I read the news today, oh boy...

My previous post elicited some pleas in the comments (and even a couple emails!) for news about what this thing is I feel I've been called to do. Well, let's just say that I will be volunteering for a group that advocates on behalf of pregnant women in some pretty dire circumstances.

I am in the throes of a pregnancy that has thrown me for more loops than I can count and I know that I couldn't get through the hard times without my amazing support system and my wonderful midwives. The moment of clarity I had last weekend happened quickly. I was sitting at home, watching TV, nothing major happening at the time. It hit me like lightning that I am extremely lucky to be receiving the high level of care that I've gotten since the day we found out I was pregnant.

Many women, even some in my own neighborhood, don't get prenatal care. If they do get some care it's typically not of the caliber I've received. I know about my options. I know that there are birthing options available to me and that I don't have to go along with the dramatized television version of childbirth. I don't have to lie down on a bed with an IV in my arm and have men in white coats yell at me to push push push! Did you know that lying down is one of the hardest positions for giving birth? Why do so many women in this country think that's the way they should do things? Because they're told so by TV, the media, and even some medical staff. The uterus has a drive angle just like a piston and when the drive angle is off it makes pushing the baby out far more difficult. When you lie down to give birth you are essentially pushing your baby out uphill. I don't know about you, but I want the option to make things as easy as possible on myself.

I've bought books and I have friends who have given me great literature about pregnancy, birth, and babies. I have access to so much information it blows my mind. Every pregnant woman doesn't have the kind of surplus of information that I have and it's a severe imbalance. It's not only a question and economy and class and race and culture. It's a question of age and social circumstance and support network and employment.

Every pregnant woman should have access to what I have access to. No woman should think her only option is to wander to the closest ER when she goes into labor and settle for whichever obstetric team is on staff. No woman should have to be alone during the most intense experience of her life. No woman should be brushed aside because she looks different or she is poor or she speaks another language or she is scared of deportation. Each pregnant woman should be given the same respect I am given by my care provider.

I knew I needed to do something. I have bigger plans for the future, but for now I did some research and emailed an organization in NYC that I really respect. The Executive Director emailed me back the next morning. I meet with her on Tuesday. I couldn't be happier about it. This is going to be hard work and I am looking forward to it like you wouldn't believe.