Offering Community Support After Birth

I am a total "Birth Junkie" I had an amazing Home Birth with my son Orion just 5 months ago. I wanted an Unassisted birth and to be completely alone, but with my bleeding issues with my previous births, Joe was very uncomfortable with him not having anyone there to help him. So, we compromised. I had midwifery support (for Joe) downstairs while I birthed upstairs. It was empowering and life changing. Laboring completely alone and bringing him into the world by my own power was so peaceful and natural and something that I will always remember as one of the most pivotal times in my life.

My Midwife came up in time to help my Mom catch him. He was born into my Mom's hands. She wanted support in doing that, so Maureen, my friend and midwife came in to help her. I had Rage Against the Machine, "People of the Sun" playing on the CD player. I was slowly moving my head up and down to the music. It was just what I needed.

Orion was born in ecstasy. His birth wasn't difficult or painful.

It was i n c r e d i b l e . . . ... My Mom has never witnessed normal birth. She was very moved by the experienced. I have never seen her cry so hard from J O Y before. I was crying and so was Maureen. It was the most powerful moment that my Mother and I have ever experienced together.

My Birth Was Perfect in every aspect.

I wish every woman could experience what I did but we do not live in a culture that supports the type of birth that I had. Working with women during birth and beyond, it is hard to witness what can happen to women in hospitals. Many of the experiences that women have are equal to rape. In fact, I call them "Birth Rape" because of the way in which many women are manipulated and treated in such a disrespectful way during their births in our culture.

It is one of my passions to help and support women after they experience a birth that is less than ideal to them. I visit women in the days after their births and offer them the emotional support that they did not receive during their labor and births. I hold their hands, smile and encourage. Often times breastfeeding is profoundly affected by one's birth experience. I want to ensure that women have emotional support through breastfeeding. Encouragement and support are something greatly lacking in most medically managed approached to breastfeeding "education" in hospitals. I feel that the emotional support is equally important to physical support (assuring proper latch-on etc). Without both parts of the *Whole* Mothering can be very difficult. I am here to offer both anytime a women needs me in my community.

Today I am visiting a new Mom who had a difficult C-section birth. She is struggling with nursing and I am going over to offer her what most cultures do naturally..... support new mothers through the postpartum period with love, community.... & connection. I plan on bringing her over some baby carriers, Mothering Magazine and "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" book. Oh....and lots of hugs.

Today is also Joe and my 13th Wedding Anniversary!! We are going out to dinner with the kids later... Should be an awesome day! I am feeding both my passions....helping and supporting others and enjoying my family. Does it get any better? ;)