LIVING WITH MS AND KEEPING IT NATURAL - PART 2
It was easier for me to look after my health as a stay-at-home mom and having my own schedule for everything. I was able to fit in more rest and sleep, even though this was a challenge with two young children and a husband who needed help running his own business. During that time frame, the construction industry went through a set-back, and all the trades people were paid less for their time and work.

However, the agreement within the family was still that we would raise the girls ourselves and try to save money by not spending much. I baked my own bread, made granola cereal from scratch, made muffins and plain yogurt for ourselves on a regular basis. We were hanging in there and my health was just fine.

Over the years, I (we) also used a natural way for contraception and it worked well because I paid attention to my body’s signals all the time. When we were told about the third pregnancy, our feelings were mixed, because of money issues as well as my health. I was quite upset first, but not for long! I reminded myself that everything happens for a reason in life and after lots of reading and researching about MS and pregnancy, I was convinced that it would all be just fine. It was a boost for a better immune system, and again, I watched closely how I felt and what I fed my body for both the baby and myself. Now I had a more legitimate reason to feel tired all the time (sad but true)!

We couldn’t afford a midwife this time, so when the time came to have this baby, we took matters to speed the delivery in our own hands. I remember taking some herbs from the Cohosh family as instructed by an alternative health practitioner. I knew that I wouldn’t have the energy for any of the birthing phases too long, so when the nurse left for a while, I took the herbs and shortly after, the contractions started. With my previous pregnancies, I never felt them, even though the monitor showed them as active.

I also used my mind constantly to convince myself that this was God’s plan and that it will all go over smoothly. And did it ever! After only 15 minutes of pushing, a healthy baby boy was born! I remember just saying “Thank God!” and wanting to shower and sleep, because it was another 5AM event (like my previous one) and I was super tired.

We named the baby Benjamin (meaning “the youngest”) and today, Ben is still a healthy and active boy who will turn 14 this fall.

So instead of joining the work force, I continued working as a home-maker and spending most of my time raising those three happy and healthy children while helping out with the family business. I breastfed all my children for a long time, and this was a bonus for my children’s health as well as my own. I did wish many times that my family wouldn’t live so far away….

More news about my life with MS soon!