tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1836198539158358199.post5495764939049894022..comments2024-03-27T20:22:42.005-06:00Comments on light-in-leaves: Why Midwives MatterMarilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17085334272613025173noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1836198539158358199.post-76568755269602739682015-09-17T08:20:19.031-06:002015-09-17T08:20:19.031-06:00Holly, you're right that everyone's experi...Holly, you're right that everyone's experiences are so different! I appreciate that more and more as I get older. And as I said in the post, choices about birth can and should vary based on situation and personality. I'm glad we as women have more of those choices now. And really, that we have choices in how to respond and take action "every day of our child's lives" as well. It's wonderful that we don't all have to do things the same way!<br />Thanks for your comment.Marilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17085334272613025173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1836198539158358199.post-56186504374442834752015-09-16T23:49:35.921-06:002015-09-16T23:49:35.921-06:00It's astounding to me how different my experie...It's astounding to me how different my experience with homebirth was from yours. I even had the same midwife and my experience was was so opposite what you experienced. It's a big head scratcher for me. I read all the studies and look at both sides of the story too and have come to the opposite conclusion about the safety and importance of homebirth. <br />I look back on the time I was interested in homebirth and when I actually had one and I can't figure out why I thought it mattered so much. Every other day of my child's life is what matters to me now, but back then all my thoughts were focused on that one day, that one experience. My subsequent hospital births have been so much easier, safer, less painful (even without any medication) and just as spiritual. <br /><br />Anyway, it's just interesting to me how homebirth can be so important to some people and merely a blip on the radar for others. Or for someone like me, how it can swing from important to totally unimportant all within a few years. <br /><br />I'm glad homebirth has worked out for you so well and that you've enjoyed it. I still don't understand why midwives matter, but I'm happy for people like you for whom homebirth obviously brings happiness and joy. It's nice to find a health care provider you really connect with. Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17646095805699712232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1836198539158358199.post-77867447246511618322015-03-22T17:49:18.034-06:002015-03-22T17:49:18.034-06:00Nancy, I *never* tire your thoughts! I did feel ho...Nancy, I *never* tire your thoughts! I did feel honored. Even the name "gala" is such a fancy word, isn't it? :)Marilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17085334272613025173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1836198539158358199.post-16009419720614465482015-03-22T17:48:12.544-06:002015-03-22T17:48:12.544-06:00Oh, K. I loved reading about your experiences. It&...Oh, K. I loved reading about your experiences. It's so sad that you were abandoned like that with Ginna—but then, as you said, it all worked out fine. And it nearly always does, I guess. Birth is just an experience it's hard to take the holiness out of. Love you!Marilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17085334272613025173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1836198539158358199.post-83494363462400777582015-03-20T08:51:31.074-06:002015-03-20T08:51:31.074-06:00So perfectly presented and put together! Your own ...So perfectly presented and put together! Your own experiences, poetry, etc. etc. Lovely. And, of course, I could ramble many thoughts and wonderings of my own that it provoked, but sometimes . . . I tire of my own thoughts ;) and would prefer to just let these lovely ones stand. Bravo. And so cool that you were asked to speak at this big fancy pants graduation gala business. Such an honor!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1836198539158358199.post-28111786096180503442015-03-19T23:15:06.627-06:002015-03-19T23:15:06.627-06:00I so appreciated your thoughts at graduation, than...I so appreciated your thoughts at graduation, thank you for sharing!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02379010345544480867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1836198539158358199.post-88350856900530870412015-03-19T19:23:01.346-06:002015-03-19T19:23:01.346-06:00When I was first married, I had friends who did ho...When I was first married, I had friends who did home birth - this was nearly 40 years ago, and I believe their first babies were born without even a mid-wife. They just decided to do it themselves. I thought it was a lovely idea, but when I was pregnant myself, I heard too many stories about people having complications and not being able to get the baby to the hospital in time to save it.<br /><br />So I went to an OBGYN. Who was a sweet guy, and in whom I learned to trust. He came in to deliver Gin even though it wasn't his night on call. I had taken Lamaze and was breathing and taking care of things the best I could - no meds. When he finally came, he came in to check me, said "You'll have to keep pushing," then went out to chat with the nurses, leaving me and Guy - all alone - trying to figure out why this was so hard.<br /><br />My water had broken in the morning, but nothing had happened - and I went in to the hospital without contractions at five in the evening. No one there to advise me. By eight thirty, I had worked myself to the point of transition - just the two of us. When Gin came, she had a little banana head, she had been squeezed so tightly. (Doesn't seem to have hurt her life), and every blood vessel in my face had exploded - even the ones in my eyes. I was covered by tiny red dots. It had not been peaceful. Not fun. Not holy. And then they stuck me in this recovery room where people were talking loudly about their dates the night before - one bed out of seven in a hall like room with just curtains for privacy.<br /><br />Cam's was different. Same doctor, but I knew more. I had a labor of about an hour. His was holy. Till they stuck me in a room with a family that was speaking constantly in another loud, very loud language - with tons of anxious visitors, because something wasn't right. And they had cut me, of course, so I was blood all up my back, and the bathroom was down the hall, and the children, who had continually been peeking at me through the curtains, followed me out into the hall when I had to go down there, staring at me. No one cared about us. I was fine, as far as they were concerned, and the holiness was stolen in noise and institutional confusion. I stayed 12 hours and was out of there.<br /><br />Char also had her hand on her head, and I delivered her a far more sensible way, in a far more sensible place - where I had a little room of my own to do it all in, and the children all came. And with Murphy it was even better - but still in an institutional place where they whisk your baby away.<br /><br />I think your choice is lovely and holy and sweet - in line with the life you and Sam have built for your family. I am sorry, for my babies, that I hadn't the same experiences. The same faith. The same beautiful soul. Even so. We are alright. And I love being able to share that quiet experience you have offered.<br />Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040714440875408436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1836198539158358199.post-67275172201372540692015-03-19T18:39:42.111-06:002015-03-19T18:39:42.111-06:00It is for this purpose, being witness to light, th...It is for this purpose, being witness to light, that I am a midwife. Thank you, Marilyn, for your trust.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com