Ina May Gaskin is a midwife, author, public speaker, and has been long-crowned the “most famous midwife in the world.” Ina May has been working as a midwife since 1971, where she began a midwifery center within the self-sustaining community that she helped found, known as “The Farm” in Summertown, Tennessee. Since beginning her career nearly 50 years ago, Ina May has helped bring approximately 1,200 babies earthside.

Midwife, which means “with woman” is a profession that is older than any other within the medical system, and is endanger of soon becoming obsolete due to the rapidly increasing rise cesarean rates worldwide. And while Ina May Gaskin isn’t necessarily anti-cesarean, she openly fears that with the reduction in vaginal childbirth will come an increase in fear and uncertainty in the body’s ability to give birth. The mission of a midwife isn’t about how or where their patients chose to give birth; it’s about helping women feel empowered during the process and preventing any unnecessary interventions without the mother’s consent.

So in the spirit of midwifery and women’s empowerment, here are 5 Ina May Gaskin quotes from her second book, Ina May’s Guide To Childbirth.

“There is no other organ, quite like the uterus. If men had such an organ, they would brag about it. So should we.”

Ain’t that the truth! Our uteruses are strong, powerful, and incredibly capable and they deserve to be spoken about as such.

“Remember this, for it is as true as true gets: Your body is not a lemon. You are not a machine. The Creator is not a careless mechanic.”

Your body was made to give birth! No matter what delivery method you chose, you were created for motherhood, and you can do this!

“When you cast doubt on some bodily function- you don’t know how sensitive the body is to that kind of idea.”

When we speak words of fear into our body, our body listens. Likewise, when we speak words of compassion into our bodies, only then do we fully tap into what we are truly capable of.

“Our bodies must work pretty well, or there wouldn’t be so many humans on the planet.”

The stork certainly didn’t drop 7.53 billion people out of the sky! Every single one of us came from a line of sturdy, powerful women, just like you.

“Mother’s milk is soul food for babies. The babies of the world need a lot more soul food.”

Okay, so this one isn’t exactly about childbirth, but truer words have never been spoken. So keep calm, and nurse on, mama! I’m sure Ina May would agree- you’re helping make the world a better place.