A New Year

Wow... I just noticed I haven't posted here since late December. I admit I've been a bit busy. I'm writing a book. I still have my day job. I'm taking care of hubby's medical issues. Oh and there are the kids, who have still been fighting this on again, off again flu.

I am keeping track of my journey to publication at Always Do Write. I have come to terms with the fact that I will probably never be a real midwife... not enough time or transportation to support an apprenticeship. But I think I'm okay with that. I can write about my passion about birth as easily as anyone else.

One of my new resolutions (and I almost never make them) is to keep up with blogging more frequently. It is not only a way to vent but to share information, share articles an such that I write and more. I really appreciate those who took the time to follow me. It is very sweet of you. :) Thank you. I hope you enjoy reading what I have to say.

Anyway, happy new year. 2010 is already starting out with a bang. More than one of my friends are starting the year with husbands who are not long for this world. My heart goes out to them. My father in law won't be here much longer either according to his doctors. My own husband is getting more fragile with each passing year and I'm not ready for that yet. So, this will be a year of growth and change for a lot of us.

May we all be blessed with abundance, love and prosperity this year. May we all embrace each other in support and may 2010 be the year that birthing women get some respect.

Ringing in the New

The year is almost over. This year has been full of new studies promoting the safety of homebirth. It has been full of ACOG and the AMA fighting against midwives. The cesarean rate continues to climb and women all over are being denied any choice in how their babies will be born.

As they say, it is always darkest before the dawn. If women are going to be able to have any say at all in how they give birth, they must continue to speak up. Ask questions. Don't accept condescending answers. You're the one hiring the doctor, not the other way around. They work for YOU.

I was reading on the My OB Said What? site and today they posted a response where the OB told the laboring mother "You wouldn't tell a pilot how to fly a plane, would you?" I'd like to turn that right around on them. What gives them the authority to tell a woman she must lay on her back with her legs in the air and push uphill? Women's bodies are designed to give birth. If we listen to what our bodies tell us, most of us will end up in positions that work WITH gravity, not AGAINST it. Women should be piloting their births... the doctor can't tell when a woman's body is urging her to rock her hips back and forth or when she needs to stand and lean on something.

Let's make 2010 the year of the Birthing Mother. Let's help women get the autonomy they need for healthy births and healthy babies!