Lately, I have been dancing. After 8 years, I have finally started taking lessons in tribal belly dance. I can't tell you how good it feels! I have also been amazed by how little I really use my body in everyday life. Just the challenge of moving my knees to move my hips without moving my shoulders has required a lot of focus and energy. I'm all inspired...
So, just for something different I wanted to share this video I found just the other day. Looking forward to seeing more male dancers, and getting to tribe fest one day...
My world has changed quite a lot in the last few weeks. I knew it would be different, but I didn't understand how different. On my lap right now, fast asleep in a rainbow striped sling is my 17-day old son, Wren. He came into the world at dawn on a Sunday morning, into a birthing pool and the arms of his father. His 10 year old sister took photo's and wrote down the the time of his birth (6:07am) and his weight (4350 grams, 9 1/2 pounds).
So much has happened since then. He has attended his first Stirling Market, his first wedding and we are about to attend our first festival together - Common Ground. I have no doubt that it will be challenging but fun, and can't wait to share all the love!
On another note, here is a most fab performance from Tribe Fest that I found through a friend on facebook. Enjoy!
As you may have guessed, I've been busy and not attending to this blog. Very slack really. I could use the fact that I am about to have a baby as an excuse but really I have been putting this blog on the bottom of the to-do list for too long. To make up for it I want to share with you all what has been on my mind instead and a wonderful blog I have been reading... instead of writing my own.
In just a few short days I will be having a baby, at home, with the assistance of an incredibly experienced independent midwife. Strangely enough, it seems that it will soon be a luxury for Australian women to do this because it could well be illegal. I won't go into all the details, partly because I'm still getting my head around it all but mostly because others have and have written much on the topic and taken up the fight.
Here are just a few of the things I have been reading. A few articles that explain some of the changes coming, from the Herald Sun, The Chronicle, news.com.au and a recent protest.
For me, I feel that homebirth is the best option. I have done a lot of research, much of it before even being ready to get pregnant. I feel blessed to have the assistance of my midwife. Her experience and knowledge and support have helped me to feel ready for the challenges of pregnacy, birth and parenthood. She has also encouraged me to fully investigate my options, to look for more than one answer, to consider all the aspects of birth. It has been a wonderfully eye-opening experience. I am also fully aware of the fact that birth can get complicated, even low-risk births. Sometimes a hospital IS the best place to be and caesareans DO save lives. I hope that by choosing to birth at home where I feel safe and comfortable I can avoid the complications that can occur in birth and create the need for a caesarean, the major trigger being stress.
Here's to the start of spring, new life, new moon and great change.
