Before reading any further, take a moment to think
about
what makes you feel comfortable. What actions, ideas, people, or objects
help
you get through difficult moments? If something seems insurmountable,
what do
you turn to in order to feel better? Now think about this in terms of
childbirth (either yours in the past, a friend’s, or how you think yours
might
be in the future). What do you think might help you feel comfortable,
calm,
confident, and in control? Think of how this might change as labor
progresses;
are you open to change?
One last thing to consider, what do you think when
you hear
the term “natural birth”? Do you think this definition is limiting in
any way?
Jan Mallak, author of the brief piece that is the
subject of
this post, addresses why she sees the term “natural birth” as
potentially
limiting. Instead, she suggests a new term that allows for a wealth of
interpretation as women seek to find what works for them during the
birth of
their babies. While it is true that natural birth can mean different
things to
different women, such as not using drugs or having a vaginal delivery,
it seems
to demand a definition. To overcome this desire to define, Mallak
suggests we
instead think in terms of “birthing naturally”undefineddoing what comes natural
to us
(bodily, fiscally, comfortably, etc.) (Mallak, 2009). Whatever makes
birth come
naturally to you, seek that out to make the process your own and to help
you
weather the difficulties. Directly, Mallak encourages all women to do
the
following: “Create your own natural method
by combining your natural resources, natural flow and natural comforts. Finding the right blend of strategies that
works for
you is the key” (Mallak, 2009).
From this introduction, Mallak goes into these
three
categories she uses to explain “birthing naturally.” First, she goes
into natural
resources in order to make women
aware of
the bodily resources very much at their disposal during birth. For
example,
there are multiple pressure points (acupressure) that can be pressed to
distract from pain and alleviate the intensity of contractions (Mallak,
2009).
The opposite of pressure, there are also many body parts that when
massaged
have the same effectsundefineda simple hand massage can make contractions more
endurable if accompanied by relaxation that allows the release of
calming
hormones called endorphins (Mallak, 2009).
Second, Mallak urges every birthing woman to find
her
rhythm, for finding a rhythm allows for the harnessing of natural
flow (Mallak, 2009). Just as all
of the natural world seems
to have a rhythm that repeats itself over and over (like waves on the
beach and
the cycle of the seasons), so too a woman can find her natural rhythm,
and once
that is tapped into, calmness can be enjoyed in the midst of
difficulties
(Mallak, 2009). What is great about finding a rhythm and doing something
repetitive is that you can get lost in it, and if you relinquish some
control
to it, it can be extremely soothingundefinedMallak (2009) reminds us of how
rocking a
crying baby can calm it down.
The third component is figuring out what your natural
comforts are, and particularly,
what they
might be during labor. Be aware that your normal natural comforts may be
very
different from natural comforts during labor. For example, you may find a
blanket straight from the clothes dryer comfy under normal
circumstances, but
you might find it uncomfortably hot, cumbersome, or smothering during
labor. Be
open, and be variable. Use all of your senses to identify sources of
comfort:
your nose might like the smell of lavender, your eyes might like old
family
pictures, your ears might like certain music, your skin might like a
familiar
sweater, and your tongue might like the taste of cinnamon (Mallak,
2009).
Remember that what feels good one moment may not feel good the next, so
embrace
change throughout birth!
All of these, natural resources, natural flow, and natural comforts, can help you establish your personal natural
method
of birthing. In your own natural
method, there are no limits imposed on you with strict definitions,
which opens
you up for a personalized, empowering, and even potentially feel-good
experience. I want to close with something that Mallak (2009) mentions
occasionally throughout this short piece, but deserves more of an
underscoreundefinedyou can have anybody you want with you to help you find and
reside
in your natural method on this special day. So if massaging your own
hands,
finding pressure points, and getting that warm blanket for yourself
sounds like
too much to handle on your own, no worries, for others can assist you
every
step of the way.
Take a moment now and revisit the questions from
the
beginning of this post. Are you more open to experiencing a range of
comfort
during childbirth? Who do you want to be there to help you? And most
relevant
to the larger idea of this post, what do you think of the two terms
“natural
birth” and “birthing naturally”? Does one sound more appealing to you
than the
other? If so, go with it and begin crafting that special day by tapping
into
your natural resources, flow, and comforts.
There are as many ways to birth as there are woman,
so find
what works for you.
Reference:
Mallak, J. (2009, September). Natural Birth vs.
Birthing
Naturally.
International
Journal of Childbirth Education, 24(3), 35-36,38.
Retrieved February 17, 2010, from ProQuest
Nursing & Allied
Health
Source. (Document ID: 1887455361).