"Contemporary Connections: The Farming of Bones and Midwives"

http://mana.org/about-midwives/what-is-a-midwife 

• The website I provided above talks about the whole idea of a midwife. In today's world, you have to be certified in order to be a midwife. This is not an easy job, and it takes a lot of time and energy to become a midwife.  It also talks about how midwives can do their practice in homes, hospitals, clinics, or health units. The website also shows the different types of midwives, and the certifications/licenses they need in order to practice their jobs. Lastly, it talks about how midwives do more than just help women give birth. Midwives can also help women maintain a healthy pregnancy and provide help to women that have postpartum. 

• A connection I made from the text and our contemporary world was the idea of giving birth in a home with a midwife. Many people who think of birth automatically assume a baby is born in a hospital surrounded by professionals. But still today, many women make the choice of having a natural birth in their beds at home. In the story, Señora Valencia gives birth to fraternal twins. Señora Valencia's doctor was not at her house in time, so Amabelle had to help Señora Valencia give birth to two babies. This idea of giving birth at home with a midwife is still happening in our world today. When Señora Valencia gave birth to her twins, she was very grateful and happy Amabelle knew how to assist her labor. Without the skills and knowledge that Amabelle protrayed, Señora Valencia would have been alone in the process of labor. Without midwives and caregivers, women would not be able to accomplish labor without the help and encouragement a midwife gives to a pregnant women. They not only help women give birth, but they know to encourage women and give them techniques to use while giving birth. For example, in the story it says, "Let the air enter and leave your mouth freely, I suggested"(p.8). Amabelle knew skills like a doctor or a nurse would, and helped her breath even with all the pain she was enduring. Midwives who help women give birth in our society, have certifications and licenses in order to practice. Amabelle didn't have a certification, but she learned through her parents practice. The doctor in the story was also shocked that Amabelle pulled off this beautiful and hard accomplishment. He asked her if she was a midwife, and told her that she did a great job helping Señora Valencia give birth. Giving birth is one of the hardest things women have to go through, but with the assistance of a doctor or a midwife, it is possible. In today's wold we have a lot more technology and assistance to make sure babies are born healthy. In the story it wasn't as safe, but the babies were still both born because of the help from Amabelle. People in our society only think doctors and nurses can practice this, but midwives can too. Either way, it's the choice the mother makes if she wants the assistance of a doctor or a midwife while giving birth. 

          -Morgan Moran