From Stephanie on 03-21-2006

First of all -Kellie is WONDERFUL!  She helped give me the kind of empowering birthing experience I dreamed of.  I was feeling very disempowered upon being uprooted from my home in Idaho and moving to Las Vegas in my 7th month of pregnancy.  My plan was always for a natural birth but I was not having any luck finding that option when I got to Las Vegas.  I was subjected to the Air Force base hospital where I was not just advised against the natural method - I was told they just didn't do births any other way than with epidurals, IV's, and all that goes along with the invasive approach.  I was made to sign consent forms giving the base hospital permission to do whatever they pleased - far in advance of the due date.  Luckily, within two weeks of giving birth, I found Kellie.  She calmed my fears, gave me back my power, honored my wishes and allowed me to have my dream birthing experience. 

My son was born 2 years ago on St. Patrick's day, and I often recall the fond memories of the experience.  My son came into the world peaceful and alert to the music of Vivaldi.  Natural childbirth was the icing on the cake of a natural pregnancy.  I had been a healthy vegetarian, focusing on organic whole foods and had been peaceful and happy through out the pregnancy.  Kellie's services allowed me to continue with what is for me, of the utmost importance: a natural lifestyle.  Having a natural childbirth in the comfort of my own home also empowered me to question other elements of the status quo so often taken for granted by our society.  Because I wasn't in a hospital for the birth, subjected to all their invasive, often times harmful methods, I had space and time to make other natural decisions for my child's welfare.  I educated myself on breastfeeding, circumcision, vaccinations and other important topics for babies.  I am proud to say I am still nursing (though hoping to wean soon), have kept my son intact, and have delayed the unnatural process of vaccination.  While his vaccinated peers get sick all the time, my son has enjoyed an incredibly healthy two years.  He has never had a single ear infection, only a few colds (amazing since we have been living in Alaska enduring some of the harshest winters on the planet!) and is incredibly vibrant and intelligent.  I give the credit to his nutrient-rich diet of whole foods.  I am thrilled when he jumps up and down when I offer him an avocado or red pepper for a snack.  He loves the fresh salmon we get up here and has an instinctive aversion towards breaded, fried meats, processed meats and most junk food in general.  He has no idea what a McDonald's is.   

I am so GRATEFUL for Kellie and her role in allowing us to stay consistent with our natural lifestyle.  In fact, I can hardly imagine what it would be like to go through the birthing experience without her guidance! 

Thank you, Kellie!

Love, Steph and Wyatt

From Autumn on 02-02-2010

I had my first baby when I was 17. I was too busy trying to graduate to even think about being natural and what not. But after I had my daughter in the hospital, there was a little seed planted in my brain. It was planted by all the nurses and doctors I had. I went to the hospital when my water broke. I wasn't feeling any contractions so they stabbed me with some pitocin. I didn't want an epidural because of the very large and scary needle. I was strapped to a bed with monitors everywhere. Not what I was expecting. Then this terrible burning pain came on like I got hit my a bus. It felt like I was being torn apart from the inside out. Not what I was expecting either. But through the pain I endured. I'm a quiet person, but I screamed at my husband and stepmom who were with me. They were trying to make me comfortable, but nothing was helping. The annoying nurses kept coming in saying that I needed to stay still because the monitors were coming off and sounding an alarm at their station. I wanted to kill them all I was in so much pain. Finally I screamed, after a bitchy nurse came in, to give me an epidural. I got some relief, but they stuck the pee bag in me, which was gross. After my cervix was checked by everyone on staff, it was finally time to push. The doctor I was seeing for prenatals didn't show up because she was off that night, so a midwife on the hospital staff was there to catch. I was relieved it wasn't a male who caught, what business does a man have down there, none, only to make a baby. Anyway, after being seen and tended to by nurses who were either too busy to care or just didn't care at all, my baby was kept from me for 2 hours or so. So there I was, all alone, sharing a room with another woman who had a c-section and was in delicate condition, so none of my family could come and see me because it would disturb her. I had no baby, no family, IVs stuck in me that were poorly painfully in, an overflowing peebag, and a very sore and bruised back from being stabbed 50 times by the biased epidural lady who said my bones were to small for her to get it in! Just when I was about to cry, in rolled my baby. I grasped at her and didn't let her go. I could only sleep with her in my arms, even though the nurses nagged not to. I didn't care, she's mine and no one was taking her from me again. I knew I wanted to breastfeed. My mom and sister did, for a little while, so I thought I would too. But then why would you buy milk when you get it for free? So I continued breastfeeding until I got pregnant again, which was 8 months later. I hated being pregnant the first time, so I wallowed in my misery the 2nd time. I found a different doctor, who seemed nice. As the time drew near for me to deliver again, I cringed at the thought of being stabbed and mistreated I started reading about alternatives that I've seen on tv deliveries, mostly water birth. I asked my doctor if there were any in town or in the hospitals she's in. She gave me the strangest look and said that water births were outdated and she didn't think any were still around! I felt defeated. So off to the hospital I went. This time I had contractions and was near crowning when I arrived. The hospital wouldn't admit me until I filled out and signed some papers! So, I'm in a wheelchair about to give birth signing some papers. After, they stuck me again with all the IVs, monitors, epidural, the whole shebang. I'm lying in bed telling the nurse the baby is coming, even after the epidural, I still could feel pressure and that baby was coming! The nurse checked me and was shocked she raced around the hospital trying to find my dr. She came back in and said my dr was on the way. I was like what! She told me not to push or anything and tried to stall as long as possible. Finally, as my baby was crowning, my dr strolled in ever so slowly, caught my daughter and strolled out. They took my daughter, again. I got my own room, so my husband stayed, but they didn't let him stay for long. I had a few visitors, but after visiting hours I was alone. No baby, no family, IVs stuck in me with an overflowing peebag and a sore back. I waited, and waited. No baby. I felt very very sad. Finally, a little over 4 hours later, a nurse rolled in with my baby. I stared at her. I had no emotions. I had no urge to grab her and hold her to my breast. The nurse looked at me and scolded me, you need to feed your baby she hasn't ate anything for over 4 hours. I slowly reached for my baby and held her and stared at her. I waited for the feeling to come, that feeling you have when something is yours. Nothing. Only guilt lead me to put my baby to my breast and care for her. After a long night and suckling, slowly that feeling of belonging crept in my heart. I never wanted to feel like that again. So, a little over a year later when I found out I was pregnant again, I did extra researched. I went into research overload. I read everything. By some miracle I came across Power Birth, which brought me to Grateful Birth. I sent an email and Kellie and Margo were in my living room a week later. I loved it. They come to me, they cater to me, and give me stuff. WONDERFUL! I felt like I hit the lotto! But my whole entire family, including my husband, was shocked and in utter disbelief that I was to give birth with no medial treatment, no doctor, no nothing, just my home and a humble midwife. I didn't care, they didn't have to suffer with that feeling when I had my 2nd daughter. I wanted to do what I wanted to do, no stopping a mother on a mission. And that's exactly what Kellie and Margo did, they let me do whatever I wanted to do. I felt good. I finally had control over what was going to happen to my baby and me. Each visit was great. They would check me out. Then spend some time talking and answering questions and interacting with my girls, which the girls loved. When D-day came, I didn't know what to expect. But I did what I felt like doing, which was breathing, moving around, snacking on leftovers, and drinking. I felt like I was in heaven. I did whatever I felt like doing. No monitors, wires, needles, IVs, and annoying nurses! I had my family with me and my girls. It was really wonderful. What was really amazing is that I pushed my son out when I was only 5 1/2 cm! When Kellie flopped my warm slippery baby boy on my stomach I felt so much relief and love I can't express in words. He was crying and moving and wriggling, not drowsy from an epidural. He looked around and looked at me. Pure bliss. No one took him away. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it! Yes contractions hurt, but not as painful as being ripped open by pitocin. The hurt actually felt good. Like a sign that pregnancy is finally over! Party! Woo! I didn't like being pregnant, but home birth is such an amazing experience that I want to do it again. Maybe one more time! Kellie told me that I was 10years ahead of my time, but I think the world is 10years behind. I stare at my son everyday with pride and throw him in everyone's face, who didn't believe, saying I did it all by myself, no drs, hospitals, or medical interventions. Thank you Kellie and Margo from the bottom of my heart. You have filled a hole that I thought could not be filled. I hope my story motivates people who don't have a motive.

Sincerely,
Autumn Thonethevabout