Babies, Birth Stories & Books (a link to Laurent's birth story)

If I had been blogging when my children were babies, over a decade ago, FIMBY would be a blog about birth and midwifery care, diapers and physical exhaustion. It would be about my life with littles.

I'd probably talk a bit about all the work I went through changing our diet. There might be more recipes. But come to think of it, I was so busy with my young children there wouldn't have been a FIMBY (like it is now) at that point. Not without child care, TV and caffeine.

Since I wasn't blogging during that time I missed out on sharing all the passion I have for birth.

Access to midwifery care, natural birth and breastfeeding, and my children's own birth stories have always been very important to me. You just don't hear about it because I've moved on to other things in my life, different adventures.

I've always wanted to share my children's birth stories publicly though, and now I've been given that opportunity.

I met my friend Naomi nine years ago. She was an apprenticing doula and attended Brienne's birth. I believe it was one of the first births she attended (Naomi - correct me if I'm wrong).

d. patting naomi belly

So in the scheme of my mothering life, Naomi and I go way back. Since attending Brienne's birth, Naomi got married, had a few kids of her own, wrote a book, attended more births, and started a homestead - not all in that order. 

This week on Naomi's Birth A Miracle Services blog I shared Laurent's birth story. I wrote this soon after his birth and it was printed for his baby memories. But other than that it's remained unpublished for the public-at-large, until now. The story of how this beautiful boy came into our lives. 

It was fun to revisit this time of my life. Birth, babies, and nursing.

If you're in the mood for more babies, birth and midwifery talk I've a couple links for you.

  • Early this spring I devoured the book Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart: A Midwife Saga. I have it available for loan on Kindle. I never tire of birth stories and the midwifery movement. 
  • Just this week I listened to this Behind the Blog Podcast with Erin Goodman and Hillary Boucher. Hillary is part of her local birth community and she talks some about her activism to make midwifery accessible to women in New York State. She also talks about juggling life with littles while creating a purpose and dreams driven livelihood for their family. I really admire that. 
  • My friend Megan from SortaCrunchy recently released Spirit Led Parenting, a book she co-authored with Laura Oyer (who I don't know at all). Megan's story here of how that book came to be really spoke to me. I recognize so much of my own mothering journey in Megan's words. Don't we all? If I was doing it all again, I would have liked to have this book in my hands.

Now I feel the need to hug my big babies tight because they are growing up way too fast.

Filed Under

« An Iterative Process & Spring Breakthroughs
A Song from the Suds »
  • Kathleen

    Kathleen on April 28, 2012, 2:25 p.m.

    Loved your birth story, Renee! It was so similar to the story of my second son's birth, also at a birth center. I can remember cozying up in bed after the birth for a long time with my husband and son, getting up to go get something to eat from the birth center kitchen after the birth, and being anxious to see our first son. What a magical experience it was. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful weekend!

    reply

  • Pam in Missouri

    Pam in Missouri on April 28, 2012, 3:06 p.m.

    I'm not sure how to do sharing on a Kindle but I would love to read that book. Although I am unable to get pregnant, I've always been fascinated with the process and at one time considered becoming a doula.

    Thanks for sharing Laurent's birth story. I love how peaceful everything was. Will you be writing B's story? I'd love to hear about your home birth.

    reply

    • renee

      renee on April 29, 2012, 4:03 a.m.

      Pam, I'll e-mail you next week about the kindle loan. Both the girls were born at home with midwives. That option was not financially possible for us when we lived in NJ. Our homebirths were inexpensive cash/barter type affairs but we couldn't swing that in NJ so had to go with our insurance covered registered midwife birth center delivery.  It was the second best option and it was really lovely. Not quite a homey as my home births but beautiful. You're right it was very peaceful. I still remember the rain that day and how fresh that evening felt after the rain and the excitement I had to birth Laurent on that night.

      reply

  • Hillary

    Hillary on April 29, 2012, 12:36 a.m.

    I loved reading Laurent's birth story, Renee. So great to get a glimpse of your family's earlier years. It's been fascinating to me to watch my interests wax and wane. A few years ago I was all done thinking/writing/breathing babies and then once pregnant again it became all I wrote about. On a recent road trip to Boston I had a glimpse of family out of the baby phase. We only had to stop once and the two year old was able to sit for the whole ride. It made me excited to move on, but also nostalgic for this phase of my life that was all babies and breastfeeding.

    reply

  • Betty

    Betty on April 29, 2012, 1:55 a.m.

    Great story! I have been studying up a lot on natural childbirth and love how much more intimate a natural birth can be over a hospital birth- I have even contemplated unassisted childbirth thanks to a great book I just finished reading titled, "Unassisted Childbirth," by Laura Kaplan Shanley. I just think the whole idea of being able to have your baby in the comfort of your own home, with only those you love (no Dr.'s, etc.) around you, sounds wonderful- and for most women this is a very safe option. http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/

    reply

  • Amber

    Amber on April 29, 2012, 4:30 a.m.

    Renee, thank you for sharing. I am due with my third and planning my third midwife assisted home birth in September. It is so fun to hear about others who share a passion for such a beautiful and peaceful birthing experience. This has made my fondness for you and your family even stronger. The only thing that could have made it better is a photo of you with your ripe belly from back then :)

    reply

    • renee

      renee on April 29, 2012, 12:37 p.m.

      If I had a digital photo of my ripe belly I would have included it here. All those old photos are hard copy and currently stashed in the trailer so I couldn't easily find and scan them for this post. Oh, I loved my belly!

      reply

  • Karen

    Karen on April 29, 2012, 9:17 p.m.

    I know I've heard this wonderful story before but I'd forgotten some of the details. Renee, thanks for sharing how this precious grandbaby arrived - this boy who's added blessings unlimited to our lives.

    reply

You can subscribe to comments on this article using this form.

If you have already commented on this article, you do not need to do this, as you were automatically subscribed.