The Extraordinary Magic of Birthing
It’s time for the world to acknowledge that the birth experience itself is equally as important as birthing a healthy baby.
As a mother of two, former Lactation Consultant, Doula and Childbirth Educator, my philosophy is to give an expectant mother all the information and support possible to empower her to make her own choices, whether that is natural birth, epidural or even a planned cesarean.
I still remember feeling dumbfounded in the first classes I took almost ten years ago. Why would anyone actually choose to have a natural birth? It never occurred to me that there could be something more about the experience. But the more I learned, read, attended birth conferences, and watched positive videos of women in labor (such as home births or the famous “Orgasmic Birth” or Rikki Lake’s documentary “The Business of Being Born,” the more I began to see things in a different light.
I realized it wasn’t new information I needed to acquire as much as forgetting all the negative messages I’d been receiving since I was a little girl. Becoming pregnant with my first son Max coincided with teaching childbirth education at my local hospital and attending births.
Slowly, the feelings of fear and anxiety were replaced with anticipation, confidence and immense curiosity. I began to see birth as offering access to an exciting spiritual journey; one that is accessed when you see yourself meeting and overcoming your “edge” time and again, pushing forward when you don’t think you can anymore. Trusting your body’s inner wisdom. Trusting your partner and doctor/midwife to help guide you... Meeting your baby for the very first time.
And now dear reader, I must ask you: WHAT IF you thought of childbirth as a romantic, intimate experience that has the potential to bring you and your partner closer than ever?
Or as a profound opportunity to explore unchartered spiritual and emotional depths within yourself? Imagine you are going on your honeymoon. You can travel there in coach or first class. !e drive over can be smooth or bumpy. Eventually you get where you want to go, but the journey is a HUGE part of the experience. It’s the same with childbirth. Why not give yourself a first class birth experience? Set the scene: soft lights, warm bubble bath, scented candles lit around the bedroom, soft music playing in the background and dim lights... Yes! The same conditions that lead to a beautiful and romantic evening (what got the baby in) are the ideal conditions to give birth (help the baby out)
This cocoon-like setting, along with techniques like aromatherapy, sounding and a supportive birth partner, offers the opportunity to enter the meditative, non-thinking portion of the brain. Accessing this “primitive” part of the brain is what allows mom to fully surrender to the birth process.
- ilona brown, LA Motherhood Co-Founder