Believe Statements Collected During MANA 2006

MANA – Baltimore 2006
What do you BELIEVE?

I believe in the power of . . .

• Intuition! Knowing… Cellular knowledge!
• Normalcy, patience, love, the universe holding women and families, change, pain, truth, water, health
• Women (of course) and their ability to love and nurture each other
• The Uterus!
• The sun and the moon and water and the earth
• The collective power of individuals to change the world
• The Circle
• The mind & body
• Every person has the power to make a difference
• Midwives! We can change the world!
• Birth
• Yoni fluids
• 2nd stage pushing
• Babies
• the holy one
• Forgiveness
• A woman to be transformed by pregnancy and birth into the fullness of the human being she was meant to be
• Every human being to become and do what their creator designed them to be
• …Women… Birth… Truth
• the Holy Spirit
• Birth Centers!
• Women, Birth, Babies
• Love
• Woman. I believe that when women share time and space in the company of other women- miracles are possible and healing is spontaneous
• Prayer
• God and His empowerment of women to birth their children and then to love them
• Prayer – and love
• Focused thought
• Unity
• Perseverance
• Cheesecake!
• Myself
• Me
• Families!
• Unconditional love
• Strength and passion
• Pranayam
• Peace
• Declaration! So may it be
• Children are not things to be molded but are people to be unfolded
• One World- One Race
• Discovering what lies beneath…
• Birth as a rite of passage, giving birth to the woman’s innate power!

I believe how a woman gives birth matters because . . .

• It is transformational… it stays with her forever!
• It changes everything about her and empowers her to know herself and her strength as woman, partner and MOTHER
• It shapes her relationship to that child and how she chooses care providers from that experience
• Birth, the very act, creates a foundation that will forever be responsible for future interactions between mother, child, society, and world.
• It can connect us to our deepest power
• It is her essence and is of her essence
• It can be such a pivotal moment in defining herself and in the life of her child
• As a woman believes, so she gives birth
• She will live with the memory, good, bad, or indifferent… forever
• It holds the future of her child as well as her life
• It creates an imprint on the child, the future of our world
• It helps her believe in herself and the positive interaction with her children
• It strengthens the mom, presents the baby with knowledge
• That moment affects the future
• It is a soul’s first human experience and shapes their journey on earth
• That is the 1st step in the prowess of the child becoming what they were designed to be and a step in the mother’s life to be what she was designed to be
• It sets the foundation of the mother-child relationship and teaches a woman what she is (is not) capable of
• It affects her and her children’s life in so many ways!
• Maternal and infant safety and health are key
• “Peace on earth begins with birth”
• How could it not?
• It affects how she will come to think of herself (subconsciously- and this is the most cruel part of our minds) Pregnancy and childbirth are a microcosm of life
• It sets the foundation for parenting of that child and can facilitate bonding and relationships within the family
• It will define how she sees herself forever
• It is the fundamental and foundational way we transmit to our children what life on this planet is about, Is it a place of warmth and love or one of fear and pain
• It IS love
• It brings her closer to herSelf
• It opens her heart
• It affects how she will come to think of herself
• It determines how she will love for the rest of her life and how her children will love
• At the moment when she is giving birth She is closest to God
• Hearts can be healed through vaginas!
• We’ve seen it matter with our own eyes
• She is our first glimpse at humanity
• It is one chance to come into her power
• It just matters!!

I believe there can be a midwife for every mother if . . .

• Women are informed of their options and sound information is disseminated to the general public
• Money was not a part of the picture, Fear was reduced, Finances were available for school tuition and a living wage could be earned
• We continue to be who we are, and show women how wonderful it is to be cared for by us
• …if they only knew how much better it could be…
• Obstetricians learn humility
• We keep on despite all the odds
• Our culture could support midwifery and women
• Every woman desires it
• Woman everywhere start being protective about their births
• Women stand together and raise their voices
• Midwifery was accepted and legal in every state
• Moms realized that it’s the BEST option
• There are more Midwives
• Every woman demands it and every midwife embraces her path
• There are enough educated consumers who will push for the needed numbers of midwives!
• We have universal health care
• Women can understand that birth is normal and not something to fear
• We spread the word
• Every mother wants one
• We keep up the good work!
• We continue to grow caring, competent midwives and educate the world through our actions and words Children are exposed to midwifery (vs. just doctors and hospitals) and women’s ways of knowing starting at a very young age
• We change how the mainstream views us; if we blend in to their world a little better
• The mothers and their families become convinced they need us
• That mother truly cares and wants that
• Obstetricians admit they themselves are wrong
• There are enough of us
• We spread the word
• We continue to tell the stories… to sit in circles
• The world only knew
• There should be a midwife for every mother because the may not even know she needs one!
• More dads were open
• We MUST see that peace in the only answer and good birth brings good peace

I believe that having a balanced life as a midwife is possible if . . .

• You take care of yourself!
• Partnership creates sleep, if money to cover life expenses is earned, if families have support!
• We are able to practice together and not get too tired to care
• We learn to love ourselves as much as we love the women we care for
• We are not martyrs
• We keep taking care of ourselves
• The midwife recognizes and upholds her own boundaries
• There is an opportunity to be on call less
• She makes a place for her loves as well as her work
• You love yourself like you love the women you care for
• There wasn’t fear of prosecution
• I had a helicopter; I had 8 hours more in a day; I had extra days in the week; I had blessings and support on the home front
• I have faith
• She takes care of herself first and creates a support system/ community that supports her life
• They were meant to be a midwife
• We learn to set priorities and boundaries, and educate our loved ones how their support midwives the midwife they love and share their lives with
• Don’t know yet.
• We share the load and lean on one another
• We are supported by our families and communities
• We give thanks to those who support us in this process for they make this possible
• We have support systems around us and mindfulness within us
• We work in partnership with other midwives
• I promise myself a cruise every year with my husband!
• I am willing to share my “load” and my responsibilities with those around me
• You remember how the past was

I believe all women deserve . . .

• To put birth as a HIGH priority
• To feel good about themselves, body, mind & spirit
• Full control over their bodies
• To be listened to without judgment
• Midwives who are following the midwifery knowledge, not medially accepted norms of current trends
• Alternatives- the right to birth their babies in the way they wish with protective love and support
  VBAC
• Respect, someone to believe in them, a peaceful birth
• To live free of violence
• Loving watchcare from a midwife during their childbearing year!
• Safety, peace, quiet, nurturing, good healthy food
• An opportunity to chase after all their dreams and to be loved, affirmed and supported as they explore them
• To do things their own way
• To be free to choose what she wants when she gives birth. To be given to information she needs to make an educated decision
• Dignity in their health care and self determination
• Choices in childbirth
• Honest care providers who will tell the whole truth, not just the convenient truth
• Safety to walk down the street
• Tenderness
• Love and passion, nurturing and compassion, room to blossom, a place to shine, and knowledge that she is the holy one
• The opportunity to grow into the woman they want to be the birth they want
• Safe, loving and fulfilling lives
• To birth their way, without having to feel stupid or belittled for “asking”
• Respect
• Care, choices
• To receive the support they desire
• To recognize the divinity/creator within and to have that honored
• Freedom of choice in childbirth, even if we don’t believe her choices are right
• To be in charge of their own bodies (i.e., birth: where, how…)
• A peaceful birth experience. Time with their provider of care.
• Loving respectful touch
• Passion
• To be cherished
• To know they are beautiful
• To live without patriarchy!
• Time
• A girlfriend if they want one
• A peaceful birth
• To be believed in!
• Big Juicy Dreams
• Every mother should be able to buy her birth kit from a local department or drug store!
• To be free of fear!
• To be safe!
• To live free of domestic violence
• Women deserve to be honored, nurtured, loved, respected and their hearts edified with such a gentleness that brings a peace that reaches our very core. We were created to love, to be compassionate and support one another, and to serve in a capacity of ministering to women and glorifying God. Women are gifted in so many wonderful ways. When our hearts are open to the special needs of the ones we are caring for, we are able to perceive the desires of their hearts. The need for prayer, a tender or tight hug that flows with security that we can re-instill to her with gentle, tender voices (and touch) or just to hold their hands to be there completely. When we allow our guard to be down, to share our hearts with them, this builds a trust that is not easily broken Midwifery is a commitment not only to the physical needs that exist, but also to the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects that encompass our entire being. May we continue to increase our knowledge and wisdom that our skills will be as beneficial to our women as our hearts. OPEN OUR EYES, they truly are the windows to the soul.

I believe mothers around the world can . . .

• Relate to each other
• Stop listening to the “parenting experts” and start trusting their own inner knowledge
• Unite to improve the conditions of childrearing globally
• Change the world, one baby at a time
• Change the world through our love for our children and therefore all children in the world collectively
• Be empowered by their birthing experiences and then more easily fall in love with their babies and their babies with them and the cycle would continue
• Change the world
• DO IT!!
• Raise their voices for their rights to health care
• Join together and publicly demand midwives model of care be accepted and legal world wide
• Change the world and create peace on earth
• Rise up and become themselves
• CHANGE THE WORLD to a place of love and compassion and set our priorities straight
• Change the world around them!
• Make a difference
• Work together to see that all women starting as baby women know their inner beauty
• Rise up and overcome the medical way of birthing
• Have everyone know they are there for them
• Give birth no matter where they’re from
• Create a world of peace
• Unite to make birth safer for all women
• Benefit greatly from learning from and supporting each other’s diverse belief systems
• Benefit from midwifery care
• Be sisters
• Support their local midwives!
• Take back real birth!
• HELP heal their children’s pain through love and trust in God

I believe midwives can make a difference by . . .

• Working together
• Talking the talk and walking the walk. Share our stories of birth and lead by example
• Providing a safe space for women to grow through the miracles of pregnancy, birth, and mothering
• Attending to the smallest details of service
• Showing faith that the unknown is a beautiful journey that we can dive into together with courage and trust
• Contributing to the peace movement one mother and one birth at a time
• One woman at a time! One baby at a time!
• Supporting, affirming and releasing women to find the birth they desire whether we agree or not. If they want an unassisted birth then we should endeavor to facilitate it with them
• Going outside the allopathic system
• Continuing to believe in women and their bodies!
• Giving women choices and the power to make them
• Communicating to women of childbearing age that midwifery is an option
• Sharing their love, trust, and knowledge for a woman’s body with each woman they work with
• Making waves, making noise, making love
• Bask in the knowledge that they have nurtured the mom, the family, the society, the universe
• Beginning at the beginning because Peace on Earth begins With Birth!
• Speaking up, Standing up, Loving each other and not judging
• Doing just what they are doing… continue just the way you are
• Being women who support women!
• Inspiring/facilitating each woman’s inner knowing
• Being activists in law making, to change birth in politics, making midwives accessible and safe to all women
• Continuing to … BELIEVE
• Acting as community leaders and change agents
• Encouraging grassroots projects
• Supporting organizations—MANA, ACNM, etc
• Serving women who are underserved
• Choosing to unite
• Being with one woman, one birth, one baby, one family
• Being Themselves, Boldly
• They most definitely already do!
• Making a choice to ACT in LOVE every day rather than FEAR

I believe every baby needs . . .

• LOVE
• Warm mothers milk, lots of kisses, snuggling in momma’s arms and “naked time” every day!
• Unconditional love that includes life-long attachments
• Needs and deserves breasts, warmth, respect, space to speak their truth and be heard
• Parents who are fed, safe and not in war zones mentally or physically
• Unconditional love
• Respect -- a chance to be undisturbed
• To be held by his/her mother right after birth
• Warm and yummy breastmilk!
• Parents and family to love, touch, kiss, hug and accept them for who they are and encourage them to follow their passions
• Love, to be wanted, human milk
• A loving nurturing entrance into this world
• A loving birth, a peaceful birth and respect
• A safe way to come into this world, and that safe way is with a midwife
• A mother who loves herself as much as she loves her baby
• Mommy
• 20,000 kisses a day
• A quiet, gentle, tender, peaceful entry to this earth
  As safe and gentle a birth as possible and always love!
• Someone to put their needs first!
• Love, touch
• A wholesome environment in which to gestate
• A waterbirth!
• A respectful entrance into this world… and LOVE!
• Time with their mama

I believe . . .

• In myself! I believe in women! I believe in midwifery!
• Women can birth their babies! We can learn from each woman
• MANA is our great mother and nourisher!
• That life is simple
• That if women speak out, and stand up for their rights, birth will change forever
• In women and birth!
• Midwives can make a difference
• All things are possible
• Anything is possible!
• In the wisdom of a creator, and our part in trying to discern all aspects of that in our lives
• Midwifery is essential to the survival of our society/culture
• Midwifery will rise again
• In midwives
• That we can and will change the world
• Babies are magic!
• I am making changes that will ripple across the nation, slowly, acting for the good of women everywhere
• That midwifery is a calling
• You can change old mindsets if you truly want to so it can happen!
• In the Power of One
• Midwives will always be here helping women, families and everyone else on the planet
• In the power and wonder and wisdom of women’s bodies!!
• That I am here in this life for a purpose and I was led and empowered to do the job of midwife. I am honored and humbled.
• We have to change for humans to survive
  Midwives can change the world one baby at a time
• Yes
• In the power of birth pain
• It’s all possible!
• Midwives should be the primary care providers for every woman across the lifespan
• Midwifery does not begin or end with birth
• Great things will happen