I was reminded of this wonderful lady as I have been sharing her whole concept of birth to a doctor friend of mine, Dr Rashid. Dr Rashid is on her GP training and working through Obs & gynae experience.
There are some peers that are just so inspirational that you hold them high in your life for influencing the way you think and do things. Ina May Gaskin in one such lady. A 1960s Hippie now in her 60s and still wears flowers in her hair. Despite practising as a midwife in the high litigious world of the USA, she is an advocate for natural birthing. But can respond with knowledge, skills and judgment to emergency situations to lessen the impact of the emergency.
Her whole being inspires confidence in birthing for mothers in her care.. and this photo sums up the rapport and link that she forges between mother and baby... Just being around her you feel safe in her care... that is a good attribute for any midwife - for any caring professional...
I have met Ina here in the UK when I attended a Birthing seminar in Bristol and it was as if we had known one another for eons of time... such warmth in this lady for sure... and she has the ability to take an interest in you too...
You can read more from this 2009 article in the guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/26/natural-birth-expert
Image from the guardian article.
Love one of her quotes and we women need to hear this with our hearts..
“There is no other organ quite like the uterus. If men had such an organ they would brag about it. So should we”
― Ina May Gaskin
Here is another quote that displays the biological confidence we should have in the whole process..
.
“It is important to keep in mind that our bodies must work pretty well, or their wouldn't be so many humans on the planet.”
― Ina May Gaskin, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
You can read more of her quotes on http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/18078.Ina_May_Gaskin
you can meet her on her farm website http://www.thefarm.org/
