When I wrote "Shackled", my short story included in A Kiss is Still a Kiss, I was eight months pregnant with my third child. It got me thinking a lot about worse case scenarios. And made me very grateful for the midwifes who have attended all my births!
Midwives have been around since...Eve? I imagine she attended her daughter's labors, sharing what she had learned during her own and offering support. Since then, midwifes have played a vital roll in history, probably present for a very high percentage of the births throughout the world and throughout time. When Israel was in bondage in Egypt, the Bible speaks of the midwifes who saved the lives of little boys like Moses, even at risk to their own. It's only been the last hundred years that Doctors have become active in the natural process of giving birth. Many of our grandparents were probably "caught" by midwifes.
My maternal grandmother was delivered by a woman who became a legend in the small community of Cardston, Alberta. "Grandma Baker" as she was called, never lost a baby or mother. Hundreds and hundreds of births. She knew tricks and position to help along difficult deliveries, and I'm sure she had lots of practice clearing little lungs...but I think what gave her the most success was that she was a woman of faith.
The term midwife is derived from Middle English: midwyf literally “with-woman”, i.e. “the woman with (the mother at birth), the woman assisting” (in Middle English and Old English, mid = “with”, wīf = “woman”). It’s only been the last hundred years that doctors have become the main facilitators of birth in North America. In many other countries midwives are often still the primary birth attendance, equaling less intervention and ofttimes (in first world countries) lower maternal death rate .
While I am grateful for medical advances and ability of doctors to step in when needed, I love midwifes...and tubs of warm water for laboring in. ;) Still, hallelujah when it's over and I get to hold a new precious child.
Where would your ideal place to give birth be...and do you think you could do it alone if you had to?
I'm definitely thankful for technological advances and the higher percentage of healthy births compared to the past, but I don't negate the knowledge, assistance and care that a midwife brings to an uncomplicated birth. I have seen the advantages to both sides and, regardless, they are equally miraculous and beautiful. Since I had an incredibly complicated first experience, I remember being so grateful for all of the hospital staff that had assisted and/or played a part in my daughters birth.
ReplyDeleteAmen! My first birth got complicated, as well, with high blood pressure, induction, and then hemorrhaging. Very grateful for all we have available to us now! :)
DeleteGreat post and a great story! I had my babies the traditional route but if I were young enough to have children now, I'd rethink that path!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Kelly! There are definitely more options available now than ever before!
DeleteI have a friend who helps an Amish midwife and they sometimes encounter difficulties and have to seek help from the medical community. My daughter was born in a hospital setting and I had an easy delivery but she, in turn, had to have a C-section with the birth of her daughter. They both were in distress and I am so thankful that they were in s hospital setting!
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