“The memory of pain recedes, the memory of triumph does not”
A wonderful, wonderful article on Ani DiFranco’s thoughts on birthing in America today from Venus Zine:
“I would definitely choose a homebirth again despite the fear
mongering of this patriarchal society, which convinces women that they
are incapable of having babies without the intervention of men and
their machines. I look at societies where women are marginalized and
oppressed their whole lives (even covered head to toe in tarps!) but
are still in control of birthing practice, in a whole new way now. I
mean, who is really more advanced?
To take birthing out of women’s hands and deny us the continuum of
eons of wisdom and experience is to eject us from the very seat of our
power. I believe that women in hospitals are prevented from being able
to have normal, healthy birthing experiences because of the
intimidation of being on the clock, being pressured to take drugs to
make it quicker, being inhibited in their movement and activities, and
alienated by a sterile, fluorescent lit, feet-in-the- air type
environment. You know the classic “performance anxiety” of not being
able to pee or poo because somebody’s watching you? Multiply that by a
million! A cervix is a sphincter after all! Then to add tragic insult
to injury women are numbed through their great moment of revelation.
I believe the act of giving birth to be the single most miraculous
thing a human being can do and it is surely the moment when a lot of
women finally understand the depth of their power and connection to
all of nature. You think it can’t possibly be done, you think you
can’t possibly take the pain, and then you do — and afterward you look
at yourself in a whole new way. If you can do that, you can do
anything. Check out the books on this subject by Ina May Gaskin. She’s
one of my great heroes.
P.S. I was in labor for 43 hours. Pushed for five hours. It was brutal
and scary and prolonged, and if I was in a hospital, they would have
definitely cut the baby out of me. I thank the goddesses that I was at
home with patient midwives who knew how to go the distance. The memory
of pain always recedes. The memory of triumph does not.“
I love it, so true, so true.
Hey ‘Nette, check out this site, you’ll love it”
http://www.momsrising.org
They have some great promo t-shirst too. I want the onesie that says, “I’d be even cuter with universal healthcare”
traceyleezle
May 2, 2008