Embracing my inner crunch

After the Target nurse in, and controversial Time magazine cover, I had several people ask me how I felt about them. No I do not plan on nursing my children until they are 5. At the same time, to each his own, and if another mom feels like that is the right thing for her family, then there will be no judging from me. But that isn't the point of this post.

Point is, I have finally come to terms with the fact that I am a "crunchy" mom. Or as my sisters like to put it, a hippie. What is a crunchy mom you ask?


From the urban dictionary: 
Mother who supports homebirth, breastfeeding, baby wearing, cloth diapering, co-sleeping, gentle discipline, etc. One who questions established medical authority; tends to be vegetarian and/or prepare all-organic foods.

Does it count that I wish I was vegetarian but lack will power? Ok fine I am only half crunchy mom.

I first started my journey of becoming a crunchy mom when I was pregnant with Lincoln. I always knew I wanted to have a natural child birth, I just figured it would hurt, and I would deal with it. After watching several birth videos I came across a "HypnoBirthing" Video. The mother was totally relaxed and even smiling during her birth. I knew that is what I wanted. So I started doing my research and signed up for a class. I loved it! Everything just made sense. If birth is a natural, normal process, why did it need to be such a painful, terrifying experience? After our 5 week class I was excited to give birth! I don't know if that is a phrase you hear a lot, but I truly was. After an amazing, completely natural birth I was hooked. I knew there was no other way for me to give birth.

I started to look at pregnant woman and think to myself "I wonder if she knows how good it can be." When I was pregnant with Spencer, I took the HypnoBirthing training class and became a certified HypnoBirthing practitioner. I just needed to be able to tell people how awesome birth could be, without sounding crazy.

After my previous hospital birth and a slight aversion to hospitals in general, thanks to Lincoln and Will, we decided that we were going to have this next birth at a birthing center. Everything turned out perfect and I had another fabulous, non painful birth. While I know birth can be painful for some women, it doesn't have to be for every woman. Birth is BIG, and definitely work, but also the most amazing thing I have ever accomplished. I don't think that there is a word in the English language that can fully describe the pure exhilaration you feel holding your new little baby in your arms. You know with out a doubt that you can do anything.

I know I sound crazy to a lot of people, and most people aren't shy about telling me just how crazy they think I am. And that's totally fine, it doesn't bother me. But this has all became such a big part of my life, and I haven't really taken the time to explain it to people. That became apparent to me when my mother called me to tell me that her duck was practicing hypno-aqua birthing, just like I did. I couldn't help but laugh. I realized that I was holding back, and not really allowing others to see what my beliefs about birth and parenting really were.

What is HypnoBirthing? (or if you ask my mom "hypno-aqua birthing")
Put very simply, complete relaxation for a comfortable birth. You achieve this by releasing all fear and negative ideas, beliefs, and emotions, and trusting your body.
http://hypnobirthingyourway.blogspot.com/p/about-hypnobirthing.html

My recent jump on the crunchy wagon has been cloth diapers. That's right, you heard me, I Cara Dahlquist have started using CLOTH diapers. EWWW right? They really aren't that bad. And I wont lie and say that's all that I use. I figure that if I can replace 2-4 disposable diapers a day with cloth, I can save 720-1,460 diapers a year. Can you imagine all of those diapers piled up? They are estimated to take 250-500 years to decompose! That is crazy. Maybe someday I will be brave and switch over completely, but for now I am trying to take baby steps.