Sustainable Mommy

ICAN is the International Cesarean Awareness Network. Last night I attended my first meeting. I went because I was interested in the topic (Why Babies Love Homebirth) and because the speaker was a local homebirth midwife. I left, however, with the intention of going back. There were women (and men) there from all kinds of backgrounds, and not all of the women have had c-sections. Many have, though, and have gone on to have successful VBACs at home. I have not had a c-section, but that does not mean I can't be an advocate for awareness and prevention.

I found it slightly ironic that as I was sitting in that meeting, our good friends were in labor at the hospital. I will spare the details because it's not my place, but let's just say that it was a typical hospital progression that ended with an emergency c-section. I was not there, but my night was completely ruined when I found out the sequence of events. I will never say anything to this couple about it unless they ask (and I'm pretty sure they don't read this blog, but if they do ... well, then so be it), and yes, they have a healthy baby, but it's not just about that. A woman's birth experience matters.

Women who experience c-sections with their first birth usually go in one of two directions: 1) It doesn't bother them and they go on to have c-sections with their subsequent children, or 2) It is a wake-up call and their entire belief system is turned completely upside down. Unfortunately, I would say that the majority of women fall into category number 1, which is one (of many) reasons why the c-section rate in the United States continues to be so high.

I feel that my faith is slowly fading from so many things. I have faith in God, in a few people, and in my body. I am finding more and more that I don't take things at face value anymore. I guess I am becoming more and more like my brother in that respect - maybe it is genetic?! :o) But when someone says, "You should do this," or "You should buy this," I will research it first, look at options, and decide what is best for me. Yes, I said, "for me." I know that what is best for me is not best for everyone. I am still baffled, though, as to why people would say they want a natural birth (our friends did not, so this is not directed at them) and not completely research and prepare for it ... meaning, take a non-hospital class about natural birth, learn how the body is meant to function during birth and what is supposed to happen. Pitocin though an IV is not part of it.

If a woman is not dilating (aka "failure to progress") it could be because of a few things: 1) Mom is stressed out about all the nonsense going on around her, like the beeping and the fact that she is not allowed to eat and that she has been threatened with a c-section if she does not progress (hormones are a bitch, aren't they?), 2) baby is not ready and can sense and feel that mom is stressed out, therefore becomes stressed out itself, or 3) Baby's head is legitimately stuck in the pelvis or is in some weird position that will not allow the labor to progress.

And that's all I have to say about that right now.

If you can't tell, I'm stressed out myself. Too many things happened last night that pissed me off, and I have no control over any of them. Not to mention that I feel very alone right now, and Duncan was up entirely too early. I am ready for this week to be over.