I am becoming more confident and assertive. You may have noticed I've been sharing more personal things here instead of just the family anecdotes.
I am aware that people close to me talk behind my back. Three times now, mutual acquaintances have relayed to me a conversation they had with a family member along the lines of how crazy I am to birth at home. I want you to know that this hurts me, and each time I went home crying. Partly for the accusation and partly for the superficial relationship of a close relative who secretly (or publicly, apparently) judges me.
I would like to explain homebirth to anybody who is unfamiliar with it. I fear that many people jump to conclusions before having an accurate understanding of what goes on, how a midwife is trained, and even how different birth can be when a woman is in a natural, comfortable setting rather than a rushed, high-tech, cold atmosphere. Many people don't realize that birth outcomes in American hospitals are actually pretty dismal, compared to other developed countries. And they don't realize that many complications that are commonplace in the hospital are actually prevented at home. I have many statistics for those who are interested in comparison. And I can explain hormones and birth physiology, which helps to understand how birth is safer and fewer complications arise when a woman is comfortable.
I have already typed up an explanation but then decided not to post it on my blog (mainly because it's so lengthy). If any of you are interested, please ask and I will e-mail it to you.
