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Having an understanding of the hormones at work in
labour can also lead one to quietly support women in labour as well as for them
to be quiet in labour!
For example oxytocin comes from our midbrain or
deep primitive brain as Michel Odent refers to the pituitary galnd and related
organs. Its flow is continued with the feedback mechanism of the descenting part
pressing on and stretching the cervix! Hence the significance of upright
postures.
However it can be interupted or stopped
with the Release of adrenaline, our flight or Fight hormone, so fears need
to be faced/ released as well as the need for a woman to feel
safe and supported, one of the things that is best done when the woman has a
personal relationship of mutual trust and knowing with her
care-giver!
As well once in labour there is need for
the reduction of external stimuli which can distract or raise concerns and
hence interfere with the dominance and flow of this inate part of the
brain rather than the cerebral cortex or thinking part of the brain. Hence many
women like other animals labour and birth more easily in low light and
noise,
which is more often the atmosphere at
home.
Thus I think the inclusion of TV and
crowds of strangers in labour places or rooms not belonging to the woman shows
ignorance of the process and probably increases or ignorantly confirms
the reliance on epidurals etc. As these women are kept from or brought out
of their deep primitive states their powerful inate pain relieveing
Endorphins can also not kick in or increase.
It is watching for and supporting of these which
you learn most about in homebirth.
As a homebirth midwife you also learn that
relying on and doing things such as Vaginal examintions, and other observations
or looking for signs or symptoms of problems can be a cause of problems as
they disturb this deep primitive pattern of labour rather than supporting
it!!
Sheila Kittsinger and other talk of the Dance of
Labour.
Sadly not often seen or learnt in hospital birth
which is based on super-imposed medical fears and management ideas of labour
which in turn becomes situations women need and seek rescuing
from!!
Women in effective labour sometimes make noises but
as some of you have said most often it is deep gutteral noises, again something
some people do not like or something that can not be done when we have support
people who feel they need to be involved and knowing at every contraction
.
When the noises are high pitched like in other
situations it is often out of control pain or fear which requires the
midwife to help the woman deal with, as there can also be loss of energy from
the birthing. Sometimes you can help her come back to where the baby is
and by changing her noises back to those deep gutteral noises!
Anyway when these noises are combined with other
behaviours of the dance of Labour, it is a mystic, unknown journey that
the woman and baby take their support people on rather than predetermined
sequence of events!!
This is a large part of what I feel OUR
women, midwives and community are missing out on the wonderous nature of birth
rahter we are lost in the fear of birth and can not see that the fear is
contributing to the horrific births we see that women and others need rescuing
from with epidurals etc.
Denise
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2004 4:43
PM
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] quiet
birth
Hi all,
One of my brothers and his wife were/are heavily into
Scientology and had homebirths with their 2 children in Sydney 17 and 13 years
ago. Most of their friends (also Scientologists) also had homebirths. I'm very
thankful to them because this was my introduction to homebirth, before then I
had no idea that it was even possible - I was 16.
I believe that the reason behind not talking nor making
noise in labour and during birth for Scientologists is more than going inward
and focusing.
They believe that when one is in a state of pain, part of
the brain is open and registers words, noises etc etc. This causes what they
call an 'engram'. This means that whenever those words or noises are said
again in the future, it will automatically transport the person back to the
state of pain that they were in when those words or noises were uttered and
can stiffle them as people and put them in a state of fear (pretty 'out there'
I know, but each to their own).
So the mother tries not to make noise or say words so
that the baby, who is undoubtedly in some pain, will not get an "engram' from
the birth experience and will be more able to live to their full
potential.
Interesting stuff - these women would probably be perfect
candidates for hypnobirthing!
Regards
Jo Hunter
Hi Nicole:
A lot of our homebirth clients in California were
Scientologists. I am NOT one myself. I do not remember them being particularly
quiet or noisy in birth, just quite determined to get on with it, and not
particularly open to hospital transfer which was ok since all of the births I
attended with these families were delightfully normal. All of the recent
clients were also enthusiastic breastfeeders which apparently wasn't true
about 20 years ago. My California mentor had initially built her homebirth
practice with Scientologist families and was most disturbed by their practice
of not breastfeeding but feeding some barley water based formula concocted by
L. Ron Hubbard (the leader). In any case they seem to have changed that
practice in the last few years at least in my experience.
It is my experience that some devout women of
various faiths: Muslim, Jewish, Christian, may be particularly quiet in labour
as they pray during contractions: closing their eyes and going deep within
themselves. This is particularly so with some such women when their husbands
are not present beside them but instead praying in an adjoining room. I have
found it very important to respect this sacred space for these women and allow
the room for them to go deep inside themselves. They do not focus without but
instead focus within. This was brought to my attention by a powerful Muslim
woman about 10 years ago now, who I was trying (oh so erroneously) to help
focus...outside herself during contractions, who said so firmly to me "could
you please be quiet when I am contracting, I neeed to focus inside to pray".
shut me up in a hurry. This works so well for some women. Personally, I
had to make noise, from 8cm until the birth, deep gutteral noise and I
encourage this in women if it seems appropriate, it is jusy a hugely personal
thing.
marilyn
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 8:46
PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] quiet
birth
I have just finished reading an article in the
Women's Weekly on ' Kate Cebrano's quiet birth'.....which describes her
belief re. labour & birth, which they tie to her
Scientology,
that labour and birth be a gentle, peaceful,
quiet experience.... my first thoughts were quite positive... yet, I wonder
when she states "but you don't want to scream out to that effect at all" and
"screaming and yelling might be your primary urge, and completely natural,
but what your'e trying to avoid is any suggestion that there's trouble at
hand".
Does this mean moaning and growling
too???
Overall, I think the article is positive in the
fact that it highlights natural birth.... but just wonder what others think
- regarding her belief on women holding back from being noisy ??
I don't think that being quiet whilst in labour
is a bad thing if mother decides this at time of labour.... but wonder about
pre-conceived ideals PRIOR to labour... which prevent her from groaning etc
if she would normally feel comfortable in doing so.
look forward to your thoughts...
cheers,
Nicole
ps. I quite like Kate Cebrano - so I'm not anti
her... AND I was quiet during the birth of my first baby - BUT this was
after a noisy 24 hour labour.... 4 hours of pushing.... and really due to
complete exhaustion.....(and wasn't a premeditated thing).
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