*~*~*~*Spotlight on jodieanneanton!!!*~*~*~* - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[SlimP]

Lovely stories, Jodie. You sound as wonderful a homemaker as you are forum organiser

Interesting how you, and Chapsie, say you love giving birth. While I found it a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience, I don't exactly relish the thought of going through it again. Do you think it's your faith in a higher power (whether Godly or from inner divinity) that allows you to embrace the birth? Or is it the promise of less intervention, learned through practice, that has taught you how to better navigate through the process?

[cocoanib]

Hi Jodie!

 Do you/Will you discuss more about your births with your DD's as they grow up? I was reading how your Mom had natural births, but didn't really go into actual stories or why's and how's. It made me wonder if you think that's something important to share with your DD's.

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by chocolatechip 

 Do you ever sleep? 

  If I go to bed when I should, I do.  :)  Usually I get 7-8 hours/night.  And when I am feeling extra tired, somehow I manage a catnap by "watching a movie" with the girls for half an hour.  Somehow I find that 15-20 minutes really really does a number for me and I am just the right refreshed to get up and keep going, but not in that post nap funk for the rest of the day.  So, if I keep it to that short time, I am usually pretty good.  With this third trimester, though... yikes!  The tired bus came and hit me a couple weeks ago!  So, some nights, I go to bed at 7:30 when I am putting the girls down and don't wake up for 12 hours (with the exception of potty breaks!!! lol).  That is always nice, but I don't need to do it that often, yet!

One thing about sleep after baby is here....Off topic, but something I found really helpful and important.

When I was pregnant with DD2, I was sooo worried about PPD getting me again and my mw said she contributes the VAST MAJORITY of PPD cases to lack of support and lack of sleep.  My life after DD1 certainly fit that description! (Little history: I lived away from any and all family and had yet to make any real friends, I went back to school full time 3 weeks after she was born, I schooled from 8-1230 every day and came home then DH left and worked 1-10 or so...)  With DD2, I really guarded my sleep and set up a person to be with DD1 EVERYDAY for 3 weeks after the birth so I could nap... and I REALLY napped.  I think that it really helped in avoiding another PPD experience.  

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by chocolatechip 

Jodie, you are so good on this forum of keeping us organized and starting up interesting ideas and keeping track of them (like these spotlight threads!). 

Originally Posted by babytoes 

I have to second this! During the summer when I was struggling with what to do about having some help me lead the group, since it was becoming obvious Kalamos wasn't with us any longer, I watched the board closely for a few weeks to see who was the most helpful to others and active. I knew that I needed someone that would take over and do what needed to be done. When you took the reins on reposting and fixing the who's who board, I knew you were the right person for the job! 

I am so appreciative to you, Jodie! You have not only organized the board with interesting topics, but you are there to give excellent advice, and even took the time (which was an incredible thing during the holidays!) to managed the bead swap. Thank you so much for all of your help, I am not as active as you, but knowing you are here for our fabulous ladies makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside    You were the best woman for the job, THANK YOU!!!

Originally Posted by scruffy too 

Thank you so much for all you've done for the DDC online and with the bead swap!!  You're a huge part of what made this DDC so important and meaningful to us all!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

You are all so welcome.  Thank you for the kind words.

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by SlimP 

Lovely stories, Jodie. You sound as wonderful a homemaker as you are forum organiser

Interesting how you, and Chapsie, say you love giving birth. While I found it a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience, I don't exactly relish the thought of going through it again. Do you think it's your faith in a higher power (whether Godly or from inner divinity) that allows you to embrace the birth? Or is it the promise of less intervention, learned through practice, that has taught you how to better navigate through the process?

Most people look at me like I have three heads when I start talking about my love of birth.  My thoughts about birth being a prayer and expression of my likeness to the Creator really developed over time... I may have always felt that way about it, but the words didn't come until I was trying to answer this very question after the birth of DD2.  Hmmm...

Even after DD1 was born, despite the lack of bonding and the PPD, I loved birth, though.  So maybe I will first try to answer the question from the perspective I had back then and see if that can bring a new light to my feelings about it.  When I was pregnant, most of my faith was in mine (and women's in general) body (bodies).  I was a Christian back then, too, so I did have the mindset of "we were made to do this."  But "Women have been doing this for ages" was really my main focus.  I think I didn't LOVE it in the moment at all.  It felt yucky and painful and I was so over it after I couldn't be myself in between contractions.  Have you ever been exercising and felt like 'this hurts, I have to do this for how much longer?  How will I actually accomplish this? Ouch.'  And then you come to the other side... It's over.  And you did it.  And not only did you do it, but you lost track of time and you lasted longer than you thought you would when you were questioning whether or not you would actually be able to finish.  That's sorta what it was like for me the first time around.  After it was over was when I felt different... It was kinda like how I felt after I had my first period or after having sex for the first time... only magnified by 100 million.  I felt different.  I felt like a member of a unique club.  I was a WOMAN.  I was connected to women past, present and future. I looked at all women differently...  That feeling had me high for a LONG time.  I couldn't stop talking about how amazing it was, encouraging other women to be a part of it, etc.

Then as time went on and my faith in God increased, my love for labor and birth only grew stronger.  With DD2s labor, I felt really connected to God and enjoyed experiencing the gift of labor and birth.  I was amazed that I could take part in creation in such a "hands on" (lol "full-body-on" is more like it!) kind of way.  But, at that time, I was the chooser of my family size, so this time feels different.  I feel like I am taking part in a divine plan, not my plan, which is ultimately more powerful.... So, I look forward to it, I embrace it and I love it.  I relax and melt into it... I enjoy it.

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by cocoanib 

Hi Jodie!

 Do you/Will you discuss more about your births with your DD's as they grow up? I was reading how your Mom had natural births, but didn't really go into actual stories or why's and how's. It made me wonder if you think that's something important to share with your DD's.

I talk to my girls about birth a lot.... probably more than most children are exposed to it.  On their birthdays, I tell each child her birth story.  Now that I am having another baby, we watch gentle birth videos together.  I answer any questions that come up as a result of watching these together.   I don't let them see (yet) images of 'hollywood' birth... screaming, asking for drugs, turning into a monster is not what birth has to be like.  I talk about trust.  I talk about not fearing our bodies and what they are made to do.  I talk about how we were made just perfectly for all sorts of things and birthing children is no exception. I talk about how our bodies work best when we do what is natural and when we live as we were designed to live! 

So, YES!!! I think it is so important to talk to my daughters (and any sons I may have in the future) about it.  Super important!  I wish it was a bigger part of my growing up. Body shame was a problem for me for quite a while and I am *hoping* to avoid that in my children with all of the 'teachable moments' I can find.

[Chapsie]

Originally Posted by jodieanneanton 

Most people look at me like I have three heads when I start talking about my love of birth.  My thoughts about birth being a prayer and expression of my likeness to the Creator really developed over time... I may have always felt that way about it, but the words didn't come until I was trying to answer this very question after the birth of DD2.  Hmmm...

Even after DD1 was born, despite the lack of bonding and the PPD, I loved birth, though.  So maybe I will first try to answer the question from the perspective I had back then and see if that can bring a new light to my feelings about it.  When I was pregnant, most of my faith was in mine (and women's in general) body (bodies).  I was a Christian back then, too, so I did have the mindset of "we were made to do this."  But "Women have been doing this for ages" was really my main focus.  I think I didn't LOVE it in the moment at all.  It felt yucky and painful and I was so over it after I couldn't be myself in between contractions.  Have you ever been exercising and felt like 'this hurts, I have to do this for how much longer?  How will I actually accomplish this? Ouch.'  And then you come to the other side... It's over.  And you did it.  And not only did you do it, but you lost track of time and you lasted longer than you thought you would when you were questioning whether or not you would actually be able to finish.  That's sorta what it was like for me the first time around.  After it was over was when I felt different... It was kinda like how I felt after I had my first period or after having sex for the first time... only magnified by 100 million.  I felt different.  I felt like a member of a unique club.  I was a WOMAN.  I was connected to women past, present and future. I looked at all women differently...  That feeling had me high for a LONG time.  I couldn't stop talking about how amazing it was, encouraging other women to be a part of it, etc.

Then as time went on and my faith in God increased, my love for labor and birth only grew stronger.  With DD2s labor, I felt really connected to God and enjoyed experiencing the gift of labor and birth.  I was amazed that I could take part in creation in such a "hands on" (lol "full-body-on" is more like it!) kind of way.  But, at that time, I was the chooser of my family size, so this time feels different.  I feel like I am taking part in a divine plan, not my plan, which is ultimately more powerful.... So, I look forward to it, I embrace it and I love it.  I relax and melt into it... I enjoy it.

Yeah, the whole "loving birth" thing.   People always wonder about my love for it, too... I found so much healing in my birth with my DD.  DS was an induction and c/s and I had PPD and I made me miserable.  "Fighting" to VBAC and to advocate for myself and find a provider who believed in me really shaped me as an adult (I was 25 when I VBAC'd) and a "woman."  Giving birth was the most empowering things I had ever done and in a way, for me, an act of worship.  I prayed and prayed and prayed that God would start my labor as I was over a week past my due date and everyone was getting nervous.  I went into labor and had my baby the day before my scheduled repeat cesarean.  This was such an answer to prayer for me and I remember being so elated... immediately after she was born, I started singing a praise song to God.  Everyone probably thought I was nuts, but it was such a spiritual experience for me.  I mentioned in my note in the birth bead swap that the song that really mirrored how I felt about labor was a Christian worship song that goes like this:  "He is jealous for me.  Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree-- bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.  When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory.  And I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me.  And oh!  How he loves us so."   Once the baby was born, the glory of it all totally eclipsed any pain or discomfort of labor.  It was really transformative.  I even started a blog about birth shortly after, haha, entitled "Glory birthing" that discusses my views about birth and how my experiences have shaped me personally as a birthing mom and professionally as a neonatal/maternity nurse.  I don't really post there anymore so I don't often share the link (I kind of had a breakdown after my miscarriages... haha, that's all documented there, too... but the original posts were decent, I think!  haha.).  If you're interested, it's http://glorybirthing.blogspot.com

haha, sorry for hijacking your spotlight thread, Jodie!

[Chapsie]

Originally Posted by jodieanneanton 

 I talk about how we were made just perfectly for all sorts of things and birthing children is no exception. I talk about how our bodies work best when we do what is natural and when we live as we were designed to live! 

So, YES!!! I think it is so important to talk to my daughters (and any sons I may have in the future) about it.  Super important!  I wish it was a bigger part of my growing up. Body shame was a problem for me for quite a while and I am *hoping* to avoid that in my children with all of the 'teachable moments' I can find.

I love this!