CONTENTS

Introduction

Awareness by Laurel Terlesky

Grounding Birth by Dawn Marsden

Welcoming in New Life: Nitanis’ Family Story

Part I: A Neo-Traditional Birthing Ritual by Nitanis Desjarlais

Part II: Ha’lidox’z Birth in Photographs

Part III: nuwiiqsu by John Rampanen

Part IV: Daughter Kalilah’s Story by Kalilah Rampanen

Part V: Kimowanihtow’s Birth

From the Heart of a Doula

Growing Our Bliss-Ball Baby: Our Pregnancy in Photographs by Katrina and David Rainoshek

Birthing Traditions: Birth Blessingways by Lily Mayall

My Pregnancy and Medjula’s Birth by Ellah Ray

My Homebirth! by Jessica Brown

Kieran’s Birth by Lauren Walker

Room Service by Maureen Bradley

Birthing Traditions: Creating a Belly Cast by Bronwyn Preece

Raphael’s Birth by Amelie Manshadi

Ruby’s Three Homebirths by Ruby Peterson

A Poem: The World My Arms by Kirsty Elliot

Farheen’s Two Births Told from Three Perspectives

Part I: Two Seasons, Two Homebirths by Farheen Haq

Part II: Aisha’s Winter Birth by Doula Kathryn Eagleheart

Part III: Baby Cairo’s Summer Birth by Doula Gillian Booth

Tristan’s Birth by Sarah Dakin

Liquid Love

Part I: A Homebirth with Home Cooking by Anna K. Lau

Part II: Two Years, Two Days, and Along Comes Number Two by Alex Lau

Birthing Traditions: Homemade Herbals by Jaylene Scheible, Apothecary

My Children’s Births by Carolyn DeFreitas

A Registered Midwife for the Haida Gwaii

Part I: My Story by Celine Laursen

Part II: My Sister Yoshi’s Birth by Taro Oike

Anicca’s Birth: As Told by her Appa by Dave Olsen

Muneera’s Birth and Traditions by Muneera Hussain

A Poem: Mama Bear by Sacheen Seitcham/Xhopakelxhit

Birth After Bereavement by Daya Clay Moss

Liam’s Birth by Catherine Peidt

Zaaven’s Birth by Skarlat Mortensen

Tessa’s Birth Announcement by Christopher Rodrigues

Solan’s and Cleopatra’s Births by Magda Pay

My Children’s Births by Jenna MacDonald

A Midwife’s Story by Joanna Nemrava

From the Tao Te Ching

A Poem: Dark Bright by Kirsty Elliot

Two Friends with Two Beautiful Bellies

Tiana’s Birth by Reena Singh

Birthing Traditions: Yoga and Childbirth by Jessica Beck, Certified Yoga Instructor

Nadiya’s Birth by Marion Linsig-Mattingly

Aliya Jean’s Birth by Julie Plotkin

A Family Affair by Marsha Moreau

Part I: My Four Births

Part II: Now a Little Bit Older . . . Marsha’s Children Reflect on Homebirth

Pregnant in the Door by Linda Schley

A Poem: Abracadabra by Kirsty Elliot

Similkameen’s Birth

Part I: Muma’s Persepective by Bronwyn Preece

Part II: Daddy’s Persepective by Paddy O’Rourke

Part III: My Story by Similkameen

Part IV: A Girl Named Similkameen by Bronwyn Preece

Birthing Traditions: imintuuthia—Belly Button Ceremony by Nitanis Desjarlais and John Rampanen

My Children’s Births by Lisa Larkin

Striving for Cultural Remembrance by Jennifer Harry

Gryphon’s Birth by Jenny Vester

A Poem: Jugs by Bronwyn Preece

Spinning the Breastfeeding Thread by Eva Bild, Doula, Childbirth and Breastfeeding Educator

Dustin and Lakota’s Births by Jaya Damaru

Finnerty’s Birth by Constanze Albrecht

My Family by Amber Sintihakis

Cleo’s Birth: As Experienced by Dad by Kevin Witschel

Birthing Traditions: Umbilical Cord and Placenta Practices by Bronwyn Preece

A Midwife Gives Birth to her Own Baby by Adrienne Chow

Baby Sister’s Birth by Dylan Bruun

Aidan’s Birth by Chantale Hutchinson

Praising Jah! by Chanti Holtl

Birthing Traditions: Moss Bags by Nitanis Desjarlais

From the Heart of a Doula

A Thank You!

A Poem by Similkameen O’Rourke

Notes

Acknowledgments

About the Editor

The names of the midwives, doulas, doctors, and nurses
mentioned in these personal accounts have been
changed to protect their privacy.

The names of those midwives and doulas who have included
their own accounts have not been changed.
All other names are real.

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Real stories by real people . . .