Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Nothing contained in my blogposts should be considered medical advice. Please do your own research about everything you read and consult with the professionals who oversee your health about your concerns or questions.
I’m a mom of four, book author, lover of mountains and trees, wannabe photographer, and a Mormon. I have a school psychologist husband I call “Ax” in the blogosphere, two daughters born in hospitals, a son and daughter born at home, and a sweet little shih tzu we call Boston. I grew up in a variety of places (Arizona, Utah, and Massachusetts), traveling often between divorced parents. I graduated in April 2003 from Brigham Young University where I majored in English.
In December of 2007, I turned to Blogger as an outlet for my passionate drive to share what I learned and loved about birth, taking on the psuedonym, “Buscando la luz.” (You can read more about why I chose that particular name here.) I became trained as a birth doula through DONA in 2009 and completed a Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) course with Karen Strange in 2011. I have dreams (see here and here) of attending births at some point in my future. In the meantime, I will learn everything I can about birth, and write, write, write!
So you can call me Buscando la luz, or “Busca,” for short. Or you can call me by the Hawaiian name my mom gave me over thirty years ago: Lani. Coincidentally, this “light-seeker” now resides in the Valley of the Sun–AZ. If you have a question or just want to connect, please email me at askbusca@gmail.com. You can also post questions, see links to more articles and research, and interact with me and a large group of birth-loving women on my Birth Faith Facebook page. I’m so glad you found your way here!
Thanks for reading!
I found your website via the blog Brown Paper Packages. I have browsed and I like what you have here! I will be checking back often. I wish I had this resource when I was pregnant with my daughter. Much love to you, yours, and the one on the way.
Nikki – Butterfly Mama
I found your blog through a search for side effects caused by Pitocin. As of now, I have a 16 month old son with no ill effects from my induction. Your blog on this topic was so enlightening. Thank you:)
Been a reader for awhile. Just thought I’d finally say “hi”, from a fellow homebirthing-Phoenician-mormon-mama : )
I stumbled across your blog, through another doula site and enjoyed reading your thoughts. As I was skimming through the “topics”, I noticed that out of all the topics, there was one important one missing: Circumcision. This decision will affect every mother giving birth to a baby boy. Since hospitals have given that decision to parents, and don’t seem to want to offer any real information and facts about it, it’s amazing what people don’t know about this surgical procedure that is still routinely performed in the U.S. Perhaps this information is somewhere in the topics, but I just don’t see it. Thank you.
Hi Mary,
Circumcision is something I haven’t chosen to tackle on my site. While I am passionate about many things relating to childbirth, and I have chosen not to circumcise my children, I don’t consider myself an “intactivist.” But you’re right that parents definitely need to do their research about circumcision and make an educated decision. And I feel confident that they will find lots of resources on the web as they seek the truth they need.
Thanks for stopping by!
I have been following you on FB, and just wanted to say i love what you are doing and i am a woman of the same heart. Wish we lived closer:)
It’s amazing that every childbirth educator/Midwife/Doula, etc. doesn’t tackle the circumcision issue. It is so glossed over and lost between that beautiful, natural, nonviolent birth we all want……then circumcision…..then they take the baby home. I feel so sorry for the newborn boys who don’t have an open advocate in every childbirth professional. Parents do need to do their research on genital cutting, but unfortunately many don’t do it or don’t seem to want to know the facts. Your children are lucky you chose to keep them whole and natural, the way nature intended. I just mourn for the babies that are not that lucky. Circumcision is a permanent alteration of a babies sexual organ…..it just seems to me this should be a topic worth tackling!
As a side note for Mormons…..Moroni 8:8…..is all about circumcision, and it clearly says that it is “done away in me”. I think that pretty much says it is not to be practiced any longer….. yet I know quite a few Mormons who circumcise their infant boys. That is quite confusing….
Yes, the scriptures definitely reinforced my own decision not to circumcise my son. I know more and more LDS women who are questioning circumcision. Thanks for sharing your input, Mary.
Hi Lani,
I do design work for a small nonprofit magazine and would like to know if I could get your permission to use the image of you holding one of your babies (the banner image for your website) in an article I’m designing. The circulation is mainly church members.
Thanks for your consideration. It’s a great shot—very maternal.
Sincerely,
troy
I am glad to hear more and more LDS women are questioning circumcision. Thanks for telling me that! Besides the scriptures saying it is done away with, there are some other excellent sites that have great information about circumcision: DrMomma.org; Peaceful Parenting; The Whole Network; Question Circumcision; Parents for Genital Integrity; Parents Place; IntactAmerica, etc. They also have important information about breast feeding and caring for intact boys. thanks again.