16 hours ago
After my unexpectedly quick labor with Gwen, I knew I wanted to give birth naturally with Clyde. I knew I could do it, and I liked how easy my recovery was after Gwen, so I felt it would be less complicated to give birth without an epidural this time around. However, I also knew that I did not want to go the midwife/birthing center route - I have a good relationship with my OB-GYN, and I feel more comfortable in a hospital.
In preparation for giving birth naturally in a hospital I read a lot on the subject, and it was somewhat disheartening. A lot of natural birth resources seem to imply that it is nearly impossible to have a successful natural birth in a hospital setting. I don't believe that. Does it take some strategizing? Yes, I think so. Is it impossible? Not at all!
I am definitely not a natural childbirth expert (I don't have any problem with epidurals). I am not a midwife or a doula, I didn't give birth naturally with all of my babies, my babies were all average-sized, and my labors are short. I have it easy in a lot of ways, and I am sure there are a lot of ladies who would have better advice than I'm going to list here. But I wanted to share the things that helped me. Everyone is different, and I want to share my experience in the hope that something here will be helpful to someone else!
With that said, here are my tips on things you can do to help improve your chances of having a successful natural birth in a hospital setting.
1. Pick your hospital carefully. Not everyone has the option of multiple hospitals, but if you do, I think it's important to pick one that seems natural-birth friendly. I had a choice between two hospitals with this birth. One of them focused on the number of births they had per year and focused on the fact that an anesthesiologist was available 24/7. The other had a pre-admission program where you could go over your birth plan with the nurses, and birthing balls, a jetted tub, and aroma therapy were available. I obviously chose to deliver at the second hospital. There was a clear difference between the two hospitals, and I'm not sure my natural birth would have happened, at least not as smoothly, at the first hospital.
2. Don't go in too soon. This was tricky for me, because as most of you know, I have a history of quick, unpredictable labors! But in my labor with Clyde, my contractions did slow down considerably in the middle. I chose to walk around outside the hospital for a little while to make sure things were progressing before I went in. If I had gone in right away and my contractions had slowed down in the hospital, I think there would have been more of a push for Pitocin. Making sure my labor was well-established was definitely a help.
3. Ask the nurses not to mention the epidural. I was afraid that in the thick of labor I might give in if someone tried to convince me to get the epidural. I told the nurses that I knew an epidural was available, but I would rather they not mention it to me - if I wanted it, I would ask for it. They respected my wishes, which was a big help to me.
4. Don't get stuck in bed. When I gave birth the first time I had to be induced, and one of the worst parts was being stuck in bed, strapped down with the monitors and IV. This time I asked for the wireless monitors so I could move around. They put in an IV, but they didn't have me hooked up to it during my labor. Not being constrained was huge for me.
5. Ask to avoid unnecessary cervical checks. It can be frustrating to hear a lower number than you were expecting, and it gives everyone a (sometimes) unnecessary worry. Unless my labor was excessively long, I decided to ask to avoid cervical checks altogether. I could tell when I was going through transition, so getting constant updates before that point would have been distracting and discouraging to me.
6. Try to relax and focus on things other than your labor. With both of my natural births I had distractions during labor, and it made my labors seem to go by so much faster. Sitting in the hospital focusing on your pain with no distractions is not fun. We watched movies during my labor, and it was such a nice diversion! If your hospital doesn't provide movies, bring your laptop and some DVDs. Choose something funny and make jokes - I think laughing kept things happy and it helped me to relax.
7. Remember that the medical staff is not the enemy. You chose to give birth in a hospital for a reason - maybe because of certain complications, or maybe because you wanted trained medical staff to be available in case there were complications. One of the books I read (Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel) said that in essence, you have hired the hospital staff to look for and treat any complications that arise - so you can't get upset when they try to do their job! Communicate your wishes, try to make sure they are on the same page that you are, get them on your team. Put your foot down if you have to, but try to do it in a nice way. Be flexible if a serious complication does arise. Remember that you chose to give birth in a hospital for a reason. It will go much smoother if you are friendly, and it will be a much better experience if you treat your caregivers like friends instead of enemies.
I am so grateful that my delivery went smoothly and I was blessed to be able to apply the above tips - I definitely know from experience that things don't always go so smoothly, and these tips aren't going to be practical for every situation. Labor can be so unpredictable, and things may not always turn out exactly like you want, no matter what you do. I think it's important to be flexible and not let it get to you too much if the unexpected happens. If things don't go as planned, se la vie, and it is okay.
However, having a strategy beforehand doesn't hurt, and I think doing these things definitely helped me toward my goal of having a natural birth in the hospital!
If anyone has anything to add, I'd love to read your tips below.
Note: I'm working on a post with the labor resources that I found useful - stay tuned!
In Out Of The Ruins by Karen Barnett, Abby Fischer is determined that her sister will survive her cancer, and she jumps at the chance to have her try an experimental treatment with x-rays. However, her sister dies anyway, and Abby vows to never talk to God again. Then the San Francisco earthquake hits, and Abby struggles with feeling like God has abandoned her yet again. What will show her that God has been taking care of her even through her heartache?
To be honest, I found this book a little depressing. Her sister dies, and then there is a bunch of destruction with the earthquake. Throw in a little romance, and that is basically the whole plot of the book. While there is a good lesson as far as Abby learning to trust God and see His provision through tragedy, for me, it didn't quite redeem the general death and destruction that permeated the book. I just would have liked more happy moments in the book, or more of a plot aside from the tragedies that occurred.
There was a romance storyline between Abby and her sister's doctor, Dr. King, but it felt a little rushed to me. I would have liked a little more time spent on the development of the romantic interest in the book, and a little less focus on the tragedy.
I did think the x-ray study plot element was interesting though, and it made me want to go back and look at the history of x-rays a little more. I cringed when the doctors repeatedly tested the x-ray strength on themselves and received burns from the radiation, thinking it was a good thing. I studied a bit about the history of radiographs as part of hygiene school, and I know that part of the story was probably fairly accurate! I found that interesting.
Overall, I didn't mind this book, but I just thought there were a few too many catastrophes without the light-hearted moments to balance it out.
Note: I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
When I was a child, I used to really enjoy children's books where I could pretend that my brother and sister and I were like the characters in the book. If a story included a girl with a younger brother and sister I usually liked it, because in my mind, it was just like my siblings and me!
Well, we recently read I Love You All The Same, and I found myself doing the same thing. In this book, three little bear siblings play together and realize how different they are, but they are reassured and secure in the knowledge that their parents love them equally.
While I was reading it to Wyatt, I was thinking the three little bears are just like my three little ones - two boys and a girl! So I told Wyatt it was just like him and Gwen and Clyde. Ever since then he has been carrying the book around, studying it, and wanting to read it every night before bed. It's pretty adorable!
I loved this book. The illustrations are cute, and the pages are filled with rhymes. The three bears are a panda bear, a polar bear, and a brown bear, and the book points out their different talents and likes, while the parent bears tell their little ones that while they are all different, they love them all the same.
I thought the point of the book was really sweet. While I think this book would be appropriate for any family, I think it would be especially helpful for adoptive families to help their young children understand that even though they are all different, and may have come from different places, God has placed them all in the same family and their parents have the same love for each of them.
I definitely recommend this book for parents of multiple little ones! You can take a peek at this book here.
Tommy Nelson is kind enough to provide a copy of this book for one of my readers! Fill out the form below for a chance to win a copy!
Note: I received this book for free from Tommy Nelson in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
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I have to say, I don't make elaborate dinners that often. Cooking is just not something I really enjoy, so whatever meals are quick and easy to make, that is what we usually eat. Every now and then though, I try to make Derek something a little more special for dinner, and a few weeks ago I decided we were due for a nice meal.
I scoured my cabinets, and I found a spice packet for Bruschetta Chicken. After reading the recipe on the back though, I decided I didn't like it, so I improvised and came up with a recipe on the fly. I wasn't sure if it was going to be edible, but it was actually delicious! I wrote down the recipe so I could repeat it in the future, and I thought I would share it here!
If you want to make the exact same thing, you can buy the McCormick Gourmet Sweet Basil and Oregano Bruschetta Chicken spice packet and use that, but I also came up with a mix of spices that is similar in case you can't find it. Feel free to adjust spices in this list to taste!
Bruschetta Chicken Spice Mix
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/12 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. sugar
1 tbsp. red pepper
1tbsp. parmesan cheese
1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Set aside.
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And here is my recipe for the pasta:
Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
2-3 chicken breasts
Olive Oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
Bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, diced
Bruschetta Chicken Spice mix
Penne noodles
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tbsp. flour
1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
1. Cook chicken, and cut into slices or chunks. I usually pull chicken breasts out of my freezer and put them straight in the oven. They are usually done after an hour in the oven at 415 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Pour enough olive oil into a saucepan to cover the bottom. Add minced garlic, bell pepper, onion, and 1/2 spice mix. Cook until peppers and onions are tender.
3. Cook penne noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
4. Add chicken to peppers and onions, and coat in oil and spices.
5. Add milk and flour to mixture. Lower heat and simmer until the sauce starts to thicken.
6. Add mozzarella cheese and stir until melted.
7. Pour sauce mixture and the remainder of the spice mixture onto noodles and mix well. Serve warm.
Variation: We liked the noodles just following the above steps, but if you want this to be more like a casserole, you can also pour the noodles into a baking dish, add mozzarella cheese on top, and bake until the cheese is melted.
Enjoy!
In The Heart's Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher, Silver Matlock has been left at the alter and her parents have been robbed by her former fiancé. In desperation, she hires a bounty hunter and secretly joins him as they search for Silver's ex-fiance. However, Jared Newman has his own agenda - finding the man who murdered his family years ago. As they hunt for these criminals, feelings start to develop between them.
I enjoyed this book. I felt like it started out a little slow for me, but the plot picked up toward the middle of the book, and the ending was good. The storyline was interesting, and I liked how the two main character's separate goals end up intertwining as the book goes on. The characters were likable, though I would have liked to read more of the characters' histories, to get to know them better.
The one thing that bothered me - and I don't want to say too much to avoid giving anything away - was that I felt like the villain's character wasn't consistent toward the end. I just would have expected such a ruthless killer to choose to act differently at the climax of the book. I also felt like a decision that Silver made toward the end of the book was a little over-the-top foolish, and because of that it didn't feel realistic to me.
I think I am overanalyzing though, because overall I liked the book. This was just a light, old west romance. It was an enjoyable read, not too deep, with a happy ending (and I always like a happy ending)!
Note: I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
In Meant To Be Mine by Becky Wade, Ty and Celia who knew each other in high school, run into each other in Las Vegas and get married on a whim. Celia has been in love with Ty for years and is happy about their marriage, but he regrets their hasty decision the next morning and leaves Celia heartbroken. Years later Ty tracks down Celia to apologize for what happened in Vegas, and finds out Celia has a child - but Celia is not happy to see him.
There were things I liked about this book, and a couple things that annoyed me slightly.
Things That Annoyed Me:
Ty was described as perfectly handsome, and I felt like the author tried to describe his looks as too perfect. I don't like my fictional characters to be too perfect. I also felt like he was too perfectly confident (translate: cocky), and used too much flattery on the women in the book (I think it was supposed to show you how smooth he was, but it just made me think "fake" or "misleading"). His only flaws were in his reckless nature (which could also seem exciting, depending on the spin the author puts on it), and in a tendency for chemical addiction (but not too much, because he is able to resist). I liked the joking banter between Ty and Celia, and that was what kept me liking his character. Everything else was just too perfect.
Ty and Celia, later in the book, also decide that it's okay to kiss each other, even though they aren't really dating and Celia has no plans at forming a real relationship with him at that point. I thought that was a little morally off, and the characters never really figured out why.
Things I Liked:
Ty and Celia, later in the book, also decide that it's okay to kiss each other, even though they aren't really dating andly off, and the characters never really figured out why.
I thought Celia's character was quirky and likable, and her daughter was adorable (which is a funny thing to write about a fictional child, but it is true). I would have liked to read more interactions with the daughter later in the book, since they seemed to taper off a bit as the story revolved around Ty and Celia. I also liked the secondary characters - they were all quirky and likable, really. I thought the author did a great job of keeping the plot interesting throughout the book, without inserting too much drama.
I liked how she inserted the stories of Celia and Ty's faith, how they returned to following God, in such a natural way. The relationship was developed subtly until the end of the book, and I always think it takes some talent to progress character development that way. The ending was really good, and I liked the sacrifice that was made at the end.
Overall, I think this is an interesting Christian romance book. There were a couple things that bugged me, but I still enjoyed it. It would be a great poolside read for the summer months.
Note: I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
Ty was described as perfectly handsome, and I felt like the author tried to describe his looks as too perfect. I don't like my fictional characters to be too perfect. I also felt like he was too perfectly confident (translate: cocky), and used too much flattery on the women in the book (I think it was supposed to show you how smooth he was, but it just made me think "fake" or "misleading"). His only flaws were in his reckless nature (which could also seem exciting, depending on the spin the author puts on it), and in a tendency for chemical addiction (but not too much, because he is able to resist). I liked the joking banter between Ty and Celia, and that was what kept me liking his character. Everything else was just too perfect.
Ty and Celia, later in the book, also decide that it's okay to kiss each other, even though they aren't really dating and Celia has no plans at forming a real relationship with him at that point. I thought that was a little morally off, and the characters never really figured out why.
Things I Liked:
Ty and Celia, later in the book, also decide that it's okay to kiss each other, even though they aren't really dating andly off, and the characters never really figured out why.
I thought Celia's character was quirky and likable, and her daughter was adorable (which is a funny thing to write about a fictional child, but it is true). I would have liked to read more interactions with the daughter later in the book, since they seemed to taper off a bit as the story revolved around Ty and Celia. I also liked the secondary characters - they were all quirky and likable, really. I thought the author did a great job of keeping the plot interesting throughout the book, without inserting too much drama.
I liked how she inserted the stories of Celia and Ty's faith, how they returned to following God, in such a natural way. The relationship was developed subtly until the end of the book, and I always think it takes some talent to progress character development that way. The ending was really good, and I liked the sacrifice that was made at the end.
Overall, I think this is an interesting Christian romance book. There were a couple things that bugged me, but I still enjoyed it. It would be a great poolside read for the summer months.
Note: I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
I had seen a couple clips of Jim Gaffigan's comedy routines before, so when I saw Dad Is Fat was up for review I decided I'd like to read it. I always appreciate a book that can make me laugh, and I was hoping that would be the case with this book.
First, I have to say that I don't necessarily agree with or like all of the jokes in this book, and I was a little disappointed at some of the language. I also thought some of his jokes about Jesus and the Bible were irreverent, and I didn't like that.
Aside from those things, I did think most of the book was pretty hilarious! I was laughing out loud at something in every chapter.
Gaffigan is a father to five children, and his comedy mostly centers around family life - the trials and ridiculous situations parents are thrown into, the funny things kids do, and they way they change our lives. Though sometimes his jokes seem to focus on the negatives, you can definitely tell after reading the book that he loves his family.
I thought this book was a nice break during the day, and it brought out the humor that I had never thought about before in so many common parenting situations. The chapter on toddlers was probably my favorite, because that is where I am in life right now and it was so spot-on and funny! I think most parents of young kids can find something to laugh about in this book, so if you are looking for something humorous to read, I'd recommend checking it out.
Note: I received this book for free from Blogging For Books in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
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