Choices

Glenni Lorick, Editor-in-Chief

CHOICES, choices, choices…. We are faced daily with a myriad of choices. What to wear…where to have lunch…what news channel to watch….You get the idea. Many of the choices we make each day are really quite inconsequential. However, some choices do fall into the “really big deal” category.

The decision to get pregnant is that kind of choice. Then when you do get pregnant you are faced with an abundance of choices. Who will your health care provider be? Where will you have the baby? What kind of birth will you have? How will you feed your newborn? What kind of parenting style will you adopt?

This issue has some articles to help you think through your choices. Dr. Anne Marie Reidy has an excellent article about elective c-sections. Lisa Clark provides you a rundown of the various health care provider options you have. Lysa Parker gives you an overview of parenting style. You will also find some great information about breastfeeding in the article by Julie Patton.

Don’t miss the center spread, “A Tale of Two Births” where two different women chose to have waterbirths in two very different settings. On the lighter side, you’ll enjoy our new column, “Hey Honey, Let’s Eat Out,” where we feature a different valley restaurant in each issue. Finally, after reading Alicia Wilson’s article about taking a Babymoon, you’ll be itching to travel …Bon Voyage!

Starting this magazine was one of those “really big deal” choices for me. Generally I make those kinds of decisions with lots of prayer, massive doses of advice and the blessing of my wonderful husband. I’m so thankful for all the people in my life who give me wise guidance and loving support. And I’m also very thankful for each one of you who has taken the time to pick up Valley Babies. Let me know what you want to see here. And please don’t forget to thank our advertisers and tell them you saw them right here in Valley Babies.