Thank you, next.

An organised mess.

That’s the way I’m writing these blog entries.

All good, there are no rules here. Just sharing vulnerably in whichever way it comes out.

Kind of how I do everything else these days. Starting one thing here then seeing something else and getting a head start on that. Finishing what I originally started 2 days later. Drives my husband mad. Anyone else?

Yet somehow in my unconventional, systematic method it all comes together and shit gets done.

But when I look at The Flying Mamma Instagram page, I feel like it’s coming across a bit negative. Maybe it’s the monochrome mixed in with the emotional and fiery quotations. 

I need you to know that there is truly so much passion where this is all coming from. I get so excited talking about all things pregnancy, labour, birth, breastfeeding, post partum and beyond!

It just truly saddens me that a lot of women are cut short from the miracle of these experiences. Or haven’t informed themselves enough or at all to be able to advocate, ask the right questions and make choices that best align for them and their babies. 

And although I believe that for a lot of things no advice is the best advice (just nod your head, say thanks and wait and see what your instinct tells you), I do think that awareness and support is important. 

A whole new world opened up to me when I began figuring out my birth preferences - even if I already slightly imagined how I’d like it to go. So much so that now, I would absolutely love to look into midwifery or becoming a doula. You know, save the world one pregnant lady at a time.

 

My perinatal clinic was this boujee little place that was highly recommended to us. However, a few months in to my pregnancy, my obstetrician told me he only does c-sections. So not only did I have to find the hospital I wanted to give birth at, but also another obstetrician. 

Ok let me explain. I’m an expat. And in the country I live in you must have health insurance in order to have a residency visa. Maternal health is covered by your insurance (to different extents depending of course) in hospitals or clinics and is pretty much private with a dedicated obstetrician guiding you throughout your pregnancy and during delivery.

And the big one - you can only legally give birth in hospitals here. For now. That’s right, a planned home birth is illegal. However the law states that any birth occurring outside of a hospital must be registered within 30 days.

Look, it’s still a grey area.

Butttttt I have just come across something super exciting coming soon. The region’s very first birthing facility! It will be a place for mothers to experience undisturbed physiological birth, led by the midwifery model of care. Rise Birth Centre. What an incredible step forward.

Now while there are lots of amazing hospitals and obstetricians, in many instances their training and expertise to medicalise labour and birth interrupts the very capable natural and physiological process of it.

If we were just left alone, incredible things would happen - and other things wouldn’t. Inductions, c-sections, neglect of the golden hours. The list goes on.

Our choices during labour and birth directly impact our immediate postpartum journey. So much energy and enquiry goes into looking after yourself and your baby’s best interest while pregnant. Why should that stop once you step foot in the hospital or birthing facility to finally give birth?

So this guy, who albeit an obstetric encyclopaedia with much expertise, was absolutely not the person I wanted to support me throughout the remainder of my pregnancy - or deliver my baby. Thank you, next.

Talk soon x