Elizabeth Catlin, a nurse midwife, who successfully helped 500 babies come into the world, was taken away in handcuffs because she did not have a license….

And the ones that called police?  A hospital that likely sees her as a threat to their profits.

This story is sooo old!!  This is exactly what has happened for centuries.  Men don’t have any business being gynecologists nor helping a woman give birth.

If I had to do over again, I would have every one of my three kids at home, with a midwife.  I was terrified by all the lies I was told when young, so home birth seemed as if I was being negligent and backward if I wanted a home birth.

I also would not circumsize my son and would breastfeed all of my kids at least for six months after birth….but I digress…

**(I started to say that the authorities could send nurses to be with Catlin during births to know she was qualified, but rethinking it…women can decide for themselves.  As it is stated in the article, it was word of mouth of Catlin’s abilities that the women came to her to ask for help.   Women need to take back their power and decide what is best for them and their babies, not someone else.)

Let me ask this…how many babies have died at that hospital?  Or hospitals in general?  How about babies being exposed to all sorts of diseases being born in a place for sick people?

**UPDATED:  Here is one of the major reasons I would not have my children in a hospital — I was given the horrendous drug Pitocin to speed up a delivery that was progressing normally by a male obstetrician that apparently wanted to be elsewhere.  I began having horribly painful contractions so much so that I was SCREAMING for the last 30 minutes before I gave birth.  I was also pushing waaay too soon before I was fully dilated.  I was literally out of my mind from the pain so much so that when the nurse was next to me telling me to quit pushing I was in such a state of mind that I kept saying “push,push,push” repeatedly.  I think they call that catatonic.  Good for this woman for standing up against that nurse and that hospital!! I wish I had been more assertive and done the same.  There is no reason that I should have been put on Pitocin and it surely should have been stopped once it was clear that it was having an adverse affect on me and my baby!!

**edited to add:  And I was just reminded of another stupid practice by my male physicians:  “let your baby cry itself to sleep”  I feel so guilty for doing this because I wanted to hold them, but was advised, wrongfully, that I would spoil them!  Now looking back, I cannot fathom that kind of thinking.  So if your physician tells you this nonsense, ignore it and listen to your own instincts.  Babies need to know that they are loved and secure.  And stop trusting in doctors who don’t have yours or your baby’s interests at heart.  (end update)

Finally, a take on a beautiful and very powerful experience for a young mother at Standing Rock who gave birth by herself  This is how birthing a baby should be!  And as she says, ALL WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THIS INFORMATION!

It’s interesting how she states women “carry the gateway into the world through our bodies…”  what a profound statement!

Bless we women for that awesome responsibility and GIFT of giving birth!