To quote Carla Hartley, I believe “Birth is safe;  Interference is risky” (trustbirth.com).  I know the female body was designed to give birth whether or not anyone else was present.  I believe babies deserve a peaceful entry into the world.  I believe each mother knows best how to birth her baby and she deserves to have a birth team who works hard to empower her and protect her in that process.  I came to this philosophy through my own birth experiences.  I had two unnecessary cesareans followed by a home birth.  My path to home birth took a lot of soul searching as well as research.  I believe there are many benefits to modern medicine, but cesareans should only be used in medical emergencies and there were no medical reasons for either of my surgical births.  My first daughter was taken after labor started because my body didn’t dilate quickly enough and my second daughter was taken before labor started because she was considered a large baby.  In the US today, the rate of cesarean birth is staggering because of reasoning like this.  I wanted so much to allow my third daughter to come into the world in her own way, on a day she chose.  I wanted her to have PEACE when she arrived, not bright lights, rough handling, shots, and ointment in her eyes.  I certainly didn’t want them to take her away from me for hours right after her birth like her sisters were.  I knew she needed me as much as I needed her right after she was born, and that important bonding was taken away from her sisters and me.  Our country has the best medical technology available in the world, yet we are 20th in the world for infant mortality.  I am all for women’s choice in childbirth, however it is incredibly one-sided.  Women can choose a cesarean for no medical reason, but I could not find one doctor in my area willing to give me the chance of a natural childbirth after two cesareans.  One nurse laid it out perfectly for me:  "no doctor is willing to risk their career on you", she said, and I knew she was right.  But my baby and I deserved more.  I knew I would be in better hands with my midwife who knew my baby so well and wouldn’t be pushing my body or my mind with time limits, instruments, or any other stresses.  I felt very strongly that my chance of having a successful vaginal birth would be significantly compromised in a hospital setting.  I gave birth to my daughter at home because it was right for us.  I chose to become a home birth midwife because I need to do it for my daughters, for my sisters, and all of our future daughters and granddaughters.  I have to be part of the movement that is taking BACK BIRTH!  Women and babies know what to do in childbirth.  We were made to do this. We don’t need to be “rescued” from this important, though sometimes difficult journey.  We need to be in control and we need to be given the freedom and time to let our bodies and our babies do what needs to be done in peace. We need to be surrounded by people who will be patient with our bodies, our babies, and our progress in a natural labor.  More importantly, we need to be surrounded by people who believe in us.          ~ Alexandra Orchard