Sanctity and Honor -- The Inner Wisdom of Birth

by Patricia M. Couch

I am proud to call myself midwife, as birth has been my life since 1995 when I gave birth to my first son and also to myself. Each new life begins with it’s own special journey and that day, the day my son took his first breath, my journey began.

When a woman becomes pregnant she too begins a journey. Her journey will take her down a path that will fill her mind body and soul with the prospects of her changing world. She will walk this physical yet inner path with anticipation of each coming day. From the moment that she finds out she is carrying new life her thought process will grow along with her body. She will look for guidance around every corner. What will she find? I hope that she finds gift of gentle guidance. I hope that she feels the life inside her creating a positive change, an empowerment, a new philosophy. I hope she finds a midwife.

During pregnancy a woman can learn about her body; the changes are experienced inside and out, mentally and physically. Trust in her body develops over the coarse of pregnancy; she learns to listen to the inner voice, the voice of instinct–her guide. Through inspiration and education she will learn to trust this guide. She will learn and know her body experience and body memory better than anyone else. Birth energy is a powerful force that leads to the amazing presentation and of an entire being. This energy gives a woman the opportunity to look inside and explore who she is; the strengths as well as weaknesses that she possesses.

Why should women choose homebirth? A woman’s body knows how to birth a baby. When she gives birth at home she is enveloped in the philosophy of trust and instinct. There is a deep seeded trust in the body’s inner wisdom, and in a woman’s ability to give birth without intervention. With awareness of the inner birth process and the challenges of labor and birth a women gains strength for the normal and unforeseen challenges of her future. After a woman gives birth she knows that she is strong. She will soon begin to realize that she has developed a new sense of security of self, on her journey and this experience will guide her down the path of her future life.

Choosing to birth at home with a midwife is supporting the natural birth process; physically, mentally, and spiritually. Honoring the birth process is key to our culture as well as all humankind. At home women able to labor and birth instinctively. Home is a place where the rhythm and timing of a laboring woman’s body are honored. A woman's body is in perfect harmony with the power and energy of labor. Midwives rarely intervene, allowing the woman to birth in her own way.

The empowerment developed through birthing in the home, evolves the mothers life as well as the life of the family. A deep spiritual change happens when a baby is born. The beautiful sanctity of birth is honored and the energy of the birth will forever fill the baby, the mother, the father, all whom were present in that home forever.Midwives offer an experienced birth mother relationship to women. By gifting more time to the prenatal visits this helps to establish a deep understanding of one another, which is key to an intuitive birth relationship. Many midwives offer one or more hours per prenatal visit to develop trust, peace, and calm within the expecting mother.

Knowing and respecting that each woman has different needs and that each pregnancy, labor, and birth are unique, will give the ability to create sacred space appropriate to each family. Building a honest and committed birth relationship is essential to accomplishing a truly intuitive birth. Trust of the birth process is of extreme importance. If at anytime during pregnancy, labor and birth the midwife or birthing mother do not trust birth this should be seen as birth intuition. The loss of trust in the birth process must be evaluated. By checking in, evaluating the baby and the mother, the midwife may find that everything is fine. She may find that the mother was just feeling fearful and needed to be mothered or carried through the moment. On the other hand by listening to intuition the midwife may find that the mother and/or the baby are sending a message of an unforeseen complication.

Peace and calm can give a woman the space she needs to open up to birth. Her body will open, as well as her mind and her heart. The peace that she has within herself will direct the intention of her birth. Give her the space to be who she needs to be. Give her the love that she needs to do what she needs to do. Give her the respect that each birthing women deserves. Honor her as a woman. Protect her space and ensure calmness will surround her. Trust her and listen with your heart, mind and soul. She will help to guide you into her birth sanctity and by her grace you will follow.

I heard tale of a wise woman once saying “Some midwives pull women up the hill and say I will get you through this. While other midwives walk behind quietly and gently saying I believe in you.” I believe that as a woman you are created to give birth. I am proud to call myself midwife and I believe in you.
This article can also be seen as www.BirthEcology.org