I work at a hospital where some of the landscaping consists of flower beds planted with small bushes and flowers.  The dirt is covered with tree bark and the beds look quite neat with their planned greenery patterns contrasting with the red bark.  Unfortunately for the gardeners, there are also uninvited plants growing in the beds interrupting the orderly lay out.  One morning when arriving for work I observed several work release prisoners in their bright orange vests carefully shoveling the bark into small piles on the side walk while others were pulling the exposed weeds out. 

Later in the day I noticed that the flower beds again were neat and orderly with the invited plants carefully arranged in their patterns surrounded by the bark.  All the work release prisoners had disappeared and the scene looked quite controlled.

This picture lasted for one day.  The following morning I again noticed bright green uninvited plants interrupting the gardener’s plan.  Apparently the bark, which is probably intended to keep the “weeds” down, isn’t working very well or perhaps the weeds are so healthy that they can triumph over adversity. 

It’s possible that the work release prisoners were dispatched elsewhere or maybe the gardeners were otherwise occupied.  Whatever the reason the weeds were flourishing as a part of the landscape and seem to be peacefully co existing with the invited plants.

This idyll only lasted for one day as the following morning revealed the work release prisoners on their hands and knees busily evicting the uninvited guests.  Each person was equipped with a sharp instrument and a large green garbage bag intended to hold their victims.

This scene reminded me of pregnancy and child birth.  A typical pregnant woman usually keeps her prenatal appointments with her doctor and listens to his advice. The doctor performs various tests to make sure everything follows the planned pattern.  If discrepancies are noted the doctor prescribes various procedures to remedy the situation.  If the baby is “too large” whatever that means, the doctor is likely to suggest a Cesarean Section, if the baby chooses not to arrive on the “due” date, it’s very possible that the doctor will recommend an induction and the list continues.  

There is no doubt in my mind that the doctor like the gardener means well, but just like the uninvited plants in the flower beds babies will continue to come when they are ready.  This is especially true if the mother is a HypnoBirthing® student.  Mother and baby attend five classes where mother learns that she is very good at self hypnosis.  Baby learns that mother responds with relaxation and that she is  cooperative and attentive to his needs.  The result becomes that mother and baby work together the way nature intended and the birthing is peaceful and uneventful.