A Beautiful Birth

It's almost been a week since I attended a beautiful birth. Unbelievable how fast time flies. I was in attendance as a doula & friend. Esther delivered at Birthing Your Way in Orem. http://birthingyourway.com/ I had never attended a birth outside of a hospital setting before. It was totally incredible! The center was so safe, relaxed, and home-like. I felt very fortunate to share the experience with such a knowledgeable, strong, and diverse team. There were two midwives, one midwife assistant, one student midwife, and me. Not to mention Esther and her mother are both nurses and Keyvan is really informed about natural childbirth.

I find it hard to express with words how miraculous it is to welcome a new baby into the world. Angels are dancing and singing, tears and laughter are flowing, and God is smiling.

Esther labored at home for many hours before going to the birthing center. She labored for another 8-9 hours at the b.c. It was nice to not only have the options, but be encouraged to eat, bathe, drink, walk, listen to music, change positions when pushing, and be vocal.

Baby girl cuteness came at 4:21 p.m. after an 1 1/2 hours of pushing. She was put on Esther's chest and peacefully gazed up at her mama. When dad said something her head and eyes immediately turned to him. She was alert, calm, and serene. She has a full head of black hair, black eyelashes, gorgeous skin, and the prettiest little face. She wanted to eat almost immediately and she did!

It must have been an hour or more before she was weighed (6 lbs 14 oz) and measured (19in & 3/8s) and assessed. Both mom and baby are happy and healthy.

I know there is a lot of fear and misinformation about birthing outside of a hospital. Is it safe? Can I transfer to a hospital if I needed to? Are midwives informed? Will my baby survive? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. As a doula, a woman, and a witness, I speak honestly that it is safe and normal. If you or baby have health problems, maybe the hospital is the best place for you to deliver. Either way, consider your options. Talk to people who have birthed outside and inside hospitals, with midwives and with ob-gyns, naturally and medicated. There is no right or wrong way to bring your baby into the world. Choose to be informed!!

Working as a doula is amazing. I support everyone and every scenario. Doulas help mamas make informed decisions. My wish is for every laboring woman to have a doula. Women are really good at supporting, informing, and comforting women. Every doula I know works with budgets. If you have any questions or curiosities, get answers! You won't regret being informed, it's empowering!

A big thank you to those of you who read my blog and to Heather for making my headers.

The other day I was teaching esthetics students about the basics of essential oils and massage. We also talked a lot about quality products that are good for the skin. I gave them a list of harmful chemicals that are common in cosmetics and other body products. Here is the list in case you are interested: http://www.gorgeouslygreen.com/downloads/Beauty.pdf
We talked a lot about chemicals and skin sensitivity. There is an increase of people with allergies, thus bringing awareness to the ingredients in everyday products. Further emphasising the importance of knowing what synthetic ingredients are doing to your skin and organs.

Therapeutic grade essential oils (that contain no additives or dilutions and have been distilled at low temps and low pressure) are great for the skin. The molecules are small enough to be absorbed into the skin and they don't compromise the skin's acid mantle. This is boring info, but significantly important esp. when purchasing and using essential oils.

One of the students who was pregnant asked if the oils were safe to use during pregnancy. I told her ABSOLUTELY. The only ones that aren't are Oregano, Thyme, Clary Sage and sometimes Fennel and I gave her specific explanations. Then I said, The more important question is, 'Is my shampoo, lotion, laundry detergent, toilet cleaner etc. safe to use?'

People, please consider the safety of your everyday household cleaners, cosmetics, and skin products. Some, no MOST, of these products are really hazardous to you, your children, and pets. You don't have to compromise cleanliness, smell goods, or price to use safe products. And I mean it when I say price. In fact, most would save money if they used safe cleaning products.

Research this for yourself. Don't trust me. Learn about the products your family is using. It matters. Your health shouldn't be compromised for a smelly hand soap or a cheap lotion.