Tuesday, November 1, 2011

My Birth

As a child I used to be ashamed to tell people about my birth, I now use it as an opportunity to encourage others to seek prenatal care and other assistances during pregnancy.  During her pregnancy, my mother did not seek prenatal care because she had plans on getting an abortion. When her plans failed through she went into a denied that she was pregnant and denied her pregnancy to any one that asked. One stormy summer night while at work, she began to have pains but paid them no mind. When she went to use the bathroom, I slide out and hit the floor. She cleaned me up, cut my umbilical cord, wrapped me in a sheet, and took me home. When we arrived home my grandmother could not believe her eyes, she know I needed medical attention so she had me rushed to the hospital. After undergoing various test, they find that I was a preemie but in good health.
I share this story to encourage others to seek prenatal care and never be afraid to except the fact that you are pregnant. My own story has encouraged me to open a home for young girls ages 15-20, who want to keep their child and have nowhere to turn. 

After ressearching the cost of having a child in the US verses having a child in the UK, I have found that it is not only cheaper to have a child in the UK  but also in Canada. Having a home birth or a birth at a center is also my popular in the UK and Canada than in the US.

http://www.costhelper.com/cost/child/baby-delivery.html

4 comments:

  1. Wow, that is an amazing story. Thank God you are ok! I know there is a reason for everything and I love to see how God is now using you to help others in your mother's sitation. Bless you! Thanks for sharing.
    Sarah

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  2. Temeka,

    Thanks for sharing your story! It is amazing that you were alive and well after that delivery and are happy and healthy years later! There is certainly a need everywhere for a loving home like you described for young girls who want to keep their babies! Kuddos to you for responding to that need!

    Baby births are expensive. Even after our insurance payments (and we have fairly good insurance) we usually owe about $1500 for each baby born! YIKES!! Another reason that healthcare needs reformed, but that's another discussion!! :)

    Thanks again for sharing!
    Stacy :)

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  3. Dear Temeka,
    Your birth is really touching and a real wonder. You are a miracle. Thank God you survived all the risks of infection and damage to your tender body, God is merciful to you in every sense of the word. I am happy that you have turned that experience around to help and care for others in that same situation. Something good has come out you - a real compassion for others.
    Delivery in developed countries is still a luxury that the beneficiaries take for granted. Home deliveries without proper medical supervision, local midwives are still thriving in many third countries, real reason for high mortality rates among women and babies.

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  4. Thank you so much for sharing. I can't imagine what you mom went through and it's a miracle you were able to grow up healthy.

    It is interesting you brought up home birth because that is an area I've researched a little. There is this place called The Farm in Tennessee that I read about and reading those women's testimonies made it less intimidating than I would have ever thought. I realized we, in the US, have made birth a scary process rather than embracing it as a natural process experienced for generations.

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