When a child is born, the entire Universe has to shift and make room. Another entity capable of free will, and therefore capable of becoming God, has been born.

When a child is born, the entire Universe has to shift and make room. Another entity capable of free will, and therefore capable of becoming God, has been born.

Ina May Gaskin

It will take your breastfed baby an average of five to six months to double her birth weight.

It will take your breastfed baby an average of five to six months to double her birth weight.

The suckling relationship is one of the sources of real sweetness that we have in human existence...The suckling baby can teach adults about the expression of sweet love and gratitude in a way no words can.

The suckling relationship is one of the sources of real sweetness that we have in human existence...The suckling baby can teach adults about the expression of sweet love and gratitude in a way no words can.

The best a health care system can do is to equip itself to meet the needs of each individual woman and birth. Those needs run the gamut from undisturbed home birth to planned cesarean section.

The best a health care system can do is to equip itself to meet the needs of each individual woman and birth. Those needs run the gamut from undisturbed home birth to planned cesarean section.

Squat 300 times a day, you’re going to give birth quickly.

Squat 300 times a day, you’re going to give birth quickly.

When you cast doubt on some bodily function- you don't know how sensitive the body is to that kind of idea.

When you cast doubt on some bodily function- you don't know how sensitive the body is to that kind of idea.

Why in the world do the insurance companies get to be the boss of birth? That's what I want to know.

Why in the world do the insurance companies get to be the boss of birth? That's what I want to know.

I had to learn not to let anyone push me around, to be brave and to say things I knew might make people mad.

I had to learn not to let anyone push me around, to be brave and to say things I knew might make people mad.

Many of our problems in US maternity care stem from the fact that we leave no room for recognizing when nature is smarter than we are.

Many of our problems in US maternity care stem from the fact that we leave no room for recognizing when nature is smarter than we are.

I have never observed even the slightest laceration in a woman who used clitoral stimulation as a relaxation method during birth. Clitoral stimulation seems to increase vaginal engorgement as the baby emerges.

I have never observed even the slightest laceration in a woman who used clitoral stimulation as a relaxation method during birth. Clitoral stimulation seems to increase vaginal engorgement as the baby emerges.

It's easy to scare women. It's even profitable to scare women... But it's not nice, so let's stop it.

It's easy to scare women. It's even profitable to scare women... But it's not nice, so let's stop it.

The Creator is not a careless mechanic.

The Creator is not a careless mechanic.

It is important to keep in mind that our bodies must work pretty well, or their wouldn't be so many humans on the planet.

It is important to keep in mind that our bodies must work pretty well, or their wouldn't be so many humans on the planet.

It does a man good to see his lady being brave while she has their baby... it inspires him.

It does a man good to see his lady being brave while she has their baby... it inspires him.

Even if it has not been your habit throughout your life so far, I recommend that you learn to think positively about your body.

Even if it has not been your habit throughout your life so far, I recommend that you learn to think positively about your body.

Don't criticize nature, stand in awe of it.

Don't criticize nature, stand in awe of it.

The human species is no more unsuited to give birth than any other of the 5,000 or so species of mammals on the planet. We are merely the most confused.

The human species is no more unsuited to give birth than any other of the 5,000 or so species of mammals on the planet. We are merely the most confused.

Don't forget to bring your sense of humor to your labor.

Don't forget to bring your sense of humor to your labor.

The way a culture treats women in birth is a good indicator of how well women and their contributions to society are valued and honored.

The way a culture treats women in birth is a good indicator of how well women and their contributions to society are valued and honored.