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Birth. Women all over the world from all walks of life have experienced childbirth, but in America right now pregnancy and birth seem to divide women from the moment of conception. No matter what we choose, most of us will find that our choices are viewed most harshly by those who ought to be most supportive-- other women. I'm sick and tired of hearing it! Accusations of irresponsibility and groupthink are hurled from all corners. If you choose to give birth in a hospital, you are supporting a corrupt system and dooming your child to a lifetime of problems. If you choose to give birth at home you're hopping on the latest bandwagon and if you choose to give birth without an attendant you're just plain crazy.

Here's the thing. Nothing will ever change and none of us will learn anything, unless we hear each others' stories. Not every hospital birth is a scary, complicated production geared toward giving scalpel-happy obstetricians an opportunity to cut you open. Not every homebirth is a train rocketing out of control, and unassisted birth is not necessarily a tragedy waiting to happen. Regardless of where or how you have given birth, you have something to learn about the other side. This blog will hopefully be a place for women to share stories of their own, and to share what they have learned from their experiences. I would love to see a truly supportive atmosphere, free of scare tactics from either side of the fence, and an honest look at what birth is like for women in the U.S. today.