By Miriam Maslin
Esther (not really her name), was determined that she was going to birth her fifth child in order to bring in the Final Redemption. In order to do so, she delved inside herself and learned that she needed to birth outside of a hospital, to be given complete freedom to let her soul and body guide her through the birth. She opted to labor and deliver in a small rural birthing center with access to a beautiful garden and a midwife who completely respected her process. She was overjoyed that there was no one there forcing her to do anything she felt was contrary to what her body was telling her to do. She had the freedom to work through the labor in whatever positions felt right for her at that moment, using whatever tools she felt she wanted to use - a birthing ball, a Jacuzzi, massage, oils, pressure points, energy work, reflexology, and the loving care and support of her two birth assistants. She ate and drank when and what she felt she needed and was able to be completely present at every moment. When she was in between contractions, she closed her eyes and experienced the quiet. When she was in the contraction, she was able to completely focus on turning the Darkness of the pain into Light. And, we sang! We sang songs of joy and strength, of longing and desire for the healing of the world.
As she neared the end of her birthing journey and began to feel the urge to push, she determined the precise spot in the garden where she wanted to have G-d bring her baby into this world. She gave birth to her daughter, standing fully erect, like a queen giving birth to royalty. With her hair covered and wearing her own long flowing robe, she maintained the dignity and sovereignty of Malchut (Royalty) as she gave birth to her beautiful new daughter. The midwife knelt on the ground to receive this new neshama, while we, "her attendants" sang the traditional Jewish wedding song, "Let us dance before the bride".
Esther could not believe her energy immediately after the birth. And her daughter, her daughter was only interested in nursing, or looking around at her new world. A midwife who checked her out a few hours later commented that she seemed like a week-old baby!
This is how every woman should be allowed to birth. It is her legacy. It is her right. May it be so.
June 26, 2005
