Less is More in Birth

Birth is biologically designed to be undisturbed. It is designed to be a safe and normal event, that only *sometimes* needs medical support.

We do not need all the pain relief, all the bright lights, all the surgeons on stand by. We do not need to be told how to position our body, nor how to push. We do not need all the vaginal examinations, time pressures, or the long list of interventions on offer when we are birthing our babies.

When it comes to preparing for our birth, we would do well as women to step out of our analytical minds, and sink back into our primal birthing body. 

We would do well to step away from sterile, medicalised environments, and come back into reassuring, life-affirming spaces to birth our babies.

We would do well, to simplify it all down to the basics.

Things that you actually need for your birthing body to work optimally include:

• Quiet

• Darkness

• Warmth

• A familiar environment

• Feeling safe

• Feeling loved

When mammals in nature go to birth their babies, you will notice they always seek quiet, dark, undisturbed places. And that if there is a threat to their immediate safety, they will stall labour and go elsewhere to birth their babies. It is interesting to reflect upon this when we see birthing mothers so frequently experiencing stalled labour in hospital… maybe our wise, primal body simply does not feel safe in this medical environment?

When all the above needs are met, our mind and body are able to relax. This means that we are not in fight or flight mode, and so our beautiful birthing bodies know that they are safe to function normally as they are designed! 

When a mother’s nervous system is in its relaxed parasympathetic state, all her bodily functions will work with ease - blood flow to her birthing muscles will be optimal, and those muscles will be working healthily, instead of becoming contracted and painful. This is because her body is receiving signals that she is safe, therefore her baby is safe to be born.

When a mother is relaxed, she will also be able to benefit from the delicious love hormone oxytocin that brings balance and even bliss, into our birthing moments. Oxytocin inhibits pain-causing catecholamine hormones during labour - so it is natures perfectly designed pain relief - but only when the mother is in an environment that supports her production of oxytocin!

What makes you feel safe, respected and loved? When and where do you feel like you can fully relax your body, and open your heart? 

These are vitally important questions to consider when you are planning your birth. 

The less we interfere with birth, the better! Your body holds innate wisdom that has been responsible for growing your child since conception, and it will birth your child with the same magnificence and miraculousness if only allowed to do so.

In the birthing world, less is definitely more!

Ella xx