Now the challenge with having a sizable collection of books is making sure that they actually get read at least once, and so I’ve picked out a few that I want to make sure to go through this year, as well as some classics that I want to get to during my read aloud times with the children. This of could of course take me much longer than the next eleven and a half months, but at least I’m making a goal. Most of my books serve some sort of practical, educational, spiritual, or thought-provoking purpose. I personally don’t do much reading for entertainment, though that is something I enjoy while reading aloud to the little people who live here.

A full shelf of books makes me smile.

• Practical Herbalism by Philip Fritchey: My mother dearest blessed me with this book for Christmas, and I’ve been working my way through it this month. I’ve been tinkering in herbalism for some time, but I’d like to start expanding my knowledge in this area more. It’s been a great start for me, as it’s not too scientific or technical, it has colored photographs of the various herbs discussed in detail, explains how to make herbal preparations and includes dosages, and is written from a Christian perspective. While I don’t find it necessary for an herbalism book to be written by a Christian, it is refreshing to read the author give the credit for these herbal remedies to a loving Creator, and not Mother Earth or some other spirit.
• Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman: I don’t know when a family becomes officially “large,” but I know that if we’re not there by today’s standards, we are well on our way. I picked this up at the end of last year for a real bargain and I was really surprised by how large it is. It’s like a textbook. I’m hoping to gain some new ideas on running the home in a more efficient manner, and as the author is a mother of nine, I’m sure there’ll be some excellent tips. Truth be told, I used to get really nervous reading books like these because I would allow myself to get really overwhelmed by all the things I was doing “wrong,” but I’m trusting that I’m over that little complex and can learn a thing or two by reading this.
• American Dictionary of the English Language 1828 by Noah Webster: No, I won’t be reading the entire dictionary. Though I’m sure it would be fascinating, I do have my limits. However, I want to read the introduction written by Mr. Webster, as well as the prefaces added by the current publishers of this gem. This alone will make for a hefty reading assignment, but I think it will be interesting to pick up bits of American history and word history (that’s etymology for all you smarty-pants), all while improving my own English skills.
• Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford: A first-hand account of the original Plymouth settlement written by one of its first governors, I had aimed to read this last fall. I chickened out though, fearing that its language would be too much for my tired third-trimester brain. So back on the shelf it went. With courage renewed I hope to tackle this treasure beginning in October so that I can have some favorite passages ready to go for Thanksgiving, my most favored holiday of the year.
• An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages by William Branham: It’s been many years since I read through this book written fifty years ago by a minister whom many believe to be a proven prophet of God. The book is basically a commentary on the first three chapters of the book of Revelation based on a series of sermons that Rev. Branham preached. Since it has been so long since I read it, I imagine that it will read like a new book to me, and I believe that I’ll greatly benefit from reading through it again.

Read aloud times make for great opportunities to read books that I normally wouldn’t get around to reading, and after this week I plan to turn to some classics: Heidi, Lassie, Black Beauty, and Swiss Family Robinson. If we finish those before the school year ends, and I imagine we will, I’ll continue along those lines and pick some other well-known classics.

As I near the end of this school year, I’ll probably pull out some of my favorite homeschooling books to review what I need to focus on for the following year. I’ll pick up Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn first, and follow that with The Three R’s by Ruth Beechick, A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola, and a few others. The gardening books will have to be pulled out a few times, too, but I doubt I’ll spend much time reading them extensively.

Any good books on your to-read list?

We are coming off of an extremely full two months. We’ve celebrated three birthdays (with one more on Monday… mine!), one birth, and three major holidays, traveled to two churches while my handsome hubby filled in for a couple of pastors, and enjoyed some family visits over the Christmas holiday. Mixed into the action, our Baby H went through a three-week colicky phase, but we thank the Lord Jesus that it ended quickly and didn’t drag on for longer. These last two weeks began our shift back to reality, and while it has been really nice to have our life start to settle back into a routine, what a full routine it is!

Homeschooling, meal planning and preparation, and striving to keep the house in order and laundry done makes for a big to-do list, and one thing that has been crucial in helping me manage has been baby wearing. Having Baby H snuggled up in my wrap carrier or sling while I get some needed tasks accomplished makes life so much easier! I was introduced to baby wearing with our first little one, Miss L. The mother of one of Jesse’s first-graders was a La Leche League leader, and she greatly helped me navigate the new waters of mothering a newborn. One thing she suggested was baby wearing, and was so kind to even give me one of her slings that she no longer needed. Since then, I’ve tried a few different kinds of carriers, and cannot fathom trying to do life with a baby and not wearing them in some fashion.

Besides the convenience of being able to check things off of the to-do list, baby wearing allows for these precious little ones to be snuggled close to those that love them best, while the wearer gets to enjoy the touch of holding a baby without the sore arms and back that can result. My babies have all loved being snuggled close in some sort of carrier, and I’ve loved having them so close while they are so little. As they’ve grown, I’ve found wearing them to be a convenient way to give them the physical contact they need while helping to support my arms and back that start to tire out after trying to carry them in my arms for extended periods of time.

There are so many wonderful baby wearing possibilities that provide safe and comfortable options for mom and baby. I prefer soft carriers that don’t have lots of straps or buckles and that also allow the baby to be held in different positions based on their age and developmental stage. These are also the kinds of carriers that have been used for hundreds or thousands of years and have a proven track record of safety and comfort, whereas newer styles may have safety concerns (as a recent sling style did) or force babies into positions that are not supportive for their developing frames. I’ve personally used three different kinds of carriers: a ring sling, a pouch sling, and a wrap. I’ve enjoyed all three, but definitely have my favorite.

Ring Sling

A ring sling from Ellaroo

Pouch sling

Today’s post is one near and dear to my heart: the joys of cloth diapering!

I mean it. I really, honestly, truly, and sincerely love using cloth diapers. I started when our last little one, Miss A, was four months old. I had thought about using cloth with her from the beginning but chickened out while considering my mother-in-law’s horror stories.  I later talked to another friend who used cloth on all four of her children and explained that cloth diapering was much easier now with different diapering options. She encouraged me to look into it, and after I had done my hours and hours worth of research, I took the plunge.

Then I felt silly for not trying it sooner!

Cloth diapering used to mean large square pieces of material, folded in various ways, pinned at the waist of the baby, and covered in rubber pants. Most moms soaked their diapers in a pail filled with water and perhaps bleach, and rinsed them in the toilet to remove more (ahem) solid material. I heard stories of plugged toilets from a diaper accidentally flushed down from both my mom and mother-in-law, with bonus chapters of the stinky diaper pail and babies pricked with pins thrown in by them and others. Doesn’t sound appealing.

I was shocked when I started reading on cloth diapering websites and saw all of the different styles, materials, and price ranges available to families who choose to use cloth. I seriously felt like I was learning a new language, and had to frequently refer to a glossary page I found on one site. All-in-ones (AIO), all-in-twos (AI2), PUL, soaker, fitteds, prefolds, flats, wraps, inserts, pockets, contours, wet pail, dry pail, DSQ… my head was spinning.

After my hours of research, I learned that cloth diapering today can be as easy as disposables, doesn’t require pins or stinky wet diaper pails, and though it is an investment at first (depending on the method chosen, start up costs can range from a couple hundred to near $1000, but you’d really have to splurge to hit that much), it can save hundreds and thousands of dollars over a family’s years of diapering.

There are lots of options in cloth diapering, but I’ll share the method I’ve chosen, why I chose it and like it, and leave the other options out for anyone interested to look into on their own.

I use prefold diapers, which look similar to the Gerber diapers lots of moms buy from Walmart to use as burp cloths. They are rectangular sections of fabric that are thicker in the middle where absorbancy is needed the most. However, I did not buy those Gerber diapers. They are not very absorbant and from what I’ve read, not as sturdy for repeating washings and dryings. Instead, I bought prefolds through an online cloth diapering store, and the difference between my Diaper Rite prefolds and the Gerber ones from Walmart is huge. They aren’t even close to being the same quality. These diapers are sturdy, very absorbant, and very soft. I have to do a small amount of folding to put them on, but it is so minimal that it takes all of five seconds. They wash very well and are easy to dry either on the clothsline (which I prefer, since it helps remove stains and leaves them smelling so fresh) or in the dryer (which does soften them more). I bought two sizes: one for newborn through about six months, and one size for six months on up. They do come smaller and larger than I bought. These diapers will last for years and through mulitple babies since they don’t have any elastic or fasteners, and when they are completely worn out, I’ve heard they are the best cleaning rags.

Cloth diapers require a waterproof cover to keep baby’s clothes dry, and the cover I chose is a PUL wrap cover that adjusts in size (the Thirsties Duo wrap, to be specific). PUL is an abreviation for polyurethane laminate and is a thin, stretchy synthetic material used in many diaper covers. A wrap cover is one that opens up just like a disposable diaper and straps on like one with either snaps or a special Velcro type of fastener called Aplix. So, when I change a diaper, I open up the wrap cover, remove the wet diaper, lay in a dry one, and put it on just like a disposable. I change the cover when it is really wet or gets dirty with poo. The changing process might take ten seconds longer than using a disposable.

Now, the laundry question. I wash diapers every other day right now, since younger babies go through diapers more frequently. As Baby H gets older, I’ll be washing about every three days. Going much longer than that between washings can harm the diapers with mildew or mold. Washing cloth diapers isn’t gross, it’s not stinky, it doesn’t significantly raise utility costs, and since a baby causes so much extra laundry anyhow, I don’t notice an extra three loads a week.

When baby is just breastfed (and I assume it would be true for formula, too), diapers, whether wet or soiled, can just be plopped into a diaper pail (which is really a glorified trash can lined with bag of choice) or special wet diaper bag with no additional rinsing after the baby’s been changed. Poo from a baby who is not on solids rinses right out in the wash with no problem. Once baby starts on solids, the poo will need to be rinsed or scraped off and flushed, but this is also supposed to be done with disposables if you read the packaging. There are various methods for poo removal, from diaper sprayers that attach to the toilet’s plumbing and gently blast diapers with water to a designated spatula kept in the bathroom (and never in the kitchen!) to just using toilet paper. If a mom finds this really appalling, there are also diaper liners that can be placed over a cloth diaper and flushed. No poo touching required!

When it’s time to wash, most moms follow some pattern of cold rinse, hot wash with minimal detergent, and additional cold rinse. Everyone does it a little differently. Diapers should be washed with detergents free of enzymes, brighteners, and other additives because these can cause rashes when in contact with a wet diaper. Fabric softeners are a no-no (except when dealing with fleece covers) because they will coat the diapers and make them repel moisture. Some diaper manufacturers will recommend a vinegar rinse, and some don’t. I don’t use vinegar, but some moms always do.

And that’s about it. It really is incredibly easy, and I can’t believe how much money was wasted on disposables now that I know how simple cloth diapering is. It is estimated that a family will spend about $2,000 for two years of disposable diapers and wipes for one child. We’ve spent about $250 total on our entire cloth diaper stash, so the diapers have quickly paid for themselves. I made my own cloth wipes with an old soft sheet cut into squares, and use a homemade solution to wet them (there’s an old post on that). I’ve seen less diaper rash, quicker potty training, and an improved monthly budget for a very minimal amount of work. The companies I’ve bought from and the brands I’ve chosen have been excellent with taking care of their customers and troubleshooting, the diapers are often made and sold by moms working from home, and I enjoy knowing that I’m keeping loads of nasty disposables from a landfill.

I seriously love cloth diapers.

Cloth wipes in an old wipes tub, a prefold diaper, and a bright orange cover... simple, economical, and super effective!

I did most of my research at Diaper Junction (www.diaperjunction.com) and have enjoyed buying most of my diapers and covers through them. If you are interested in learning more, that might be a great place to start.

So why am I taking the time to write this?

Because they are doing huge giveaways these next four weeks, and I want a chance to win! You might, too. There are five ways to enter, and this week’s prize is quite impressive: all the oils, butters, beeswax, essential oils, and supplies to make 26 of your own lip balms! Head over to their blog and see for yourself.

http://mountainroseblog.com/recipes-year-giveaway/

Up next… cloth diapers and why I love them! Stay tuned…

Today I wanted to share a little bit about our personal decision to have our babies at home and outside of the usual hospital setting. 

Our first two children were born in the hospital. My first labor and birth experience was far from ideal, and it didn’t help get our new family of three off on the best foot. We both wanted something different for our next baby’s entry into the world, and had kicked around the idea of just staying away from the hospital all together. I know that for myself, I wasn’t confident enough yet in the whole process to commit to staying home, so we had another hospital birth, but this time with a midwife and no induction procedures or pain medications. Labor went fast, I was able to use the hospital’s large tub for laboring, and Mr. M was born quickly and easily. However, certain hospital procedures kept us unnecessarily separated for five hours after birth, we were lied to repeatedly by the staff on why our little guy was not promptly returned, and got no response from the hospital after we wrote a letter complaining about our poor experience. I knew there had to be a better way.

When we were expecting Miss A, I was certain I didn’t like the two hospital options presented, but I wasn’t sure what to do. While talking with my sister, who happens to be an ER nurse, she said “Why don’t you just have the baby at home?” I wasn’t expecting her to suggest this, and even though I had toyed with the idea in my mind, hearing her ask about it made it really seem like a logical thing to consider. Some friends of hers had birthed their babies at home, and talking with her about it made me feel like it wasn’t such a crazy or risky plan to have.

Then the Google-ing began. I didn’t know anyone who had birthed a baby at home in our area, so I searched the internet for information, called a couple of lay-midwives (also called direct-entry midwives), and ended up at the home of an area midwife for a monthly meeting with other women who were interested in the homebirth option or in becoming more educated in the birth process. After talking with the midwife, doing more of my own reading and researching, and attending the meeting there, I knew I wanted to be at home for the next birth.

And what a great experience it was! I knew I’d never want to go back to the hospital unless there was a genuine medical need (and in that case, I’d be very thankful for the hospital). I am now a firm believer that homebirth is a safe and reasonable option for any low-risk woman to consider, and can lead to a more positive birth experience than what would be possible in the hospital. Why?

• A greater trust in and respect for the birth process: It is rare to find a practitioner who will leave the birthing process alone (though there are a few of these endangered species left), allowing a woman the time and environment that her body needs to finish what it has started. Once at the hospital, a woman is on a time-table, and if “sufficient progress” has not been made after a certain amount of time, the interventions begin, and those initial interventions can quickly lead up to more medications or interventions. I prefer the philosophy of my midwife: “In most births, if you do nothing, a baby will come out.” It’s hard to be in a hospital and allow birth to occur while doing nothing.
• Hospitals are not risk-free: I’ve been called brave on more than one occasion for choosing homebirth; I, on the other hand, see it the other way. I would be brave to go to the hospital with the philosophy that I have regarding birth. I have less control at the hospital, and there are protocols and procedures that I do not agree with and would have to frequently be on the look-out for so as to decline them. Swimming against the tide gets tiring after a while, so if I can avoid the challenge and find an easier way to have the outcome I want, I’ll go that route. Plus, have you seen the germs that live in hospitals? Yikes! I’d rather keep my baby and my family away from those buggers as much as possible.
• Birth is a natural life process, not a pathological condition: Meaning, I’m having a baby. I’m not sick. Hospitals are wonderful places when they are needed, and there are certain times when they are needed to safely bring a baby into the world. But they are by no means the only place where a safe birth can occur, and statistics prove homebirth to be a very safe option for low-risk pregnancies.
• My grandma was born at home: And chances are, yours may have been as well. My point here is that home was the expected place of birth up until the last 100 years or so, and even today in other parts of the world (and I’m talking developed nations here), home is the expected place of birth unless there is a medical reason for a woman to birth in the hospital. Think of all the woman through all of the ages that have had babies: the norm has been at home, not in an institution.
• Family involvement and the comforts of home: While I prefer to have my young children otherwise occupied while in the middle of hard labor, I love that they can immediately meet their new sibling once the real work is over. There is no transporting needed except for taking their new sibling to them in another part of the house. We get to meet our new family member together in our own home with little outside involvement, getting acquainted in our most personal environment, resting in our own beds, and eating our own food. I love how peaceful everything is after having a baby at home, and I really like being in my quiet nest with a new bundle and my other bigger bundles.

Those are a handful of the reasons we choose to stay home for birth, and if you’d like more information on the option in Ohio (where I am), try these websites:

http://www.ohiomidwives.org/

http://www.ofom.org/index.html

http://www.safebirthohio.org/

Look what the stork brought, and right to our house, too!

It started late on Thanksgiving, then proceeded to trick all of us and stop early Friday morning. Later in the day on Friday things picked up again, and after my hardest labor, we welcomed little Miss H into our home shortly before 1 am on Saturday.

We’re all getting adjusted, I’m getting lots of rest thanks to my wonderful hubby, and everyone is just in love with our new little bundle. God has been very good to us!

Lord willing, I still plan to write a post on the homebirth option, and then maybe a few more baby topics before moving on to my other ponderings. Thanks for your patience!

But what about preparing for the actual birth? No one goes into a marathon untrained and lacking adequate preparation, and no one should go into a birth experience without the same. This is especially true for anyone wanting to have a natural and unmedicated birth.

There are some things I’ve done that have been incredibly helpful, and then some that have been a little less than beneficial.

I quickly realized after having our first baby that having an unmedicated birth isn’t always as simple as it seems it should be. From my understanding, most of those who, prior to birth, say they think they’d like to “go naturally” often end up changing their minds in the midst of the experience. I did with my first! Since I knew that I wanted a different experience for the next baby, I did a lot of things differently to prepare myself.

• Educate, educate, educate! I have to put this first because I truly think it is the most important. Most of the other prep work hangs on this first one. There is so much fear, ignorance, and uncertainty built up in the minds of expectant moms. We hear horror stories of the pain of labor, of emergency C-sections, of cords wrapped around necks, of dropping or soaring heart rates, and more. How often do we actually hear a woman say what a wonderful experience childbirth was? It didn’t take long for me to realize how unprepared I was for all that could happen during a deliver with our first baby. I took the class offered by the hospital and thought that was all I needed to do to have a simple, natural, unmedicated birth. That idea is rather amusing to me now! I had no idea how I needed to arm myself with the necessary information and support to question some of the interventions proposed and make more educated decisions. After that experience, I read as many books as I could on the natural process of birth, and as I educated myself, I became much less fearful of the whole experience. When I wasn’t afraid of it, I could work with it, and not against it. There are many wonderful options available to expectant parents to really become educated on the birth experience, from books to videos to Bradley classes to classes taught by independent instructors to beneficial websites. One of my favorites is www.birthingnaturally.net for those just getting started, and it is from a Christian perspective.
• Finding the right prenatal care and labor support: This is another huge factor in how a birth will go. Unfortunately, obstetricians are notorious in natural birth circles for treating pregnancy as pathology, and not as a natural life process that needs to be respected and left alone in most cases. (Thank God for midwives!) Of course, not every obstetrician practices in a way that works against natural labor and birth, but sadly, many do. The midwife I currently see for prenatal care told me that one of the doctors in her practice informed her that he or she was “just more comfortable doing C-sections.” It is important to know that this is the mindset some doctors have towards natural birth. Midwives are truly a great option, even and especially for those who want to be in a hospital for the birth. Laws regarding their practice vary from state to state, but generally, they work under a physician and see low-risk women. They are trained to respect the natural process of birth, but will respect a mom’s choice in the whole process. Another helpful person to have around for a hospital birth is a doula, who is basically a professional labor support person. Doulas do not take the place of the father, and they can be absolutely vital in having the birth experience desired in a hospital setting. I would never recommend going to a hospital without one.
• Nutrition and activity: Many women may be hindered from a natural birth experience because of health conditions that might have been prevented through an improved diet and activity level. Following a diet like the Brewer diet or the diet recommended from the Weston A. Price Foundation can be crucial in keeping common problems like high blood pressure at bay, and in turn prevent an induction, which in turn greatly lowers the chance of a C-section. These diets emphasize high-quality protein, dark greens (like my beloved kale chips), sea salt to taste (salt is very important during pregnancy!), lots of eggs for cholesterol (dietary cholesterol does not equal blood cholesterol, but that’s another topic), whole grains, and whole foods in general. I have yet to be able to eat liver, though I know how good it would be for the sake of iron. I can’t do it. Another helpful item is raspberry leaf tea, which promotes a toned uterus (and prostrate in men). I hate the taste plain, but found a lovely blend from Mountain Rose Herbs, and I try to make sure I drink it daily. One thing I haven’t done as well with this time is exercise. I’m not exactly sedentary, and I enjoy my stretches at night, but I wish I would have stuck to my prenatal Pilates or walking on the treadmill. Easier said than done when dealing with nausea and fatigue while trying to carry on with life and care for a family!
• Making a birth plan: Depending on the care provider chosen and the setting of the birth, a birth plan can be absolutely crucial in letting the hospital staff and birth attendant know the goals for the experience. These need to be flexible and reasonable, as no one knows exactly what might happen during a birth. But even the process of making out a plan can be helpful because it forces a couple to consider the many different options available to them. The Birthing Naturally website has some wonderful examples and a list of things to consider in writing one. I made one for our second baby who was born in the hospital and felt it quickly communicated my desires to the midwife who attended the birth (and who I had never met, either), but I neglected to include some very important preferences for after the birth. I wish that I had considered the entire hospital experience, and not just the birth.
• Ask questions, and lots of them: I think many of us find it easier to go along with procedures than to go against them, especially in the setting of a hospital or doctor’s office. I’ve had to see the doctor who backs up my midwife two times already when the midwife has been gone, and she very forcefully comes across with a superior air and general lack of respect for those who choose to do things differently than the regular routine. It is easy to start to feel nervous around a professional like that and simply go with what is being suggested as necessary, but asking questions and seeking other options can be crucial, especially in the midst of birth. We often forget that we don’t have to do what the doctor says, that our bodies are our own, and that there may be other options that are better suited to our personal preferences. This is where a doula can play a critical role during birth, because she may be able to better ask questions or encourage mom to do so when she is having a hard time thinking clearly during labor.
• Consider an alternative birth setting: There are free-standing birth centers that are more of a middle ground between staying home and going to the hospital. These are often hard to find, but may be a great option for those who live near one. But you know, staying at home to have a baby isn’t such a strange idea. I loved my grandma’s rational response to finding out I was planning a homebirth for our last baby: “Well, I was born at home.” More on this wonderful option in the next post!

My raspberry leaf mix from Mountain Rose Herbs. They call it Fecundi Tea. What does Fecundi mean? I need to Google this.

I thought the first place to start would be hammering out why I would make an unmedicated birth with little to no medical interventions such a high priority for me, moving on to how I have prepared for them, and topping that off with why I have chosen to have our babies at home and not in a hospital or birth center. After that, perhaps some cloth diapering and baby wearing posts. Any other ideas? Am I forgetting anything? Ooo… how about all the gear that I’ve decided isn’t that important for us? Hmmm…

Now back to the topic at hand. Natural childbirth can mean different things to different people. For some it simply means not having a Ceasarean-section. For others, it might mean limited pain medication, no pain medication, or no meds and very limited medical intervention. “Natural” is really one of those words that is used frequently these days, but has such a generic meaning that you can’t be quite sure what it exactly means.

In my mind, the ideal natural childbirth is one that is allowed to run its course without being rushed through induction procedures (most often the use of Pitocin…*shudder*) or dulled through pain medications. Since my definition of a natural birth might differ from someone else’s, I prefer to use the term unmedicated.

Before I even go into why unmedicated birth has become so important to me, I want to first say that how a woman chooses to have a baby, or sometimes has to have a baby, does not make her any more or less of a mother. I know wonderful moms who choose to use an epidural for their births. They know that going in, and they make no apologies for it. That is their choice, and let me say again that they are wonderful mommies. There are moms I admire who, for reasons outside of their control, can only have a baby through C-section. They should never feel like they are somehow incapable women. And there are other moms who had something unexpected happen and ended up with an outcome that wasn’t what they hoped for, and they aren’t any less of a mom than a woman who can birth her babies at home on her own while making gourmet desserts. Birthing naturally doesn’t make anyone a Supermom or a better mom than someone who can’t or chooses not to.

Alright. That’s all settled. Now, onto why I get excited about a natural birth!

Excited? Yes! Here are my three main reasons:

When talking with women about their experiences in having a baby without medications, a common thread I’ve heard is the solid confidence that comes from the accomplishment. Now, all births are an accomplishment, of course. Carrying a baby for nine months (give or take a little ) and producing a new life is a miracle no matter how the life enters the world. But there truly is something special about experiencing the whole process from start to finish without any of the feelings being dulled or removed. I’ve heard more than one woman remark that right after the birth, she felt that she couldn’t wait to do it again. I’ve never ran a marathon, and I never plan to. (If you’ve done it, you have my sincere admiration.) But I imagine that there is a similarity between the confidence boost someone might get from completing a marathon to what a woman can experience from having an unmedicated birth.

2. Unmedicated births encourage the natural highs of labor and delivery.

God has designed a woman’s body to go through the process of childbirth, and part of the process is a certain pattern of hormonal surges. The hormone that causes strong contractions is then followed by one that eases pain and encourages relaxation. After the little baby has entered the world, an unmedicated mother usually experiences a natural high, feeling a strong sense of love and happiness. It is truly something that can’t be explained, only experienced. When medications and interventions are introduced to the process, the body’s natural flow of hormones is interrupted and stopped, which can dull the amazing feelings that are meant to happen after delivery.

3. Pain medications and interventions can have unintended consequences and are not risk-free.

Sometimes an epidural doesn’t work, or it causes permanent back injury. Sometimes Nubain causes severe drowsiness or nausea. Sometimes a pushed induction can lead to severe contractions or a C-section, followed by difficulty in nursing. Every time a medical intervention or pain medication is introduced, the chances for more intervention and medication are increased. By staying away from all of it (except when legitimately and medically necessary), a woman can save herself from a very slippery slope where more control is given to the medical professionals and while it is forfeited from her and her family.

From my personal experience, I noticed a vast difference between my two younger children and my oldest at birth, and I attribute it to the different experiences. Miss L was born after an induced labor, hours of very severe contractions from Pitocin, and finally an epidural that probably saved me from a C-section due to exhaustion. She cried constantly after birth, did not take to nursing well, and was in general a more fussy newborn. Both Mr. M and Miss A were born without pain medication and induction techniques, and they had such a more peaceful disposition after birth. My experience is not that uncommon for those who have experienced both a medicated an unmedicated birth.

I would be crazy to say that unmedicated birth is easy. It’s not. While I don’t like to think of it in terms of painfulness, it is hard work, and some labors are harder than others. But to me, respecting the process and experiencing it in its fullness of highs and lows and highs again is completely worth all of the effort.

One preservation project I’m still in the process of is drying the herbs from our yard and garden that we’ll use through the rest of the year until next year’s herbs start popping up. Mostly, these will be used in teas, but a new use I’ll be trying out is making herbal oils, and then using those oils as a base in homemade skin-care products.

So, what herbs did I grow this year, and what am I saving them for?

Cooking Herbs

• Basils: This year my basils were very small, and only two really produced. I grew a lemon basil which is simply delightful with fish and chicken, and I think it would make a nice tea, too. Genovese basil was my choice for general cooking and making pesto, and I was very pleased with the flavor. However, with both of these, I didn’t get a large yield because the tomatoes shaded them completely. A dear friend blessed me with a huge bunch of basil from her garden, and so I was able to make mass quantities of pesto to freeze for this winter. That’s my preferred way to preserve basil for the cold months.
• Sage: I love sage in chicken and sausage dishes, and of course in stuffings. It also has a whole gamut of medicinal uses, but I am still learning about those. I have put it into our tooth powder and used it in a tea for headaches, but so far, that’s all. The leaves grow back every year from the woody base, and my plant has been going strong for about four years. I have heard that it may die out after a few years, but so far, so good for mine. It’s also very low-maintenance.
• Chives: These really couldn’t be much easier. A perennial, they require very little care. Give them some sun, water them if it is getting to dry outside, and enjoy their light onion flavor on potatoes, eggs, soups, and anywhere else you might like a touch of onion. I’ve moved mine multiple times, and they hold up really well during transplanting, too.
• Thyme: Another perennial, my patch is just starting out, so I haven’t harvested any of it yet. It’s been in tough competition with weeds, too, so I’ll probably need to start some transplants next year to give it a head start in the spring.
• Cilantro: I’ve heard that you either hate cilantro or love it. I don’t know how anyone could hate it, so I am on the loving side. Just the smell when cutting it gets me really excited for some fresh salsa. I grew a lot this year because I’ve had trouble growing it in the past, and I was blessed with huge, leafy, beautiful plants. I grew a variety called Caribe, which (from what I remember) is supposed to be bolt-resistant. I never had seed-heads, so it wouldn’t be a good variety for coriander (which is the seed from cilantro), but it was wonderful for the yummy leaves and tender stems that make good salsa really great. I never bother drying it, because it just doesn’t taste the same, but I planned on chopping it up finely and freezing it in ice cube trays with a minimal amount of water. I never got that done because we don’t have ice cube trays, and I don’t get out enough to buy them. Who knew that the convenience of an ice-maker could hinder my food preservation for the year? 
• Also on my list to get going are oregano (which I tried multiple times to start from directly sowing seeds, but the weeds always overtook it), and a good parsley. I just need to start these indoors so that they beat out the weeds that kept competing with them in the middle of the summer. Oregano is a perennial, so it is high on my list to get going right away. I love plants that just keep on giving.

Tea & Medicinal Herbs

• Mints: My patches of spearmint and peppermint struggled a little bit this year because they were moved a couple of times and didn’t get the chance to really get a good root system established. However, next year I’m expecting to enjoy more productive plants, as these herbs have a tendency to overtake a garden. Spearmint actually reminds me of an octopus. It branches out these runners in every direction, and these in turn take root, and continue the process. A great way to get some of your own mints going is to find someone who has them in their own yard. More than likely, they’ll be thrilled to clear some out for you. Mints are of course wonderful for teas, and some recipes call for them, though I never cook with mint. They make nice garnishes for deserts, too, if you are so inclined to garnish. Mint tea is nice for relaxing and calming the tummy. I prefer peppermint with its stronger kick, but my children like spearmint better as it is sweeter and more mild. I also use these in our tooth powder.
• Lavender: A family from my hubby’s class blessed us with a lavender plant, and I was so happy to have it this fall when I clipped some of the leaves for drying. Of course it smells wonderful just to have around, but I actually really like it in a nighttime tea blend. The flowers are sometimes used in recipes, but mine didn’t flower this year. I think it takes a bit for them to get large enough to flower. I’d like to add another plant or two, maybe in different varieties.
• Chamomile: Our plants got really big and had great foliage, but because I sowed the seeds so late, I had minimal flowers to harvest for tea. I’m not a huge fan of chamomile on its own, but I do like to add it to mint blends or the nighttime mix I make up. Though not a perennial, I’m hoping that some of the flowers I didn’t get to will reseed another patch for next year.
• Lemonbalm: Lemonbalm has this wonderfully fresh lemon scent and taste, minus the Pledge aftertaste that lemon-flavored teas can have. It is perfect for upset tummies and is also very relaxing. I like it in just about any kind of tea blend, or on its own. It’s also a perennial, so it should continue to bless us in years to come without me doing much work!
• Catnip: Not just for cats, dear readers! Catnip is a very mild sedative, so it is great to drink on its own to calm nerves, or put into a mix before bed. It has a nice flavor, similar to mint, as it is in the mint family. It is also the latest thing in natural insect repellent! I’m hoping to be able to use it as our sole insect repellent in years to come, since it will eliminate the need to buy oils. One study claimed it to be ten times more effective than DEET.
• Dandelion: Though you can buy seeds to grow a garden variety of dandelion, I just foraged around the yard for leaves and roots. The roots, once roasted, can be used for a nice coffee substitute, and both the roots and leaves are good for the liver and general detox. Since our yard is mostly mowed without loose soil, I didn’t find as many good roots as I hoped. In fact, once they were chopped and roasted, I probably have 1/4 of a cup. I’m planning on mixing the chopped roots with the dried leaves for a gentle detox tea to have on hand. Dandelion is incredibly nutritious… even more so than spinach! Not bad for a common yard weed.
• Broad-leaf Plantain: This is another really common backyard weed that has a great use in skin-care. I believe it is edible, though I’ve read that it isn’t particularly tasty. I picked leaves a while back and dried them with the goal of making a soother salve for skin burns and irritations. It is supposed to be one the best soothing herbs for the skin.
• Calendula: This was a new one for me this year, and brought me the most excitement. I know, I get excited about herbs. I’m sure it only adds to my crunchiness. Anyhow, I was going to buy some Calendula last year, but it was going to cost me $9 for only 4 oz! I decided I could live without it and gave a go and growing our own this year. I’m so glad I did! Calendula, or pot marigold, is so easy to grow and readily reseeds itself. It blooms these bright and cheery yellow and orange blooms, and the more you pick them, the more it produces. The blooms are used in teas or cooking (hence the name “pot” marigold), and the whole plant produces this resin that helps heal and sooth the skin. I want to make an infused oil with it soon to have on hand for making a diaper rash preventer, and I’ve also seen the oil called for in skin salves and lip balms. I’m thinking of throwing some into the plantain salve I want to make.
• Coneflower: My purple coneflower is another one that I’ve moved multiple times, so it needs to get its roots established before I harvest any. Next year I should be able to take out a little bit without it stressing the plants. The whole plant is useful in immunity, and it’s also a pretty attraction for bees and butterflies. It’s scientific name is Echinacea Purpurea, and you’ll find it in all kinds of products this time of the year. It is very easy to grow and happily comes back every year. It’s relative, Echinacea Augustofilia,  is smaller, less showy, and harder to grow, but has a more potent medicinal value. It’s on my list to sometime get growing.
• Bee Balm, Yarrow, California Poppy, Marshmallow, & Comfrey: Some of these I started to grow and neglected, some I tried sowing from seed in the middle of summer with no success, and some I just didn’t get around to starting. They each have medicinal properties, some to be taken internally, and some topically. I’m hopeful to find little patches of each them growing this next year.

Drying & Storing

• For herbs that I clip off with their large stems, I like to tie up a few stems together and hang the bunch upside down from a nail or hook that allows air circulation around the whole bunch. For flowers and herbs that don’t have a big stem to tie, I lay them in a single layer between two pieces of newspaper.
• Herbs should be dried out of direct sunlight and in a cool and dry place. A dry basement is a great place, and that just so happens to be where mine are drying now.
• It is really important that the herbs be completely dry before storing. If they have some moisture left in them, they’ll mold the whole batch during storage.
• Speaking of storage, I like to store mine in glass jars in the cupboard.
• For herbs that are in a bunch tied up, once the leaves are all dried out, I strip them off the stems and chop them up to whatever size I prefer in the food processor before storing. I’m sure that’s cheating and that I’d be a much better amateur herbalist if I used a mortar and pestle, but I don’t have one, and unless I find one at a thrift store, I probably won’t have one for a long time.
• Most people will say that stored herbs will keep their potency for a year. I’m sure they’re right, but I’ve never thrown herbs out because I think they’re less potent.

Calendula blossoms and leaves, lavender, and plantain drying flat

Mints, sage, catnip, dandelion, and lemon balm hanging to dry

Dandelion root, all chopped, roasted and stored in a tiny glass jar.

Are there any herbs that anyone else likes to grow? What do you use them for?

Then there are days like today.

I’m exhausted. I haven’t been sleeping well because of one pregnancy discomfort or another, and Miss A continues waking multiple times a night and sneaking into our room like a little stealth bomber. Our weekends are on steroids, and Mondays greet me with a menacing grin of dirty dishes, piled up laundry, a new week’s worth of lessons, and getting up too late. Sometimes the rest of the week goes smoother, and sometimes, like this week, I am still having a rough time.

I’m not feeling very noble in my job as a homemaker. In fact, I’m feeling quite the opposite. I need encouragement.

Thankfully, my hubby is very faithful in lifting me up on these down days and giving me the boost that I need. But there are times when he can’t be right beside me, like those eight hours he spends at work. I need to fill my heart with thoughts to combat the discouragement I might be facing temporarily.

I actually bought this book some time ago when it was on sale, knowing that I wanted it and it’s companion (Poems for Patriarchs) for our family library. We’ve probably owned it for a couple years before I finally pulled it out to read it last month. And what an encouragement it has been! It’s a book that I know I can open on a down day, flip through the pages, and find something to remind me that even on on our off days (or weeks…), I am doing a job that no one else can do for my children, and that God can take these feeble efforts and work them to the good of my little friends as I keep plodding along as faithfully as I can.

The book is broken up into six sections: Visions of Virtue, Hearth and Home, The Bride, Blessed Motherhood (the longest section, and the one I need the most right now!), Femininity Defended, and Daughters of Destiny. Each section contains a collection of poems, Scriptural passages, quotes, and writings. Some are light-hearted, some are somber. My personal favorite is on the light-hearted side: the poem It Takes a Heap O’ Livin’  by Edgar A. Guest. The first verse begins:

It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it home,

A heap o’ sun an’ shadder, an’ ye sometimes have t’ roam

Afore ye really ‘preciate the things ye lef’ behind,

An’ hunger fer ‘em somehow, with ‘em allus on yer mind.

I love the way it reads with it’s “ye,” “o’ sun an’ shadder,” and “‘em allus on yer mind”! I can read this one when I’m down, and I can’t help but smile.

I think it is always refreshing to read materials that help remind us of the importance of our roles in life. For me, as a mom of young children, I’m at a stage where I know I’m going to be tired often and my house won’t be as tidy as I’d like (finding new cobwebs behind the piano was a good reminder of that today). I will be cleaning up messes when I’d rather be working on my growing sewing pile, and it just might take me all afternoon to get through an art lesson that I thought would be done in a half hour. Even though I know this is part of the game, and that “this too shall pass,” there are times in the middle of the muddle that it is hard to keep that long-term perspective.

Verses of Virtue is a book that I know I can open and get my eyes off the present little bumps in the road, and on the eternal value of being a wife and mom.