Encore: Simplifying Birth, Simplifying Childhood with Ginny Yurtich
Have you ever been disqualified from something? Maybe you were in a swim meet and your feet touched the bottom of the pool. Maybe your scholarship essay was too short and you were taken out of the running…. But have you ever been considered disqualified in your birthing location? This week we’re speaking with an incredible woman, Ginny Yurtich, founder of 1000 hours outsideJih, and mother of 5 children with very different birth stories. In her first birth, Ginny’s pre-eclampsia “disqualified” her from her birth center experience, and we’ll see just how she handled this in subsequent births. Episode Roundup: The people who surround us can play such a huge role in our decisions. When we look back at Ginny’s first birth, she was considering an elective c section, as her friend very much enjoyed hers. But then, her brother’s roommate introduced her to the work of Ina May Gaskin, and her whole story was changed. Though the first two births did not work out nearly how she had desired, the seed was planted, and Ginny’s perception on birth was forever changed. Small changes can add up to massive results. Ginny discussed how after simply “getting through” her third pregnancy/first homebirth, she was ready to start making changes during her next pregnancy. She was able to head off her pre-eclampsia symptoms with liver support and appropriate nutrition, and her labor was dramatically shortened. And then… Ginny learned that birth was her responsibility. She took complete control in her final homebirth, and that 95 minute experience taught her so many lessons. We are always responsible for our birth, but when we recognize that and actually capitalize on it— what an incredible difference it can make in the lives of our entire family. And finally, simplicity is so beautiful. Ginny simplified her birth through unmedicalizing it, and she simplified her life by putting the focus on spending time in nature. The real nectar comes from the basics, and Ginny’s life is a glorious testimony to it. Follow Ginny: @1000hoursoutside Ginny's website: www.1000hoursoutside.com