I am enjoying the birth stories. I hope you can take another. My first birth took place in a hospital and THE Dr. Bradley was my doctor, although it was his partner who was on call for my birth. This was probably as natural as one could get in a hospital in 1973. I had my waters broken and demerol and an episiotomy. It wasn't a horror story but I knew then that I never wanted to birth in a hospital again. I had given over control to the authority figures and I knew I wasn't strong enough nor did I want to have to fight during labor to have the birth I wanted. In answer to all of my friends and relatives and others who asked the question. "Yes I feel safer at home." My next birth 2 years later was at home without professional help. My husband and I studied and did it ourselves. It was my most spiritual and pain free birth and the best part was reaching down and holding my baby, putting her to breast and never letting go. For my third and last birth, I knew too much to have so much faith and we had a wonderful lay midwife. It was my fastest and most intense birth. I do describe it as painful, but not unbearable. And afterwards I felt so incredibly good about myself. For me birthing at home was wonderful and empowering. I know it is not for every woman. I think it is very sad that so many women have such an adversarial relationship with their own bodies. So many of the breastfeeding problems I see in my practise are the result of hospital routines. What can we say to these moms who feel they had no choice about their birth experience? I'm always more comfortable when they are angry about what happened to them than if they feel their bodies failed them? Thankyou for being there Lactnetters. Marilee Woodworth, IBCLC, LLLL, Ann Arbor, MI [log in to unmask]