We patiently waited for our name to be called by the Department of Interior associate who would help us process the paperwork necessary to record the birth of our daughter in Israel. At this time our sweet girl was 5 days old. Leading up to her birth I was asked and re-asked the same question in one way or another, usually with an undertone suggesting I am crazy
:
*Why don't you have your baby in a hospital?
At first I would offer people the numerous reasons I chose homebirth:
1. I want a natural birth (truly natural)
2. I want a relaxing environment
3. This is not a medical condition it doesn't require a hospital to occur
4. I have always wanted to do it
5. My body was designed to do this and the best place for me to do it is at home
6. I feel it is the safest option for my child and myself
7. I don't agree with hospital protocols for childbirth
and the list goes on....(I am more than willing to expand on these reasons if you would like, just email me).
However, what I realized is that for every reason I gave, people had a rebuttal. I got tired of hearing people's uninformed opinions....especially those of 'concerned' family members. So I finally found the perfect answer that cool day in February, when our name was called....
"Gomez"
There we sat, excited with our brand new baby girl, we were on our way to processing paperwork to have her recognized as a US citizen and documented in Israel. We were excited to show her off, I was excited to have 'proof' she is ours and show that she is a US citizen.
We have been to the Department of Interior numerous times to get visas throughout our time in Israel. We were always greeted with the same annoyed look and tone, so why I expected anything different this time, I'm not sure. She (our caseworker) requested documents and I provided them and she input them into the computer...then it came time for her "birth certificate" from the hospital....we didn't have one.
"What? What do you mean you don't have one, why not?" I replied, "We had her at home, so what I can give you is the paperwork from my midwife". And then the question came, "Why didn't you have her in a hospital? Why would you risk having her at home?" And there, out of nowhere, came an answer that FINALLY was NOT refuted: and with boldness and confidence I replied, "because I wanted to".
THERE, THERE IT WAS, the PERFECT answer....there was nothing she had to say after that...so from that point forward, that was my answer, "Because I wanted to".
But for those of you who really want to know why: this is why.....
I dreamed of a water birth, since as far back as I can remember, even before my son Tanner (11 years ago)...it was something I always wanted to do. My first memory of the desire to have a natural birth came shortly after I watched a calf be born. I was around 12 or so. I watched how awesome mother nature was and how God enabled that cow to birth her baby. I knew that God created my body to do the same, and I knew I didn't need help to do it. My body was made to birth children.
The water aspect of natural birth came the more I thought about natural birth and what would relax me. I remember requesting a water birth with my son Tanner when I was 16. The hospital refused me that right saying I was too young, the risk was too great....being young and naive I thought they knew best....but looking back I think they were wrong. My body could have done it.
It wasn't later, until I did research that I had other reasons for a home birth, but my main reason is and always has been, it was a dream of mine. I knew the experience would allow me to see God work supernaturally, and I knew it would invigorate me. So that's why....it is something I always dreamed of...I did it because I wanted to!!!
I pray God opens a door for me to deliver all our children this way, I wouldn't have changed it for the world! Yes it was painful but I was fearless, comfortable and relaxed...at home, nested perfectly to conceive...just like animals do in the wild...I found my inner beast, and I LOVE HER! She is fierce, she is beautiful, she is strong, she is mom!
:
*Why don't you have your baby in a hospital?
At first I would offer people the numerous reasons I chose homebirth:
1. I want a natural birth (truly natural)
2. I want a relaxing environment
3. This is not a medical condition it doesn't require a hospital to occur
4. I have always wanted to do it
5. My body was designed to do this and the best place for me to do it is at home
6. I feel it is the safest option for my child and myself
7. I don't agree with hospital protocols for childbirth
and the list goes on....(I am more than willing to expand on these reasons if you would like, just email me).
However, what I realized is that for every reason I gave, people had a rebuttal. I got tired of hearing people's uninformed opinions....especially those of 'concerned' family members. So I finally found the perfect answer that cool day in February, when our name was called....
"Gomez"
There we sat, excited with our brand new baby girl, we were on our way to processing paperwork to have her recognized as a US citizen and documented in Israel. We were excited to show her off, I was excited to have 'proof' she is ours and show that she is a US citizen.
We have been to the Department of Interior numerous times to get visas throughout our time in Israel. We were always greeted with the same annoyed look and tone, so why I expected anything different this time, I'm not sure. She (our caseworker) requested documents and I provided them and she input them into the computer...then it came time for her "birth certificate" from the hospital....we didn't have one.
"What? What do you mean you don't have one, why not?" I replied, "We had her at home, so what I can give you is the paperwork from my midwife". And then the question came, "Why didn't you have her in a hospital? Why would you risk having her at home?" And there, out of nowhere, came an answer that FINALLY was NOT refuted: and with boldness and confidence I replied, "because I wanted to".
THERE, THERE IT WAS, the PERFECT answer....there was nothing she had to say after that...so from that point forward, that was my answer, "Because I wanted to".
But for those of you who really want to know why: this is why.....
I dreamed of a water birth, since as far back as I can remember, even before my son Tanner (11 years ago)...it was something I always wanted to do. My first memory of the desire to have a natural birth came shortly after I watched a calf be born. I was around 12 or so. I watched how awesome mother nature was and how God enabled that cow to birth her baby. I knew that God created my body to do the same, and I knew I didn't need help to do it. My body was made to birth children.
The water aspect of natural birth came the more I thought about natural birth and what would relax me. I remember requesting a water birth with my son Tanner when I was 16. The hospital refused me that right saying I was too young, the risk was too great....being young and naive I thought they knew best....but looking back I think they were wrong. My body could have done it.
It wasn't later, until I did research that I had other reasons for a home birth, but my main reason is and always has been, it was a dream of mine. I knew the experience would allow me to see God work supernaturally, and I knew it would invigorate me. So that's why....it is something I always dreamed of...I did it because I wanted to!!!
I pray God opens a door for me to deliver all our children this way, I wouldn't have changed it for the world! Yes it was painful but I was fearless, comfortable and relaxed...at home, nested perfectly to conceive...just like animals do in the wild...I found my inner beast, and I LOVE HER! She is fierce, she is beautiful, she is strong, she is mom!
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