When I was giving birth to my first son, in the hospital, I really wanted a natural birth. This was before the days of google, before midwifery was legal in California, before any of my friends had babies and consequently heard the birth stories of my peers. I was young. I was naive. I was hopeful that my expressed desire for a natural birth would be honored. It was not honored. And in many ways, it felt like a violation. An unwanted IV, an unwanted induction, an unwanted epi

I've been noticing something lately. People are having a really hard time right now. The state of the world feels like it is hanging in a precarious balance. We are bombarded by SO MUCH INFORMATION. One quick google search can take you down any bunny trail you'd like to uncover. And with it stress, fear, anxiety, worry, concern.... Are we really headed for nuclear war - see North Korea? Are the hurricanes just getting worse - see Global Warming? How do we know our credit info

In 1975, Keith Jarrett, a well known jazz pianist, was scheduled to perform a concert in Koln, Germany. When he arrived, the piano acquired for him was out of tune in the upper and lower registers and some of the keys were sticky. An attempt was made to find him a better piano, but he ended up performing and ultimately recording one of the most incredible albums of his career on that poor quality piano. In the challenges presented to him, and because of his profound skills, K

I have heard all the stories and I know you have heard them too. “I never could have done it without the epidural.” “My hips are too small.” “My baby was too big.” “I would have never gone into labor without the pitocin.” Have you ever considered that this is nonsense? You actually can give birth naturally, by your own initiation and you can give birth to 8 pound babies and larger! No kidding, you can do it! We are surrounded by a tremendous culture of fear when it comes

Giving birth is such an incredible thing. It is a gift that humanity has been given by our beloved Creator, as women to be the givers of life and as men to be to witnesses of life. This gift is one that opens us and sustains us. If you have ever participated in a birth either by giving birth or by witnessing birth, you know that you have thought of that moment many times, you have drawn on its gift of strength, and you remember the feeling of love that overtook you when you

“The Waiting is the Hardest Part. Everyday is one more yard. You take it on faith, you take it to the heart. The waiting is the hardest part.” Tom Petty The end of pregnancy is a both a challenging time and a very ripe time for the mother. The aches are pains are greater, the longing to meet the baby is strong and the questions from others, “when is that baby coming?” are tiring. It is also a time when the body is very ripe with life, like a large juicy peach, causi