Sydney's Birth-Day

I’m not even sure where to start. How about the beginning? Michel and I were mortified when we found out we were having a kid. A living, breathing human we would be responsible for for the rest of our lives. I just have to describe what a blessing everybody at Full Circle was during the most stressful time in our marriage, (with or without the pregnancy).

Before Sydney’s birth both of us had avoided the medical scene with much success; no broken bones, serious illnesses, or close family members with any problems requiring hospitals or regular medical intervention. After her birth we were tossed into it. Of course, (and without complaint from us), regular Well Baby visits to the doctor, shots at the Health Department every two months since her arrival, and various sundry doc visits to make sure Mom is healthy. And then there was that little stitch fiasco at the hospital after her birth. How much do you weigh? Uh, I just had a baby.  Well, we want to give you antibiotics so you don’t get an infection and never heal correctly and re-injure the site and never have a satisfying sex life ever again! ?No. We would really rather.  NO. Well, we want to knock you out for the surgery. Why? Because it hurts, your tear is pretty extensive and we feel local just wouldn’t be enough. alright. Now, how much do you weigh?

Anyway, my point is that if we had gone the typical medical route, (which, because of our sorry financial state would have been entirely paid for by taxpayers), we would be far less educated and far more stressed. You ladies made sure we knew exactly what we were doing, and why; possible effects of every decision; and all this with people who cared, actually really cared. No overhanging clouds of insurance fears, or thoughts of how to make more money on us.

Sydney’s birth at home with the attendance of midwives was the best decision we ever made. It was a difficult decision to make; crawling out of the box, explaining it to medicalized family members (who still don’t understand), choosing the more difficult financial path for us at that time. But now, with the clarity of 20/20 hindsight, we feel even better about it, if that’s even possible?

We’re still petrified about raising a human, but we avoided all the stress of constantly questioning the wisdom of instinct when we would have disagreed with a doctor, (on numerous points). And we have a truly beautiful package in Sydney, no doubt.

-With love and many thanks,

Michel, Autumn, and Sydney