What a fantastic journey to undertake Tania. I find it interesting how you have been asked to consider these aspects using the multifocal framework of anatomy, physiology, psychology, sociology and midwifery care. It's also interesting that you are STUCK as many women are in our society as we have sought to be reductionist and assembly line about this exquisite, sexual, holistic, organic, dynamic, transformatitive dance/process of birth :-)
Some references to assist you (and I'm sure others will have other ideas too) Derek Llewellyn Jones " Fundamentals of Obstetrics and Gynaecology" (an oldie but a goodie for the physical aspects) has a lovely run down on the " Powers, passenger and passage". I'm sure you will find it in the Uni medical library. I have always found the drawings in this particular book very helpful (just need to turn the page around to imagine the woman upright! and of course the parts are without " the woman" . The other hilarious, but sobering thing about this book and many from that era is the language and the fact that women's bits are represented from a male anatomical point of view. What do I mean by that? well, the lower segment of the uterus in the older versions are said to be "poorly endowed with muscular fibres..." er...compared to what? And of course, that the lower segment of the uterus has exactly the right kind of muscle fibres to do the job it is meant to do completely escaped the good Derek (and others of his ilk). But you can see how that kind of language has led/reinforced and encouraged the view that women's bodies are inherently defective. Psychological Processes of Childbearing by Joan Raphael-Leff; Mind over Labour by Carl Jones, Birthing Normally by Gayle Peterson, Women's bodies women's wisdom by Dr Christianne Northrup and of course Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin are all very useful resources for the Psyche :-) There are so many more, the Birthing from Within book by Pam England etc and Transformation through Birth by Claudia Panuthos are excellent. These books all demonstrate that what affects the inner experience/event of labour affects the physiology. Childbirth without fear by Grantley Dick Read is a fantastic read and he set the stage for the understandings that have since been proliferating about the fear tension pain syndrome. Dr Candace Pert wrote Molecules of emotion and that is wonderful for understanding more and validating Dick Read's theory. Dr Sarah Buckley did a great article in ByronChild about the endocrinology of childbirth in an article called " Giving Birth: the endocrinology of ecstasy". And of course Michel ODent has written extensively about oxytocin, the love hormone. The article " Maternal confidence in coping with labor" by Nancy K Lowe in JOGN Nov/Dec 1991 discussses how confidence in one's ability to cope with labour is critical in the perception of pain during labour. For further thinking, the Relaxation response by Dr Herbert Benson demonstrates how thinking relaxing thoughts produces changes in the electrical activity of the brain. We know that accessing slower brain waves, and enabling the impulses from the primitive brain area to take over is what is needed for women to labour and birth well. and then there is the environment.... what we do as midwives/health services etc Niles Newton in Maternal emotions demonstrated that disturbances in the environment had significant effects on birthing, noting that the release of oxytocin is easily conditioned and inhibited by outside stimuli. We now know that oxytocin, relaxin and endorphins are part of the relaxation response and are bonding hormones. Catecholamines, adrenalis, cortisols are part of the fear fight/flight/freeze response and are a separate and overtaking pathway when the person feels or senses a threat, so labour is stopped, blood is sent to essential organs and arms and legs for a quick response, the uterus is not considered essential in this instance and blood is diverted away....leading to fetal distress....etc So the woman is subject to influences from her inner and outer environment.... What a great topic. I've had fun thinking about all this. There are lots more interesting books, articles and information, but I'm sure others can suggest a lot too. warmly, Carolyn Carolyn Hastie Midwifery Educator John Hunter Hospital Locked Bag No 1 Newcastle Mail Exchange 2310 Australia Phone 02 49214462 Mobile 0418 428 430 Paging ring JHH 4921 3000, page # 5528 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] " Good motto to live by: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand and strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WHOO HOO - What a Ride". Author unknown -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
