Ep 271: Giving Birth in a Midwife Desert

Let’s say you want a midwife.   You’re desperate to give birth at home, and you’re ready to throw your money at the woman willing to attend your birth.  What happens when you can’t find anyone to come?    This week we’re speaking with Caroline and Alex, who are the parents of a beautiful family of 4 little ones (now growing #5).  This episode was recorded in November or December of 2023, I believe, but it never got a chance to air because of my sense that it was immediately time to close the podcast.  BUT… this story is just so good, you have to hear it.  With the updates we’ve made to the podcast and our desire to focus more on one story per interview, this episode has been edited to focus on their most recent pregnancy and birth.    Episode Roundup:   I want to take a moment to emphasize just how difficult it must have felt for Caroline and Alex to so desperately want a midwife and a homebirth, and yet to not be able to find anyone to provide care.  The reality is that there are large pockets of area throughout the country and, gosh, certainly globally, where there is lack of maternal care.  You don’t have 1,000 options. You’ve barely got any options.  I love the way that this couple chose to face this situation with a sense of openness and trust.  Caroline sensed that the Lord was calling them into giving birth unattended, and she trusted.  And what’s more, the Lord worked it out to where Alex was able to be comfortable and confident, too.  This  I also appreciate how this was not taken lightly.  There was preparation, mentally, spiritually, and in Alex’s case, even physically.  He was able to receive hands on training from their former midwife! What a gift. I want to touch on pain and the desire to have a pain-free birth.  Listen, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that desire! I love it, and I know that it’s so possible!! But I also think there is so much beauty and strength that comes from having a birth that’s challenging.  That’s not pain-free.  That’s intense and animalistic.  Motherhood is intense.  Motherhood is challenging.  Motherhood causes you to be in it for the long haul, even when you’re exhausted.  Which brings me to my final little point– Caroline mentioned how Alex saying “it’s so cute” was like her little cup of water in the marathon- the bit of hydration she needed to make it to the finish line.  How special are those moments– those moments we make with our spouse or our birth team– those intimate little sayings, touches, glances, that give us the strength we need when we needed it.  What a blessing.  And what a blessing this story was.     Links Happy Homebirth Academy Youtube Link