State of Emergency

I have come to realize that I am a naturalist. I trust deeply in the design of Mother Nature- her beauty, her cleverness, her remarkable often miraculous ways.

This past winter, navigating the chaotic supermarkets and gas lines in anticipation of all the blizzards here on the east coast, I was reminded of how Mother Nature can also inspire great fear.

It is this fear that has gripped our birthing, both here in the US and worldwide. Fear of the unknowable, the uncontrollable.

Imagine if we lived each day as if we were anticipating a crippling blizzard… imagine how that would feel- the tension, the panic, the stress. Imagine how differently we would operate-

No doubt our days would be a lot less fun.

Yet too often, this is how our system treats birth- as an emergency waiting to happen.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge believer in being informed, feeling safe and supported.

I’ve also got deep gratitude for how far our medical system has come with its ability to save lives.

The problem I have is when the potential for a rare emergency overshadows the joy and the power inherent in the everyday experience.

Our system has manipulated birth so much that very few women even know what I am talking about when I mention the words “joy” and “power” in relation to birth, never mind the word “pleasure.”

All of that is possible, if we empower our birthing mamas rather than victimize them.

All of that is possible if we respect Mother Nature’s design and allow it to inform our birth prep, support, and environment.

We talk at length about what this would look like in the Ecstatic Birth Training Sessions.

We show you how you can create this sacred space for yourself or others regardless of where and how you choose to birth.

Now, just for fun, let’s take our analogy one step further…

Some argue that the extreme weather we are receiving is a direct result of us disrespecting the natural world.

Some also argue that our interference with the natural process of birth often causes complications in birth rather than alleviate them.

That is food for thought isn’t it?

Needless to say the vast majority of what Mother Nature serves up to us is nourishing and life affirming.

And much like with this week’s blizzard, our fear filled expectations are generally worse than the actual outcome.

So, let’s release our fears and hold a vision of childbirth as a glorious and empowering rite of passage.

Let’s trust and honor the natural process inherent in a birthing woman’s body and create our births with that in mind.

Ok?