Tori's Blog
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Celebrity Scientists? I Don’t Think So
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
I get fired up about things. Those closest to me definitely know this. Those I often meet for the first time, quickly learn this. I teach Alexander that his passions and his beliefs matter. And that having his own thoughts and opinions, regardless of who agrees with them, are much better than having none at all. So what am I getting to?
Amy Tuteur is an OB/GYN whom I’ve been following for some time. I like her very much because she...
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Taking A Minute
Saturday, October 24th, 2009
I have found that by the time I sit down long enough (which is so frequently in the night) to write about what passes through my head during the day, I am tired. My thoughts seem less interesting and certainly are less coherent. I suspect, like all parents who make their children their primary focus, that I am not the only one for whom this is true.So, in my tired state, I want to share my appreciation for how hard we,...
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Interesting Birth Facts
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
In the last week, we have had rainfall that we aren’t ready for quite yet. My little town got 5 inches less than a week ago and yesterday roads and portions of the 101 were shut down from flooding. Our mom/baby center was bustling and, as I said out loud yesterday afternoon, “of course it is, it is raining.” This made me think about all the “truths” we accept, whether or not they actually have any merit to them. Since... -
Lots of Book News
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
Earlier this week, I had such a great experience. A woman came into the hospital, in labor, actually carrying a copy of the book. My book. I said hello to her and she looked at me with a funny expression and as I looked back at her, it clicked. We had a really nice moment where I was able to express my gratitude for her finding the book to be something she wanted to have so close with her. It felt... -
When Things Don’t Go As Planned: Preeclampsia
Monday, October 5th, 2009As I continue the discussion on home-birth I’d like to share with you my experience with Alexander’s birth. It is an excellent example of how unexpectedly things can change.
I was really healthy during my pregnancy. A week before my December 24th due date, my water bag broke in the Christmas card aisle of our local drugstore (that’s another story) and within a few hours I was in booming labor. However, when I arrived at the hospital, my blood pressure was...
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H1N1/Swine Flu Has Hit Home
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009So here is the thing about writing. Or blogging. Inspiration. At least for me it has to be. I suppose if you are a sportswriter or someone who reports information it may not be so necessary. I find it challenging to write unless I have feelings about the topic. Then the words flow freely. Isn’t that what makes writers interesting to people? What it is that they write or how they interpret something going on in people’s lives?
I have wanted...
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H1N1(Swine) Flu and Vaccine
Thursday, September 24th, 2009
It is September and that being said means that we are starting the flu season. With school only a couple of weeks along, Alexander and I are already coughing and sniffling. This flu season however, is not the same as previous ones. Swine flu (actually called “novel influenza A H1N1”) has become a household word. This is a different type of flu virus because, although it originated from pigs, it is being transmitted human to human far and wide from... -
More on Homebirth
Monday, September 21st, 2009Several days ago I posted a blog about homebirth and as frequently happens with any challenging comment on it, I was slammed by some for “being part of the medical establishment and defending it”. Interestingly enough, I wonder if those same people actually even read my post or followed the links that further outlined the points I was making.
I am going to focus on the discussion of homebirth and “natural” childbirth for the next several days. For clarity, I certainly...
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Homebirth – Not Nirvana
Monday, September 14th, 2009As you know, if you have been following my blog this year, this is a subject I feel very strongly about. I’ve written about it many times. Yet another, very sad story was on MSNBC a few days ago outlining the risks of giving birth at home. Catherine and Ricardo lost their daughter because labor went on abnormally for days, without medical attention.
I have talked about, in a previous blog, Cara Muhlhahn, the nurse-midwife in this story. The absolute fact here is that...
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Think Happy Thoughts
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009I recently came across a “method” of childbirth preparation called BornClear. This is a program developed by a woman in New York following the homebirths of her two children. Their information states that this method “ensures that the best way to give your baby the easiest birth is to be aware of your feelings and translate those into pleasant thoughts toward the baby and his or her health.” Couples are further reminded to “keep worries out of their minds and...
