Why I gave birth unmedicated

*Note: This is not about the actual birth.  This entry is simply to lay out my reasons for giving birth unmedicated.


There are times when an idea keeps coming to mind repeatedly, over and over until whatever that idea was is fulfilled.  The idea to write about my experience giving birth is one of those cases in which blogging about it keeps coming to mind.  I'm not a consistent blogger.  I have more drafts of blogs than I have actual published stories.  Yet, for some reason I feel to finally get this one written.

Why I had my baby unmedicated.

My goal in this story is to tell it so that a man would be fine reading it.  I may write another side story with more details for the women, but today it's just the basics.

The internet became my go-to in looking at how I wanted to give birth.  I never imagined there were so many different ways and tactics!  While looking through all the options, I came across one woman's story of giving birth unmedicated.  In her account, she shared how after her baby was born she felt awake and very alert.  She explained how she was up and wanting to see her baby that had been taken to the nursery.  This concept of being alert and awake after childbirth was a new one to me.  I had always imagined an exhausted and worn-out mother.  After reading this, I knew that was the experience I wanted.  I wanted to be alert and present for my newborn.

The second reason for giving birth unmedicated is due to a constant thought I had repeatedly. It was the thought that there would be a day when access to doctors and medicine would be very hard to come by, if at all. Based on this thought, I wanted to 'practice' and have the experience of going through this ordeal while still in the comforts of what is currently available.  I knew in doing so I would be in a position to help others go through the same thing at that time.

That thought - the one where doctors and medicine would one day not be available - came intermittently (as far as I could tell), but frequently.  It was this same thought that propelled me to attempt getting off my depression medication while in college (which was a disaster), and then later succeed in getting off it after finding the right supplement years later.  It took over a year to taper off the medicine and then the supplement.  It wasn't easy. Each tapering of the dosage would bring about moodiness and erratic emotions that would ensue during the two weeks while my body adjusted.  Going through this boot camp of emotions and relearning how to react to normal things really benefited me when pregnant over a year later. I only took the supplement as needed, and while choosing my reactions was still a real exercise, it was one I was familiar with.

So, there they are.  The reasons I went through childbirth unmedicated.  Pretty straight forward. I understand they're pretty basic; no big "hu-rah" of a deal.

There's a huge movement in the unmedicated childbirth world where women stand proud that they have done this grand hard thing; and many others look on either with the thoughts ranging from "you're crazy" or "that's incredible."  If going unmedicated was a goal and something a person really worked for, then absolutely that individual should feel proud of that accomplishment.  My reasonings behind my choice were different so I never fit in with this crowd.

I just did what I felt was best given the situation I had.

Why "Confidently Random?"

Hello!

When setting up a blog, the first thing you have to decide is the URL name.  Yikes!  Talk about a big decision right up front!  I tried various fun and/or catchy phrases or names, variations of my own name, and really whatever came to mind... which was a Big Blank before to long.  Everything I thought of had already been taken.

Then I thought about my purpose for the blog, and who I am.  Ooo, that one was difficult.  Who am I?

In a story I'll share later, I have learned and have accepted that I am random.  I can jump from one subject to the next, seemingly without any connection (although I promise there is), and keep going.  Items without a set location move around frequently.  I have also just accepted the fact that not everything I say is appropriate for the situation. I have said some pretty stupid things in the past.  The sad thing is, the more I try to explain myself - the worse I make it.  I can only shake my head and learn from it.

I have learned to be okay with this.  Actually, I know it's a uniqueness of mine for better or for worse.

I do not use that as an excuse to leave everything care free and not take responsibility.  Rather, I use this knowledge so I know how to move forward in a way that works for me and those around me.  This is where the word confidence comes in.  I know who I am.  This "randomness" is truly just a blessing to me.

Mason rolls over, without hands!

I finally caught him on tape!  Here is a video of Mason, all swaddled for a nap, rolling over to his stomach.

He started fussing because he lost his pacifier.  Once that was recovered and given, he settled right down.

This is the only blanket that he can't pull his arms out of.  He has become our little Houdini when it comes to swaddle blankets.

Testing the Waters & What to Expect

Hello!

I have no idea where this will go or if anyone will really read it.  Truly, this is more for me than anyone.  If you're checking it out, Welcome!

You can expect to see posts about my Religion, Family, Life, and (occasionally) Random Odd things as well.  Timing of posts will not be consistent.  (More on that later)

Also, I love to be grammatically correct. So.... if I have misused a comma, or have abused an apostrophe, let me know!  Just be kind. :)