MM&M: Homebirth Fundamentalism Part 1

Another Friday, another Midwifery, Mothering & Me Post. This week, a client sent me a link to a Daily Beast article and her wonderful comment to the article. It got me started on what will likely be the first of several blogs of this topic, Homebirth Fundamentalism.


May all babies be born into loving hands...

 K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

Fundamentalism scares me. Whether the topic is religion, politics, or health care, fundamentalism scares me.

As a licensed midwife attending planned home births, the public fundamentalism on either side of the home birth issue scares me both personally and professionally. On one side, there are folks that have not a single good word to say about home birth, and they proclaim from rooftops any shred of 'evidence' that shows home birth as dangerous. On the other side, are folks that eschew medical intervention in favor of a 'natural birth' at almost any cost. TO READ MORE

MM&M: The Scent of Birth

Here is the current Midwifery,Mothering & Me post, a poem. In my thousands of photos, a simple picture of a breeze pushing a curtain was not to be found. So, peaches will have to do. Enjoy!


May all babies be born into loving hands...

 K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

The Scent of Birth

The scent of birth is a heady perfume  

Its base note is loamy- earth, sweat, blood 

Aquiline top note - soft, clear water, salty tears, grassy newness 

Between another layer floats, subtle and persistent -clean wax of vernix 

The scent of birth surges  

Baby greets mother 

newborn hair anoints nipple and lips 

The scent of birth stays  

paperwork is done 

midwife's bags repacked 

The scent of birth lingers 

clinging to scrubbed hands and clean clothes 

It follows me home 

Crossing under lintel 

I hold out my wrist 

"Honey, smell this"  

He sniffs 

He shrugs -nothing there 

Vernal scents push kitchen curtain 

Lacy dance 

Wet earth, fresh cut grass, ozone, earthworms, damp blossoms

The scent of birth is here 

It was here all along 

~K Michelle Doyle

May all babies be born into loving hands

MM&M: LIfe on Call

Last week's Midwifery, Mothering & Me post did not make to this blog in a timely fashion. I was traveling, doing just what I wrote about in this post. Perhaps you can forgive me?

Life on Call 

I am a midwife. Specifically, I am a private practice, planned homebirth attending midwife.In my normal life, I am on call 24/7. Every hour of every day, I am ready for someone's call: a laboring woman, a breastfeeding mom, a questioning teen, a worried dad. Every hour of every day, I am prepared to leave wherever I am and whatever I am doing to attend to a client's need.
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May all babies be born into loving hands...

 K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

MM&M: Change your Shorts!

The June 8 post on Midwifery, Mothering & Me is a little memory from my second labor. Enjoy!

Memory: I was in active labor with my second baby. It was hard work and I was relaxing well with and especially between the contractions. Endorphins were surging through me and my thoughts were, well, let's just say I wasn't thinking normally. I was deep into Labor Land. TO READ MORE

May all babies be born into loving hands...

 K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

MM&M: Talking to Babies

Well, Friday came and went without me posting the new Midwifery, Mothering & Me post here. I apologize. Hope this short essay gives you something to ponder on a beautiful day.


May all babies be born into loving hands...

 K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for reading this post. If you are regularly reading Midwifery, Mothering & Me, thank you again. I truly appreciate the support. 

We humans like to be acknowledged. We like to be recognized. We crave attention. Some of us want lots and lots of boisterous, energetic attention. For others, a simple nod of the head or a quick note is all that is desired. Even you, dear Reader, appreciate recognition. Right?

To Read More