His Royal Highness: Wiremu King

His name is the Maori version of William~pronounced: "wid-a-mu."

He is one of the most beautiful babies I have ever had the opportunity to feast my eyes on.  Loving parents, excellent support from extended family.  The young father helped receive his sweet, waterborn son with help from my wonderful American midwife student. The mum labored and birthed with graceful dignity.  Picture was taken when Wiremu was minutes old, while still in the birth tub, before the placenta was born.

We are lucky to be in a place where normal birth is supported. Thank you New Zealand for showing the world that it can and should be a priority--and as part of a national health care system. 

These photos represent why I LOVE being a midwife.  Imagine if all babies could be welcomed with gentleness, love, and respect?

It really can be done, even if medical technology must be utilized. Too many people forget--just staying busy doing their "job," trying to meet the rules of their institution--which sadly are not always doing what the evidence says we should be--to enhance family bonding/attachment, breastfeeding, etc.

Unfortunately, normal birth is not a big money maker for western medicine, insurance companies...so it stays under the radar, only getting attention from people who realize our health care system is breaking and that we need to support it--if only to save money! Saving money is a start, but there are many more reasons to keep birth normal.

We midwives aren't doing our work with any big fanfare, not a lot of media attention, no one is getting rich--we are part of a powerful, mostly unseen revolution happening all over the planet in private homes, birth centres and in hospitals. We are trying to make the world better one baby at a time.

How we are born makes a lasting impression on our lives~~