birth story: a giveaway!
We are so honored when our families share their birth stories here in this blog space, and we are honored to share another very important Birth Story with you that is being told through film.
Like most birth workers, we love us some Ina May. For those of you who aren't familiar, she's known as the "mother of modern midwifery," a self-taught, straight-talking, gentle soul who isn't afraid to take on the establishment for the good of maternal health and better outcomes for birth.
Her Spiritual Midwifery was probably the first book I picked up when I started to think about pregnancy, even years before I actually was. I thought "Yes! This is what I already know, what I believe. My body knows how to have a baby." And it did. Her blend of traditional wisdom with modern science has had an impact on both of my own birth experiences as well as the work I do and plan to do with women as a doula and future-midwife.
My Barefoot Birth sisters and I have had the opportunity to attend a couple of workshops with her over the years, and to hear her speak and teach is so common sense, so matter of fact, so "of course this is the wonderful way birth can be if we just treat people WELL."
At one of the speaking events I attended in New York, the documentary crew for Birth Story was there filming her. I sat pregnant in
the audience, soaking all of it in, so excited that a movie was being
made that would share more about Ina May and the other Farm Midwives, the good work they have been doing in Tennessee for many years, and the message Ina May is trying to spread around the world.
A friend of mine grew up on The Farm commune and her mother was a midwife there, so I've heard some tales for sure, but this film was like a road trip to Summertown that I haven't been able to take for myself yet. It was a window into a simple existence, yet full of big hopes and dreams for the rest of this country to shift back toward that simplicity when it comes to bringing babies into the world.
With more and more families choosing midwifery care (for both in and out of the hospital births) I am so glad to see more media celebrating what woman and family-centered care really offers. Some families may not otherwise see what the midwife difference is, may not know what they're missing. This film celebrates modern midwifery while sharing the story of how The Farm came to be, how the Midwives came to practice, and how they're finally starting to see their message of care picked up around the country.
I supported the film's Kickstarter campaign and was so glad to just receive my copy of the DVD in the mail, and when the filmmakers contacted me asking if I'd share about it with you here of course I jumped at the chance. So I'm not just telling you about it--they sent another DVD to give away to one of our friends as well. If you are planning to give birth you'll want to see this film, and if you're a birth worker it's one you'll want in your library. It would also make a fabulous gift for a midwife or doula.
To
enter, use the Rafflecopter thingamajig below, and leave a comment on this post telling us what your
experience has been with midwives, how a midwife made a difference in
your life, or why you feel a connection to midwifery. And if you haven't
had an experience with midwifery, We would love to hear something you
wonder about it...what you're hoping to learn from this film if you win
it. If you don't leave a comment on the post, you aren't entered to win. You can get extra entries for Liking our pages on Facebook.
The winner will be picked at random next Friday. In the meantime you can watch the trailer and learn more about the film and The Farm on the Birth Story website.
P.S. I LOVE the "Your body is not a lemon" posters and tote bags for sale on their website. Love love love.
