South of the Border

This photo is from the third baby that I have received with my own hands as a midwife apprentice in Mexico. It was a very exciting moment for both of us. The mom, is named Ruth, it was her second baby and the labor was longer than expected. After spending alot of time in bed, I encouraged her to get up, and I put on some Merengue and we moved to the music until the baby was ready to be born. I love the mom's giant smile in this photo!

-- Lauren Beam, apprentice midwife in Mexico

Maine Event

Birth is about waiting for the right moment. When everything comes together, the hormones, the desire, the people who should be there, the baby wants to stretch, the placenta says "enough", the waves begin and there is no going back, only forward through the fire of womanhood, until the baby surfs out in a splash of sea water. I am waiting, waiting for the right moment for my baby's baby to swim to shore. --Granny midwife Jill

Huge and Gorgeous

Birth is HUGE and Gorgeous!

My birth was at home...twice!

The midwifery model of care-- find out and compare it to what your sisters have experienced. Was it compassionate? Was it kind? Was it healthy?

-- Esther Gallagher, birth and postpartum doula, Esther

Powerful and Transformative

Birth is powerful, transformative, an amazing opportunity for change.

Every woman should experience cooperative, engaged prenatal, birth, and postpartum care in the setting of her choice!

-- Awakenings Birth Services, Traditional Midwifery and Well-woman care

Sacred and Magical

Birth is the most important start for a family. It is sacred and magical.

My birth was wonderful. My first child was a cesarean section for face presentation and double nuchal cord. My VBAC child was a pound and a half bigger with a tight nuchal cord.

I work as a labor and birth nurse in a large East Bay hospital. I also have my own doula business and specialize in natural labor support. I love what I do and helping families have the kind of birth they want!
--Tora R. Spigner, RN, MSN, doula, mother, Women Against Circumcision

Birth is...

Birth is....
a miraculous rite of passage
a blessing
an empowering event for all who are honored to witness.

My birth was...
tumultous
life changing
empowering
my entry into the world of women's rights in childbirth.

Birth is my passion, a window that allows us to see who we are, where we've been, who we will become.

-- Fairylocks (Selena the midwife), Sacred Birth Angels

VBACtivist

Birth is something amazing even after the 6000 or so years that women have been giving birth.

My birth was not at all the way I planned it. I was so looking forward to a natural home birth and to experiencing what millions of women down through the ages have experienced. Instead, I had an emergency c-section two months early. Now I'm looking forward to a VBAC (hopefully) later this year. -- Joanna, very contented stay-at-home mother of a one-year-old

Happy Mother's Day!

We started Sistahs of the Good Birth in 2003 to support women and their families in birth. Actions like those of California Pacific Medical Center, regarding VBAC, undermine the choice of women. Period.

Women, raise your awareness and your voices to keep birth safe and natural! --Michlene, lifeinbalance@prodigy.net

CPMC has now taken over one of our local hospitals, St. Luke's. They have banned VBAC stating that they are understaffed to perform VBAC safely and according to ACOG guidelines. We rallied in protest to PUSH FOR VBAC and ask the hospital to fully staff the birth center so that they can do VBACs again.

Birth is Transformative

Birth is transformative
hard
powerful
opening into new life for mother and baby
surrendering to life force
empowering.

With Body-Mind techniques, a safe nuturing environment, love, knowledge, and trust, we can transform birth into a positive experience. -- Adrienne Lalanne, CMT, Touch of Wellness

Photos from the San Francisco VBAC rally on May 11th to help save VBACs at St. Luke's hospital

La Fuente de la Vida

Parir es nacer nuevamente, es encontrarse con la fuente de la vida, es una de las experiencias mas intensos que he vivido. Cada mujer deberia poder elegir como parir. -- Gabriela Rodriguez, mama de Camilo, nacido en la casa

Take Back VBAC!

Thank you Brandi and Sofia for marching today for a woman's right to VBAC!

Trust in Birth

With patience and grace, we waited. Now, we welcome Kiana Mari Kidd Hollis! Congratulations to Reva and David!

Happy Birthday Elle!

The last mile of a tremendous adventure. My single greatest physical, spiritual, and emotional journey. A gift. A start. The beginning. A lesson of faith in one's body and ability to birth life, heal, feed and nurture another person. The story continues, Happy First Birthday Elle! -- Sandra Martino

Blessed are the Births

For Tara— the mother of goddesses

Blessed are the births
of those who trust life,
of those who trust the babies,
of those who trust themselves.

Blessed are the births
of those who are willing to stand
at the precipice of life,
acknowledging our vulnerability,
and the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Blessed are those that stand at the edge.
Blessed are those that call out to the universe
in celebration
and wonder
despite the fear of falling.

We embrace the edge with arms outstretched.
From here,
we see out to the horizon of possibility.

A strong gust of wind could knock us off balance,
or
our feet
firmly planted
can hold us in place
facing the truth.

Blessed are the births
of those who trust life,
of those who trust the lessons,
of those who trust within.

Blessed are the births
of those who stand together
of those who are willing to stand alone
of those who call birth: peace
and hope
and love.

Blessed are the births.