Greetings all,
Talking about birth journeys is something mums share, whether you want to hear them or not, placentas are discussed with knowing nods at the supermarket check out, school gate & dinner parties. I have written how my 4 babies came into the world here, i could not have hoped for a more positive experience & wonderful result every. single. time!! I'm a scientist so epidurals, twins & trusting my obstetrician weren't issues, i had faith in a smooth labour, delivery & new baby experience. So lucky, 4/4 times - i had everything going for me - young, healthy, supportive husband & the essential wide birth canal. In my pregnancy & birth post (the mega mix) i mention how we already had 12 nieces & nephews, so we were clued in, yet stayed focused & positive . . . only issue was that each of my babies missed their due dates (even twins, happily in there at 37 weeks, kicking me with their octopus limbs) . . . i had to wait patiently to meet them.
I wish i had a plethora of different birth journeys to read back in 1998, first hand honest experiences, not embellished or dramatised, but real & up-to-date!! As we headed on an Army posting to the unknown of the Northern Territory last millennium, we didn't know what to expect. My ever helpful father suggested i dig a hole, tee hee. What we found was the most fantastic hospital & Australia's busiest obstetrician, married to a girl who grew up 8 houses down my childhood street in Sydney. I used to visit his mother-in-law when i was staying with my parents - i loved my obstetrician, he delivered all of my babies (& offered discounts for repeat business - this was all before the baby bonus!!) After 4 children, your obstetrician & his family are on your Christmas card list!! With 24/ 7/ 9 morning sickness (for some of us, pregnancy is an illness) i was still relaxed & energised about the delivery being positive, even after my husband informed me our first born's head was bigger than a 2L coca cola bottle, yeeoww.
Leonie MacDonald has compiled a diverse variety of Birth Journeys: positive birth stories to encourage & inspire in one wonderful book. Being informed gives you amazing control & power over the delivery - like pressure to have a Caesarean or the vernix wiped off your brand new baby. If your pregnancy & delivery wasn't 'text book' or you want a water birth/ doula/ home birth & everyone rolls their eyes, you'll find a friend in Birth Journeys.
I believe i am the mother & person i am today, due to my wonderful birth journeys. As my obstetrician said "we're sending you off into the world of motherhood on the right foot & giving you every chance of success."
The official word:I wish i had a plethora of different birth journeys to read back in 1998, first hand honest experiences, not embellished or dramatised, but real & up-to-date!! As we headed on an Army posting to the unknown of the Northern Territory last millennium, we didn't know what to expect. My ever helpful father suggested i dig a hole, tee hee. What we found was the most fantastic hospital & Australia's busiest obstetrician, married to a girl who grew up 8 houses down my childhood street in Sydney. I used to visit his mother-in-law when i was staying with my parents - i loved my obstetrician, he delivered all of my babies (& offered discounts for repeat business - this was all before the baby bonus!!) After 4 children, your obstetrician & his family are on your Christmas card list!! With 24/ 7/ 9 morning sickness (for some of us, pregnancy is an illness) i was still relaxed & energised about the delivery being positive, even after my husband informed me our first born's head was bigger than a 2L coca cola bottle, yeeoww.
I believe i am the mother & person i am today, due to my wonderful birth journeys. As my obstetrician said "we're sending you off into the world of motherhood on the right foot & giving you every chance of success."
Stop listening to horror stories. Be reassured, excited and inspired. Find out how beautiful and powerful birth can be. Discover the keys to planning your own positive birth – the best beginning to motherhood.Birth Journeys is a collection of 29 encouraging and inspiring birth stories by real Australian women (and men). It includes a wide range of birth experiences and choices: hospital, birth centre, homebirth, unassisted birth, water birth, IVF, caesarean, VBAC and twins.The stories are deeply personal, emotional and honest. They share the paths different individuals have taken to achieve a positive birth experience. Every story has been carefully selected and reviewed by a team of midwives, doulas and mothers to give you a book full of diverse positive, uplifting and empowering stories.Birth Journeys also contains contributions from health care professionals, academics, birth educators and authors including Dr Sarah J Buckley (author of Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering), Dr Hannah Dahlen, Renee Adair (Australian Doula College), the Maternity Coalition, Stephanie Corkhill Hyles (25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power), Gabrielle Targett (author of A Labour of Love) and David Vernon (editor of Men at Birth).However you choose to birth, your experience of birth does matter. A ‘perfect’ birth is not always possible, but every woman deserves a positive birth.
For your chance to win a copy of Birth Journeys, please follow this blog & leave a positive tip about pregnancy or birth in your comment. Extra entries for each FB & Twitter link. Entries close Sunday 22nd July 2012. Order your copy here, 384 pages $29.95 or eBook $14.95. Good luck, love Posie
Disclaimer: i approached Leonie about promoting her book on my blog, she kindly delivered a copy to me & will provide a copy for the winner. We mummies should support each other in kind, especially when it's something you believe so passionately about.
