My friend and his wife recently had a baby, and I went over to meet the little one and bring a few humble gifts.

Now I've known the wife for many years (12?) but we've never gotten close like her husband and I have been. Very friendly but not quite friends. But for most of the visit it was just her and I talking about the experience of labour and childbirth. When did you know you were in labour? What drugs did you take? Did your water break? How was your medical staff? Did baby latch alright? And on and on and on for hours!

It made me think that the experience of giving birth is something that bonds all natural mothers together. We just can't help but to deeply relate to one another over it and discuss it ad infinitum, to the exclusion of men and women who aren't mothers.