Childbirth Education
Pardon me while I rant a little bit.... OK, maybe a LOT! Today, I was asked by a tearful mother to explain to her husband why it was important to take a childbirth class. Women have been giving birth for years. Women have been giving birth NATURALLY for years... without classes... so WHY now?
Why now????
Because of the mother who sat in front of me with tears rolling down her face and said "My mother asks me every day, 'What if you can't do it?'"
Because of the young girl whose grandmother said (in her presence) "She's planning on a natural birth? I hope you are ready to only have one child, because IF she's successful, she'll never do it again!"
Because our society has eaten the lie, hook line and sinker, that women are not capable of giving birth. That birth is NOT a natural process, but rather one that needs to be controlled and manipulated.
Because our society has taught moms to lose faith that they were designed to do this (It's been happening for thousands of years, and the human race hasn't become extinct) and has led them to "accept" that one in 3 babies has to be surgically removed from their bodies.
Because women who desire to birth naturally have been mocked with comments like "Honey, don't try to be a hero... there's nothing heroic about going through that pain. TAKE THE MEDS!!!"
Until our culture comes to understand that birth is normal, and natural, and that yes, it hurts like ********** but then it's over, and you have a healthy baby, and it's OK…
Until women are encouraged to believe that their bodies were created to do this thing, and do it WELL
Until people stop mocking women who desire to have a low intervention birth
Until we come together to support women in their birth choices (whatever that choice may be) instead of plying them with our horror stories, reinforcing that they can't do this
Then child birth classes are important. Our mamas need SOMEONE (besides just their midwife) to say "Birth is normal, and natural. Birth is the hardest thing that you will ever do, but you can do it!!!!" I have confidence in you."
So.... If I ever end up pregnant (Highly unlikely) you will find this midwife sitting in class, right along with other parents, gaining strength and encouragement from a group of peers who are all working toward the same goal... a natural birth. Amy BixbyRedman LM - May 19. 2015
Mindset Mondays…
I’m going to be starting a series of posts on mindset, and how it affects birth. Here is my first post, as copied from other social media.
Mindset plays such an important role in birth.... what are some limiting beliefs that our culture fed you about natural birth? What did you do to root out and replace those beliefs?
In pregnancy, she wanted to do it....
Her mom said "What if you can't do it?"
Her friends said "Giiirrrlllll you have lost your mind! First real contraction, you'll be wanting the drugs. I loved my epidural."
Complete strangers said "You are more brave than I! Better you than me."
The medical community told her "This is a medical event that needs to be 'managed' and 'manipulated.' You can't do this without our 'help.' "
Her culture told her that birth was to be feared.... and yet, she knew what she wanted, and she fought for it.
In labor....
She said "I can't do this anymore"
Her midwife said "You ARE doing this, and you are doing great."
She said "I just want to stop and go home."
Her midwife said, "The only way out is through."
She said, "I'm not strong enough."
Her midwife said "God will give you the strength you need."
She said, "I can't push him out."
Her midwife said, "You were designed to do this. Your body was MADE for this. You CAN do this... you are."
And then... suddenly, he was here. And her face was awash with wonder, amazement, and love for this tiny being for whom she had worked so hard.
And her midwife, once again, marveled at the beauty of God's design... at how strong women are... And she was humbled that she gets to play a minor role in such a beautiful event. ~Amy Bixby Redman
#BelovedBirthMidwife #homebirth #midwifelife #waterbirth #YeahthatGreenville
The birth of Mother
It’s a tale as old as time.
It’s a tale as old as time. We can see the echoes of creation in the light in a new expectant mother’s eyes. It’s a time of hope, of planning, of waiting, of growing. Her hand rests on her belly, gently, with a brush of love as she chats or laughs. She may not know we noticed…but we do. We wait and watch, we become friends; we plan, we examine, we check.
When the day comes, her face is different. The blushing happy days of a swayed walk are replaced by an intense, determined look. Her eyes are fierce, she is inside, working with Birth. It’s a new friend, she isn’t sure yet how much of a friend. She’s wary. Her eyes close. We wait.
In the moment we hand Mama her baby, her eyes see nothing else. To her, this is the moment of miracle, when love and life overwhelm her. She’ll never forget this moment, the memories seared into her mind will be there always. Fresh baby skin, mewing baby cries, laughter and tears, fully enveloping and enveloped by this new life.
To us, it’s the moment we watch Birth turn her into Mother, dusting off hands and going away until another visit someday. She doesn’t see Birth leave, doesn’t see Birth’s work, not the way we see. We smile to ourselves. The blush and focus have turned into love. She has no more attention for her own needs, so we quietly care for them for her. It’s the birth of motherhood, the moment she has turned strength and patience into beauty. She has accomplished, overcome, and at the same time forgotten her own goal and has a thousand new ones nestling in her gaze. And with our experience, we work, we tidy, we quietly fall into the shadows and still marvel all over again at the birth of a mother.
The Birth of a New Practice
Original - Wednesday June 17, 2020.
***Edited on September 26, 2022 - We were informed that we had inadvertently infringed on a trademark (Birthright) and this necessitated changing our name to Beloved Birth Midwifery.***
It’s a season of change, isn’t it? New steps, new challenges for us all.
After serving the birthing community since 1995, 20 years of which have been in other practices right here in the Upstate, I’m excited to announce that I will be serving the community as Amy BixbyRedman, independent midwife at BirthRight Midwifery. I do plan to grow the BirthRight team in the future in exciting ways! But first, I am taking some time for setting up a practice that reflects my values, compassion and dedication to our birthing mamas.
In early 2020, it became abundantly clear that it was time for me to step up into an independent practice. There were many factors behind this decision, and it is not one that was made lightly.
Once the decision was made, the whirlwind began. It was time to move forward quickly.
I turned to a small group of women (past clients and friends, professionals, and strong, supportive women) for advice. The “collective” helped develop business names and logo ideas that reflected my passion for the families I serve. These women listened to me patiently.
They encouraged me in my dreams for the future.
They cheered me on when decisions daunted me.
In 4 short weeks, we have accomplished the unbelievable: a new business name, logo, and media presence, business cards, letterhead, monogrammed scrubs, and over 100 pages of contracts and educational info created and uploaded into the online charting system. We still have a lot to do... the website is definitely still under construction, but we’re here!
I’m also excited to share that Karla Costner is going to be serving at BirthRight as an apprentice. She has been such an amazing asset already to my business growth, but especially to our Moms and Babies. You’ll love her!
Looking forward to what the future holds. Much love to you! Amy