Mothers Voice Childbirthing Experiences

Agnes Dyck

In Her Own Voice contains interviews with 26 women who span 3 generations. Of particular interest to me were women born from 1900 to 1917. These older women have emerged from a context with a lively oral tradition. Granted, birthing experiences were not openly discussed, but they knew their neighbours' stories and seem to enjoy retelling them.

Some readers may not want to read these stories for fear that they will be reminded of their own painful birthing experiences, but most will thoroughly enjoy these intensely personal stories. What could be more delightful than reading about the joy of a new young mother:

"The miracle of birth is always there, I think, after every birth. But the first baby, the first delivery, is always special because of it being the first. You've never had a child before that is part of you and part of your husband."

The uniqueness of a Low German story is probably lost in translation, but we are treated to some delightful vignettes. Karin Dirks draws parallels between birthing and dying: "The labour is hard, but the birthing is so marvelous, and I think, Well, maybe that's how death is, maybe that'll be the best part!"

In Her Own Voice documents tremendous social changes in the lives of Mennonite women. Many have been nurtured by the teachings of the church. But the destructive backwash of some Mennonite teachings is also evident. There are women whose stories reveal that they have been deeply hurt by the church. Anna Fullerton describes how her father was excommunicated and how this affected her whole family.

Attitudes toward the birthing process and breast feeding have radically shifted toward the rightness and naturalness of the process. During the 50s, 60s and 70s birthing was treated as an illness by some health care professionals. Underlying many of the stories are feelings of helplessness and sometimes anger at the insensitivity of some caregivers.

All the women, however, profoundly changed by the wonder and uncertainty of the birthing process, expressed their joy at the happy outcome: an unique, living human being.

Agnes Dyck is a retired teacher and a member of McIvor Ave. M.B. Church, Winnipeg. This review was first published in the Fall, 1997 issue of Sophia.

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