God created child birth. He created a woman’s body uniquely to be able to handle the process of taking a life that is growing inside of her and pushing it out into her arms. There was a time when if the woman’s body was for some reason unable to successfully make it through that process, that the life of the baby, the mother, or sometimes both were ended. But through medical advances and a deeper understanding of how the body works, we now have the ability to go in and remove the baby in a sanitary and safe way via c-section when medically necessary.
My first son weighted 10 pounds, 12 oz and was 22 inches at birth. My second son weighed 13 pounds and was 24 inches long at birth. I am a lot of woman. But I am not that much woman. My body was not equipped to handle such mammoth children. Because of that I’ve had two c-sections.
So when someone says to me, “Are you sad that you didn’t get to give birth naturally,” I would often like to respond with, “Well, I’m actually just more happy that I’m not dead.” Look. I have two healthy kids. My birthing experiences were both trauma free and I bonded beautifully with both of my boys from the very beginning. While my c-sections are not exactly what God had in mind when he created my body, I have no doubt that He is completely cool with our choice to have them.
My first son I breast fed for right around a year. My second I breast fed for about 3 months before making a medical decision to switch to formula. When I share that information there is inevitably someone who gives me the “oh, you poor thing” look and reassures me that my son *probably* won’t grow up to experience an ill-effects. I do advocate breast feeding when possible, but due to medical advancements - the differences between kids on formula and those being breast fed aren’t as significant as they used to be. Honestly, my two-monther was healthier than my 11 monther. And while breastfeeding was created by God and is, when possible, the best option, I know that God does not look down on our decision to use formula.
I give you both of those examples because in both of these areas, people will often talk down to, pity, or criticize a person for doing things in a way that is contrary to what they deem to be natural. But what those people fail to realize is that while there is a BEST option (to do things naturally), sometimes there is second option that is still good when the first is not.
Many times when I talk about gastric bypass, people respond with THE question. “Why not just lose it naturally?” Here is my answer to that question. Would the BEST option be to lose the weight naturally? Yes. But since I was 13 years old I have tried and failed to actually do it. And there comes a point (and I will admit that that point was reached because of my own poor choices) when doing the natural thing is no longer the best option. The best option becomes the one that is most likely to make me NOT die. And just like the previous two examples, it is not the way that God intended for my body to be. But I have confidence that He is o.k. with the choice that I’ve made on how to remedy that problem.
I’ve learned through this process that I can’t allow myself to be bullied by other people’s opinions of my choices. Whether you’re dealing with judgments from people about whether or not you have a c-section, breastfeed, immunize, take synthetic medications, have weight loss surgery or WHATEVER…approach it first with prayer. Use common sense. Recognize that modern medicine can be a blessing, then act how you think God would want you to and trust that if you are making the wrong choice, He will make it clear.
“Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. “ Romans 14:22
My first son weighted 10 pounds, 12 oz and was 22 inches at birth. My second son weighed 13 pounds and was 24 inches long at birth. I am a lot of woman. But I am not that much woman. My body was not equipped to handle such mammoth children. Because of that I’ve had two c-sections.
So when someone says to me, “Are you sad that you didn’t get to give birth naturally,” I would often like to respond with, “Well, I’m actually just more happy that I’m not dead.” Look. I have two healthy kids. My birthing experiences were both trauma free and I bonded beautifully with both of my boys from the very beginning. While my c-sections are not exactly what God had in mind when he created my body, I have no doubt that He is completely cool with our choice to have them.
My first son I breast fed for right around a year. My second I breast fed for about 3 months before making a medical decision to switch to formula. When I share that information there is inevitably someone who gives me the “oh, you poor thing” look and reassures me that my son *probably* won’t grow up to experience an ill-effects. I do advocate breast feeding when possible, but due to medical advancements - the differences between kids on formula and those being breast fed aren’t as significant as they used to be. Honestly, my two-monther was healthier than my 11 monther. And while breastfeeding was created by God and is, when possible, the best option, I know that God does not look down on our decision to use formula.
I give you both of those examples because in both of these areas, people will often talk down to, pity, or criticize a person for doing things in a way that is contrary to what they deem to be natural. But what those people fail to realize is that while there is a BEST option (to do things naturally), sometimes there is second option that is still good when the first is not.
Many times when I talk about gastric bypass, people respond with THE question. “Why not just lose it naturally?” Here is my answer to that question. Would the BEST option be to lose the weight naturally? Yes. But since I was 13 years old I have tried and failed to actually do it. And there comes a point (and I will admit that that point was reached because of my own poor choices) when doing the natural thing is no longer the best option. The best option becomes the one that is most likely to make me NOT die. And just like the previous two examples, it is not the way that God intended for my body to be. But I have confidence that He is o.k. with the choice that I’ve made on how to remedy that problem.
I’ve learned through this process that I can’t allow myself to be bullied by other people’s opinions of my choices. Whether you’re dealing with judgments from people about whether or not you have a c-section, breastfeed, immunize, take synthetic medications, have weight loss surgery or WHATEVER…approach it first with prayer. Use common sense. Recognize that modern medicine can be a blessing, then act how you think God would want you to and trust that if you are making the wrong choice, He will make it clear.
“Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. “ Romans 14:22
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