Spend any amount of time on Pinterest and you are sure to find adorable ways to document your pregnancy through photos. Like the cute ideas I found here, here and here.

I had grand ideas of documenting both of my pregnancies through photos but I never actually followed through beyond one 3rd trimester maternity shoot for each of them. I did, however, find other ways to record my progress to share with my child someday and so I could look back and reminisce the long lost days of my pregnancies.

Joshua's First 9 Month Photobook

Although the 9+ months of pregnancy seem to go by very slow when you are in the midst of nausea, food aversions and sleepless nights, they actually fly by in hindsight. Try your best to find a way to document this precious time. You will be so thankful you did! Here are some great ways you can easily document your pregnancy:

How did you record your pregnancy? We’d love to hear your ideas!

"Mom, I don't need all that stuff. I just need you to know what you're doing."

I have been wanting to do a post about baby registries for months. The more I thought about all of the new tools and contraptions that pop up almost daily for moms, I realized it would be nearly impossible to complete a comprehensive post on the subject. If I did attempt “The Top 20 Baby Items You Must Have on Your Registry” post, let’s face it. . .it would be filled with 20 items that I love. . .that I’ve heard people say they love. . .that I’ve read on other blogs that people love. How could I possibly know what you will love or need for that matter? A few months back I did do a post called, “Our Essential New Mom Toolbox” which was filled with items that I have loved in the past year as mom to an infant. But it was far from comprehensive. I merely scratched the surface of possible aides to assist mother’s of newborns. So, aside from that post, for now, I’ve decided to not even try to tackle the fun and exciting adventure of gearing up for baby. . .well, not in the equipment sense anyway.

I have been working these past few months on the manuscript for The Baby Companion book release. As I’ve asked God to show me what he desires to say through us for new moms, there is one word he’s engraved on my mind. If there is one “item” to hope someone wraps up and delivers to you at your baby shower. . .If there is something you should pray your friend or family member drops by when you are in the hospital after delivery. . .If there is one gift you will never need to return, it’s

WISDOM.

“Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

In this scripture, King Solomon implores readers to “get” wisdom. More than any other tool, he confidently places wisdom at the top of the list.

Friends…for every season of our lives but perhaps most of all the early years of motherhood, wisdom is the most important tool we can acquire. It’s not something we can order on Amazon, it’s an asset that comes from reading the Bible, prayer and the selective counsel of others. I say ‘selective’ because not all of the counsel you will receive as a mom will be wise. Which is why, most of all, wisdom comes from above, through God’s leading.

Enjoy your time preparing for baby and dreaming about bedding and little girl dresses or little boy shoes. Don’t miss out on the fun of choosing every, little bit of gear that will aide in your days with your wee one. But don’t get so caught up in nursery decor and stroller options that you neglect to “get” the main thing. Ask everyone in your sphere to offer it up in abundance. Then ask the Lord to help you sift through every well-meaning piece of advice to find the wisdom that is meant for your family.

This way, you’ll be geared up and ready when baby arrives.

Mamas, what’s the best piece of wisdom that you were given before your baby arrived? {Not advice. Wisdom. There’s a big difference, isn’t there?!}

{Photo Credit}

“Can I eat pineapple when I’m pregnant?” A patient asked during a routine office visit this week.

“Yes, pineapple is great.” I replied, a little perplexed by the odd question.

“Are you sure? Because my friend’s mom’s sister is a nurse and she said I shouldn’t.”  she replied.

“Yes, pineapple is fine. Some people think it helps to bring on labor but studies show it doesn’t really work for that. It is definitely not harmful. If pineapple is something that you are craving, then go for it.”  I replied nonchalantly.

Later, I as thought back to this conversation, I began to chuckle.

Where are people coming up with this nonsense?

Must be the Internet.

A quick Google search lead me to several legitimate appearing websites that were declaring the dangers of many foods in pregnancy. The sensational headlines read:

“Pineapples cause preterm birth and miscarriage.”

“Peaches can lead to gestational diabetes.”

“Strawberries can make your baby develop food allergies.”

At first, I laughed at the ridiculousness of these pages.

But wait, I thought, What if a mom who had recently suffered a miscarriage came across that site? In her search for answers, she suddenly remembers that she ate some pineapple during her pregnancy and begins to needlessly blame herself for her loss.

My laughter quickly turned to anger.

Hopefully most women would not believe such hogwash, but what if they did? I shudder to think how these women would feel. Pregnancy loss is painful enough without the element of  guilt involved, especially the completely undeserved variety.

Even worse would be all the well meaning friends and relatives that might have ‘suggestions’ as to the reason for their loss after reading such a site. For hundreds of years we’ve had ‘old wives tales’ floating around. Now we have the Internet is full of glossy blogs perpetuating myths and half truths that confuse and condemn pregnant moms.

The truth is most fruits and vegetables are safe in pregnancy. Pineapple, strawberries and peaches are all great sources of fiber and nutrients that are wonderful to eat during pregnancy.  And don’t even get me started on lunch meat. For a review of the foods that should be avoided or eaten with caution check out this previous post.

If you read something fishy on the web, then check with a legitimate site like WebMD or talk with your provider. On days when I wonder if the time and effort I put into this site are really worth it, I think about conversations like the one I had this week and keep typing away.

What are the craziest things that people have told you to eat or not eat during pregnancy?

I am very excited to share with you about a wonderful ministry to pregnant mamas that my new friend across the ocean started last year. Bloggers for Birth Kits is the brain child of the lovely Adriel at The Mommyhood Memos. I’ve shared Adriel’s blog with you as one of my favorite online destinations for Christian moms. The blog has a ton of insightful posts for moms but one of the main reasons I love it is because of Adriel’s obvious heart for others.

She writes. . .“At some point of wallowing in my own self-centeredness (as a weary pregnant mom of a toddler), I began to think of moms in places that would never expect to be celebrated (for Mother’s Day) the way I was assuming I ‘deserved.’”

Being on the mission field with YWAM, Adriel knew the normal, every day conveniences that other moms lacked. After being convicted of her own (understandably) weary state, the vision for Bloggers for Birth Kits was born.

“I thought of moms like the ones in rural Papua New Guinea where the rate of maternal death is 1 in 7 and it shook me right out of my pathetic, self-centered pity party. Instead of focusing on what I didn’t have, I decided that I would focus on honoring these precious and brave women by doing my small part to make their lives better.”

You can read Adriel’s post about this year’s Mother’s Day B4BK drive here. We are asking you to pray about how you can become involved in this effort to ensure mamas-to-be in developing countries have the minimal supplies they need to experience a safe birth.

How to get involved in Bloggers for Birth Kits:

1. Make a birth kit. Assemble one yourself or gather a group of girlfriends, a moms group, work associates, or a church group to make a box full of them! Mail your kits to: Adriel Booker, Bloggers for Birth Kits, PO Box 6221, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia

2. Donate for a birth kit to be made on your behalf. ($10 will buy 5 kits!) All donations for B4BK go toward the assembly and distribution of kits, as well as maternal care education. Make your online donation here. Please be sure to write “Bloggers for Birth Kits” in the box that says “additional comments” so the funds will be allocated properly!

3. Help raise awareness by posting about the cause on your blog, facebook, pinterest, and twitter. (Please use the hash tag #B4BirthKits!)

4. Add the Bloggers for Birth Kits button to your blog. (See the side bar for code.)

We are honored to partner in any effort to love and serve mamas around the world. Will you join us?

Jessica

Loss after 20 weeks in pregnancy is medically referred to as stillbirth.

Luckily, the risk of this type of loss is rare.  The current rate in the US at 6/1000.  Still, it’s a common fear among pregnant women.

Here are the most common conditions associated with stillbirth, and what you and your doctor can do to help lower your risk of a bad out come.

High Blood Pressure and Pre-eclampsia

When I was pregnant, my husband came to only a couple of my prenantal visits.  Afterward, he remarked, that they seemed pretty pointless. “All they did was weigh you, check your blood pressure, make you pee and listen to the heart beat.” He said. “It only took 5 minutes.”

I explained to him how much valuable information these routine checks actually gives the doctor.  The earliest signs of preeclampsia can show up in these numbers. By intervening  early in preeclampsia, we can help improve the safety of delivery and prevent bad outcomes.

Hypertension effects all the blood vessels in the body, including the placenta. Over time it can reduce nutrient flow to the baby.

Preeclampsia is a specific type of hypertension that you get only during pregnancy.  It is more common in the final weeks of pregnancy which is one of the main reasons we make you come to the doctor more frequently during the last month.

Attending your regular prenatal visits is the best screening for preeclampsia.  If you do have hypertension, then your doctor will often do ultrasounds and nonstress tests to make sure that your baby is doing well.

Diabetes

Much as high blood pressure effects the entire body, so does diabetes.  If you have diabetes, it is best to meet with your doctor before conception to optimize your health and review your specific risk. Well controlled blood sugars, frequent ultrasounds and nonstress tests are usually implemented to help reduce your risk of complications.

Gestational diabetes that is controlled only by diet, does not increase your risk of still birth.  If insulin is required, then gestational diabetics will also need nonstress tests.

Smoking

Smoking is bad. Don’t do it.  It is a completely preventable cause of stillbirth.

If you are having difficulty quitting smoking during your pregnancy, then talk to your doctor about medications or counseling that may help you stop.

Cord Accident

As I deliver a baby, 25% percent of the time the cord is wrapped around the neck. Usually it is only loosely draped and I can easily move it out of the way. Sometimes it is tight and I have to clamp it and perform maneuvers to safely deliver the wee one. When I inform the parents, they often look horrified.  I reassure them that this is common. The cord is made of a very pliant rubbery tissue that is designed to withstand the pressures of the womb.

One mom recently said that she had been terrified her last few weeks of pregnancy worrying that her baby might get entangled in its cord and die. This had happened to someone she knew. I realize this an extremely common fear.

A stillbirth due to cord accident is very rare, and is usually not due to the cord around the neck. There is not a way on ultrasound to determine if the baby is at risk for cord accident.

The best precaution is to perform daily movement counts after 28 weeks.  There are several ways to do this. Each day you want to make sure that the baby has an active time. We recommend our patients to feel for at least 6 distinct movements in an hour. This doesn’t need to be EVERY hour, just pick one hour during the day when baby is normally active. If you don’t get 6 movements, then lay on your side and drink  juice.  If he still doesn’t move, then call your provider.

Post Dates

The risk of stillbirth begins to increase if a baby goes more than 7 days past its due date. The risk increases exponentially (200 fold ) if the baby goes more than 2 weeks over the due date. For this reason, we usually recommend induction at 7-10 days overdue.

Other

Genetic conditions such as down syndrome and trisomy 18 are another common cause of stillbirth.

A BMI of >40 is associated with an increased risk of stillbirth.  Repeat ultrasounds and nonstress tests are also recommended for morbidly obese women.

And still, a small percentage of stillbirths occur for unknown reasons.

Stillbirth is one of the biggest fears of pregnant women. However, it is very rare. Even if you have one the conditions mentioned, your risk is less than 1%. Most of you are already doing everything you can to help prevent it: attending your regular prenatal visits, not smoking and doing your daily fetal movement counts. If you still struggle with fear, talk to your provider about your specific concerns and see Jessica’s article on Fighting Fear in Pregnancy.

I hope these facts help calm your anxiety but please, let us know how we can be praying for you. Do you find yourself fighting this type of fear in your pregnancy?

Photo Credit

As I was praying this week, I was reminded of the many women in our community who are currently pregnant after enduring a loss of some sort. Several after experiencing miscarriage. . .some after years of waiting for their positive pregnancy test. A few of you have shared with me personally that you are battling fear as you walk through your pregnancy. Oh how I understand that war. Wanting so badly to rejoice in your longing fulfilled but being paralyzed by the wait and the unknown.

Friends, I understand your fears and so does your heavenly father. He intimately knows every moment you have experienced and every one that is to come. The hardest part about faith is believing God is good when we’ve experienced something oh so bad. But the truth remains. . .he is faithful.

The best way I knew to fight my pregnancy fears was with the Word. I had several scriptures that I clung to as I waited to have my babies (both of them) placed safely in my arms. I also wrote a prayer of declaration that I prayed every.single.day when I was pregnant with Hope. We shared it in the book and I will share it with you here. I encourage you to write your own prayer of declaration over the child in your womb. Or you are welcome to use mine.

I asked the Lord to show me 10 scriptures to share that will help you fight fear throughout your pregnancy. I pray you will come to understand these powerful words in a more intimate way as you speak them over your journey. Trust him. His is good and he is worthy of your complete trust. . .no matter what you’ve gone through in the past.

It’s a new day. A new season. Life is growing inside you.

My Prayer of Declaration

Dear Lord,

I declare that you are the author and giver of life. Your Word says that all things have been created by and for you. You are before all things, and in you all things hold together. Today I ask that the spirit of life me on me and in me, providing everything this baby and my body need to bring forth life to the glory of God. I stand on the goodness and faithfulness of you, Lord, that will bless us with this healthy and whole child. May my life and theirs bring glory and honor to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

To download a PDF Printable of 10 Scriptures for Fighting Fear in Pregnancy, click here.

Are you pregnant? I’d love to do an expectant mom roll call. Let us know if you are expecting so we can be praying for you. Or if you have a friend or family member that needs prayer, please let us know.

In the 11 years I’ve been birthin’ babies, I’ve heard some crazy things in the delivery room. While most dads try their best to be supportive during labor, lets face it, this is an entirely new adventure for them. Here are some of the common gaffs that I hear dads make.

1. “That looks easy!”

This is a common faux pas that comes out surprisingly often in the delivery room. I will usually attempt to help save their marriage by suggesting that what he meant to say was “Honey you did so awesome, that you made it look easy.”

Most often, it is an honest mistake on the part of the dad.  In the excitement of the moment, he’s not sure what to say. Trust me dads, no delivery is ever ‘easy.’

2. “My back hurts.”

I recently had a dad request my stool, as I went to deliver his wife’s baby. “Sorry sir, I need the stool to help bring your child into this world,” I said. “But my back really hurts” he replied, as his wife was pushing…without an epidural.

Really, dude? No, you cannot have my stool. You can stand there and be supportive of your beautiful wife as she experiences the worst pain of her life. Plus, I went to school a long time for the privilege of sitting on this stool. Are you going to ask to wear my white coat next, because you are chilly?

While your wife is in labor, you are not allowed to complain. I don’t care if you have a herniated disc and you have been asked to sleep on the floor.

On a related note, it is also bad form to sleep while your wife is pushing.

3. “No, honey you can’t have an epidural, because WE have decided to have natural childbirth.”

Beforehand, women often tell their husbands to not let them get an epidural, no matter what they say. But sometimes…they really mean it.

This is a sticky situation for the dad,  similar to the questions, “Does this outfit make me look fat?” or “Do you think my friend is cute?”  He doesn’t always know the right answer.

He wants to stick to the ‘birth plan’ but he also doesn’t want his wife to suffer. I feel for you dad, but no matter how involved you are in coaching the labor, referring to the experiences of birth in the first person is never a good idea.

In all seriousness, it is a good idea to have a secret code word that your wife can tell you when she really means business about the epidural.

4. “This Chick-fil-A is so awesome!”

Most hospitals do not allow the laboring mom to eat, so don’t devour a Chick-fil-A sandwich in front of your hungry wife. Even if she is not hungry, the smell of food can make her nauseated.

As an aside, do not ever bring a tuna fish sandwich into the room. It stinks…in a bad way.

5. “Just one second, let me finish this Tweet.”

Recently I had to utter a phrase in the delivery room that I thought I would never have to say:

“Dad put down your iPhone, come over here and cut the cord.”  I swear I did.

Technology is awesome. As soon as the baby is born, you want to get the news out ASAP. But take a few minutes and enjoy the birth of your child before you start Facebooking it.

Also, don’t randomly start uploading delivery room pictures, until you look at them very closely. Another technology mistake is the accidental crotch shot upload.

The majority of dads, even the ones who make these mistakes, are overall very supportive. Most dads do rise to the occasion, as I’m sure your hubby will. Just to be safe though, you may want to ‘accidentally’ leave this post up on his laptop tonight.

Did your husband say something he shouldn’t have while you were in labor? If you haven’t experienced birth yet, what do you hope he doesn’t say?

Photo Credit

My little brother and his beautiful wife are expecting baby #2 in the fall. My maiden name, while completely Italian and one I am quite proud of, is a bit unique. Not a lot of names flow nicely with it. Although I begged God to send me a dreamboat with the last name Smith or Jones, I’m sure he chuckled when he revealed his will for me to marry Mr. Wolstenholm. I am also very proud to bear the Wolstenholm name but similarly, it cannot be paired with just any first name. My kid brother and his wife have considered going with a traditional Italian name that would pair beautifully with their surname. After giving it some thought however, they’ve decided to steer clear of anything that would suggest a mafia relation. Needless to say the baby naming process in our family is tough.

There are a host of baby naming resources out there from websites to books to smart phone applications. Add to that the current trend of naming your baby just about anything (say after a fruit or a car perhaps) and you will not be at a loss for options. Options are not the issue when naming your baby. Finding the one, standout name that makes your heart feel immediately connected to the little person growing inside of you (or that you just met if you wait until you see him/her) is the tough part. You can peruse every list that comes across your path as you wait for your little one’s arrival but you will likely see the same names on every list. You can study the lists intently (as I did) and time may change the way you feel about a name or two. But more than likely, you will end up back where you started. . .with a long list of names you do not connect with.

Choosing your baby’s name may be the easiest decision you make regarding your little one (say if you’ve had a name picked out for years) or it may be the hardest choice you are facing.

The first step is to decide if you want a classic, trendy or unique name for your baby.

After landing on which type of name you’d like, focus your attention on lists that cater to those names. Several websites have lists geared towards a particular name style.

If you find you are still not connecting with any of the names you’ve come across, try these unique ways for choosing your baby’s name.

1. Research family names – Your Grandmother’s name or your mother’s middle name may be some of the first on your list but dig deeper. Ask your parents for Great and Great-Great Grandparents’ names. You never know what you’ll find.

2. Look for literary names – Make a list of your favorite reads (both current and classic) and look through the characters. Some of the most beautiful names are present in literature. Baby Center has great baby name inspiration lists including one of literary characters.

3. Consider unique bible names – You don’t have to think hard to come up with Matthew, Mark, Luke or John but what about Asher or Judah or any of the other 12 Tribes of Israel for example? (Although I’d steer clear of Zebulun.)

4. Grab a map and look at city names – This could be really fun. What are some of your favorite places? Any that ring well with your last name?

5. Think of what you’d like the name to mean and do a reverse search – Several websites have this feature including Baby Center and BabyNames.com Both of these sites have great lists as well.

Whether or not you want to attach deep meaning to your baby’s name, I would encourage you to deeply consider the words you are speaking over their life with their name. What do you want them to become? What character traits do you hope they will develop?

My daughter’s name is Caroline Hope which essentially means “song of hope.” We named her after a long battle with infertility and multiple miscarriages and we wanted her name to reflect our journey. My son’s name is Joshua Kent. Joshua means “God is salvation” or “Jehovah rescues.” We also struggled to conceive Joshua, endured more losses and then became pregnant with him after the doctor said it would not happen (more on his miracle conception here). His name reflects our journey and considering the life of Joshua in the Bible. . .who was called to be “strong and courageous” – we new this was a name that would speak life and truth over our son’s life. His middle name is that of my husband and his father as well. It’s a family name that means “handsome.” Who wouldn’t want to speak that over their son?!

Note: The adorable shirt I am wearing in the photo above was purchased through CafePress.com I do not believe they make them any longer as I searched and searched to find one to wear while pregnant with Joshua. If anyone finds them elsewhere, please let us know!

 How did you choose your baby’s name? Was it hard or easy to name your baby? What advice would you give to expectant parents on naming their baby?

As I looked at my screen to check which patient was next, seeing her name made me smile.

The patient was a delight. I had delivered her first baby two years ago, an adorable baby girl with curly blond hair and rolls on her thighs. The patient pushed like a champ, but despite her efforts, her 10 pound bundle of joy entered this world through a low transverse abdominal incision.

She was newly pregnant with baby number #2.

A perfect flutter of a heart beat was seen on the ultrasound, and all was good.

“Doc, do you think I should try for a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) or have a planned c-section this time?” she inquired, as we finished up with the usual questions.

I carefully reviewed the risks and benefits of each, encouraging her to weigh which option would be best for her.

As I finished, I noticed she was pursing her lips in anticipation of a question that she could barely contain.

“But Doc,” she asked smugly, like a jeopardy contestant who knew they had the right answer, “What would you do if it were YOU?”

The favorite question. I smiled and leaned back on my rolly stool.

“Nope.” I said as I shook my head back and forth with a smile, “I don’t answer that one.”

Somewhere there has to be a Readers Digest Article, ‘Top Ten Questions to Ask Your Doctor’ and this is probably #1, based on the number of times that I have heard it.

Initially, when I started practicing and my newly board certified brain was bursting with memorized textbook knowledge and randomized controlled trials, I would fall for this trick. I would rattle off my personal opinion on such matters. Because obviously, I knew best.

It didn’t take me long in practice to realize that every women is unique. I was biasing these women with my personal opinion on issues that really, I had no business discussing.

I am not saying I don’t give advice. Of course I do, I am a doctor. I give my best medical recommendation in all situations.  However, I do not give patients my honest, personal opinion of what I would do in their specific situation, because I am not them.  And I am not in their situation.

In obstetrics there are multiple situations when women really need to decide for themselves:

VBAC vs. C-section

Natural vs. epidural

Circumcision vs. no circumcision

These are just a few of the very personal decisions that women need to make for themselves. Options that should NOT be decided by their moms, NOT by their friends and definitely NOT by me.

How do you feel the ‘suggestions’ of others effected your pregnancy decisions?

We are partners in the care of ourselves and our families.

We had a wonderful discussion last week when Dr. Rupe wrote her brave post about home birth. After reading through the comments and thinking about the conversations I’ve personally had with women about this and similar subjects, I felt compelled to share my thoughts, as a patient, on trusting doctors and the medical community. I had no idea when I first thought to write this post that I’d have a recent, personal experience to add to the mix.

My almost 4 year old daughter broke her leg last week on a trampoline.

2 hospitals

1 ambulance ride

2 emergency rooms

6 doctors

9 nurses

7 x-ray techs

2 IV insertions in my girl’s tiny hands

1 big, giant cast

and I still feel the same way I felt last week.

When my sweet child looked at me with fear and tears in her eyes, the only response I could muster was,

“We have to trust them sweetie. They know what they are doing.”

She kept crying, “No, don’t let them do that. It hurts.”

To which I gently replied, “Do you trust me?” “Yes,” she whispered. “Then you can trust them. Because I trust them.”

This experience took my level of trust to a whole new level. It’s one thing to trust a doctor or a nurse with my well-being. It’s entirely another thing to trust them with my child. But I did.

I have realized that our interaction with the medical community needs to be a gentle balance of trust and discernment. To me this means that I trust until I’m given a reason not to trust. Much like our legal system is built on the “innocent until proven guilty” value, we need to “trust until given a reason not to trust” our medical advocates.

After 24 hours with my daughter and all of these medical encounters, I was not given one, even slight reason to distrust the doctors or nurses or techs. Each one of them exemplified complete expertise and professionalism. Each one of them put my mother heart at ease.

It’s true that there are always exceptions. Perhaps someone is having a bad day. Perhaps your gut is telling you to go in a different direction than your medical professional is suggesting. These rare experiences should not be seen as the norm. They are exceptions.

“But I often find I disagree with my doctor,” you might say. Well then you need to ask yourself a tough question. Is your doctor really wrong or off the mark or do you have a larger issue with trust and perhaps even control?

If you are the type that likes to be in control of things (like me) or you have an issue with trust, it doesn’t mean you have to write off the medical community as a whole. What if you could find a doctor that is more conversational in talking through your medical options? What if you find one that better fits your personality? Wouldn’t a partnership with this type of physician benefit you?

Just like a doctor or nurse has a responsibility to professionalism, continuing education and bedside manner, we as patients have a responsibility to search out a physician we trust and with whom we are comfortable. Then, we have the responsibility to trust them. That doesn’t mean we cannot question, probe or disagree. It just means that we ultimately look at our relationship with them as a partnership.

I said a few times in The Pregnancy Companion book, “If you don’t trust your OB, then find a new one, quick!” This is not because I endorse doc hopping. I pray that all women find a doctor with whom they are completely comfortable. And I pray that you are able to partner completely with that physician to have the pregnancy and childbirth that you desire. If you have particular wishes, then discuss those with your provider. If you don’t believe they are hearing you or are supportive of your desires then you may need to seek out a new partner. But I would venture to guess that most doctors will be supportive of your desire for a particular type of birth or they will have very good, medical reasons for not supporting it. Be committed to hearing them out before you consider a switch.

As I sat in (more liked paced) our hospital room last week, I noticed a sign on the wall. “Parents. . .our partners in care.” It completely confirmed my feelings on this subject. We must all find that wonderful balance of personal conviction and trust when it comes to all things medical in our lives and the lives of our family. I am so thankful that the good Lord anoints and appoints medical experts to help us in our time of need but I am equally thankful that he’s given me holy spirit discernment to know how to respond to their advice. Hopefully, I will most often be in agreement with these partners. On the rare occasion that I am not, I pray he gives me the grace to speak up respectfully, with the goal of finding a solution together.

What are some ways you’ve partnered with your physician to find a solution that worked for you? Whether it’s regarding pregnancy, childbirth or the care of your child – we’d love to hear your stories!