They are among the most skilful birth practitioners, yet they may become extinct I am a mother of three who managed, after a protracted fight with the NHS, to have a wonderful, inspiring, uplifting birth with a private independent midwife at home. I am not a nutter.
I made more than 100 phone calls in the two weeks between hospital appointments to find someone who would listen to my reluctance to go under the NHS knife, to find someone who would take me on to birth my twins normally. I knew that I could do it, but I didn't really want to fork out £2,000 for the privilege.
My mother had birthed my twin brother and me normally, so why couldn't I be encouraged to do the same? After all the puffing and panting, I discovered a secret that too few mothers are let in on: birth can be great. Not an ordeal to be got through, but a powerful beginning to motherhood, a set-up for all the snot, sweat and tears to follow.
Every woman in this country deserves what I had. Our mothers had it, so why shouldn't we?
The Times
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article3887554.ece
