About 7 months ago, I was wandering through a used bookstore when a book literally jumped off the shelf at me: Primal Mothering In a Modern World, by Hygeia Halfmoon. The front cover has a picture of a beautiful family. The mother is topless and breastfeeding her youngest child. I knew that the book was made for me. I bought it without even reading the back cover.

When I got the book home, I was delighted to find that the book was written by a raw foodist, a fruitarian to be exact. Being a raw foodist myself, I was expecting to read a book about raising a raw family. Little did I know I was in for so much more.

The common thread throughout this book is not a raw food lifestyle, but women’s empowerment. Empowerment in the choices we make in our mates, in birth, education, where we live, and yes, the food we eat. Ms. Halfmoon uses her life as an example throughout the book to illustrate how women often get caught in the trap of societal and/or cultural norms without even realizing it. She begins her “counter-culture” choices toward empowerment when she decides to leave her abusive husband and live in a shelter just after her first daughter is born. Her choices continue as she turns down public assistance because she would have to stop breastfeeding her daughter to go to work, because the government would not support her. With many other twists and turns along the way, this courageous woman earns her Master’s Degree while living in a tent in Oklahoma, somehow finds enough money to move her whole family to Hawaii, and has an unassisted homebirth. She raises her 3 children and runs her own home business making baby slings as well as authors many empowering books. The story of this part of her life ends here, leaving you wishing to hear more.

After a quick Google search it is not hard to find the rest of the story and, unfortunately, it is not all good. Ms. Halfmoon ends up loosing her daughter to Florida State Child Protective Services, looses her standing in the raw community, and returns to alcoholism. It is unclear how this part of her life ends. I did find out that she is living right here in Northern Arizona as of a month ago, in Williams. It appears her sling business is still active and that she may have had more children. She is also now a grandmother.

Despite her recent misgivings, Primal Mothering is no less inspiring and empowering than before finding out about Ms. Halfmoon’s fall from grace. I feel so strongly about this book.

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What is pregnancy and birth really about?

The answer depends on what culture one is in, what the circumstances are, and who you ask.

Today, in the U.S., I am not quite sure we have kept our connection to the sacred, primal, usually simple process that is being pregnant and giving birth. Mainstream America doesn’t value a mom’s intuition in the process, encourage her to relish each and every moment of her empowerment as a (pregnant) woman. “Rite of passage” is an un-politically correct concept, because women should be able to come by a baby by many means, and pregnancy is no longer considered a special and exalted space.

Pregnancy and birth are only the beginning in creating a family, a community, a connection to our lineage. A wonderful pregnancy means not only health, but growth for the woman and baby and family on a spiritual and emotional level, as well as the physical. Pregnancy, labor and birth gives a woman one of the most unique ways to connect with her soul- by connecting with the spirit of another who lives inside of her. It is her chance to imagine and create a piece of the world.

Sandy Jamieson’s creation, Zaida Baby-My First Keepsake is the reminder we need to connect again with what pregnancy really means. Sandy’s album of black-and-white photographs of pregnant mamas and their families are truly stunning. More than being beautiful to look at, they resonate at a deep level with the essence of what it means to be full of life. There is a simple, unspoken spiritual reaction I have to paging through her book. The photos and the words connect in a way to remind me that pregnancy is uncomplicated yet miraculous. The babies and families remind me that pregnancy is a journey for all involved, and that it is just a moment in time that should be relished and cherished.

Sandy’s book will help remind any pregnant woman, no matter where she comes from, that it is okay to love her body and to love the process and that there is value in connecting with her baby way before birth. And that she, as well as her baby, is truly fortunate (the meaning of “zaida”). Beyond inspiring, the book also includes a section that is for personal memories and photographs. In my opinion, the message is that pregnancy is a different experience for all women, from literal “belly measurements” to personal letters written from mom to baby. The final section of the book is from the baby’s perspective at birth and in the year afterwards. It is the nicest of “baby books”, and ends with several pages for family photographs.

I am grateful for the messages that Sandy sends with her Zaida Baby- in a time and culture where nothing about women’s bodies (or birth) is viewed as sacred, this book is so meaningful. When words and stories don’t remind us where we all came from, pictures sometimes do.

Thank you, Sandy, for reminding us what pregnancy and birth are really about.

Sandy Jamieson can be reached via her website, www.zaidababy.com. You can also view a preview of the keepsake book, purchase a copy online, read press reviews and visit Sandy’s blog.

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Never have I read a book about birth with which I so closely identify. I need to tell every woman I meet about this book, and I am already considering making it a “required read” for my homebirth clients.

The reason is simple: Birth is spiritual. No matter what your religion, giving birth is a mystery, a gift to women, and as Marcie says, “a leap of faith.”

Birth is spirit, and our society has forgotten this.

Spirit is what is essential, and what is missing in “medicalized” birth today. Marcie’s book is unabashedly bold, so honest and raw and emotional, and makes no apologies about this fact. That is what I absolutely love about it. I love that although some women may be offended by this boldness at first, everything she says can be identified by every and any woman if she just digs deep enough.

Her idea of spirit in birth is the obvious reason women have become so irresponsible in birth. Epidurals, scheduled c-sections- it all comes down to the fact that birth can just be this thing that happens to women that haven’t found their strength, those that haven’t been informed of “the Truth.”

And “the Truth,” in Marcie’s words, is this: “You are capable. Your muscles, bones, ligaments and skin were made to birth. Your soul, your heart and your Spirit were created to support you in this task, and your intellect was designed to support your confidence, not undermine it.”

There is something for every woman in this book. For the passionate homebirther like me, there is a feeling of sisterhood and delight about seeing these words on the page for everyone to read. For someone who has had an undesirable birth experience, there is compassion, healing and hope for better. And for women that have never given birth before, there is unbelievable optimism and promise and truth about what birth really is.

This wonderful book is almost a personal dialogue with the reader, one where you feel connected to the author. Interspersed are provoking questions, workbook-like sections encouraging the reader to get down on paper her own emotions and beliefs. Whether you have birthed before or not, these journaling questions are invaluable and something I would like every pregnant woman to have. The quotes and meditations (written by Marcie) on birth are so beautiful and thoughtful.

Read this book to empower yourself, read it to nurture yourself and to help stir up the power that is inside of you that is your birthright as a woman.

Perhaps my favorite idea presented in this book, and the one I believe to the absolute core of my body and soul is this:

In my own words, this comes down to respecting birth, my cardinal belief. We cannot control birth any better than we can control other natural processes, like death. We can only go into our experience without fear and with trust and with faith. This book exemplifies that principle like no other and will make every woman want to find this trust and faith within herself.

Marcie writes that birth is “powerful, beautiful, instinctive.” Prepare with this book, and experience birth as spirit for yourself.

Marcie Macari is an author, speaker and workshop facilitator. She can be reached at: 1-888-432-7171, or by visiting her site: www.shebirths.com

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If I had a penny for every time I heard a woman with a new baby say that she didn’t have enough milk to breastfeed, or that the baby was too demanding and she couldn’t keep up, I’d be rich.

Now I’m not saying this is the woman’s fault necessarily. We have come to birth and raise our children in this culture that wants to push them away, on the road to independence before they are past infancy. I can’t solve all of these problems (though I might try) but I do have the most fantastic “product” that you just must have if you want to succeed at breastfeeding.

To put it simply, there is one thing that you need to successfully produce milk for your baby. And simply put again, that thing is that your baby needs to be with you, touching you, on you. The closeness alone stimulates your body to make milk, and the best way to get this closeness (and still be a functioning human being) is with the most heavenly invention, the baby sling.

Now, I have several slings in my home, all of various types and sizes and patterns and colors. I continually recommend only one of these slings to my friends and clients, and I want to tell you all about it so that you can have the best “sling experience” possible!

Kate Brown, of Peekaboo Pouch is single-handedly responsible for my calm, content child cuddling on me right now as I write this, fast asleep. It is because of her wonderful product that I am able to keep my baby with me throughout the day, as she sleeps and nurses, and as I take care of my other kids, among (what seems like) millions of other tasks.

Like I said, there are lots of slings to choose from out there. It can be very complicated, but Kate makes it simple, and what mother isn’t grateful for that?

I recommend only Peekaboo Pouch because the fleece is stretchy and comfortable for both baby and me, even in warmer weather. The price is right, and the slings are just gorgeous to look at (she’s got a ton of patterns and solids to choose from)- I promise you that every time I am out, at least two women ask me how to get one just like it.