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Josh & Ann
We hadn't really considered adopting a non-infant, but when Gwynn contacted us about her 25 month old girl, we decided to go for it! After a LONG 10 days in Arkansas, we finalized on Dec. 23 and made it home for the holidays! Both our birthmoms have found us through Parent Profiles - thanks! more ...
Childbirth
Not so long ago, childbirth was merely what happened when the pregnancy was over. Now, pregnant women have a multitude of choices when considering where and how they want to have their babies.
Hello! We're a happy, loving couple hoping to start a family. Everyone tells us we will be great parents someday...we're hoping you'll make this dream come true! Please read our profile to learn more about us. We look forward to hearing from you!
Natural childbirth - giving birth with no medication - can happen in a hospital, a birth center, or at home. Many women plan for a natural birth to help maintain more control over the process. Without drugs, you can stay mobile longer and have more choices of position. There is some evidence that this extra control reduces the need for interventions such as pitocin or cesareans. And babies born to women who go natural tend to be more alert and active in the hours after birth, enhancing nursing and bonding.
Lamaze and Bradley classes are often used to help prepare for as natural a childbirth as possible. The Lamaze method emphasizes relaxation and breathing exercises to help with pain management. Women giving birth using Lamaze techniques will also use imagery, massage, and support from a coach to aid them in labor. Lamaze instructors neither encourage nor discourage the use of medication, but educate women in their options so they can make informed choices.
The Bradley method of childbirth places more emphasis on a natural approach, with few or no drugs and as little medical intervention as possible. Bradley classes emphasize nutrition, the stages of labor, deep relaxation techniques, and effective coaching. Nearly 90% of women who use Bradley techniques end up giving birth without medication. And as with Lamaze, Bradley classes emphasize educating parents to make informed decisions should intervention become necessary.
At the other end of the spectrum are Cesarean births. At least 22% of American women give birth by C-section, in which an obstetrician makes an incision in the woman's abdomen and uterus to remove the baby. Some medical conditions (placenta previa, multiple babies, some breech positions, etc) require a planned section. Other conditions might not appear until labor begins. Some reasons for Cesarean childbirth are if labor doesn't progress even after other intervention; if your baby shows prolonged or serious signs of distress; if the umbilical cord slips through the cervix (prolapses); or if the placenta starts to separate from the uterine wall (abruption).
No matter what kind of childbirth you have, remember this: as long as the end result is a healthy mother and child, it was a success.
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