Training in the Pews

I don't normally blog on Sundays, but as a mommy who just had a very challenging morning, it was such a blessing to see this on my blogroll when I came home from church today.

What is Jodi Interested In? or Subjects Men Aren't Interested In

Some of you may know that one of my big interests in life is pregnancy and birth. I discovered this when I was just starting my career in the Air Force, and I can't specifically say how or why it started. All I know is that I was on the internet one day (shocking, I know) and for a couple of weeks after that day I was reading everything I could get my hands on about birth and pregnancy. I was absolutely enthralled with what I was reading, because I thought that having babies meant hospital, epidural, probably c-section and the term "home birth" seemed quite radical. At the time I was all of 20 years old, not married, no prospects of having children any time soon, and I was completely committed to a career in the Air Force as a linguist for the next five years of my life. I was honestly sort of frustrated that God led me to all this information about natural birth, doulas and midwifery and there I was in a great position to do nothing about it for several years. I was ready to go to midwifery school right that very day if I could have. However, in His infinite wisdom He's given me a lot of time to think about where exactly I want to go with this "career" and I don't think it will lead to me being a midwife. It might, but I think I may be more of a doula-type person. And since I will have a few littles around for the foreseeable future I don't think I will really branch out into anything that requires being on call 24/7 for anyone but my family for a few years.

I'm about this >< close to being certified as a childbirth educator (I probably would have been done with my certification by now, but Ethan's little brother has affected my productivity somewhat). I will probably start a separate blog about pregnancy, birth and my classes sometime in the near future, because there are a lot of topics that I want to blog about in that area that I just don't want to put here, since this is more of a "keeping up with our family" blog. The reason I haven't created the blog yet is because I haven't found a definite idea of where I want it to go or what I really want it to be about (sort of like this post, har har). In the meantime, here are a few articles that I've been saving on my bookmarks list for awhile!

Home Birth Reference Site (UK)
Industrial Childbirth
A Healthy Baby Isn't All that Matters (may be sensitive for those who've had traumatic c-sections)
Medical Indications for Induction
Prevent Pre-Eclampsia or Pregnany Induced Hypertension with diet?
Optimal Fetal Positioning

For what it is worth, while I am an advocate of natural birth, I am not against necessary medical interventions. I know that cesarean sections are sometimes necessary. I know that induction is sometimes necessary. I do feel that they are used way too often, and that obstetrics is a rare medical specialty where evidence based medicine is not always practiced, due to many factors including litigation and insurance issues. All that being said, I think the best way for women to have the best care possible during their pregnancy, labor and birth is to educate themselves. Women should be making educated decisions about their care based on research, and not on what their midwives or doctors will "allow" them to do.

So that's all that I will put about this stuff in this blog. When I get some classes started up, I'll probably start the other blog and put my ramblings about pregnancy and birth over there where no one has to see it. :)