A Baby Story

I wasn't going to do it. I wanted to keep it private - greedy girl that I am. I'll hide a pint of Ben & Jerry's in the depths of my freezer just so that I don't have to share with my husband, for Pete's sake. But This isn't about delicious ice cream. This about the birth of my son. One month ago to the day, actually.

It was a very intimate experience and I was only going to allow my very closest of close insight to the event. And I'll go a step further to admit that at first, I wanted to keep it hidden - like I was part of this exclusive group of mamas and ours was a secret society. I realize that reads a bit elitist and am ashamed to have even considered withholding the story because  then I got feedback from a couple of the women I sent it to - some already mothers and others far from it. In either case, these women told me that the story - in all it's honesty - made pregnancy birth less intimidating.

Hold up, wait a minute. I had a natural, med-free home birth, peoples. This is crunchy hippy stuff by most standards. In fact, during my nine months of pregnancy I got crazy-eyed stares and dubious remarks whenever I mentioned my birth plan. And now, ex post facto, I was receiving praise? Yes! Maybe it is possible that despite a lifetime of believing that childbirth required medical intervention, people can recognize that it is actually a natural human act. If my story was empowering to these women, could it do the same for others?

It was decided: every woman (that I can reach, at least) whether she is or ever wants to be a mother needs to know just how amazing our bodies are and what they're capable of. And not so that I can impose my personal choices, but so all the information is out there for her to make her own informed decision. As trusty Wiki defines "Natural childbirth is a philosophy of childbirth that is based on the belief that women who are adequately prepared are innately able to give birth without routine medical interventions".

Now, for fear of neglecting any of the fellas who might be reading, don't leave just yet. This is for you too. The whole production begins with you playing the supporting role after all ("It takes two to Tango", and what not). And its nothing to be squeemish about. Understanding how your legacy personified in this little being, gets from point A to point B, gives you the opportunity to contribute in essential ways. See, despite our belief that we can do it all, women need your help. It makes US better and gives us strength - more on this later, if anyone's interested.

In the end, each of us deals with things differently and there are many paths leading to th same destination. As long as you have a happy, healthy mama and babe when all is said and done, the rest are just details. So, without further ado, please tab on over to the Baby page for the telling of my son's birth.