The World and My Place in it

I am 20 weeks pregnant as of today. This pregnancy has turned my life upside down. Not only because I'm 43 and it was unplanned, but because it has made me question everything about my life and my course of direction. Last week I quit my job to devote myself to writing, presenting and running my business. I thought my husband might skin me alive, but he was actually quite supportive. Now I just have to produce. Am I afraid? You bet. I have to make a workable plan and produce an adequate income for my family. I feel this has been both an act of supreme courage and sheer folly at the same time. But I know I am not the same me. This pregnancy has changed me. I felt the baby move, I think, a few days ago, twice in the same day. I haven't felt that fluttering since. I find myself waiting for it, anticipating it. Yet I still have very mixed feelings about the preganancy. Last week I cried because I didn't want it. This week I wait for the fluttering. I am a mess of conflicting emotions. I only know I must be brave and press on.
Last night, on Memorial Day, after a busy weekend of family gatherings, Chuck and the kids and I stayed home and had a little cookout in our backyard. What a lovely relaxing day it was. We needed it so much. William, our 18 year old, went to his job, our three little girls attended a neighbor's birthday party. That left Chuck and I, and our 15 year old Evan, at home in the evening. Chuck and I talked for hours. Evan added a comment here and there but mostly hung back and just stayed near us. It felt so good to make a connection again after nearly a whole month of running ourselves ragged, each working two jobs and never being at home. We talked about everything from the Muslim/Arab world to our favorite musicals. (His is Oklahoma, mine is a tie between Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Jesus Christ Superstar) I value our connection so much. I just can't get enough of his company. I'm so glad I'm married to someone I really like and admire.
Later, one of our neighbors leaned over the back fence to show us her new grandbaby, only a few days old. Another neighbor saw and came rushing over. After the appropriate amount of oohing and ahhing, the new grandma casually mentioned that the baby was born by cesarean section. I gave an inward sigh. Why should her young 20 something daughter need a cesarean to have a little six pound baby? I didn't ask for details. All the stories have begun to sound alike to me. My spirit has been crushed by the technological oppression of women in birth. Its why I started this blog. Its why I'm determined to have my baby at home without technological interference. Why can't women seem to give birth anymore- and more importantly, what can I do about it?

My First Blog

Welcome to my blog, Homebirth Diaries. This blog is devoted to cataloging my 9th pregnancy and birth. This birth will take place at my home sometime during the month of October 2006. It will be my sixth homebirth. I will be sharing my thoughts and ideas on birth, its processes, the current political climate of birth, and women's experience of birth. I am a labor and delivery nurse and have the unique perspective of viewing birth from both ends of the political spectrum. This blog is my story.