september mama

*note to self: this is being written for your benefit later, when you have forgotten what it's like to be carrying a healthy, kicking baby in your body. for when doubt and other people are creeping in and making you question yourself. the 'you' who wrote this has no doubts and knows what she is talking about--trust me. trust yourself.*

i do hereby pledge to myself that my next pregnancy will be managed without any type of traditional prenatal care. i do not need testing, monitoring, evaluation, judgment, approval, or oversight in order to successfully nurture and birth a child.

i pledge to register with a care provider for purposes of proof-of-pregnancy and to maintain a relationship to obtain assistance in the case of an emergency or problem, but i do not intend to make monthly, weekly, or other regular appointments except in the case of genuine self-arising concern for the health of myself or my baby.

i pledge to have an all-natural home birth with minimal to no assistance other than what can be provided by my husband and/or immediate family members, unless an emergency arises.

i trust my body, my baby, and my ability to birth, and that is all i need.