I Was A Participant In A 'Free Birth'

In our case, we spent eight months as a family preparing for the momentous arrival of our little sister. We held classes at our farm house where our midwife and a smattering of other rebellious couples would chomp on dried fruits, veggie platters saltines and other pregnancy friendly snacks while preparing for the blessed events. One night a week come snow sleet or hail we were ready and welcoming with snacks in the "adults" living room. We'd all listen politely to lectures, watch films and participate in demonstrations.

We were a group made of a few kids and a handful of expectant partners learning. It doesn't sound like a subversive group but in actuality, we were exactly that.

I described our small gathering as rebellious because back in the 1980's there were no midwifery programs and midwives had no legal status in Canada. So effectively every single one of us attending those classes were involved in a conspiracy. A conspiracy to circumvent the medical establishment and if I remember correctly the imposed artificiality of birth.

Today's Free Birth Movement feels very similar to me in that respect.

As our mother's belly began to swell, so did the belly of our midwife.

When the blustery spring day finally came for our little sister to enter the world, our midwife went into her own labour and called to tell us, she wouldn't be able to make it.

I was eight, and numb with fear. Up to this point I had been really excited about becoming a big sister, and was fully expecting to be a part of the delivery.