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In just a couple short weeks {or any day now} I will be giving birth to my two sweet twin boys: Malachi & Micah. We cannot wait to meet them and yet over the course of this pregnancy I have had times of worry over giving birth in a hospital.
My desire and my heart is that we would have a drug free, natural birth in the hospital. I don’t want to be induced, I don’t want pain medication, and I don’t want a C Section! I know that the Lord is in control and His will will happen, but I am praying that we can have a natural birth. The only problem is: It can be very difficult to give birth in a hospital naturally! There are so many interventions and procedures set in place at a hospital that if you don’t know what you are doing, you could quickly end up with procedures that you don’t want!
The best defense against this is to study and to know what to expect! Thankfully I came across a great resource ~ Unbound Birth: How to Have a Natural Birth in the Hospital. Jennifer walks you through her personal story, what you can expect, and ways to deal with a natural pregnancy. Even if you are planning a natural birth at a birthing center or at home, this book is a valuable resource!
I really connected with Jennifer right away in the book because she is very open and honest. She shares her three birth stories and gives a lot of encouragement through them! It’s always great for a new mom or someone who has never given birth naturally to be able to read these stories and really get a feel for what natural birth is like.
Natural Birth is NOT Scary!
“I knew that labor (even transition) was not going to last forever. I knew there was a beautiful miracle happening and I was able to look within myself for the strength to keep going and just breathe through the pain.” ~ Rhea {excerpt from Unbound Birth}
It seems today that epidurals and induction are the norm. Most people assume they will get these and other procedures done and simply cannot understand anyone who would want a natural “painful” birth. Because of that, many women who have never experienced a natural birth before can create fear in women who want to try one for the first time. Jennifer gives encouragement that this doesn’t need to be the case! She provides hope that a natural birth can be done and you are not crazy for wanting one!
“A woman’s body is created to give birth. Labor and delivery is not a sickness that needs to be suppressed or medicated.” ~ Netta {excerpt from Unbound Birth}
A very interesting part of Jennifer’s book to me was her section on hiring a doula. As of right now we don’t have a doula for this birth {and I’m really wishing that I did}! I didn’t really understand what a doula is or does and how this can be important in your natural birth. Now I will definitely be considering a doula for the next time around!
My Conclusion
Have you decided that natural birth is what you will try with your next birth? Then this book is perfect for giving encouragement that you can do it! Are you considering natural birth but not sure if it’s right for you? Jennifer walks you through what to expect with a natural birth and how manageable it can actually be! Curious why anyone would be crazy enough to try a natural birth?? Then read this book out of pure curiosity! I often have people asking me WHY I would want a natural birth when drugs are so readily available…read this book and you will understand too!
I highly recommend Unbound Birth to all expect mothers! Even if you have experienced birth before, there is always something new to learn and encouragement to get! Jennifer writes in such a way as to encourage and inspire! I am even more excited and happy about my decision to strive for a natural birth after reading her book!
You can purchase her book on the website or enter to win one of your very own copies via the Rafflecopter form below!
This post is part of my Natural Pregnancy & Beyond Series. Catch up on all the posts in this series:
- Introduction
- Young, In Love, and Pregnant: Our Journey To Parenthood
- Our Maternity Photo Shoot
- 7 Reasons We Are Starting a Family Young
- My Dream of Becoming a Stay at Home Mom: How We Made it a Reality
- Crowning Him in Worship: Reflections on Redeeming Childbirth
- 10 Steps Towards a Natural Pregnancy & Birth
- How Pregnancy Can Lead to Healthy Choices
- Discovering the Benefits of Breastfeeding
- Preparing for a Natural Labor & Delivery
- Unbound Birth: How to Have a Natural Birth in the Hospital {Review & Giveaway}
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About Jami Balmet
Hi Jami,
I so pray for you to have a natural labour.
How are the boys laying? Is one ahead with head down?
Everyday I look at your page if they’re already here.
Salo
Salo recently posted..Wie klein…
Hi Salo,
Thank you very much! Yes, one is heads down but the other is breech so things get a bit more complicated because of that haha. They should be here any day now :)
Jami, from what I heard it should be no problem to give birth naturally if the leading child ist head down.
This child will “make the ay” for the other one.
Here in Germany I participate in an internet forum that ist called “Stillen & Tragen” (Breastfeeding & Babywearing). From that forum I know a woman who has a deformed uterus and because of that the children are always breech. With her first she had a c-section and after that 2 VBCA’s (all breech).
About 8 months ago she gave birth to twins, naturally and at home. The leading one was head down (her first child with that) and the second one breech. Everything had gone fine.
She said that she chose to squat as prefered birth position, that whould be also recommended when child is born breech.
From another woman I heard that she carried her twins 40 weeks fully and they both weight round about 3 kg.
I think the longer the twins are with you, the stronger and heavier they gan get.
Therefore the shorter after the birth you can leave the hospital.
Greetings
Salo
Salo recently posted..Wie klein…
Thanks Solo, unfortunately due to how he is breech (footling breech as opposed to the normal breech when they are butt down) there is a much higher risk of a cord prolapse, these are my first babies so we don’t know how wide everything is/how things will work out (breech is much easier and safer to do with subsequent pregnancies), and the fact that baby B is much bigger than Baby A all lead to the fact that it might not be safe to deliver him breech. We will have to wait until I go into labor to really find out their positions but because they will likely be premature then we need to be extra gentle with them. But thank you for the words of encouragement…we hope to deliver naturally still but also know that the Lord is in control!!
Thank you so much for reviewing my book, Jami! Natural birth is a beautiful experience… hard, but completely worth every second. I pray that you are able to have the birth that you desire, that the boys are healthy and strong, and that your family is blessed!
Merry Christmas!
Jenny recently posted..Top Ten Tips for Traveling During Pregnancy.
Thank you for writing it Jenny! I loved reading it. It was such a blessing to me and feel more prepared for my hospital birth that I hope to make as natural as possible! :) Thank you very much!!
Thanks for a great review, I’ll have to check this book out! I’m at two babies now, the first was C-section, the second was all-natural!! Our doula was a HUGE blessing – for me and my husband also. It’s definitely not too late if you want to find a doula!
Hi Ellen,
It’s a great resource and an easy read! :) How wonderful that you had such a great doula :)
You know Jami, it might not be too late to still hire a doula! Look into it :).
Thanks Rachel! We really thought about a Doula but can’t really afford one right now so we are going without one this time! Oh well :)
I wish I lived close to you… if I was available I would come and be your stand in doula. :)
Jenny recently posted..Top Ten Tips for Traveling During Pregnancy.
Just got my very first pregnancy confirmed yesterday! (Shh! It’s still a secret!) This book would be awesome to have!
Thanks for the chance to win! :)
Ashley P recently posted..Wishing, and Hoping, And Thinking, and Praying
CONGRATS Ashley!!!! How wonderful! I know the excitement of this time. And I just went to your blog and saw that in November you posted about how you have been trying for a few months so I am SO excited for you! You will have to keep me updated on how you are doing :) It’s an exciting time! And the morning sickness WILL be over at some point ;)
Thank you! You read my MIND! I haven’t been able to keep hardly ANYTHING down! Not even SOUP! I was getting nervous because I’ve already lost about a pound and a half in a week. (And I don’t know why they call it that. It’s more like ALL DAY sickness!)
I’ll definitely keep you posted. I’m keeping it off the blog for now. I’m telling the family for Christmas, and I’ll probably announce it publicly sometime next month. I also have 2 friends who appear to be positive at the same time that I am (though I was the first to have an MD confirm) so it will be pretty cool to have some “pregnancy buddies” who are going through the same thing.
Can’t wait to see your boys! If they’re anything like you and your hubby, I know they’ll be beautiful!
Ashley P recently posted..Wishing, and Hoping, And Thinking, and Praying
Thanks for such a great giveaway! I have been eyeing this book! I am due in February (exactly 2 months from today!) and am attempting a natural VBA2C in a hospital! It’s a little ‘unnatural’ around this area, if you know what I mean! But God has lead me down this path and I am trusting Him 100%. I have a WONDERFUL, God sent Dr, who literally started his practice here a month after I found out I was pregnant. My doula moved here just a month before I got pregnant (she’s the ONLY doula in the area, unless you find one who will travel a good ways). I truly believe God put those people here to help me (and so many others) achieve births that aren’t common in my area.
Saying a prayer for the birth of your boys! My sweet baby is boy #3 for me! They are so much fun! :)
It’s a great book for everyone to read :) A great resource! How wonderful that you are trying a VBA2C! Praying for you and I hope it all works out for you. That’s so GREAT that you have such a good doctor! Not all doctors will attempt that so that’s wonderful!
Oh Crystal, I admire you for wanting to birth naturally! It sounds like the Lord has placed these care providers right where you needed them. :) I pray that all goes well and that you have a beautiful birth! Yay for boys! ;)
Jenny recently posted..Top Ten Tips for Traveling During Pregnancy.