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I am glad you said to read to the bottom of the page! Yikes! I would have come unglued otherwise....
But I guess that for the most part, I can see why he is approaching it this way. I think it is dangerous and highly likely that some elective cesarean proponents will take his remarks out of context however. Unfortunately most people don't fact check for complete context of quotes so it could easily be miscontrued.
I completely agree with this part:
....a rediscovery of the basic needs of the woman in labour: her need for privacy, for feeling unobserved, unmonitored and undirected," he says.
Only these conditions permit the "fetus ejection reflex", a short series of irresistible, uncontrollable contractions that shuts down the thinking brain and brings about the release of a complex hormonal cocktail, including a high peak of oxytocin, also known as "love hormones". It's a natural reflex, he says, like falling asleep or sneezing or reaching orgasm. And one of the key benefits of experiencing the reflex is that women's bodies do not get torn.
This is one of the key ideas that the Birthing From Within philosphy that I teach is built around. We teach early on in our classes about the hormone responses and later as we explore fears and beliefs, and pain coping practices we work on creating a birth atmosphere where the mother is able to experience whatever it is, however it is that she needs it to be for her birth without inhibition. One thing we do that clients love, though it shocks the carp out of them at first, is I will be just going along teaching and then will start a 'contraction' with moaning, and oohing and aaahhing, and build up to floor pounding, writhing, howling....and then back to peace. It really lets moms know that it is okay to let it go however they need to, and lets partners know that it might not be glamorous. Towards the end of the series we do a thing called Coyote Circle where moms get to howl and release. It is really powerful.
And also - I am so glad that he is so supportive of doulas. I tell parents if there is one thing they bring to their birth (or have at home if they birth at home) is a doula. Doula's are SO wonderful!
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