Morning sickness sucks. I know I remember morning sickness once it is over, but I don't remember who crappy I feel really. This stinks. :( All day bleh.
In other much more exciting news, we made a bid on a house today. :) :) :) It is a contingent offer, so even if it is accepted, we still have to sell our place. But it is a great house!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
How much worse can they make themselves look?
The AMA is really making themselves look pretty bad here. Open mouth and insert foot. They've joined ACOG's movement with recent resolutions (Resolutions 204 and 205) both to completely BAN all homebirths AND births in freestanding birth centers and criminalize mothers who choose to continue doing this, plus they are going after the entire midwifery model of maternity care by suggesting all non-nurse midwives be OUTLAWED, and nurse midwives come under even greater levels of OB control. Um, what? And, to make it even better, these resolutions are made with absolutely no medical basis. They don't mention a single study, a single statistic, or even a promise that this would be good for mothers and babies. Nope. Their resolutions read more like, "I'm scared for my job and Ricki Lake has made this powerful movie that makes us look really bad so now we better just throw everyone in jail and make it a law that all pregnant women must pay us directly...no other options."
Reaction in the normal birth world is mixed. Some are scared, just because it does suggest there will be a fight ahead and the AMA is waaaaay more powerful than any midwife group (the AMA controls the entire insurance industry, for example). Others think this is good publicity for midwifery and for homebirths. Because their statements are sooo outrageous and have no medical basis, they do seem rather ridiculous. Kinda like shooting guns with no bullets. I have a difficult time seeing how this could ever become a real law...given there is NO medical research supporting the AMA and ACOG's statements (quite the opposite actually).
Well, I'll tell you how much this has changed my mind. I had a very nice talk with my HOMEBIRTH-ONLY, NON-NURSE MIDWIFE yesterday. I'll be seeing her apprentice as my primary midwife, so not only is she NOT a nurse, she isn't even certified OR licensed. HA! And thankfully, my right to do this is completely protected by the fabulous state of Oregon.
Reaction in the normal birth world is mixed. Some are scared, just because it does suggest there will be a fight ahead and the AMA is waaaaay more powerful than any midwife group (the AMA controls the entire insurance industry, for example). Others think this is good publicity for midwifery and for homebirths. Because their statements are sooo outrageous and have no medical basis, they do seem rather ridiculous. Kinda like shooting guns with no bullets. I have a difficult time seeing how this could ever become a real law...given there is NO medical research supporting the AMA and ACOG's statements (quite the opposite actually).
Well, I'll tell you how much this has changed my mind. I had a very nice talk with my HOMEBIRTH-ONLY, NON-NURSE MIDWIFE yesterday. I'll be seeing her apprentice as my primary midwife, so not only is she NOT a nurse, she isn't even certified OR licensed. HA! And thankfully, my right to do this is completely protected by the fabulous state of Oregon.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Dead cat, open house, and sharing the news
That was my day. Well, there were some other things thrown in there too, but this is the part I choose to share.
We're taking care of a neighbors cats, and this morning husband returned to say he thought one of the cats was dead. Poor kitty. Sure enough, "Yoda" was curled up in a tiny box under the sink in the laundry room, and was stiff as a board. He was still warm, but definitely not with us anymore. I've never had to wrap a cat in a garbage bag and stick them in a freezer before. The owners will return tomorrow to a sympathy card taped to their door. Don't want to surprise them when they open their freezer to find a frozen kitty...
Just after finding the cat, and just before placing kitty in the freezer, we jumped in the car to go look at a house. It is the first house we've actually gone to see...and turns out it is owned by someone we work with. House needs work, but is livable and has EXCELLENT potential. Location is great too. But if we buy it and want to make some upgrades, it would be more than we can afford.
A few hours later, my folks arrived for tomorrow's graduation ceremony. They haven't been here in a year, haven't seen daughter in a year, and haven't seen son in 9 months. It is really great to have them around. And...I got to actually tell them in person that we are expecting another baby. This is the first time I've gotten to tell them in person, though I think they kinda suspected since we mentioned we were looking at bigger houses. Still, it was great to see their faces as the comprehension sunk in. I had one of those digital pregnancy tests that just says "Pregnant" and I asked daughter to carry it in and hand it to grandma. It was pretty sweet.
Now tomorrow I get all dressed up and receive my PhD. It feels a bit surreal.
By the way, I was in Vermont for most of the week at a conference. Nearly saw a tornado while there, and I've got pics. Hope to get those up soon.
We're taking care of a neighbors cats, and this morning husband returned to say he thought one of the cats was dead. Poor kitty. Sure enough, "Yoda" was curled up in a tiny box under the sink in the laundry room, and was stiff as a board. He was still warm, but definitely not with us anymore. I've never had to wrap a cat in a garbage bag and stick them in a freezer before. The owners will return tomorrow to a sympathy card taped to their door. Don't want to surprise them when they open their freezer to find a frozen kitty...
Just after finding the cat, and just before placing kitty in the freezer, we jumped in the car to go look at a house. It is the first house we've actually gone to see...and turns out it is owned by someone we work with. House needs work, but is livable and has EXCELLENT potential. Location is great too. But if we buy it and want to make some upgrades, it would be more than we can afford.
A few hours later, my folks arrived for tomorrow's graduation ceremony. They haven't been here in a year, haven't seen daughter in a year, and haven't seen son in 9 months. It is really great to have them around. And...I got to actually tell them in person that we are expecting another baby. This is the first time I've gotten to tell them in person, though I think they kinda suspected since we mentioned we were looking at bigger houses. Still, it was great to see their faces as the comprehension sunk in. I had one of those digital pregnancy tests that just says "Pregnant" and I asked daughter to carry it in and hand it to grandma. It was pretty sweet.
Now tomorrow I get all dressed up and receive my PhD. It feels a bit surreal.
By the way, I was in Vermont for most of the week at a conference. Nearly saw a tornado while there, and I've got pics. Hope to get those up soon.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
In Praise of Telling Too Soon...
You may be surprised to hear I'm pregnant, when really I'm not even 4 weeks pregnant yet. Lots of folks wait until 8...10...12 weeks to tell, and I'm just not like that anymore. I am happy to be pregnant right now, and if something happens and this pregnancy does not make it all the way, I want to share that and receive support too.
One of my friends sent this message to me not long ago, after her own miscarriage. From Mothering.com:
In Praise of Telling Too Soon
By Katie Silberman
Web Exclusive, January 28, 2008
That thing they warn you about: it happened to me. I got pregnant. I was thrilled. I told a bunch of family and friends—and then I lost the baby in my second month. I had to untell a whole lot of people. That story was swirling around in my head. You know the one. The one "They" always say about how you're "not supposed to tell people too soon."
I always hated that one. I hated it when my sister would whisper that her friends were pregnant, and then warn me, "...they're not telling people yet." It seemed so negative and scardey-cat to me. I always swore that when I got pregnant, I'd tell the whole world.
Well, I did (practically). And it was great. I got the most wonderful responses, full of excitement and anticipation and appreciation for my husband Bryan and me. We had a great two months—it was fun when my clothes started not to fit; it was fun when my husband had to go out at night and get me ginger ale, just like in the stories. We even got a few cards and gifts.
Then we went for our first OB appointment. The doctor saw the baby on the ultrasound, but she could not detect the heartbeat. "I think your baby has died," she said. The words didn't even sink in. My husband and I are pretty optimistic people—it truly had not even occurred to either one of us that the baby might not be okay. When we finally registered what she had said, the news was crushing; it was devastating; I felt like a balloon had been popped.
Any loss can surely be utterly distressing, painful and sad. What seemed different about this particular loss, besides the fact that it was happening to us (this wasn't supposed to happen!!!), is that when I was pregnant I was coming from a place of such elation. It wasn't just normal life—it was flying high, excitement, euphoria, anticipation. And then the crash. The distance to fall seemed farther—the chasm between zenith and nadir more vast.
That's where "in praise of telling people too soon" came in. My husband and I were crushed with grief and disappointment. All I wanted to do was to lay on the couch in my bathrobe all day (sometimes Bryan would gently inquire around 4 o'clock in the afternoon whether I wanted to get dressed. I would scowl at him and say no.) Not up to talking on the phone, I sent out an email message to my friends and family briefly explaining what happened. Along with "untelling," I explained that I did not much feel like receiving calls. We were inundated with caring replies, and reading the messages that poured back in was all I felt like doing those few weeks. Bryan smiled that every time I checked my email, tears rolled down my cheeks as I was touched by the waves of support from the people who loved us, recognized what we were going through, and offered us their kindness. If we had not had the outpouring of care and support from our friends and family, I am certain that couch-laying phase would have lasted a lot longer than it did.
The thing about miscarriage that I most feared was that it seemed so invisible. I hadn't really looked pregnant yet; the baby was just a tiny thing (the size of a raspberry, the books said). With the code of secrecy surrounding the "don't tell too early" story, there did seem to be a residual sense of shame about what was happening; as though it should be kept in the realm of women's maladies that happen "down there," in the dark, that we're not allowed to talk about. But I knew that something real had happened to me; it was not invisible.
If I had kept my pregnancy and miscarriage a secret, if I had bought the shame story, then I would not have been real. I can't even imagine having to fake it with the most important people in my life: to pretend that nothing was wrong, during one of the most heartbreaking experiences of my life. That, to me, seems much more traumatic than having to "untell" and then tell the people who love you that you could use a little love and support. And then let them give it.
One of my friends sent this message to me not long ago, after her own miscarriage. From Mothering.com:
In Praise of Telling Too Soon
By Katie Silberman
Web Exclusive, January 28, 2008
That thing they warn you about: it happened to me. I got pregnant. I was thrilled. I told a bunch of family and friends—and then I lost the baby in my second month. I had to untell a whole lot of people. That story was swirling around in my head. You know the one. The one "They" always say about how you're "not supposed to tell people too soon."
I always hated that one. I hated it when my sister would whisper that her friends were pregnant, and then warn me, "...they're not telling people yet." It seemed so negative and scardey-cat to me. I always swore that when I got pregnant, I'd tell the whole world.
Well, I did (practically). And it was great. I got the most wonderful responses, full of excitement and anticipation and appreciation for my husband Bryan and me. We had a great two months—it was fun when my clothes started not to fit; it was fun when my husband had to go out at night and get me ginger ale, just like in the stories. We even got a few cards and gifts.
Then we went for our first OB appointment. The doctor saw the baby on the ultrasound, but she could not detect the heartbeat. "I think your baby has died," she said. The words didn't even sink in. My husband and I are pretty optimistic people—it truly had not even occurred to either one of us that the baby might not be okay. When we finally registered what she had said, the news was crushing; it was devastating; I felt like a balloon had been popped.
Any loss can surely be utterly distressing, painful and sad. What seemed different about this particular loss, besides the fact that it was happening to us (this wasn't supposed to happen!!!), is that when I was pregnant I was coming from a place of such elation. It wasn't just normal life—it was flying high, excitement, euphoria, anticipation. And then the crash. The distance to fall seemed farther—the chasm between zenith and nadir more vast.
That's where "in praise of telling people too soon" came in. My husband and I were crushed with grief and disappointment. All I wanted to do was to lay on the couch in my bathrobe all day (sometimes Bryan would gently inquire around 4 o'clock in the afternoon whether I wanted to get dressed. I would scowl at him and say no.) Not up to talking on the phone, I sent out an email message to my friends and family briefly explaining what happened. Along with "untelling," I explained that I did not much feel like receiving calls. We were inundated with caring replies, and reading the messages that poured back in was all I felt like doing those few weeks. Bryan smiled that every time I checked my email, tears rolled down my cheeks as I was touched by the waves of support from the people who loved us, recognized what we were going through, and offered us their kindness. If we had not had the outpouring of care and support from our friends and family, I am certain that couch-laying phase would have lasted a lot longer than it did.
The thing about miscarriage that I most feared was that it seemed so invisible. I hadn't really looked pregnant yet; the baby was just a tiny thing (the size of a raspberry, the books said). With the code of secrecy surrounding the "don't tell too early" story, there did seem to be a residual sense of shame about what was happening; as though it should be kept in the realm of women's maladies that happen "down there," in the dark, that we're not allowed to talk about. But I knew that something real had happened to me; it was not invisible.
If I had kept my pregnancy and miscarriage a secret, if I had bought the shame story, then I would not have been real. I can't even imagine having to fake it with the most important people in my life: to pretend that nothing was wrong, during one of the most heartbreaking experiences of my life. That, to me, seems much more traumatic than having to "untell" and then tell the people who love you that you could use a little love and support. And then let them give it.
Cesareans may mean you lose health insurance?
Interesting article. I'm not surprised, but it really sucks that moms are left in the middle. Docs pressure them into cesareans that are often unnecessary, and then their insurance drops them over something they generally feel they had no control over. Perhaps in the long-run this will lead to an overall drop in the number of cesareans, but in the meantime, it is painful for innocent families who get screwed over.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
PA Court tells State Medical Board to shove it
Big news in the midwifery world on Friday. I know lots of people across the country were tuned in to hear the outcome of this one. Thankfully, the humans came to their senses and an innocent midwife pervailed!
Diane Goslin has been a practicing midwife for like 25 years, and she's attended over 3,000 births. In that time, she has received one (ONE!) complaint against her - and it wasn't even by a parent or family she was serving. It was by a coroner, who examined an infant's body from a birth she had attended. You see, the coroner found the infant's death had nothing to do with the birth or the midwife, but he didn't like that the midwife had attended the birth at all so he complained to the PA Medical Board. What a kind fellow.
So Diane was ordered to cease and desist her midwifery practice and was brought up on numerous charges, including practicing medicine without a license, and given $11,000 in fines. Diane is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), an internationally-recognized certification for midwives. But silly Pennsylvania doesn't recognize them and therefore won't give them licenses of any kind. There were a bunch of rulings, and it looked like homebirth midwifery was about to be shutdown in Pennsylvania. But Diane fought hard, and she had thousands of supporters along the way. Save Homebirth joined the fight. The Amish and Mennonite (Diane's primary customers) came out in full force to support her. You can see some amazing pictures here.
Well, it all worked. Diane won. The court decided that practicing midwifery was not the same as practicing medicine, and therefore Diane wasn't guilty of practicing medicine without a license. AND, the court gave the PA Medical Board a slap on the wrist for trying to claim she was practicing as a nurse-midwife, because the Board is only allowed to police women who are trying to do this, and at no time did Diane advertise or call herself a CNM. PLUS, the court decided Diane was denied due process in these charges. Wow. You can read the final ruling here.
This is amazing news for all supporters of midwifery and homebirth. Midwifery is not "practicing medicine" and it should never be judged as such. Midwives should never be prevented from practicing because of misunderstandings about what they do. If states are afraid of midwifery (and that is what it comes down to here - FEAR), they need to take the time to learn what a midwife does and what a midwife doesn't do. If they would open their minds just a little, they would realize that supporting midwifery (and specifically homebirth midwifery) is not only cheaper, but better for the health of mother and baby.
Man, I'm so glad Pennsylvania saw the light. And now onto the local fight - whether or not Oregon will begin mandatory licensure for all practicing midwives (it is currently optional). OMC (Oregon Midwifery Council) is debating how to coordinate a unified front and what they should be arguing for. More to come...
Diane Goslin has been a practicing midwife for like 25 years, and she's attended over 3,000 births. In that time, she has received one (ONE!) complaint against her - and it wasn't even by a parent or family she was serving. It was by a coroner, who examined an infant's body from a birth she had attended. You see, the coroner found the infant's death had nothing to do with the birth or the midwife, but he didn't like that the midwife had attended the birth at all so he complained to the PA Medical Board. What a kind fellow.
So Diane was ordered to cease and desist her midwifery practice and was brought up on numerous charges, including practicing medicine without a license, and given $11,000 in fines. Diane is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), an internationally-recognized certification for midwives. But silly Pennsylvania doesn't recognize them and therefore won't give them licenses of any kind. There were a bunch of rulings, and it looked like homebirth midwifery was about to be shutdown in Pennsylvania. But Diane fought hard, and she had thousands of supporters along the way. Save Homebirth joined the fight. The Amish and Mennonite (Diane's primary customers) came out in full force to support her. You can see some amazing pictures here.
Well, it all worked. Diane won. The court decided that practicing midwifery was not the same as practicing medicine, and therefore Diane wasn't guilty of practicing medicine without a license. AND, the court gave the PA Medical Board a slap on the wrist for trying to claim she was practicing as a nurse-midwife, because the Board is only allowed to police women who are trying to do this, and at no time did Diane advertise or call herself a CNM. PLUS, the court decided Diane was denied due process in these charges. Wow. You can read the final ruling here.
This is amazing news for all supporters of midwifery and homebirth. Midwifery is not "practicing medicine" and it should never be judged as such. Midwives should never be prevented from practicing because of misunderstandings about what they do. If states are afraid of midwifery (and that is what it comes down to here - FEAR), they need to take the time to learn what a midwife does and what a midwife doesn't do. If they would open their minds just a little, they would realize that supporting midwifery (and specifically homebirth midwifery) is not only cheaper, but better for the health of mother and baby.
Man, I'm so glad Pennsylvania saw the light. And now onto the local fight - whether or not Oregon will begin mandatory licensure for all practicing midwives (it is currently optional). OMC (Oregon Midwifery Council) is debating how to coordinate a unified front and what they should be arguing for. More to come...
Pushing pedals
We took our inaugural bike ride around town this morning. We've had our Burley for over a year, and my bike is brand new but has collected dust for a year. We got both while I was immensely pregnant, and the Burley isn't fit for infants, so we knew it would be a while before we hit the streets. But we made it out today and it was great! Both kids loved it and wore their helmets without a peep. We cruised the neighborhood in search of "For Sale" signs...yep, we're kinda sorta house-hunting.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Homebirth montage
I linked to this before but want to imbed it now so I can find it easily in the future. Amazing photos...
Monday, May 12, 2008
Vaginal Birth of Twins and Triplets!
This is awesome inspiration for those not interested in an automatic cesarean with multiples. The lady named Lindsey has been my friend for years, and the lady named Lisa is an online aquaintance.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
D-O-N-E!!
This morning I turned my final revisions into the graduate school for my dissertation. It almost required a degree just to turn it in and meet all the requirements (10x13 inch manila envelope with metal clasp with 2 flyleafs, 3 extra title pages, 1 extra signed abstract, taped title page on front, receipt for archiving fee, etc etc). My revisions were pretty simple - took about 3 days. As of this afternoon, my online transcript says "Doctor of Philosophy degree requirements met on May 8, 2008." DONE DONE DONE DONE!!!
In other news, I've attended two births in the last two weeks too. Birth stories coming soon. One was a 92-hour marathon birth (I was only present for the last 25 hours). The other was an induction with hx of embolism complications that ended well with 4 hours of pushing. Both were good. Can't believe I fit them in there with all the defense stuff going on.
So now I'm taking a little time off from school. Gonna work on relaxing and reclaiming my sanity and health, develop my childbirth classes a bit, go see a movie, and go meet some new babies...
FREEDOM!!!!!!
In other news, I've attended two births in the last two weeks too. Birth stories coming soon. One was a 92-hour marathon birth (I was only present for the last 25 hours). The other was an induction with hx of embolism complications that ended well with 4 hours of pushing. Both were good. Can't believe I fit them in there with all the defense stuff going on.
So now I'm taking a little time off from school. Gonna work on relaxing and reclaiming my sanity and health, develop my childbirth classes a bit, go see a movie, and go meet some new babies...
FREEDOM!!!!!!
Welcome Baby D!!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Doctor
Firefly Mama, PhD
I think I like the ring to that.
Defense went well today. First I presented my research in a quick 30-minute seminar, which was followed by a brief Q&A from the public. Then I had 2 hours of grilling from the profs. They excused me for 30 minutes, then brought me back in to shake my hand. Pretty good feeling being part of the club. Finally. Now I'm tired. Got a birth coming up in the next few hours too.
I think I like the ring to that.
Defense went well today. First I presented my research in a quick 30-minute seminar, which was followed by a brief Q&A from the public. Then I had 2 hours of grilling from the profs. They excused me for 30 minutes, then brought me back in to shake my hand. Pretty good feeling being part of the club. Finally. Now I'm tired. Got a birth coming up in the next few hours too.
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