Empowering Women Through Birth

My husband and doula were by my side,

and the warm water surrounded my entire body.
With my head resting on a pillow, the smell of
lavender relaxed every muscle and eased the pain
of the contractions as my midwife rubbed it on my
forehead. The rest of the world was a blur the
only thing I could focus on was my body and my
baby. I have never felt so empowered and so
supported in my life. As I worked my way through
each contraction I became more and more aware
of my body. My bond with my baby was
strengthened as we worked together to bring him
into this world. My love for a supportive husband grew deeper. My gratitude and respect for my body
increased. Experiencing every moment was hard, but it was the most amazingly beautiful experience I
have had. I was left changed forever. I had grown a connection to the many laboring mothers before
me and the many to come after me. My experience was
beautiful; why during my pregnancy were people so
negative about my plan to keep my birth experience as
natural as possible?
The idea that natural childbirth is unsafe is a
relatively new one. In 1927, 85% of all births in the
United States took place at home. Move ahead to the
1950s and 55% of births still occurred at home, but by
1971 91% of births were happening in a hospital.
(England Ch. 19) In 2012, only 1.36% of births were
home births. Studies have not found that healthy
women with normal pregnancies benefit from hospital obstetric care, however a growing body of
research shows the danger of interfering without a valid reason in the natural process of pregnancy and
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birth. Any intervention has shown to disrupt the normal hormone release and create problems that
have to be managed with more interventions. (DeVries Ch1) During labor and birth there are four major
hormonal systems that are active. These hormones have been found essential for birth to proceed
optimally. This is the genetic and hormonal blueprint of a woman. Giving birth in ecstasy: this is our
birthright and our bodys intent. Mother Nature in her wisdom, prescribes birthing hormones that take
us outside our usual state so that we can be transformed on every level as we enter motherhood.
(Buckley)
When you are pregnant it feels like everyone pays extra attention to you. They want to touch
your belly and give you all of their opinions and advice. I delivered an almost 10 pound little boy who
was born 2 weeks past his due date. I carried my pregnancy all in my belly and people constantly talked
about how huge my baby must be, or would joke that maybe it was actually twins. For a pregnant
mother these comments are not amusing. These comments always lead to their opinions and
suggestions that I needed to be induced and needed to have an epidural to survive the terrible
experiencing awaiting me. Again, not something an expectant mother wants to hear. I would kindly tell
them that I was planning a natural
childbirth, and that included allowing the
baby to come on his own time unless there
was a medical reason to induce. I felt
judged and could see the eyes rolling behind
my back. As I look back I feel frustrated that
almost every response I received when
others found out that I was planning a
natural birth was that I was crazy or that I
wouldnt be able to do it. They also
thought that hiring a midwife and not
having a Doctor there for the delivery was
dangerous and irresponsible. Why was this the response given to a first time mom who wanted the
full experience of labor? Why is everything about childbirth so negative? Why do we not support and
empower our mothers? My life has forever been changed by this experience, but if I had listened to all
the opinions around me I could have missed out on something so wonderful. Instead of becoming
fearful of all that was awaiting me or from the negative opinions of others I decided to become
educated. Becoming educated is empowering. You take your life back into your own hands and are able
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to use such education for the betterment of your life. With that education you can then make the best
decision for you not for anyone else.
As I researched during my pregnancy I found that everything I thought I knew about birth was
wrong. Just as most people I always thought that birth outside of a hospital was crazy. I never
understood why a woman would ever risk the life of her child that way. But what I didnt understand
was how ignorant I was. In our society women are told throughout their lives that doctors, hospitals and
technology make birth safer for the mother and baby. However what we dont tell women is that the
more we interfere with the natural process the less safe it is for mothers and babies.
Despite all of the interventions and medical technologies in the U.S. there are 42 other countries
that have lower maternal and infant mortality rates than the U.S. The countries with the lowest death
rates for mothers and infants still rely on midwives for primary care. Doctors are trained to diagnose
and treat complications and disease in pregnancy and childbirth. They are trained to expect trouble and
to manage pregnancy and childbirth. We are lucky to have doctors so experienced in these areas for
when complications do arise. What we miss with having doctors for all normal healthy pregnancies and
deliveries is a healthcare provider who is trained to understand the natural process of pregnancy and
birth. (DeVries Ch1) Most people today view childbirth as a medical event fraught with danger. This
fear leads the way in most womens choices regarding pregnancy. I wonder what would happen if our
mothers used education instead of fear to make their decisions?
When I found out I was expecting I
could not get my hands on enough
information. I loved reading and learning. I
read many books and websites, and I talked to
other women and healthcare professionals.
From the knowledge I began to develop, my
opinions on pregnancy and birth began to
change from what I thought was just the way
it was to my experience could be what I
made of it. I learned more about my body
and how powerful it is. I also learned about
how essential the hormones released during
natural birth were to the emotional and physical health of both mother and baby. How a woman births
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will affect her life, regardless if she thinks it will or not. Birth is an event you will never forget, it is an
event she will remember decades later. A mothers birth experience can affect her self-esteem and
confidence throughout her life. With a little preparation, a woman can ensure that her experience is a
positive one which will have long term benefits for the rest of her life.
There are 3 main preparations that I attribute to having a wonderful birth experience. The first
is education. By educating myself I gained an understanding of my body and the amazing power it had
to grow and deliver another human life. I was able to learn of the natural process of birth. I learned
about routine medical interventions that happen in hospital births and what common practices were
among doctors and hospitals. From this information I was able to study about each intervention and
why Doctors used them. I learned that most interventions are completely unnecessary and are more for
the convenience of Doctors and hospital staff then they are for the benefit of the mother and baby.
There is a need for these different interventions during certain deliveries, and we are lucky to live in a
time to have them, but when they are used routinely instead of for specific needs then they actually
become more dangerous for the mother and child. By educating myself I was able to come up with my
own birth plan and what was important to my husband and me.
The second thing that I attribute having a successful birth is who I chose as my care provider. I
looked into the difference between doctors and midwives and I decided that I would prefer to have a
midwife. I then interviewed different midwives to decide which one we felt the most comfortable with
and confident in. I chose to have a midwife because I felt the care was more personalized. I also
wanted my healthcare provider to be present during my whole labor and birth and to not just come in
when it was time to deliver the baby. As I mentioned before, my midwife was not only the one
delivering my baby, she was there by my side the whole time helping me through the hard work of labor
and birth. She was patient with me. She sat back quietly and respectfully trusting my body to do the
work needed to deliver my son safely. When it came time to push again she waited for my body to tell
me when it was time to push.
The third thing that I attribute to a successful birth is hiring a doula. Until I became pregnant I
had never heard of a doula. To be honest I am not sure how I even learned about a doula. But
somewhere in all my research I learned about how much more successful birth was when a doula was
present. So again I started calling and interviewing different doulas. The moment I fist talked with
Carrie I knew that she was the one I want there to help me through this experience. Most people
wonder what on earth is a doula?! A doula is a trained professional specialized is pregnancy and child
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birth and provides continuous emotional

and physical support for women in labor
and the postpartum period. The word
doula comes from the Greek meaning of
woman who serves or handmaiden. In
a way a doula mothers the mother.
Doulas do not provide any medical
services, but are trained in various
techniques in helping women be more
comfortable during labor. They help make
the pains of labor bearable for the woman
and the womans partner. Studies have
shown that doulas can reduce the risk of
complications during labor and can
increase the mothers satisfaction. Women who have doulas present during labor have a 31% reduction
in the use of Pitocin, 28% reduction in the risk in C-sections, 14% decrease in babies needing to be
admitted to a special care nursery and a 34% decrease in a mother being dissatisfied with her birth.
(Simpkin) In every culture throughout time women have been supported by other women during
childbirth. The quality of emotional care a mother receives during her labor and delivery can greatly
weaken or strengthen the emotional bond between mother and child.
People often ask me what my doula did during my birth. I always think quietly to myself what
didnt she do? I dont recall her being my cheerleader cheering me on through contractions, although I
know in her heart and mind she was. What I do remember is her intuition of knowing when I was having
a contraction and needed her labor support without me saying a word. I remember her holding the
straw to my mouth so I could drink when I was too tired and thirsty to ask for water. I remember
looking into her eyes when I felt that I couldnt do it anymore and what I saw back was someone who
believed in me and was proud of the work that I was doing. There was a connection between mothers.
She had walked this path with each of her children and now she was helping me on my journey.
Remember why you are doing this This is one of the only things I remember actually hearing
from my doula. For me there was something so empowering about that sentence. I was able to
remember all of the reasons I had chosen a natural childbirth. I knew that what I was doing was safer
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for my son and better for me. I was able to think of my son and imagine him working with me to be
born. I was able to remember that I was safe and that I could do this.
Women have delivered children for thousands of years without the routine medical
interventions that happen in most births today. I wanted to trust my body and have the full experience
nature intended a woman and babies to have. I wanted to use my education and faith to accomplish
what most others told me I couldnt. I was able to have the beautiful birth experience I was preparing
for. From this experience my life has changed.

References
The Birth Partner A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor
Companions By Penny Simkin
Simkin, P. (2008). Moving Through the Stages of Labor. In The Birth Partner (Third ed., p. 398).
Boston.

Birthing From Within By Pam England and Rob Horowitz

Englad, P., & Horowitz, R. (1998). Birthing From Within (p. 309). New Mexico.

The Official Lamaze Guide By Judith Lothian and Charlotte DeVries

Lothian, J., & DeVries, C. (2005). The Official Lamaze Guide (p. 229). New York: Meadowbrook.

Simkin, P. (2012, January 1). The Birth Doulas Contrition to Modern Maternity Care. Retrieved from
www.DONA.org

Buckley, S. (2010, January 1). Nature's Hormonal Blueprint for Labor. Retrieved from
www.sarahbuckley.com