About Sarah & Motherhood Naturally

Myself, husband and children

About Sarah

We're expecting #3 due in August 2007!!

Currently I am certified as a Childbirth Educator through:
ALACE (Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators) and CAPPA (Childbirth And Postpartum Professionals Association).

I am a CAPPA Approved Childbirth Educator Trainer

I have a lot of goals and projects I am working on at present.  Some projects I am working on include:

• Working through the CAPPA Lactation Educator Certification program, 

• Promoting my other business, Motherhood Naturally Publications and writing/publishing books and material on natural family living topics

• In the process of self study for midwifery until my children are older and I have the time to devote to an apprenticeship. 

A little (or a lot) about me, my births and Motherhood Naturally:

My first pregnancy and birth experience was nothing like I would plan for my next. It was a wonderful experience with wonderful midwives in a hospital setting though.  I decided not to attend any childbirth preparation classes of any sort, figured my books would suffice on educating myself.  Money was tight as well and that had an influence in my decision.  My labor was induced due to a fall that ruptured my membranes, and I made it to 8cm before requesting pain medication.  I had no idea what my options were, what to do for the labor pain (I figured walking and staying upright and active would be fine), and had a narcotic injected (no epidural due to previous back surgery).  That wore off right before pushing, which was good and bad (bad because I wasn't prepared for the pain all of a sudden again, good so that I could push effectively).  Looking back, I really wish I had taken a childbirth education class because the books just don't cover everything and sometimes it helps to remember things while practicing them with a teacher.  I really wish I had the knowledge and "tools" to have a pain medication free birth - and I am 100% convinced I could have had that had I taken a good preparation class - even with being induced.  As well, had I known my options, and the side effects that could effect both myself and the baby of the choices I made, I would have done some things differently.  All in all - I had a great experience it is something I can look back on with a smile.  But I wasn't able to reach my goal of a completely natural birth mainly due to my lack of knowledge and the "change in plans" of being induced which really unsettled my mind.  Had I learned more about doula's, I would have probably tried to find one for labor too.  Midwives in a hospital setting are pressured to take on more and more clients, which leaves them with less and less time for the one(s) they are currently tending to.  Instead of offering continuous care throughout labor and delivery as was commonly believed, hospital Midwives usually end up spending less time with you than you might imagine only because they often have other laboring patients to tend to.  A doula is professional labor support who offers continuous care throughout labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum taking the place when a busy hospital midwife might not be able to sit with you.  I had not explored the option of a doula for my daughters birth, but wish I had.

My daughter visiting my husbands fire department :-)

After the birth, breastfeeding was very frustrating because my daughter was so drowsy due to the pain medication I had taken.  She wasn't nursing well until several days after she was born and was always sleeping to the point that I had to wake her for nearly every feeding (and sometimes THAT was a challenge especially the first day or two after birth), but she never had any bottles or formula.  I persevered, knowing things would get easier.  She self weaned around 14 months, and it was truly child led and no big deal.   I use cloth diapers exclusively on her, which started off kind of rough because once again I didn't know my options despite having access to the internet - and the lack of support in my area.  I eventually learned, and now she's in cloth 24/7 without a single problem.  I also practice attachment parenting which has been an awesome experience.  I try to be as natural as I can, I find it so satisfying and healthy.

We had our second child born October 1st, 2005.  We had a beautiful planned homebirth with two midwives that were excellent.  I was so pleased to find them as their goals lined right up with mine and I was able to have the birth experience I had prayed for the entire pregnancy.  This birth was completely natural and completely amazing - I'm still on cloud nine, can you tell?  :-)     Being able to feel my son kick and squirm throughout labor, and actually feeling the changes that take place while your body is preparing to birth a baby is very interesting.  The feeling you get after going through labor and birth without any medical help, knowing you did it all on your own, trusting God and your body to do what it was mean to do is incredibly empowering.  Breastfeeding has been excellent and our son has never been in a disposable diaper, he's been in cloth 24/7 since his birth.  He is a very content and happy baby!

My son on one of daddy's fire trucks :-)

This business was started for several reasons.  First, to educate the expectant couple on their options concerning childbirth. I encourage a natural approach to pregnancy, labor and birth but still educate on the medical aspect because complications can arise and no matter what type of birth you are planning it is best to be prepared!  Birth was never supposed to be easy or completely pain free, and the drugs that have been created for use by laboring women can have serious side effects on both the mother and baby. Learning to work with your body to minimize pain is a wonderful, risk-free way to birth. Secondly, I want to promote the natural approach to pregnancy, birth, and parenting  in my area.  That includes natural birth, breastfeeding, attachment parenting, cloth diapering, etc.  Of course not everything is suited to each parent, but in light of certain techniques involving letting a very young baby "cry it out", putting babies on a feeding schedule, and avoidance of holding so you don't "spoil" your baby, and other similar situations I want to offer parents other alternatives that do not create such a stressful atmosphere and allows bonding between baby and child that will create a much happier, harmonious family.  And thirdly, I want my business to become well known and respected as a wonderful resource on all aspects of pregnancy, birth and infancy.  I want to be able to reach out and help single mothers, teen parents, and low income families gain the knowledge and support they need to make the best birth experience they can, and to be confident, loving parents to their new bundle of joy.

Pregnancy, birth and infancy is a growing passion that I do everything I can to learn more about.  I want to help, support, empower and educate all the expectant and new parents that want it.  Because I look back and wish I had taken classes to educate myself on the whole process and money was a factor as to why I didn't take them (ignorance also played a part!), I will try to offer my classes on a sliding scale or volunteer basis occasionally.  If you have questions on anything please feel free to contact me - if I can't give you an answer I'll do my research and come up with it for you.  God has blessed me in so many ways, I want to take this opportunity to help others achieve the birth they want or at least help them take an active role in their birth experience when things don't go their way.  

"Here mom, let me help!"

Aside from birth and babies, we tend to have a more natural outlook on life. We are sensibly frugal, homestead the best we can at our location.  We are and will be homeschooling our children (my oldest daughter, who is three, is "sort of" doing preschool right now at home, all child-led, but she has shown an interest in learning more specific things).  We are looking to move further into the country so we can homestead more true to the term, so I can get back into horses (for 13 years I was involved with horses doing everything from riding to training to instructing riders to managing barns... When I was pregnant with my second child I was experiencing problems with the pregnancy and had to give my horse away to a student of mine - but the love is still there and I will be getting back into horses sometime very soon... Especially for my kids sake!  I had my horse for 13 years and had always planned on having my children learn to ride on him (he turned out to be the best lesson horse in the entire world!  I miss that horse so much).  Unfortunately right now that is not possible - until I am able to locate a horse as calm and docile as the one I spent over half of my life with!  

This was my baby!

Contact Information: Sarah Kostyu  734-755-5772, sarah@motherhoodnaturally.com