I thank fearless pioneers like author Laura Shanley and others who bravely represented their unassisted birthing decisions by writing books and creating resources for others who are in the decision making process. Their voices and convictions gave me the courage step forward with my story. It has waited a long time to be told and is precious to me, every word. My last birth was 12 years ago here in Michigan. It seems like only yesterday.
Every detail is still vividly crystal clear.
I wasn't confused by anyones perspective of what my body needed to do, I became introspective and in tune with what my body was doing. The absolute truth of the matter is that I didn't originally plan an unassisted birth. Encouraged by the fact that it was a group of lay midwives who founded it, I thought they could connect me with a midwife in my area. But alas, there were no practicing midwives in northern Michigan, at least not on the east side of the state and there was no one that would make the journey here to attend my birth. I was down at first.