Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? Yes, I will be 30 weeks on Friday, team pink
Do you have any children already? How old are they? One fabulous son, he is 4
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? I have a CMW this time around. I will be delivering at Abbott NW in Minneapolis MN
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? I have been reading and watching documentaries. I may look into a class in the next couple weeks.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? My sons birth was quite traumatic, I really didn't feel in control of the decision making. I felt the docs and nurses took over and I don't want that to happen this time. I want to entrust my body to do exactly what it is made to do. I am amazed at the birth process the more and more I learn.
Are you pregnant? Yes - I just found out on Monday. I am 3w5d and edd is 11.01.14. The plan is to be team green.
Other kids: we have a 6 year old son, Carter, and a 13 month old daughter, Kendall.
Birthing plans: we are planning our second home birth with our midwife.
Preparation: I have some a lot of reading from Ina may to the Bradley method books.
How did I become interested? I knew with our first son I wanted a natural child birth. The side effects of drugs on mom and baby are too risky for me and I really wanted an all natural birth.
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team?Nope, lurking while TTC
Do you have any children already? How old are they? An almost 4 year old son.
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?OB/CNM at a natural birth friendly hospital. CNM delivered and had an unmedicated posterior birth.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? Bradley, ate well, exercised until 39 weeks.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? My mom had all 5 of her children unmedicated in the hospital. I knew since I was a little girl that I would be having a natural birth. The next baby will hopefully be delivered by a midwife in a birth center.
Not currently pregnant but hope to try for #3 in the next few months.
I have 2 boys. Hudson will be 1 on Saturday, Dean will be 3 in April.
I had an OB for both births and they were both medication free in a hospital.
We hired a doula for both my pregnancies/births and it was the BEST thing we ever did. Also did a lot of reading. I used visual imagery exercises which were really helpful.
My husband and I are both physicians, so I think we saw first hand how the health care system can just sort of shuffle you in to the "usual" path and we didn't want that. I realized that birth was not a medical emergency and didn't need any intervention.
DS1 born 4/17/11 DS2 born 2/22/13 MMC 5/16/14@8w2d DD due 5/9/15 Please be ourRAINBOW
It's been a while since we had one of these. While I know some of the names/faces that frequent this board, I certainly don't know everyone! Thought it might be nice to see who-all is hanging around here :-)
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team?
Do you have any children already? How old are they?
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods?
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth?
I look forward to learning more about everyone here!
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team?
I am 39 weeks with team pink! My EDD is Monday.
Do you have any children already? How old are they? Ftm
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? I have an OB however the MW deliver most of the babies at my hospital. I was inquired to late to get in our birth center but love my OB.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? We have hired a doula group, went to 6 week birthing class, prenatal yoga (not my favorite excersise plan but helpful) and swimming.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? I experienced a MC at 12 weeks when my body actually went into labor for about6 hrs and my water broke. I had no idea this was possible. Natural birth is mostly about control for me. I want to be able to move and be free during labor. I feel like my body was created to do this and if I could do this during a mc surely my body and mind can do this for a healthy baby. I am also hoping that recovery will be better.
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? Yes! 20 weeks and we are Team Blue!
Do you have any children already? How old are they? None yet, this is our first!
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? Using a midwife through the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Giving birth at the hospital.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? Starting Bradley Method classes on Monday!
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? Started out as an interest in eating cleaner, which prompted an interest in avoiding medication whenever possible and opting for natural remedies. I believe giving birth unmedicated makes the process go more smoothly (in most cases) and is better for the baby.
I haven't posted on this board yet, but I read pretty often. So hi everyone
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team?
20 weeks, team green until birthday
Do you have any children already? How old are they?
No kids yet, this is our first
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?
We are using a CNM who practices at the hospital and also has a homebirth practice. We are planning a homebirth.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods?
Reading a lot. I can't recall the books I've read so far, but they have all been helpful. Our midwife strongly recommends the Pink Kit so we will be starting that soon. I'm doing prenatal yoga as well, which has been great.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth?
Well, I always knew I wanted an unmedicated birth. I knew my mom did it and I knew if she could that I could. Then I started learning more, watched The Business of Being Born and realized that I really wanted a home birth. As a bonus I really like the idea of our family not having to deal with discrimination at the hospital.
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? 34 weeks, Team Blue
Do you have any children already? How old are they? Nope, FTM
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?
Planning home birth with midwives and a doula. Hoping for a water birth if all goes well.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods?
Hypnobirthing classes, Penny Simkin's book, meditation and yoga when I'm not too tired!
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth?
Early on, I read everything I could about different approaches to birth in order to make the best decision for us. And I've always been interested in intentional communities, so I was aware of the Farm and Ina May before I became pregnant. Reading her philosophy, looking at statistics and then interviewing MWs cemented my decision.
Hi! I lurk on this board quite a bit and post every once in while. I will hopefully get to post a bit more with this pregnancy. Great support here!
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? I am 5 weeks with my 2nd. Went through a med-free birth with my first in a hospital with a doula.
Do you have any children already? How old are they? Yes, one son. He is almost 2.
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? With this one, I will use an OB and doula again in a hospital. I have switched to a more natural-friendly OB this time, though. My DH is very interested in home birth, but I am still a little nervous about it, although I think it is fascinating!
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? Basically just work on breathing/meditation techniques with our doula again. I will also read my Ina May books and watch TBOBB documentaries again.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? I don't know. I just have always wanted to ever since I started learning about pregnancy. I was obsessed with the show A Baby Story on TLC when I was little and my favorite births were the water births. Maybe that's where it started?
Son 4/27/12, Son 10/15/14, Daughter 9/29/16....Baby #4 due 10/09/19! Apparently we get really bored in January
Hi, I'm new to the board (for this pregnancy) and thought I'd jump in :-)
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? I'm 30 weeks and 4 days pregnant with a boy
Do you have any children already? How old are they? We have 1 son who is 19 months old.
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? I'm working with a MW (a team of two awesome midwives actually). Our primary midwife delivered my son Kaden via home water birth in July 2012, we're hoping to have another home water birth this time.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? I'm reading Ina May's book again, along with Birthing From Within and The Birth Partner. We may take a refresher birthing class in mid-April a couple of weeks before our EDD. It's offered by our midwife and would be a nice way to reconnect with labor tools, etc.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? I tend to live a natural based lifestyle, and when I became pregnant and learned about homebirth and natural birth options I felt they really resonated with my beliefs and the experience I was hoping to have. We had an amazing birth with Kaden, I'm looking forward to doing it again.
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? - baby was born last Wednesday! I have been a lurker mostly.
Do you have any children already? How old are they? - DS is 4 days old
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? - planned birth center birth with CNM, but as I went overdue it looked like we'd be going to the hospital. Baby came on his own one day shy of 41 weeks so I was able to deliver at the birth center.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? - I took a Hypno Birthing class. I also went to a chiropractor and took homeopathic herbs at the end of pregnancy. Honestly, I was a little wary of the herbs and chiro but I followed my midwife's advice and I guess it helped!
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? - my mom had me and my brother unmedicated, and I wanted to do the same thing for my son. I spent some time on The Farm when I was younger--at the time childbirth was the last thing on my mind but I became interested in Ina Mays books when we started TTC.
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? 29 weeks, Team Green
Do you have any children already? How old are they? Almost 3 year old DD.
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? DD was a medicated hospital delivery with a mw. This time will hopefully be a home water birth.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? I am doing the hypnobabies home study and taking a class through my MWs office that focuses on home birth techniques. I've also read a ton if books on natural birth.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? I wanted to go med free with dd, but wasn't able to because of lack of support at the hospital. This time before we even started ttc I researched my options in town and looked into what I could do in terms of classes and preparation to achieve my goal.
It's been a while since we had one of these. While I know some of the names/faces that frequent this board, I certainly don't know everyone! Thought it might be nice to see who-all is hanging around here
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? 10 weeks pregnant. Team GREEN!
Do you have any children already? How old are they? A 2 year old daughter
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? OB in a hospital
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? Bradley method this time. Planned epidural last time.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? My birth last time overall was great, but recovery was really rough. I feel like going natural might up my chances for a smoother recovery. Also hoping I can go into labor naturally instead of being induced at 42 weeks!
I look forward to learning more about everyone here!
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? Almost 17 weeks. We find out our team Friday!
Do you have any children already? How old are they? Only if you count furbabies. They are both 5.5 (from the same litter).
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? Went thru a midwife first, but she ended up leaving the practice. Now I'm at an OB on her recommendation. Plan to deliver in a hospital that has a nice birthing facility with tubs and all.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? Taking Hypnobabies in the 3rd tri. We'll probably take some newborn classes as well. I will be reading the Big Book of Birth and a recommended breastfeeding book.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? I guess I never considered getting a epi, so I just assumed this would be the route I'd take. My mom and SIL both had unmedicated, so they were good influences.
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team?
12 weeks, we haven't found out the sex yet but we will at the 20wk anatomy scan!
Do you have any children already? How old are they?
Nope. First timer here
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?
I am using a midwife and will be giving birth in an alternative birthing suite in my hospital.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods?
I haven't started preparing yet, since it's still early. I'm starting to get a little scared about the pain but I am committed to having a drug free birthing experience.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth?
I first got the idea from seeing the documentary "The business of being born". I know it is controversial, but it started me on the path to realizing I have choices when it comes to my birth plan.
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? Yes- almost 30 weeks and team Pink
Do you have any children already? How old are they? Nope- FTM
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? OB- I have pregnancy Medicaid and I have lupus so high risk so no choice and we will be in a hospital. The hospital is very supportive of natural birth with moveable hot tubs, private l&d rooms, support immediate skin to skin and breastfeeding.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? We are taking the free (for me) hospital birthing and breastfeeding classes and also have hired a doula
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth?
I have always known I would want to have as unmediated a birth as possible- I am fairly crunchy and prefer to use natural remedies when possible
Hi Everyone! I come back to check in every once in awhile.
I am not currently pregnant.
I have two LOs. DS is 3 and DD is 6 months.
Both my births were natural (minus induction with cervadil at 42 wks) with MW at a hospital.
My husband and I took a Bradley class. I would definitely recommend it.
I became interested in a natural birth because every other female in my family had c-sections and I wanted to do what I could to prevent an unnecessary one.
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? Yes, 27 weeks. Team Green. Do you have any children already? How old are they? I have a 27 month old daughter. Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? I have a MW. I'll be giving birth at a military hospital. What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? With DD I took a birthing class. Other than that my only other preparation was just determination to have a natural birth. How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? With DD I wanted a natural birth because I was terrified of getting an epidural. This time I plan on going natural again because I had such a great and empowering birth experience with DD.
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team?
almost 17weeks, Team Impatiently waiting for the A/S
Do you have any children already? How old are they?
An almost 4yo and a 2yo
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?
CNMW for now but she is retiring before my due dare.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods?
Right now just trying to keep fit.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? I had a bad experience with my first, when the second one came along I went unmedicated and labor and recovery was so much easier.
Re: GTKY / Natural Birth Board Roll Call
Yes, I will be 30 weeks on Friday, team pink
Do you have any children already? How old are they?
One fabulous son, he is 4
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?
I have a CMW this time around. I will be delivering at Abbott NW in Minneapolis MN
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods?
I have been reading and watching documentaries. I may look into a class in the next couple weeks.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth?
My sons birth was quite traumatic, I really didn't feel in control of the decision making. I felt the docs and nurses took over and I don't want that to happen this time. I want to entrust my body to do exactly what it is made to do. I am amazed at the birth process the more and more I learn.
Are you pregnant? Yes - I just found out on Monday. I am 3w5d and edd is 11.01.14. The plan is to be team green.
Other kids: we have a 6 year old son, Carter, and a 13 month old daughter, Kendall.
Birthing plans: we are planning our second home birth with our midwife.
Preparation: I have some a lot of reading from Ina may to the Bradley method books.
How did I become interested? I knew with our first son I wanted a natural child birth. The side effects of drugs on mom and baby are too risky for me and I really wanted an all natural birth.
I have 2 boys. Hudson will be 1 on Saturday, Dean will be 3 in April.
My husband and I are both physicians, so I think we saw first hand how the health care system can just sort of shuffle you in to the "usual" path and we didn't want that. I realized that birth was not a medical emergency and didn't need any intervention.
DS2 born 2/22/13
MMC 5/16/14@8w2d
DD due 5/9/15 Please be our RAINBOW
I am 39 weeks with team pink! My EDD is Monday.
Do you have any children already? How old are they? Ftm
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?
I have an OB however the MW deliver most of the babies at my hospital. I was inquired to late to get in our birth center but love my OB.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? We have hired a doula group, went to 6 week birthing class, prenatal yoga (not my favorite excersise plan but helpful) and swimming.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth?
I experienced a MC at 12 weeks when my body actually went into labor for about6 hrs and my water broke. I had no idea this was possible. Natural birth is mostly about control for me. I want to be able to move and be free during labor. I feel like my body was created to do this and if I could do this during a mc surely my body and mind can do this for a healthy baby. I am also hoping that recovery will be better.
Son 4/27/12, Son 10/15/14, Daughter 9/29/16....Baby #4 due 10/09/19! Apparently we get really bored in January
BFP#2: EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? I'm 30 weeks and 4 days pregnant with a boy
Do you have any children already? How old are they? We have 1 son who is 19 months old.
- baby was born last Wednesday! I have been a lurker mostly.
Do you have any children already? How old are they?
- DS is 4 days old
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?
- planned birth center birth with CNM, but as I went overdue it looked like we'd be going to the hospital. Baby came on his own one day shy of 41 weeks so I was able to deliver at the birth center.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods?
- I took a Hypno Birthing class. I also went to a chiropractor and took homeopathic herbs at the end of pregnancy. Honestly, I was a little wary of the herbs and chiro but I followed my midwife's advice and I guess it helped!
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth?
- my mom had me and my brother unmedicated, and I wanted to do the same thing for my son. I spent some time on The Farm when I was younger--at the time childbirth was the last thing on my mind but I became interested in Ina Mays books when we started TTC.
Are you currently PG? If so, how many weeks? Team? 29 weeks, Team Green
Do you have any children already? How old are they? Almost 3 year old DD.
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? DD was a medicated hospital delivery with a mw. This time will hopefully be a home water birth.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? I am doing the hypnobabies home study and taking a class through my MWs office that focuses on home birth techniques. I've also read a ton if books on natural birth.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? I wanted to go med free with dd, but wasn't able to because of lack of support at the hospital. This time before we even started ttc I researched my options in town and looked into what I could do in terms of classes and preparation to achieve my goal.
12 weeks, we haven't found out the sex yet but we will at the 20wk anatomy scan!
Do you have any children already? How old are they?
Nope. First timer here
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?
I am using a midwife and will be giving birth in an alternative birthing suite in my hospital.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods?
I haven't started preparing yet, since it's still early. I'm starting to get a little scared about the pain but I am committed to having a drug free birthing experience.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth?
I first got the idea from seeing the documentary "The business of being born". I know it is controversial, but it started me on the path to realizing I have choices when it comes to my birth plan.
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Ovulation Calculator"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt189369.aspx" alt=" Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker" border="0" /></a>
Yes- almost 30 weeks and team Pink
Do you have any children already? How old are they? Nope- FTM
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location?
OB- I have pregnancy Medicaid and I have lupus so high risk so no choice and we will be in a hospital. The hospital is very supportive of natural birth with moveable hot tubs, private l&d rooms, support immediate skin to skin and breastfeeding.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? We are taking the free (for me) hospital birthing and breastfeeding classes and also have hired a doula
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth?
I have always known I would want to have as unmediated a birth as possible- I am fairly crunchy and prefer to use natural remedies when possible
I am not currently pregnant.
I have two LOs. DS is 3 and DD is 6 months.
Both my births were natural (minus induction with cervadil at 42 wks) with MW at a hospital.
My husband and I took a Bradley class. I would definitely recommend it.
I became interested in a natural birth because every other female in my family had c-sections and I wanted to do what I could to prevent an unnecessary one.
Do you have any children already? How old are they? I have a 27 month old daughter.
Who are you using/did you use as a care provider (ie. OB or MW)? What is your planned (or actual) birth location? I have a MW. I'll be giving birth at a military hospital.
What are you doing/did you do to prepare for natural/unmedicated birth? Doing any specific classes or methods? With DD I took a birthing class. Other than that my only other preparation was just determination to have a natural birth.
How did you become interested in natural/unmedicated birth? With DD I wanted a natural birth because I was terrified of getting an epidural. This time I plan on going natural again because I had such a great and empowering birth experience with DD.
Pipsqueak born 6/9/14
I had a bad experience with my first, when the second one came along I went unmedicated and labor and recovery was so much easier.
Mom to S-07/22/10 & Q-12/14/11 L-8/23/14