A definition I like is one from midwife and author, Penfield Chester:
“The holistic model holds that birth is a normal, woman-centered process in which mind and body are one and that, in the vast majority of cases, nature is sufficient to create a healthy pregnancy and birth.”
My certifying organization, ALACE, uses the word holistic to mean a childbirth educator who incorporates psychological aspects and mind-body integration into their classes.
One of the single session classes I offer is specifically about Active Birth. I received a question asking what I mean by active birth. Active birth is an approach to birth that emphasizes movement and the use of gravity to help during labor and birth. It is a way of “describing normal labor and birth and the way a woman behaves when she is following her own instincts and the physiological logic of her body. It is a way of saying that she herself controls her body while giving birth, rather than being the passive recipient of a birth that is managed by her attendant.” I incorporate some of the ideas into any class I teach, because I feel like it is an essential component of preparation for birth.
The term active birth was coined by Janet Balaskas, the author of the classic birth book Active Birth and the founder of the Active Birth Centre in London. She specifies that active birth is “nothing new,” but is instead a term for describing normal woman-directed labor and birth.
Active birth is in direct contrast to “active management” of labor.
A concept I find useful to share in birth classes is that of Rhythm, Relaxation, and Ritual–the Three R’s of Childbirth. This is a concept developed by Penny Simkin and is illustrated in her labor support video by the same name. Ritual refers to a repetitive coping mechanism that spontaneously arises during labor–it usually is rhythmic and may be something like humming, singing, repeating a favorite phrase, tapping, vocalizing, rocking, swaying. You can think about and plan for possible labor rituals in advance, but the ritual that is most useful to you is often one that just arises on its own during your own individual labor and birth.
These are three R’s that enhance a woman’s experience of birth and help her cope with her sensations. When thinking about them today, I also came up with three R’s that detract from a woman’s birth experience: Routine, Restriction, and Risk (perception of).
I also considered other supporting R’s: Rest, Relationships, Rapport, and Respect.
One tool I like to offer during birth classes is the use of birthing affirmations. I have a list of favorites that I hand out and I also encourage couples to create their own affirmations that hold personal meaning for them. An affirmation is a positive phrase that you repeat to yourself. Some women like to cut these phrases out and post them around the house to read during pregnancy (such as on the mirror in the bathroom or on the wall in the bedroom). The affirmations can then “sink in” and when labor comes, they are part of your mental vocabulary of birth. Also, some women in labor find the use of rhythm to be a useful tool (humming, singing, swaying, rocking, etc.) and repeating a soothing phrase can be part of this rhythm.
Another use of affirmation is to have your labor support partner read your favorites aloud to you as you labor.
Some favorites from my list are:
The corresponding affirmations for a partner to use:
I’ve been reflecting on the purpose of my birth classes and I hope they offer:
Celebration
Motivation
Education
Inspiration
Initiation
Validation
Dedication
Exploration
I have been asked if my classes are appropriate for people planning a medicated birth.
I do focus on natural childbirth (meaning unhindered birth that progresses on its own timeline, under the woman’s own power, and takes place without medication), but I also recognize that many couples choose epidurals. Since women are not generally given an epidural instantly or immediately, most of the “natural childbirth” information is still helpful and valuable to have (in terms of “up until you have the epidural” instead of “up until the baby is born.”). So, a class on labor support could be focused on labor support prior to an epidural and also about working with the epidural for an optimal birth experience. I also like to remind people that you don’t have to necessarily make up your mind before your go into labor about medications or not—you can take the labor one contraction at a time and see where it leads you. It might lead you to an epidural or it might lead you to not have one.
Welcome to Talk Birth–childbirth education, resources, and information for women in the Rolla, Missouri area. I am pleased to serve the Rolla community with independent childbirth education classes!
Talk Birth 