TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AGO today I was caught by my midwife, Anastasia. (We’re together on the left.) She took the ferry from Burlington, Vermont to my parents’ farmhouse in the Adirondacks when no one else would, because 24 years ago home births were illegal in New York State. So to celebrate my midwife and my namesake on the anniversary of our heartfelt meeting, I put together a little slideshow of newborns and their women who helped bring them into the world. It’s a sisterhood I’m so grateful to be a part of!
P.S. Do you have a favorite midwife-meets-baby photo? I’d love to see it.
P.P.S. You’ll have to bear with the falseness of my blog subhead for a little while.
Images via the following Flickr cats:
- “Max & Alanna” from pasta e broccoli
- “Clara & Melida” by spamily
- “Chad” from International Rescue Committee
- “Vintage Midwife” from osborne_villas
- “Beatrix” by fowlkes
- “chandra & charlotte” by lhoward
- “Lisa Sarah and Aesop” from velozo
- “Violet and Nancy” from mr-sparkle
- “Ta-da” from pamidwives
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy B day.
HURRAH!
what became of Anastasia the midwife? do you still keep in contact?
If I were better at posting pics, I’d show Ted’s midwife (whom I adored) and Thomas’ midwife Linda Baxter. A real peach and thorough professional. Three cheers for midwifiery!
This is great! I guess I’ve never seen a picture of Anastasia, the legend. What a beaut.
That Beatrix is cute as a button!
i live in vermont and had 2 babies at home with a midwife who happens to be my sister in law! i’m sure she know anastasia as there are not too many folks in VT doing homebirths.
congratulations on celebrating a great bond and important day in your life.
Anna, This brings tears of joy. Blessings to you and Anastasia.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments, friends! I’m so lucky to be entering my 24th year with such a support network!
@m – Sadly, I haven’t kept in touch with Anastasia. The last time I spoke to her, I think I was about 7, when I ran into her in The North Country with my mom. While writing this post, I googled her name but couldn’t come up with anything…perhaps @elaine could help?
@Kate – yes, she is a beaut, and so young! Now my mom can’t remember how old she was when she delivered me, but it was so brave of Anastasia to come to the ADKs all alone like that.
@elaine – How fantastic that you had your sister-in-law as a midwife! That must have been an incredible experience to share with her. If you ever hear anything of Anastasia the midwife please email me! I’d love to know how she is doing now.
@Libster – And, of course, you were there, too on that day 24 years ago…a sister for life! xoxo
I am all for this post of great women – sister midwives – and newborns! Bravo! Tears blur these images of pure love and great courage, especially on the part of Midwife Anastasia who traveled to our home in Saranac, NY at the end of a mile long dirt road, without electricity and running water, to deliver baby Anastasia into our world. Thank you from my heart, Midwife Anastasia wherever you are and Thank You to sisters Libby and Elisa who where there to hold us all.