the birth journey

Yesterday in the midst of a huge snowstorm (increasingly rare in Ottawa these days) we trudged the couple of blocks over to our midwife's home.

Despite the snowflakes buzzing our faces and landing squarely in our squinty eyes (and some little girl's tongue) it felt magical, just like this journey to our birth.

(above, home birth necklace by one of my favorite jewelry shops, moonovermaize)

And we're so fortunate to have connected with a midwife who's been teaching and educating about midwifery since before I was born.  I - we - feel entirely different about this birth this time 'round and it's incredibly exhilarating. Freeing. Informed.

A major study published in 2005 (which was co-authored by our own midwife) evaluated the safety of home births in North America involving midwives. The authors compared perinatal outcomes with those of studies of low risk hospital births in the U.S. Over 5,000 women participated - women who were supported by midwives and who planned to deliver at home when labour began.  Their conclusions? Planned home birth for low risk women in North American using certified professional midwives was associated with LOWER rates of medical intervention but similar intrapartum and neonatal mortality to that of low risk hospital births in the U.S. In other words, no mothers died. Baby mortality was similar to the risks in other studies of low risk home and hospital births.

If only I knew 5 years ago when I know now. But we only know what we know when we know it. At least I now know how very little I know.

(above, newborn baby hat by Studio514)

As we get closer, I'm going to post some of the organic and eco friendly supplies we're seeking out for our planned home birth. And if you have suggestions or ideas, I'd be more than delighted to hear them.

I've been thinking a lot about the importance of honest conversations among women - especially about pregnancy, labour, breastfeeding, post partum depression.... the need for support. The incidence of post partum depression is comparatively so low in other cultures where women give birth in communities of other women, where they are cared for, and knowledge and celebration is passed along and shared among the generations... So much of how we do things here in this culture makes no sense to me. It is broken.

As we look to heal as a family, we look to start off a new body of knowledge, experience and celebration in our family. It brings me incredible joy to see my 4 year old daughter learn so much and ask so many questions in the hour we spend with our midwife every month.  So she will see birth as a natural process, something to be shared as a family....

And that healing has already begun.