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Showing posts with label midwifery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label midwifery. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

June's Birth


This is actually a short story fiction I wrote.  I started writing it a while ago and I have a little bit of a rough draft on this site.   I thought I'd post the final version again. 

June ran, laughing through the warm rain. It was monsoon season in Tucson, Arizona. For a 5 year old, that meant splashing through puddles and getting soaked while running around through the much needed rain. A miracle takes place in the desert after a rain. The dry land brings forth growth, and the brown turns hues of green. The long dormant cactus, blossoms, and sometimes you can catch a glimpse of a flower that blooms every hundred years. Death becomes life in the miracle of the downpour, and laughter springs forth from lips of children as they revel in the warm drops around them.

And, as inevitably happens with a child, a slip through the mud sent June inside with tears to her mother. June's mother held her tight, dried her tears and kissed her sores. She wrapped her in her warm arms, and June felt the warmth of love emanate from them. Then her mom began a story that June had heard quite often during frightening nights and tearful sobs. June's mom began to tell her that it was when she was lost, it was love that found her and brought her back. Thus began the tale of June's birth.

Her mother told her, that at one point she looked up as the midwife turned briefly from her side and begged her not to go. The thought that her midwife might leave drove panic into her mind, and she clung to her arm and looked at her eyes as another pain pulled her into herself. Her midwife understood where she had to go, and she allowed her to go there. Lights were dimmed and voices hushed as a woman was beginning her transformation into motherhood.

It's hard to understand from the outside where a woman goes as a pain passes through her, while her new child is making their way into this world. Her eyes close. Slow moans leave her throat. The rest of the world is blotted out as the wave rolls through her, peaks, and slowly subsides. Then the hand on another's arm is noticed once more. There is gratitude for the presence of another as she prepares herself for the roll of another wave.

The midwife looked down on this young woman, bringing life for the first time, and was filled with an immense amount of love and gratitude for what she was doing. She stayed there. Just to catch her eye at the end of each contraction. She would softly listen to the rhythmic beat of the babies heart to ensure the child was safe, and then sit on the chair by the mother's side. Occasionally she would lean in with her weight on the mother's knees to relive some pressure during the peak. June's mom would say that her touch was filled with love, and that love was her balm. She then found the courage to fill her own soul with love. Then she allowed that love to flow around her child as the baby moved it's way into this world with a big belly cry. With a smile, the midwife faced the new mother and told her, “You did that so well, I think you could have 12 more of these babies”. A slow smile crept across the mothers face, as she let the love of her child soak into her soul.

June allowed that love to surround her there, sitting on her mothers knee and it slowly lulled her to sleep while the water poured on the ground, getting ready to bring the green of the monsoon rains.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Pioneer midwife

Here's a great link to a midwife that was a pioneer in the late 1800's. It's a great story:)
http://www.byutv.org/watch/480-419

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Beautiful births

I just needed to share what a beautiful birth I attended last night, and how much I appreciated the midwife that attended it. This midwife worked to make the mother's birth so peaceful. This particular woman did have an epidural, but midwifes are able to work just as well with those who choose that also. I'm not exactly sure what the difference is except there was a spirit of calm, quite, peacefulness, and sacredness of the event that was taking place. The baby slipped quietly into this world, without tears or episiotomies. No one was raising their voices to count...there was just a mom and baby making it's way into this world. It was then placed lovingly on her belly skin to skin while the midwife waited for the cord to stop pulsating. What a gentle transition it was. I loved it because not only was the midwife attending to the safety of the mom and baby, but she was also attending to the spiritual/emotional needs of these two. These are the births I live for.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

It's what they want to do

Dr. Kathleen Harner, an obstetrician in Tuba City, said: “Midwives are better at being there for labor than doctors are. Midwives are trained for it. It’s what they want to do.”


I thought this was an interesting quote and just something to think about when choosing providers. Some medical professionals do not want to be there for labor. And that's ok. You may not need or want them there either, but if you do, then you should make sure that you choose someone who does want to be there. Many people I know and have worked with have a love for child bearing women and love to be there for them. There are some medical professionals who see it as purely a medical event, and that's how they will treat you. Again, just be sure you find someone who views it the same way you do.

Now, for my lesson in this. How often do I want to be there? Not just for labor, but for other people in my life. How often do I wake up each morning and think, "I really am excited for today. I want to be here". Sometimes our own mind set can make all the difference for the people around us and for ourselves. And, I think we have the ability to choose that mind set. So, I'm going to bed tonight and I'm going to try and wake up tomarrow and think "I want to be here today, for me, for my husband, and for my kids. Because they are the greatest thing that could ever happen to me". Wish me luck!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Midwifery model of care

A friend of mine is doing a series of posts about the midwifery model of care. If you are interested in learning more, here's her blog: http://mamasandbabies.blogspot.com/2010/02/midwifery-model-of-care.html

And check back frequently because there is going to be continued info on this topic

Birth is a Journey: Does it have to be life changing?


  • One woman might have to climb on an overfilled boat, risking her life and nearly dying as she escapes over the ocean to come to this land. This experience could certainly be life altering. It may very well color the rest of her life, positively or negatively. (I overcame this amazing struggle and here I am triumphant! OR Holy crap, that was SO hard I don’t know if I can go on! By the way, neither response is “right”. No one would judge the woman with the 2nd response.)
  • One woman may buy an airplane ticket, sit on a comfortable 747 and fly to America with a nice smooth flight and landing. She is happy to be in America. Those welcoming her are glad she is here safe and sound. She may only travel by plane 2-4 times in her life, so it is pretty memorable. But the journey itself probably wouldn’t be life changing; it would simply be a journey.
  • One woman may learn to fly an ultra-light plane to lead a flock of geese into America teaching them to migrate. This experience could certainly be empowering and life altering.