>In this society that emphasizes personal fulfillment, how is it that we try
>to remove all tests of strength and the growth it brings, that are provided
>by the motherhood experience?
Janice,
  This is so true. I attended a birth a couple of months ago,
second child. I attended the first birth 3.5 years ago as well.
first birth was very long, epidural, healthy baby. This birth
was much quicker, no time for epidural, baby was fine, although
needed to be checked out in NICU because there was not enough
time to give IV antibiotics for Strep B (I think it was strep B).
One of Mom's first comments after the birth was that she did it
herself, with no drugs. A couple of hours later, she commented
about how empowered she felt being able to do it herself.

I have since incorporated that into my childbirth classes. Labor is
hard work, but rarely is it so difficult that we can't handle
it, especially if we let women labor (and mother) in ways that
feel comfortable and right (that includes positions, voices,
support, etc. etc.) I have come to learn that in my capacity
as an educator, my main job is not to teach material, but
to empower women and their partners to ask questions, challenge
authority, make their own educated choices. Of course presenting
material is part of that, but you teach very differently if
your goal is presenting material than if your goal is empowerment.

Naomi Bar-Yam

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