Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

rootcause — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:33:31 GMT

Natural birth is really the best option, but you have to prepare for it....MSG is one that will make it fail...

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

SandyK_203 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:57:11 GMT

Wow! What an interesting article! I know this article came out a few weeks ago and I am just now getting to read it. I have been reading articles on Dr. Mercola's site for a few months now (when I could find the time) but had never taken the time to get a user name so I could comment. I very much enjoyed reading about the different experiences everyone has had during childbirth. I've had three children, all three were born at a hospital. The first two births, I was very young (19 and 22 yrs) and did whatever the nurses/doctors told me. During my labor for my second child, I was given Pitocin. Being made to lay in that hospital bed and have such intense contractions from the Pitocin was horrible! When I had my third and last child in 1985, my thinking and questioning birthing practices had changed. I had begun reading different articles on child birth during my last pregnancy and when I delivered my daughter (unfortuneatly still at the hospital) things went much differently for me. I listened to my body more, and waited much longer before going to the hospital. I was only there for two hours before giving birth and nursed my daughter immediately afterwards. For the two hours I was at the hospital prior to delivery, I was told by the medical staff that I was being difficult because I refused any of the normal procedures for prepping and refused medication for the pain. The contractions were very, very painful but I was determined to try and deliver my daughter naturally. She was so much more alert than my first two. I wish my question, thinking, etc. had been more advanced so that I might have tried home birthing. Thanks to all who commented on their experiences. A VERY interesting read!

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

Carol Morrisey — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:52:23 GMT

Another good resource is the International Cesarean Awareness Network, or ICAN. They have a website and free e-newsletter. Go to ICAN-online.org. This group was formed under the name Cesarean Prevention Movement. When I was in the hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1981 having my second child, first VBAC (vaginal birth after a cesarean), my nurse was extremely supportive, because she had just attended the founding meeting of CPM. I don't know if I could have survived a long labor under the stress of being considered high-risk without that support and information. My third and fourth children were born at home, much more comfortably and naturally. Ina May Gaskin has been a tower of strength to the natural childbirth movement--thanks for this article. We have far too many cesareans because of our coercive, medicalized approach to what should be a family celebration.

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

bttrflyjnll — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:55:45 GMT

i am 41 and am new to this newsletter. I recently (12wks ago)had my 4th child. She was born at home as were two of my others. I have a total of four kids now. It had been 14yrs since i had birthed a child. I am a fan of home birth and cant imagine doing any thing else. It was far from orgasmic!!!! I had a wonderful midwife who kept me on track with pain management and the end result was a healthy, beautiful baby girl. isnt that our goal? i am not going to judge someone who for whatever reason had a hospital birth. I would encourage a home birth and know that they are the safest thing out there for the birthing process. however i have a couple of friends who attempted a home birth but do to unforseen complications had to have a hospital birth. if i had been in a hosp with my 14yr olds birth i would have had a c-section for "failure to progress". Probably for this one to, im not sure. would i do birth any other way? no! certainly not. But for those of us who dont have orgasmic births(which blows my mind and seems wrong somehow) and/or had to have a hosp birth,the end result is healthy children. and ultimately we owe that to God. thanks for letting me comment.

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

TexasTornado — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:26:12 GMT

Three of my five children were born at home with a midwife. My fifth would have been born at home, too, if not for a wierd problem that caused my midwife to have me transported to the hospital where I stayed less than two hours. My home births were far less complicated and stressful than the hospital births. A woman in labor doesn't like a lot of comotion. Hospitals are full of people coming and going-- through the halls, into your room, sometimes even into your own bathroom with you in there!!

At home, only my family and my midwife was there. It was quiet, warm, safe, unhurried. You can do what comes naturally during your labor. You are not expected to be a textbook case. You are a woman about to give birth to a blessing. My husband delivered our fourth child as our midwife had not yet arrived, but she made in time to deliver the placenta. That was a wonderful experience!

My midwives, (I've had two) have taken terrific care of me during the pregnancy, during and after delivery. I'll be glad when women see pregnancy and birth for what it truly is... a miracle, not a burden, not a disease. Hospitals are there to take care of problems. A baby is not a problem. Blessings should be born at home with his/her family.

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

Coince — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:03:08 GMT

My child was born on "the Farm" where Ina May Gaskin lived and was delivered by midwives that were trained by Ina May. My daughter was born breech and delivered naturally and I was in labor for only 4 hours (my first child).

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

redeemedbytheblood — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:35:26 GMT

I will add my quick experiences just to support the whole natural birth idea...

My first birth was a planned home birth. I know if I were in the hospital, I would have taken anything. But that was because 1) I was in the third "emotional signpost" (Self Doubt), which means pushing is just around the corner, and 2) I was fearful of how much worse it could get. I am so glad I was at home and had no option of "pain relief" because I made it! And my daughter was beautiful and alert. I did hemmorage afterward and got transported, unfortunately.

My 2nd birth was also at home, and about half the time. I would describe this 4 1/2 hour as "fast and furious." We took precautions this time to avoid the hemmorage problem. Mainly I took a product called Ambrotose (from Mannatech) and the total amount of blood I lost through the birth was a couple tablespoons.

My 3rd birth was my EASIEST. Another 4 1/2 hours. Same result with Ambrotose: very little blood lost. This baby was 15 days late, while the others were very close to the d.o.d. I think through all the brax. hicks my body did so much of the work ahead of time. I would STRONGLY encourage The Bradley way, reading Susan McCutcheon's book Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way, and Helen Wessel's The Joy of Natural Childbirth. No matter what kind of birth you're planning, these will empower you with knowledge.

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

simplynaturalmom — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:18:17 GMT

YEA!!! I had two wonderful homebirths in Georgia where the midwives risk jail to help women become mothers in the most natural way possible. I could not be more grateful to these amazing women!!

Homebirth is the safest option. The midwives spend a great deal of time with each mother-to-be for the entire pregnancy. They are aware of any possible problems and complications are rare. The mother is more comfortable and trusts their midwife immensely. While homebirth is not an option for all women, it is a perfect option for many.

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

Robubba — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:08:32 GMT

My old piano teacher has been using a midwife for almost all of her six kids. She says midwives are much more comfortable. She says it's nice being in your own home. She doesn't use drugs either. She also says that midwives use techniques that doctors can't use (liability issue or something).

I really support midwives. That's why I'm glad I live close to a lot of Amish (Mennonites were I live).

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

blackjazz424 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:21:08 GMT

When I was about 20 weeks into my pregnancy, my best friend (25 years my senior), gave me Ina May Gaskin's "Spiritual Midwifery." It was her birthing bible 25 years ago (her daughter is 9 days older than me.) Aside from my husband, it was the best birthing tool I had. You should have seen the look on my fellow classmates' faces at the child birthing classes provided by my hospital. The nurse/teacher asked, "What's the first thing you think of when I say 'childbirth'?" "Pain" "Labor" "Epidural" These were the common responses. My response: "Man, it's gonna be the the most spiritual, euphoric trip I've been on!" I found it rather sad that all the other women could think about was all the pain that they would be in. Once in labor, I stayed at home as long as possible. By the time I decided to go to the hospital, I was already dialated to 5cm. I had no pain issues until I got to the hospital, where they insisted that I lay in bed, and were very overbearing about letting me go to the bathroom to pee! Had it not been for a genetic disorder in my family, my son would have been born at home, where the birthing experience would have been on our terms. However, my doctor was very open and understanding that this was MY birth, and the decisions were mine to be made - she was there for medical and moral support. For her understanding, I am greatful. I am all for the natual birth, but ultimately, I believe medical intervension should definately take place if it means the best outcome for the mother and child.

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

midnight sun — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:27:58 GMT

Women experience pain, sex, childbirth, etc., differently/individually. For my part, I do not think pain/discomfort is something that humans must try to avoid at all costs. Rather embrace the value of hardwork that entails a little suffering. Everyone knows how great it feels to have really worked for something as opposed to just having had it plopped into your lap. Or how great we feel after a good workout. I had all three of my children naturally and the last two at home. I see childbirth and orgasm more as opposite sides of a spectrum than one and the same. One is total pleasure, the other is pain, but I'll agree that it is a beautiful pain and that ones mindset has a real bearing on the experience and outcome. I think the making out with your husband during labor is something that can be part of the beautiful experience of bringing the child into the world, and a tool for relaxing and focusing, but I personally feel that if the goal is to have an orgasmic experience, something in that mindset is stuck...unless we are saying that there are infinite ways to experience an orgasm...because (can only speak from own experience) the phenomenon of sexual orgasm is far different from the ecstatic, empowering, phenomenon of working with God to bring life into the world. Wanting birth to be an orgasm somehow lowers the true beauty, value, and mind-blowing thing that it is in my mind...not that intimate relations with ones husband is not an incredibly beautiful and mysterious gift also but don't like idea of making it the same.

All drugs cross the placenta within 30 secs. Coming through the birth canal squeezes fluid from baby's lungs preparing her for first breath. 1 hospital intervention usually leads to another (in addition to witholding nutrition from mom) and puts the fetus in distress which gives MD justification for C-sec. There's a million reasons to go natural. Think of baby, not orgasm; other...rather than self.

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

danafr — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:08:57 GMT

I have given birth to nine children. My eighth child was born in Fort Bridger, Wyoming in a tent on the Mormon Trail Reenactment. Home birth has been safe and very satifying. Having a reverent, spiritual experience has been the most rewarding part of having my children born at home and outside of a hospital.

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

LJR — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:42:24 GMT

I have had 3 children. First one born in a hospital with epidural, pitocin, etc. Second child born naturally at a birth center and the third born at home. Having experienced both the hospital/medicalized birth and the natural birth I saw firsthand how completely different they were. Natural birth was the most intense thing I have ever experienced and I was amazed and so empowered by my body during it. For me it was an almost out of body experience. I really wish most women could experience how it is really meant to be. Having said that, it wasn't orgasmic in any way. I think that is an odd way to explain it and it is surely going to put off some people. To those that haven't experienced homebirth or natural birth, it just makes it sound a little wacky. So I don't agree and I don't think it is something that would promote homebirth and natural birth to those that are making a decision to try it naturally vs hospital.

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

bonnieb23 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:15:04 GMT

How I LOVED reading all of these comments.....I have five children, all born at the hospital (because I did not know better).... all but the first were Natural, wonderful.....the actual BIRTH part was indescribably intense and yes.....close to orgasmic but in a class by itself.

Women, Trust Birth.!!! Trust your body. Do NOT listen to the fear mongering that is spouted from MOST OBs....Read everything....Find a DEM (Direct Entry Midwife)

Enjoy your birth as you were meant to!!!!

re: Pioneering Midwife Touts "Orgasmic Birth"

mlopac — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:28:32 GMT

I think that if it were orgasmic our population would explode.

Sounds like a kinky ploy - maybe it will work!