Best Diaper System Ever

I've have cloth diaper all my kids on and off. I used a mixture of pocket diapers, gDiapers and the best eco disposable diapers I could find. Let me tell you, stuffing the pocket diapers and washing them wasn't fun...My kids didn't like the gDiapers because there is no padding on the elastic and it would bother their hips...I only used the disposable ones at night and when I needed a break from washing, stuffing and hanging diapers. This diapering system was very expensive, the diapers did not last for all my children, it was a pain and I did not know any better until now.

Now with my third child I had to buy all new diapers and I've decided to try trifold diapers and covers. What a discovery for me! Even though this system was a very old system and not new at all it was new to me. It is the cheapest and the easiest way to cloth diaper a baby. What makes it cheaper? You only need a few covers. If the diaper is not soiled you can reuse it over and over again, so you don't need to spend tons of money. Also, buying the covers and the trifold diapers is cheaper than buying other type of diapers even when you buy it organic as I did. In contrast, pocket diapers once they get wet or soiled you have to wash the whole thing. Now, you may wonder what makes it easier? First, you do not have to stuff them or take the insert out every time you wash them. You save a lot of time and energy just there. Second, you don't have to wash the covers every time you change a diaper. By reusing it you save time and energy. After you wash them you can place them around the washer or in a hook to dry, they dry fast.  Third, the trifold diaper can easily be put in the dryer and needs to be folded in half if you like or simply put it in a hamper or basket next to the changing table. Even though hanging the diapers on the line is more ecological and you even save electricity as a homeschool mother of three children I don't have the time for hanging clothes. I figure by using cloth diapers I am already helping the earth. If you are wondering how to cloth diaper and you want an easy and cheap way of doing it try this system!

I use Dandelion organic trifold I bought in Amazon. The cover I use are called Proraps covers. I also bought them on Amazon. They are the cheapest out there, they work good and they are made in USA.

Do you want to buy them used? Visit Diaper Swappers

I hope you enjoy your cloth diapering journey and if you were considering cloth diapering your child this helps you to decide and go for it!

My Amazing Home Birth Experience

It wasn't until 2 weeks or even 2 and 1/2 weeks after my due date that I went into labor. I wasn't surprised because all my pregnancies went past the due date. My midwife explained to me that 40 weeks is an average and to get to that average there were women that went into labor before the 40 weeks and others after. That is why they came up with 40 weeks as a due date for every pregnancy. Saying that we should all know that not every person is the same and even with the same person not every pregnancy is the same. So we should believe in our body and let baby come out when baby is ready to come out....Or if you try to interfere with the natural process of pregnancy and try to speed it  up because you CAN'T wait to see your baby or you are afraid to be too over due you could end up with an experience similar to mine.

I had 3 due dates, July 2nd, 4th and 7th. When I passed all the due dates my midwife suggested I take castor oil. I read a lot about it. I found people saying it worked for them and others that didn't work. I will tell you my experience and I hope it helps you to make a better choice than me. In my case I was worried that I was going to be too overdue and like it happened with my middle child have to be induced in the hospital...I did NOT want to go to the hospital at all for any reason....So I did take castor oil. It seemed like a good idea at that time because it was better than going to the hospital and miss the amazing opportunity of giving birth at home as I so wanted. But the castor oil back fired, literally! Three hours after I took the castor oil without any effect I took the second dose. I had it with ice cream. It tasted good. Then it  hit me...I had diarrhea (expected) and to make matters worse I had the WORST hemorrhoids EVER! It was burning so bad...It was like I was passing fire for 2 days and1/2!!!! Did caster oil helped me to go into labor? NOT AT ALL....it gave me useless contractions and made me want to go to the hospital and get induced and be over with it...but I didn't go to the hospital...I put up with the pain and the disappointment. I learned my lesson...DO NOT mess with nature...trust your body and that your baby will come out when baby is ready...not when you want.

On July16th I had some stronger than BH contractions and I thought I was going to go into labor...I called my midwife and she cancelled her appointments for that afternoon but the contractions stopped and to my dismay nothing happened. So on July 18th at 2:05AM I wake up with some contractions...they were getting stronger as time passed. At 2:20AM I woke up my husband and asked him to fill the birthing pool. At 2:27AM I called my midwife and I told her I was having strong contractions and I even joked telling her what if they stop like the other ones and you come for nothing? At least I have a big bed we can share it with you! But the contractions just got stronger and stronger...She suggested I walk up and down the stairs but I couldn't I had to get in the pool that by the way it barely had any water... I started to feel a strong pressure to the point I couldn't find ay position to ease the pain...It was 2:55AM I could feel the baby's head that was about 2 inches still inside and my midwife hasn't come. I told my husband to give her a call so he called her at 2:58 and tells her to hurry up. At that time didn't know what to do, so I thought I should push. I pushed once and the baby's head came to the point where if you were looking you could almost see it. I pushed once and her head started bulging. That is when my started screaming "is coming out, is coming out, is coming ouuut!!! HAHA! How about that for a birth announcement for my neighbors! So then I pushed again and her head came out and with her head her whole body!! My baby girl came into the world at 3AM! I picked her up and removed the umbilical cord from around her neck, I sat down to hold her and that is when my midwife came. So I had an unassisted home birth in a way. She came right in time to help her breathe. Phew!

To recap, my labor lasted less than an hour from beginning to end and I pushed for less than 2 minutes and a total of 3 pushes. Wow! The fastest labor and birth ever for me.

I have 3 children and 3 different birth experiences:
Baby #1: Natural unmedicated birth that lasted 16 hours with 3 of those hours pushing...I had him in a hospital....
Baby #2: I was induced at a hospital and I had the epidural. I planned a home birth but due to low amniotic fluid I had to get induced and it lasted about 4 hours and 51 minutes or less ( I can't remember if I was induced at 12 or 12:30ish) andI think I pushed for 15 minutes or so...
Baby #3: Home water birth that lasted less than an hour and I pushed 3 times for 2 minutes.

I wish I had all my babies at home! I never want to have a child in a hospital again....

I am not planning to have more children but if I do I hope my labor is like my baby # 3!!!