Thank you so much to all that responded to my query. It's been very helpful and I look foward to following up the books that have been recommended.
Tania ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carolyn Hastie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 4:40 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Labour and Birth - the 4 P's ???? > 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. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
