“Homebirth and midwifery care can help mothers restore their confidence in their own bodies and judgement so that they may take charge of their own births. A woman at home is exercising the potential wisdom of her unique place in her own birth. She is educated, attuned to her body, in good control - remaining calm and knowing what is best throughout her labor.” The Five Standards for Safe Childbearing by David Stewart, PhD

“The uplifting feeling a mom gets, having birthed in her own power, is unlike anything else in the world. There is incredible joy and love possible following God’s design for birth as He created it.” Jan Tritten; The Miracle of Homebirth; Midwifery Today Spring 2010 Number 93

“One of the best kept secrets in North American culture is that birth can be ecstatic and strengthening. Ecstatic birth gives inner power and wisdom to the woman who experiences it. Even when women in my village experience pain in labor, they understand that there are ways of making the sensations of labor and birth tolerable that do not involve numbing the senses with drugs. They know that it is better to keep their senses alive if they are to experience the true wisdom and power that labor and birth have to offer.” Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

“What happens if a woman follows her instinct and births where she wants to and with whom she wishes? What if her choice is against the modern current of standard practice? Well, if all goes well — and believe me, it usually does; millions of years of biology don’t miss often — I will tell you what I have seen. She roars when she sings. She tells her story with pride. She believes she can do anything. She encourages other women to follow their instincts. She breastfeeds longer. She tells happier stories and listens with a compassionate tear in her eye to the sad ones. She can focus on another’s story because she isn’t busy reliving her own sad, powerless story. She connects and creates community circles and grows more open to her family ones. She tends to the sick and dying with greater confidence and that confidence builds each day. She trusts her instincts first and others second. She brings an enlivened sense of sacredness to who she is and what she is doing. The whole world benefits. The Question of Homebirth by Sister MorningStar; Midwifery Today Spring 2010 Number 93

“Natural childbirth is more than just druglessness. Natural childbirth is the promotion of a wholesome natural process and the avoidance of all that would disrupt it. It is a conscious effort by the mother to tune in with her body’s natural abilities. Even small amounts of analgesia can effect her concentration and reduce, or even destroy, her ability to do that. Other factors can disturb her concentration as well and, thus, interfere with her effort to give birth. The environment, the parties present, and all forms of unnecessary medical interference can be just as disruptive as drugs and can compromise the intrinsic safety and perfection of nature.

The natural childbirth approach tries to identify and avoid as many of these disturbing factors as possible - depending on the circumstances of each particular birth. This is why it is important for every woman to give birth in the presence of someone who loves her and who can act as her advocate and protector. Natural childbirth, in some environments, may be impossible without the presence of the father or other such advocate. This is especially so in the hospital, even in hospitals that claim to support “natural childbirth.” countless women have prepared and planned for natural births only to have their hopes and plans dashed against an inflexible hospital policy or the habit of an insensitive physician, even in the midst of labor. Many of these have ended in tragedy with a permanently damaged child.

Natural childbirth is the safest possible experience for both mother and baby. If well prepared, and with cooperative care, 95% of all women can give birth safely, happily, and naturally. But the benefits of natural childbirth go beyond the births of the babies today. As one poet put it so well, “All of the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.” We must protect that legacy. Natural childbirth is the standard by which the optimal quality of life is assured, not only for our children, but for our grandchildren and their heirs.” The Five Standards for Safe Childbearing by David Stewart, PhD

“Since when do we need an expert to tell us where we are comfortable? Since when do we need an expert to tell us with whom we feel relaxed and open and able to poop or make love or birth a baby? Since when was there an animal that didn’t know how to protect itself — to flee or scratch and bite or growl when it isn’t comfortable? Or to protect its young — to hold it close and get it back if it is snatched away and avoid people and places that threaten the ease of living and feeding the newborn? We are an intelligent animal. We know more than we are letting on. We know more than we tell ourselves that we know. When we stop the voices and fear and noise all around us an echoing within us, we know most certainly if we are comfortable or not. Our bodies speak loud and clear. When we are touched or surrounded by people we know and love and feel loved by, we relax and smile and make babies and enjoy birthing them. If someone could check our blood pressure during these times, professionals would have a whole new world of data upon which to base their standard of care. But how rude! To interrupt a good meal or poop or climatic moment with our beloved or the infinitely sacred moment of a mother about to touch her fresh born. How wrong! Only to prove that we are expressing our greatest potential of wellbeing within our sacred moments of life and relationship.” The Question of Homebirth by Sister MorningStar; Midwifery Today Spring 2010 Number 93