Why Physiological Birth Matters

World Physiological Birth Week 7-13th October 2024

It is a sad indication of the times that we need a World Physiological Birth Week. But we live in a day and age where physiological birth is becoming a rarity. Around 39% of births in England are now caesarean births and rates of induction, interventions and subsequent trauma are rising at a worrying rate.

But it is not women’s bodies that are failing at birth. It is the maternity system that is failing us.

World Physiological Birth Week is an opportunity to remind us, as a society, that giving birth is not the medical procedure we have been conditioned to believe it is. Birth is a miraculous biological process, perfect by design.

In its simplest terms, birth is the final part of a physiological process that begins at conception. Just like other processes of the body, such as breathing, menstruating or having a poop, birth doesn’t require conscious thought or effort. More often than not, in the right environment, birth will safely unfold without the need for any interference.

But today, women are not supported to birth in the way that nature intended. Instead, they are being steered towards medical monitoring and interventions by a maternity system that seeks to control our bodies and how we birth. This industrialised approach insists on birth being predictable and efficient, imposing strict boundaries on the process. We are taught that anything that doesn’t fit within these boundaries is dangerous. From this viewpoint, there is no space for variation and variation equates to complication.

When women’s bodies, babies or pregnancies do not conform to the rigid boundaries that have been set, hospital guidelines insist that action must be taken, leading women into a dangerous cascade of intervention.

This one size fits all approach is failing us.

Because we are women. We are not machines.

Birth will always be full of variation because we, as individuals, are all different. Like blossoms on the tree and blackberries on the bush, in nature everything unfolds in its own way and own time. Who are we to dictate when a baby is ready to be born? Who are we to decide when a labouring woman should start pushing or what position she should be in? Do we need to continuously prod and poke and check and monitor during such a delicate time? Does every twin and breech birth have to be a caesarean?

We are very lucky to have modern medicine and technologies that can be used to support birth. But too often these practices are being used without a real and substantial need. Rather than watching and waiting and trusting in our divine design, we jump in too soon with defensive practice and it is causing harm.

Our maternity system is caught in a pattern of control and coercive behaviour built out of, and perpetuating, fear.

And it is causing harm.

So yes, we need World Physiological birth week. We need it to remind us how birth is supposed to be; a powerful transformative process perfectly designed to reveal to us our limitless potential.

It is up to us to reclaim childbirth as the powerful rite of passage it is intended to be.

Benefits of Hypnobirthing

There are so MANY benefits of hypnobirthing. No matter how you are planning to birth, the knowledge & skills that we cover as part of my  10-hour course will dramatically enhance your birthing experience.

Here 5 ways that Hypnobirthing with Connected Mother & Baby will support you to have a more positive birth:

1. Hypnobirthing reduces Fear

   
   

   If you are feeling nervous or worried about giving birth, it is no wonder....The images we are exposed to on television & in films and the media show birth to be risky, painful & something that needs to be managed.  This causes us to fear birth & to doubt in our body's innate ability. Our subconscious mind absorbs all of this information & stores it as a protective mechanism.

   
   

   This understanding is fundamental to Hypnobirthing because your mind triggers the production of certain hormones. During pregnancy, labour & birth these hormones can either interfere with & hinder your body's physiology or support & enhance it. Hypnobirthing teaches tools that help to clear the negative beliefs we store around birth & replace them with positive ones. When your mind trusts that your body can birth your baby & that birth is safe, you can relax into the process, the hormones of labour can flow & everything works more efficiently.

   
   
   
   

2. Hypnobirthing helps to regulate your nervous system

    Hypnobirthing teaches a variety of tools that can be used to regulate your nervous system, keeping you in a calm and relaxed state. From this space of calm & safety, your muscles relax allowing the body to work in the way it was designed, to move your baby down and out into your arms.

1. Hypnobirthing builds trust in your body

   
   

   Our bodies are truly incredible! During this course, you will learn all about the female reproductive system & how the muscles & hormones work during the process of birth. When you understand the intricacies of the systems that we have in place, you can begin to appreciate how your biology is already designed to support you & your baby during labour & birth. With this knowledge you will gain confidence in your body & trust in your ability to birth your baby. You can also plan to work with your physiology to support the magnificent process of birth. 

1. Hypnobirthing supports you to make informed decisions

   
   

   My course will teach you how to be an active participant in your baby's birth. You should be at the centre of all decisions made around your care; this is your body, your baby & your choice. I want you to feel confident that the decisions made during birth are your own & that they come from a place of knowledge & power rather than fear. You will learn how to ask questions, advocate for yourself, make informed decisions & be ready to navigate any unexpected turns calmly & with confidence.

1. Enhances Partner connection & support

   
   

   Preparing for birth together is an amazing way to deepen your connection as parents-to-be. My hypnobirthing course is designed to equip your birth partner with the knowledge & skills to nurture & support you throughout pregnancy & birth. Rather than feeling like a helpless bystander, the birth partner will have practical tools that can be used to provide physical & emotional support.

Hypnobirthing is beneficial for all types of birth; be that a homebirth, a hospital birth or a planned caesarean. The wisdom & confidence that you will gain from this course will support you throughout pregnancy, birth & the transition into parenthood.

If you feel called to Hypnobirthing, I would love to support you on your journey to a positive & empowered birth.

Zara x