Where do I start?

[cresorchid]

It never occurred to me to do a UP/UC until I read something about it on this site or somewhere similar. I was intrigued, but figured I would use a laid back midwife and be fine.

Alas, I have recently found (fortunately now not later) that the midwife I was using is not only not laid back, she is also dishonest and untrustworthy. After a traumatic sonogram (made traumatic by HER behavior) I have decided that it is time to go UP/UC.

Some of it is instinctive. And the books I have seen recommended are clear enough. But I haven't seen much on the site about how to do UP. Where do I start? I figure I can keep track of my weight and blood pressure fairly easily and also get the urine test strips to check that. But where do I go if I start having a problem or questions and what else do I need to do or would all of you suggest?

Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions.

[Thmom]

I would suggest informative books like Spiritual Midwifery, Birthing from Within and Pregnancy, birth and the Newborn by Simkin I also suggest Emergency Childbirth by Gregory White, though I think this is better for the birth partners to have jic... if you have problems you can call 911 or go to the ER they are not allowed to turn you away, though you may get some grief just be prepared for it and answer thier questions with confidence and only the necessary information.

I'll caution you to look deep and make sure this is right for you. I love UC (I've had 3) and I think it's awesome, but I also don't think it's for everyone. There is alot of responsibility that goes along with it and some people just don't want that...

If you have any fears you need to work through them (look really deep and consider everything) it can impede labor especially since you won't have a "person in authority" telling you it's okay. It's very easy to doubt ourselves and fears related to the birth, labor or baby make that worse.

I firmly believe that everyone could have a UC if they desired, a woman's body is designed to labor and birth (with a few exceptions) and it's been happening for much longer than the 50years we've been doing it in hospitals.

The best to you in your journey and be sure to ask any questions you may have, as my father used to say "The only dumb question is the one that wasn't asked"

[sprinkle pocket]

there's a thread with book recommendations in here somewhere that was started with the intention of being turned into a sticky. that may help get you started, as well as reading through the old threads, if you can sit in front of a computer that long . i've found avila romm's book on natural pregnancy a good resource. since this is my first, i don't have experience of my own pregnancies to rely on. also, this forum has an amazing wealth of knowledge to be tapped. lots of questions can be answered here, or atleast point someone in the right direction. i also like the book 'active birth' since it spells things out for me (and dh when he gets around to reading it). 'unassisted childbirth' and 'primal mothering in a modern world' both had nice perspectives that were thought-provoking and reassuring to me as i came to terms with my inner pull to plan a freebirth.

i've found that for my up, listening inside was my greatest resource. i don't test and measure and check things other than my intuition. i eat what feels right and ask for help here on mdc or among my friends who've birthed when i need it. it's true that there's more info here about uc than up. but just start asking questions and that may change! i think it may be b/c most uc-ers have already had atleast one pregnancy and birth before deciding to uc. also, it may be b/c women going up/uc don't tend as much to view pregnancy as something to be managed. it's a healthy condition and good for the body and the dr's/mws role of always looking for something that may be *wrong* isn't necessary. they don't know a pg woman's body the way she does, so they rely on tests and measurements, whereas the woman can just look inside anytime she wants. the more i listen, the more i hear.

[cresorchid]

Thanks for all the help

Thanks for all the advice and book recommendations. I am in the process of looking for the books around town now–I'll order them on-line if I can't find them locally.

I feel really good about doing UP/UC. In fact, I feel as though I have been let out of a cage and can breathe freely for the 1st time in ages. I started looking for a midwife on automatic pilot, but the more I have experienced, the less I wanted that. Moreover, all my nightmares about labor/delivery have stopped since I fired my midwife.

I hate to say it, but after my recent experiences, I feel like OBs and hospitals take on the old stereotyped role of father–overbearing, the authority figure everyone needs to obey, unbending, etc. The midwives take on the role of mommy–cooing at you and treating you with love and understanding, but like a little child and in reality giving you as little respect as the OBs and hospitals. Neither is what I want or need. I know what I want and need and what my baby needs as well.

So now I am committed to providing the care myself. I think I am going to track things like my weight, the protein and sugar in my urine and my blood pressure. But it's not because I am scared so much as that my weight and height of fundus are so far off. EVERYONE assumed until my sonogram that I was carrying multiples (I was about 6 cm larger than expectd and wouldn't be surprised if I were 9 or 10 cm over at this point) but I haven't gained as much weight as one would expect for a normal sized baby. I doubt I will have any problems, but if I do, I can go to a doctor and give them everything but the height of my fundus accurately. And if I don't seem to have any problems nobody will ever know about any of this but I will save it as a keepsake for the baby.

I also feel as though my bond with my baby is stronger already. It is as though now that I have stopped worrying about improper interventions and interference from others, we can focus on one another.

[rainbowmoon]

here is a great link
http://www.unhinderedliving.com/childbirth.html