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Melinda, mom of 2, had (at-home) natural waterbirths You are very busy - tell us a little about that. "I consider myself a stay-at-home mom, but really I'm a work-at-home mom. My boys are 3.5 and 1. My husband and I have our own business and I am a videographer. I mainly video weddings but I've ventured out and done some other cool stuff. Videotaping weddings allows me to only be away from my boys the day of the wedding and then I can do the editing at home...between naps and meals and everything else!" Tell us about your pregnancies. "Both were average pregnancies I suppose. I needed to eat more than I could imagine. My cravings reverted back to childhood likings: tator tots, macaroni & cheese, Chef Boyardee and my mom’s cooking was always appreciated." What was your reaction to being pregnant? "We were very excited about our first, he was completely planned. When we found out we were pregnant with our 2nd (Christmas Day-what a present!) we were shocked. I knew I wanted another, but my husband wasn't quite convinced yet. It happened earlier than we expected but I love the age difference of my boys and wouldn't change a thing." Any advice for women in early pregnancy? "Eat and rest! The first trimester is so hard on our bodies because of the important stuff happening with the baby. I don't believe our society puts enough emphasis on the importance of the woman during pregnancy. We are expected to go at the same pace and the fact is that for a lot of us, our bodies need way more sleep and lots more snack times! It's especially hard during this time to justify our inward needs because we're not even showing yet, and there's no "proof" so to speak." Thanks to Lexington Aesthetics for sponsoring free gifts!Tell us your incredible birthing story. "We had home waterbirths with both. It helped that my sister paved the way in allowing me to peak in on this option as I was there for her homebirth back in 1997. With our first came a lot of doubt from friends and some family. It was hard for me to listen to the negative comments coming at us about choosing to birth at home. After our first son was born without any complications, I did feel successful in the face of all that doubt. Needless to say, I didn't come under any fire during my 2nd pregnancy." Any unexpected feelings or emotions about being a mom? "Being a mom is harder than I ever thought it could be. I admire the women that have gone before me in this mothering journey. I look at my own mom in a whole new light. I have more sympathy and understanding for other moms. I’ve eaten a lot of humble pie over the past three years and have had to drop judgments off at the door. Saying “I’ll never…” is not part of my vocabulary anymore." Any helpful resources? "Some great parenting books I’ve read so far: Hal Edward Runkel’s Screamfree Parenting and Elizabeth Pantley’s The No Cry Discipline Solution." "My favorite online source has been www.gentlechristianmothers.com. It is a wealth of information on many birth, parenting, and healthy living topics." Any other advice you would like to give? "Parenting little ones is really hard work. We are going to make mistakes and we need to have forgiveness for ourselves. This thing called “mother guilt” can really weigh on us. It’s easy to see a mom with her kids out in public and think they have it all together when we feel that we are falling apart. We are not alone. We’re all going through the same things and phases. I would encourage all moms to reach out and get into the community with other moms for support, encouragement, and playdates. I met some great friends when my first was a baby through a playgroup held at Baby Moon in Lexington. You can also meet other moms through classes held there. Meeting moms at the public libraries are also an option. Our local libraries provide wonderful story times and play areas for little ones!" |
