Hello all, I vividly remember warning our elderly neighbours about the imminent home birth of our first child. They said 'make all the noise you like' and I did. Birthing my second babe on a hot summers day, i knelt in the birth pool and hung my sweaty head out the window in an attempt to catch some breeze. The next day our neighbour walked her dog past and told me 'I heard you having your baby yesterday, it was so exciting!!' I was just as noisy with number three and four, and simply can't imagine for myself feeling inhibited by the echo and resonance of my body during labour. I'm sure the cow noises opened that cervix up a treat! As a student I have since birthed with many women who felt compelled to remain silent during labour, not all of them because they wanted to, but because they needed to be 'good girls'. I have also birthed with a woman who ordered me to make the noise too, the look on the shift coordinator's face when she poked her head in the door to find a student midwife kneeling on the floor, rocking her hips and roaring like a lion was a sight to behold I can tell you. Every woman is different but I so wish all birthing women could feel open to the sounds of their birthing power. For midwives those sounds offer a 'labour assessment tool' far less invasive and often more accurate than any VE. Bring on the Bellows!!!! Regards, Miriam (2nd year Bmid FUSA)
--- Belinda <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > one thing that is coming out of literature which > asks women about their > fears is that women significantly worry about how > they will act in > labour. A huge Italian study found that it is one of > the highest rated > fears women have. In my study it is certainly a > reason that women use > drugs or epidural, or find relief in that they stop > "behaving badly" > once the drugs shut them up/enable compliance. A > huge part of womens > reflections of labour iis embarresssment in how they > "behaved". I think > this is important to address because the idea of > being quiet, compliant, > neat, tidy as in NOT messy, leaky noisy sweaty - > really drives womens > fears and the choices they then make for labour. It > is a great shame > that women have particular expectations of their > behavior that is in no > way reassuring, okay, normal, wonderful, strong and > vital to birth. > Belinda > > Luke M Priddis wrote: > > > Hi all, > > > > I'm a 1st year student midwife in NSW, i have > asked a few questions on > > here before! I'm doing a group presentation with a > creative arts > > element on the sounds women make during labour and > birth - eg, how it > > can be beneficial, how some women don't make any > noise (like myself!), > > and what society/media find or portray as being > acceptable. > > > > Has anyone come across any research on this, read > any good articles? > > > > Thanks for any help you may have, I find this > group a fantastic point > > of information and inspiration : ) > > > > Holly (mum of four) > > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe > or unsubscribe. > ____________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos: Now with unlimited storage http://au.photos.yahoo.com -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
