Everyone around me. I don’t have any money. I am in debt. My husband is injured and depressed. My children are okay, but not ding well at their school because they aren’t doing their homework because I am not giving the tiem and space to do it, and they are all in one stupid room. One room for four kids. I want to move—to w_______, or somewhere near there: s________?

Maybe.

I want—I pray that this baby be born healthy.

Love,

FJB

Oh well. That’s past. All went well, thank G-d, and we are going forward with getting the birth certificate. I am nervous about this whole process, since we have to have documentation about all the parts of the before and after status of pregnant vs. baby already born. It’s somewhat complicated, but not too bad. At least everyone’s been polite so far.

I’m being somewhat obscure since I don’t want to get too detailed till everything goes through fine; it is unnerving to have this status of not officially having a birth certificate. When I tried to make a newborn checkup appointment after a week, the receptionist could not figure out what to do, “What do you mean the baby has no name!” she stuttered. She didn’t seem to comprehend that the child is not born with a name imprinted on it somewhere, like a label on a toy. Most people have a name ready for the woman who makes rounds in the hospital collecting information–and that is why most must have a name all ready by then.

It is a serious decision (actually we decided on a name in time to make the Saturday morning Torah reading)! And I’m glad we waited the almost-week.

Thank you again for all the good wishes.

FJB

(The birth went naturally )

Now we are a family with a girl, boy, then girl, girl!

Four altogether… Wow!

No wonder I was freaking out that I don’t have my birth set up all ready to go…

This birth has been very confusing and complicated to plan. I may go into this topic later–but for now I will say, this country is not set up to give women the birthing options they need and want. Cesareans, cesareans for everyone. I won’t have one (G-d willing) unless it is an absolute emergency. I am so tired of hearing about how government insurance doesn’t pay enough, and that’s why none of the doctors will take my insurance. Everyone I know who is having a baby has been having difficulty finding a doctor/midwife.

What is up with this country’s medicine?

Thank G-d I have the insurance for birth that covers emergencies. That is my breath of relief. As it is I had been twisting myself in pretzels to make some sort of plan that didn’t involve people doing stuff that I don’t plan on doing.

Last time I almost ended up with a cesarean because the doctor’s panicked. I knew it was fine. So then they had to intervene a bit anyway.

If I can do a birth naturally I will, and Thank G-d I am blessed with a healthy body, and positive birth experience from the past.

Will update this post later to include more practical info.