I was the first one in my family to start having babies and my kids have been showered with wonderful gifts from the time they were born. Well... mostly wonderful gifts. The not-so-wonderful ones come with batteries, make a lot of noise and play the same tune, ring or jingle over and over until you want to rip the damn toy out of the kids hand and toss (no chuck) it out the window. My sisters were the ones who usually purchased these and it's payback time.

I have attended over 50 births in the past 8 years. All different. Each and every one has a uniqueness to it that makes it remarkeable. It makes going to "work" an unknown. I never know when it will happen, what will happen or the outcome. If I only had a magic ball.

One of the commonalities of birth is that most woman will, at some point, think they can't continue. Whether medicated, unmedicated... supported by many or alone... they will say "I can't". Fear, pain, hormones and frustration will overcome. Part of my role is to encourage, to support and help push through that moment in time woman are unsure that they CAN, they WILL and they are ABLE. Many women feel as though they are not measuring up... they aren't doing it well enough, fast enough, that they aren't strong enough... that because Best Friend Susie did it this way and Aunt Grace did it this way or Mom's birth went this way, mine should go that way too. Or because I believe in this or she believes in that... So wrong. And, to me, so sad. I wish I could erase the would have, could have, should have's. EYE ON THE PRIZE ladies. You don't walk away with a metal of honor or a better baby if you birth a certain way. No way is right or wrong and no woman should feel "less than" if they choose to birth a certain way. Be informed. Make informed decisions. Healthy mom... healthly baby. Thats the prize.