Dr Gowri Motha, Consultant Obstetrician – working with the body’s natural birth physiology
Dr. Gowri Motha is a Consultant Obstetrician who definitely thinks outside the box. For a start she looks at the body from many different angles and her approach encompasses a range of treatments such as Hypnotherapy, Yoga, Creative Healing and Bowen Technique. Her experiences as a doctor created many questions and Gowri began to experiment and try new approaches.
She also realised that the baby plays an integral part in the birth process. Considering for a moment what type of birth they may want allows respect and love to enter the birth plan. It is a new concept to think about but one that changes the view that the birth is just something to get over. This is the first day of their entrance to the world so the less traumatic the better. Understanding and working with the body’s natural birth physiology allows the process to unfold normally and efficiently to give Mum and Baby the best possible experience.
Dr. Michel Odent – Consultant Obstetrician – on the most important aspects of birth
Dr Michel Odent is one of the most famous Obstetricians in the world. In this video he explains the most important aspects of birth for a woman.
For a woman to achieve what she wants in birth she needs to fully understand her body chemistry and what drives her labour. The principles of birth and the needs of a birthing woman must be understood by both the pregnant woman and her support team to achieve a great result.
There are strong cultural influences that impact the birth environment and these have been around for thousands of years and still apply today. We are led to believe that birth practice is scientific in nature, yet even many western countries have different practices and protocols. How is it that Holland has a caesarean rate of 13% and Britain 30%? Are the women in Holland designed differently? Perhaps our cultural practices play a bigger part than we think.
The most influential factor on a woman giving birth the way she wants is still her environment. The principle of environment is not unique to a woman in labour. It is a natural law and is true for the success of any new baby, child or animal. The way she designs her environment will dictate the inner workings of her chemistry which is called physiology. The most influential part of this birth physiology is the brain and in particular one part of the female brain. Birth physiology is the chemical process that allows birth to happen naturally and normally. An assisted delivery or traumatic birth is when the body chemistry starts to move away from normal. It is similar to requiring the correct ingredients of a cake for the best outcome. Without the exact chemicals natural birth is impossible which is why so many women need intervention today.
Birth is driven by the posterior brain, or what is called the old brain. The neo-cortex is the frontal or new brain which is known as the brain of the intellect. If a woman is required to think, answer questions, or her intellectual brain is stimulated, then labour will slow down or can even shut down. This is perfectly natural and part of the normal physiology of birth and is most common when danger is perceived and a strategy to survive is required. That requires thinking and a woman would need to halt the labour to escape a predator. Can you imagine running between contractions?!
It is so important that we create an environment that enables women to have the best possible chance of feeling a sense of achievement. To look back on birth with pride and happiness prepares the way for a promising start to breastfeeding and motherhood. Let’s face it, giving birth will probably be the most challenging experience which is why it is possible for it to be a great triumph. No mother has ever failed in childbirth and yet that can be the feeling a mum is left with if it does not turn out as she wanted. A Mum who feels she has done less than her best is often left with that memory for life and we have professional support for anyone who wants help with that or who wants to minimise that risk.
Intervention rates are around 70-80% today which suggests that women are not capable of giving birth on their own. We know that is untrue so we must take a serious look at the setting we are creating today so we can support women to have a fantastic birth experience. Birth is not a hurdle to get over but an integral and important physiological part of pregnancy and motherhood.
There is so much fear attached to it today which is why women need so much intervention; their bodies are literally shutting down. It is the most challenging aspect of prenatal life and yet can and should be the greatest and most exciting moment for a new Mum. This is the point you get to meet the little person you have created. Would you want to be numb from drugs or present to what you have achieved If you would like more information on how you can be supported to have the birth you want and what is possible please contact us.
Listen to the wisdom of 50 years experience in childbirth. Michel Odent has seen the birth culture grow and change with the advent of plastic which he will be explaining in later interviews and in a new book out soon. He has a wealth of knowledge and understands the bigger picture related to a successful birth for women. Please watch his videos to get a more complete picture of what he has to offer.
Sarah Bowles-Flannery – Naturopath and Nutritionist
Genetics – they tell us they are permanent and fixed
We are told that genetics is something that is predetermined, permanent, unchanging, nothing we can do about it. ‘You have this disease because it is genetic.’ Well there has been much research and one of these was Dr Weston Price, a dentist who made some remarkable findings. Sarah Flannery-Bowles is a nutritionist, Naturopath and Medical Herbalist who became inspired by his work during her training.
As a parent we are not informed just how important our lifestyle is while baby is in the womb. If you think about it logically we must be able to influence the DNA on a daily basis because we are constantly repairing and replenishing our cells. Two years from now your body will not be the same one you are sitting in now. Your cells will be replaced using the nutrition you put in your body today. Saying that you are what you eat may be old hat and now well accepted and yet we still do not seem to accept its power. Nutrients are the equipment the body needs to make things happen. A pregnant woman needs the best tools (nutrients) in her body to nourish that little person growing inside. Now we all know that some women seem to get away with doing all sorts of things during their pregnancy – drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, medication – and yet have perfectly normal babies, but what impact is possible long term? My mother smoked 60 cigarettes per day while pregnant with me and there is no major problem with me (others may disagree!). She was informed in those days that there was no risk. I am fairly confident that this information suited my mother who was obviously addicted. However, both my parents died from lung cancer and the lung is definitely a weak area for my sister. My nephew has also had lung issues, and my little boy has had croup five times in the last year. Now that may all be coincidental but you must question what influence 60 a day had on my genetics.
This is where I like to suggest that perhaps genetics are not simply fixed or unchanging and that lifestyle has a chance of influencing how a cell behaves. The video interview with Sarah starts to show how this is possible. As parents we always want to do the best for our children and sometimes we are told that things like smoking are OK. Today we would laugh and say you would have to be mad to believe that, but back then doctors were used for advertising cigarettes. Don’t forget that at one time we also thought the world was flat! Parents were also told that all sorts of chemical agents were safe but as we know from thalidomide and other catastrophes that information was not at all accurate.
There is no doubt that the influence we have on our children must come from our genetic material, but is it fixed? This blueprint of information has been clearly shown to be influenced by lifestyle factors so it makes sense to prepare for pregnancy or during pregnancy in a way that nourishes your baby. At Pregnancy and Preparation we know that good nutrition provides the best possible start for you and your baby. I understand there is all sorts of confusion for parents today with professionals saying contradictory things. I suggest that you use common sense and that putting good food into your body is not exactly rocket science. At one time we were told oils and fats were very bad for us and yet now know they are imperative for good brain development. It often seems like the research is designed to confuse us. There is still a protocol for folic acid and yet that is only one B vitamin. If you look at our society today we base things on the minimum. Five fruit and veg a day is a great example. People often say they have almost the five per day but they seem to forget that is only the minimum. If they are getting less than the minimum they are heading towards illness. Why not suggest the maximum and they can head towards that?
We have to face facts.
There is more cancer today than ever, more dementia, more of the serious diseases. How many people do you know now who die of old age? Today there is plenty of toxicity to deal with, to do lists, along with stress and anxiety in this hectic world we find ourselves in. We need nutrients to detoxify, grow and rebuild so great nutrition is the key to a good foundation. Have a look around the site further and start to get real clarity about what Pregnancy and Preparation means by nutrition. If you have any queries please contact us or book a consultation.
Heather Guerrini – Gentle Birth Practitioner and Doula
Continuity of care – the big difference….
The only way a woman can have a birth naturally is when she feels safe. By naturally we mean no intervention, where she feels totally empowered and a result where she looks back with pride and thinks “wow did I do that?” That is an outcome that all women want but most are too anxious to achieve.
What if you could set up a situation where you felt more secure, confident and supported? There are always different strokes for different folks but one aspect that is absolutely consistent with all women during birth is the need to feel safe. There are so many benefits to continuity of care during your pregnancy and birth. Women simply don’t have the same network today and on top of that are bombarded with negative messages from friends, family and the press.
A Doula is one option that creates an environment for the Mum to be assisted towards her birth. A birth plan is a nice idea but try to align the professionals when in the throws of active labour, you have other things to think about. Heather Guerrini has attended more than 80 births as a Doula. A former NCT antenatal teacher, Heather brings her experience to supporting mums through pregnancy, birth and beyond. She likes to get to know mums early in their pregnancy to establish a relationship of trust and support and work with them to create the right setting for a fantastic birth experience. Imagine entering motherhood with a performance you were proud of. Now that would be a result! Doula or not, create your environment for success.
That takes preparation, well thought out preparation.
For more on Continuity of Care check out Craig’s blog.
Geraldine Miskin – Independent Breastfeeding Specialist
Geraldine Miskin is an Independent Breastfeeding Specialist who is very experienced at helping families get the best start to life. We often think of breastfeeding simply as food and that is where we make our first mistake. Breastfeeding is the best start for your baby which is why it seems strange that our culture does not fully understand it. Breastfeeding expert Geraldine Miskin explains some of the challenges Mums and Baby will face and a few of the important factors Mums and Dads need to understand when thinking about breastfeeding. From the best nutrition to bonding and immune support, breast is best and there is no comparison.
Today Mums need more support in this area because we have had a generation that were led to believe that bottle was ok. It may be ok but is that what Mums really want for their babies? No, they want the very best and with some support and guidance they can feel that they have done their best. There are some Mums who will experience real difficulties however we are seeing a far greater proportion of women having problems today. We need to ask what are we doing to women for them to fail and what could we do to prevent that? A mum who feels like she has done a great job is confident and able to love. That is why this is so important. What do you think? Let us know…..
Derek Pearce – Tai Chi teacher and Dad – on the importance of the breath in pregnancy
How and why is breath important when pregnant and during birth?
Birth is primal breath – how do they relate?
Tai Qi and pregnancy – what are the benefits?
Derek Pearce has taught TaiQi/Tai Chi for 20 years and as a Dad who has witnessed the birth of his two children he understands the importance of being strong yet flexible when pregnant. He explains how Tai Qi/Tai Chi helps expand the body by using the breath. In pregnancy we can lay down patterns of behaviour that would help a woman in birth by creating good habits. We talk about labour and birth as having contractions and yet we need women to expand during birth. Breath is a tool and exercise that women can utilise during pregnancy and birth to help them not have to think at such an important primal time.
Jacquelyn Crow – are homebirths a better option?
A recent study in Canada showed that homebirths were the safest option for a pregnant Mum. The problem with research as you know is that everyone can pull it apart and some always will. The study was fascinating and if you were to use some ‘Coman sense’ on this subject you would find that homebirth is a serious option. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK has also issued a statement supporting home birth as a viable choice for women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
Fear is the only real challenge to a woman with no complications during pregnancy. Jacqueline Crow is an experienced homebirthing community midwife who respects the woman’s choice in labour. She understands how creating an environment that feels safe for the woman during labour is crucial to having the birth a woman wants. If you think about a woman during birth or an animal in labour you will notice that they find a quiet dark place where there is no danger. Why would we expect a pregnant woman to need anything else? If you look at the physiology – that is the chemical reactions that occur during birth they are exactly the same as when a woman reaches orgasm. Does a woman need to feel safe then? Debra Pascali-Bonaro has even made a movie about it called Orgasmic Birth. Jacqueline is well aware of this physiological fact and aims to create safety and a feeling of love in the mum to be environment. Jacqueline gives some recent examples of homebirths that she has supported and highlights the ‘family event’ that birth can be within a homebirth environment. This may not be for all but for those interested please listen to a dedicated midwife who still enjoys nature’s best work.
Valerie Goedkoop – what is a Doula and how can they help?
A Doula offers practical and emotional support for a woman in childbirth. They provide something most midwives want to but cannot today and that is continuity of care. A birthing mother does not have the same support she could expect years ago and for some a Doula is a great option to give them that helping hand from an experienced professional. 
Harriet Young – Journey Practitioner
A description of how to prepare for birth, labour and being a mother. You need tools to manage labour and birth. The journey method is a powerful tool for dealing with fears during pregnancy. The fear of pregnancy can create real challenges during birth.
Anita Jackson – Psychologist and Author
Relationships are under intense stress today and pregnancy is more stressful than any other time for a marriage or partnership expecting a new baby. Author and psychologist Anita Jackson is a specialist in relationship counselling and gives useful tips on how to manage your relationship. Communication is the key and will support any couple in pregnancy as they await their baby.