Photo by Drew Hays
With birth stories to illustrate her points, Sister MorningStar discusses variations in pushing times and why we need to stop trying to manage birth.
Photo by Johannes Plenio
Subtitled “The work of the subconscious mind and the power of inner awareness,” this article addresses communication with pregnant women to assess dreams, fears (demons), and wishes for the future (desires). Birthkeepers can use this information to better understand the woman, help her work with these issues, and, ultimately, help her birth her power. Read more…. Dreams, Demons, and Desires: The Work of the Subconscious Mind and the Power of Inner Awareness
Photo by Michal Mancewicz
We must stop hurting babies in our effort to help them.
I rubbed Mary’s feet as she sat on a yoni steam throne made of herbs gathered through the year in my woods and gardens. I listened to her tell me her birth story while she sipped herbal tea and nibbled on bowls of nuts and honey graham crackers.
Read more…. Newborn First Breaths: Protecting the First Moments of Life
Photo provided by the author
“Homebirth, first breaths, re-immersion in water and primate movement are a biological continuum for mamababy.” Sister argues for first breaths and primal imprinting for newborns—an instinctual interaction between mother and baby.
Jennifer Hamilton—jhmamarazziphotography.com
Sister MorningStar spins her word magic about the subject of maternal mortality, using examples of women she has known.
Sister MorningStar shares more positive stories of birthing to inspire us all.
Katya Perkova, Sister, and Dr. Miriam Rose in the Republic of Karelia
Sister MorningStar bemoans the increasing difficulty of birthing with joy and no interventions, and tells stories of how instinctive birth can be.
Read more…. The Failure of Evidence-based Intellect in Protecting the Sacred Feminine
There is a theme in my world travels over the past 30 years. I have searched my mind and heart to find words for the theme. I have listened to languages different from my own describe this “something” from the mouths of thousands of wimyn. The theme is captured by a beautiful Bolivian midwife attending an international conference in Mexico in 2000 regarding the future of birth and midwifery in Central and South America. “We know we must take our mothers to the hospital,” she nearly whispers with a quivering voice, “but where are the prayers?” Read more…. India’s Fierce Wimyn and You
Photo by Kourtnie Scholz—kedocumentary.com
I wanted to write solely about a beautiful undisturbed homebirth. I am a storyteller by nature. Stories are the facts of life. Read more…. HomeBirth—The Power of One
Paige Driscoll—antacruzbirthphotographer.com
Sometimes it is easier to trust the innate intelligence in natural processes when science discovers or confirms through scientific studies the validity of something that is believed to be true, like upright positioning for birth, or something previously unknown, like the benefits of the human microbiota. Most recent is a growing respect of the microbiota at birth and its effect on long-term health.
Monet Moutrie—monetnicole.com
What If, What For and What Now? Human Rights and Cultural Rights in Childbirth by Sister MorningStar. “One of the most tragic destructions of indigenous sacred female knowledge is the false superiority and medicalization of childbirth by professionals among native peoples. Read more…. What If, What For and What Now: Human Rights and Cultural Rights in Childbirth
In this article, midwife MorningStar does what she does best: speaks about the needs of a laboring woman. Read more…. Hands on, Hands off: Midwifing the Inner Life of Women
