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An article I found recently on one of my new favorite birth blogs and an email from a friend asking for some info for a friend of hers got me all fired up about birth again this week. I've been collecting some links in a draft post for a while now and now I would really like to share them with you. Those of you who are new-ish readers and don't know me so well should be warned. I'd a radical about natural childbirth. These articles may clue you in on that....

You should be grateful

Cesarean Death stats

US Neonatal Death Rates

One woman's story reminded me so much of my births, I wrote this email to her and received her permission to link to her stories.

I just read your story of the birth of your precious daughter, Aurora Miranda (and then two sons), linking in from The True Face of Birth. I just wanted to say, what a beautiful, beautiful story and would you mind if I linked in as well? My first child was a posterior, asynclitic birth, just like your second son. And I, also, had the blessing of a homebirth and a midwife who trusts the birth process. After 35 hours of labor, my daughter was born with apgar scores of 9 and 10, a 15 inch head, a minor skid mark that didn't need stitching and no unnecessary interventions. I midwifed for five years in a state where homebirth is illegal and met many women like the those who assisted at your second birth-- women who were willing to risk all kinds of legal ramifications because they believe that every woman should have to opportunity to do this mighty thing-- give birth in her own way, in her own time and on her own terms. I am so glad that you were able to experience this. There is truly nothing like it.

Her first (medical) birth

Her first home birth

Her second home birth