BirthLove's History & Must-Read List
Also see: Creating
the Life that is BirthLove.
Leilah, who has always been an at-home mom, created
the site in August, 1998 as a venue to share her
own birthing experiences, and to inform and inspire
other women around the world about the true beauty,
majesty and power of childbirth- as well as to
raise awareness of the plight of North American
women undergoing medicalized childbirth. It has
since evolved into an international sounding board
for women; raising public awareness to the need
of the immediate restoration of birthing women's
inherent rights to autonomy and sanctity. The
right to choose where, how, and with whom one
gives birth is the inalienable right of every
mother, and never that of government or medical
institution.
We are also a homeschooling family and recognize
that children have the rights to grow, feel, create,
and explore their worlds in ways that are uniquely
their own- on their own intrinsic schedules, and
in their own definitive ways: never according
to external timetables and belief systems that
belittle and disenfranchise the individual's own
artistry, intellect and emotional needs.
In a society obsessed with regulated conformity
we must claim freedom for ourselves- and demand
our autonomy be respected.
Following are articles that define what the site
is about, and contain elemental information.
On this page:
Introductory Articles by
LLM
- I'm
Not Radical, The Truth Is Welcome to this
website!
- The
Nail that Sticks Out is Beautiful It can
hurt to be at arrears with most of those around
you regarding beliefs and way of life; but once
actualization is reached, there's no going back.
This continues the above "I'm Not Radical"
statement.
- Rape
of the Twentieth Century The birth stories
of my first six children, and a crucial discourse
on the dangers of medicalized childbirth. (Local
folks: my first four babies were born at BC
Women's Hospital; my fifth at the Royal Columbian.)
- Giving
Love Back to Birth Best read after "Rape
of the Twentieth Century".
- Bad
Ol' Days These are the worst days in history
for giving birth. Originally the introduction
to a book I did in '98 ("Rape of the Twentieth
Century") with Greg Cryns, online editor
of the Compleat Mother magazine.
- Women's Rage-
the most awesome force of Birth Love
(8/21/00) Power, majesty and love are resplendent
in the women who love birth... we do not incite
"hatred", as has been suggested.
- "Women
are Dying Needlessly in Childbirth"
(6/29/99) A retort to an OB's ignorance of the
role of modern obstetrics in maternal deaths;
the role has been sometimes fatal.
- A Birth as Warm
as Darkest Night (11/19/01) What I have
come to understand my births to mean for me-
after five painful hospital births. My birth
stories are discussed in this.
- A
Letter to Doctors about Childbirth
(10/31/00) Forward this to every doctor
you know. It explains what birth really means-
and how it should be attended.
- Dr. Barton Says
Home Delivery is Child Abuse (4/9/01) In
saying so he is covering up the incredible abuse
that happens to babies in their hospital births.
Also- a word of warning to midwives.
- Bliss, Rape,
Love, Hate... what for you is best- in Birth,
and in Sex? (5/21/01) Giving birth and making
love are both beautiful life processes deserving
of the utmost in gentleness and sweetness. Rape
must never be permitted. This was written in
response to the wounding statement- "at
least you have a healthy baby!"
- Cesarean
Section: The Anatomy of a Choice (4/17/00)
The complete story behind the cesarean section
operation: in pictures and text. It is crucial
that all women planning hospital births read
this column. It may save them from much pain,
and frightening surprises.
- Glass
Houses Will Soon Shatter (10/8/01) Guess
what- OBs really don't care what women have
to say about childbirth; they think they know
more than women about childbirth. This
ignorance and arrogance will seal their doom
as societal birth "experts".
- Imagining
the Father as the Mother (2/26/01) Musings
about my husband being the one getting the c-section;
and - "Everyone from Playboy magazine to
your local, friendly OB/GYN profits from women's
outstretched bodies, in vivid living colors:
from pretty pastel pinks to cut, bloody reds.
So much money and power to be gained.... for
everyone except the women."
- Gentle Death, Ecstatic Sorrow, Warm Hands,
Soft Dark Night... (11/26/01 view
colum here) Dreams of birth, dreams of my
living and dead babies talking- acknowledging
and understanding my own beauty as a pregnant
mother.
- Obstetrician
Poetry (Eeeeeeooouuuuuu!!!!!) (5/28/01)
A doctor writes his little poetic heart out
about what he sees during pelvic exams. Well-
how would he feel if someone were to write a
poem about his testicles?
- It Hurts
to be a Ten Month Mama (1/10/00) I was born
to have ten month pregnancies- but they can
be so hard to get through...
- Natural Health
and Healing in the Childbearing Years This
page includes a wide variety of natural ways
to heal, and be your healthiest in pregnancy,
childbirth and the postpartum period. Included:
healing mastitis; preventing anemia; protocols
for when your water "breaks" before
labor; dealing with constipation, urinary tract
infections, and yeast infections; preventing
and controlling postpartum hemorrhage; optimal
pregnancy diet; herbal remedies for the perineum;
and more.
- The Devil Cytotec
Birth stories, articles, links and Cytotec research
about the ulcer drug used illicitly by thousands
of doctors and midwives to induce labor- with
agonizing, even deadly, results.
- History
of Midwifery: Considering a Midwife?
by Katie Allison Granju. This excellent article
details the history of midwifey, as well as
the superior safety of lay midwives (DEMs- direct
entry midwives) versus any other birth attendant.
Originally in Minnesota Parent Magazine.
- The
Dark Side of Modern Medicine An interview
with John Robbins. Includes discussion of how
poorly the medical establishment "treats"
cancer, schoolchildren, and birthing women.
- Protect
Your
Uncircumcised Son: Expert Medical Advice
for Parents by Paul M. Fleiss, MD, MPH.
A must-read for all parents of boys; it addresses
doctors' ignorance and misconceptions about
the human foreskin. Originally appearing in
Mothering Magazine.
- Vaccine
Scene 1999- Overview and Update by Harold
Buttram, MD. This is the most pursuasive anti-vaccine
literature I have ever read.
- An Anthropological
Look at Extended Breastfeeding and Cosleeping
Amazing information about what the actual
optimal length of breastfeeding is for placental
mammals, and just how beneficial cosleeping
really is.
- The Ten
Month Mama Page Pregnant women aren't milk
cartons with "best before" dates stamped
across their bellies! Babies know when (and
how!) to be born, and women know when (and how!)
to give birth.. This page includes birth stories,
quotes, references and articles about the wisdom
of letting babies pick their own birthdays.
- Orgasmio
A birth parody where the father is in the birthing
mother's position. By Lynn Baptisti Richards,
and Dr. Harlan Sparer, D.C., reprinted with
the kind permission of Midwifery Today
magazine.
From BirthLove's Contributing
Experts
Gloria Lemay
- 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, checking one's own
cervix, doctors' hallucinations about pregnant
women- and more.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pelvises
I Have Known and Loved This article
describes the beautiful elasticity of women's
pelvises, and has helped so many women grow
confident in their innate birthing capabilities.
It shows that "CPD" (cephalopelvic
disproportion- a common excuse for cesarean
section) doesn't exist in true midwifery (or
anywhere else).
Gretchen Humphries
- Heroic
Birth? Gretchen describes
her love of veterinary medicine; how she enjoys
feeling "heroic" during medical
procedures. Does this same sort of heroism
belong in a hospital labor and delivery room?
- Drugs in Birth-
Just What DO They Do, Anyway? (And
why aren't women warned?) A wide
variety of important topics are discussed-
from post-op itching and "opiates"
vs. "opiods", to why epidurals can
be so terrible for babies. A must-read.
- Summary
of 4 Studies on VBAC safety An excellent
paper that illuminates the findings, as well
as the failings, of important research documents.
Included: how there is no study about the
outcomes of planned home VBACs.
- You Should
Be Grateful Gretchen talks about how deeply
women are hurt when they are perpetually told
"at least you have a healthy baby".
This article is a must-read for women who
have been hurt in their births, and feel like
no one on the planet cares. It should also
be read by the people who tell them- "you
should be grateful".
Marsden Wagner,
MD
Sarah Buckley,
MD
- Leaving
Well Alone: A Natural Approach to the
Third Stage of Labour In this excellent
article, Sarah talks about just why the active
management of the third stage of labor- the
time before the placenta comes out- is such
a disastrous idea for women and babies. Aggressive
handling of mother, child, cord and placenta
cause insurmountable harm. A must-read for
anyone interested in birth as a beautiful,
normal, life-enhancing event.
- Pain
in Labour: Your Hormones are your Helpers
A wonderful look at how our bodies know exactly
how to take care of themselves biochemically
in birth. This includes a short parable about
a mother cat. Also see Epidurals:
Real Risks for Mothers and Babies.
- Ultrasound:
Reasons for Caution Originally appearing
in Mothering magazine, this article shows
that ultrasound is not safe or even a genuine
indicator of abnormalities in pregnancy; and
it leads to much undue stress and worry in
mothers-to-be.
- The Coziness
of Co-sleeping It is traditional, beneficial
and safe for babies to sleep with their mothers.
This includes information about revolutionary
co-sleeping research done by James McKenna,
Professor of Anthropology.
From Activism & News
- Petition
for the Rights of Childbearing Women This
is an on-line primal scream; a powerful indicator
of what was previously almost inexpressible
for many women: that giving birth in peace,
dignity and freedom matters; and that the bodies
and souls of women and children matter more
than the institutions and individuals that facilitate
expedient, efficient deliveries.
- Re: "Risk
only natural in natural childbirth"
A letter written by me (BirthLove editor LLM) to a newspaper regarding an editorial
that basically stated that homebirth is a dangerous,
irresponsible choice compared to hospital birth.
This includes references about the incredible
dangers of hospital birth, and the people who
attend them.
- One's mode of birth determines one's
wellbeing later in life:
- Up to
90% of Brazilian Women get C-Sections From
the Wall Street Journal: "In Brazil,
the death rate among all women who gave birth
by Caesarean in 1998 was five times as high
as for those who delivered vaginally, acccording
to the health ministry. Babies born by Caesarean
are also more likely to suffer problems such
as respiratory distress syndrome, a major killer
of newborns."
- VBAC
is safe!
- Women who
don't eat well have a 30% increase in risk of
delivering prematurely
- Up
to 70% of obstetricians would choose elective
cesareans for themselves
(poor dears!)
- Electronic
Fetal Monitoring- Useless in "Low Risk"
Women
- Medical
Students Receive Unethical Training
- Making
Dateline NBC Tell the Whole Truth About Cytotec
NBC aired a show that made "today's"
Cytotec look like a mild, beneficial induction
drug. Included on this page is the transcript,
and letters (including by an obstetrical nurse
who was involved with Cytotec inductions for
ten years) written to the show's producer and
NBC regarding the unfair, whitewashed portrayal
of this dangerous drug.
- Deadly
Pregnancies Homicide
is the leading killer of pregnant women.
From the Birth Stories
Indexes
There are hundreds of birth stories, pregnancy
journals, poems and other submissions from mothers
and fathers, from all over the world, on BirthLove.
Members are encouraged to submit their own experiences
to share with others.
Gretchen's
Beautiful Home VBAC Waterbirth BirthLove
Contributing Expert Gretchen Humphries talks
about her waterbirth with much humor, love and
touching honesty. This story is very descriptive
of what birth feels like, and is highly recommended
for first-time moms and VBAC moms. Includes
amazing photos.
Carina
Rose's Birth Story Misha gives birth to
her fourth child, at home in the tub, with her
doula "catching"- her midwife didn't
get there in time! This includes photos of this
radiantly beautiful "plus size" mama
giving birth.
My Fifth Birth- A
Scar on my Belly and a Knife in my Heart
Ann was a teaching subject for medical students
in this painful, traumatic birth. She is so
hurt inside... this includes a response by LLM.
Johan's
Birth Elizabeth catches Johan, her second
child, lovingly into her own hands at home in
Finland. This beautiful story includes photos.
Our
Journey to Birth Freedom This birth story
is so richly, spiritually told... Marcia Carlson
had three needless cesareans, then four VBACs-
one in the hospital (at 44 weeks pregnant and
in a self-determined squat!), then three at
home: her first was a homebirth with a midwife
attending, then her last two babies were born
unassisted. Note that her home-borne babies
were "late" as well.
Beautiful,
Gentle, Sacred, Safe- The
Birth of Hannah Pressman
This birth story is told by both Hannah's mother
and father. It is among the most moving, profound
and inspiring birth stories I have ever read.
I can't read it without crying. This story should
be read by simply everyone! It is very descriptive
of what birth feels like, it shows how positive
water can be in "labor". The doula
and birth attendant in this story illustrate
excellence of practice.
Sebastian's
Breech Homebirth Story September, a student
midwife, gives birth in glory and efficiency
at home to her second son. This story includes
her challenges with the medical "profession"
at the end of her pregnancy: she went in to
get an ultrasound, and what she got was almost
unbearable bullying that even she- a woman who
had gone to forty-five homebirths, including
two breeches- found difficult to stand up against.
Includes amazing photos.
The
Birth Story of Ethan Edward Moore This birth
story is beautiful- filled with love, images,
and rich meaning. Katie so generously shares
the gift of birth with her mother, father, friend-
and dear little daughter, Shelby.
Ysa's Birth
Raw, real and deeply moving, this story tells
about Christina's first pregnancy and birth:
a sad roller coaster of "caregiver"
neglect, and outright cruelty and stupidity.
Despite how sad the story gets, it is a joy
to read- Christina's writing is a pleasure.
This includes a picture.
My
Story as Doula and Mother Katie is a doula,
and a mother of four (with one baby in heaven).
She shares her birth stories here (all powerful,
victorious hospital births- including a double
footling breech hospital birth!) and her journey
to becoming a doula at age fifty.
Birth
Elation Margaret shares the victorious,
amazing, wild and free birth she had with her
third child in a Saipan hospital, as well as
the wounding births she had with her first two
children. Included: how visualization helped
immensely in her third's pregnancy and birth.
|
