Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern MidwifeAn inspiring collection of birth stories by a charming midwife. Each time she knelt to “catch” another wriggling baby—nearly three thousand times during her remarkable career—California midwife Peggy Vincent paid homage to the moment when pain bows to joy and the world makes way for one more. With every birth, she encounters another woman-turned-goddess: Catherine rides out her labor in a car careening down a mountain road. Sofia spends hers trying to keep her hyper doctor-father from burning down the house. Susannah gives birth so quietly that neither husband nor midwife notice until there's a baby in the room. More than a collection of birth stories, however, Baby Catcher is a provocative account of the difficulties that midwives face in the United States. With vivid portraits of courage, perseverance, and love, this is an impassioned call to rethink technological hospital births in favor of more individualized and profound experiences in which mothers and fathers take center stage in the timeless drama of birth. |
Contents
15 | |
The Meditation of My Heart | 47 |
The Wine of Astonishment | 81 |
Not Only With Our Lips But in Our Lives | 123 |
Who Walketh Upon The Wings of The Wind | 159 |
Devices And Desires | 231 |
The Measure of My Days | 261 |
Epilogue | 323 |
Pearls of Wisdom | 327 |
Home Birth Supplies | 328 |
Studies on Midwifery Safety | 330 |
Statistics on the Economics of Midwifery | 332 |
Resources | 333 |
Sandis Famous Caramels | 335 |
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Common terms and phrases
arms asked baby baby’s baby’s head bedroom began belly beside body breath called changed child close comes contraction cord delivered delivery didn’t doctor door eyes face feel feet felt finally fingers five floor four front girl glanced hair hands head heard held holding home birth hospital husband it’s keep knew labor later legs light living looked midwife midwifery minutes months mother moved Naeema never night nodded nurse okay once pain passed Patty Peggy placenta pregnant pulled pushed rest Sandi seen shoulder side smiled soon sound started stay steps stood stopped sure talking thing thought told took trying turned voice waiting walked watched weeks whole woman women wondered