Da Goddess

Just when you think you've seen it all you find out you haven't. Wasn't that just the craziest thing?

Thankfully, she's a former nurse. Why was she living in a Motel 6? Why was she denying her pregnancy to her mother? Where/who is the father?

Mass transit riders are an odd lot, aren't they? I used to ride the bus to work every morning. Every once in awhile a real nutjob would get on the bus. Harmless, usually, other than the ripe odor. They usually sat and muttered to themselves.

I'm glad I wasn't on that train. I'm sure I'd have upchucked too! Yeesh!

I don't think I'd be turning away help if I were giving birth, period...much less on a train....I guess ya never know bout some people.

Incredible story!

Womyn have been giving birth alone for many centuries and in some countries, still are. Whereas, I think it is non-typical, I also think it is her right to refuse help from strangers regardless. Also it is her right to not tell her Mother about her pregnancy, as not all of us have great relationships with our Mothers. As far as the Father, who knows, maybe she was raped, maybe he took off, whatever, she wasn't ignoring the fact she was pregnant she was trying to get to the hospital in a very intense time. I don't think she should be penalized by having her children taken because she didn't birth her baby conventionally. As far as living in the Motel 6? Maybe that was all she could afford.

My goodness . . . I really just don't know what to say to that! Except to say I'm pretty glad I wasn't there.

Nope. Nothing to add here.

Oiy.

Langus, with all love in my heart for you, your parents, your offspring and various relatives, you're nuts. Yes, women have been giving birth for millenia all by themselves in dirty surroundings, and a lot of those babies died too. Yes, birth outside the hospital is no big deal, but in a subway is - grossly dirty, they are, and according to eyewitnesses the baby dropped to the floor without help or cushioning, which could have harmed it. Also, this woman gushed rank body fluids all over the floor of the subway, the subway platform and the stairs - what if she had AIDS? Or Hep B? Besides, it's just thoroughly gross. That's not "unconventional" - that's "nutcase". And while I'm ranting, that "womyn" thing of yours is just pretentious drivel.

(Sorry to rant, Goddess Woman. I blame it on the terrier.)

Having seen alot of births..all I can say is.um well I don't know what to say????There is definantly something not right with this women..We may have birthed on our own for centuries but usually with someone in attendence. AND letting the poor kid bounce along the floor and putting the placenta in your purse???No matter who you are our where you live that is definatly not a good thing.The whole situation makes you wonder what kind of life and conditions her other kids are living in?

Here is a comment left in my journal (by a man) after I posted this link for people to read, pretty much sums up my thinking on it.

that is one hard core gal. If those people want to help, come to her defense, state your public outrage that she is being persecuted for not fulfilling the "hysterical woman" stereotype. Don't "help" by turning her in to the cops. grrr, I hate superior people that can't deal when the curtain of order is pulled back to show the world as the wild and unruly thing it is.

We laud some stupid guy who leaves his family and pregnant wife behind so he can fail to climb Mt Everest, or circle the globe in a baloon, but we attack some woman, who even by societal standards, knows more than the people around her (being a medical professional) for not asking a bunch of self-righteous gawkers for their assitance.

I've read and re-read this article. Unbelievable!
I agree with some of the comments - the best place for birth is hospital or home or somewhere "clean", ie not a subway, but I honestly don't think she had a choice (she was on the way to hospital and didn't realise she was as dilated as she was) It was one of those things that "just happens". You hope to god that it'd never happen to you, but are amazed when you hear or read about it happening to someone else.
PS - Langus, I don't think she was being penalised in her children being taken into custody, I think it was more the fact that they were aged 15 and 11 and in a Motel 6 ALONE. And yes, Susanna, "womyn" is a bit of a wank.
BTW Thanks Goddess for the eye opener. Please no more!! :)

err um...not very sanitary

If Acidman isn't criticized for the way he spells wimmin, why am I?

So. I can now assume that giving birth isn't as difficult as I've heard...? The veil is lifted, women. We won't be fooled again! :)

(please, please, please take that for the tongue-in-cheek statement it was!)

Baby dropped on floor, slid the length of the doorway, bumped up against the next row of seats and she didn't notice? What kind of nurse doesn't notice? Unless she was seizing or something, the report mentions her having had spells which may have something to do with her present circumstances. A good neuropsych eval may be in order. At the least, the baby may end up with brain damage from the birth.

A subway is a bit of an unusual place to give birth. To have refused any help may seem a bit odd to those who offered. To refer to them as 'self righteous'.....well maybe thats the thanks people get for offering.

If everyone stood up and just minded their own business and didn't ask her if she needed help there may have been a big furore over that.

What can I say? It takes all types to make up a world, does it not?

WOW that is all I can say....

As far as not noticing the baby when it "dropped out", if I remember right all I felt for a few seconds was more contractions - worse than the actual birth itself! That could very well account for her momentary distraction.

As for the rest, if she didn't have anyone to leave her children with while she went to the hospital, if she didn't have a car or any friend with a car to take her there, if she's making do the Motel 6... sounds to me that she's not used to anybody offering to help; just doing the best she can with what she's got.

I have to admit, though. Putting a placenta in your purse is a little overboard in the embarassment department. Ick!

I was not on that train that day, but I can attest to the unsanitary conditions of the red line floor. I just wonder if the T put this trai back into service yet...I am more than I little squicked by that idea.

Side note: I have seen this woman and her kids ( from a distance) at the Motel 6. One night last month, while going to Bickfords (which shares the lot with the hotel) I saw a very pregnant lady and her two boys leaving the motel. I am almost positive it is the same woman, but I could be wrong.

I hope she paid an additional half a fare for having an extra passenger on the train.

And Langus; Not all people laud men who leave their children and wives behind to scale mountains or fly in balloons. Personally, I think they're idiots and should stick to their new primary job as a FATHER and HUSBAND. Now if a whole family climbed a mountain, then I'd laud that. And as for "womyn"? It is a form gender hate speech offensive to men as it clearly states the writers desire to remove "men" from existance. It's gendercide.