier co-op or you can find this brand locally at some health food or organic grocery stores my local chain Oliver’s Market carries them. I really love this store so many great products available right down the street from me.

The next must-have when making elderberry syrup is honey I prefer to get local raw organic honey for the health benefits as I mentioned and shared some links to above.

Once you have your dried ( nigra L. Sambucol) black elderberry and honey you are ready to make your elderberry syrup.

Ingredients

2/3 cup dried black elderberries (about 3 ounces)

4 cups of filtered water (3 1/2 for instant pot method)

1 cup of  local raw organic honey ( I get mine at Oliver’s Market or the Farmers Market)

                                                            Optional Ingredients 
2 Tablespoons fresh or dried ginger root

1 stick of cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1 lemon to zest and juice

2 tablespoons of rose hips

You will need a pot for the stove or an instant pot.

Directions for making Elderberry Syrup

Step 1.

Place 2/3 cup of dried elderberries and 4 cups of filtered water into a pot if using stove top method. If using instant pot decrease water by 1/2 cup. (Note Do NOT add honey until later you don’t want to heat it as it will lose many of its health benefits)

Step 2.

Add any herbs that you want to enhance the flavor. I add a stick of cinnamon and zest a lemon on and then juice it into the pot. Things like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, rose hips and lemon are commonly added. (If giving to young children I recommend leaving out spices as many young children do not like them)

Step 3.

Stir the contents for a stovetop method bring to a boil then cover place on low heat, watch and stir occasionally for about 50-75 minutes then remove from heat.

For instant pot after stirring place the top on the instant pot and press soup button and set to 75 minutes once done allow the pressure to naturally release (about ten minutes)

Step 4.

Smash the elderberries really well using a fork or a potato masher

Step 5.

Allow cooling

Step 6.

Strain the berries and any herbs you may have used out and the liquid into a glass mason jar or similar container. You can toss the strained berries or compost them!

Step 7.

Mix in 1 cup of raw local organic honey

Step 8.

Congratulations! You made homemade elderberry syrup! Now your family can enjoy the benefits at a fraction of the cost of store-bought elderberry syrup and no unnecessary additives.

Storage.

I keep mine in the mason jar in the fridge it lasts for about 2 months but have usually used it up before then and made more!

Note: If you’d like you can double or triple  or quadruple the recipe (When I make is recipe I quadruple it)

Then you can share with your friends or freeze the extra for later in mason jars just do not fill all the way up to allow room for expansion when it freezes.

Use.

The standard dose is generally 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp for kids and 1/2 Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults daily for preventative measures

If a cold or flu strikes your household, we take the standard dose 3`4 times a day until symptoms are gone

 

 

 

To start this I must share that from the day I got pregnant with my first I was so excited for a natural childbirth experience and attachment parenting. I found the perfect midwife and doula I did my research and was so excited for my birth. But as the time passed and got closer to my estimated due date baby number one was still breech. I was active duty military at the time so a scheduled cesarean became the only option, after many failed attempts at flipping my sweet baby. I mean any and everything you can think of I tried to include a failed ECV (external cephalic version) due to an anterior placenta and engaged butt-down baby at 36 weeks. I learned a lot from that experience one of the biggest things was that no matter how prepared you think you are parenting can really throw you some curve balls. My birth story from my first I will share soon but while my most recent VBAC birth is fresh in my mind I want to share it with you.

My birth story starts off here very early in the morning on Monday October 9th 2017 we evacuated due to our town being on fire. I was 39 weeks and one day pregnant. I had worked hard to plan everything for my upcoming birth that was my VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) and evacuating was not part of that plan. We scrambled to come up with a few backup plans but I had it in my mind that the baby would not come until I was 42 weeks pregnant and I believed we would be back home by then. On Wednesday we had settled into our hotel we were temporarily staying at in our old town which was located about an hour away from our current town. We had dinner plans with some good friends as we had lived in this town before we moved to Santa Rosa, Ca. We arrived home (our hotel) after a quick trip to Target at 9:30 in the evening after dinner for a few needed items. I had been extra leaky all afternoon I was worried it was a slow leak of my waters but was uncertain so I contacted my midwife. She said to try to get some sleep as labor might be soon or it might not but rest was important at this point in pregnancy. I was so convinced I would go past 40 weeks which would be the upcoming Sunday so I was not sure labor was closeS Once we were settled back at the hotel and my toddler and husband were fast asleep I tired to rest but I could not sleep. I began to get a little crampy and then my bowels cleared out. I tried my hardest to sleep but it was not happening I could not get comfortable. At 1:45 in the morning on Thursday October 12th, I started having contractions I began timing them and they were happening every 5-8 minutes and lasting for 45 seconds. At 2:20 am I woke up my husband as it was not until then that I was certain they were contractions and not just Braxton Hicks (which I had never experienced). My husband called our amazing midwife and told her about what was going on she decided to head our way from Santa Rosa, Ca (about an hour and 25 minutes away). He then called our lovely Doula to see if she would be able to come as she was also displaced from the fire. She said she was able to come. My husband told me that they were both headed our way, this made me very happy to know. We did not have an exact plan as to where we were going to have this baby but I was going to have my whole support system. I labored in the shower then on the toilet, as labor got more intense and the contractions more regular in their consistency. I began to go into myself and focus on how my body was opening up and preparing for this birth. I thought about the hypnobabies home course I had listened to at night toward the end of my pregnancy. One, Two, Three RELEASE went through my mind as I focused on the contractions being only temporary and that they were bringing me closer to my sweet baby. My body and baby were preparing for the big event that is birth. My midwife arrived asked if I wanted to see if we could go to the birth center in San Francisco that it might be an option. I said yes she called them and they said yes.  I was so excited to hear those words this meant my birth that I had envisioned and planned for was happening the way I had planned despite all odds and everything that was going on. My midwife checked on the baby everything was going well and she said it was time to go unless we wanted a hotel birth. My Doula arrived we let her know the plan. My Doula helped me through a few contractions as my husband put our toddler’s things together and him into the truck. Then they got me loaded into the truck. My midwife and Doula followed us as we took my son to our friends house. Then we headed into the city by this time it was 4:45 am and work commuter traffic had begun. We got stuck in some traffic on The Bay Bridge trying to get into the city of San Francisco. The smoke in the air from the fires was really bad but the cool morning air felt nice on my face so I left the window open. The smell added to my nauseous feelings and I began puking in my hotel trash can I had brought just in case I needed it and boy was I glad I had it.  While this was going on a man in a truck next to us stopped on the bridge signaled my husband to roll down the window so he did, the man asked if we had a water bottle. My husband said no sorry and rolled his window back up. The drive through the city was awful with lots of bumps. With each contraction, I was so upset I was in a truck seat sitting I wanted to be up and moving my hips or on all fours. We arrived at the San Francisco birth center around almost 6 in the morning. My midwife checked baby and then asked me if I wanted to be checked before getting in the tub. I agreed I was almost 8 centimeters dilated and fully effaced. I labored in the tub for a bit. Then the toilet when I began to get overheated in the tub. I then tried the side of the bed and then the floor over the birthing ball. I was on the birth chair for a bit then my water broke. I decided wanted back in the water so I got back into the tub. Not long after I became pushy and babies head was showing a bit more and more with each contraction. I would push then I would hold back some as I was not wanting to tear and my hemorrhoids were beginning to hurt so badly. Childbirth is far less glamorous than anyone tells you. Then the ring of fire began happening it was way more intense than anyone had described it in the million the birth stories I had read or listened to. I began to think that there was no way I could push that baby out. I was so tired and it felt like it was so much more than I had the energy left to do. My amazing birth team reminded me of how strong I was and how much I wanted this birth experience. My Doula reminded me of how it was so close it ti being over and my baby being in my arms. My husband told me that I was able to do anything and I could certainly do this. Then with the next big contraction I pushed and pushed and babies head was out then one more big push and the baby was fully born at 0946 in the morning. Once in my arms, I held the baby and was in complete aw none of the pain remained it was pure bliss I made that tiny human and I did it I got my VBAC. They checked the baby out then helped me stand to help the placenta be birthed. After the placenta was birthed the baby and I and the placenta went to the bed. My husband and I were so in love with this new tiny human. I was so exhausted it was not until my midwife said we don’t know the flavor of this sweet little one that I realized it was time to see if we had a son or daughter. My husband checked and told me we had a daughter! We had no name or anything for her but we had her and she was perfect. My in-laws came and brought our son to meet his sister. They also brought a car seat so we could leave the birth center with her.  Everyone was in love with her. After a small visit our son left and went to his grandparents for a couple of days. My midwife finished checking out our daughter and myself. My midwife then made me the very best bowl of oatmeal I have ever had in my entire life. I am sure in part it was because I was starving and exhausted. The kind woman from The San Francisco Birth Center had not only opened their doors to us but also their hearts. They allowed me to have my birth in their center and get the VBAC I had dreamed of with a candlelit room and big tub ( I actually have no idea if there were candles or what the lighting was like but that tub was amazing). They also gave us some baby clothes and blankets for our baby until we could make it home to get our things. At about four hours after her birth, we loaded up into our truck to leave the San Francisco Birth Center. The San Francisco birth center came and did our day one home visit at our hotel. This allowed my midwife to get some much needed rest and not have to drive so far again so soon.

Weight 7 pounds 3 oz
Head 13.75 inches
Chest 13.75 inches
Length 20 inches

 

I want to give special thanks to the women who made the birth I wanted happen the way I had envisioned. My rockstar of a midwife Jasmine from Thrive Birth Center, my amazing and supportive Doula Becca, and the lovely ladies of The San Fransico Birth Center. I also want to give a very special thank you to my amazing husband for remaining flexible, being my rock and driving through San Fransisco in morning traffic with no left turns.