024 Community Spirit
And so there I was, pregnant again in 1981. I
swore on my soul that I would never again enter a
hospital for a birth. I found John Stevenson (later
disbarred) and midwife Lya Shaked, herself due
two weeks after me. Two days before the birth I
experienced for the first time the ‘show’
As I gazed into this infinite universe,
I heard a wise voice say, “This is who I
am. This is where I’m from, and now I’m
going back into this baby”
How amazing! I was ready. A fireside, my best
friends, my sister, my children and the father. A
wondrous labour, Lya massaging the perineum
Home birth
which, even after two episiotomies, didn’t even
tear. My loved ones around me, she came through
– a woman’s right to choose
me into this world, placed in my naked arms, soft
to my naked flesh, she came, this beautiful daugh-
ter, our love child, and with her umbilical cord still
inside me, she looked at me first, her black eyes
W
hy is this such a hard thing for the son born, held up, placed on my sheeted, swathed boring into me and inside my head.
AMA (Australian Medical Association) body, legs in stirrups, my hand goes to touch his As I gazed into this infinite universe, I heard
of 2009 to finally accept? Acupuncture, sweet flesh, my body, my blood, only to be slapped a wise voice say, “This is who I am. This is where
homoeopathy, chiropractic, finally there’s been a hard by a nurse who hissed, “Don’t you touch I’m from, and now I’m going back into this baby”,
meeting (melting) of the minds – but home birth? him, you’re not sterile!”, and yes, I apologised and and with that the eyes zipped to normal pupils
No! watched him being taken away, and only hours and she let out a lovely cry, happy, laughing,
May I share a shortened version of my three later allowed to hold him to me! gurgling. The father cut the cord, and held her,
births. Number One: Induced labour. 1971. Number 2, 1974. Induced again because my flesh to flesh, then he placed her in the warm
Supposedly two weeks overdue. Into Epworth gynaecologist was due at a conference in South bath and she opened like a flower. We cried,
overnight, sleepless due to being in a ward of America. Horrific, unsupported labour despite the we loved, we grew together all of us. That is home
screaming babies being fed, a 9am inducement effort to go with psycho prophylaxis, but given birth.
(the pain of having the cervix forced open and pethidine at the end which blew my mind but How dare you even propose to take that away
waters broken like nothing experienced ever left the pain. A daughter, my daughter! A quick from us, from the fathers and from the children?
since), a 28 hour full force labour with drugs, the touch then whisked away, wrapped in silver foil How dare you even think to make this miracle of
last extra 6 hours due to an emergency twin deliv- like a chicken and again, never holding this child life ILLEGAL!?
ery taking precedence. I was given an injection to of my heart until hours later, presented like the
slow me down and get back in line. My beautiful main dish. I unswathed her to count her toes. By Suzanne Ingleton
Help Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar!
To which magical and sacred landscape
will you come on your
_\U^U`aMXV[a^ZQe
with
1Se\`+5^QXMZP+?C1ZSXMZP+
Active Ingredient Momordica charantia
Choose from organised trips accompanied by experts
(Bitter Melon) fruit powder equivalent to fruit fl esh fresh 7.5grams (7500mg)
or ask us to bespoke your own personal tour.
to Help Support and Maintain Normal Blood Sugar Levels
“Always read the label and Use only as directed” keep out of the reach of children.This product is not
intended for pregnant women and children under 7 years old.
0438 069 438
www.ancientsacredsitestours.com
1300 883 219 0433 130 410
Complimentary Healthcare
www.naturesessence.net.au naturesessence@exemail.com.au
Council Approval No.
CHC40699-02/09
fully protected by Travel Trust Association U6574
Ripple issue 001 / 2009
News
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