She put Magic in Treska’s Hands!
by GrowingFlowers
Robin said to me, as I gave her a tour of the Birth Center, “Don’t you just want to drop down and kiss the earth for this incredible gift?” She was referring to the fact that she had met Treska and knew she wanted to become a midwife. My daughter wants to be a midwife. It’s a dream. She loves birth, and attended her first birth at age 5. She craves it, and just loves it. She reads everything she can get her hands on about birth and just recently, she has taken to following me around the house or climbing into bed with me with a written list of questions. “So mom, do you use the modified Brandt-Anders Method or the plain Brandt-Anders? Have you ever seen a marginal insertion? Don’t mal-presentations scare you? And……and…..and…..” I love it. After a birth she wants to process as much as I do! Now there lives someone, in my own house, who wants to talk birth as much and sometimes even MORE than I do!
Treska wants to catch babies. Today, Robin Lim, one of the most famous and incredible midwives blessed Treska’s hands and “put magic in them.” She told Treska that she would be an incredible midwife one day and “catch lots of babies.” Robin Lim has been on tour with her movie, Guerilla Midwife for three weeks in the US. She is trying to raise money and support for her birth centers in Bali and Sumatra.
A most worthy cause. I felt happy to be able to donate. One always thinks one doesn’t have money, but when you watch movies like this and hear Robin talk about the circumstances she witnesses every day, I am reminded of my wealth.
Our Birth Center was brimming with enthusiastic and warm women who had come to hear Robin talk. Our back-up OB/GYNcame as well with her beautiful and radiant smile. Midwives from Espanola and surrounding areas attended. We hosted doulas, aspiring midwives, apprentices and children….even Kaya came out and sat with us. Robin singled her out to tell a story of placenta previa. Kaya’s red crocheted hat reminded her of a birth she had where the baby of the laboring mama came to her in a dream. The baby was wearing a red cap and was urgently trying to convey a message. Robin woke from her nap and ran to the center where the baby and mother were in acute danger due to a previa. The red cap was the baby’s placenta – Kaya’s red cap! Kaya was amused. She grinned.
We drank tea and ate our lunches while Robin talked. She sat cross-legged on our wooden bench and told story after story. She told stories of births and families in Bali. She talked about the Tsunami in Indonesia and their relief efforts. She described the malnutrition and the tearing of the perineum so common there. She described the flowers blooming on the streets and the petals in the water of the birthing tub and placenta bowl. She told of hardships and joys. Of birth and death. She spoke about the placenta and the importance of the organ as well as delayed cord clamping. She promotes lotus birth and believes in leaving the placenta on as long as possible – until it falls off on its own. I am looking forward to reading her newest book on the Placenta.We have done lotus births at the center when requested. We have, also, cooked, fried and pureed placentas for mamas to eat. Normally we allow the cord to stop pulsing before cutting, often we deliver the placenta before cutting the cord. The only time we cut any earlier is with hemorrhage or fear of hemorrhage – an indication of sorts.
My beeper is next to me here, quiet as can be. My phone is still – but I am just hoping that a new baby will arrive in the wee hours tonight, while Robin Lim’s presence can still be felt in our Birth Center. I am inspired. Again.
And so is Treska!
