What Do I Mean By Normal Birth?

I realized I have used the term “normal birth” several times without explaining what I mean. First, I wish to be clear that there is no value judgment in the phrase normal birth–it simply refers to the physiologically normal process of birth. It is birth as it is biologically programmed to happen and allowed to [...]

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What is Holistic Childbirth Education?

A definition I like is one from midwife and author, Penfield Chester:
“The holistic model holds that birth is a normal, woman-centered process in which mind and body are one and that, in the vast majority of cases, nature is sufficient to create a healthy pregnancy and birth.”
My certifying organization, ALACE, uses the word holistic to [...]

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The Three P’s

Continuing my alphabetical “theme” I thought I’d write about the three P’s of birth. The “classic” three P’s are the passageway (pelvis), the powers (contractions), and the passenger (baby). Some people include a fourth P–the psyche (mind). These three P’s interrelate to create the labor and birth experience. This is a very mechanical, reductionist, and [...]

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What is Active Birth?

One of the single session classes I offer is specifically about Active Birth. I received a question asking what I mean by active birth. Active birth is an approach to birth that emphasizes movement and the use of gravity to help during labor and birth. It is a way of “describing normal labor and [...]

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The Three R’s of Childbirth

A concept I find useful to share in birth classes is that of Rhythm, Relaxation, and Ritual–the Three R’s of Childbirth. This is a concept developed by Penny Simkin and is illustrated in her labor support video by the same name. Ritual refers to a repetitive coping mechanism that spontaneously arises during labor–it usually is [...]

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Birthing Affirmations

One tool I like to offer during birth classes is the use of birthing affirmations. I have a list of favorites that I hand out and I also encourage couples to create their own affirmations that hold personal meaning for them. An affirmation is a positive phrase that you repeat to yourself. Some women like [...]

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Rolla Area Groups for Mothers

Forming supportive networks with other women is something that is important to most women. These contacts are especially important for new mothers. Early motherhood can be a very isolated time. A time in which massive changes are occurring in your family, your personal life, your identity, your relationship, and so forth. Rolla has several support [...]

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The purpose of birth classes…

I’ve been reflecting on the purpose of my birth classes and I hope they offer:
Celebration
Motivation
Education
Inspiration
Initiation
Validation
Dedication
Exploration

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Mammal Birth

At the LLL of MO conference this month, I attended several wonderful sessions by Diane Wiessinger who makes the connection between giving birth on a woman’s own terms contributing to an easy breastfeeding relationship. She also emphasized the fact that we are mammals and just like other mammal mothers certain things contribute to or detract [...]

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Why prepare for birth?

A question was posed on another list recently: “what about the idea that women shouldn’t ‘prepare’ for but rather just experience birth?”
My response to this question is hard to articulate, but basically I would say that you can *experience* rather than *prepare* for birth if you are birthing on completely your own terms. If you [...]

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