Childbirth Issues: Another Passion of Mine

As I was driving home today, I was thrilled to see this message on a billboard prominently located in our town.

To me, the message is a big DUH. Of course babies are meant to be breastfed! But it seems that not everyone agrees with me. In fact, I wonder whether the corner being ripped is a result of our very wet recent weather... or of someone protesting the existence of such a "controversial" sign (oh puh-leeeeese!) in our little town?!

I don't think I've mentioned on this blog that I'm a Certified Childbirth Educator and birth doula. During my seven years as a stay-at-home-mom, I became more and more interested in helping families prepare for and birth their babies -- especially because I had three such varied childbirth experiences (one completely natural, one with an epidural and a C-section). I approached our local hospital one day and asked what I needed to do to one day teach childbirth classes there, figuring I'd work towards certification and then come back and apply for a job. Turns out, they needed instructors and offered to pay for my certification if I'd start teaching then and there -- which I did. And I absolutely LOVED it! Of course, I got very attached to my students -- especially those who asked me to be their doula -- and I've stayed in touch with them for years since. I miss teaching childbirth classes and helping to birth babies and wish I could somehow fit it into my busy schedule, but alas...

Even after I stopped teaching childbirth classes, I stayed very active with the birthing community online. You'd think this would be a cohesive, agreeable, supportive group, wouldn't you? Well, you'd be dead wrong! The vile, vicious fights that take place within the birthing community -- between the "granola" crowd and the "drug-me-quick" crowd -- are incredible! I fell somewhere in the middle, believing that how a woman chooses to birth her baby is a very personal decision and that her only real obligation is to educate herself and then her decision, whether she births in a tub in front of her livingroom fireplace or hooked up to pain relief in a hospital, should be respected. I think a woman's memory of her birthing experiences are critical and she should do what she needs to do to assure the most positive memory possible -- keeping the baby's health and safety as an utmost consideration, of course. Believe it or not, I got attacked from BOTH sides for my stance! The "granola birthers" accused me of selling out, and the hospital crowd accused me of not being supportive!

For all our in-fighting, though, many of us remained friends -- and some of us even became friends IRL (in real life). I haven't been back to our birth board in a while (AOL's birth options board) though, and I really wonder how everyone is doing. (I just found my way back and posted a hello...)

After my mom died, Dad talked about beginning another phase of his life, and I wondered how he could see his life in phases. But I think I get it now -- and the various phases of my own life are beginning to crystallize and come into focus -- childhood, teen years, young adulthood, "first career," stay-at-home mom and childbirth focus, second career, empty nesting... It's a pretty interesting ride and I can't help but want to sneak a peek at the next chapter!