In the birth world, few names carry the honor, inspiration, and pure devotion than that of Ina May Gaskin. She is honest, trusting, and legendary. In her work as a midwife on “The Farm,” a birth commune of sorts, in Tennessee, she has welcomed hundreds of babies into the world with minimal interventions and remarkable outcomes for moms and babies. Her writing has empowered women for decades, helping them to understand the physiology behind pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding, encouraging them to trust the process, and reminding them that they are strong.
Needless to say, when word got out that Ina May was planning a visit to the Twin Cities, MN, nearly everyone in the local birth community wanted the chance to be in her presence. The main event was a lecture at the University of Minnesota, promoting her latest book, Birth Matters. Like her other publications, this new book describes the negative implications of modern birth practices, encouraging society to bring normalcy back to birth.
However, one night with Ina May just wasn’t enough for us Minnesota birth junkies. Local doulas, midwives, and non-profit organizations planned a four-day Ina May festival. Her arrival was kicked off by a benefit at Everyday Miracles Pregnancy Center to support her Safe Motherhood Quilt Project, which raises awareness for maternal mortality in the US. I was thrilled at the possibility of meeting her, as was my mother (former labor and delivery nurse, childbirth educator, and inspiration for my birth work). As we arrived at the party, I was devastated to learn that she had left just five minutes before. It sounded like it was a mob scene, so I told myself that I wanted to meet Ina May under different circumstances anyway. The following evening, Ina May joined fans for mocktails and book signing. I, however, was teaching a childbirth preparation class, so I missed my chance again. The next day, a small group of lucky folks dined with the legend at a fundraiser for Mama Latte, an area breast milk donation organization. This time, yours truly was in attendance. A last-minute opportunity brought me to the table with Ina May, seated directly across from her. I maintained my composure as we talked birth, politics, education, and life in general. It was an incredible honor and an opportunity that will probably never present itself again. As I walked her to her car, I asked her, “Do you feel like a celebrity?” She humbly replied, “At things like this I do, but back home, I’m just the one who takes out the compost.” How can you not love her? Area midwives enjoyed some intimate Q and A time with Ina May, all before the climactic lecture at the University of Minnesota.
Much like the “birth high” we feel after supporting incredible families, there was undoubtedly an “Ina May high” here in the Twin Cities after her departure. Though it’s been a couple months since her visit, her energy and wisdom remain, reminding us all of the power of a mother, the importance of a baby’s journey into the world, and the simple fact – birth matters.
About Liz Abbene
