9 Comments

Cate the Chimera! Your writing and sharing hit my heart like a truth brick, a wisdom that is so rarely shared and is desperately needed. Thank you. You are a blessing my friend. A beast and a blessing. 🌬️💜✨

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Thank you for always being in it for the truth bricks Kim, your heart is a strong muscle for all the compassion you hold in it daily is a lot.

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Thank you for having the courage to write and publish this. I carried so much shame about how I "failed" at home birth and stories like this make me feel sane and seen. Your story is so real and really touched my heart. I could feel the OR around me again. Mothers are amazing. I think you are amazing.

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I’m so glad it made you feel seen Zoe. It’s such a profound experience we quickly have to “get over” to then figure out all the rest that comes with a newborn in our care. I rushed on from it thinking I could leave it behind and learned I actually couldn’t. Writing about it all and leaving any shame behind was good medicine.

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Writing about lesser topics is challenge enough!! Kudos to you for getting this out into the world while balancing all the things

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This was a beautiful and powerful piece, thank you for sharing all the rawness of your experience. I had my baby 17 years ago, but still live with the trauma of my pregnancy (I had severe hyperemesis) and the glory of my homebirth. All the highs and lows of such a profound experience are so hard to process and talk about. Your efforts to bring this topic out more into the light are so important (especially now) - thank you. The portal we all pass through during childbirth is just the beginning of a long journey of joy, pain, love, all of it. Wishing you all the best with your sweet family. ❤️

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Jennifer thank you for reading and sharing this. The glory of home birth!! I’m so in awe of what women do. Now more than ever, you’re so right.

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The timing of this piece is nothing short of divine Cate. My son is 23 months old and your story of a traumatic birth and emotional and hormonal aftermath particularly the hyper vigilance and extreme anxiety mirror my own. Your ability to put words to this time and share your experiences are exactly what I need (literally this week!). As I feel within inches of a complete mental breakdown. Just thank you for sharing. Thank you so much. I wish I could hug you!

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If there is even just one person, you, who finds comfort, comraderie, something to relate to in this piece that is helpful, that’s worth any little bit of fear I had before I pushed “publish”

23 months is still so tender, no matter what you’re feeling now, time is the balm. Talking with other women is also the balm 🧡

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