Medicated labor and delivery was the norm during the 1960s. A drug called "Twilight" was given to mothers in labor, and all mothers labored at the nearest hospital. A majority of those babies were born blue due to stress from the drug and lack of response of the mother pushing.

It was considered indecent to breastfeed an infant. Only ignorant hillbillies would consider nursing. One nurse related to me that it was a vulgar thing to place a baby to the breast to feed. Doctors told new mothers that it was impossible to know the baby was receiving adequate nourishment because breastmilk couldn't be measured. 'Since you cannot measure breast milk, it is dangerous to nurse.' 'Breastfed babies suffer from hunger!'

Doctors urged mothers to follow their medical prescriptions for infant feeding in order to assure proper nutrition. Babies grew fat on doctor-recommended home-made formula of pasteurized milk highly sweetened with Karo Syrup. This was before throw-away diapers and commercial baby formulas were being marketed.

Nature and medicine had parted ways. Women began to ask their doctors questions.

In 1973, I was one of those young women trying to find the path back to God's way of motherhood. I began to seek out answers. A doctor tried to dismiss my concerns. His arrogant attitude left me feeling dumb. But something inside of me, an instinct as old as motherhood, raised itself and gave me confidence. I informed that doctor that there was nothing he could do to stop me from having my baby at home, including calling Child Protection Workers. If I had to, I would hide to have my baby, AND I would nurse her no matter what he thought.

My solitary experience did not turn the course of birthing options for women. Many voices are required for real change. _ Such change requires a widespread outcry. The women of the 60's took matters into their own hands and started writing books on how to have a natural birth, how to nurse, and how to bond with babies instead of sending them off to a nursery. From those seeds grew the homeschooling movement. It is to those passionate, rebellious women we owe a debt though many books have since been published on the topic of natural childbirth and mothering. Their passion caused young mothers everywhere to confidently proclaim "I CAN do this! I WILL do this!"

Blue newborns and doped mothers are no longer the accepted norm because of those couragous writers. A doctor would be laughed out of his clinic if he told a mother it was vulgar and unsafe to nurse her baby. These first home-birthed, breast fed and homeschooled children are now highly educated and successful adults homeschooling their own balanced happy children. In the end when it comes to her babies, Mother knows best.

While the books and literature I read weren't from the perspective of believers, there was a lot of valuable information being made available to women who wanted to re-discover natural methods. I was able to benefit from their willingness to share their knowledge and experiences.

In writing The Vision by Debi Pearl, I hope to carry on their fine tradition. Just as I have gained much from the visionary writings of women who came before me, I hope that the information I share will be used by those who follow.