Childbirth philosophers
The teaching and ideas of a number of people have changed women's attitudes to antenatal and postnatal care and led to alterations in the atmosphere and procedures surrounding childbirth in the Western world. Most of these theories seek to help a woman to follow her body's lead, in a loving and intimate environment.
Dr Grantley Dick-Read
© Jupiter
Dr Dick-Read was the first obstetrician to realize that fear of giving birth was a main cause of pain in labour. He introduced the idea of natural childbirth, not only to the medical world but also to mothers. He recognized the need for proper education of mothers through antenatal classes and careful teaching, and also for emotional support, in the hope of eliminating fear and tension.
His teaching was so basic that it's now taken for granted by all centres, and there's no method of childbirth that doesn't rely on his teaching, including breathing exercises, breathing control, and complete relaxation. Dick-Read's watchword for mothers was preparation - not only with information, but also by seeking help, reassurance, and sympathy.
Further reading: Childbirth without Fear
Frederick Leboyer
Leboyer was influenced by the psychiatrists Reich, Rank, and Janov, who shared the belief that later problems in life stem from the trauma of birth. His concerns are less with the mother and more to do with the baby's experience of labour and delivery, and how this affects that baby once grown up. The Leboyer method works best viewed as an attempt to help people understand what a newborn baby sees, hears, and feels.
In his book Birth Without Violence, Leboyer suggests that the birthing room should have soft lighting, and there should be as little noise and movement as possible to lessen birth's trauma. Leboyer also believes that immediate skin-to-skin contact is essential to calm the baby, and that she should be laid on her mother's stomach as soon as she's born. He also says that the newborn should then be bathed in warm water as this is the closest she can get to the nurturing environment of the uterus.
Not all of this fits in with the physiology of what actually happens at birth. A baby needs to feel air on her face to stimulate her lungs to breathe for the first time: placing her in warm liquid may not be sufficiently stimulating for her to continue breathing. Many professionals say that there is no proof that Leboyer's theories work.
However, it's only right that every baby be welcomed into the world with reverence, so even if you don't agree with all of Leboyer's ideas, it's still interesting to read about his suggestions for a gentler birth.
Further reading: Birth Without Violence
Dr Michel Odent
When he worked as a general surgeon, Dr Odent was extremely shocked when he first saw women pushing their babies uphill against the forces of gravity because their feet were held in stirrups. He realized that this meant stronger contractions were needed, which were more painful, and labour was much slower and more exhausting, and there were more complications because mothers were in a position where the baby was held back from being delivered.
His initial shock led him to develop his own methods of childbirth, broadly based on traditional midwifery, at Pithiviers in France. Odent believes that, given the opportunity, women in labour return to a primitive biological state, where they function at a new level of animal awareness, lose their inhibitions, and enter a state of consciousness in which they will follow their basic instincts. He believes that the natural pain relievers released by the body, endorphins, are responsible for this.
Pithiviers has the lowest rate in France for episiotomies, forceps deliveries, and Caesarean sections, and all medical interference is kept to a minimum. By no means all of the mothers giving birth there have been low risk. Many were expecting complications (a breech baby, for example), but went on to have successful natural births at Pithiviers.
Further reading: Birth Reborn
Childbirth philosophers - (next) ►
Posted 16.11.2010
Get more on this subject…
