Why Physiologic Birth?
Rachel Reed, in her book Reclaiming Childbirth as a Right of Passage, explains that “Physiology describes the ‘normal functioning of an organism’ and related words include bodily, fleshy and carnal…I use the term physiological to describe a birth that involves a woman labouring and birthing her baby in a healthy and uncomplicated way without interventions that alter the functioning of her body. Physiology also encompasses all the individual variations that are not the ‘norm’ but are also not pathological.”
In American and much of western birth culture, midwives are the keepers of the wisdom of physiologic birth. How do we know what is physiological? We pay attention. We observe without interference. Midwifery is rooted in generational wisdom sharing, community centered care and respect for the miracle of every birthing woman’s power, responsibility, instinct and divinity. Not all “Midwives” in today’s world are honoring their roots. The origins of obstetric care are a whole other story, but I can assure they are coming from a different angle entirely.
Attending births at home and in the hospital has taught me a lot about Physiologic birth. It becomes really clear really quickly that hospital birth and home birth are just different (this definitely includes the immediate postpartum time, too!). It took me a minute to nail the why, but it turns out it’s really simple. Physiology. Now, I want to preface that I have heard really awesome tales straight from the mouths of mothers about their radical, physiological birth in hospital and I believe them! I gather its a pretty rare occurrence. I believe these instances are a combination of luck and intention from the birthing family and their care providers.
Attending both hospital and home birth with a variety of midwives from different practices has given me a lens through which to understand how what we do with and to women during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum can color their experience. When our societal norm of birth is divorced from physiology, a lot of things that are not normal or common in physiological birth get normalized. For example, tearing of the perineum that requires repair (usually stitches) during birth is much less common in a physiological birth that is cared for by home birth midwives than one that is managed by medically trained doctors and nurses. There are so many things about birth that we take for granted as normal that are actually the result of a whole lot of meddling. No wonder our perception of birth is so freaky and uncertain in this society!!
As my understanding of physiological birth continues to crystalize, I will be excited to share more about what I am learning and what we can do about it as mothers, midwives, doulas and even doctors and nurses. Lord, would I love for us all to get on the same team!!
