My Mom had midwives from choice for all of her childrens births (which is why I also chose to do a home birth with choice), we were all born at home except for my sister Katie, thier 4th child. My parents were planning a home birth with her as well, it just didnt work out that way. During an ultrasound it was discovered that the placenta was under developed and Katie was not getting enough food. So they did an emergency C section, 3weeks before her due date. Abby was there with my mom (along with another midwife she couldnt remember who). When Katie was born she was only 3lbs 4oz. The dotors put her in an incubator, the doctors wouldnt let my Mom breastfeed as much as she wanted, and Katie wasn’t thriving, the doctors told my Mom that she probably wouldn’t make it. But Abby was there and told my Mom that of course she could make it, maybe she would just be a small person. So with Abbys help they convinced the Doctors to let my Mom take her home, they would have done it without doctors consent if they had to. At home my Mom breastfed her as much as she could and held her constently, and Katie thrived.
Today Katie is 24, and Abby was right she is small, she is 4’11” and 90lbs, but has always been perfectly healthy. In fact she has been so healty that she started Gymnastics at the age of 3 and by 5 she said she wanted to go to the Olympics. At 8 she started diving as a back up plan to the olympics. At 13 she quit gynastics and decided to focus solely on diving. She graduated from OSU where she was an all american diver, in 10m platform. Last week she competed at the Olympic trials and came in second! She made it, the top two get to go to London.
So even with a rough start and Abby as the voice of enchoragment the CHOICE family has a new Olympian, so everyone root for Katie Bell on August 8 and 9th in 10m platform at the Olympics, we know Abby will be watching.
~Bethany Sankey
mom to Arya 12/23/11