1 – Natural Birth
How to Choose Your Birthing Team for Best Outcome? Part 1
Just to be clear, this is not about explaining MY choices and “whys” (I can tell you at another time if you like). This is about helping you make the best decisions from the get go so that you can increase your chances of achieving the birth you want.
Choosing your place of birth is going to limit your choices one way or another. That is why it is a good idea to first decide on the place of birth! So ask yourself:
Where do I want to give birth to my baby?
Baby immediately after birth being "checked out" in the warmer.
The choice might be easy for you if you know you want an epidural or you know you want a waterbirth. The first one makes it mandatory to be in the hospital, the second, (in most US cities) would restrict you to be at home or in a birthing center equipped with the adequate tub (allowing for at least 24 inches of water for buoyancy). A regular bath tub is not adequate…But that is a whole article in itself! Also consider reading about physiological, undisturbed birth and how it changes you baby’s start in life!
Mom and Dad gazing with baby skin-to-skin.
If you find yourself in the majority of the “on the fence”, and “I don’t really know” type of pregnant couples…. Consider this: If it is correct that the process of birth is profoundly influenced by the level of stress of the mother (and father too, by the way), than choosing a place that is most conducive to relaxation and trust is of utmost importance!
Monitoring heart beat of baby (babies) and monitoring contractions (here 5 minutes apart).
For some of you, being in the hospital with all the technology readily available is most comforting while for others just the thought of being in a controlled environment with all the limitations it implies would create high levels of stress physically and emotionally. So decide what it is for you (mom first, because she is most connected to her baby, and what mom feels, baby feels!). Then, share your thoughts, preferences and “whys” with your partner.
Your partner’s comfort is important too but secondary. This is not a good time for you to compromise in an attempt to take care of your husband’s fear and create some more in you. Be honest about how you both feel and find a solution that brings comfort to both of you. For example, if you would prefer a home birth with a lay midwife, and your partner is concerned about “something going wrong” and would prefer having a doctor in a hospital, perhaps a birthing center close to a hospital would satisfy both of you. Or choosing a nurse midwife practicing in a hospital with a medical practice that includes obstetricians?
The next step is to investigate and interview. Not just your family and friends… Think about it, they only “used” that person once or twice, maybe 3 to 5 0r even 6 times but it is only a few times. Also the opinion one woman has of her birth attendant is very subjective. So always ask for their “whys”: what did you really like about this person, place , this nurse, this particular birth. Why did you (or would you) choose that same person again? Remember, you can be best friends and have very different ideas about what feel comforting and supporting. What reassures her may be exactly what triggers anxiety in you!
The whole family welcoming the new baby at home.
Ask other people, like L & D nurses. They too have their personal preferences but they see the medical staff (doctors and nurse midwives) in many different settings and circumstances: long labor, short labor, difficulties and non medical birth (Hopefully… Because it’s becoming a rare sight in some parts of the country). You get the idea.
If you plan on hiring a doula, also start interviewing early and ask for her input regarding where to go depending on your birth preference. She too has probably seen many births from the same caregiver in different circumstances.
So ask around and build a list or maybe 2 lists. One of caregivers (MDs, midwives nurse-midwives) and one of doulas (think of it as your personal assistant at birth).
Visit how to choose your birth team part 2 for details on the interviewing them!
Was this helpful to you? What are some other prenatal questions you want me to address?
Use the comment box to let me know!
Continue reading How to Choose Your Birthing Team for Best Outcome? Part 1
What is “Undisturbed” Birth?
You may have heard of the term “undisturbed” birth… Perhaps you just googled it and landed here… But what does it mean exactly? It seems that the words “natural birth” for most people nowadays means “birth without pain meds” or “without epidural”. I have heard Labor & Delivery nurses talk that way on several occasions in my doula work of the past years. In the recent years, I think that many famous natural birth advocates found the need to re-define the message they were trying to convey. A normal, physiological birth requires a little more that “just” refusing pain meds… and the term “undisturbed” really tells a better story of what to aim for when giving birth for optimal health and well-being of both mother and child!
Undisturbed Birth requires:
- Trust and Confidence from the caregiver in the mother and from both parents in the woman’s ability to birth
- A minimum of Knowledge of the “Grand Design” of mother and baby for the natural unfolding of birth when undisturbed by outside interventions (that knowledge will foster Trust and Confidence!).
- Respect of the mother’s choices (of place, of position, of timing, of aids -water, hypnosis, chanting, breathing, etc.-)
- A pain management plan: water, doula, hypnosis, acupuncture, homeopathy, massage (especially Light Touch)… All of the above would be MY choice! (see also 5 Golden Rules for an Easier Birth)
- The mother to have an active, prepared and automatic method/means of Connecting to her own “Spiritual Support”. Birth is such an intense and powerful event in a human’s life (mother and father) that it requires your “spiritual attention”. If you have no habit or means of communicating with that aspect of you, birth will catch you by surprise… But perhaps, it is part of the “Grand Design” as I called it before, to “push” you into taking a more active role in your connection with “Source” (or Oneness or Spirit or God). That has very little to do with what religion you practice or adhere to, it is a personal daily conscious decision to “connect” with that Greater part of you! That to me, is the most important “requirement” to give birth in bliss!
- And for the physiological aspect, here are some world renowned experts explaining it to you briefly… When the mother giving birth is undisturbed, the hormones are flowing, the baby’s natural reflexes take place and all unfold easily…
HAPPY “Undisturbed” BIRTH TO YOU!
Emy’s First Baby: Hypnosis- and Water-birth!
Emy was a single mom at the time she contacted me. She surprised me with an unusual common sense and such strong determination to “do the right thing” for her baby’s sake! She had a lot to be scared about but she was extremely wise and smart in choosing her “helpers” in this fantastic journey! She chose Dinah Waranch, a nurse-midwife owner of The Lover’s Lane Birth Center and opted for a waterbirth! She also learned self-hypnosis and the “Quantum Birth” program with me. Her baby boy was born Thursday at 5:21 AM in the water after only a few hours of active (strong) labor.
Here is her story in an email she sent me a few months after:
“It was such an amazing birth!”
“I started feeling the first signs of labor at about 11:30 Tuesday night, very mild contraction.[That is what is called early labor, no need to change anything in your routine]….[Sonogram appointment on Wednesday, doctors want to induce, midwife said get a good night sleep, we'll do it tomorrow... ] At 11:30PM on Wednesday night, my water broke and it was obvious no induction would be needed.
The hypnosis worked wonders during the first 24 hours of labor. In fact, sometimes I wasn’t completely sure if I was really having any contractions because as soon as I felt something I would relax and all of a sudden it seemed to disappear. During the stronger labor, it took a lot more effort and concentration but I still think it went absolutely amazing.
It was more tiring than anything I have ever done which is pretty much a given with something that works you out like labor. I was already about 5 centimeters dilated when I got to the birth center which was an hour or two after the strong labor started up. It went so quick from there. I was only in the strong labor for about 5-6 hours.
Sometime during that time, I have no idea what time exactly because I was so zoned out, I decided to get into the water and it helped a lot. I remember thinking how I was afraid Dinah (my midwife) would think it was slowing my labor down because it was so relaxing. I could feel the contractions but they weren’t near as intense. I got out of the water at one point so I could lye on my side in the bed and then all of a sudden I just felt the need to push and started doing it.
At that point Dinah called her assistant and I went back into the water, it just felt right to birth him there. It was amazing feeling him come down the birth canal. I could actually feel him move back a bit when I closed my legs after a contraction so I had them hold my legs apart in between contractions (I was laying on my side because that kept me underwater best). Then I pushed him out with this energy that I have no idea where I got it from and I remember feeling this movement and I assumed it was Dinah doing something and I asked her not to do it because it hurt and she told me that it was the baby moving his head, how cute! And with the next contraction he was out.
I asked my mom about how long I was pushing and she said it was about 10 minutes. I remember feeling him being put on my chest and it took me a few seconds to open my eyes because I was just so focused on the feeling of him being pulled up and set onto me.
After a few days, I started thinking how I can’t wait to have another one…. I think a big part of what made it so amazing was the fact that I did it myself. I had assistance when I needed it, but I still did it myself, no one did it for me. I honestly don’t think I could’ve had a better first birth experience.
The one thing I would change about that day is maybe with the next one I’ll get more sleep once the baby goes to sleep. I was too excited and kept staring at him and didn’t take advantage of the opportunity for sleep. 
Well, I’m really tired and must get some sleep. Can’t wait to see you!”
Emy
Dallas, February 10, 2006
For the record, Emy’s baby was 8lbs10oz and she had just a little tear that did not need stitches. I have seen it over and over again: small women can birth big babies, if they are in the right (relaxed) environment, and allowed to follow their body’s lead in terms of position, “pushing” and everything else at the time of birth!
Also, it is more difficult to stay in the pain-free “zone” all the way without a partner or a doula trained in hypnosis… (More on the important role of the partner in another blog)
Comments? Questions? Do you have a similar story you want to share?
Continue reading Emy’s First Baby: Hypnosis- and Water-birth!
When Hypnosis is a Great Adjunct to Hospital Birth!
I am so grateful to Shari for allowing me to share her story with you! She is living proof that learning self-hypnosis and getting informed and prepared for childbirth is always worth the time and money even when “things” don’t go exactly as planned!
Shari with her newborn baby Asher
Listen to what she has to say just a few days after the birth!
Click HERE to listen to the Audio interview
Shari gave birth to her second child after just a few hours of labor!
Continue reading When Hypnosis is a Great Adjunct to Hospital Birth!
Side Effect of Epidural Anesthesia: Rare but Real!
In my 12plus years of doula career, I have seen many clients get an epidural, usually as a last resort. Being exhausted and with no relief in sight… It was a life saver for them. It happens to many (too many) women in labor (Why? is a different story and I will need another blog for just that topic…).
As a hypnotist, I know the power of the mind and I also believe that “Thoughts create Reality”. So, I hesitated to even post all the possible side effects, some permanent in very rare cases. But the truth needs to be accessible so that you are making INFORMED decision when it comes to your body, your health and your baby’s health!
So here is just a simple list (adapted from see source below):
1 ) Significant Low Blood Pressure
2 ) Fetal Distress
3 ) Cannulation
4 ) Trauma to Blood Vessel
5 ) Puncture Dura
6 ) Infection
7 ) Bach ache
8 ) Broken Catheters
9 ) Abnormal Uterine Contractions
10) Increased use of forceps and vacuum extraction in second stage
11) Inadequate pain relief ( For 7.1 % of women, it doesn’t work!)
12) Accidental Spinal Anesthesia
13) Maternal Heart Attack
14) If you have asthma, it can get worse during labor
15) Medication interaction i.e. with the prostaglandin gel used in some cases to induce labor
16) If you had migraine, that can get worse
17) Interactions with other illnesses
18) Fever and Malignant Hyperthermia
19) Respiratory Arrests (you stop breathing because your diaphragm is numb)
20) Neurological Disabilities
21) Nausea (30% of women)
22) Vomiting (3-7% of women)
23) Allergic conditions may worsen
24) Heart problems
25) Headache
26) Temporary paralysis
27) Recurrence of Herpes Simplex (if you had it in the past, it could flare up again!)
28) Permanent Disability
29) Death
It is a balancing act to get information and than decide what is best for you and your baby. Get you partner involved, so he too knows the “inside story” and can advocate for you when you are staying focused during labor and connected with your inner work and your baby. Once your decision is made, make total peace with it, because that is what is most important after all!
Let me know… Was it useful to you? Did it help you decide? Or Would you rather not have known?
P.S.: In my “Quantum Birthing” hypno-program for childbirth, I teach a simple technique called clearing the “Library of Record” to help erase or cancel the negative beliefs and information not in alignment with your blissful, undisturbed, normal birth!
Source: Medical Risks of Epidural Anesthesia during Childbirth by Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD and Morgaine Mehl-Madrona, midwife.
You might also like: Is Epidural a Safe Way to Have Pain Free Childbirth?
Continue reading Side Effect of Epidural Anesthesia: Rare but Real!
Is Epidural a Safe Way to Have Pain Free Childbirth?
I have read on other “mom and baby” blogs comments like: ” For pain free birth get an epidural!”. My epidural was the best thing ever, I was rested and did not feel a thing.” That is until the effect wears off, mind you! I know, epidural anesthesia can be a life saver but do you really know the risk you and your baby are taking?
Epidural Anesthesia: so common we seem to forget its risks!
They say: “Women are almost never given informed consent for epidurals. Even if they were, just read two paragraphs from the package insert that comes with the medication used for epidurals (manufactured by Abbott Laboratories), they might think twice.”
The package insert states:
Local anesthetics rapidly cross the placenta, and when used for epidural, caudal or pudendal anesthesia, can cause varying degrees of maternal, fetal and neonatal toxicity….
Adverse reactions in the parturient, fetus and neonate involve alternations of the central nervous system, peripheral vascular tone and cardiac function….
Neurologic effects following epidural or caudal anesthesia may include spinal block of varying magnitude (including high or total spinal block); hypotension secondary to spinal block; urinary retention; fecal and urinary incontinence; loss of perineal sensation and sexual function; persistent anesthesia, paresthesia, weakness, paralysis of the lower extremities and loss of sphincter control all of which may have slow, incomplete or no recovery; headache; backache; septic meningitis; meningismus; slowing of labor; increased incidence of forceps delivery; cranial nerve palsies due to traction on nerves from loss of cerebrospinal fluid.
Would you sign a consent for an epidural if it included the above language? The Mehl-Madrona also state: “The degree to which the facts about the risks of epidural anesthesia are hidden from women in labor is astonishing”. And I agree. What happened to “informed consent”!
Would you do it now that you have read the “insert”? Would you do it again? What do you think?
Let’s share…
source: Medical Risk of Epidural Anesthesia during Childbirth
Continue reading Is Epidural a Safe Way to Have Pain Free Childbirth?
Birth Preferences: All Women Want What’s Best for Baby!
“Of course!”, are you going to say, all women want what is best for baby! Yet it is amazing how many times I hear as a doula and birth professional that a mother who wants a home birth or a water birth or even just a drug-free birth is just being selfish, thinking of herself only and not of what is best for her baby.
The unique bond between mother and child!
There is a consensus in this country more than anywhere else to keep the population in fear… And that has worked so well in the field of childbirth that now a vaginal delivery is considered “normal” birth even with all the interventions (induction, epidural and other medications, forceps and the like) as oppose to a birth by c-section (which is still going up by the way).
So, I am here to say, no, you are not selfish for wanting a calm environment and support and freedom to do what your body wants to do. Choosing in what position you feel most comfortable, using whatever method helps you get in “the zone” (warm water immersion, self-hypnosis, music, drums, signing, praying or what ever else), connected to your baby and own this wonderful moment. You are not selfish to want to protect your baby from unnecessary interventions, poking and rubbing, aspirating, isolating and washing when he/she should be resting on your chest to find its “bearings”, neurologically and physiologically!
Many medical staff like to hide behind the say: “It’s for your baby’s safety”! Really? How much distress and complication comes from the “disturbing” of the birth or the separation of a newborn infant from his/her mother? Well, I know, there is very little “hard” evidence, because undisturbed birth happens mostly at home and that is not valid information.
So… Who will take the challenge and run a “Big” study, in a “Big” hospital and show “scientifically” the outcomes of undisturbed birth compared to the regular medical model of care!
Who will take the challenge?
In the mean time, don’t blame the informed parents who choose a different approach after thorough investigation and mind searching! They only want what is best for their baby! 
Continue reading Birth Preferences: All Women Want What’s Best for Baby!
The Natural Birth Story of Theresa’s Twin Girls
Vivian & Fiona’s Birth Story by Theresa Wohlfeld
Written by Theresa for the La Leche League of Dallas Newsletter in August 2003
After a long painful labor with my first daughter, I decided to take a different route when I became pregnant again. (…) Carrying two was definitely more challenging than my singleton pregnancy. I didn’t feel up to my usual daily dog walks –just chasing Veronica all day was workout enough. I tried to eat a lot of nutritious food, and I rested every afternoon for a couple of hours. I started having Level 2 sonograms, and everything always looked great. Both babies were head down, and their growth was right on track. Getting used to the idea of having twins was such an adjustment, I hadn’t given much thought to the birth. When a friend told me she was taking a HypnoBirthing® class, I was really curious. The idea is that, through self-hypnosis, you bring yourself to such a relaxed state that your body does the work of labor without interpreting the sensations of contractions (surges) as pain. Ideally you experience the surges as pressure. It sounded great to me, if maybe too good to be true.
submit YOUR natural birth story!
After talking to a few instructors, my husband and I decided to take classes from Nadine Romain and hired her as our doula as well. The classes were great, and I found that I really enjoyed practicing self-hypnosis. Being in such a relaxed state is really a pleasant experience. I used the techniques to release a lot of my fears about the birth and also my fears of being overwhelmed by the realities of breastfeeding and caring for two newborns in addition to our toddler. My husband and I practiced whenever we could, and I worked on visualizations I would have him and Nadine prompt me with during labor. I came up with a “Special Place” (my backyard) that they would describe to me to help me relax.
I had been told that as soon as I reached 35 weeks I was pretty much full term for twins, so we were getting ready and excited in early April. When I went in for my 37 week checkup with Susan, I was thrilled to find out I was 4 1/2 cm dilated and 90% effaced. Almost halfway there! I had been having a lot of Braxton-Hicks contractions but none were painful. It was incredible to find out I had made so much progress without even knowing it.
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Theresa & Family in August 2003
I reached 38 weeks with no babies yet, and friends and family were starting to get anxious. I was now 5 cm dilated and wondering what the babies were waiting for! I was not worried myself, but people were starting to ask me, “When are they going to take the babies?” “Take them where?” was my response. It seems that the general practice of most OB’s is not to let a twin pregnancy go much past 38 weeks. I was so glad that I was not being pressured by Susan (Akins, my midwife) to do something. She did say that she would break my water whenever I wanted her to if I became too uncomfortable and just wanted to get on with it. I hadn’t reached that point yet.
At 39 weeks I had a non-stress test, and the babies did great. I also had another Level 2 sonogram and everything again looked perfect. The amniotic fluid level was good, and the girls’ estimated weight was now 61/2 to 7 pounds each. The doctor doing the sonogram was amazed that I was closing in on 40 weeks and had had no problems. I was now setting a record for length of twin gestation for his office!
As week 39 wore on, I was starting to worry that when labor did finally start, things might progress too fast. We needed enough time to get Veronica settled with someone and get ourselves to the hospital in time. I didn’t really want an unassisted home birth with twins! My husband and I decided to pick a day that we would want Susan to break my waters. We settled on Friday May 2nd –just a few days before my 40 week due date of May 5th.
Friday came and I was very relaxed and felt very comfortable with my decision to push things along a bit. I had Nadine with me, and I had slept the night before and eaten breakfast. I felt ready for the challenge ahead of me. Susan examined me and found that I was 6cm dilated, 100% effaced and that baby A was at +1 station. Yeah! We were so close. She broke my water at 9:30 am, and I started having surges about 10 minutes later. My husband talked me through them, and I felt confident and relaxed. Another 10 minutes later the surges were really strong. I didn’t seem to get a break between them. I was getting a little panicky at this point. It reminded me a lot of my labor with Veronica, and I had my doubts that I was going to make it through without medication. The fact that the air conditioning was out didn’t help. The room was stuffy, and I was getting really nervous.
submit YOUR natural pregnancy story!
At this point Nadine stepped in. She had a little hand held fan that she handed to my husband to point at my face. She put a wet washcloth on my forehead and started to talk me into a deeper state of relaxation. She has a wonderful French accent and a very soothing manner of speaking that immediately put my mind and body at ease. She used the visualizations we had worked on to help me relax and also urged me to project myself forward in time to when I was already holding my babies. I instinctively started to moan softly with the surges, and I was surprised by how much this helped. The pain and panic were now gone, and I only felt a slight pressure in my abdomen as each surge peaked. I was somewhat aware of nurses coming in and out of the room, but it was not disturbing to me. We had our soft music on and the lights dimmed, and my focus stayed on being relaxed.
The staff at Baylor was really great about working with us. They tried hard to keep things as quiet and peaceful as possible. At about 11:00 am someone came into the room to take my blood. I was only vaguely aware of his presence and just heard Nadine say, “Your arm is going to float up and someone will hold it for a minute.” I gently lifted my arm and felt someone’s hand hold it, but that was all. I didn’t feel the bind of the elastic or the prick of the needle or anything! I had to ask someone later if they got the blood sample at all.
A minute later, I felt a little nauseous and then a strange sensation of my body bearing down. It wasn’t like I felt consciously that it was time to push; my body was just doing it on its own.
Nadine was startled and said, “What’s happening, Theresa?” I replied, “I think the babies are coming.” I heard her repeat my words excitedly, and all of a sudden there was a lot of movement in the room. I heard someone call out for Susan, and then she examined me and I was completely dilated! It had only been 1 1/2 hours since labor had started. Everyone was rushing around preparing to move me from the LDR room to the OR. I kept my eyes closed to stay focused, but in the hallway I heard someone ask “Where’s Dad?” We’d left Paul back in the other room where he was changing into scrubs. It all happened so fast no one was quite ready!
He soon joined us in the OR where the doctor on call was also with us. I felt nauseous again, and my body again instinctively pushed. It was really amazing to realize that I had surrendered the birthing process to my body. I just did what felt right; I wasn’t really thinking about it. I really felt that my body knew what to do, and I just got out of the way, so to speak. I moaned with each surge and just felt a tingly numbness as the first baby crowned. A few more pushes and Vivian Elise was born at 11:33 am weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz. She was put immediately on my chest, and I was so excited to finally meet her. I just remember being almost overwhelmed with how easy it was. I couldn’t believe I already had one of my babies! Paul said later that I looked almost dazed. It wasn’t too good to be true; HypnoBirthing® had worked!
After about 10 minutes of rest, I could feel my second baby getting ready to descend. This was one of the most amazing parts of the births. I felt the surge start and then the baby move all the way down my body and through the birth canal in one intense continuous movement. It was wild! This was definitely a sensation you wouldn’t feel with the birth of a singleton (as they are engaged down in your pelvis by the time of their birth). Fiona Marie was born after that one push at 11:46 weighing 7 lbs. There was no need for an episiotomy, and I had only a tiny tear as Fiona Marie came out with her hand on her cheek.
Both babies were robust and healthy.
We couldn’t have been any happier with their births. I delivered twins at almost 40 weeks after only two hours of labor, and it honestly didn’t hurt! What could be better than that? Life at home has been a little hectic with three girls under three, but the babies are nursing and gaining weight well and even sleep a five to six hour stretch at night. I never imagined that I would have twins, and now we can’t imagine life without them.
We are so lucky to have found Nadine and HypnoBirthing®. I had the unmedicated birth I’d always wished for. It was a revelation to learn that birthing is something that our bodies know how to do. Women are taught to fear the process and that pain is inevitable. The cycle of fear and adrenaline does lead to pain, and now that I have experienced both kinds of labor, I know that it doesn’t have to be that way. It was amazing to learn that labor can actually be an enjoyable experience and not just something that has to be endured. I will forever be grateful for my serene birth experience.
submit YOUR pain-free birth story!
Continue reading The Natural Birth Story of Theresa’s Twin Girls
Why does Natural Childbirth often create Outrage in the Female Community?
Jessica Alba gave birth naturally!
Googling “Natural Childbirth” is always interesting! As I was playing with it the other day, I found this 2 year-old BBC-News article in which a male midwife proclaimed that “childbirth pain is a good thing”. Though, I think I got his point (no medication is better for mom and babies), he expressed it so poorly that it was drowned in chauvinism and triggered only controversy and outrage. I think it might be the journalist’s doing. But it’s irrelevant… The point is that “Natural Childbirth” produces “outrage” more often than not. Just read the comments on VS model Gisele’s painfree birth or those of Jessica Alba‘s natural birth and you will see what I mean…
Why do you think that is?
In an attempt to answer this question, let me tell you about the story of a client of mine. In my early years of practice as a doula, this client of mine had a very comfortable labor except for the last hour when she received pitocin in her I.V. She was very close to giving birth and she “made it” without pain medication! Details are unimportant for the message I mean to convey but the most important thing was her elation at the moment and the pride and self-worth she carried for months after the birth. Now this is the interesting part, she admitted to me a few months later that she could not tell her friends and even some of her relatives about how easy her birth was (it was a 12-hour labor with only the last hour being “challenging” in terms of comfort which by me is not that easy but to her it was). Each time she would attempt to talk about it, she would feel the uneasiness in the group, women looking away or down, avoiding eye contact. No one wanted to hear it, and she became ashamed of mentioning her experience and refrained herself from sharing the wonderful feelings it gave her… Again, why do you think telling your great experience of birth triggers such reaction IN WOMEN?
In this case, my clients’ friends were well-educated, upper class you would say, and all had medicated birth, many ended up with a c-section. I don’t think any of them had hired a doula and they had taken the hospital childbirth class. Just like the majority of couples in this country… And please, understand that there is no judgment on my part in women’s choice for birth. I am just wondering if they (the majority) don’t care or don’t believe in unmedicated, undisturbed birth, why do they get so upset to hear about those other women who experience something so different that it seems made up fantasy!?
I have my own idea about it but I really would like to know what you think, all of you out there, reading and learning about natural childbirth. I know the curiosity is there! I know many don’t want to accept the only choice the healthcare system is giving us… But then what is so upsetting about hearing or reading the wonderful stories of painfree (or almost) childbirth?
Don’t we have an obligation to let the world know? Don’t we need to get ALL the information out, not only what the society declares acceptable? If we (women who have experienced or witnessed blissful, undisturbed births) tell our stories, at least, the newly pregnant women have a chance of making the best decision aware of all their options, all that’s possible!
Nothing is worst in life then regret! So lets get the information out for all women BEFORE they experience childbirth so there will never be another “I wish I had known this BEFORE!”
After that the choice is entirely yours!
Continue reading Why does Natural Childbirth often create Outrage in the Female Community?
What is Natural Childbirth?
You would think that we all give these 2 simple words “Natural Childbirth” the same meaning… But no Sir, no! Even among birth professionals, we disagree. Most midwives and doulas still think that “Natural Birth” means un-medicated birth. In other words, giving birth without epidural or other narcotics -basically, without the drugs that take the pain away. That is also why, for the same midwives and doulas, “Natural Birth” means painful birth (no drugs to take the pain away). But “It’s good pain” they’ll tell you. Ever tried to say that to a woman in “transition”- the last few centimeters that the cervix needs to open before the baby starts moving down? She will slice you with her eyes (and be glad she is too busy for anything else right then). There are natural ways to greatly decrease the level of pain often to the level of comfort, sometime even bliss! It needs some preparation of course and lots of practice but it’s possible!
Natural Birth is totally undisturbed birth: no agenda, no expectations, no time table. The caregiver is there just in case, keeping his/her hands in their pockets. Love and support, trust and confidence and what I call “holding the space” is all that’s needed. Holding and maintaining a high vibrational level (I know, I will need another blog to explain that) is essential. When all the people in the room are able to do that (or even 1 or 2 people in the room), the energy of the whole room changes. Mom senses it and begins to relax more deeply, some call it “being in a zone”. Baby perceives it too (The baby is pure consciousness so of course he/she feels it). Where there was fear or doubt, there is calm and confidence. Where there was fatigue and pain, there is strength, energy and bliss! And, usually, “things” start moving fast…
Undisturbed waterbirth, seconds after birth!
So lets dream together on what it could be like in America’s birthing rooms if we trusted our bodies and received unbiased, empowering information along with the assistance of an informed, confident, patient (as in “full of patience”) and accepting caregiver at our side.
Barbara Harper is a great friend of mine. We teach together and we have very similar, if not identical, views and wishes for childbirth in America. Here is my understanding of what she teaches as “undisturbed birth”. For more information, visit her website waterbirth.org or even better take a “Gentle Birth Guardians” workshop with us.
Undisturbed birth: the way it was intended!
- The Baby is in charge of when it comes out. The baby chooses the date of birth and pushes himself out!
- When fear and doubts have been eliminated, the mother’s birthing body can do what it knows how to do. It secretes hormones and neurotransmitters in the proper amount and at the perfect time so that mom AND BABY are in a state of comfort, if not bliss, during the whole birth process.
- The baby prepares in a calm, euphoric (it’s the endorphins!) environment and aligns easily in the pelvis. He/she is able to find its way out easily without resistance or tension when mom stays relaxed and in an upright position, preferably in a tub of warm water that covers her belly.
- From the womb, the baby goes to its new natural habitat without delay: right between her mother’s breast for at least a couple of hours.
- The baby is allowed to crawl by itself to the breast and self-attach to the nipple for feeding (he is programmed to do so… And with an un-medicated birth, he has the strength to do so!) (More on Self-Attachment soon). This process is well-known to (re-)wire the baby’s brain for best adaptation to the life waiting for him (see Dr Nils Bergman website)
So tell me, what will your choice be for your (next) baby? Wouldn’t you at least want to learn more about “Natural Childbirth?
