Hello All,
I am the proud mama to a smiley, 4-month-old baby girl. I work a few hours a week to finish the autism research project I am working on and then I will officially be a SAHM! I have a background in early childhood/special education and several years of teaching experience under my belt, so I am really looking forward to putting all that knowledge to work raising my own little one :-)Â I picked up an issue of Mothering and saw so many ads and articles that were right up my alley, so I am really glad to find this forum to connect with other parents that are into natural, eco-friendly parenting.
Â
I had an wonderful pregnancy and an awesome natural water birth at a birth center here in NC with my husband, doula, and midwife. Unfortunately I had a VERY bad reaction to a drug given to me to stop bleeding after the delivery...in fact, they said it was the worst reaction they had ever seen- lucky me, right? Natural childbirth only to be tainted wth a drug reaction given post-delivery- the irony! Low blood pressure, white as a ghost, high fever, uncontrollable shaking/shivering- not fun! At least I began to recover right when they were discussing sending me over to the hospital. We stayed over night at the birth center, which you would not normally do, but they wanted to keep an eye on me which I was SO grateful for. Extreme anemia made for a slow recovery, but I powered through! (One of the midwives said that I was "One tough cookie!") Fortunately, breastfeeding and milk supply were not an issue and my little one was a great nurser right from the start :-) Overall, I still feel very positive about my birth experience because I got to do it exactly how I wanted... with just a small bump in the road.
Â
What we are into... We have been cloth diapering since she was 2 weeks old. A friend loaned me all of her newborn and small size diapers and covers, which worked out so great. I have sunned them all and we are ready to pass them on to the next mama due in July. I have been busy building my own stash, which is quite addictive I must say. DD has been co-sleeping with us in our bed and in a co-sleeper next to my side of the bed. Looking forward to making my own baby food and breastfeeding as long as we both want to. I have several wraps/carriers and enjoy carrying her when we are out and about. Our community is kinda crunchy and very supportive of natural parenting and green living, so I am excited to raise our babe here. I have recently connected with a mom who cannot produce enough milk, so I have joined a group of mothers that pump extra milk for her newborn son. I gladly share my milk and feel so honored to help feed her baby.
Â
I am constantly amazed by the experiences that I have had so far. Growing this perfect little person, the whole birth experience, her innate survival instincts, my ability to produce all the food she needs, and the growing love and bond that feels like nothing else.
Â
See you on the forums!
Â
Welcome to Mothering.
