Why did I start this blog?

I love home births. I think they are a fabulous, safe, and natural way to give birth when attended by a knowledgeable midwife and a well-prepared mother. To me, it is the way birth should be. As women, we are designed to carry babies and give birth to them, yet so few of us ever really understand this function. So, I want to start this blog to help get the word out about birth the way nature intended, and try to help women make smart choices when it comes to this life changing event. And while I am a proponent of home birth, I do understand that not every pregnancy/woman is right for this choice. And I do understand that some medical interventions are necessary. I just need to do my part to help get this information out there, and empower women to make the right choice for them.

Within a few months of finding out I was pregnant, I had decided that home birth was the option for me. I did my research, and I read books, and I listened to my heart. I spent the time thinking about what I wanted for my daughter, and what was the best way to achieve that goal. And I had help. I had the support of family and friends, some of whom are midwives and home birthing mamas. I used every available resource I had to make my decision. Yet, in the end I still found myself in a hospital, having a cesarean; a complete 180 degrees from where I envisioned my birth. But that is ok. I know that I did all that I could to educate myself, and I made the best decision I could for my baby. And I share all that with you to help you understand where I am coming from. I know how unpredictable births can be, but I still think we as women need to take our power back when it comes to our laboring bodies. And so I dedicate this blog to all those women who felt powerless in labor, and all those who wanted something more than they got. And mostly I want to dedicate this blog to my daughter, Journey, who has taught me that I can be a mother without birthing my baby myself, and to try to change the world a little at a time, so that when she is ready to have her own children, she has the ability to trust in her own body and doesn't give up her power to anyone.