****This post is in no way meant to be an attack on the choices you've made or the choices you will make concerning your body/baby/birth. I feel that women are the first to criticize how other women have chosen to give birth + parent, and I hope that I can convey my experiences in a supportive and loving way, while still presenting alternative, safe options for childbirth.****
My friend and midwife, Briana, posted these videos this morning, and I just had to share. I had my daughter, Sela, at home two years ago and I am planning a home birth for this sweet baby, also.
Home birth with a skilled, professional midwife is a safe option for a normal healthy pregnancy. Pregnancy and birth are not emergencies. Pregnancy and birth are not illnesses. Pregnancy and birth are natural, normal experiences that are uniquely feminine and hold a great amount of influence in a woman's life and our societies as a whole.
I recently finished Sheila Kitzinger's book, Rediscovering Birth, an anthology of the birth cultures found worldwide, and I couldn't help but mourn the lack of birth rituals in our culture, and how little respect we have for women and their roles as life creating, life carrying, and life bringing individuals. In the midwifery model of care you are in charge of your body and the things that happen to it during the prenatal, labor, and postpartum stages. You are empowered, supported and treated as an equal partner, you "manage" your birth.
I hope that you enjoy these videos, they are full of happy people with happy, healthy birth stories...
