BEFORE YOU LISTEN – POTENTIAL TRIGGER – MISCARRIAGE – If you are currently pregnancy or planning. This may not be the right episode to listen to right now please come back it at more approprite time – Any one facing miscarriage or been through, this is a story that is speaking truths of her birth as a woman with and though her own child birth experiences. Please keep an open heart in a space not to judge, but to listen and connect with all our experiences in birth.
So this is essentially part 2 of the that last amazing and informative and interesting journey from Maryn from Indie Birth. I felt so connected to this recording. Going through the experience of miscarriage myself with what is knows and a partial molar pregnancy, I completely connected with Maryn’s story.
Maryn talks about the birth of Sable Sage. This story takes us into 16 weeks of a pregnancy where Maryn felt that something was not quite right. We hear of such a huge ‘letting go’ process from when she found out that baby died to birthing Sable nearly at her due date. We hear of the journey she went through during those months of carrying Sable and choosing that deep connection within her body to trust the process and let this happen when ready.
This podcast again is very informative and will especially resinate with birth workers on the journey of loss. I felt again lots of healing by hearing and sharing parts of my own story with Maryn. I found when I went though loss that the more I talked to people the more that I found there was many out there that had similar experiences. My advocacy for birth extends to death, in a sense that we deserve the right to a death that is honoured and informed. Maryn and I in this podcast both agreed that having the right support for the decisions in miscarriage made a big difference in the process, emotions and the healing after. Please if faced with this, you are not alone by all means, reach out, there is support out there. We are all with you with light and love xx
From Maryn – “As a midwife this has stuck with me.. Its so powerful the words we say to women if we don’t believe in them, then we should not be working with them and if we do believe in them then our words mean so much ”
“ You have to have the births to become the person you are today”
“Birth and life are journeys, they do teach us what we need.”
“I do believe these babies come with their lessons, and we are all here to learn”.
Resources
Indie Birth Wise Womens Circle – Yearly membership to join a community of connected women to learn, enhance and find support for birth workers and families. ‘sisterhood’ with teaching, live calls and group chat. HERE
My journey into birth actually began with the birth of my first child, albeit in a hospital. I did not even know that homebirth was an option, but I was frustrated with the hospital experience I ended up having. With my second child, I was introduced to the idea of birthing at home by my doula, who could see no other option for me- given how “stuck” I was on wanting things to be unhindered, uncomplicated and the safest, most loving experience for my baby.
Needless to say, my homebirth was everything I needed and wanted, as a woman and a mother. I have gone on to have three more midwife attended births, and TWO amazing freebirths/unassisted births. I am passionate about helping to INFORM women, to educate them and support them on their path; and to help them make their own decisions both before, during and after birth. I strive to strike the balance between what I know intellectually and what I “know” intuitively.
I believe that birth is inherently safe, and that most women and babies are more than capable and willing to be born without a lot of fiddling from someone else. I support women that want unassisted births and women that would like an attendant. I believe that women know how to birth and that babies know how to be born. In this culture, sometimes we need to be reminded of our power and our potential as women. I cannot give anyone empowerment; I only try and show you a reflection of what is already right inside of you. I feel divinely lucky to be a part of the life cycle so intimately.
I was educated in the apprenticeship model, and completed a 4 year apprenticeship beginning in Chicago and ending in Arizona. I’ve completed formal midwifery studies and obtained a midwifery license in Arizona. As a result, I had my own homebirth midwifery practice, Red Rock Midwifery as an Arizona Licensed Midwife from 2009-2012. I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM).
After 3 years, I saw very clearly that my birth philosophy and my role in women’s lives no longer fit into the “licensed midwife” model. In my opinion, this model uses outdated research evidence (as well as cultural myths!) to create rules and regulations that determine where women are “allowed” to birth and with whom. Ironically, these regulations do not ensure safety nor do they protect women or babies. I believe so strongly that pregnancy and birth are natural, private events, and that the government should have little to no involvement in these decisions. I do maintain current certifications in Neonatal Resuscitation and CPR and haven’t left behind any of the knowledge, expertise and experience I gained as a licensed midwife. In fact, I believe the bar is much higher now, and I continue to study and learn and ask questions every day of my life. I no longer practice as a “midwife” in Arizona but prefer the term “traditional birth attendant” or even “birthkeeper”.
Women deserve a birth option that is NOT black and white. “Medicalized midwifery”, hospital birth and freebirth are NOT the only options. We provide an option that integrates support, love, knowledge, research and intuition, and allows women to birth at home with the most comprehensive support available.
I believe the great Jeanne Parvati Baker illustrates my point most clearly:
“I coined the term
BIRTHKEEPER
— to marry EARTHKEEPERS and BIRTH
EarthKeeper is a word
for Eco-activists
as well as holders of the sacred Earth-based wisdoms.
Midwives can be the same,
yet the term “Midwife” has been usurped by MEDwives
and other medically-based perinatal professionals.
At this point in time on Turtle Island,
Midwifery is an endangered species.
Too many Midwives
have identified with the oppressor,
learned to speak the conquerers language,
and otherwise been vanquished to emerge as
obstetrically-trained “Medwives”.
In other words,
many Midwives have given up being
guardians and keepers of natural birth at home,
in order to survive as professionals.”
In that light, we do not offer “midwifery services” but that of birth consultants, birthkeepers, birth attendants..or whatever else you want to call it. Women guides have also been available to other women during birth and we are honored to carry on this ancient tradition.
We also provide classes and one-on-one consultations (in person, Skype or phone) for private members only.
We DO NOT provide Skype or phone assistance during birth.
The private membership association I founded is called the Indie Birth Association. We are a collective group of women that support women’s choices in birth, and we have varying education and support levels depending on what you require. I believe that birth is about the women; the mothers and their babies, not about the midwives or the doctors. Women own birth. As I watch women take back birth on a daily basis, a little part of my soul gets renewed. I have hope for birth and for our future generations to be born in love, peace and kindness.
In addition, I am working on my certification in Medicinal Aromatherapy. I am a lifelong student, always learning; I credit Ancient Art of Midwifery Institutewith providing me with an amazing midwifery education. I graduated from AAMI in 2012 with honors.
I live with my husband of 17 years and our 7 children. Life is good!
The podcasts have completed their cycle however, enjoy the 50+ hours of amazing stories of birth and beyond that will remain on this website or subscribe via all good podcast players. Thank you for all your support over the years! ♥️
My journey into birth actually began with the birth of my first child, albeit in a hospital. I did not even know that homebirth was an option, but I was frustrated with the hospital experience I ended up having. With my second child, I was introduced to the idea of birthing at home by my doula, who could see no other option for me- given how “stuck” I was on wanting things to be unhindered, uncomplicated and the safest, most loving experience for my baby.
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