Birthing Beautiful Ideas

Who are you?

I’m Kristen Oganowski–mother, doula, graduate student, feminist, and writer.  (I get to call myself a “writer” if I’m the author of a blog, right?)

I’m married to Tim.  He last name is different from mine, but I’ll refrain from sharing it here just in case a disgruntled park ranger is seeking revenge on the guy who pooped behind a port-a-potty in Xenia, Ohio.  Tim is an attorney, but not the fancy kind of attorney.  (He gets to wear jeans and flannels to work.)  He’s also an all-around swell guy who still makes me swoon with love every once in a while.

I’m the mother of M and A.  M was born in November of 2005, and A was born in May of 2008.

M likes animals, books, knights, and dragons and might very well be smarter than his parents.  (Case in point?  He began reading fluidly at the tender age of four.)  His mind-numbing stubbornness is only outmatched by soul-quenching love.  Really, this kid makes me melt.

A likes airplanes, trains, cars, trucks, helicopters, and everything in Mommy’s arsenal of hair and make-up thinga-ma-jigs.  He doesn’t talk a lot, but he can figure out how something works or how to build just about anything in less time than it takes for me to snarf down a cookie.  He also has a wicked temper and a wicked sense of humor.  Really, this kid makes me laugh.

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Why don’t you reveal your kids’ names on your blog?

Part paranoia, part protectiveness.  There are weirdos who come to my blog (you should see the search engine terms I get here!), and I don’t want them knowing my kids’ names.

But I also want the boys to have some sense of privacy.  They’re still too young to offer any sort of robust consent about whether or not I write about them on this blog.  So “initials only” it is.

(And for the record?  I have “slipped” with the boys’ names every so often.  Search hard enough, and you’ll find them.  It’s like Where’s Waldo, but even nerdier.)

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Is your family really as freaking funny as you portray them here on your blog?

No.  They’re freaking funnier.

I mean, I choose not to write about things like poop-incidents and other antics that the boys might want to keep private, say, in their middle-school years.  But if I did choose to write about these family “adventures”?  Oh man, some poopy, stinky hilarity would ensue.

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Why “birthing beautiful ideas”?

I wrote this in my first blog post: “I ‘borrowed’ the title of this blog from Socrates, who compared his role as a philosopher to that of a midwife, helping others to ‘give birth’ to ideas.  As a PhD candidate in philosophy who is a mother and who has recently become a birth doula, Socrates’ self-assessment seems more germane to me than ever.”

Sounds a little hokey and pretentious, no?

But I guess that I am a little hokey.  And maybe a little pretentious-sounding, but if you met me, you’d know that I’m just a big ol’ ball of goofiness.

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What is this blog about?  Is it a birth blog?  A mommy blog?  A personal blog?

Sometimes I write about birth.

Sometimes I write about my work as a doula.

Sometimes I write about my kids.

Sometimes I write about breastfeeding.

Sometimes I write about the really freaking funny stuff that happens to me, my family, or my friends.

Sometimes I write about politics.

So what kind of blog is this?

It’s one that’s not entirely niche-defiant, but not exactly easy to pigeonhole either.

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What is a doula?

A doula is a person who offers continuous emotional and physical support during a woman’s labor.

As a DONA-trained doula, I provide non-pharmaceutical comfort measures, education, and advocacy to pregnant and birthing women.  I do not perform medical procedures, nor do I “replace” any other members of a woman’s labor team, such as her partner, nurses, midwife, or doctor.

And I’m absolutely passionate about what I do.

(If you’re in the Columbus, Ohio area and are looking for a doula, please feel free to check out my doula services page!)

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Did you use a doula when you gave birth?

I didn’t have a doula present for M’s birth, but I did for A’s birth, which was a VBAC.  (You can read all about that birth–and about my doula’s invaluable support–here.)

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What’s a VBAC?

A VBAC is a vaginal birth after cesarean.

They’re not exceedingly dangerous.  They’re even considered to be “reasonable options” for many pregnant women with previous cesarean scars.

And I write a lot about them.

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Why are you against c-sections?

I’m not!  I think that c-sections are wonderful life-saving and health-ensuring tools when they are medically indicated.

I am more than concerned about the overuse of cesarean section, however.  (Currently, the cesarean rate in the United States stands at 32.3%.)  High c-section rates put moms and babies at risk, especially when one takes into consideration the risk that each subsequent c-section poses to a woman’s future reproductive health.

In that same vein, I’m not “against” repeat c-sections either!  Choosing between a VBAC and a repeat cesarean is a personal, intimate decision that women should be entrusted to make on their own.  They should not be bullied or scared into either option.  They should be able to learn and know the facts–the risks and benefits of both options–and then make their own decision about how they want to birth their babies, with the full support of their care provider.

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Why are you giving medical advice if you’re not a midwife, nurse, or doctor?

I don’t give medical advice.  I am not qualified to give medical advice.  What’s more, I am not qualified to diagnose any medical conditions, to perform any medical procedures, or to recommend any particular medical remedies.

But I am qualified to read and analyze information.

And in regard to pregnancy and birth in particular, I write from the perspective of a “philosophical doula”–one who researches about birth, one who asks pointed questions about birth, and one who analyzes the conditions and circumstances under which women give birth.

In this respect, I am also qualified to give this sort of advice: research your maternity care providers, research your birth options, and never be afraid to ask questions in order to ensure that you have the healthiest, safest, and most empowering birth possible!

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Hold the phones, I just read that you are getting a Ph.D. in philosophy.  What’s that about?

Yep, I’m gonna be “Dr. Oganowski” some day.  Just not the useful sort of doctor.

For those interested, I’m writing my dissertation on Simone de Beauvoir’s ethics and their relevance to contemporary feminist philosophy.

And for those interested, I’m not exactly committed to being a full-time academic.

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So what do you want to be when you grow up?

There’s that cliched phrase that goes something like, “If you find a job that you love, you never have to work a day in your life.”

Yeah.  I want that job.

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I am just bowled over by your awesomeness.  Will you review my product?  Or will you sell me some advertising space on your blog?

Sure!  Do you have a business or sell products that are related pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, or parenting?  Do you have an online store (such as an Etsy shop) where you sell your spectacular crafts?  Do you want to reach my audience here on the blog, on Twitter, and on my Facebook fan page?  I’d be happy to help you promote your product!  Please contact me (birthing beautiful ideas (at) gmail (dot) com) to hear more about my competitive ad space rates.

I’m also more than happy to review one of your products and/or to promote it in a giveaway.  For reviews, please know that I will either keep the product, offer it up in a blog giveaway, or donate it to charity.

(Oh, and for what it’s worth, if your product is related to breastfeeding, please know that I will only promote it if your company and your advertising is WHO Code compliant.)

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How do I contact you?

Email: birthingbeautifulideas (at) gmail (dot) com

Twitter: @BirthingKristen

Facebook: Birthing Beautiful Ideas Facebook Fan Page

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