Mountain Climbing analogies

Last night I was watching a travel show in which the hostess climbed the Matterhorn. Her guide was this terrifically patient, wise and kind gentleman (who couldn't have been younger than 50 !! imagine mountain climbing every day for a job at 60!!). His demeanor and gentle encouragement made me think of one thing: a doula.

Challenge after difficulty, he would say to her, "gentle, gentle, slowly, slowly; no need to rush." He made sure she was ready the day before, respected her abilities and encouraged her when she thought she would never make it. There's a whole breed of mountain climbing guides, I guess, who have been up and down the mountain countless times; they know what it takes, and that ordinary, but prepared, people can do it. That's exactly what a doula does. Birth works, but many of us need a "guide."

The other birth analogy that hit me was a quote she used at the end of the show. I've searched high and low and can't find either the TV episode, nor the exact quote online, so if you know what it is I'm trying to say, let me know where to find it! She said something *like* this:

"We who go scrambling mountains do it for this reason: after we've worked so hard and done the impossible, we come back to everyday life ready to live it more fully, for we know what we're capable of."

Of the myriad birth choices that get the most attention (natural birth, homebirth, etc), it seems the nay-sayers accuse women who choose these things of wanting to be martyrs, implying that they're killing themselves for no good reason. But there are many reasons to choose to take ownership of your birth, whether that means skipping or waiting longer on the epidural; waiting until the last minute to go to the hospital or to simply have the baby at home; to invite only positive and supportive people to the pregnancy care and birth, rather than who everyone expects you to. When we work so hard for something, and do all we can do, we are often amazed at what we're capable of, and come back to everyday life ready to live it more fully, because the journey and experience and power of birth are transformational. In a good way.

~S~