How often do we complain about hospitals and doctors trying to “fix” the birth process?  If it doesn’t start when you want it to–induce.  If it goes too slow–augment.  If it hurts too much–medicate.  And if all else fails–operate.

Unfortunately, there are those who desire a natural birth who try to “fix” things, too.  While they don’t use drugs and scalpels, they use things like herbs, oils, and even knowledge to try to make their birth go the way they want it to.

As a midwife, I’m often called upon for advice.  “Is this normal….?  What if….?  Is there anything I (or you) can do for….?  Have you heard of this (herb, technique, theory,…)?”  I tend to be very trusting of the normal birth process and I prefer to leave well enough alone until I have evidence that something is not normal.  It is very hard, however, to convince some women that they should do the same.

Do you trust birth?  Do you know your body and trust it to do what it needs to birth a baby?  Are you willing to surrender control to the natural forces that will sweep through your body during labor?  If you can honestly answer “yes” to these questions, you are more likely to have a smooth, uneventful labor and birth.

That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a time and a place for herbs, oils or whatever during a birth.  But, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

I attended a wonderful birth this morning.

Before labor began, the mother was afraid that her body wouldn’t go into labor without “help.”  (She was induced with her first birth.)  Surprise!  At 42 weeks, she woke up in labor with contractions 3 minutes apart.  She labored quietly and with strength until transition came.

“I’m afraid.”

“What is your fear?  What are you afraid of?”

“I’m afraid I won’t remember how to do this.”

“You don’t have to remember, your body knows and remembers.”

“Ok…”

And it did.  She didn’t need me to tell her what to do.  She just listened to what her body told her to do. It remembered quite well.

Afterward, she was in awe of the strength of her body and its ability to give birth.

“I am just awesome!  My body rocks!”

How many women sell themselves short?  Not just by insisting on hospital interventions like inductions and epidurals, but by the way they act, think and take care of themselves.  Why do they prefer to act weak, to take the passive role, to give their power to others without a question?

I loved it when I heard this mother tell her 3 year old daughter “You’re going to grow up to be a strong woman, too.”

The secret is out…