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Imagine, a birth in a place of security, comfort and familiarity. Picture a mother confident and supported, reassured by a knowledgeable midwife and loving partner – the whole process being valued as sacred by all participants in an atmosphere of love. The fortunate newborn arriving in these circumstances of a natural childbirth would have one particular kind of experience.
Now imagine a birth taking place under bright fluorescent lights, the anxious mum-to-be surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar place of cold sterility. Unusual sights, sounds, smells and textures fill her senses in an environment of fear and emergency. Even without being pulled from the womb by Caesarean section, a child born here would have a very different start to life. Which of these two scenarios would you choose, for your own birth, or for that of your child?
The wonder of parenthood
Speaking from my own experience, having children brought an immense amount of meaning into my life. It was something I had always wanted, having arrived at the conviction that to pass on all that I possessed and all that I had learned to a new generation would be profound and joyful in the extreme. I was not disappointed. It all began with a natural childbirth in a water tub, in a yurt in the woods.
There are many people who have enjoyed powerful personal growth through parenthood, and who have experienced fulfilment, meaning and sense of purpose through building a family. Yet sadly, there are others for whom it is an accident, a misfortune, a burden, or a disaster.
Successful parenthood must be done consciously and must be planned for. It cannot be stumbled into. And by successful, I mean a desirable outcome for both children and parents. I mean an experience that is cherished and enjoyed and looked back on with joy. I mean providing the best possible head start for a successful life on earth. The best way to begin is with a natural childbirth in the home. I do not mean to imply that a life without children could not also be wonderful.
Conscious parenting and planning for a natural childbirth
The foundations of successful parenting can be laid well in advance of conception and pregnancy. I regret not paying more attention to a nutritious diet for both myself and my wife before we conceived our first son. These days I would alo strongly recommend avoiding exposure to Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF) in the form of wi-fi, Bluetooth, smart meters, mobile phones and baby monitors etc, in addition to nutritional considerations. Even the static fields of mains wiring have a proven harmful effect on human beings, foetuses and even eggs within infant ovaries! Listen to this lecture for the scientific evidence from Professor Martin Pall.
In making preparations for the birth of an infant it pays dividends for both parent and child if we carefully consider all of our lifestyle choices as an integrated whole, and plan around our circumstances and our values. Think ahead, zoom out and consider the big picture, ask yourself what is important. Arranging for a natural childbirth in the home environment is step one. This, of course, does not rule out a visit to the hospital, but only if necessary.
This important first step will also be the parents first encounter with the pressure exerted by the establishment to go to the hospital for the delivery. This can be a significant hurdle for many. It comes down to an issue of who is in control… You or some alleged authority? How much can you resist the appeal to authority and the implicit call to obey societal norms.
Whatever the location, parents-to-be have the power to deliberately create a truly beautiful ‘welcome into the world’. A natural childbirth in a relaxing and supportive environment can make the arrival of the newborn into a fantastic experience for the mother and father that binds them even closer together. Practicality or the unforeseen can sometimes obstruct our desires, but you can still make the experience as wonderful as possible – for the sake of everyone involved.
A natural childbirth in the home
In Episode 53 of ‘Living outside the Matrix,’ Deborah Flowers shares her knowledge and considerable experience as a natural childbirth midwife working with The Farm community midwives in Summertown, Tenessee, USA. She tells her story of how it all began and her own involvement.
The usual approach is to encourage a natural childbirth in the home environment. Many women opt for a water birth as this can help with delivery and pain reduction. The emphasis is on planning how and where the birth will take place, but also on mentally preparing the mother-to-be. This coaching role is considered very important as a means of countering the ubiquitous propaganda in our culture that portrays birth as a dangerous and frightening event.
Taking the longterm view
Taking the longterm view requires planning. We must look ahead and decide where we want to be in the future. How do we want things to turn out? If we want the best for our children and grandchildren, if we want to see our descendants thrive it is important to give them the best head start possible. Of course, a natural childbirth is only the first step. There are soon other issues to consider such as vaccinations and whether or not to keep the infant in arms or leave it to cry itself to sleep. All of these require thinking things through carefully. In a few short years the issue of schooling comes up and some thought would ideally be given to the option of home education and avoiding the government indoctrination program that is the modern ‘education’ system.
Caesarean in emergency
There are situations where a natural childbirth is not possible. Various conditions including the placenta developing over the birth canal obviously preclude a normal delivery. However, caesarean deliveries are occasionally performed by choice of the mother. This is very detrimental to the infant and prevents the fledgeling immune system from developing normally. As the baby passes head first down the birth canal in a natural birth the mouth takes in bacteria that serve to inoculate the gut and begin the microbiome. For the best health of the baby, a vaginal birth is best, if possible.
Topics discussed with Deborah include:
- Coaching a psychological preparation for mums-to-be
- The hospital has its place
- The role of the partner/father
- Water births
- Birthing position
- Sphincter law
- Humour and being relaxed
- Being prepared for all eventualities
- A pleasurable (potentially Orgasmic) birth experience
- Postnatal depression
Natural childbirth resources
“Spiritual Midwifery” by Ina May Gaskin
“Ina May’s guide to childbirth” by Ina May Gaskin
If you live anywhere near Tennessee you could check out The Farm Midwives In any even their website is a great resource and inspiration for a natural childbirth. You might even get Deborah as your Doula or Midwife.
Conclusion
Living outside the Matrix means thinking for ourselves as opposed to following the crowd. It means determining our own destiny and consciously making our own choices. Happiness results from achieving our own self-determined goals in life, it means forging our own path, living our own life. This can only be achieved if we think and if we engage with life and truly become our own authority. Every process in life must be considered and thought about and the birth of a new baby is the beginning.
I hope you have enjoyed this post and the information shared by Deborah Flowers in the interview. Please feel free to join in the conversation and leave a comment below.
may you enjoy the best of health and truly thrive
Nigel Howitt
Treehouse Farm
July 2018
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