I don’t mean to push anyone, especially since humanity seems to be in a big transition collectively. Transition is the time not to push, but to open. Transition is the time for allowing, for surrendering control, and for trusting the unfolding of life. Transition can be a flowing with nature as movement occurs from one stage to another.

Sometimes transition seems chaotic, confusing, and loud with a seemingly ceaseless waving and swaying. During winds of change we can ride these waves like a surfer knowing the waves naturally disappear and reappear. We can trust that calm eventually comes and we rest and enjoy sunshine. Birthing a baby is a transition from one state of being to another. It can be gentle, naturally pain free, simple and even sacred. Peaceful birthing brings peaceful future humans who then bring more peacefulness to the world. Is that happening? Read on.

The national rate for Caesarean sections (C-section) rose to 29% in 2004. That’s major abdominal surgery! Women can now choose the surgical removal of the baby instead of allowing the baby, who knows how to be born, to birth in harmony with nature. In the past a C-section could only be done if the mother or baby’s life was in danger. Yes, there are unforeseen and difficult circumstances that could necessitate surgery, but it ought to be the last resort. Some women appear to be unaware of the higher risks or the fact that the baby has a need to transition through the birth canal. Maybe they hear too many negative birth stories and don’t believe that birth discomfort can be naturally transcended without medical intervention such as drugs.

Some of us who worked in the ‘70’s for such things as to having hospitals allow fathers in the delivery room and who spoke out about birth being normal and not a medical event to be controlled, manipulated, and drugged, are dismayed about the current situation. As Deb Johnson, R.N., and long time labor and delivery nurse, Northfield, said, “Things won’t change at hospitals until patients ask for what they need and want.”

I asked Rose Ann Steenhoek, long-time teacher, Northfield, MN, what she thought about all the unnecessary medical interventions being done during childbirth. She responded. “It is interesting that you ask me about this, because I had no idea this was occurring until very recently.  A sister of a friend of mine, who has lived in Japan for a few years doing research, had a baby recently.  When choosing between Japan and the U.S. for birthing, she decided on Japan because the number of C sections in the U.S. was so high.  I was shocked.  I had no idea this was occurring.  I felt like all that work that our generation did is lost.  My personal opinion is that it is about convenience and for some reason a lack of critical thinking and questioning. Sometimes I get so discouraged.  The only thing that helps is to think of ways to not identify with the madness and brainstorm ideas to form a community that is life affirming, joyful, that connects us and sustains that which is good.”
Barbara Fess, Madison, WI, has attended births and had her baby at home. She has thirty years of Montessori teaching under her wing. Offering her opinion about current birthing trends, she said, “It's a subject that stokes my coals.  I believe there are some articles on the necessity/benefits of the baby going through the birth canal and with less risk of infection, which far outweigh a c-section on demand.”

Yet, there are hopeful signs of a new wave of change. Some women are forming support groups in the larger cities to change this birthing scene. They become empowered through discussion to make healthy choices for the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of baby and themselves. These are women who are tuning into themselves knowing their “body knows how”. Some of the healthier choices are: refusing anti-depressants (A new warning came out this past week about the risk of harm from taking anti-depressants while pregnant.), eating nutritionally healthy foods, avoiding smoking and drinking, and understanding that the baby is listening to everything that is happening in its inner and outer environment. See www.birthpsychology.org.

In Barbara Harper’s Gentle Birthing, Dr. Michael Rosenthal, M.D., says he advocates for communities to have a centrally located birthing center outside of the hospital setting where women can come together for support, for birthing, and education.

The Madison Birth Center, Madison WI, is such a place. It is a free standing accredited facility with certified nurse midwives, doulas, and support staff. “Madison Birth Center is proud of our very low cesarean rates, and we remain committed to helping women avoid unnecessary surgery. With a cesarean section rate of just 3.2% last year, we believe we are making a difference in Madison!”

Also, see American College of Nurse Midwives.

Dr. Lorne Campbell, NY State, says, “We have the lowest C-section and Epidural rates in the state (2002) and are shooting to improve this. Many hospitals are adopting HypnoBirthing as an option. They have seen the success of a true HypnoBirth. Here it will be our only option for childbirth education.”

HypnoBirthing is a method of childbirth education with the philosophy of viewing birthing as normal. Learning to have a calm birth empowers a woman and her birthing companion and is non-invasive. Each pregnancy is viewed as unique with the knowledge that the baby is an aware and intelligent being. What is different from other methods is that it employs advanced law of mind techniques.

Hypnotherapy in general helps a person to untangle, release, and clear negative energy and memories from the bodymind. With HypnoBirthing imagery and self-hypnosis are taught along with fresh and positive language. An example of this language is: instead of push it’s breathing the baby down. And, if a baby is breech, a breech turn hypnosis session is given and the baby usually turns into correct positioning within a day.

Knowledge is imparted about the origin of the fear-tension-pain syndrome that interferes with oxygen flow and muscle activity. Knowing this, a woman learns to flood her body with endorphins, the “feel-good” molecules of emotion. It is in the experiencing at the bodymind level where the learning occurs. The birthing companion learns how to lead the birthing mother in labor. All these relaxation and imagery skills can be applied throughout life to situations beyond birthing.

Jen and Tim O’Connor of Owatonna had a HypnoBirthing baby, their first, at the Owatonna Hospital in April. Jen’s labor was a true HypnoBirth with her labor shorter than normal, her discomfort transcended with imagery and hypnosis and her baby born gently, and awake and alert.

Jen’s physician was out of town so the attending physician was on-call from Mayo, Dr. Jamie Bakkum. Jen told me the doctor was surprised at how calm and easy things were for Jen. Jen said the doctor asked, “What are you doing?” Jen said she was HypnoBirthing and later told me, “The birth breathing and the visualization technique of the rose was an effective way to help with the delivery process.  The time distortion technique was also very effective at managing the contractions and delivering the baby.” This philosophy of birthing in harmony with baby, body, and nature is presented in a twelve hour education series.

Birthing with intent, with consciousness, with eyes wide open in a positive, calm, harmonious, and loving atmosphere brings about quieter, more wide awake, more loving people. I hope you will join in supporting women and our future citizens in gaining positive knowledge about their abilities to birth well and to ask for calm birthing.

Other supportive people:
Sarah Stewart, R.N., midwife, www.integratedhealingarts.com and
Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom.