Shweta Menon Quotes

I watched Ricki Lake's documentary, 'The Business of Being Born,' and that led me to call a midwife, and not an ob-gyn, when I found out I had conceived. My delivery was not easy - they call it 'labor,' not 'a vacation!' - but I was incredibly grateful that I did it that way.

I taught woman-centered childbirth classes for five years and have a particular interest in the history of childbirth practices.

I wasn't scared of childbirth. I educated myself and did my fair share of research, and that made me feel a little more prepared.

I wanted to deliver babies and become a midwife. I think childbirth is one of the most amazing things you could ever experience, and I loved working with people and seeing the joys in family when they welcome a new member to it. It really brought me joy to be around that.

I know we can't always know what medical surprises may happen during childbirth. But my hope is to go fully natural - no epidural, no interventions. Wish me luck.

How may child bearing women be most encouraged and supported in the time of childbearing?

When 1970s feminism hit the United States, women demanded the right to natural childbirth and to have their husband or another support person in the delivery room. My mother gave birth to me during this time.

I've had great pregnancies, and healthy, beautiful children.

We should work to guarantee that there is a midwife or health worker by every woman's side during childbirth.

My wife and I would be very comfortable having a baby at home or using one of the terrific nurse-midwives at the hospital.

It's amazing what it opens up in women when you tell them you've just played a midwife.

Birth is really judgy, and people get really opinionated. Everyone's entitled to the experience they want.

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.

I wanted a doula because it's my first baby, and I want to be able to call her when I'm going into labor so she can come over and help us go through the early stage.

I just believe pregnant women need a familiar face, someone who isn't related to them who they may have all this emotional past with, to be there, just for them, during the birth.

I was always interested in midwifery; it was my plan B.

I've been so fortunate to have had such a healthy, easy pregnancy and have been incredibly active the entire way through. My favorite part is feeling the baby move - but the entire process is such a miracle.

During my high-risk pregnancy, I consistently experienced subpar care from my hospital, which led me to hire two midwives instead. They provided me with excellent and loving care, and they made my pregnancy a truly special and powerful moment in my life.

I was always interested in becoming a midwife. Then, at my own birth, I didn't get the support I'd hoped for, and that changed everything. That's why I became a doula. There's such a need.

Birth Matters... It matters because it is the way we all begin our lives outside of our source, our mother's bodies. It's the means from which we enter and feel our first impression of the wider world. For each mother, it is an event that shakes and shapes her to her innermost core. Women's perceptions about their bodies and their babies' capabilities will be deeply influenced by the care they receive around the time of birth.

I'm in training to become a midwife. I'm almost there and before I know it I'll be able to open my own practice, if that's what I desire.

Talking to women about birth can be polarizing.

I'd be just as happy being a midwife. That's my ideal job.

Going into a pregnancy is a really challenging time for a woman, because it's forever-changing, both mentally and physically.

Even if you are planning a birth with an epidural, the evidence suggests that a doula can help make things go much more smoothly.