Some time ago I was talking to a mother whose birth hadn’t gone as planned. She said that she knew that she needed a cesarean, but that she also knew she had missed out on a “very cool experience in life.” I think it is definitely possible to accept the need for a cesarean, while [...]
Archive for the ‘birth experiences’ Category
When birth doesn’t go as planned…
Posted in Birth Thoughts, birth, birth experiences, mothers, natural birth, quotes, tagged birth, birth poems, childbirth, giving birth, motherhood on July 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Birth Wisdom: Your Inner Voices
Posted in Birth Thoughts, birth experiences, giving birth, tagged birth, birth wisdom, birth wisdom week, giving birth, international birth wisdom week on May 12, 2009 | 2 Comments »
It is International Birth Wisdom Week and I want to share something from The Pink Kit aboutĀ inner voices during labor. The book says that many women have two voices present during labor–one is a supportive, “managing” voice and the other is a “negative” voice. The first voice gives guidance, makes suggestions, tells you what [...]
Personality and Birth
Posted in Birth Thoughts, birth, birth classes, birth education, birth experiences, mothers, natural birth, normal birth, tagged birrh classes, birth, childbirth education, giving birth, personality on May 6, 2009 | 1 Comment »
From Sheila Kitzinger’s book The Experience of Childbirth:
In a normal, straightforward labour a woman’s attitude of mind, her approach to the task that awaits her, and her preconceptions concerning the nature of the work that her body has to do, are more important than any sort of physical preparation she can make in advance. Whatever [...]
Thoughts about Pushing
Posted in Birth Thoughts, birth, birth experiences, giving birth, natural birth, tagged birth, childbirth, giving birth, labor, pushing on April 29, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Also from Fathers at Birth, some quotes about pushing:
Powerful, authoritative, and wise energies assist in releasing the baby from the womb. Go with them.
Many women experience the work of pushing and the sensations of the internal movement of the baby as it moves and rotates through the birth canal as intensely gratifying. But some women [...]
Births & Marathons
Posted in Birth Thoughts, birth, birth classes, birth education, birth experiences, giving birth, tagged birth, birth classes, childbirth classes, childbirth education, giving birth on April 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
A parallel is often drawn between giving birth and running a marathon. There was a great article called “The Gift of Leaping” in the most recent issue of the International Journal of Childbirth Education (available to download as a pdf here) that was based on this theme.
In it, the author discusses how in both experiences [...]
Perceptions of Pain
Posted in Birth Thoughts, birth, birth experiences, giving birth, tagged birth, birth classes, birth experiences, childbirth classes, giving birth on April 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Some time ago I wrote several posts about pain in labor, one of which addressed needing more words for pain. In the book Birthwork, there is an interesting list of possible perceptions of pain in labor:
–‘Satisfying pain‘–enjoyable labour
–’Positive pain’–it is birthing the baby
–‘Constructive pain’–it is doing a good job
–‘Functional pain’–acceptance of the process
–‘Okay pain’–it hurts [...]
Just Relax?
Posted in Birth Thoughts, Neat stuff, Tools, birth, birth education, birth experiences, giving birth, labor support, mothers, tagged birth, birth classes, childbirth, giving birth, labor support on April 17, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Most approaches to birth preparation emphasize “relaxation” and being able to “relax” during contractions. Some people have noted that the word “relax” isn’t very descriptive to women in labor–or, it can irritate them (”Just relax?!”) while at the same time not really giving them anything specificĀ to work with. I recently finished a really incredible [...]
Birth as a Rite of Passage
Posted in Birth Thoughts, birth, birth education, birth experiences, giving birth, tagged birth, childbirth education, giving birth, birth preparation on April 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Part of my philosophy of birth is that it is a significant rite of passage for women, men, and families, not a medical event, emergency, or health crisis. I recently finished working through The Pink Kit and the little book that came with it had some thoughts to share on this subject in the “final [...]
Pain, Power, & Accomplishment
Posted in Birth Thoughts, active birth, birth, birth education, birth experiences, giving birth, mothers, natural birth, tagged birth, birth classes, childbirth, childbirth education, giving birth on March 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I love this section from Giving Birth with Confidence (Lamaze). It explores the role of pain in labor and its relationship to personal power and accomplishment:
The pain of labor, like most pain, is protective. Responding to pain with movement, including walking, rocking, and position changes, not only helps the baby rotate and descend through the [...]
