Natural Birth and Midwives

A natural birth is an unmediated approach to childbirth with minimal routine interventions unless medically necessary. The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee, is an intentional community, established in 1971, based on the principles of nonviolence and respect for the earth. Pamela Smith, a founding member of the Farm, gave birth to three sons naturally with Ina May Gaskin as her midwife. Ina May Gaskin is well known by those choosing natural birth for her work as a midwife on the Farm. Smith worked along side Gaskin in the birthing center on the Farm and shares her story with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama. Special thanks to Project Pilgrimage for arranging the interview.

Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

Photo: Courtesy of Pamela Smith