Mondorfment: Laboring woman turned away

I have a newsletter subscription to Waldorf Teacher and I enjoy it every time it arrives in my email box. I save them as there's always a wonderful verse and poem and some information about Waldorf teachers and schools. They also always have some of the most amazing art. I think all you Montes out there can truly appreciate the wonderful art that is made and featured by Walies's out there if you're not for the spiritual side of it. So, I think you'd do well to check it out.

Like I was saying...every newsletter has amazing verses and this time I wasn't let down...

In the Town

Old French Dialogue Carol

JOSEPH:
Take heart, the journey’s ended:
I see the twinkling lights,
Where we shall be befriended
On this night of nights.

MARY:
Now praise the Lord that led us
So safe into the town,
Where men will feed and bed us,
And I can lay me down.

JOSEPH:
And how then shall we praise him?
Alas, my heart is sore
That we no gifts can raise him,
We are so very poor.

MARY:
We have as much as any
That on the earth do live,
Although we have no penny,
We have ourselves to give.

JOSEPH:
Look yonder, wife, look yonder!
A hostelry I see,
Where travelers that wander
Will very welcome be.

MARY:
The house is tall and stately,
The door stands open thus;
Yet husband, I fear greatly
That inn is not for us.

JOSEPH:
God save you, gentle master!
Your littlest room indeed
With plainest walls of plaster
Tonight will serve our need.

HOST:
For lordlings and for ladies
I’ve lodgings and to spare;
For you and yonder maid is
No closet anywhere.

JOSEPH:
Take heart, take heart, sweet Mary,
Another inn I spy,
Whose host will not be chary
To let us easy lie.

MARY:
Oh, aid me, I am ailing,
My strength is nearly gone;
I feel my limbs are failing,
And yet we must go on.

JOSEPH:
God save you, Hostess, kindly!
I pray you, house my wife,
Who bears beside me blindly
The burden of her life.

HOSTESS:
My guests are rich men’s daughters,
And sons, I’d have you know!
Seek out the poorer quarters,
Where ragged people go.

JOSEPH:
Good sir, my wife’s in labor,
Some corner let us keep.

HOST:
Not I: knock on my neighbor’s door,
And as for me, I’ll sleep.

MARY:
In all the lighted city
Where rich men welcome win,
Will not one house for pity
Take two poor strangers in?

JOSEPH:
Good woman, I implore you,
Afford my wife a bed.

HOSTESS:
Nay, nay, I’ve nothing for you
Except the cattle shed.

MARY:
Then gladly in the manger
Our bodies we will house,
Since men tonight are stranger
Than donkeys, sheep and cows.

JOSEPH:
Take heart, take heart, sweet Mary,
The cattle are our friends.
Lie down, lie down, sweet Mary,
For here our journey ends.

MARY:
Now praise the Lord that found me
This shelter in the town,
Where I with friends around me
May lay my burden down.

As I read this I thought about how hard it must have been to be in labor...and no where to lie down and birth your babe. I envisioned myself as when I labor I want to be supported. I thought how cruel is our world to turn a laboring woman away as the Universe makes room for another soul.

I hear some mention this never happens...ahh...but you're wrong. Many women are turned away from our hospitals when in active labor because they don't 'act' like it. I've doula'd for a woman who had labored only a few hours before she KNEW (she was also dilated at a 7 at home and she wasn't interested in a homebirth!) and they wanted to turn her away! All because she was very calm. Luckily, she climbed up on the bed and flashed them some black hair. She was a blonde. They jumped to.

Other women are denied the right to birth the way they wish...VBACs are not encouraged despite multiple studies proving they are a safe option for nearly all women. Others are forced into accepting drugs or interventions or even denied drugs they ask for for pain relief. No matter what a woman chooses be it a med free vaginal birth, a vbac, freebirth/unassisted birth or even if she honestly feels and has made a FULLY informed decision to have a cesarean...that is HER right.

In honor of Christmas I ask you to make a donation to one of the many birthing groups out there that support women during their pregnancies, births and postpartum. Just imagine as you labored if you had been turned away to birth your baby in a stable. Granted, I'm sure Joseph tried to rake out some poo and pull down some fresh straw but....even my preference for natural is icked out to give birth next to some cow dung. I doubt Mary cared at that point except to wonder if she could get the mules to apply some pressure on her sacrum. Or wondered where the rebozo was! All that donkey riding had to be annoying especially if Jesus wasn't turning!

If you're pregnant be sure to read for yourself. Don't make a decision because your OB/GYN, Midwife, Doula, Sister, Mother, Stranger, Best friend whatever told you to or it happened to her or ...read, learn, decide for yourself. Why is it people read more about the contract on their cars warranty than medications and procedures that can affect their and their childs life. A car is no where near as valuable as your child.

Imagine...there's no room for you and your soon to be born babe....

For lots of amazing information and to donate to a great birthing cause click on any of the links...

http://motherfriendly.org/

http://www.marchofdimes.com/

http://childbirthconnection.com/

http://ican-online.org/

http://www.mothering.com/

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/

http://www.waterbirth.org/

If you've lost a babe

http://www.nationalshare.org/

Merry Christmas and I hope your births are blessed and all you hoped they'd be!