Philosophy of a Midwife

I believe that women are empowered through the pain and joy of childbirth. Birth is a mirror inside a woman, allowing her to see her vastness and her limits as no other experience can. When the event is not mediated by the priesthood of obstetrics and by hospital ritual, a woman can experience directly her own strength, her power, her courage, her determination, as well as her ability to surrender, as she lets herself adapt to the rhythm and demands of this particular birth. Homebirth is a way to restore to women the fullness of this self- knowledge.

The midwife can guide women to view the birth process as life in miniature, going through the stages of struggle, grief, hope, despair, acceptance, surrender, and joy, "As a woman lives so does she birth" (Thank you, Gayle Peterson); so each birth is an expression of herself and a mini-process of herself. The wisdom and growth available to women is blocked in a hospital birth "managed" to provide painlessness (if not oblivion) while encouraging dependency.

As my understanding of natural birth deepens with experience, I am more in awe of the miraculous and more acutely aware of just how illusory is "managed birth". Birth is a spiritual event for me which I experience as a miracle every time. Over and over I am involved in situations which seem to be following a predictable pattern and suddenly change course. I am constantly reminded that we are in charge of nothing and that everything happens truly in divine order. The respect which we treat newborns comes in part from our humility in the face of this divine order and in our service to the great unknowable rhythms of life.

- to read the rest see WOMEN'S HEALTH AND BIRTH CARE