The Wind of Change
A first time mother is in active labor, she is naked, has no I.V line, no monitor strapped to her and is eating and drinking as needs. She moves around and when she feels the need with no permission or cervical check to see if she is “ready” she crawls on to her hands and knees and quietly pushes until her baby is born. The baby is placed in to her arms and she takes her to her chest and placed her naked baby against her beating heart. Those who watch this amazing act all wait in silence or speak words of encouragement in soft tones in a dim lit room.
I cried at this birth – yes cried why because I could hardly believe that I was witness to this, a mother birthing how she desires in an American Hospital. Today suddenly as I sat there in ore of this woman, it hit me that change is happening that control of birth is being taken back by women in the USA.
I chose to practice in hospitals I really want to change the experience of the 98% of American women who birth there. Everyday has been a fight some battles lost and some won. Today it feels like we won the War. I truly believe birth practices are changing woman and their families are being placed once again at the center of their care.
“The wind of change is blowing through this continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact” Macmillan 1960.
