Ruth Stearns Pass

Ruth Stearns Pass was raised in an experimental commune and taught in Nicaragua post-revolution. She is a writer and the mother of three children: Aiden Romero, Rachel Elizabeth and Nicholas Antonio. She currently resides in Connecticut with her husband, Christopher, and the lovely products of their labor.

Illustration by Bonnie Urquhart Gruenberg

Nicholas Antonio

by Ruth Stearns Pass December 1, 2008

This is the birth story of my son Nicholas Antonio. He’s my third child, my second VBAC and my first successful full natural birth. I hope my story inspires doulas and midwives to continue their work helping women in all situations to have safe and positive birth experiences that don’t use unnecessary medical interventions. I weathered a “bully”-type experience in a hospital that changed its birthing policy for VBACs the day before I went into labor. I was the first woman to labor under their new policies and stand up to them and tell them “NO.”