Homebirths in Manitoba

 No where near the end....but baby is on the brain....and place of birth is on my brain....

Something is going on with our Manitoba midwives, and I don't know what it is. Yes, it is evident that there is a MAJOR shortage and everyone knows it. But there are many midwives waiting, ready to pay for the Manitoba licensing exam (with Midwifery training from other countries)....but something has it all on hold!?

I have heard that BC controls MB midwifery licensing - I don't know anything of course - I'm just a client who catches 3rd party gossip.

(From our 3rd homebirth, Elousia's birth)

Something is up! I wonder....clients of midwives generally are cost saving on the medical system. Less cesareans happen, less drugs, less intervention, and even less days in the hospital = lower costs. BUT does the medical system want that? As life saving as the medical system is, anyone who has done their research also knows that it is also a business! 

(Elousia, almost 4 years ago)
 
Two of my friends who each have had 4 or more homebirths in manitoba were recently refused midwifery care. This is unbelievable. One chose unassisted.

I am baffled. I was always under the understanding that clients whose plan was to have baby at home, were first priority. I'm sorry if this sounds unkind to those who've chosen hospital. It's definitely not meant to be.  Home or hospital, folks choose for the same reason, fear, faith, comfort zone, beliefs. "You are brave to have your baby at home!" and "You are brave to have your baby in the hospital!"

The thing is, with the midwifery shortage, there will be a rise in private midwifery and it is already starting. It's almost as hard to find one of these as it is raw milk :)

 

(Elousia, today)

I know it is a rude suggestion that there is some conspiracy, some high power in the medical system trying to squash out midwifery. But in the possible attempts to do this, it's just forcing some to choose unassisted. In a Saskatchewan community where the Cesarean rate is 80% (absolutely abominable) - *I am not against Cesareans in emergency - they save women and baby's lives every day*. I am against unnecessary, control that some medical staff have used and abused in the case of an 80% rate in one town! Research indicates a link between a woman's birth experiences and postpartum depression. Isn't it something that the medicalization of birth is relatively new in our history? *Again I'm more than aware that this has saved lives. I do wonder if it's a pretty equal statistic that they have also caused as much unnecessary intervention?

 

(Israel, 16 months this month, while Mama 17 wks pregnant)

It's not that often, in recent years, that I use my blog to vent - and so in that case, I am so sorry!

We, mothers, are looking for answers. We are responsible mothers, trying to choose what's best for our families, our babies and ourselves.

Worldchampionship Dog Sled Races at Trapper's Festival

I'm actually not sure if these were the "actual" World Championship Dogsled Races, but that's what the sign said.

Last week was Trapper's Festival in The Pas.... 

We as a family didn't take in too many of the activities...outdoors with 4 "littles".....somehow we thought we would do better next year...ya, with 5 "littles".

But we did take in the Saturday morning Dogsled races.

We are dogless dog lovers. 

Dogs,  we've had, and dogs we will have. Not sure if it will be a whole team's worth. Perhaps we should get the kid's to run and pull the dog. Sad Joke!

Years ago I did try my hand or should I say my skis, at skijoring.  I hope to do that again one day! Mom and Dad talk of the rush of driving dog sleds in their late teens/early twenties.

Watching, we could feel the exhilaration of the dogs,  their joy of the chase.
Smells fresh.

Six going on seven!

Do you almost feel like I should reintroduce myself? Too say it's been a while is an understatement.....but, if I've had any kind of pattern to my sporadic blogging over the past five years, one thing that I have been consistent in is withdrawing in my first trimesters. I do hope no one takes offense to that. If you are a mother, I know you wont :)

We have had some pretty cold temperatures lately...with the windchill we've had -45. Yikes, is right!
Keeping the wood stove stocked has saved the day....and I've never received so many slivers in all my life. If only I wasn't so hasty and just picked up the work gloves sitting on the indoor wood pile.

 

And back to what we were talking about....it was a big surprise at Christmas to find out that we are pregnant. Seventh pregnancy, fifth baby. With some bleeding, and past ectopic and miscarriage I did get an ultrasound in December and there was a bleed beside baby. Apparently this type of bleed happens in 10% of all pregnancies. So after this past week's follow-up ultrasound we were happy to find out everything is well with our almost 12 week old gestational baby.

 I haven't had too many ultrasounds with my babies, even though it's the popular thing to do. Before I was a mother I use to receive ultrasound therapy on dance injuries to break down scar tissue. I'm not against ultrasounds for pregnancies, but I'm not 100% for them as I am aware that they could be controversial and it's not proven to be completely harmless. And yet it can be helpful. It detected both my past ectopic and my past miscarriage at 11wks.

So the most amazing thing happened....I had never had an ultrasound in my first trimester with a live baby before. There I was lying there the other day, looking at the ultrasound screen and totally marveling and this squirmy little 11 week old gestational baby, kicking, bouncing and moving like he/she was playing. This was truly one of the more memorable moments of my life. It's hard to consider that so many of these little one's lives are lost everyday....the life of something or someone who seemed so alive to me.

Extraordinary Gratitude

Winter is here to stay....At least until Spring.  I love the soft beauty of the falling snow, the intricate icy, snow flake designs. And yet, I'm so glad that there is no Jadis, the White Witch who cast the wintery spell over Narnia for a 100 years or so, "here" - so glad that the world goes round, and and we taste of all the seasons!

 (Carrot River)
I do love getting my hands back into the wools, and yarns and needles and things - finally. Pulling out each handmade hat and scarf with warm satisfaction that it came from my hands.

I'm so glad that it gradually gets colder. Imagine, it was suddenly winter (I know that can happen - but it "really" doesn't). We get use to the gradual drop in temperature, gradually adding on the layers. And daily outdoor time then, warrents something sweet after, something warm, something hot and cozy!

::Perhaps if I do one batch every week or so of something sweet, I can just possibly have a nice spread in time for Christmas.::

Do you have a favorite read? That is, a favorite read of ALL time? And the bible doesn't count, in this question, sorry. My favorite read of all time is Rick Joyner's Final Quest. I love it so much I use to read it every year. This month I added one more to the short list of favorites of all time. 1000 Gifts. Yup, I'm a little late I know. Everyone and their dog has read it, and forgotten it, perhaps.

What wonderful reminder, the Glory in the mundane and the ordinary; extraordinary gratitude minute by minute. It makes the redundant empty phrase, "living in the moment", actually spring to life with practicality. Speaking of practical, I have loved Nourishing Traditions when it comes to feeding my family - but I have a new wonderful reference book for health, feeding my family, myself plus a wealth of information on wellness, hormones, supplements, exercise, and even "marital relations". Trim and Healthy Mama! Comes with my highest recommendations. I am certain all who read it, will find discover things they never new, but are glad to know it now. I've met the authors Serene and Pearl a handful of times, and was always encouraged with their lifestyles.

So, what's your favorite(s) read?

I sample a couple of products and get paid to refer you! Would you like to do the same?

Happy Thanks-Goodies!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! Or, as we use to say it as children in our household, "Happy Thanks-Goodies!"

 My first Thanksgiving away from family and a first celebration in our new home. Well, not actually "in" our home...but in our new little church home. One of the reasons we came up here was to be a part of a small church fellowship. Faith is a huge part of my life, even though it is not something I blog about regularly, with the variety of people I get to connect with online. 

Our little church of maybe 70 people, threw together a fundraising Thanksgiving dinner for World Vision's Malaria Net project. I had always thought that HIV/Aids and Starvation were the main killers of children, but apparently not. Malaria is. It went really well, but it was not my highlight of our festivities. There is just so much need in our world, right? And we can do these projects and they are all needed and important. My most important one is my children. Raising them up, to Love, to Give, and to Be. My favorite quote in this year's Oak Meadow Waldorf curriculum is this underlined one below:

Back to festival highlights...There was so much food left over, that after church the next day, food was reheated and the many untouched platters from the night before were served. And so the feasting continued into Sunday afternoon. I guess word travels really fast in our small community of 5000. Within minutes, homeless person after homeless person showed up ready to eat. Our church potluck was transformed into a Thanksgiving soup kitchen. This was my weekend highlight, not the most comfortable one, if I'm honest. But a moment for our children to feel empathy and have awareness of the greater world and it's needs around them.

Thanks and Giving!

Happy Thanks-Goodies!

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Life north of the 53rd parrallel...so far....

Bundled up in layers, I was hanging up bed sheets on the line this morning. This may seem a little hard core, as it was snowing at the time. But I'm making up for loss time....a laundry line....my dream for the 10 years we've been married...and now I have two on pulleys and a platform...simple, I know, but lovely.

Feeling a little overwhelmed these days..... I wasn't sure if I should start by catching up on all the missed blog reading of some of my favorite people, or if I should just delve in again and start blogging. Decided to just delve in....so here we are. The shop/studio is packed with most of our boxes, and I'll be unpacked in about 6 months or so. That is realistic. Right?

 

Some of the things I like about where we now live.....

I like that our road is a gravel road...

I like the farmer's fields around us...

I like the brigade of neighbor's dogs following us on our morning walks...(especially the friendly-happy golden retriever that insists on bringing a stick)

I like the smell of wood stoves burning wood fuel....

I like that it feels like we are closer to nature....

I like the sound of the rain pattering on the roof....that's right, we are mobile home living. Different from all the character places I've lived in for the past 15 years, and most of my childhood. But we are excited about the changes we will make....Reno-ing one thing at a time at a leisurely pace so it's not too chaotic....for now I'll revel in some shag carpeting and designer wall paneling....and the 70's crochet crafting magazines that I found left here ...there was no sarcasm in that last one!
I like the river that our yard backs onto...and yet soberly revere it....happy that there is a good fence and gate...happy that my children revere it too.
I like that town is 5 minutes away....and wonder how is it that once in town everyone drives 30 km/hour.
I like that Papa comes home for lunch sometimes several times a week.
I like that my daughters have no fear to dance in our new small town church....and that it is welcomed.
I miss friends and family terribly....but look forward to deepening relationships even with the miles in between.....

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Time...scheduling....another extra curricular activity!

Recently we finished our annual swimming intensive at the beach cottage.  Well, as intensive as it can be for a 7yr old, 5yr old and 3yr old...which in many cases is, I guess, intense.

Lovingly lugging the 5 of us down to the beach each morning, 9am sharp, the mountainous Phil and Ted's double stroller's worth of beach stuff.  I should say 6 of us. So, very glad our family friend Amy, came to help us out.

I'm not a fan of a ton of extra curricular activities that can rob from family time. Ya, this coming from a dance and music instructor - LOL - But that's where I observed it....and THAT is where I clued in that homeschooling could save the day for me.

 Single I was, teaching teens, adults and little ones....those poor children dragging themselves to dance class after their long day of school. And yet they were so proud that Mon, was swimming, Tues, sports, Wed, piano, Thurs, dance, Fri, another club, Sat, dance again....you get the picture.

 

{Elousia in her Bday Dress made from upcycled Vintage Drapes....following Maria, from the Sound of Music's example}

Well, I didn't want that picture for me. I wanted the picture with quality joyful family time, not time pressured, mommy-taxi-ing lifestyle. And I do apologize if that is your family - perhaps it works fine for you...I just wasn't up for that challenge. One week of swimming a year....at the lake, where it seems like a great adventure - Natural Learning...

I like that tradition. How do you manage the extras? Tell me, tell me! 

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