labor of love: a midwife's memoir

by cara muhlhahn

now that i am sincerely considering midwifery
i get mixed responses
some people are awed
while others are saying
why in god's name would you do something like that
( why wouldn't i?! )

after reading this memoir
i realize that these two responses
will never go away
if i should ever trek down the midwifery road
and i'm okay with that

cara is an uber cool person
that had a fascinating childhood
with a dab of an eating disorder
and a crazy but cool family that kept her grounded

she travelled all over the place
and has experienced home births in all of its glory

if i could meet this woman over sushi
i would be delighted
and i think we would talk for years

here are some highlights from her philosophy of home birth and life
that i find so intriguing:

she does not believe in god. but she knows god "in her own way".
"I deliver babies, save lives, experience and facilitate near miracles. It would be impossible to do the work I do and not become acutely aware of the presence of....something"
"I get the sense that some out of powerful "forces" out there provide order to this divine mess called life".

she also strongly believes that nature gave us all the tools we will ever need
and they are more reliable and trusting than man made creations. (i totally dig this point!)

i strongly reccomend this book to anyone who is skeptical of
the power and capability of women's bodies
(minus the electronic machines that tell us
how we should feel and when our baby will be ready to come out)

if you are not a reader....
here is a documentary that cara is in...!
check it out. RPL has both!