Like Father, Like Son

Leo at 9 months and Ron at one year old. Spittin' image, don't ya think?

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Vaccine Info- please do some research on the dangers of combining vaccines

Recommended Reading (and watching)

Vaccines: The Risks, The Benefits, The Choices by Dr. Sherri Tenpenny
This is a DVD with a lot of good info, some quotes and graphs directly from the CDC. A must watch if deciding which vaccines are worth the risk.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations by Stephanie Cave

Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide: How to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives by Aviva Jill Romm

Websites

www.909shot.com

www.nmaseminars.com

http://thinktwice.com

http://www.vaclib.org/chapter/inserts.htm Read the actual package inserts from the vaccines.

Hello all, WOW, so much time has gone by since my last entry. Truth is, I forgot all about this blog and never got around to giving out the address! Must have something to do with having a baby in the house. :) Leo is 9 months old now, such a cutie! He is crawling now and keeping us on our toes.

In addition to using this blog to share photos of Leo, I'd also like to start using it as a way to store and share info, web links, books, etc. Many months of research have gone into finding this stuff and this is an easy way to direct people to the info.

Thanks for looking!

Birth Info


Recommended Reading

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer, read this if you only read one book before giving birth!

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

The Birth Book by Dr. William Sears

Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent

Giving Birth: A Journey into the World of Mothers and Midwives by Catherine Taylor

The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, Sheila Kitzinger

Birthing from Within by Pam England

The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin

Websites

www.babycenter.com The Childbirth Choices bulletin board is a great place for info and communicating with other women. Technically a debate board but mainly for info on natural childbirth. There is also a Natual/Unmedicated bulletin board, not as active but still great.

Dear Friends and Family,

Welcome to our new way to share photos of Leo! Hopefully everyone can easily view them, let us know if you can't. Check back every once and awhile, I plan to keep adding new photos frequently.

Love to all,
Jill, Ron, and Leo

Important Birth Information

Thanks to Kerry Tuschhoff for providing this valuable information to all pregnant women! She also created the Hypnobabies program which I highly recommend. Go to www.hypnobabies.com for more information. Jill

Interventions?
By Kerry Tuschhoff, HCHI, CHt, CI
www.hypnobabies.com
It is commonly advisable to keep labor as natural as possible, so that “the
Domino Effect” does not take place, as many of the interventions in birthing lead
to others, unnecessarily changing the course of a perfectly normal labor to one
that is full of interventions and complications.
• Continuous fetal monitoring leads to restriction of movement or position, which
can lead to -
• Slower descent of the baby, and more discomfort for the mother, since the
Hypno-mom is not able to use positions that are more comfortable and relaxing to
her, which can lead to -
• Pain medications, which can cause -
• The Labor to stall, because NARCOTIC drugs are muscle relaxers, and the uterus
is a big bag of muscles, (In addition, the baby could experience fetal distress from
drugs.) which can lead to -
• Pitocin (and the IV that goes with it) to stimulate more contractions, because the
uterus is now not contracting well enough, which can lead to -
• More fetal distress, as the baby is deprived of oxygen for longer periods of time,
which can lead to -
• Cesarean Section surgery.
• And......IV’s can cause the body’s natural oxytocin to be diluted, necessitating the
use of Pitocin, and can cause blood sugar problems in the newborn.
• In addition, artificially breaking the bag of waters can cause excess pressure on
the baby’s head, more discomfort for the mother, and could cause the cord to
prolapse, causing the need for immediate Cesarean surgery also.
Your Birthing Choices by Victoria Macioce-Stumpf, ICCE, CD (DONA) www.childbirthchoices.com
It is my profound belief that childbirth is a normal, natural and amazing process... one that can be
experienced as a joyous, positive and life-enhancing event if a woman has educated herself on all of
the choices available to her for this special time in her life.
Education includes knowledge of the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects of giving
birth, and a deeper awareness of our bodies and our strength as women. Preparing yourself for this
special time in your life is important, because it gives you the confidence and resources to deal with
this physically challenging and rewarding experience.
KNOWLEDGE OF CHOICES IS A KEY COMPONENT TO
PLANNING A JOYOUS BIRTH.
In the hospital setting today, women must make more of an effort to achieve the birth that they desire.
Simple comfort measures such as taking a shower or the freedom to move around as needed can
become more difficult to obtain in a technology-driven setting that specializes in taking care of those
who are sick or injured.
Sorting out what is truly medically necessary instead of what is typical and ordinary in today's hospital
births can be difficult and frustrating, especially since evidence-based studies do not support today's
routine technology. The challenge is find a compromise between what a birthing woman needs for her
comfort versus what is done to her and for her in the hospital setting.
We must all recognize the value of medical intervention in childbirth, when necessary. Proper and
timely intervention with a complicated birth can save lives, and there's no question about that.
However, since around 90% or more of all births are absolutely normal in all respects, intervention
should be much less common than it is.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The following was adapted from an article by Maya Johanson of ECOMother –
http://www.ecomother.com –
Allow me to quote the World Health Organization:
“In normal birth there should be a valid reason to interfere with the natural process.”
This includes things such as Artificial Rupture of Membranes (Amniotomy), artificially induced Labors,
routine continuous fetal heart monitoring, and routine use of pain relief drugs, including epidurals. Note
that while there most certainly are legitimate uses for every one of these interventions and procedures,
the routine use of them can and does lead to all kinds of problems and trouble in a significant number
of cases.
Birth, being a natural and normal process in the overwhelming majority of cases, should be allowed to
progress as a natural and normal process, with as little direct intervention as possible, and then only
when called for. The choices you make for your birthing will impact your child’s birth in a dramatic way.
Of course we want all of the dynamics in your Labor to be positive, and so your choices must follow
suit.
Some of the information presented here may strike some as anti-medical, which it actually is not. It is
pro-normal birth. It is important to know the alternative version of common procedures so that when
faced with whether or not to accept any particular intervention in your birthing, you’ll need to know
something about it beforehand in order to make an informed decision at the time.
You will have to evaluate for yourself what this information means to you and how you want to plan
your birth and which procedures to accept as offered and which to refuse or accept only under limited
situations. You and your baby deserve to have the facts about what treatment you receive.
Your Choices:
~ ~ ~
1) * Routine vaginal exams are very common in late pregnancy.
Benefits: A routine late pregnancy vaginal exam actually has no benefits; your present
dilation/effacement/station are not indicators of when your Labor will begin at all. It only tells you what
is going on right NOW and of course these assessments can change in a very short time indeed, or not
for weeks.
Risks: There is a small risk of infection and PROM (Premature rupture of membranes) (See Henci
Goer's Obstetric Myths vs. Research realities for related studies pgs 204-209) Caregivers also often
strip the membranes during a vaginal exam without the mother’s permission, bringing on cramps and
bleeding that may last for days, but rarely bring on labor. (See below for more information)
Alternatives: You can tell your care provider that you would prefer not to have one. And keep your
panties on!
* Please note: vaginal exams measure several things:
Dilation & thinning of your cervix, at that time
Position of your baby, at that time
Station of your baby, at that time
Position of your cervix, at that time
Vaginal exams do not measure:
When your Labor will begin or how long it will last
Whether your baby will fit (in most cases)
All the real progress being made before or during your Labor
~ ~ ~
Vaginal Exams during your Labor: "Let's see how far along you are"
Vaginal exams are administered in your Labor to assess dilation and effacement of your cervix.
Benefits: This really has few benefits, as it tells you nothing about when your baby will be born, but
has some risks. Having a vaginal exam when you feel “pushy” however may be of help to ascertain if
you are fully dilated.
Risks: Every time an attendant checks the mother’s cervix, the risk of infection is increased,
especially if her bag of waters is broken.
Vaginal exams may also cause the mother to tense up, and her ability to relax is reduced. Some
women like to find out how far they are dilated, but this is not a reliable way to figure out how long a
she has left. In fact, it might discourage her if she finds out she is dilated less than she imagined, and
this emotional element is very important. If a woman is not dilating quickly enough, interventions may
be instituted. This puts additional stress on the birthing woman.
Aside from obvious risks, vaginal exams can be very uncomfortable, especially if performed during a
contraction. Further, it is impossible to predict how long your Labor will last from how far a woman is
dilated. It would be well advised to pay attention to emotional indications instead. They give a lot more
clue to where a woman is progressing in birth.
~ ~ ~
2) * A procedure called "Stripping the membranes” consists of separating your bag of water from
your cervix, during a vaginal exam. It may be done without your consent or knowledge, and this can be
avoided by talking to your doctor before any internal exam.
Benefits: Some believe that it will bring on contractions within 24-48 hours. There is no scientific data
to back this theory up and it rarely works.
Risks: There is a risk of infection as well as premature rupture of membranes, it can be quite
“uncomfortable” and causes a lot of cramping and bleeding for days, but often not much else.
Alternatives: You can tell your care provider that you would prefer not to have the procedure done.
~ ~ ~
3) * Inductions are becoming increasingly common for varying reasons including “passing your due
date”. There are no studies to prove that routine induction regardless of gestational age improves
perinatal outcome. The average length of gestation for primiparas (first pregnancy) is 274 days and
multiparas (second and beyond pregnancy) 269 days from ovulation so that translates to 41 weeks 1
day for first time moms and 40 weeks 3 days for subsequent babies. Research evidence shows
that induction for "suspected big baby" results in higher C-section and operative vaginal delivery rates
than waiting for your Labor to start on its own, and there is no evidence that larger babies pose a
bigger risk of problems during birth. Furthermore, there is currently no way to assess how big a baby
will actually be at birth, and ultrasound is often erroneous by several pounds.
Benefits: When medically indicated an induction can improve perinatal outcome. Medically indicated
reasons would not include you being past 40 weeks or a suspected large baby but rather a physical
problem with you or your baby, a BPP (Biophysical profile) indicating a possible problem, or a Stress or
Non-Stress Test indicating a possible problem. Keep in mind that these tests are meant for a
prolonged pregnancy and they have a high false positive rate. This is not a cut and dry subject; there
are many variables, and for this reason it is very important to have a care provider you trust and be as
educated as possible.
(Read Henci Goer’s book, “The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth”.
Risks: Induction is often a much more difficult experience physically, and may not work if your body,
mind and baby are not ready, so of course your chance of getting a Cesarean Section are higher than
if you would have gone into your Labor spontaneously.
Alternatives: There are many natural ways of inducing contractions such as using hypnosis, nipple
stimulation, intercourse, herbs, enemas, castor oil, etc.
~ ~ ~
4) * Amniotomy is the artificial rupture of the membranes with an amniohook (AROM). An Amniotomy
can be done to either induce contractions or at some point during the Labor.
Benefits: If it is done later in the Labor it can get a stalled one started again.
Risks: There are quite a few risks involved with Amniotomy. The amniotic fluid provides a cushion for
both you and your baby, therefore making the pressure wave more comfortable, and your baby’s head
protected from compression. The baby can get stuck in an unfavorable position because he/she can
not maneuver as easily with the amniotic fluid gone. There is an increased likelihood of umbilical cord
compression or cord prolapse, where the umbilical cord gets flushed out with the water when it breaks
and gets kinked like a hose. Due to the sterile field of the amniotic sac being broken there is also a
higher risk of developing an infection. From the time an Amniotomy is done the birthing mother is “on
the clock" so to speak: a lot of care providers require birth within 24 hours regardless of method. Also
she may be restricted to bed and will be restricted from showering and/or bathing.
Alternatives: It depends on what your care provider wants to accomplish with AROM. If they suggest
AROM to speed your Labor up or get a stalled one going again and your baby is showing no signs of
distress, you can simply decline it and give your body time to do what it was made to do, or use natural
birthing stimulation techniques. If they suggest AROM to induce contractions you can use Evening
Primrose Oil, nipple stimulation or other ideas for Natural Induction. There are many very effective
ones; do some research.
~ ~ ~
5) *Pitocin is commonly used to induce contractions or increase the strength and/or duration of them.
There are some problems associated with the use of Pitocin: Pitocin was designed to simulate the
body’s natural oxytocin, which is released in bursts, however Pitocin is administered through an IV in a
continuous stream, and because of this the pressure waves are unnaturally strong, peak longer and
may result in decreased uterine blood flow which can cause harm to the baby, and tetanic pressure
waves, which can cause uterine rupture.
Benefits: Pitocin inductions only work when your body is ready for birth; you may want to check your
score on a Bishops Chart to gage the likeliness of a Pitocin induction being successful. (visit
www.bestdoulas.com for a Bishop’s Chart)
Risks: Pitocin can start the domino effect - IV, Pitocin, external fetal monitoring, lack of mobility,
diminished ability to deal with pressure waves, pain medication (narcotics), weaker pressure waves
due to narcotics, then more Pitocin, fetal distress, etc.
Cons for the birthing mother include much more discomfort and prolonged difficult pressure waves,
which may cause premature separation of the placenta, rupture of the uterus, laceration of the cervix or
postpartum hemorrhage. Cons for the baby include fetal asphyxia and neonatal hypoxia (lack of
oxygen) from too frequent and prolonged uterine pressure waves, physical injury and prematurity if the
due date is not accurate.
Alternatives: It depends on what your care provider wants to accomplish with Pitocin. If they
suggested Pitocin to speed contractions up or get a stalled Labor going again you can try walking,
changing positions, nipple stimulation and of course make sure you are well hydrated and nourished. If
they suggested using Pitocin to induce, you can try walking, nipple stimulation, intercourse (if your
waters are intact) and many other natural induction techniques. If none of those work it is likely a
Pitocin induction would also be unsuccessful.
~ ~ ~
6) An Episiotomy is a surgical incision in the perineum (the area of skin between the vagina and the
anus). It is the equivalent to a 2nd degree tear. There is no reason to have one done in a normal
vaginal birth (by that I mean non-operative – no forceps or vacuum extractor)
Benefits: Episiotomies are said to speed up the birth by 5-10 minutes, prevent tearing, protect against
incontinence, and are said to heal easier than a tear. There is no scientific evidence to back these
theories up.
Risks: Infection, increased pain, increase in 3rd and 4th degree vaginal lacerations (extensions into
the rectum), significantly longer healing time and when sexual intercourse is resumed, there is
increased discomfort.
Alternatives: Don't get an Episiotomy. When you talk with your care provider ahead of time about
your birth plan be sure to include what you would like your care provider to do regarding this issue (you
can specify that you would rather tear naturally rather than be cut if it came down to that). Ahead of
time you can do Kegels, you can request warm compresses on your perineum while your baby’s head
is crowning, and push slowly all of these will lessen your chances of tearing.
**(What is a true indication for an episiotomy? A tear that is starting to go up into the peri-urethral
area, or fetal distress.)
~ ~ ~
7) * Continuous Electronic Fetal Monitoring: This method provides a beat to beat view of the baby's
heart tones, in relationship to mother's pressure waves on a continuous basis. This is a benefit for the
high risk mother, but of questionable benefit to the low risk mother.
Benefits: There is NO proven benefit to continuous EFM over periodic checks of Fetal Heart Tones --
birth outcomes have been shown to be the same whether EFM is used, a hand-held Doppler or a nonelectronic
fetoscope; Intermittent Fetal Monitoring can be safely used during your Labor.
Risks: This method does use ultrasound which has never been proven safe; leaves room for
mechanical error, which may cause incorrect interpretation, unnecessary interventions etc.; loss of
maternal mobility (when in use), and/or trouble with the baby descending properly, which is often aided
by movement, which may slow your contractions; and may switch attention from the mother to the
machine. (For more information on ultrasound, see Marsden Wagner’s article at
http://www.acegraphics.com.au/articles/wagner02.html )
Alternatives: Intermittent Fetal Monitoring; 20 minutes on the external monitor and 40 minutes off.
~ ~ ~
8) *Internal Monitoring: This is sometimes more accurate than the electronic monitoring, does not use
ultrasound, and can provide continuous monitoring for the high risk mother. It is done by inserting a
spiral electrode into the skin in the top of your baby's head and placing a probe into the vagina/uterus.
This method requires that your water be broken (An amniotomy will be performed if your membranes
are still intact.), and that you be 2-3 centimeters dilated. Amniotomy adds risks of its own. However, the
risks and benefits of each procedure must be weighed.
Benefits: This type of monitoring is mostly used in high-risk situations or when more accurate types of
monitoring may prevent other unnecessary interventions.
Risks: Internal monitoring has been associated with fetal injury (from the electrode), high rate of
infection for mother or baby, and also severely restricts movement. It could damage baby elsewhere if
the top of the head is not the presenting part.
Alternatives: If there is not a high risk situation or emergency happening, you can choose to be
monitored with intermittent EFM.
~ ~ ~
9) * Epidural anesthesia uses repeated doses of a local anesthetic in the epidural space of the spinal
area. It numbs the nerves from the uterus and birth passage without stopping the contractions.
Benefits: Epidural block provides effective analgesia in many cases and can be used to lower a
birthing woman’s blood pressure if too high.
Risks: Aside from not always working, or providing “patchy” relief, epidurals often lower the mother's
blood pressure too much, which decreases the amount of oxygen for the baby, increasing the risk of
fetal distress. Occasionally the medication is placed erroneously in the spine and goes up instead of
down, creating respiratory failure or distress in the mother.
Often the mother’s temperature rises (Epidural Fever) and can lead to hyperthermia of the baby in
which case a full workup after the birth is usually ordered to rule out infection, and that often includes
additional invasive testing on your newborn. Also, although an attempt is made to time the epidural
right so that it can wear off so the mother can feel her pushing efforts, it is tricky and often
unsuccessful. Pushing while anesthetized not only makes pushing less effective, it robs the mother of
urge to push, which (as opposed to full dilation) should be what dictates when pushing begins. This
also often results in the need for forceps and vacuum, extraction birth, which carry their own risks
It also makes the perineal and vaginal muscles slack and unable to turn the baby after the birth of the
head, and sometimes results in sexual dysfunction weeks and months later. In addition, an epidural is
associated with an increased risk of needing Pitocin to augment pressure waves, and a Cesarean
Section for failure to progress, as it often slows down contractions dramatically, as well as short and
long term postpartum back pain, and breastfeeding problems.
Alternatives: There are other ways of reducing any discomforts of birthing. Many women are helped
by techniques learned in childbirth classes - relaxation, massage, positioning, visualization, hypnosis,
distraction, focusing and breathing that are done with the support of another person. These non-drug
skills use your own strengths and place you in control of your own body.
~ ~ ~
10) * Coached pushing is when nurses or other caregivers can get quite enthusiastic about the
Second stage of the Labor and begin to direct it in loud, athletic tones, admonishing the mother to push
as hard and long as she can, holding her breath while they count to 10 over and over, usually after
putting the back of the bed down all the way so that the mother is actually pushing uphill.
Benefits: If the baby is at risk during the pushing stage, all efforts must be made to get it out quickly
and this may help.
Risks: “Purple Pushing” (a nickname given due to the color women’s faces turn when they have to
hold their breath and push hard for so long) will have the effect of actually closing off the Birth Canal
due to tension, and wear the mother out quickly. Amazingly, a mother doesn't usually have to push
much to get the baby out; the uterus will do the work well on its own. Each woman should do what her
body tells her to do. Push gently with the waves, and relax fully in between. "Purple pushing" also
increases the risk of injury to the perineum.
In addition, between full dilation and actually feeling the urge to push there is often a resting phase.
Many times women are told to push anyway, even if the contractions have spaced far apart or stopped
briefly. To tell a woman when she must push, especially if she does not feel the urge immediately, can
lead to many problems. Breath-holding, which is a common pushing technique in hospitals, has been
shown in studies to lead to lowered umbilical artery pH, abnormal changes in fetal heart rate and lower
Apgar scores.
Alternatives; Make sure your caregivers know that you are pushing in a completely mother-directed
way, thank them for their help, but ask for some time alone to get into your own rhythm. If you want to
avoid tearing, push gently, or "breathe your baby out."
~ ~ ~
11) * Lithotomy position (Lying flat on your back to give birth)
Benefits: (to the staff) "It gives us a good view in case complications arise"
Risks: The Lithotomy position (legs up in stirrups) narrows the pelvic outlet so that birthing is difficult,
makes it so that you are actually pushing uphill, and increases the risk of tearing because of too much
pressure on the perineum. It also compresses major blood vessels, resulting in less oxygen to the
baby, and possible fetal distress.
Alternatives: Just say NO and push your baby out in the position that feels best to YOU.
~ ~ ~
12) * Nothing by mouth NPO (non per os) This means you cannot have any food or drink during your
Labor. The rationale behind fasting is that if a woman needs general anesthesia she might vomit and
aspirate (inhale) the undigested contents of her stomach. (In actuality, if a woman was to vomit on a
fasting stomach it would be much more dangerous because the gastric juices are far more acidic after
hours of fasting). Aspiration is extremely rare. In three large U.S. studies totaling 78,000 women in their
Labor that ate and drank freely, there was not one case of aspiration! NPO does not guarantee a
lesser likelihood of aspiration, which is mostly caused by a fault in the technique of the
anesthesiologist, rather than a natural consequence of anesthesia. The actual need for general
anesthesia is rare as well since very few women ever end up with a “crash” C-section. (a true
emergency.)
Benefits: If a woman is experiencing nausea, it may be helpful for her to abstain from any food or drink
for awhile.
Risks: “Nothing by mouth” during the Labor is ill advised according to many midwives and 'enlightened'
obstetricians. Fasting causes the mother more discomfort as she cannot focus when her blood sugar is
low, and further, fasting can cause ketosis, a weakening of the muscle cells, causing the uterus to work
less efficiently. The uterus needs a lot of energy at this time, and without nourishment it cannot fulfill its
job properly. Birthing requires the same amount of effort from the body as running a marathon, and so
you need energy to remain fully functional. In Europe, birthing women eat crackers, bananas and
yogurt to keep up their strength, with no ill effects and much better birthing outcome statistics.
In addition, if the Labor becomes long, mother is often weak by the end (when she needs most
strength) and feelings of thirst or hunger can be intense and may interfere with both contractions and
concentration.
Alternatives: You could choose to eat foods which are easily digested and will give you energy. Like
vegetable/barley soup, fruit, some vegetables. You will probably not have a great desire to eat a huge
meal once you're in the more active birthing phase, and digestion slows down naturally. Listen to your
body. If you feel hungry, eat. If you feel thirsty, drink. But please, don't fast!
~ ~ ~
13) * IV used to maintain fluid levels: When going to the hospital to give birth, a woman is often told
not to eat or drink, and is then given an IV to keep her from dehydrating. It's easier for the doctor or
nurses to administer additional drugs through the IV if something should happen. Sadly, it is not
unusual for the medical staff to administer drugs without consulting with the mother first.
Benefits: If a woman has become dehydrated due to nausea or not drinking enough during her Labor,
she may well benefit by having an IV.
Risks: Obviously not all women experiencing contractions need an IV. Sometimes dextrose is given
instead of glucose and it causes the blood sugar to rise rapidly. The pancreas in return produces
insulin which results in a rapid drop in blood sugar. The woman then feels exhausted, and has no
energy to go on. This usually results in more discomfort with pressure waves which are less efficient. If
this happens, the baby will likely suffer hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) after the birth.
But the main problem with IV's is fluid overload which can lead to fluid in the mother's and baby's
lungs. Fluid overload also thins out the blood, decreasing the amount of red blood cells and diluting the
natural oxytocin. This means less oxygen to the baby and uterus and weaker pressure waves. Low
blood count also predisposes the mother for bleeding.
Aside from this, an IV is uncomfortable. With a wire attached to her, the mother is less mobile. ED. -
You may choose to settle for a compromise: A Heparin Lock. This is attached to your hand, with an
open vein, but locked off so that “if an emergency arises”, all will be ready.
Alternatives: Drinking sips or water, Gatorade, Recharge, Emergen-C, or ice chips in between every
pressure wave will help keep the Hypno-mom hydrated. Birth Partners – it’s your job to make sure
she’s getting her fluids!
A few final words:
In many cases, any kind of intervention or interruption in the flow of birthing is likely to cause some
problems or delays. If you've had a cat that’s given birth to her kittens you know to leave her alone. If
the natural flow of the Labor is disturbed, she will wait to give birth until she is in a safe place.
Studies have shown that women are the same way. Natural childbirth advocate Michel Odent said "The
right place to give birth would be the right place to make love." If a woman is undisturbed during her
Labor, and if she is unafraid and trusts that her body is designed to give birth, she will have a
much easier, shorter, safer, and pleasant birth.
Copyright © Hypnobabies Network 2001-2005, all rights reserved

November 13, 2005

Welcome to our new blog! We're really living in cyberspace now. I was going to call it "Life on Deer Run" but "Jill and Ron" seemed easier for everyone to remember.

I plan to use this in the future to post baby photos and updates. Little one isn't due til April so I have awhile to figure out this blog thing. For now, I'm just testing the waters I guess.