All childbirth educators should be well connected and informed on the history of birth. If we as childbirth educators are connected to the past we can better serve all childbearing women. When working with a woman who has previously given birth it is important to know her birth story. It is so valuable to have a connection with the women of the past. From those who birthed in ancient times; to those who have birthed recently.
The history of birth is vitally important for a childbirth educator to know. In any profession it is important to know its history. As a childbirth educator I want to help women connect with their roots. Meaning the roots of a fertile being. We need to dig our fingers into the rich soil of birth in ancient times. It is not possible to help birthing women dig their fingers deep into the soil unless as a childbirth educator I know the soil. Birth is one of the most spiritual experiences of a women’s life. This spiritual event can be enhanced, by connecting and knowing, how ancient women birthed. If more women knew the history of birth there would be a lot less fear. Having less fear leads to more successful births.
It is also valuable to know the not so pleasant history of birth. Women, midwives, dulas and doctors that came before us left us with amazing information. Some of the information is positive, and some negative. All of it is to learn from. We should never forget the past because there is much to learn from it. Birth in American hospitals can be grim. However it used to be much grimmer. As a woman I have cried watching the movie “The Business of Being Born.” It can change ones mind about a medicated birth when the history of hospital births is studied. It is valuable to know how our mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers birthed. I want to open up and feel what the women of the past felt.
If a women has already given birth it is important to know her birth history. As a childbirth educator I will better be able to serve a women once I know her birth story. I need to be able to identify with all my students. To do this I must get in touch with other women’s circumstances. Try to no just “hear” their story but “feel” their story. Get in touch with their emotions and innate needs.
Along with knowing a women’s birth story I want to know their views on birth. How was her mother’s birth? Her sisters? What does she believe about birth? By learning how a student views birth I can better open her eyes to the past history of childbirth. The past shapes our future. Many women can gain great comfort from learning about the past history of birth.
To even better serve women it is good to know their partners history of birth. What events have shaped their views? How did their mothers birth? Have they been present at any births? To know their history helps when teaching them as well. It is vital that the partner learns the history of birth so they can support the childbearing partners decisions. If a woman desires a homebirth the partner needs to learn why. To realize what made their partner come to the decision of a homebirth.
All women can reflect back on the past for inspiration. My goal as a childbirth educator is to know the history of birth like the back of my hand. This way I have the knowledge to serve my students. To help women connect and feel what women in ancient times felt. Open up to ones primitive self. Let women know it is okay and not embarrassing to be primitive in birth. Rather it is beautiful and exotic.
