Natural childbirth = Hippie

As we all know I am very pro natural childbirth. Apparently this makes me a hippie (I guess it makes sense given that I've gone by hippyrochelle on the internet for like 13 years or something).  This assumption is especially true when people find out that we don't know the sex of the baby and then find out I opt for no epidural.  I don't know why, but the combination of the two equals hippie.  In reality, not knowing the sex of the baby has nothing whatsoever to do with my preference to not have pain medication.  Its more of a, we like to be surprised by the baby's gender when it comes into the world, its exciting! kind of thing.  Anyway, I think people are surprised to find out I'm not  an extremist when it comes to doing things naturally.  Here are some assumptions others make about me.

1. I give birth at home.  I seriously wish this was true.  I would totally home birth if I could.  Given the circumstances of previous pregnancies (heart defect and cholestasis) and how I got pregnant this time (stupid IUD), it wasn't an option for me, but if it were I'd sign up in a heartbeat. (so maybe that's a pretty accurate assumption)

2.  I think doctors/hospitals are evil.  I definitely wouldn't say that. My own daughter would not be alive without them!  I look at it as more of a situation where they try to control something that doesn't need controlling.  They put time-limits on labor, they pass out pitocin like candy, and c-sections rates are far too high. Giving birth is something women's bodies were made to do.  As women, we have been doing it for centuries, its only been the last 50 years or so that its been considered normal for women to be medicated while in labor.  I'm not saying its evil, I'm just saying I don't consider it necessary (all the time).

3. I think women who do get an epidural/pitocin are weak.  Not true at all!  Giving birth is incredibly difficult, and scary.  I've had pitocin for 3 out of 4 labors, and the epidural once.  I hated them both, pitocin makes it way harder and my epidural hurt going in and didn't work on one side, but that's just me.  I don't judge anyone else on the way they prefer to give birth.  To each their own!  Everyone deserves to birth the way they want, whether that means a scheduled induction, epidurals, homebirthing, hypnobirthing or whatever.  I'm happy to live in a time that there IS a choice!  I can't imagine living in the time when twilight sleep birthing was the one and only option (and I'm not talking about Bella birthing a vampire baby!).  Twilight sleep birthing is seriously my worst nightmare (besides being forced to read Twilight! Ha ha!).

4.  I don't vaccinate my kids.  I know this is one of those big controversies right now.  People think it causes autism and stuff.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on this, but I believe in vaccinations and therefore vaccinate all my kids. 'Nuff said.

5.  I use cloth diapers.  Nope!  NO WAY!  I am waaaay too lazy to do cloth diapers.  Its too much work.  I have to clean up enough poop when potty training toddlers, and I FREAKING HATE IT!!  I do have cloth diapers, however, I use them as spit up clothes.  I wouldn't even know how to use it as a diaper.  I'd much rather spend the money on disposable ones.  Its one of those expenses that I think is totally worth it.

So anyway, as you can see, I am pretty normal.  I may or may not be a hippie, but if I am its not something that has anything to do with my preference for natural childbirth.

And that's all I have to say about that...peace!