Meeting the newborn
"I had a client about 10 years ago who
was planning a home VBAC. She was a clean freak!
Her house, children, car and personal grooming
were all immaculate. We had several appointments
before she broached the subject of a 'special
request'.
"She had seen many of my births on video
and was concerned about being handed a slimy,
vernixed baby. The thought made her skin crawl.
She wanted my assurance that I would take the
baby and clean it before she had to touch it.
"She had a long hard birth- the water
tub didn't help at all. The only thing that
seemed to be effective in helping her was sitting
on the toilet in the dark. A few hours before
the birth the membranes released and the waters
were stained with thick, fresh mec. Pushing
on the toilet produced edematous vulva, tears.
When the baby emerged with the Mom standing,
he was hard to hold onto because he was completely
covered in mec and blood. I'm sure he was the
stickiest little tarbaby I've ever seen!
"The mother grabbed him to her heart immediately,
sat down on the floor and began the sweetest
caressing of him. There's something important
about the pain and the struggle to give birth.
It melts away all our social taboos and makes
it so we will love whatever God gives us."
-Gloria Lemay
Courage
Excerpted: "...fear has to be present in
order for courage to exist. The English word
'courage' is derived from the French word for
the heart, coeur. Finding the heart to
continue doing the right thing in the face of
great fear inspires others to become nobler
human beings." This article's wisdom can
be applied to all areas of life, not just birth.
Childbirth Quotes
by Gloria Lemay Gloria shares her wisdom
in quick, easy-to-digest (and often funny and
warm) anecdotes and quotes. Included is talk
about inductions ("natural" and medical),
"CPD", impatient midwives, baby deaths,
c-sections, big babies, checking one's own cervix,
doctors' hallucinations about pregnant women-
and more. Updated 10/9/03 with three new
items
Como
parir sin desgarrarse (consejos
de una matrona para conservar el periné
integro) The Spanish translation of her
article, "The Midwife's Guide to an Intact
Perineum". Translated by Ibone Olza.
Midwife's
Guide to an Intact Perineum
Gloria describes the optimal way for birth
attendants to help women keep their genitalia
intact when giving birth. This is a must-read-
especially for those compelled to use perineal
massage on women (pernineal massage causes tears!).
Interventions
In this article directed at midwives, Gloria
talks about all the little interventions that
midwives do to "help", but that really
interfere with the birth process. Gloria talks
about the 3 P's: "patience, patience, patience".
How I Became
a Midwife Gloria's birth stories, and her
early life as a midwife and mother.
Strep B Holistic
Approach This page shows that colloidal
silver is a fantastic GBS preventative.
Postpartum Elation
How can "depression" be replaced by
"elation" for the postpartum woman?
By getting loving, considerate help. This includes
commentary by LLM.
Q&A with Gloria
Lemay includes answers to some of the
many questions that are commonly asked of birth
attendants; also- what Gloria would tell all
the OBs of the world about birth.
More Questions and
Answers with Gloria Lemay Gloria talks about
"cervical lips", fetal malpositions,
how to help the birth attendant at a birth,
why so many midwives are too interventionist,
preventing postpartum hemorrhage, why women
need to be disqualified from having hospital
births- instead of homebirths, and much more.
Midwifery Care for
the VBAC Woman Help for women and their
birth attendants in making safe, beautiful home
VBACs happen. Originally in Midwifery Today
magazine.
Visualizations
Beautiful pregnancy and birth affirmations for
pregnant women to cherish.
Pushing
for Primips A must-read for anyone giving
birth- or those who attend women in their births.
Excellent for VBAC moms too. Originally in Midwifery
Today magazine.
Pelvises
I Have Known and Loved This article,
appearing in Midwifery Today Magazine Summer
1999, discusses the beautiful elasticity of
women's pelvises- "CPD" doesn't exist
in true midwifery (or anywhere else).
Deciphering
Your Hospital Records Help for women
trying to understand the cuneiform in their
medical records after birth. (Focus on cesarean
section terminology.)
I N
N O C E N C E Mary Sullivan, Gloria Lemay's
former midwifery partner, has written about
what's going on with Gloria and the BC College
of Midwives in 2002; as well as about the case
she faced with Gloria that led them to the Supreme
Court of Canada in 1991. Very important background
to the level of witch hunting that Gloria is
currently facing.
A Brief History
of the Attack on Gloria Lemay Gloria
has been found guilty of civil and criminal
contempt of court, resulting from an ongoing
witch hunt by the College of Midwives of BC.
Read about the case, and follow relevant links.
Gloria Lemay,
Symbol of the Spirit of Births Freely Given
A background to the incredible attacking Gloria
has undergone in her calling to serve women.
