“I gained so much sovereignty with… Bitcoin, and I’m equally grateful that my partner did the same by choosing to give birth at home.”
This is an op-ed by Connor Chepnick, the organizer of a Bitcoin adoptive meetup and father of a home-born child.
When my partner initially mentioned the home birth of our first child, I didn’t think much of it. As a man, I had limited knowledge of what childbirth entailed. My whole life, it’s seemed like it’s been common knowledge that hospital births are just what you do because it’s “safe.” Fortunately, not trusting common knowledge, my partner went to check herself.
Did you know that in 2021, cesarean deliveries are counted 32.1% of live births in the United States? I was surprised when I learned that. A third of women did not give birth naturally in one of the richest countries in the world?
I also learned that stimulating women early is common hospital practice. It is usually performed when there is a concern for the health of the mother or baby, but elective labor induction is often performed for convenience. Labor induction carries various risksincluding induction failure, decreased fetal heart rate, infection, uterine rupture and increased postpartum hemorrhage.
Furthermore, an epidural syringe containing fentanyl was used They are known to cause difficulties latching on to their mother’s breast. This does not mean crushing hospitals. It should be noted that women’s bodies were capable of giving birth to children long before humans created hospitals.
At first, a home birth seemed like a great idea to me because it meant I got to watch my baby enter this world from the comfort of my own living room. But after learning about these stats, my mind quickly shifted to the fact that not only is home birth interesting, it’s the best option we have.
Now, you might be wondering why an article in Bitcoin Magazine is discussing childbirth. The answer is simple: Bitcoin, like a home birth, is rooted in the idea of self-confidence and one’s abilities. Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that enables secure and private transactions without intermediaries such as banks or governments. Saving in Bitcoin is a way to be confident in your ability to manage your financial assets.
There’s no way you can keep track of a home birth or saving with bitcoin if you haven’t taken the time, research, and willingness to check out the value of these things. It is important to make informed decisions that align with your values and preferences, as not everyone is suited to home birth or bitcoin.
Avoid making decisions based on fear
Just because someone in a position of authority recommends a particular course of action, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you. Fear-based decision making should be avoided at all costs. Being born at home can be scary, just as keeping a large portion of your wealth in bitcoin can be. Empowering individuals, rather than being afraid of being promoted, will help people make decisions that are in their best interests.
For example, some doctors may recommend that you deliver in a hospital and some bankers may recommend that you keep your money in a bank due to the safety and security of those institutions. Do not accept this without checking for yourself. Everyone is different, which means it’s important to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of each option.
While hospital births may offer access to advanced medical equipment and professionals, they also carry higher risks of medical intervention and complications. Similarly, while banks may provide convenience and the perception of security, they also carry the risk of loss due to inflation or bank failure. As we saw with the collapse of Silvergate, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), and Signature Bank, it doesn’t take much for bank operation to happen in our digital world.
Ensure that the Federal Reserve, the United States Treasury, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) just announced That the FDIC will bail out SVB depositors, but what these financial experts don’t reveal is that this means inflation will explode again while printing money to make those depositors whole again.
With this declaration, you can probably rest assured that most deposits in any bank in the United States will be guaranteed in the event of a bank failure. Unfortunately, the dollars in that bank account will lose purchasing power every time you create more of them out of thin air. Mitigation is a simple concept. For those who didn’t get it, Thomas Massey did a great job of explaining it video around the three-minute mark. By taking the time to educate yourself and make informed decisions, you can maintain your independence and make choices that are actually in your best interest.
Another reason why people argue that you should keep your money in the bank instead of in Bitcoin is because, with Bitcoin, you don’t have a chance to get your money back if you get something wrong. This is correct. You are in charge of your own UTXOs, full stop. If you deposit a Bitcoin transaction, there is no bank to contact and tell them to freeze that transaction. This is the trade off you face when you keep your private keys. With more freedom comes more responsibility.
Bitcoin and home birth are not for the weak and dependent. I’m proud of my partner for choosing to give birth at home, and our happy, healthy baby is a testament to the benefits of being confident in one’s own body. While there are undoubtedly cases where doctors and banks have saved lives and money, respectively, they both depend on trusting a third party. Being sovereign means taking independent action and minimizing outside interference.
Living with trade-offs
Of course, there are trade-offs with everything. I lost my bitcoins out of my own stupidity, and I’m sure there are horror stories of people who lost their children due to lack of medical care. However, I can only speak from anecdotal evidence, but I believe there is tremendous value in being as sovereign as possible. It is unfortunate to see banks fail and mothers hurt because of our current system. However, I don’t think most people in these systems are evil; They are only inside corrupt systems.
If you are willing and able, there is value in holding your bitcoin and giving birth at home. If you were really a sovereign, you might consider free birth, which means giving birth without any medical assistance. My partner had a midwife, which was amazing. I am so happy we have someone to guide us for our first child.
It reminded me of someone who is self-custodian of their bitcoin but relies on someone else’s node, like those who might use Muun Wallet. Yes, you are relying on someone else’s server to send and receive your bitcoins. If you can, you should spin your own knots and be fully sovereign. However, if you are just starting out down the Bitcoin rabbit hole, often the first step is to simply take your coins off the exchange. If you don’t take out self-custodianship, you’re no better than someone who has all their money in a bank – or arguably worse, because cryptocurrency exchanges don’t get FDIC insurance.
You can always learn how to run node once you get more experienced. Likewise, having a midwife assist with the birth at home may make sense for the first baby. Not everyone is ready to give birth without any medical assistance, and relying on someone with more experience can be super valuable. It’s what my partner chose, and although it wasn’t a sovereign choice like a free birth, we still had an amazing experience.
In the same way that I would not recommend that my grandfather run a Bitcoin node, my partner would not suggest that her friends give birth to their children on their own. It is critical that you weigh your options, do your research, and make informed decisions that are appropriate for your individual situation. I personally gained a lot of sovereignty with my experience with Bitcoin, and I’m equally thankful that my partner did the same by choosing to give birth at home. I believe there are valuable lessons to be learned from both societies, as they both prioritize independence and self-reliance. Bitcoin traders understand the importance of being in control of their financial assets, while home-borns prioritize having their birth experiences and trust in the natural capabilities of their bodies. By understanding and embracing these values, we can create more empowered and self-sufficient societies.
There are no easy solutions
In life there are no easy solutions. Every decision we make comes with a set of trade-offs, and it is our responsibility to consider them all rather than outsourcing to an “expert”. Although the concepts of bitcoin and home birth may sound vastly different, they share a common goal – ensuring the success of future generations.
This is a promising sign for the future, where these children will become leaders and decision-makers in our society. Regardless of their parents’ beliefs or values, they will inherit a constantly evolving world, and they will have the power to shape it in ways we cannot yet conceive. We can’t give them the right answers, but we can teach future generations to weigh their choices and trust themselves, not others, to make the right decisions.
This is a guest post by Conor Chepenik. The opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.