Pregnancy and birth
✨ WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY IF I HAD ANOTHER BABY?? ✨
If we ever had another baby, there are some things I would choose to do the same, and some things I would do differently.
For me, pregnancy and birth have become less about following every routine step automatically and more about making thoughtful decisions based on what makes sense for my body, my baby, and my family.
I would still do the basic bloodwork, glucose screening, urine checks, and other standard labs that can help monitor the health of both me and my baby during pregnancy. Those tests can provide useful information and reassurance. But when it comes to imaging, specifically the anatomy scan, my personal preference would likely be to decline it unless there was a medical indication or reason to believe further evaluation was needed. While many value that scan and it can be helpful in certain circumstances, I think I would decline, due to many reasons and factors.
Birth itself would ideally be at home with a midwife, in a calm and familiar environment where I feel the most relaxed, comfortable and supported. I would want my kids there if they wanted to be, because birth is such a powerful part of life and I believe witnessing it can be beautiful and normalizing for families and may even help bonding for siblings.
I would also love to experience catching my own baby again, or having Cody catch the baby.
I was able to catch my last baby, and it was one of the most incredible and empowering moments of my life.
Another thing I would choose is not finding out the gender until birth. I found out the gender of all 4 of my children during pregnancy and would love to experience the moment of finding out at birth when I have my baby in my arms.
The first days after birth would be focused almost entirely on bonding. For me that means uninterrupted skin to skin as much as possible, allowing the baby to be on me or Cody.
I would skip things like baths, unnecessary interruptions, and even clothing for the baby for the first few days so that we can stay skin to skin and let the baby transition gently into the world. Skin to skin has strong evidence behind it for helping regulate a newborn’s temperature, heart rate, breathing, blood sugar, and for supporting breastfeeding and bonding.
Those early hours and days are so biologically important for both mother and baby, and I want to protect that time as much as possible.
Birth and those first few days also have a huge impact on postpartum mental health. As well as impacts on your baby.
If a hospital transfer ever became necessary for safety reasons, my wishes would still remain the same or similar depending on circumstances.
I would not want my baby leaving my room without me present. Hospital policies and protocols exist for many reasons, but they are not laws, and parents still have the right to ask questions, understand procedures, and make informed decisions for their children.
Another personal choice I would likely make again is declining newborn vaccines and circumcision and focusing on spending those early days simply recovering, bonding, and adjusting as a family. Every parent weighs risks and benefits differently when it comes to medical decisions, and this is simply the approach that aligns with my own comfort level and research.
I’ve also been recently doing research on chiropractic care for infants and may put that in my list for the first few weeks too.
At the end of the day, these are just my personal preferences and goals if we ever welcomed another baby. Every pregnancy, baby, and family is different, and what feels right for one person may not feel right for another. This is not medical advice, just a reflection of the choices I would make based on my own experiences, values, and the way I envision birth and postpartum for my family.
What would you do differently???
#pregnancyrealities #pregnancyandbirth #unfiltered #sahm #momof4
From my own journey through pregnancy and birth, I’ve realized how important it is to tailor each experience to what truly feels right for you, rather than just following traditional protocols without question. Choosing home birth, for instance, was transformative—I found that being in a familiar environment surrounded by loved ones eased my anxiety and allowed me to better focus on the arrival of my baby. Having my older children present reinforced family bonds and made the experience so much richer for everyone. Delaying the reveal of the baby’s gender until birth added a beautiful element of surprise and emotional connection at just the right moment. Moreover, I cannot emphasize enough how powerful uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact was in those first crucial days. It not only regulated my newborn’s vital signs naturally but also deepened our connection and helped establish breastfeeding smoothly. Avoiding unnecessary interventions like early baths and clothing helped maintain that precious closeness and respect for the baby’s natural transition into the world. Declining routine anatomy scans was a personal choice after weighing concerns about over-medicalization and wanting fewer interventions unless medically necessary. I understand many find reassurance through these ultrasounds, but for me it was about trusting my body and intuition unless a clear reason arose. Postpartum mental health often gets overlooked but those early hours set a foundation. I recommend openly communicating your wishes with your care team, including preferences about hospital transfers or procedures like vaccinations and circumcisions, which I personally chose to forgo initially to focus on family bonding and recovery. Parents have every right to be advocates for their babies and themselves. Lastly, exploring chiropractic care for newborns is something I’m considering based on recent research and personal community experiences highlighting potential benefits for infant comfort and development. Every family’s path is different, and sharing these details might encourage others to reflect on what choices resonate most deeply with their values and circumstances. Ultimately, pregnancy and birth are intensely personal journeys. Embracing mindful decision-making, informed consent, and gentle transitions can empower both parent and child during this unique life chapter.
