I want to tell a story that involves the Born in Zion method of childbirth.

        There was a sweet young couple that moved to our town a few years ago who were expecting their first baby. The mom was in radiant good health, and was thrilled to be pregnant. As time went by, we noticed that she never went to a doctor. When asked why, she gave vague answers about a midwife who lived several hundred miles from here. But we were relieved to hear there WAS a midwife, at least. She had "this book" that she thought was terrific. She gave it to a friend to read, but the friend didn't really have time to investigate it thoroughly. After being 2-3 weeks overdue, she finally went into labor. She was in labor for several days, and we were all very concerned, because whenever we called to see what was happening, we weren't told much, just that labor was stopping and starting. We were told that her water had broken. I can't remember all the details, as it was several years ago, but to make a long story short, by the time she delivered the baby, the baby had died.

       When questioned about this, she was asked if this was a "Born in Zion" birth, and she said "no." Yet, when I called Carol Balizet to get some info about the movement, Carol (who I didn't know) knew all about this tragedy that happened clear across the country just the day before! So I concluded that the "midwife" was a "Zion" person, and had contacted Carol after the tragedy.

     Apparently, the midwife did suggest going to a doctor when the situation looked desperate, but the couple said no, they had a peace about staying home, and the "midwife" said ok. That midwife should have called an ambulance!

    Afterwards, there was a lot of reaction in our circle of friends. Some were livid- they were so mad they would not speak to this couple, because they felt they had wantonly allowed their baby to die. And some were appalled, but comforted the grieving couple. But some, and this is the group that bothers me, said, "Oh well, thay baby was destined to die anyway, God knew it was never meant to live, so don't blame the couple or the Zion people." And the local midwives, very protective of midwifery in any form, called me to tell me that babies do die! Well yes, they do die. But this particular baby was evidently quite alive during most of labor. The autopsy showed a perfectly sound baby, I was told.

      Later on, I got a copy of "Born in Zion," and found it to be a book full of superstitions. Really, that's what I call these "practices." I am a born-again Christian, and I do believe in demons and spiritual warfare, but this book is full of the kind of spiritism you'd find in a pagan village in Africa. I remember a story of a birth that took place near a nudist colony, and how they had to rebuke the spirit of nudity or some such thing before the baby could be born. Got a verse in the Bible for that, Carol Balizet?

       So keep on fighting the good battle against these dangerous, self-righteous, superstitious heretics.

-A sister in the Lord

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