Over the years I have worked hard to support the health of my children. I have seen the side effect of a vaccine, so I continue to follow the news regarding vaccine safety. I pray for the health of children growing up now. Yesterday the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices…
Recently our women’s Bible study discussed the role of a loving mother, the mother of Moses. Jochebed had no way of knowing how Moses’ life would turn out but acted to save him during a desperate time. There is a historical background to Jochebed’s situation. Joseph was one of the…
The birth rate in the United States and other countries is declining and has fallen below replacement. Healthy families are the foundation of a healthy country. It is also concerning that childbirth is becoming more dependent on technology. In 2018 I wrote a blog post about childbirth, past and present.…
The promises of God are faithful and true.
In the past month I have read historical fiction that has taken me from Oklahoma to Avignon, France, and to England. Lisa Wingate’s novel, Shelterwood, finds its roots in Oklahoma history. The story has two timelines: 1909, shortly after Oklahoma became a state and 1990 when the bones of three…
Two books give insight into the practice of midwifery. Martha Ballard was a midwife in Maine in the late 1700s.
If a woman’s first childbirth was via cesarean section, usually the next birth will be by cesarean section. The CDC provides the statistics for repeat cesarean section. It is 85%. My daughter-in-law’s first baby was born by cesarean section, but she hoped to deliver her second baby normally (vaginally). She…
The book, Born for Life; A Midwife's story reminded me of my own experiences.
Cultures collide on the frontier. Linda Ulleseit’s novel, The River Remembers, is a story set in the Michigan territory during the 1830s and 1840s. Three main characters—each from a different ethnic group—move the story forward. Day Set is a Dakota Indian. Harriet is a Black slave. Samantha is White, a sister…
In the U.S. state elections this past week abortion was a central issue. Ohio voted to enshrine abortion in their constitution. I am deeply saddened. In 1950 the U.S. fertility rate was 3.5 births per woman. The current fertility rate is 1.78 births per woman. In order to replace/maintain the…