I was 10 weeks pregnant when we went to our first appointment. We were full of excitement, but also a bit nervous as this was completely different than what we were used to. Our appointment was at 3pm so we left a little early to grab some lunch and give us time to explore The Farm a little. The drive down there was gorgeous. We admired the scenic towns and talked about what this drive might be like if I were in labor. We decided it was good that our due date was in April instead of in the winter when the drive could be dangerous. As we neared The Farm, it was obvious why the Caravan decided to make Summertown their home. We turned onto Walker Rd and took it as a sign that this was where we were supposed to have our baby. We came upon a Visitor's Center and went inside to check it out. We were greeted by a tall, friendly lady with long, gray hair. Inside was information about The Farm, a small room showcasing it's history, and various items for sale including shirts, bags, and books. I had been searching online for a copy of the documentary Birth Story, and luckily she has one copy left. We bought it and a copy of Ina May Gaskin's Spiritual Midwifery. She gave us a simple map of The Farm, pointed us in the direction of the Clinic, and sent us on our way.
Our next stop was The Farm Store, a cute little octagonal, purple building. We popped inside and bought some vitamins and some "hippie coffee" for Pat (which he says is amazing by the way). Next to the store was a play area where we took Max to stretch a little from a long car ride. Then off to the Clinic. As we drove through the woods, we passed small fields of grass, a long row of solar panels, and rustic houses nestled in the trees. We talked about how it made perfect sense to want to live here. The peace and tranquility surrounded us. I had no doubts that this would be the first place I wanted my baby to see and feel.
The Clinic is a small, unassuming building tucked away in the woods. On our way up the ramp to the door, we had to step over a fat, black and white cat with a bobtail. He just laid there, happily snoozing, completely unfazed by the three strangers approaching. The waiting area was small, but with comfortable seats and plenty of toys to occupy Max. I filled out some forms while Max crawled into my lap to nurse. To my surprise, Ina May walked in the front door! I was not expecting to see her. I assumed she was always away on speaking engagements and book signings. But there she was and I was a little star struck, a feeling that was new to me. She came over and commented on Maxine's size and being well-fed. I think I muttered something like "she sure is!", and as she walked into the office and began talking to someone, I wished I had come up with something better to say and maybe even had the nerve to ask for a picture with her. Hopefully I will see her again and get to redeem myself.
Our midwife ushered us back to a small examination room, and I immediately fell in love with her sweet face and calm presence. We sat and talked about anything and everything. She said they don't check the baby's heartbeat this early, but I asked her to try anyway. She did, and there was nothing but it was no big deal. She asked me to give a urine sample in the bathroom where I peed in a paper Dixie cup. I noticed she never put on gloves because she didn't see me as a sick patient. It was comforting. We had asked all the questions that popped in our heads and Maxine was starting to fuss. We realized we had been there an hour! We said we should start heading out, and the midwife made sure we didn't have any more questions and gave us her cell phone number and email address in case we did. She never rushed us. She let us decide when the visit was over. I am certain she would have talked to us for another hour if we wanted. We said our goodbyes, scheduled our next appointment for a month later, and left feeling so good about the whole experience.
A month later, we returned. We stopped and bought Pat some more coffee at The Farm Store because he had already run out. Our visit with our midwife was just as calm and personal as the first. The Clinic was more silent than last time and some of the lights had been turned off. It felt even cozier and more personal than before. This time we did hear the heartbeat and that familiar wave of relief washed over us both. We asked if we could see the cabin we would be birthing in and she gave us directions. We drove even deeper into the woods until finally we pulled up to a big, brown house that blended in so perfectly with it's surroundings. The midwife that lived there was out of town. The birthing cabin was under the house with it's own entrance. It had a living room with a wood stove, a full kitchen, and two bedrooms that both had doors that opened to the woods. Each room had tiny footprints on the walls with the names of the babies that had been born there. I became excited to add my baby's print. It was just perfect.
This whole experience is the complete opposite of what we went through with our first pregnancy. Doctor's offices with a waiting room full of people. Pee in the cup, step on the scale, wait for the doctor, try to remember what I wanted to ask him, talk for a few minutes, out the door. So impersonal. I understand that it was all so routine for them, but my pregnancy was everything to me. I was always greeted with smiles and was never mistreated. But I never felt very important. The Farm is hands down the polar opposite of that. I hope and pray that everything continues to go as well as it is and that we get to have the birth we want and deserve.
Our next stop was The Farm Store, a cute little octagonal, purple building. We popped inside and bought some vitamins and some "hippie coffee" for Pat (which he says is amazing by the way). Next to the store was a play area where we took Max to stretch a little from a long car ride. Then off to the Clinic. As we drove through the woods, we passed small fields of grass, a long row of solar panels, and rustic houses nestled in the trees. We talked about how it made perfect sense to want to live here. The peace and tranquility surrounded us. I had no doubts that this would be the first place I wanted my baby to see and feel.
The Clinic is a small, unassuming building tucked away in the woods. On our way up the ramp to the door, we had to step over a fat, black and white cat with a bobtail. He just laid there, happily snoozing, completely unfazed by the three strangers approaching. The waiting area was small, but with comfortable seats and plenty of toys to occupy Max. I filled out some forms while Max crawled into my lap to nurse. To my surprise, Ina May walked in the front door! I was not expecting to see her. I assumed she was always away on speaking engagements and book signings. But there she was and I was a little star struck, a feeling that was new to me. She came over and commented on Maxine's size and being well-fed. I think I muttered something like "she sure is!", and as she walked into the office and began talking to someone, I wished I had come up with something better to say and maybe even had the nerve to ask for a picture with her. Hopefully I will see her again and get to redeem myself.
Our midwife ushered us back to a small examination room, and I immediately fell in love with her sweet face and calm presence. We sat and talked about anything and everything. She said they don't check the baby's heartbeat this early, but I asked her to try anyway. She did, and there was nothing but it was no big deal. She asked me to give a urine sample in the bathroom where I peed in a paper Dixie cup. I noticed she never put on gloves because she didn't see me as a sick patient. It was comforting. We had asked all the questions that popped in our heads and Maxine was starting to fuss. We realized we had been there an hour! We said we should start heading out, and the midwife made sure we didn't have any more questions and gave us her cell phone number and email address in case we did. She never rushed us. She let us decide when the visit was over. I am certain she would have talked to us for another hour if we wanted. We said our goodbyes, scheduled our next appointment for a month later, and left feeling so good about the whole experience.
A month later, we returned. We stopped and bought Pat some more coffee at The Farm Store because he had already run out. Our visit with our midwife was just as calm and personal as the first. The Clinic was more silent than last time and some of the lights had been turned off. It felt even cozier and more personal than before. This time we did hear the heartbeat and that familiar wave of relief washed over us both. We asked if we could see the cabin we would be birthing in and she gave us directions. We drove even deeper into the woods until finally we pulled up to a big, brown house that blended in so perfectly with it's surroundings. The midwife that lived there was out of town. The birthing cabin was under the house with it's own entrance. It had a living room with a wood stove, a full kitchen, and two bedrooms that both had doors that opened to the woods. Each room had tiny footprints on the walls with the names of the babies that had been born there. I became excited to add my baby's print. It was just perfect.
This whole experience is the complete opposite of what we went through with our first pregnancy. Doctor's offices with a waiting room full of people. Pee in the cup, step on the scale, wait for the doctor, try to remember what I wanted to ask him, talk for a few minutes, out the door. So impersonal. I understand that it was all so routine for them, but my pregnancy was everything to me. I was always greeted with smiles and was never mistreated. But I never felt very important. The Farm is hands down the polar opposite of that. I hope and pray that everything continues to go as well as it is and that we get to have the birth we want and deserve.