Penny Simpkin on delayed cord clamping

Those of you who aren't interested in birth right now can probably skip this one...but for those of you who are pregnant, might become pregnant, or just like hanging around pregnant women...here you go. :)

This video is of Penny Simkin, a well-known author, doula, and childbirth educator, sharing the reasons for delaying cord clamping after birth. I found the information at the end, regarding oxygen levels and the need for resuscitation to be very interesting. The current standard, of course, is to clamp immediately and whisk the baby away from mama for resuscitation efforts. And while I'm exceedingly grateful for the amazing neonatal nurses and their sometimes lifesaving work, I wonder if we'd get even better results bringing the nurses and instruments to the mama, and keeping baby attached?

Help midwife Katie McCall

*I'm choosing to disallow comments on this post, as I don't want to host an argument on the merits of the case.*

Katie McCall was my childbirth teacher, and she assisted at Thomas' birth. Last year she was (unjustly, I think) prosecuted for practicing without a license. She was sentenced today and thankfully will NOT be serving time in jail. (So glad for her kids' sake!!!) However, she does have a $10,000 fine, and her license has been revoked, thus taking away her profession and source of income. If you support midwifery, would you consider supporting Katie?

You can donate at http://www.supportmidwifekatiemccall.com/

One World Birth

This is a movement that I've been keeping an eye on, and I'm very excited to see their "launch video". The editing is clean and watchable, and the content (people interviewed, really) is comprehensive. Take a look today, and then go back tomorrow to see what their finished site looks like!

This is what a cesarean ought to look like.

Child centered, mother centered, and incorporating all the best research into their methods. When a cesarean is necessary, this is how it ought to be done.



Warning: there are a couple of graphic moments showing the open abdomen.

Courageous birth

Most of us who are "into birth" got there via some kind of activism. We're pushing for change and we tend to focus on unnecessary interventions and coerced cesareans and birth assault. In our zeal for a better birth culture, sometimes we can come across as, well, zealots. Sometimes we think that we have all the answers and sometimes we may sound like there is only one right way to have a baby. Sometimes we don't seem very loving.

This author? She has noticed, and beautifully written, a very important truth:

"...no matter how educated or uneducated, coerced or informed the choice that woman on the operating table made or didn't make, whether that cesarean was elective or emergency, necessary or unnecessary - it takes a lot of courage to get there. Our birth culture may be saturated in fear-based decisions, but behind every cesarean and "unnecesarean" is a woman of courage."

Read the rest here.

H/T to Jen for the link.

Thomas Nathanael

The newest member of our family was born at 12:30am on February 10th. He was born in the hospital, which wasn't exactly our original plan, but it was a successful VBAC anyway. I'm planning to write the birth story at some point (when I'm not so tired, maybe?) ;) but until then, here are some pictures to tide you all over. :)

Thomas Nathanael













Jonathan thinks Thomas is ... interesting. :)













Our amazing, wonderful, terrific, incredible midwife.


















Sleepy boy. This amazing child actually sleeps without being held in my arms (unlike another infant I knew!) :)











When he's awake, he's very alert and loves to look at our faces. Isn't he perfect?