“Many Western doctors hold the belief that we can improve everything, even natural childbirth in a healthy woman. This philosophy is the philosophy of people who think it deplorable that they were not consulted at the creation of Eve, because they would have done a better job.” ~ Dr. Kloosterman, Chief of OB/GYN, University of Amsterdam, Holland Dr. Ala Alwan, World Health Organization (WHO) Assistant Director General for Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health said in April, 2009, “It is a deep …
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“The midwife considers the miracle of childbirth as normal, and leaves it alone unless there’s trouble. The obstetrician normally sees childbirth as trouble; if he leaves it alone, it’s a miracle.” ~ Sheila Stubbs I cannot take credit for this chapter’s title. It was coined in the 2nd half of the 20th century in England, and later written in Maternal Bonding, by Dr. Wladyslaw Sluckin of Oxford, U.K., 1983. He …
There are over 70,000 recent Somali immigrants in Minneapolis and St. Paul. A civil war has raged for decades in their homeland and caused millions of refugees to flee and find new homes around the globe. We now boast at least one mosque per block in some neighborhoods here. Little grocery stores advertise goat and camel along with chicken and beef and other halal meats. (Like a kosher label, halal assures Muslims of freshness and safety in the preparation of …
“There is no other organ quite like the uterus. If men had such an organ they would brag about it. So should we” ― Ina May Gaskin …
Christmas 2012. We had gone to the midnight service extra early to hear a special hymn and carol singing. It was beautiful and inspiring. The crèche at the church was stunning; I had never seen one quite like it. It was close to life-size, camels and all. I love Christmas, it has always been a special time for me. We finally got home and crawled into bed at 2 a.m. I gave thanks for all that was well with …
Emma Hope I asked Melissa if she would let me tell her story, a journey that began over a year ago. She answered, “That’s not a problem; I would love to share our story 🙂 I am very proud of Miss Emma and would love to share how miracles can happen.” This is a true story about one of the most difficult but also one of the most moving times I have ever shared with any family. I …
One of my clients was (told she was) overdue and becoming increasingly nervous about the fact. Unless a baby is conceived by artificial or in vitro fertilization, or the couple chart basal body temperatures and see ovulation occur, it is almost impossible to predict the exact date of conception and then calculate the due date. We are actually changing the term at this time from Due Date to Guess Date. In the past, doctors have induced babies rather routinely that were still not showing …
‘Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment.’ ~Thich Nhat Hanh …
While we were living in Wisconsin in the mid 1980s I attended several Amish births. The Amish don’t use modern farm equipment, electricity, or indoor plumbing, and also don’t have telephones, much less computers, email, iPods, or things like that. So, when a baby announces his or her imminent arrival, the mother has to first locate Pa somewhere on the farm, get the children to grandma and grandpa’s doddy haus, (Amish dialect for a grandparents’ apartment, often built onto the …
Doula, pronounced DOO-la, originated from the Ancient Greek word meaning servant to women; a non-medical person who assists a woman, her partner and/or family before, during, or after childbirth providing information and physical and emotional support. Continuous support during labor by doulas is associated with improved maternal and fetal outcomes and other benefits. It was a circus; hardly a birth. Bah is 14. I put this into context this way: her parents were married at 15; life expectancy in …
