Planning or had a planned UC? - describe yourself! - Page 4

[Intertwined]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?
In a previous life I was in college to get my Bachelor's in Medical Technology but I dropped out for several reasons (lack of course availability and pregnancy to name two)

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?
Some college

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)
All of these!

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?
Two hospital inductions and a home birth. I learned that doctors and hospitals did NOT have the answers. I did.

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?
This board, a couple books, but mostly that was to learn some "what if's" and such. My knowledge of how to birth came from my gut.

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC?
I had my first UC at 29. I don't know if I will have other children or not.

[AKmoose]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?
Research Assistant after years of being a grad student...and a nursing assistant, and a construction worker/painter, and misc other jobs. Mainly a student!

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?
MPH (Master of Public Health)

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)
Intellectual/scientific with a bit of nature-type thrown in

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?
Two fantastic OOH births with mws made me realize that I (with dh to be fair) do great by myself, and there was really no need for the mws.

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?
General birth research - books, scientific literature, and MDC

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC?
Any day now I hope!! I'm 32.

[MyBoysBlue]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?
Computer Help Desk Operator.

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?
Some College and Technical School

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)
Techno geek with a desire to get Back to Nature.

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?
My first child was born after only 2.5 hours of labour and 40 mins in the hospital. I wished at the time I could have stayed home. I didn't realize it was an option. When I was pg with DS2 I did a lot of research and I refused a lot of the tests and things that are routine to doctors. I kept seeing the Docs until 38 weeks when we differed on GBS treatment. I was planning an oops UC all along so it wasn't too big of a deal. I felt from the beginning that we would never make it to the hospital. I was feeling great during the whole pregnancy. I some how knew I would have an even quicker labour. Which I did. We would never have made it to the hospital even if we wanted to.

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?
I did a lot of reading on MDC but I couldn't get the membership figured out so I only started posting recently. I wish I could have gotten it going sooner. All you UCing Mom's are so supportive. People I know think I am crazy.

I also contacted another UC'ing Mom in my province, read Laura Shanley's website and bought Heart and Hands for reference.


F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC? I was 28 when I started planning, 29 when he was born.

[KangaTwo]

.

[KangaTwo]

A) teacher

B) college graduate

C) Of the choices, probably more back to nature

D) I just feel sad about going the OB route again.

E) Whatever I'm finding here on MDC

F) 25 (planning an oops UC for Feb 09)

[KariM]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?

I used to work at a college as the Director of the Career Development Center. Then I was a SAHM, then a small business owner (online vintage clothing store), and now a WAHM (online business again).

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?

AS, BS, MA

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)

intellectual

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?

I was tired of other people making my birth choices and wanted the safest possible birth for my baby and me.

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?

MDC and other listservs; previous births; life experience

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC?

40

[Kidzaplenty]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?
Just a Mom.

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?
Some college.

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)
I describe myself as an intellectual, technical, back to nature type person, which holds to very strong spiritual beliefs.

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?
Realizing that birth was natural and one did not need medical people to tell us how to do something so natural.

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?
On Line research from just about every place I could find, including OL communities with experienced UCers.

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC?
31

[Belletheacd]

1. Before having kids I was a Customer Service Rep, but quit before my first was born.

2. Associates degree

3. I am definitely a blend of intellectual and back-to-nature girl, but probably more the latter

4. An email from a stranger on a vaccinations forum responding to my ranting about pressure to receive rhogam during my pregnancy. Ever since that email, 3.5 years ago, I wondered why I had never thought of UC before that email, because I LOVED the idea so much! (I have thanked her profusely since my UC, since she is now a great friend of course!)

5. I really didn't need to research much to know that women all over the world did it this way before hospitals, and many still do. Having said that, my main source was online from all over the internet, but I have since met one Momma in person and have read a few books.

6. 24

[Serenyd]

A) Registered Nurse

B) Education level? Nurse Practitioner student (Master's)

C) I'm a bit of an intellectual, but I believe in intuition as well as science. I believe nature holds the answers and that men should stop tampering with it so much. I do not think that sexuality and motherhood are exclusive of one another, but intimately intertwined and mutual.

D) Bad hospital experience, lack of midwives in my area. After having one I would still choose it over the other two options, even if a midwife were to become available. Mabye I would use a midwife or physician for backup if I did it again.

E) Laura Shanley's website, this forum, the Bornfree forum, The Center for Unhindered Living's Online Childbirth Class, Many books on natural birth (ex Birthing from Within), books on midwifery such as Heart and Hands by Elizabeth Davis, two emergency childbirth manuals (including the one by Gregory White M.D.) and my O.B. nursing textbook, which was helpful for more technical things like how to auscultate fetal heart tones.


F) 26

[eveblac]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)? None

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)? high school, self-educated

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?) "a time traveler from the future who studies the anthropology of modern-day humans: intelectual seer, and someone who wishes to see a shift from current ignorance into enlightenment" about sums it up.

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth? don't know, i've always thought of it. i wrote a short story as a young teen in which a single young mother has unassisted births of all her 5 children (lol). i was slightly naive with my first born but got the courage to do a UC with my 2nd (fear of legal repercussion was my only setback)

E) What are your main sources of research on UC? first and foremost my intuition; i ask the universe for guidance, astral travel to the plane of knowledge as well as MDC, and CafeMom. reading library books on every shade of pregnancy and birth, as well as midwife sites, medical journals, etc. etc., news stories, personal anecdotes... i try to get my research from every medium possible.

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC? began planning from moment i knew i would have babies and that cats had to be alone to birth or else the babies die. had my first uc at the age of 21.

[Multimomma]

Originally Posted by Ksenia

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC?

Thanks!

I went straight from college to sahm...but my plan was to teach science.

I have a BS in Zoology

I've been the scientific intellectual, glad to give up that burden to get in touch with my intuition and nature-given wisdom.

I initially looked into UC because 1) no OB would deliver a vbac and 2) my favorite midwife was four hours away and 3) local midwives cost about six times what my favorite would charge and 4) after giving birth five times I pretty much knew what to expect.

Main resources were my fav midwife, she trained dh in emergency childbirth and lent us the Emergency Childbirth book. I really didn't search for anything online or outside of my midwife and husband.

I have my first UC at 29, my second at 32, and I hope to be having my third in March.

[1babysmom]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?
No other occupation. I was a CNA and in nursing school until shortly before DD was born, but I stopped going for licensure reasons because being a SAHM is our top priority.

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?
A.S. Health Sciences, and a couple other health certifications

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)
Gosh, I think a little bit of each.

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?
My best friend was the first person I knew to do one, and I'd wanted a homebirth since my first pregnancy but it didn't work out...so I knew my next baby would be at LEAST a homebirth but I prayed for a UC! I wanted the amazing experience, wanted to place my trust in God, wanted the testimony, etc.

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?
Birth stories, "Heart & Hands", my family members (OB nurses, MW's, doulas, MD's, LLL leaders, etc)

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC?
22

[Cuddlebaby]

Originally Posted by Ksenia

I have a friend (who is not a mom yet) who is writing an article about UC for a major publication. She wants to educate her readers about the kind of families who would choose UC. I'm guessing that most of us don't fit into people's assumptions about the kind of person who would UC . It would be great if you could answer the following questions to educate the public:

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?

customer service for Cabela's. (answer phones); doula; breastfeeding educator

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?

some college

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)

scientific brain, very male brained but also earthy but also conservative politically

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?

it's what I grew up with.

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?

firstly, Laura Shanley's book Unassisted Childbirth; internet

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC?

*officially* for one of MINE would be age 38, but my first was at age 23 and was assisted only by my mom, a lay midwife.

Thanks!

.

[KD's Momma]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?

Currently a SAHM, but before DS#1 a Registered Nurse

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?

Associates Degree in Nursing

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)

mix of intellectual and artistic

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?

don't really like people getting into my business and telling me what to do, don't think birth needs to be medical

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?

MDC, books, web, previous births

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC?

32 but have thought about it since I was 25

[Equuskia]

A) I'm a merchandiser.

B) I've had some college but am mostly an autodidact.

C) I see myself as mostly intellectual and scientific, but back-to-nature as well. I'm not super artist but I consider myself creative.

D) My hospital birth wasn't the most wonderful experience. It was highly managed and I was mostly alone and ignored during the whole process. I wanted to be in charge and do things my way. I wanted to actually give birth, not just be told how to push out a baby. I wanted to give birth at home, and considered a midwife. But I studied on how to deliver a baby, and figured, hey, my husband can do this and I don't have to pay him! (He now wants to be a midhusband! )

E) I did most of my research on the Mothering forum, and also went to sites like www.purebirth-australia.com and www.birthpsychology.com (while this isn't a UC site per se, it sure convinced me that the hospital was NOT where I wanted to be!)

F) I was 27 when I had my UC.

HTH

[AlpineMama]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?

Editorial department of a publishing company; also studying to be clergy

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?

College grad, was about to start an MA program two weeks after finding out I was pg

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)

Err... probably a combo of all EXCEPT scientific

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?

Long and winding path

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?

Internet, Internet, Internet

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC?

25

[Patchfire]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?
Never really had one - went straight from college to SAHM-hood. I've variously worked as computer user support, lab flunkie, and horseback riding instructor.

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate) One semester short of a BS.

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?) A combination of intellectual, scientific, and back-to-nature. Not artistic, at all.

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth? Unassisted pregnancy. I really loved the idea of it, so I began looking into the end product. Also, dissatisfaction with various parts of the mw-attended homebirth 'process.'

E) What are your main sources of research on UC? Initially, a few books, then the internet, which led to real-life UC'ers that lived near me.

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC? I am 27, I will be 28 when the baby is born.

[ScarletBegonias]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)? wife, mother, midwifery student

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)? ged

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?) all of the above, including spiritual

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth? always thought about it since i was a young child, decided after first mw hb that uc was the way to go

E) What are your main sources of research on UC? midwifery books, uc books, uc boards

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC? plan=23, have=25

[BirthFree]

A) What is/was your occupation (in addition to being a Mother)?
Doula, midwife-assistant

B) Education level? (e.g. high school, college graduate, post-graduate)?
Some college.

C) Do you see yourself as more of an intellectual, artistic, scientific or back-to-nature type? (Or combination, or something else entirely?)
Artistic, scientific, practical.

D) What made you interested in unassisted childbirth?
A deep heart desire to LIVE-out my belief and trust in natural birth.

E) What are your main sources of research on UC?
Personal experience, MW assisting, MDC and Laura Shanley.

F) At what age did you have or plan your first UC?
Planned at 29, had at 30.

[Nimm2]

A) programmer / web and database application developer / successfully self employed

B) high school

C) intellectual, scientific

D) reading about it, where I live there are no midwifes, hospital and UC are the only options

E) internet, books

F) 31, first pregnancy