So I’ve been reading birth stories lately- although I’m not sure why, because I’m currently in a state of mind where not having kids seems like the best idea. **Speaking of birth stories- Queen B. is currently writing her birth story with me because she says all the birth stories are so recent, and we should all know what natural birth looked like in the early-80′s. She’s entitling hers as A Good Old Fashioned Birth Story.

While reading I stumbled across a site called Offbeat Mama, and happened to catch an article where they announced that they are changing their verbiage about birth, transitioning from natural vs. unnatural birth to medicated vs. unmedicated birth. The intent was to not perpetuate the drama that ensues between the two sides, and instead sparked a very interesting debate amongst the commenters.

One of the biggest things I noticed was quite a bit of discussion about what exactly a natural birth means. Someone put out there that natural birth meant intervention-free birth, but then someone else said that’s not quite accurate because most home births include at the very least a doppler and internal exams, and that really can’t be called intervention-free can it?

But beyond the definition many commenters felt that by saying natural birth, it implies that anyone who doesn’t have a birth that fits their definition of natural therefore, by default, had an unnatural birth. That’s quite a statement, and I think its fair of a website to want to tone that kind of statement down- but that being said, I’m not sure a medicated vs. unmedicated birth fits the bill as a replacement for natural birth either. And incidentially, if you look up natural on dictionary.com, it doesn’t say a thing about birth!

But if you look even further, beyond what natural birth does or does not mean if we could pull it up in a dictionary, there is the underlying edge of competition and superiority that comes with your choice of birth. The word natural has a different meaning for every person who uses it, but that one simple word is used as a declaration, a weapon, and a judgment all wrapped up in seven little letters. No wonder you see the hackles go up on the Epidural or C-Section Mom’s!

So, regardless of what kind of birth you have had or would like to have- what does it mean to you if someone says the words natural birth?

Nothing can make a girl feel better about herself, a spring in her step, like a blog makeover! Courtney over at Judith Shakes Designs did her thing again, and I love it. If you’re reading this in a reader, click over and take a look- she does fantastic work!

PS- Queen B. questions whether it looks like she’s flying or having gas in the blog header. I said while gas is more likely, its actually flying- but she doesn’t believe me. Thoughts?

Today? I am happy I don’t have children. I’m not sure why today as opposed to all others, but I am very very glad.

Last weekend I started thinking about how life would be if I was still in school when we have a baby, and I just about started seeing spots. I know it can be done- my mentor says you just get very efficient- but for some reason, this week,  it just about panics me. I feel like I have such a tenuous grip on my sanity as it is, so much to do that I can’t possibly get done as it is!

All of this is circumstantial- I’m in my last nursing class for school, Marmot has two more classes left- we’ve been in school for a solid year and a half, no breaks! The climate at work has gone from the usual chaos to unbelievable. And we’ve got some big house projects coming up. I know things will be better in a month, but right now we have the perfect storm for a mental break.

And we’ve all heard it, there is never the perfect time to have a baby. But I think I’m illustrating why you shouldn’t wait TOO long to have kids, because once you get smart enough to know what all goes into having and raising a child, you’re much less likely to be able to see times as anything but a good time!

Text Message
From: Queen B.
To: Honey B.

Happy birthday! I love you even though you took sixty two hours of work to push out. I am getting over that now.

Love from your Mother,
Queen B.