Birth
Sugar and Iron
by Vesper Stamper, 2007
A slender-hipped girl clutches her man-midwife
and all of created gravity pulls her knees to earth’s core
Dust, dander rush up glittering in an oil lamp’s light
as between two cosms she becomes the door
Heavy, oaken, down goes the flesh
fairy and sprite take the head by the hair.
Panting, and animal-lowing of fear and future
tidal waves crash and foam hard on the straw
The delicious, impossible grinning grip of nature
Infinite, alert delirium of the final throes
Throw the robe o’er the rafter, she says
Heavy, oaken, down goes the flesh.
The feral smell of sugar and iron
of mineral atoms, of mares and foals
wonder and straw, sugar and iron
virgin and lover, blood and bread
See her, the bride, the hard-won woman
Throw the robe o’er the rafter, she says.
“Let there be light,”and the flicker of the lamp wick
is the first light, first colors for the first-less one
Wide-eyed, the moment between cord pulse and lung-breath
The Mouth of Fiat rooting for the breast
Here is the wheel of fire, steaming cold
He sees her, the bride, the hard-won woman.
A blue-brown baby, covered in wax
crowned with stars and heat and invisible flame
swaddled with muscle, oxygen, skin
a burning mountain that can be touched
Surely there’s divine spark in each child
Here is the wheel of fire, steaming cold.
Posted by Vesper on December 19th, 2007 in Birth, Going Deeper, Women to Watch | 6 Comments »
A review of “The Business of Being Born”, from Variety: “The statistics are sobering: Though the United States spends almost twice as much as any other nation on delivering babies, the rate of infant mortality is the second worst in the developed world. Docu cites several causes, particularly the absence of midwives from most hospitals, and a cycle of methods that seeks to impose artificial time constraints on a natural process, with an eye toward the bottom line.”
Why does birth matter? Birth matters because women and their babies are made in God’s image, and with every new life, God gets another chance to show himself through them to the world. Satan hates God and those made in His image. And if you’ve read the book “Captivating”, you understand that Satan has a special hatred for women. I really believe that. And I really believe that women matter to God. Not as a creationary afterthought, but as a vital completion, the crown of creation, the finishing brushstroke.
I have to tell you right off the bat that I consider myself a feminist. For those of you that think that’s a dirty word, let me explain. As I look out over human history, I see how from the first moment of sin, women have been specially targeted by the enemy. And look at what God pronounces will happen as a result of the first sin (I don’t believe this is his punishment, but rather the natural consequences): “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Women want to be loved, cherished, adored–yes, even worshiped, as some of my girlfriends have candidly said–and they will do stupid things to get that. The put themselves under the care of domineering men sometimes, thinking that this means protection for them. And the desire for approval from men can be so strong, that it rules over us. We should desire our husbands, and they should be over us in a protective role; but look at the wording God uses here as the consequence of sin.
(more…)
Posted by Vesper on November 14th, 2007 in Birth, Our Bodies, Ourselves, States of Life | 2 Comments »
OK, so even in Esther’s harem, kids get stomach flus and fevers and Esther doesn’t get to shower for several days, let alone blog. Well, I thank those of you that noticed that I hadn’t written in a bit. It means a lot that you’re reading. :^)
I just got back from an advance screening of a movie that I believe is going to make a lot of waves. It’s a movie produced by Ricki Lake, called The Business of Being Born. I believe every woman, especially those of us with daughters, need to see this movie. It will be in theaters in January, in NYC, San Fran and LA. Please visit http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/trailer.htm for more. It is one of the best movies about birth I have ever seen (and as a childbirth educator, believe me…I have seen a LOT of them). The filmmakers did a wonderful job of conveying a message in a way that is not polarizing, not political, and not shaming–rather, it shows the possibilities for women giving birth. I really encourage you to see it in January, or get it from Netflix (February). I’m going to see about hosting a local screening so I can get it to you early. I think it is very accessible, enjoyable, funny, thought-provoking, beautiful–and important. No matter what your experience or philosophy of childbirth, you will take something away from this movie that will stay with you.
OK, and Rosie O’Donnell introduced the panel speakers. Now THAT was worth the price of admission. Let me tell you, in a room full of midwives, celebrity matters…not at all. Maybe it comes from seeing so much anatomy up-close-and-personal. OK, sorry, it’s late, and if I’m not careful, I’ll start (like Scott) talking about sleeper trains and the Cleveland 49ers. (Yeah, I know my sports. Tennis, anyone?)
Now, I promised myself that I would be careful how I used Lamb’s webspace for my own personal views. And I want you to know that I am aware that my views on birth can be controversial. But I also have something that I desperately desire women to know, and that is this: that the way we bring our babies into the world *matters*. I want to write more about this, and I will–it’s after 1:30 am, though. I’m pretty pumped up about this movie, so I could stay up all night, but I do have 2 small ones who will be up in a matter of hours. Please know, though, as I hope anyone who has personally talked to me about the subject, that my concern is for the glory of God and the encouragement of women to receive all they can from him. I mess it up sometimes, to be sure, but he knows my heart, and I do my homework. So I will pose a question for you to consider.
Why does birth matter? I mean, more than the old proverb “All that matters is a healthy mom and a healthy baby”. Why does it matter whether we have drugs, no drugs, surgery, jacuzzis, whatever? Does it really matter–to us, to our babies–to God?
I would like to let you ruminate on that question, and please comment on it. Please, please, don’t let this be a one-sided conversation. I’m not afraid of anyone’s strong feelings on this issue–I welcome them, and I welcome you. But—more later, when I’ve had more sleep.
It’s good to be back, ladies. (And Jeff. Ha ha.)
Posted by Vesper on October 25th, 2007 in Birth, Healing, Our Bodies, Ourselves, States of Life | 6 Comments »
by Amy Laura Boydston
Congratulations, Amy–you’re our first contributor! Boy, I wish I had thought of some nifty prize for that. Well, you have the distinction. Hope that’ll suffice for now. :^) What follows is an introductory article on Natural Family Planning, and why this family chose this method of birth control. I will just add that even people like me, who had very difficult hormonal problems, have actually found answers to those problems by using this method when chemical methods (like the Pill) made things *worse*. So this is very helpful even if you’re not “regular” with your cycle. Please post comments or questions below and Amy or I will do our best to point you in the right direction. Enjoy! –Vesper
I grew up as your typical and rare “good little Christian girl.” I did not have sex until I was married in November of 2003 (I was twenty-four at the time). Since I was not sexually active, had no menstrual problems, and was fairly young I had no reason to consult a gynecologist and get a prescription for birth control pills.
I really had a “fear” of sex and the gynecologist, so when the Pastor Tom from my home church (Crossroads Christian Fellowship, in Union) suggested Natural Family Planning as a method of birth control during pre-marital counseling, I was really interested; number one, because in my mind it was an excuse not to have to go to the gynecologist and number two, I was not really into the thought of taking a pill that would alter my already perfectly fine menstrual cycle (Though, I am not against birth control pills, I am against pills that kill fertilized eggs). (more…)
Posted by Vesper on September 17th, 2007 in Birth, Our Bodies, Ourselves, States of Life | 3 Comments »
Most of you know that I work with women in the childbirth field. What follows is a personal musing on the story of the Hebrew midwives who delivered Moses.
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Shiprah, by Barry Moser
From a beautiful edition of the Bible containing hundreds of his engravings
 Puah, also by Barry Moser
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Exodus 1:15-22
Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiph’rah and the other Pu’ah, “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live.”
But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. So the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?”
The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and are delivered before the midwife comes to them.”
So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God he gave them families. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
This story of Shiprah and Puah gave me chills and a huge revelation one night last year. (more…)
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Posted by Vesper on September 13th, 2007 in Birth, Women to Watch | 2 Comments »
