Comparing Birth Experiences: USA/KSA/MSR

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Amani Sitting in front of a symbol of Saudi in Belgium

I am honored to have been asked to participate in the Mummy in Provence blog series on birth stories from around the world.  I love her project to focus in the differences of birth around the globe.

I hope you enjoy reading this interview about my experiences with birthing.  It is from the perspective of comparison between birthing in the United States, Egypt, and Saudi.  I also hope you will visit the original blog post and browse the many different birthing cultures represented in the series.

Let me know if you'd like to share your birth story on Saudi Birth Story.  It's always an honor and a pleasure to share my readers' birth stories.  Now on to the interview..Comparing Birth Experiences:  USA/KSA/MSR...

Repeat Cesareans

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As I read a sister’s blog I came across a sweet post listing the top ten reasons she loves her husband.  It was number ten that struck me most:

10. He gets sad when he thinks about children whose mothers work, are not breastfed, do not co-sleep, are left to cry it out, and who go to kafir schools.

Masha’Allah, he sounds like a really caring man.  I began to wonder about her birth experiences.  Of course I expected to find gushing stories about the compassion of her husband during her labors.  But what I read was fitting for a different topic.

Instead of finding a story about the husband’s role in her birth, I found one of pregnancy complications and repeat Cesareans. 

I am always honored to share birth stories from around the globe.  Please let me know if you’d like to share yours.  Now on to the story…Repeat Cesareans…

Getting Involved in Breastfeeding Awareness

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 © 2001 Harvey Nelson, Courtesy of Photoshare

I've been participating in a lot of pregnancy and birth education activities over the past few weeks, alhamdulelah.  The topics have been varied but they all have touched on breastfeeding.  

Even though they are unrelated classes, each one is building upon the last to broaden my understanding of the culture of breastfeeding, as well as giving me important information to help mothers who suffer difficulty feeding.  Allah is the best of planners and it is becoming clear to me that this is an issue I need to get more involved with, subhan'Allah.

Please get in touch with me if you are interested in finding out more about how you could get involved in breastfeeding or natural birth education and awareness.  Now on to the post...Getting Involved in Breastfeeding Awareness...

Improving Birth Practices in Saudi

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 Photo Credit:  Umm Layth of

Wold of Umm Blog

This is a repost from a new blog designed to help build a feasibility study for birth centers in Saudi.  Saudi Birth Surveys

The birth experience has lifelong health and emotional affects on women, babies, and families; and thus communities at large. As a responsible member of Saudi society, you have a right and an obligation to ensure that each baby, mother, and family have the best possible start in life, insha'Allah.

The over-medicalised culture of birth in Saudi Arabia is troubling.  Thankfully, there are a lot of efforts being made within the concerned governmental agencies, public and private medical communities, and the community at large to find ways to protect women, babies, and families during this vulnerable time.

I hope you'll get involved by providing your important opinions for these surveys...now on to the request...Improving Birth Practices in Saudi...

The Stylish Blogger Award!

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I received this blog award from Princess Laylah at the "The Blue Abaya" blog! Thank you, Laylah and congratulations on the recent birth of Princess Lamia and the five kittens!!  I'm hoping to post Lamia's birth story soon, insha'Allah.

With this award you have to do the following:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award
2. Share seven things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers to tell them about their awards

 I hope you'll agree with my nominees.  Now on to the details...The Stylish Blogger Award!...

"My water broke!"...Guess what...it's NOT an Emergency!

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Art by:  Amy Swagman
http://themandalajourney.com/

Important amendment to this article:  I inadvertantly left off some very good points which were made in the comments section by a reader.  Please take the time to read the entire article AND comments to get a more complete view of this topic.

I recently had two separate occasions to work with women that had amniotic leaks prior to the onset of labor.  Both wanted natural birth without medical induction, augmentation, or cesarean surgery.  But both were worried if they didn't rush to the hospital that their babies would be in jeapordy.

Fortunately, I was able to provide them information that gave them the confidence to allow nature to take its course.  I pray that sharing this here will help others in the same circumstance. 

Please contact me if you would like to share a topic idea.  Now on to the article..."My water broke!"...Guess what...it's NOT an Emergency!

Ecstatic Birth, Nature's Hormonal Blueprint for Labor

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I was recently contacted by a doctor who had seen my Saudi Life Motherhood column.  She shared her website address and I discoverd she is an author and advocate for natural birth, mahsa'Allah. 

I was really impressed with her philosophies about birth.  I am honored to make her "virtual acquaintance" and want to share her work with my readers. She offers a free e-book which I'll discuss here.

I hope you'll enjoy discovering her work as much as I have.  Now on to the review...Ecstatic Birth, Nature's Hormonal Blueprint for Labor...

من هي الدولا؟ (What is a Doula?)

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I am pleased to post this article in Arabic.  It originally appeared on January 9, 2011 in English on the Motherhood section of Saudi Life.  It can be read in English here: What is a Doula?  

I am grateful to my husband for translating it.  Please share it with others who would benefit from this educational article in Arabic.  Now on to the story...من هي الدولا؟  (What is a Doula?)...

Announcing a New Page to Introduce Other Articles I Write...

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Me, Aisha (Natural Mom)

Lecturing About Natural Birth

I am pleased to announce that I am now writing a weekly column called Motherhood for Saudi Life.  I have also debuted on Suite 101, alhamdulelah. 

I've created a page (Columns I Write) on my blog to host the links to my other articles.  I hope you enjoy reading them.  As always, I'd love to hear your feedback and story ideas!

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT! I'm in the News! :)

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Me, Aisha (Natural Mom)

Teaching Pregnancy Exercises

This has been an exciting month for me! 

Alhamdulealah, somebody pinch me!  I need to check if I'm dreaming before I post this!  It's not hard to tell that I have a passion for natural birth and it's my goal to spread it throughout the Middle East and Africa, insha'Allah.  But I was totally amazed when I came back to Egypt from a trip to the States this past June. 

I had just finished attending classes to become certified as a childbirth teacher and labor/birth doula.  I was seven months pregnant myself and was waiting until the end of my ninth month to join my husband in Saudi to have our baby there.  I didn't expect to accomplish much in those three months in terms of putting my training to work.

No one could have imagined the opportunites that I found in those three months in Egypt, let alone during the past month in Saudi! 

I hope you enjoy reading about the exciting opportunities in Egypt and Saudi.  I'd love your feedback and comments.  Now on to the story...EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT!  I'm in the News!  :)...  

A Doctor Who Agrees, "Natural Birth is Best!"

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 Haider, One Year

This is my second repost of a Dr. Mercola article.  I really like this guy!  In this article he confirms what I keep saying, "Natural birth is best!"  By natural we are referring to not just "vaginal" but non-medicated and non-medical intervened.

I am happy to repost his article here and have highlighted some of the comments that particularly interested or impressed me.

I hope you enjoy reading this article.  Please let me know if you have a story idea or would like to share your birth story. Now on to the article...A Doctor Who Agrees, "Natural Birth is Best!"...

Repost about the safety of homebirth...

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I was so impressed by an article I found by a doctor who actually supports natural birth and even goes so far as to say that home birth may actually be safer than hospital birth!  The article was written Dr. Mercola.  First of all, I want to site what he says about himself: 

"Have always been interested in health...went to med school to further my knowledge base and started professional life as a family doctor in 1985. However was completely brainwashed by the system and actually was a paid lecturer by the drug companies in the 80's.  Eventually I saw the light in the early 90s and refined my understanding of health truths."

I am happy to repost his article here and have highlighted some of the comments that particularly interested or impressed me.

I hope you enjoy reading this article.  Please let me know if you have a story idea or would like to share your birth story. Now on to the article...Repost about the safety of homebirth...

Birthing Takes Common Sense!

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 Haider, 9 Months

A friend of mine who blogs sent me a link to a story written by "Sarah C," another birth-blogger located in California.  I asked "Sarah C's" permission to copy her story here.  You can check out her blog directly at http://mamabirth.blogspot.com/, however I've added some of my own comments throughout her article in red italics.

I hope you enjoy reading this article.  Please let me know if you have a story idea or would like to share your birth story. Now on to the article...Birthing Takes Common Sense!...